Using Cloth Nappies at Night

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What are the options available when you want to use cloth nappies (diapers) for your child overnight, but their daytime nappies just can't handle it?

When you have a newborn, you don't really need to look into different cloth napping options for night. Not only is the wee capacity of a newborn quite small, but as you're changing them when you feed them several times a night, you don't need a nappy that will absorb huge amounts of liquid or last for hours. Once your baby starts sleeping though the night, though, or if your toddler starts having several large wees overnight you may find that the nappies you've been using just don't work so well overnight.

There are several options available to you if you want to continue to use cloth nappies overnight.

Add extra absorbency to the nappies you use during the day

You can add extra boosters or inserts to your everyday nappies. How much you NEED to add will depend on your child's weeing capability, how much you CAN add will depend on the nappy. Generally a nappy with a wider crotch and a roomier behind works better than trimmer options for nighttime boosting.

Some brands actually have specific nighttime boosters you can add to their nappy for increased absorbency, which makes it nice and easy.

When you're adding extra absorbency to a nappy, make sure that the extra bulk doesn't create gaps around the leg or waist - you don't want leaks.

If you're using a nappy with a built in waterproof layer like a pocket nappy, make sure that the outer is 100% polyester - so poly PUL or minky PUL outers are best. If the nappy has a cotton PUL outer we wouldn't recommend it for long periods or nights as the wee can wick to the cotton outer and then spread to clothes.

For children who sleep with their bum in the air or otherwise not flat on their back, a Pocket, All-in-One or All-in-2 nappy may not be the best choice (though every child is different), as the position can cause gaping and leaks. In this case the best option is a fitted nappy and good cover.

Which brings us one of the best night options:

Use a fitted nappy and cover

A fitted nappy and a separate cover can be the best option for the average nighttime wetter. As the whole nappy is absorbent, it can take more wee than the average Pocket, AIO or AI2 nappy, and having a separate cover over the top really helps with leaks. You can also add additional boosters to the outside of the nappy, between it and the cover.

Wool and fleece covers can be great options for night covers due to their breathability. Wool is especially great due to the way it not only absorbs extra moisture, but actually evaporates it.

Use a dedicated night nappy

If you're finding that an ordinary fitted nappy just doesn't have absorbency that you need, then have a look at the various dedicated night nappies available.

Most of them are fitted nappies, so still require a waterproof cover over the top, but they have many more layers of fabric and absorbency in them than most standard fitted nappies. They can be bulky, and take longer to dry, but most of them fold out or disassemble for faster drying, and bulkiness is not the same issue it would be in a nappy used during the day.

If you still experience leaks using a night nappy, then using a wool cover rather than PUL can give you extra protection.

It is possible to cloth nappy at night successfully - you just need to find the right system for your little one.

See the Darlings Downunder website for lots of useful information about using cloth nappies.

Fiona runs the online business Darlings Downunder with her sister Catherine, providing a huge range of modern cloth nappies to parents around Australia as well as personalised advice to help make the cloth journey successful. See the Darlings Downunder website for lots of useful information for those considering using cloth nappies for their children: http://www.darlingsdownunder.com.au/.

Helping Baby Sleep Through the Night

Newborn babies need to eat regularly to be healthy and to gain the weight they need. Getting up in the night for those all-important feedings is an expected part of the routine for all new parents. As those first days and weeks turn into months, however, many parents start to ask themselves the important question, how to get baby to sleep through the night?

It is important to establish baby sleep patterns early in an infant's first year. Once a baby has outgrown the need for night-time feedings, sleeping through the night is healthy for her and also healthy for her tired parents.

Baby sleep problems can be very wearing. If you're wondering how to get your baby to sleep through the night, sleep training for babies is one option to consider. Sleep training usually consists of allowing baby to learn to calm herself back to sleep by gently patting her back but not picking her up when she wakes too often.

For some babies, waking too often is not the problem. For some babies simply calming down enough to sleep deeply is the hard part. These babies can benefit from a program developed by Dr. Harvey Karp. Dr. Karp's theory is that babies who are high-strung need to have the womb environment recreated around them in order to calm down and sleep well. The womb environment can be recreated with what Dr. Karp calls the "Five S's."

The first of the "Five S's" is "sucking," which is, of course, allowing a baby to suck on a bottle or pacifier. "Swinging" is the second S. A baby will be comforted by any swinging motion such as riding in a car or baby carrier. This gentle motion will remind her of the constant motion she felt in her mother's womb. The third S is referred to as "shushing." This means that babies are comforted by sounds that remind them of the constant, gentle noise of their mothers' heartbeats in the womb. The fourth S, "side," refers to the fact that most babies are more comfortable when they are lying on their left side. Once they are deeply asleep, their parents can roll them into the safer sleeping position of their back. The final S in Dr. Karp's program is "swaddling." Swaddling is the old-time practice of tightly wrapping a baby in a soft blanket. Wrapping a baby up this way allows them to once more feel the safe, enclosing walls of the womb.

If getting baby to sleep through the night has become a problem, new parents should try the "Five S" program. A baby who is calm and relaxed by reliving the comforting world of the womb will be much more likely to sleep through the night and baby sleep problems will, thankfully, be a thing of the past.

I am a mom of twins, and enjoy helping other parents (if asked) on how to deal with typical frustrations of raising a newborn. We found success in utilizing the methods from the book, "Happiest Baby on the Block", and through that (along with a deep passion for safety and SIDS prevention), I've developed Sleep Safe Baby to help provide feedback and advice on safe sleeping for babies.

Summer Infant Day and Night Handheld Color Video Monitor

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With the growing amount of pressure from your professional and household duties, it is becoming increasingly tougher to raise a baby. Isn't it? That is why, nowadays, baby monitors have become an integral part of parenting. If you are a parent and you don't have a baby monitor, then you are probably missing out on something. When you have a baby video monitor in particular, it is like you have an extra pair of eyes and ears.

Summer Infant manufactures some of the best baby video monitors. You can be rest assured of the quality, reliability and durability of the products of Summer Infant. Summer Infant day and night handheld color video monitor is one of the best selling baby monitors. It has various features.

Summer Infant day and night handheld color video monitor consists of a camera that also acts as the transmitter and a handheld unit that acts as a receiver. The handheld unit is small, lightweight and easy to carry. Being portable, this helps you see as well as hear your baby while you are roaming inside your house.

It operates at 900Mz. So, unless you are using an electronic device that operates at exactly the same frequency, the reception is great. Also, with the two-channel selection, the interference is reduced even more.

Night vision is another feature that makes using this baby monitor a great experience. This feature helps you see and hear your baby in the night also without any problem.

This product has a great sound quality. There is also 'the video ON/OFF feature that lets you switch off the video at night and listen to only the baby's sounds. Anyway, since the receiver is a handheld, it doesn't emit much light at night and disturb your sleep.

Summer Infant day and night handheld color video monitor has a range of 350 feet. It is available in two colors: White and Pink.

People who have used this baby monitor have complained of two drawbacks. One is that, at night, the video monitor may produce some static at times. Other drawback is that, there are only two channels. So, if someone within the range of 350 feet is using this same monitor at the same channel, then there are chances that they may be able to see your baby from their monitor.

All said, This Baby Monitor of Summer Infant is overall a very good product to use. If you are looking for a baby video monitor that is reliable, durable and worth the money, then Summer infant day and night handheld color video monitor is a very good candidate.

The author has studied the various baby monitors available online and has a deep understanding of these.

Summer Infant Day and Night Handheld Video Monitor Review

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The Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Video Monitor has a small 1.8" TFT color screen which offers crystal clear picture quality. This model is designed to be handheld, the shape of it fitting nicely into your hand. The unit is both compact and lightweight so you carry it around in your hand, or use the built-in foot rest to place it on a level surface. It also has an adjustable belt clip so you can attach it to your belt or waistband to be totally hands free.

The Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld monitor runs on 900MHz wireless technology which is said to avoid interference from other wireless devices such as cordless phones, microwaves and WiFi which tend to use 2.4Gz. However, some people did experience some static interference as well as being able to pick up neighbor's babies.

Unfortunately, 900MHz transmissions are open to interference, especially if you have devices that run on similar frequencies, or live in a highly populated area where other people may have video baby monitors. This is something to be aware of when looking for a monitor. If you want one that's truly secure then you need to look for a model that offers hop technology which is much more secure.

On the bright side, the monitor has a range of up to 350 feet with a clear line of sight and 100ft if obstructed by walls, large furniture etc. It also has night vision capability.

Night vision is an important consideration when choosing a video baby monitor, and this Summer Infant model has 9 in-built infrared LED's that allow the camera to view clear black and white images as the light gets low to dark within a distance of up to 6ft. This is great for parents to keep a check on their little one at night without having to go into their room or even get out of bed.

Other features include the option to add two additional cameras for multiple use. As your family or needs grow so can the monitor.

This Summer Infant video baby monitor offers good value for money if you're looking for something quite basic. It doesn't have as many features as other models such as two-way communication, but it does offer good picture quality which is important to parents. It's also very easy to use and fully portable, another great asset. The only negative is that people have experienced static interference and issues surrounding security.

Check out my Summer Infant Handheld Monitor Review for more information on features, pros and cons. See how it compares to other models before you buy with our detailed, in-depth video baby monitor reviews.