Crappy Underpants
If you’re a regular reader here then you’ve probably noticed my sluggish posts lately. I usually post my next day’s entry late in the evening before I go to bed, but I’ve been drowning in a heap of work and just life at the moment (will have to post more on that soon). In case you’re new, I recently moved and have been unpacking with a 2-year old and cramming in 2 work-at-home jobs without childcare. SO, that may explain my recent late entries and today’s short Project Support Beauty in Nature post (project created by Lotus challenging bloggers to help preserve Mother Nature), I hope you”ll forgive me. You can check out my first PSBN installment here.
Since moving into our house this month, it has allowed us to make 2 green(er) changes for our family.
1) We can now recycle at our curbside! Yay! No more lugging papers, bottles, milk cartons, etc to recycling centers. Now we keep all of our recyclables sorted throughout the week. Then I forget all about them over the weekend. Then suddenly as I hear the trash truck down the block on Monday morning, I run outside in my pajamas and un-brushed hair dragging my recycle bin to the front of my house. Ah, the joys of being a homeowner.
2) My 2- year old was doing SO WELL with potty training! And then one day, it stopped. Out of the blue. No more potty. We were down to 1 diaper a day, and then a massive relapse occurred. We were still living in an apartment, and she suddenly became terrified of the potty and wanted nothing to do with it. So I decided to hold off on pushing the envelope until all of the dust from the moving settled (and we had non-carpeted floors). Thankfully she still poops on the potty, but business “numero uno,” not so much. So in order to reduce our ridiculous costs for Pull-Ups, and the insane waste it throws into the environment, we’re giving these a try.
These are cloth training pants made by Gerber. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM! Or these.
These are the matching vinyl covers so the cloth training pants won’t leak. These suck even more!
Why you ask? Here’s a list of why you should not waste your money on these (and trust me, they’re not very cheap).
1) The cloth diapers do not fit snug, and there is not nearly enough material in the crotch area.
2) The cloth diaper absorbs NOTHING! I know they’re training pants and a child should feel some wetness, but these are as thin as a T-shirt! Leaving her bare-bummed in her regular pants may be more effective.
3) The vinyl cover will sort of contain the mess, but you’ll have a little puddle inside that is nearly impossible to remove from a toddler without it spilling all over the floor.
4) The vinyl cover is essentially a shower cap worn as bloomers. They’re not comfortable, and you can seriously hear your child walking for MILES!
Lotus actually converted to cloth diapers this month and appears to have found a much better alternative. I may have to try it out. Run over there to see and check out other PSBN participants while you’re there!
What do you do to make your lifestyle green??? Please share in the comments 
I went through much of that with those pants to. One thing you may want to try is the washable swim diapers they sell at Target. I was there yesterday and they’re already out for this year. They have a soft, absorbent interior and a waterproof (but not shower-cappy) outer lining. And they just go on like underwear. They do fit pretty snug, so they are better for skinny kids. They cost about $6 each.
Marie’s last blog post..Thirsty?
March 10th, 2008 at 10:14 am
This summer I want to put up a clothesline. I think that would save a lot of power. It kills me how the powers that be are always trying to get people to find ways to save power but many cities have banned the humble clothesline as an eyesore. I live in a smaller town and as far as I know there is no ban. If somebody comes along and has a problem with this line…well I guess I will have to become a clothesline activist! I swear not to hang out any of my underwear! Pinkie swear!
I could have told you not to buy those training pants. LOL I can still remember the pee running down my toddlers leg forming a nice puddle on the floor. Seeing how you are going to have to clean up puddles anyway, you might as well have just gone out and spent the money on some cute big girl panties that she would be real happy about and proud of. Hopefully she would not want to make them wet. My daughter trained my grandson by bribery. Summer is a good time to train. You can do most of it outside with the potty chair on the deck and equipped with a hose. Sweet.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:50 am
We use cloth diapers “half-time”…which is basically whenever I’m home with baby L. When we go out and about, she gets a disposable (and then, at nighttime). We’ve tried Gerber and yes, they do suck. They were pretty cheap, and they provide backup if we EVER run out of clean diapers. But I’d rather safety pin a towel to her! lol
Ashley’s last blog post..Gal Pal Retro Ice Bag
March 10th, 2008 at 11:07 am
My mom told me, when I was talking about potty-training the kids (finally Madi is) never to get the Gerber ones, for the same reasons you stated, and it’s been 15 years since my sister needed anything like that. Scary that nothing has changed in 15 years. You’d figure there’d have been some sort of complaints.
Sarah’s last blog post..Happy Leap Day
March 10th, 2008 at 11:21 am
so funny you covered this topic today and that you ask what we do to make life greener.
also we have tried the Wal-Mart brand… White Cloud and they seem to work great during the day at least. they want the pull-up off as soon as it has pee so cheaper was better we were going through quite a few with both girls, at night they leak some b/c they aren’t meant to hold as much as a pamper. But if you need some pull-ups might want to try these.
good luck with the extra work at home job… i think they are harder then working out of the home… you have to be discaplined to make the time to do the work and balance everything else in your home too.
we are in potty training boot camp hell!! lol well okay we are trying to do the whole BIG GIRL UNDIES… yeah! not working! they were into it hot and heavy… going on the potty all the time, no messes in their pull-ups, we went to buy big girl undies and new undershirts that don’t snap in the crotch… and they have peed in EVERY.SINGLE.PAIR of undies… and today they have pooped them too! GREAT fun, I tell ya!!
They bothed peed. Changed them, then they both pooped Changed them, they are on big girl undies #3 each so far… so lets hope it goes well. I ask them all time if they have to go and try to put them on the potty… they are a no go. UHHHH the joys of potty training boot camp for mommy’s. I just told my mom I hope I didn’t miss the potty training train they were on… they were more trained then I was and now that I’m trying to get on board here I think they have left the station. Well this too shall pass… at least I hope and soon too!!
We are still trying out the big girl undies… so less pamepers/pull-ups.
i’m sure you will do just fine.. but a little well wishes and good luck being sent your way!!
xoxoxo Hugs, jenn
Jenn’s last blog post..Seeing GREEN!!
March 10th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Thankfully, we are WAY beyond diapers, these days. Although number two son and the DIL may spring a surprise on us, one of these days, I’m pretty sure that diaper changing duty will fall to others. My job, in that regard, is done. That said, I did see Lotus’ post about the cloth diapers she’s found and perhaps, when and if a child comes to my son and DIL, Grandpa (that will be me, of course) may have to go out and invest in some of these hot little diapers for the grandkid. Because my DIL does understand the concerns of the environmentalist. Thankfully. Now all I have to do is get Al out in his backyard and sink some posts in the ground for the clothesline.
Lou Lohman’s last blog post..Seven Random Things Meme
March 10th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I JUST eyed those things this weekend. Good thing I was too cheap to actually purchase them, and thank you for ensuring that I don’t get any bright ideas in my head anytime soon.
Burgh Baby’s Mom’s last blog post..Lessons of Love
March 10th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
What? Oh, come on…unpacking, dealing with a toddler AND working two jobs? PLEASE, that’s a walk in the park. I expect timely posts from my daily reads!!
*giggle* Okay, so I’m just kidding. No problems here. As long as I still get my regular episodes of Momisodes I’m fine with them being a little later in the day
As far as the disposables go…yeah, I’m in agreement over those that you mentioned. But I’m afraid it’s time for me to find some solution…spending $14 every couple of weeks on pullups while simultaneously spending $14 every couple of weeks on DIAPERS for the younger is really getting old. I’m tempted to look further into the non-disposables myself…especially since M is showing very few signs of desire to potty train.
But I’m rambling. Good luck with your continuing attempts to go green. I’ve been doing little things, but nothing I’ve felt worthy of posting about *lol*
Sadie’s last blog post..7 Random Things…
March 10th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I’m always happy to read whatever you manage to get online Sandy! I haven’t been blogging nearly as much since I stopped pumping. I would write the majority of my posts in the pumproom. Since I work full-time, I’m just not as willing to write in the evening when The Baby is awake and after that I like spending time with The Hubby. One of these days I will come up with a way to fit in writing.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Never mind what you said.
All I see is THERE’S NO SNOW ON THE GROUND!!!
Lucky you!
Jennic’s last blog post..Sweet tooth
March 10th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
We recycle all the soda cans at our house. Our city doesn’t have a recycle bin we can use so we have certain drop off stations around the city. We really don’t use anything plastic except for milk jugs but we reuse those for different things. So that’s how I like to help anyway. It may be small but it’s the effort, right?
I’m SO glad the potty traing days are over for my kids. William was a piece of cake to train. Samantha, not so much. She regressed just like your little one did. I’ve heard girls don’t start this until 3 and maybe even 4 sometimes. Sam was a little OVER 4 when I finally got her “broke in” to the potty;) Good luck my friend, on that and the 2 jobs your working on.
Crystal’s last blog post..Rainy Monday
March 10th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Oh, to finally not have to even think about potty training! I tried those cotton training pants and shower caps with legs.. you’re right they are worse than going bare. Good luck!
Green:
We recycle curbside, and what isn’t picked up there (like cardboard), we take to another collection station.
We reuse plastic Gaterade bottles for water, using filtered tap water and not buying bottled water. I use cloth towels instead of paper, and hang lots of our clothes instead of using the dryer.
Tara R.’s last blog post..Little red Corvette?
March 10th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I reuse a plastic bottle for at least a fortnight, to take water to work with me. I bokashi compost (or I will, when the warmer weather gets here). All that can be recycled on the kerb is, and anything else (such as cardboard) gets collected and recycled at the local tip.
I constantly look for better/less packaging, or buy in bulk. I use eco friendly cleaners in the house.
Solomon Broad’s last blog post..Things I’m Grateful For on Sunday 9 March
March 10th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I miss that we aren’t able to do curbside recycling anymore. It really is amazing how much less trash you have when you can recycle!
amy’s last blog post..One good thing
March 10th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Wow…I’ve learned a lot about diapers today. Now I’m prepared for the potty part
(Although I don’t know when I’ll have a baby…)
Linda’s last blog post..Halle Berry to Join the Perfume Force
March 10th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Usually relapses occur simultaneously with a move. Funny it happened before. But thank goodness she’s still pooping in the potty.
I’d flirted with the idea of cloth diapers, but once our boy turned 3 the insurance picked up the tab for diapers and if I’m not forking over the expense I’m more than willing to continue using disposable.
Karen’s last blog post..I’m a Teenage Parent
March 10th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
We faithfully recycle. But my newest change has been to use cloth grocery bags. I remember to bring them into store about 90% of the time. Working toward 100%.
Jennifer H’s last blog post..Glitter, glitter everywhere, and I could use a drink
March 10th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I’m just happy your daughter is trying to use the potty at all. We are NOT interested. AT ALL. I do my best, but I’m on a budget, and all the more eco friendly stuff is very expensive.
Anglophile Football Fanatic’s last blog post..Pat’s right: Love IS a Battlefield
March 10th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
We actually got a few of those for Joey when he was potty training too. We used them OVER his nighttime diapers because he would leak every night. They didn’t help to prevent leaking at all either. It was rotten. I really don’t know what they are good for.
Kathryn’s last blog post..A New Page
March 10th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Can’t wait to see the crazy search engine keywords that pop up after this…=]
Victoria’s last blog post..Billboards for Christ
March 10th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
The joys and the woes of potty-training. We finally got our last grandson trained a few weeks ago. Last week he started wetting himself again. We’re working on that!
Eve’s last blog post..No More Paper or Plastic?
March 10th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
we’re working on potty training. she’s pretty much naked half of the day and then uses pullups the rest of the time, but because of when she’s using them, we don’t end up needing too many. thank god, says my wallet!
trust me, hardwood floors will be a godsend. i don’t have one bit of carpet in my apartment and it totally affords naked time in our pants-optional home.
zoeyjane’s last blog post..Six °s
March 10th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I am so frustrated with our city’s recycle pick up. It comes only every 2 weeks, we have to pay extra for it, and we only get a 15 gallon tub. We are not allowed to go over that amount or we have to pay EXTRA extra. PAY EXTRA TO BE GREEN AND RECYCLE? AM I missing something here? I notice not many people recycle at all since they have to pay for it to begin with. I am going to start keeping an old kitchen trash box outside for the papers. I can take those in easily – no mess and no “friends” growing in them if it takes me a while to take those to the drop off center.
I drive less to be more green. This is to be green and to save on the green. At $3.25/gallon, we are feeling the squeeze on that one.
I am trying to use eco-friendly cleaning products and less disposable wipes that I have grown to love for cleaning nasty toilets.
I take shorter showers. (this will be easier when it gets warmer)
I keep the lights off until necessary.
I turned the thermostat way down.
I only do laundry when the load is full.
I only run the dishwasher when it is full.
This summer, I don’t plan on watering the lawn as much. A green lawn is not a great reason to use up fresh water to be anymore
I am going to try to grow some of my own vegetables – tomatoes and zuccinni and peppers to start. Never done it, but I can grow a mean lilac bush, so I hoping I am okay at it.
Just some things I am doing around here. My small contribution.
KEEP BELIEVING
Angie’s last blog post..Preschool Flunkie
March 10th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
No potty training or diapers for me, I don’t think I’ll ever be a grandmother! But when my daughter was a baby still we had coton diapers!
Jientje’s last blog post..Music Monday La ballade des gens heureux
March 10th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I’m so glad I’m beyond diapers now. I didn’t think Noah was EVER going to get there. Good luck.
Tasina’s last blog post..Killing me softly
March 10th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I do NOT want to start potty training! Lol.
Meagan’s last blog post..I’ve come down with something.
March 10th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Oh yes and good luck!
Meagan’s last blog post..I’ve come down with something.
March 10th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I tried everyone of those things back in the day… and nothing works as good as the pull-ups…. so sorry those are not green!
Beth’s last blog post..The Good Sport
March 10th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I have noticed you’re posting later than you used to, but I (for one) am not going to complain because I don’t know how you manage all you do as is! I recall your first ‘green’ posting well … and think this is a great idea to share in this way. I’m sure lots of moms (and grandmas too) will benefit from the diaper info you’ve shared in this one.
Several months ago our trash company instituted the ‘recycle’ at the curb … or in my case “alley” program and it seems to work well (except for the scavengers who ‘dig’ for treasure the day before the trucks pick up) and I’m happy to not have to take recyclable anywhere myself. We also sort ‘green waste’ from the yard from recyclables & trash … so we used 3 color coded ‘automated’ pick up bins. Like you … I’m often rushing out in my sweats & slippers at the last minute when I hear the trucks ;–)
When you get a chance, drop by Small Reflections for I’ve nominated (and tagged) you for the Top 5 Blogs Meme/Award. I suspect others have done so as well … and, if so, there’s no need for a repeat unless you wish to do it … but I don’t recall seeing this one here at Momisodes just yet so it might be ‘new’ for you.
Hugs and blessings,
storyteller’s last blog post..Tagged by Chuck – Top Five Hottest Blog Meme
March 10th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Yeah, I noticed you were blogging later in the evening too. We used cloth diapers on our son when he was a baby but for only a short time. Not only could I not handle the smell, they were always pretty leaky.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Also, Gerber makes an all-in-one that’s a very thick absorbent diaper-like pant covered in the plastic one. I only recommend putting that one on your child if you also would like to spend a lot of money purchasing pants shaped to fit an Oompah-Loompah because in addition to the gross mess (which they do contain), they are so ENORMOUS that it looks as though you are trying to pad up the child for an elephant Halloween costume or something. So. Just saying…
MommyTime’s last blog post..Generous Gift-Giving
March 10th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Thanks for the tips! I will have to bookmark this page as we are starting potty training this week
Huckdoll’s last blog post..That Night
March 10th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Green? Ours is more like brown. We try but with two in diapers there is no cloth/training pants in our world. Just a big bag’o poop. Oldest is trained, Middle not so much and Baby, well he is a baby. I am lucky I didn’t have all three in diapers at the same time. Wait I did, WHOA! I must have been mental! Thank God for mother’s memory!
We do recycle all our paper, plastics, etc.
Oh and FYI – Middle is 3.5 and has no interest. I started Oldest at two, she was interested for a nanosecond, fully trained summer after her third b-day. Middle was also interested for a nanosecond right before he turned three. Now he just likes to tinkle in the a.m. and hang on to his poop for dear life. lol
March 10th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Pottytrainingconcepts.com sells some cloth pull-ups for relatively inexpensive ($10 for a 3 pack?) and hold much better than the Gerbers. I have some of the more expensive cloth pull-ups also, but these work just fine for my 3 year old who still wets at night.
Hope the suggestion may help someone!
Jenni’s last blog post..Maybe March IS Spring
March 10th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
You can hear her walking!!! Too funny!
Good luck getting her back on track!
Nola’s last blog post..One Year and Three Days Ago
March 10th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Those Gerber things suck the big one!
And they do look awfully uncomfortable!
Krissy’s last blog post..My blog friends unite!!!!
March 10th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Hee hee… I think I can hear your child now. All the way from Canada.
I hope the dust settles soon and she can get on with the business of life skills…
Aurora’s last blog post..Bits and pieces
March 10th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I am thankfully over the potty training period. She’ll get the hang of it, eventually.
As for being green, I’ve been bringing along a big bag every time I know I am definitely going to do some shopping. It’s a really cool bag which can be folded into the size of a small brown envelope. No more plastic!
March 10th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Oh, how awful! I can picture “the puddle,” and how on earth would you get that off a kid without a mess?! Bleah!
The cool thing about the bumgenius is you can order them, and as long as you only dirty one, they give you a 14 day trial. You can use it and if you think it sucks, send it back! I thought that was cool.
Sarcastic Mom’s last blog post..His Butt is Toxic, and Yet, Eco-Friendly!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:47 am
those cloth training pants didn’t work? thanks for the tips.. they look pretty though
sting’s last blog post..What Baby Zen’s Been Up To Lately
March 11th, 2008 at 4:02 am
the diaper is nice, thanks for sharing
Hazel’s last blog post..Tang…tang…tangtang.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Good luck with it all! I hope you’re settling in well to your new home. We do a lot of recycling in our home. I also trying to buy organic foods and cleaning products when possible. Hope you’re having a good Tuesday!
amanda’s last blog post..First-Ever Contest: Embarrass Yourself for $100.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:16 am
hope she get back to potty train.I think you have to bring her to the potty every 2 hours and make it a habit for her.sooner or later she will get use to it.Good luck!:)
sweetiepie’s last blog post..Is credit report important
March 11th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Haha, rushing for the recycling truck in your pajamas?!! That would be a sight, especially with the unbrushed hair as well, but I think you’d still be looking great, you know? I know! I just know!!
LB’s last blog post..Fatt Sam Yee Ling Ling 8
March 11th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Wait – you have a yard now. Couldn’t said puddle in bloomers be taken care of in the yard? Of just do like I did – just have her pee in the yard. My son would hold his pee just so we could get home to let him out into the yard to pee with our dog. Bladder control is possible with the right motivation (in this case, peeing like a dog – hey motivation doesn’t always have to make sense).
BusyDad’s last blog post..Part of This Nutritious Breakfast
March 12th, 2008 at 2:16 am
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March 13th, 2008 at 2:22 pm