[blparent] questions about baby products

[Melissa Wagner]

Hi.  Just a quick note on a few things as I can't find the original messages
this topic began with.  I use cloth diapers too and have had different
experiences than Sarah, so anyone who has questions can write me offlist.
As far as BPA free and milk storage, I know that all the new bottles and
pumping supplies (including bags) sold by medela are BPA free now.  I am
sure other companies have the same policy.  

Melissa
-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Sarah Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 10:46 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] questions about baby products

Hey Jane,
	 I know you said to email you off list, but Erin asked about cloth
diapers too, so  I thought  it might be easier to send this to the list.

As far as breast milk storage bags go, it has been my experience that you
have to get the storage bags or bottles that are sold for the type of pump
that you have. As in a Medela pump only works with Medela storage bags. I
personally had a Medela pump and found  that I liked the bottles better then
the storage bags. it was harder to tell how full the bottle was while
pumping, and after  they were frozen, but I found that they held up better
then the bags... But that is a personal  choice. As for BPA, or Bisphenol A,
it is an additive to plastics that is an estrogenic   and so can mess with
children's hormones.  So in general a good idea to avoid BPA things when you
can, but definitely when you are talking about bottles  or milk storage
containers.

 A mini co sleeper is a piece of furniture  which  attaches to the side of
the bed, so your baby can sleep in his or her own little protected space,
but still have it be a part of the bed. The most  popular one in my
neighborhood is the Arms Reach co sleeper, which can also be turned into a
self standing basinet for when the baby starts to sleep alone.  If you are
looking for something that actually goes in your bed to protect the baby
from being rolled over on, you might want to look at the snuggle nest. We
used it and liked it, although I was glad to get it out of the bed as soon
as my daughter was old enough to roll over herself, and was out of the woods
as it were as far as SIDS goes, because the snuggle nest did take up a lot
of room, and left the parents with less bed real estate then optimal.  I
think this is why so many people like having the arms reach co sleeper,
because instead of taking up space in the bed it adds a little bit onto the
bed- which is flush with your mattress- so the baby has his or her  own bed
atached to the parent's. 

 And cloth diapers... I could write whole treatises on cloth diapers- how
much I love them, the types I like, and the brands... But very briefly... I
use fitted diapers, pockets, and flip diapers. I have liked different ones
at different times, but  when my  daughter was tiny I loved having fitted
diapers. . They look just like disposable diapers, but cloth, and they need
a water proof cover. Kissaluvs were my favorite for that stage, but there
are lots of brands that are very good. Now I use mostly one size fits all
bum genius pocket diapers. They are more expensive (like around $15 each
new) but  they are very adjustable, and seem to hold up really well. I got
most of my diapers from cottonbabies.com, but have found great deals on
nickysdiapers.com and diaperswappers.com. I am also lucky enough to have two
cloth diaper stores close by, so I have been able to go there to get (and
touch) several new and used things. It was an investment up front, but even
with the cost of washing them every couple of days, it is significantly less
expensive then buying disposables would have been. Anyway, I would be happy
to write you more if you like off list, but the short answer is that I use
cloth diapers, recommend fitteds or pocket diapers as good   options, and
recommend cottonbabies as a good starting point for those who might be
looking to learn more about cloth diapers. 

And as for the diaper bags? I would second Erin's recommendation for a
backpack style diaper bag. I have a regular shoulder bag style diaper bag,
and while  I like it, I frequently find myself using a smaller and lighter
bag which does not get in the way as much... Especially when I am carrying
my daughter in a  sling or in her Ergo... Which is pretty much all the time.

 Anyway, hope this helps, and good luck with the registry. Sounds like so
much fun! 

Take Care,
  Sarah, mother to 15 month old Isla


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