Conference moira::parenting_v3

	 I hate to be a party pooper, but I would make SURE that your friend
is someone who WANTS to be a do-it-your-selfer.

	I personally would have DESPISED getting this stuff for a gift. I knew 
full well that I was going back to work full time right away.  I knew my hands 
would be full.  Depending on who gave me the gift I might have even considered
it a form of pressure on me to stay home and be a "good mommy". 

	Of course on the other hand, if she DOES like this stuff it's a great
and thoughtful gift.  

	Just a thought...

	Tracey

    
    re: .1
    
    ditto!

    Amen.  I had enough dishes without the doing the kazillion LaMachine 
    parts 3 times a day. 

    Well thanks for the input but I wouldn't plan on giving it to her
    if I hadn't taken into account her planned lifestyle.  I don't usually
    give people gifts that I think they'll hate.

    I make my own baby wipes.  It's actually faster and easier than making
    a run to the store for them.
    
    You cut a paper towel in half and extract the cardboard tube.  My
    husband cuts them on his table saw!  Getting the tube out is the only
    pain.  It helps if you use a pair of needle-nose plyers.
    
    I use the higher-quality paper towels.  The cheap ones work badly.
    
    I bought the extra-large container of wipes, then re-use it.
    
    In the bottom of the empty, clean container you mix baking soda, liquid
    baby body-shampoo, and mineral oil or baby oil (same thing, with
    scent).  It's 1 TB of each, except the shampoo which is 2 TB (or was it 
    the oil??)
    
    You then add 1 cup of water and shake to mix.  
    
    You can increase the mixture proportionately if it seems too dry.  You
    can pour extra mixture over the top if necessary.
    
    Add paper towel.  After 1 hour it will soak up all the fluid and be
    ready to use.
    
    Laura 

    
    My sister never used baby wipes.  The one time she did, her
    son developed diaper rash.  Since then, he has never had it.
    
    What she does is take a little baking soda and water (neutralizes
    the urine) and leaves a bowl full by her changing table (obviously,
    changing it at least once a day or more.)  She took Handi-Wipes
    and cut them into small squares.  
    
    When changing, she just dips the wipe into the soda/water mixture
    and then after cleaning the baby, put's the wipe with the dirty 
    laundry and washes it.
    
    The perfumes and baby scents are for the parents not the baby.  
    Her pediatrician was very impressed that Patrick has only had
    diaper rash once and recommends this method for other babies that
    have severe diaper rash problems.
    
    I like the baby smell, but if the baby is healthier.....
    
    Kristen

    I also use the hadiwipes, but just with warm water...if its really
    messy, I may use a little soap.  I keep a lingerie bag near the
    changing table, and the dirty wipes go into the bag, then into the
    washer.  I'm using the same wipes with Jenny that I did with Katie.
    
    Susan

    The book "Feed Me, I'm Yours" would fit in with your plan.  It has
    hints for do-it-yourself baby food, graham crackers, etc.  For example,
    I made batches of mushed veggies, froze them in ice cube trays, and
    stored them in reclosable bags.  So the trays, bags, and some labels
    might work for your package.
    
    

    
    I've seen ideas in several places (The Father's Almanac and the
    newsletter my son gets from our church, for example) for toys
    and games that can be made from household items and throw-aways.
    Rattles, musical "instruments", counting games, etc.   Maybe you 
    could compile some of these kinds of ideas in a do-it-yourself-fun
    book.
    
    Carol

I bought a wide mouth thermos for when I travelled with mine.  I would fill it 
with boiling water before leaving.  I could always get a restaurant to refill
later.  The I set the small jars of baby food in the hot water for heating for
ten minutes.  this was really good for stopping along the motorway or in third
world countries where I didn't trust them to heat it up for me.

I did the same with water for their formula.  I put the powder in the bottles
(I used the plastic liner bottles but that doesn't matter) and the water
separate in a thermos.  Then I mixed it on the spot and didn't have to worry
about refridgeration or spoilage.

ccb

    There ARE some smart cookies in this conference. I have been preparing
    the bottles before we leave the house. I've wrapped them in Aluminum
    foil to keep them cold during the hot weather. Now I'll just bring a
    thermos of chilled water and the powdered formula!!  

    Warming the jars of food in the wide mouth thermos is a great idea,
    too!

    Thanks for the tid bits of information!
    Norma

When we are planning a long hot car ride, I purchase several of the quarter 
liter (I guess that is about 2.5 oz?) fruit juice cartons.  I freeze them and
then use them as cooling elements in the cooler.  By the time we've been several 
hours on the road they would be thawed and icy cold.  Kept eveything else cold
too.

ccb

    I do a similar thing with the thermos of water.  I was getting alarmed
    by the amount of water and electricity I was using everytime I need to
    heat up a bottle.  It also took too long.  (my daughter is one of
    these, "I'm hungry **NOW**!!!!")  I boil some water and fill one of
    those coffee keeper thermos things, and use that water for several days
    to heat up the bottles.  It is much faster and less goes to waste. 
    When the bottle is done I put it back in the thermos.  
    
    When it is time to change the water. I let it cool down and then water
    the plants. 
    
    It's not so much that I'm an environmentalist, I just hate paying the
    **** water bill.  It high enough with just the extra laundry I do now.
    
    Also, Save those wipe containers for holding crayons, leggos, doll
    clothes,  etc...  I have a whole bunch saved and Megan doesn't even
    have stiff like that yet.  Hey!  The baby fresh noes may be good to
    start seedlings in in the winter!  (I just thought of that!)
    
    W-

    
    I had to go back to work full time after my daughter was 3 months and 
    we were under a very tight budget.  Instead of having a basin of water 
    by my daughter's changing table I filled a squirt bottle of water to 
    wash her with (You can get one at CVS).  It works great and travels well
    (it is especially great if she had a very messy diaper...we all know 
    what I mean).
    
    I used small face clothes for wipes or kleenex tissues.  She preferred
    these to wipes and still does.  They aren't as cold and the water
    doesn't hurt if she had a rash, like wipes can.
    
    She was breast feed for a long while and I carried a kit which had a cooler
    and pumps and bottles ect to store expressed milk.  I always had more
    than enough.
    
    I made my own baby food in large quantities.  After finding out what
    she liked I'd do quantities and freeze them in ice cube trays and then
    just popped out a cube or two for a meal.  They worked like a dream and
    it would last in the freezer for a while.  After one batch was frozen
    I'd pop the cubes into a zip lock bag and use the tray again.  504
    
    I used the frozen juice boxes too, they worked great.  And the book
    "Feed me I'm Yours" is a must.   
    
    Some of this seems like a lot of work but it really isn't much
    different then using the disposable and store bought stuff.  And what I
    especially like is that I can read all the ingredients.  I knew what
    was going in and on her all the time.  (It saved lots of $$ too!)
    
    Rose Marie
                                                                      

    Update to .5
    
    The recipe for DIY wipes is:
    
    1 Tb baby shampoo or body wash
    1 Tb baking soda
    2 Tb mineral oil
    1 Cup water
    
    Mix well in bottom of container and add paper towel roll cut in half
    with cardboard tube removed (easiest to use needlenose pliers).
    
    I wash the container before reloading it, although it always smells
    and looks clean.
    
    Laura 

    
    Re -1
    
>    2 Tb mineral oil
    
    	Can you explain this please? In the UK, mineral oil is what goes
    into an engine!
    
    		Ian G.

    Haha!  Mineral oil is this clear, oily stuff they sell in drugstores
    that is sometimes taken to relieve constipation.  

    Which English language?
    
    The original recipe for DIY wipes calls for Baby Oil.  I substituted
    "Mineral Oil" (US terminology) because that is what Baby Oil is made
    out of, plus some perfume.  I figure you get enough perfume from the
    Baby Wash/shampoo.
    
    By the way, the wipes are good for removing spit up stains from
    clothing and upholstery.
    
    Laura