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	ask the experts laura schmitt

Laura Schmitt
Natural Home and Body Care, Cloth Diapering

• I use wool diaper covers and have recently begun having problems with this. I have tried re-lanolizing them a number of times, but they just won't stop leaking. I am wondering if they were just washed too much, since we use pre-folds, and the poop was always leaking onto the cover until I finally got some snappies. I don't really want to buy a whole new set. Maybe I haven't re-lanolized correctly? Any suggestions?
• I'm concerned that my underarm deodorant will rub off onto my baby while nursing and cosleeping. I interact with people daily and can't just go without and I have tried a product at our store that was advertised as being natural, but it just didn't work. Are there other natural options?
• I use cloth diapers and mama cloth. I hate to use bleach, but I don't want them to stain! Is there a natural alternative?
• I am about to be a new mom and want to use cloth diapers. It seems the "all in one" diapers are a great, convenient way to go, but I wonder, are there advantages to using fitted diapers with covers instead?
• Do you have a recipe for natural children's shampoo and conditioner that I can make at home?
• I want to use cloth diapers at night for my kids, but they wake up at night due to the wetness of their urine. Can you give me some suggestions on how to make cloth diapers comfortable for my kids?
• I am working towards moving my family into a healtier, more natural lifestyle; incorporating organic food, organic clothes, healthy and safe cleaners for our clothing and home, etc. My problem is that it's kind of overwhelming, there's so much to change, coming from a conventional American lifestyle, that I almost don't know where to start. What would make the biggest impact on the health of my children, their food, their environment, what?

I use wool diaper covers and have recently begun having problems with this. I have tried re-lanolizing them a number of times, but they just won't stop leaking. I am wondering if they were just washed too much, since we use pre-folds, and the poop was always leaking onto the cover until I finally got some snappies. I don't really want to buy a whole new set. Maybe I haven't re-lanolized correctly? Any suggestions?

One thing I would try before throwing in the towel on your wool covers is to add more diaper fabric and or change more often. Often times there is not an appropriate amount of cotton/hemp material inside the wool to absorb what is there and then the cover begins taking the place of diaper AND cover in one. I would recommend adding a hemp fleece or other thick natural fiber doubler to see if that helps. Some children will pee more then others and some need substantially more soaker fabric then others.

Additionally, I am assuming you are already changing the diaper each time your baby pees, but if not, that is a vital part of the process. It may seem foolish to bring that up, but some are not aware that babies need to be changed each time they are wet and opt to change on a time schedule. Of course, most attached parents are responsive enough to their child's needs that the issue is not one that comes up often in this community.

If additional soaker material does not help at all, then it may be that your soakers are at the end of the line. The fibers within the wool can become dried out and shrunken if not cared for properly and or stored properly over time. The life of the cover will also be effected on the "birth" of the cover, meaning the method of treatment on the particular wool before it was turned into a cover for diapering. Taking into account the type of wool, original care of wool, ongoing care of wool, laundry cycle as recommended by manufacturer and as implemented by owner, you have many variables.

Hopefully the increase in diaper fabric will solve your problem, but if it be the case that a new purchase is in order, I would strongly recommend seeking out a natural fiber wool cover that was made with minimal processing (unbleached, organic if possible). There are a number to choose from. Happy diapering!

I'm concerned that my underarm deodorant will rub off onto my baby while nursing and cosleeping. I interact with people daily and can't just go without and I have tried a product at our store that was advertised as being natural, but it just didn't work. Are there other natural options?

Of course there are! Believe me when I tell you that you do not need to use anti-perspirant to smell nice. Two of the main concerns with antiperspirants are parabens and aluminum compounds. Some studies done in 2002 showed conflicting results about deodorants being linked to increased breast cancer risks. I choose to avoid these products and rest on the side of caution.

You have a handful of options available to you and you can choose the one that suits you and your lifestyle the best.

1) the salt crystal/salt rock. Many women and men enjoy salt rocks as an alternative to deodorant. It does not leave you with a smell, so when your body perspires it will still have your natural scent, but lessened. This may not be a good alternative if you have very dry skin as the salts could be irritating.

2) baking soda is used stand alone by many moms as a quick and effective solution

3) There are many natural deodorants on the market now from JASONS to Toms of Maine, Desert Essence and more

4) my personal preference is to do a two step process that works better then any commercial product I have ever tried and it lets me smell lovely, as I scent it with my favorite blends of pure essential oils. Here is my recipe:

I designed this deodorant spray as a more natural alternative to commercial products, and it was created with the intention of using with the powder (recipe to follow) on a daily basis. Together, I find the spray and powder will rival any standard deodorant brand I’ve tried!

Step One: the Deodorant Spray

Ingredients:
2 oz distilled water (distilled water will help prevent molding.)
6 drops of rose oil (or other essential oil)
4 drops of sandalwood oil (or other essential oil)

Directions:
Mix distilled water and essential oils together in the 2 oz spray bottle until oils are well blended. Shake very well before each use as the oils will separate. You can play with your own favorite essential oils and create a scent that works the best for your own body chemistry. When you perspire, your body sweat will mix with the pure essential oils and create a warm and lovely aroma.

Step 2: Deodorizing Body Powder
to be used with the deodorant spray listed separately

Ingredients:
9 oz arrowroot powder
2 oz white clay
1 oz baking soda
5 drops rose essential oil (or other essential oil)
4 drops sandalwood essential oil. (or other essential oil)

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together well with a fork until blended. Makes 12 oz. Apply this powder on top of your sprayed underarm to help absorb moisture. During busy events you may choose to reapply throughout the day. A re-used shaker jar or powder puff work well.

It has been reported to me by many women over the past years that the first 1-2 weeks of going off commercial deodorants created a pungent body odor and after that transition they reported body odor lessening to the point that many opt to not use deodorant at all. Getting rid of unnatural deodorant products will be a great start, but think of all the other body care products that touch your skin and underarms such as shampoos and soaps. Consider this your window to switching over to a natural clean.

Some essential oils can be harsh on the skin if used in too high of a concentration, so please read the warning indications and test a small sample of your product before using or giving as gifts. Be especially aware using oils if you are pregnant, suffer health problems, have allergies and always use quality products for personal care.
Copyright 2004 SleepingBean.

I use cloth diapers and mama cloth. I hate to use bleach, but I don't want them to stain! Is there a natural alternative?

Good for you for choosing cloth for yourself and your children! You can care for that cloth without the harsh chemicals in bleach. In fact, bleach will break down the fibers in your cloth products quicker, so by eliminating bleach, you are lengthening the lifecycle of your cloth as well!

To get your cloth clean and stain free, the first thing I do (after wiping poop into the toilet with a sprayer or toilet paper) is cold water soak! Whenever there is a poopy diaper or dirty mama cloth pad, I put them in a cold pot or bucket of water to soak until I get them into the laundry (within 48 hours).

For alternatives to bleach, you have several options:
1) I have found that squirting a natural odor and stain eliminator, such as BacOut, directly onto the stain works wonders at neutralizing the smell as well as preventing staining. If you opt to use BacOut, you can put it into a spray bottle, which will make it last longer and target the stain more effectively.

2) You can purchase hydrogen peroxide in laundry strength (typically around 30% instead of the standard 3% you are familiar with). If you see a product labeled as non chlorine bleach, or color safe bleach, it is most likely hydrogen peroxide, so check the label. This is a fantastic disinfectant and bleach alternative that can be used in a very similar oxidizing method you are trying to replace by eliminating bleach. Additionally you should be able to locate this quite easily at any health food store.

3) A third option is to use the sun any time you can! The sun will bleach out stains and do the work for you.

Finally, I recommend having 2 different laundry soaps you rotate between to prevent buildup. If you use a combination of these methods you will successfully have stain free diapers and mama cloth and you can say so long to bleach.
In our home we had much success with cold water soak, BacOut spray, alternating laundry soap, and hot water wash. It may sound confusing at first, but your routine will fall into place so quickly you will begin to wonder why you ever thought you needed bleach in the first place.

I am about to be a new mom and want to use cloth diapers. It seems the "all in one" diapers are a great, convenient way to go, but I wonder, are there advantages to using fitted diapers with covers instead?

You are right about AIO (all in one) being convenient. Many people like to keep them on hand for care providers, and even for dad to use because it is such a simple solution to cloth diapering.

Some advantages to using fitted diapers with covers instead are the following:

• Your covers and diapers now have the option to last for different life cycles. This can be beneficial should the fabric from either the waterproof cover or the cloth diaper become worn or damaged, then you won't necessarily lose out on the package. In the event that the diaper itself wears out before the cover, you simply buy the replacement diaper instead of an entire new AIO.
• With an AIO you are washing your cover every time the diaper itself is soiled. This is unnecessary laundry rigor to the waterproof portion of that AIO. For example, many times a cover will not become wet or soiled when a well made fitted diaper has been worn (or a properly secured flat fold/prefold). I have been able to use the same cover for an entire day on a regular basis, while going through many fitted diapers. The covers then last longer because they are exposed to less washing and drying.
• With the separate cover and diaper system you are also granted more freedoms for use of natural fiber covers, such as the many wool soakers and wraps available. I found wool to be the best option for us with our little girl having such sensitive skin. I only had to purchase 3 wool covers and I rotated them. They did not become soiled between each use because the fitted diaper underneath had leg gussets to help prevent accidents, although they did get soiled eventually. If I had to wash the outer cover of a wool all in one and then wait for that system to dry, I would have been required to invest much more in the cost of wool for diapering my baby.
• Better leg gussets. I found that with the option to pick and choose the right fitted and right wool or PUL cover to fit my children, I was able to find a system that did not leak at the legs. The All in Ones we tried did not have as secure of leg gussets because of the gathering of fabrics at the leg itself. Some AIO are better then others in this area and depending on your child's build and consistency of stools, this may or may not be an issue. The Mothering Diapering board would be a good resource to compare reviews of brands and details in that area.

All in ones are a wonderful way to cloth diaper in one convenient step and you may love the ease of use, but I would recommend trying out a couple of systems to see what works best for your child as each baby has a different build and fit. I find the natural fiber fitted and cover combo to be the most effective and economical solution over the long term, but diapering is as varied as the personalities of the babes we wrap in cloth!

Do you have a recipe for natural children's shampoo and conditioner that I can make at home?

Most young children do well with minimal washings and mild products. I recommend using a very mild natural shampoo for hair, and to use it sparingly. To make a simple combination at home you can try the following:

Shampoo Concentrate

Ingredients:
• 2 teaspoons of Carrier Oil (this could be your choice of Avocado, Olive,
• Sweet Almond, Jojoba, or other carrier oil)
• 3/4 Cup Dr. Bronners Unscented or other liquid castile soap
• 10 drops Pure essential oils (sweet orange oil is a nice mild one for children and babies. Lavender is generally safe as well)
• ½ Cup distilled water
• Spray bottle

Directions:
Add water, then soap and oils. Mix well. This is a concentrated mixture, so a little will go a long way. I find it convenient to use a spray bottle and just do a small spray at the spot of hair that needs the most concentration and rub in from there. This will not be a tear free solution so take care to avoid contact with the eyes.

For conditioners you can follow with a simple rinse of Apple Cider Vinegar diluted 50% with water to help rinse away residue or buildup. For a deep scalp and hair conditioning, you can use a salve or straight carrier oil to massage into the scalp and hair to help remove cradle cap. Sweet almond or Avocado are both fine for this. Washing the oil back off the hair can be more of a challenge so keep that in mind when applying and target the areas where it is needed.

If the problem is tight curly hair that knots regularly, I have not yet come across a simple solution to this through means of conditioner. I find that regular brushings and keeping hair back helps more then any commercial product for my own curly haired child.

To replace standard bar soap for a young child or anyone with sensitive skin, I recommend using soap free wash bags. You can play with the recipe. If your child has food allergies you may need to alter some ingredients.

Soap Free Baby Wash bags

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cup organic oatmeal, uncooked
• 1/2 Cup dried roses
• 1/2 Cup dried lavender
• 1/4 Cup dried calendula
• 1/2 Cup dried chamomile
• ¼ Cup dried milk optional

In your Vita Mix or Coffee Grinder, turn your oatmeal, and all four dried flowers into powders. Mix your powdered ingredients with your milk base and viola! It's ready for use :)

I recommend a re-usable muslin bag. Put your powdered blend together in a glass jar and fill your bag as needed, disposing of used contents in the bag after each use. This bag can just be set into the water for babies to make a lovely milky oatmeal bath, and the filled sachet can be used as a washcloth for older children and adults.

I want to use cloth diapers at night for my kids, but they wake up at night due to the wetness of their urine. Can you give me some suggestions on how to make cloth diapers comfortable for my kids.

My answer may not be popular, but I advise you to change the babies at night if needed regardless of diaper type. It is unnecessary for the baby to sit in his/her urine or BM for hours on end. Of course babies will pee at night, and I am not anticipating you will be waking your family up every 2 hours to check and change, but I would recommend you try the following:

• Whomever is up last, change the baby if the baby is wet. Anytime you are up nursing the baby in the night, observe the diaper and change if needed.
• If your baby is sleeping sound through the night, you can give them a cloth diaper that will help them sleep through until morning if changing is not an option. The key is to have enough fabric to absorb. You can use a fleece or wool style liner to wick moisture away from the skin, and you will need plenty of cotton or hemp fabric to absorb. How much fabric will depend on your individual child and their wetness. My first daughter used one standard hemp fleece fitted diaper and one small cotton prefold at night. My second child only needed a fitted diaper without a liner or doubler. I prefer using wool to add a bit of breathability to the diapering. I recommend undyed, natural wool for night use. If the wool is leaking through, you may need to either lanolize the cover or use additional doublers/liners in the night time diaper.

For bowel movements it is important to change the baby right away, regardless of the hour.

I am working towards moving my family into a healtier, more natural lifestyle; incorporating organic food, organic clothes, healthy and safe cleaners for our clothing and home, etc. My problem is that it's kind of overwhelming, there's so much to change, coming from a conventional American lifestyle, that I almost don't know where to start. What would make the biggest impact on the health of my children, their food, their environment, what?

• Baking Soda
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Vinegar
• Liquid Soap (I keep a natural liquid dish soap on hand as well as a natural castile liquid soap)

For everything in your home, you should be able to use those four things to clean them. The vinegar can be mixed in a spray bottle with water 50/50 to serve as an all purpose cleaner. It can be used undiluted as well if you prefer. This will clean everything from countertops, toilets, linoleum, to glass and more.

For a more abrasive and scrubbing clean, grab the box of baking soda! I use baking soda sprinkled onto my silver sink with a bit of water to make a paste. This brings the silver surfaces in my home to a polish as well as taking tough spots off pans and floors. If disinfecting is a concern, here is a solution. Have two spray bottles. One filled with hydrogen peroxide and one filled with white vinegar. Spray one on the surface followed by the other. It doesn't matter which order you spray them in, but the reaction of the two when they meet will kill the bacteria that may be worrying you in your kitchen.

To move your family to a more natural way of eating, get back to the basics. Cook with whole fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and meats if you are so inclined. Avoid foods with ingredients you cannot pronounce and stay away from hydrogenated oils. If you need some inspiration in this area, visit the Mothering.com Discussion board. The Good Eating forum will be a great source of recipe and menu ideas! You may need to start slowly with the transitions in foods, depending on what you are used to, but just remember that everything you eat and everything you feed your children is serving your bodies and providing a source of nutrients. Additionally, I am a firm believer that if we teach our children to eat healthy now, they will grow up eating healthy. If we teach them to sustain on macaroni, crackers, cookies, and other typical "children" foods, they will carry on the unhealthy eating habits into their teen and adult years. We can empower our children to nourish their bodies by making smart choices in our daily
eating.

To address your concerns of organic clothing, I think that it is a great way to support our environment. Start by replacing items as needed here and there. Another thing to consider is re-using clothes that are already out there by supporting second hand stores. This is easy on the budget and kind on our earth as we can avoid the waste of yet another item by re-using an existing one. In addition, I sometimes find wonderful surprises such as organic clothes, natural wool blankets and sweaters and other such treats by stopping in second hand stores.

Mothering Magazine as well as the Mothering Shopping Guide online will both be good sources for you if you are looking for outlets to purchases natural and organic items that you may not be able to find locally as well.

Remember, every little bit does help, so don't be hard on yourself if you cannot make the switch overnight. Start with what you can and over time you will shift out all the overly consumerist and unnecessary and or toxic items and live a more natural lifestyle with ease.