r/Crunchymom

I’m about to call it quits on cloth diapering completely, but feel like I should give it one more try.
How is it possible to do this successfully if you’re not doing 100% cloth diapers?

We were doing disposables when we went out and overnight. For cloth, I used Esembly snap outers and Cloth-eez natural organic prefolds. I tried the flats but didn’t care for the extra steps and felt like I couldn’t get a proper fit.

I had to wait 3 days for there to be enough diapers and cloth wipes to be enough for even the smallest load my washing machine (top loader) offers. I’ve tried Mollys Suds (useless) and switched to Esembly’s washing powder (figure it must be good if they run a laundry service in NYC) with added oxyboost and enzymes from Truly Free Home. In between the switch I did a refresh with RLR because my diapers were smelling gross as soon as any pee hit them. I always wash on high heat for an hour and will add in extra clean towels to bulk it up. (Edit: I always *dry* on high heat and will only add full sized towels to that for bulking, not the wash cycles)

My son does not get diaper rash from disposables, but his skin was always irritated from cloth diaps even if I changed them every 90 minutes. Even with the new washing regimen, the diapers began to smell again.

I want to stick with disposables while we’re out and overnight because it’s easier for us. Is there a way to make cloth work the other times??

If you’re doing part-time successfully:
- how often are you washing the cloth diapers?
- what detergent are you using (if using Tide Gentle & Clean/Clear whatever it is, I believe it’s been discontinued so what do you plan to switch to?)
- do you have to add other stuff to the load to make it work? If so, what do you feel comfortable adding to the poopy mess?
- what brand of inners/outers are you using?
- do liners help that much? Disposable or reusable?
- is it cost affective for you or is it a sustainability priority?

Thank you in advance!!

Edit:
My washing routine is pre wash on warm normal cycle and main wash on hot heavy duty cycle. I use Esembly agitators. Sometimes I’ll do an extra rinse before I dry on high heat.

Hi all! I have a 4 month old who is cutting her first tooth and absolutely loves to munch. I hate the idea of her sucking on plastic/silicone teethers. I recently peeled a carrot and gave it to her whole to just lick and chew and she absolutely loved it. I am wondering if anyone has experience with this? Is it okay for a baby so small? I’ve also thought of maybe a peeled apple. Some celery. Pineapple core.
Any insight? If no to the fruits and veg any ideas that would be a healthier teething option? We are in Hawaii and the humidity is crazy so wooden teethers get moldy quickly.

I'm hoping this is okay to post. I do not want to start any fights. I'm just curious, and I have a new account I'm mostly using for throwaway purposes, so I figured it'd be the perfect time to ask.

I'm not a terribly crunchy mom but I do things here and there. I enjoy following moms on Instagram who follow the lifestyle, at least in part. I guess I'm more holistic than anything.

The main issue I have is that I'll find a new influencer to follow, all will be great, and then suddenly they're preaching politics that go against my family personally (immigrants, my daughter is trans, my son is bisexual, etc) and I can't support that in my right mind.

Is there anyone? Every time I find someone who seems even neutral they pop up with something and I have to block and move on. I know it comes with the territory to be conservative, but there's gotta be at least a few right? Lol.

Pls I miss my crunchy insta feed.

I am in my first trimester, very early, and am DESPERATE for some help with bowel movements and first trimester constipation. I’ve done the kiwis, prunes, prune juice, pear juice, magnesium citrate, pelvic floor exercises, everything.
i am looking for a recommendation for a natural stool softer and laxative as i’d prefer not to take colace or miralax if possible. please share your recommendations for pregnancy safe laxatives and stool softeners 🙌🏽🙏🏽

I've been sick for so long. Now I have an ear infection. GP has listened to my lungs so no concerns there. I just feel depleted. My body is so exhausted from fighting. My ear hurts. I don't know what to do.

What are are some ways to stay active without lifting. I like lifting for my legs, but otherwise it’s boring and so repetitive. I’ve always enjoyed classes because I grew playing club volleyball. In my 20’s now I’m into kickboxing but other than that what else could I do? I get 8k steps minimum a day to keep the body moving, but I’m honestly bored.

Yesterday we found poison ivy at our house, it’s somewhere my toddler often plays so we’ve gotta get rid of it.
Everyone is telling me the only way to do that is spraying chemicals though?! Is that really my only choice?
I kinda hate it 😫

No luck finding a plastic-free baby swim suit for the beach. I don’t want to do just a diaper because he needs sun protection.

Any tips?

I’m not really a crunchy mom, but I do try to make things healthier for my child than what I had when I was a kid. Recently, my in-laws have joined a cow share (I’m not sure what the actual name is for it), and have been on a raw milk kick. My baby has recently turned one so he’s now able to drink whole milk. My MIL is almost constantly bringing up the benefits of raw milk, and wants me to give it to my baby. I’ve seen so many reports of kids going into kidney failure because of raw milk consumption, and e-coli outbreaks. So I’ve told her no, but she still brings it up. What would you do? More info: my baby was premature, born at 31 weeks. Spent 34 days in NICU and got really sick a month out of NICU, and spent 38 days in PICU. 3 weeks medical coma. I never want to experience anything like this again, if I can help it.

I got FLAMED on another subreddit for saying I make my own wipes. “I wouldn’t use *gasp* soft paper towels (that are moistened and further softened) on my baby’s bum” and “well I just trust the professionals because of the risk of mold!!!!” Even though target wipes were just recalled for……mold.

I guess I should add I live in a very dry desert environment - literally surrounded by fires right now. So mold is pretty much a nonissue all around, but I’ve never encountered it in my wipes. I also only make small batches that get used up pretty quick.

Anyone else make their own wipes or use reusable ones??? I literally got downvoted to hell and everyone acted like I was using moldy sandpaper on my baby’s bum 😩

My husband and I are planning on trying to conceive within the next two months. Are they any appointments, labs, or supplements for the both of us that anyone recommends to help with a healthy pregnancy? Thanks!

im really trying to reduce plastic in mine and my familys life, what are some little things i can do to replace what we already use plastic for? like switching out our plastic toothbrushes for bamboo ones, etc?

Looking for clean ingredients natural if possible, dye free bubble bath for kids! Recommendations appreciated thank you 😊

Hi! I’ve been using Molly Suds tablets and they are good but not great. Feel like they don’t clean my glasses well. Have tried branch basics in the past too (love their laundry detergent) but the tablets back then left residue.

Ever since I had my baby last year, I’ve been so smelly, and this heat wave hasn’t been helping. I’ve been aluminum free all my life, and I’ve never had an issue. Now, I smell! I’ve tried all the natural remedies.

Is aluminum free something I have to give up?

I'm usually all about cotton and organic cotton, but I'm interested in getting a Gunamuna swaddle.

Is cotton a far superior option for baby in terms of low tox?

I’m a first time mom due in December. Long term sustainable menstrual product user, and I’m super grossed out by the prospect of using disposable plasticy panties or pads postpartum.

I’m planning to buy some higher absorbency pads for postpartum, and not sure how many I should plan for.

The company I’ll be ordering from (Aisle) is currently having a great sale and their most absorbent super pad is only $15 CAD. I’d love to buy gladrags for plastic free but unfortunately I can’t justify the cost especially after the USD to CAD conversion and international shipping.

I already have 5 medium absorbency pairs of period panties, 1 low-medium absorbency pad, 1 medium absorbency pad, and 2 cloth liners. This set up has been more than sufficient for my periods but I’ve been told to expect heavier bleeding.

If any of you have used cloth pads postpartum, how many did you purchase?
We will be cloth diapering so I expect to be doing laundry regularly, if that makes a difference.

Im scrunchy, not completely crunchy, and most definitely cannot afford to consistently buy expensive brands.

Im 100% going to be getting the brand freestyle for size new born and maybe 1 box of freestyle size 1 but after that with the remainder of size 1 and beyond i need something that is more financially realistic.

I want to avoid rashes and blowouts!

Just curious if anyone else was really obsessive before but has chilled out a lot now. I am grateful for all the education and awareness being crunchy taught me a parent. I don’t give my kids food with colours still and I choose natural ingredients when cooking from scratch. I also am always choosing a natural fabric outfit over some cheap polyester one if I’m buying clothes for my children. I will never use laundry detergent that isn’t no-tox. I will also never jab my kids.

But for normal lunches and quick dinners, I stopped being overly obsessive and it has calmed my anxiety a lot as I am the mostly sole meal preparer. My kids also go to school now…never knew that would be me as a homeschooling parent many years ago for several years. I am focusing on returning to work now and actually have a home that isn’t like a tornado anymore. And no for me it was never a “lived in home”. It was trashed 😩. My kids are still young and I always reminded them to clean up after themselves but they would always be having so much fun playing and pulling things out it would get a lot for them to do afterwards.

I would consider myself no longer crunchy because a lot has changed. I have an immense amount of respect for those who can do those from birth to adulthood, with multiple children. It’s a lot. I am still proud of what I have changed and implemented in my life. Maybe I will be more strict again in the future. I guess I am just making this post because I think there can be a lot of shaming sometimes and I think it’s okay to agree with certain philosophies and not be able to 100% implement that in your life.

Love and light to all

I’m looking for an all-stainless steel lunch box recommendation! I’ve seen the BentGo ones, but I’ve read how a lot of them get mold in difficult to clean places! I’ve also seen Planet Box but not sure if I want to pay the price!