go go gadget hippy 19 March, 2007 at 6:23 pm
a pair of technophiles, computers and electronics EVERYWHERE …
we’re going all jungle hippy with the baby :o kiir’s planning to not use formula, we’re talking cloth diapers, we’ve got a sling to try carrying the baby around on person rather than always in a carrier/etc
Diapers: there’s the arguments that washing the cloth diapers takes water/electricity and thus are as environmentally destructive as disposables. I tend to ignore that one, b/c there’s probably a fair amount of electricity used in producing plasticated diapers.
And I figure that water is recycled, so even counting a percentage of intermediary loss, i’m thinking that’s a limited loss factor. Energy is a concern, but nuclear is high energy … and if we get cold fusion or similiar renewable energy at the plants, then the energy factor is removed from the equation. and while we may not get there in the next 5 years when we might be using cloth, I figure we’ve got a good shot at doing it b efore the 50yr halflife of the fast-decomposing disposables. (the oldschool ones are like 500 or some crap)
Downside is the initial outlay on cloth diapers will be roughly equivalent to 6mo of disposable diapers. but with the brand and size we’re looking at (skipping the newborn size and waiting until he’s big enough for the size 1′s), it should last 18mo or so, maybe even to potty training. which would save a LOT. the second baby is all savings, too. so high initial, but long reap
Carrier: blah blah blah. I actually just figure it’s easier to carry the baby in a sling while rassling a puppy vs puppy and stroller :o and strollers always annoy the hell out of me when people take up a lot of space with them so this way we won’t always be cluttery :o
Feeding: breastmilk is supposed to be world and away better than formula. provides immunities from the mother, human-grade “organic” hormones for the baby and growth, yadda yadda. so many health benefits. hella cheaper, that’s for sure.
obviously these are all joint decisions, but nursing is largely her choice ;) my breasts are 100% non-functional :o
the big downside also is that many disposable diapers come with a wetness indicator. i was originally using depends for oma and had a lot of overflow because i don’t necessarily check her that often (that, plus depends, even super-sized, hold like 18 oz of fluid). with the new diapers i’m using, the wetness indicator has saved me a ton of trouble, and less sheet washing because it’s much easier to check quickly to see if she peed or shat herself.
of course, old ladies don’t cry like babies do when they need to be changed >