I am so excited to share a conversation with Shannon Griffith, owner of Green Diaper Babies, Chicago's premier cloth diaper delivery service. 

I used disposable diapers with my daughter when she was a newborn, but was happy to convert to cloth diapers when she was about a month old.  Using cloth diaper with my daughter I fell in love with their ease, baby-friendly fabrics, and how well she was able to convert from diaper to using the toilet. What was most surprising for me getting started is that they can be just as simple as disposables. 

There is something out there called an All-In-One which was the selling point to get my husband on board.  Green Diaper Babies knew this kind of diaper would make a tremendous difference for families, and she is happy to offer this option as well as traditional pre-fold diapers. 

But don't get bogged down with this lingo - Green Diaper Babies offers a class for parents looking into diaper use.

Green Diaper Babies takes all the good qualities of using cloth diapers for your family and none of the bad, meaning, cleaning the soiled nappies!

Shannon has a love for families and the environment, and this venture is an extension of those passions.  Feel free to visit Green Diaper Babies for more information or - get this - call 773 - DIAPERS.  Love that.


Interview with Shannon Griffith

What led to the creation of Green Diaper Babies?  

An adventure! :)  I am originally from Colorado but living in Oklahoma at the time the seeds were planted in December of 2012.   I moved to Chicago in the summer of 2013 to get things started.  It will be 2 years in August and I'm so happy I took the leap to try Chicago, try cloth, and I can definitely say I found a passion!  

What have you learned your customers are concerned about?  

Our customers are concerned about usually a few reasons.  First, the environment; even making a small change, one cloth diaper a day would say 365 diapers from landfills! The numbers add up.  Another reason would be baby health: rash is slim or non existent, as well as skin sensitivities are eliminated because of the natural fiber.  Plus a baby in cloth diapers on average potty trains 6 months sooner!

Can you speak to the level of education that may be involved to encourage people who may not know this diaper option exists?   

Parents overall are becoming better at looking at options, trying to be open minded and find what parenting styles and techniques they want for their family.  Cloth is one of those choices.  Cloth is not as mainstream yet as it ought, but certainly has progressed over the past generation and we can only hope this continues.  Most families who are looking into better, holistic, healthier options for their family often turn to cloth.

What is your favorite part of the cloth diaper business?

Oh my, my favorite part?  I have given a couple of years of my full attention and passion to the the cloth diaper business and really love it.  I have experienced every part of this company and I wouldn't trade it for anything!  My favorite part is that at the end of the day, the long week, and the load of laundry, I know that I've had a positive impact on my friends, city, and earth.  I'm making a difference in a small way and I sleep well at night knowing that one less diaper is in the landfill and one more baby slept well in cloth.  I wouldn't be in the business if it wasn't for the wonderful families I work with daily! 

The cloth diaper market has many different options and brands.  How did you come to your decision on which brands you would use? 

I knew we would carry the traditional cotton pre-fold as it is the most basic, traditional, yet approachable and affordable.  Our All-In-One diaper decision was a bit harder because we knew we would be standing out.  The All-In-One diapers are often not offered in services across the nation and I chose to give them a shot.  I came into the industry with a fresh eye and saw the modernization of cloth.  I knew my company needed to be on that page to offer the best for our customers.

How do you offer ongoing support to families who use your service? 

One of the best things I think we offer in our service is our free in-home consultation for each of our clients.  Though this technically happens before they begin the service, it sets every new client up for success!  We take time to meet with each family individually to practice putting diapers on, review products and policy, and to have a face to a name. This helps us in our relationships going forward because we know siblings, pets, babies, and parents names and environments.  Now that the weather is nice we also coordinate Meetups for our customers and other cloth diapering families in and around Chicago.  We meet in parks and cafes to talk and share stories and mingle.  It's a real blast!  

What have some of the responses been from customers? 

I'm thankful to say that most customer responses have been positive.  Over the course of the couple years I've had the opportunity to watch little ones grow and I am thrilled to have been a part of their lives!  The families are terrific and allow us to be succeeding.  Often we hear good reviews on our service, which for me is most important, so I am thankful for that!! 

What parts of Chicago do you service?  

We service every zip code of the city of Chicago; we go North through North Shore to Highland Park, West to Elgin an Aurora, South to Tinley Park, and of course everything in between! 

What is the best way for people to learn more about cloth diapering through a diaper service? 

We offer free Cloth Diaper 101 course usually twice a month.  We have classes in the suburbs, West Loop, Lincoln Park, Ravenswood, and Evanston. We try to meet in spaces that are relevant for our customers such as prenatal gyms, chiropractor and acupuncturists who workwith pre- & postnatal, and birthing centers and studios. Our workshops discuss options of washing at home or cloth diapering with a service.  And as mentioned before, we also offer the free in-home consultation for our customers, which is a great one-on-one.  And if schedules don't allow or class doesn't work out, call us: 773-DIAPERS.  We are happy to talk about cloth diaper with you!

Thank you so much to Shannon and her team that makes this incredible service possible!  If you are looking for more information about Green Diaper Babies, visit their website at www.greendiaperbabies.com

The hit 1995 teen movie Clueless is celebrating it's 20th anniversary, and I just can't help my two reactions:

1) 20 years!  As If! 

and

2) Cher might be a mom! (and in fact Alicia Silverstone is a mother)

There are some iconic terms that were born because of this movie.  In fact, it was bemused this morning on NPR, that an entire generation was liberated from the  baggy pants and flannel shirts of the early 90's grunge BECAUSE of this movie.  (Oh, don't worry...it's back) 

So let's revisit some of these, shall we?  With a labor and delivery twist?

As if:  No way!

Partner: I'm really tired.  I think I'm going to go home and come back when you are ready to push the baby out.
Mother: As if!

Audi: I'm leaving (likened to "I'm outty.")

Partner:  Where are you going?  I think it's too early to leave for the hospital!

Laboring Mother: (walking out the door to the car, breath, breath, breath)  I'm Audi.  You coming?

Buggin': Totally freakin' out.

Mother talking on phone to doula: Hi Ariel!  Contractions are picking up and we are on our way to the hospital.  Can you meet us there?  My husband is totally buggin' and there is a lot of pain in my back I'll need some help with.
Ariel:  No problem.  See you soon.  We'll get everyone comfortable.  Drive safe.

Keeping it real: Being realistic and honest

Mother:  Ariel, I know the doctor is keeping it real, but I think I need more time before we try something else.  What do you think?
Ariel:  Why don't you talk with your team an see if we can have an hour or two to try some position changes and revisit their suggestions if there is no change.  If they say no, then there is probably a medical reason they can explain.

Whatever: I don't care what you say

Nurse: Okay.  Sorry to bother you.  I know these contractions are really tough but I'm going to get this baby back on the monitor.  I'm just going to find a better spot. (start moving fetal monitor)
Mother: (finishing up a contraction, breathe, breathe, breathe ) Whatever.

Not quite to the delivery room yet? Don't worry.  Go have a boinkfest with your Baldwin, or get caught Jeepin' and you could be soon! 

Regardless if you have watched this movie or not, you won't have to feel clueless in labor!

Authored by Ariel Swift

When Did I Plant that Seed?
I got another look into my 3 year-old as a 25 minute tantrum progressed and ended yesterday morning.

Like most mornings, after we wake up, we make a direct bee-line to the bathroom.   I usually outline what the next 45 minutes will look like.  It moves seamlessly through that plan and we are on our way.  

But not yesterday. 

"Hey Harp.  When we get done going potty, we're going to get dressed, eat oatmeal, get our rain boots and coat on, then grab our bag and go to school.  Deal?"

No.  No deal apparently because then she flipped out. 
Mommy!  Moooooommy!  Mommy.  Mommy.  Mommy.  MOMMY! 

I try to get her to say a different word - or any word more descriptive for what she actually wanted.  I tried different clothing options.  I tried offering her princess skirt.  We could paint.  We could color.  We could have a race!

Nothing.  Just tears, and a broken little heart, and I had no idea what was going on.  As she is collapsed in the hallway, I walk to my room to get dressed myself and tell my husband, "She is very three this morning." 

She follows me to the kitchen, I make her oatmeal.  All the while, still tears, still "mommy." 

I get down on her level. 
I scoop her up. 
We snuggle. 
We rock in our chair. 
I put her down.
I pick her back up. 

Still all the while, mommymommymommy......

I sit her on my lap and start feeding her spoonfuls of oatmeal.  She eats willingly, one small bite after another, although still with tears.

Just as the bowl of oatmeal is done, I put the spoon down and she immediately stops crying. 

"Mommy, I was so sad."

"What were you sad about?"

"I was sad because I didn't want to hurt your feelings to tell you I wanted cold cereal, not oatmeal." 

EUREKA! 
Mystery solved. 


Growing Trust
After more snuggles, hugs, and a few tissues, I tried to explain that she doesn't have to worry about hurting my feelings.  That she gets to have all her feelings right when she needs to have them.  That she can get mad, frustrated, annoyed, happy, excited, and sad with mommy and that's ok.  I will still be her mommy and I will still love her and help her with all of her feelings. 

Mommy gets help with her feelings and she gets help from mommy.



Sometimes You Need Upfront Unemotional Support
Labor is not like my daughter's breakfast preference -  but you don't have to keep anything inside when you are going through birth.  As a laboring woman, you get to have all of your emotions.  If I am your doula,  I can't be offended.  My feelings can't be hurt.  My role is to be right there with you when you have all of those feelings and tell you it's ok. 

Some families choose to bring a doula onto their birth team for this exact reason.  A family member may be able to come and support, but the mother or father would be too concerned about that person's influence.  

Would they be able to focus on the work that needed to be done to get their baby out?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  

The fear of voicing anxiety of disappointing someone can be so strong that it keeps women's labor from progressing.  Knowing you have support that isn't invested emotionally in the outcome of your birth means you can put your attention where it should be - on you! 

If this resonates with you let's talk about how you don't have to eat the oatmeal if you don't want to...especially if you want the cold cereal.  It is perfectly fine with me either way. 

And today, Harp said loudly, "I want just cereal today mommy!" 

Those words were so great to hear.

Questions:
What is it like to be held hostage to a silent expectation? What feelings come to the surface?
Have you ever kept something to yourself because you were conscious of how it would make others feel?  

Authored by A Swift Doula