Diapers and Subcriptions: My honest opinion on Honest

I had been meaning to post my opinions on diapers for sometime now but it's good that I waited until my 2nd child to do so because I'd have now more to say and know about it. Is it really that complex? Well...yes and no. As a first time parent, I considered all choices when it came to which diaper I would choose for Isla. I read blogs and reviews on different brands and really considered how much I am willing to spend for it. After all that research, I went, for both babies, Honest Co. I also liked Parasol Co. but thought that their pricing and what came in the subscription was not enough for the money. I also considered reusable diapers but based on reviews, it is a lot of work (washing) and also need some budget to start your pile. Now you may ask, do you need subscription? Of course not, as the mom, you are entitled to choose and purchase whichever diaper you want for your child. This post is mainly to say what I love and don't love about what I chose for my kids.

Love...

1. I will admit that the first thing that drew me to honest are the prints! I'm a girly girl, pretty superficial about certain things including diapers that goes under my children's clothes! haha...they're just too cute!

2. I've tried several brands--pampers, huggies, target brand, seventh generation, babyganics and I will say that Honest will still be my favorite. Yes it is overpriced, this is something to consider but after using it and going back to other brands, I can tell there's a difference. Its absorption is great. It lasts about 6-9hours with no leakage whatsoever and my kids drink/feed a lot! Isla who doesn't sleep straight and still relies on milk (sadly) to help her get back to sleep drinks in total about 10-12oz of milk/water mixture every night and that cause a lot of peeing over night. With other brands I end up having to change her 2-3x/night as to 1/night with honest. With my little one, Quino takes his last feed at about 9-930pm of 6-8oz of formula and will sleep straight until 7a-8a does not need any changes overnight, unlike with other brands that would need 1 change over night and would have leaked by the morning time.

3. Honest diaper also does not sag. Even if it gets full, it gets heavy but does not sag like most diapers.

4. I also love their wipes, it's too bad I use so much of it that the 4 packs that used to come in my subscription is no longer sufficient for two babies. It's thick, not overly wet which is great because Isla has very sensitive skin and needs to be dry at all times. It also does not tear or stretch out like other wipes would. Not scented either, some like it that way some like it scented, but that's just an info I'd add here.

Great tip coming your way!!!
5. My opinion on subscriptions? I love it! With honest or any diaper brand you choose, you can have subscriptions. You can go directly to the honest website and avail their $80 one (I did this for a year and some months, came with 186 diapers and 4 packs of 76 bag wipes) or simply go to amazon and now, target has them too! I love it! With two babies, shopping anywhere is tough and since I try to limit my target runs, I now do most of my shopping online. I just love that diapers/wipes are in stock at my house since I still have two using them for now. I've switched my subscriptions to target from direct honest, this way I am not tied to just one brand and I can customize my monthly payment the way I want it. My current subscription at target has me getting 2boxes of honest diapers and one box of pampers 576count wipes for $56 every 4-6weeks (with redcard). More wipes that I would ever get for the $80 I used to pay at honest. I also only subscribed to two boxes of diapers because target would sometimes have a sale on honest diapers and promos on all diapers and I would still like to be able to avail those. For example, recently target had a promo of buying 2boxes of diapers any brand and you will get a $10 gift card. Since I normally use 3boxes of diapers/month for two (yes with honest even though the count is less, since my changes are also less, 3-4 boxes are enough for my two babies), I purchased the two and used the $10 giftcard to purchase one more box.

Not so great...
1. Do  not be fooled with the honest marketing ploy about it being green or extra safe etc. a diaper is a diaper, because it has prints, they still use dye, and even if it marketed itself as safe for the environment, because we throw them in non-biodegradable bags, it kind of defeats the purpose.

2. Biggest one, it is pricey! Overpriced in fact, I, however, use it because I love it therefore I chose to spend on it. Now though, I do have a more conscious effort to get them at the lowest price possible.

3. Honest can be found at marshalls and ross, a tad bit cheaper price...it kind of hurt when I used to have the subscription only to find out you can also get it elsewhere.

4. Sizing, I do think they run a bit small compared to the weight description on the sizes. My kids now wear the same size diaper (at 11 months apart, yes they don't weigh that far off from each other), at size 4 even though weight wise it says they should still be ok with a 3, 4 just fits more comfortably for them.

Update: Life with 2 under 2

Well, it's been a while since I've blogged anything. Jeb and I now have 2 under 2 and life could not be any busier! I often wonder if there are differences with having multiple kids that are not so close together in age and having two that are really close. I have my sisters and some friends to compare it with and I guess no two lives of parenthood are alike, not one is easier than the other. But if you are curious as to how our "2under2" experience is, here are a few updates, changes and realizations:

1. Sleep.
Or should I say lack of? Surprisingly enough, Joaquin or Quino as we call him is an amazingly good sleeper (so far that is. Isla was great too for the first 7months. I'm already dreading Quino reaching that age). Isla on the other hand, never got over her separation anxiety stage and now partially sleeps in her room, mostly in ours (she moves between 11:30am-12:30am), all sleep training out the door! Even then, she wakes up about 2-3times, sometimes more, a night. So...no sleep not due to the infant, but more due to our young toddler. 

2. You can never have enough diapers...to buy and to change.
One of the biggest adjustments we had is the amount of work and time it is to change diapers. We are constantly on diaper duty! Our morning routine begins with that and ends with it as well. For our baby sprinkle, we had a diapers & wipes party and man oh man, was that a good idea or what!? We did not have to purchase a single diaper for Joaquin until he was about 3months old. Now, our honest subscription is divided between the two and is covering our diaper needs (wipes, we buy boxes of and we still always run out of it). I'm loving our honest subscription even more so now than ever!

3. Getting ready.
So I think this is true for any mom with multiples, it's been 6months since Quino arrived and I still can't master getting ready on time (haha!). I have now cut my hair short for the sole purpose of not having to mind it. I go out of the house with my hair wet and no make up, I'd be lucky if I can squeeze in a 5minute face which includes, eyebrows, cheek and lip. Forget about impromptu trips, just not possible with two babies especially if one parent is absent. It takes about 1.5hours to get out which includes, prepping the kids (diapers/clothes and shoes), packing their bag (and we pre-pack the day before, so only last minute additions), loading them in the car (toddler fights the carseat at all times now).

4. Time.
This is probably the ultimate challenge of all. Jeb and I both work, schedules are different but because we do work, our time at home, specially mines is very limited. I get about 1-2hours in the morning and about 1-2hours at night to divide between the two. I mostly live with guilt because of this but it is the harsh reality of being a working parent, even if you just have one it is and so much more so when you have more than one child. Because our toddler is so attached to me, there are nights, I have to admit that I only get to hold Quino for one feeding before he is asleep. I certainly wish that there's more than 24hours in a day so that I can squeeze in more cuddles for him and more playtime with Isla.

5. Balance.
Impossible. I would say this and it may not be true for all but I don't think I can ever reach the right balance between all of it--home, work, parenthood. However, there isn't a day that I don't try. Everyday I try something new to make things work better for our children. One always has to give and you just have to choose which one will for the day. Work will always be secondary to my children of course, but there are days where I need to be at work more, I just try to lessen those days. I have come to accept that I cannot do it all. Our home, which I spent so much time cleaning and organizing, designing before has to take the backseat. Cooking is seldom, maybe once to thrice a week. Fortunately, our house is well-maintained by my amazingly supportive and hardworking husband. Thank you love!

To sum it up, is the life of 2under2 crazy? Yes! It is hard, I've cried so many times because of how challenging it is, it is never boring, it is beautiful and ugly at the same time, I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world!

Confessions of a new mom

I just had to write this and there are so many I want to include but I don't think people will all day to read my confessions as a new mom. But here are a few of what I think many may say they went through, not just me.

1. Giving birth wasn’t that bad (with epidural), after birth was worse.
I don’t know if all new moms will agree but I honestly, complained more after birth than during birth. My birth plan worked well for me, I had 21hours of labor but it wasn’t bad with the epi. I did feel pain, enough to get me pushing good and making the actual pushing short enough. After birth however, is a different story.

Ah, how uncomfortable was getting the placenta out? And if you’re as unlucky as I am, hemorrhoids??? The worse!!! On top of that is the stitches healing (down there and worse if you’re c-section), constipation and your breast bleeding from the non-stop breastfeeding of your hungry little one. With my 2nd baby on the way, I am seriously more afraid to feel those pain again than the birth pains!

2. Breastfeeding, not an exact science…and it’s not that bad if you can’t or choose not to do it.
Part of my birth plan was breastfeeding of course for all the reasons that it is the best. But you know, not all are fortunate to be able to and not all will choose to and that’s ok! I have to remind all moms of this because so many writes about their success story with breastfeeding, giving advise how to succeed, but not too many will talk about their choice of not to or their struggle of not being able to. Click on my next post for my breastfeeding experience!

3. The first 2months was blah!
Sorry, motherhood is exciting and yes, our babies are the most gorgeous and most difficult thing that ever happened to us but, the first two months, you and your baby will kind of just stare at each other, cry together because you both can’t figure out what’s wrong, and sleep together because you both are just so exhausted. Your baby also doesn’t respond much yet during this time (some though will do coos and aahss at 2months) part of what makes it blah! It is also thought the most difficult time. #thestruggleisreal during this time because you are still getting to know your baby’s personality, what all his/her cries mean and what does he/she wants. Can we just admit that it is not at all that glamorous nor fun? It’s hard work, it’s a struggle but hey, it’s all worth it for sure!

4. You will lose your temper and part of your sanity.
I have to admit that I have screamed at least once to ask my Isla, what she wants. I felt guilty afterwards and I apologized a million times because it’s not her fault she can’t tell me but it will drive you somewhat insane trying to figure out what your baby wants. Losing your temper and at that very short moment, your sanity is part of parenthood. I’ve seen mothers of all different ages with children of different ages too and they all went through this. The best thing is to forgive yourself, step out of the room for a minute, breathe and start all over again.

5. Lastly, motherhood is a different experience for all.
I am one of the few fortunate people who has a huge support system, my sisters who are also mothers, my mom, my husband and many of my other friends who are moms and even those who are not were all there for me during the most difficult times that comes with being a new mom (whether it’s your first of you’re a new mom to your 2nd or 3rd child). My experience as a new mom had its struggles but I can honestly say that my support system made it much more bearable. But there are others who wouldn’t be able to say the same and will be afraid to admit it.

To those new moms and not having the best time yet, it’s ok to say that it’s not easy, it’s ok to cry, it’s ok to admit that it’s not what you expected because it really isn’t what you expected. That’s true for all. What you plan and what you had in mind will not always happen and you are going to commit mistakes. And to those who had a more pleasant experience, encourage those who need it, support them and please continue to share your stories!