I know several people have posted having success with Petroleum Jelly/Vasoline, but I thought it interesting that this stuff we've slathered all over our babies' gentle bottoms is flammable! What's the point of flame retardant sleepwear when the moisture barrier of choice will catch on fire?!?! :)
My brother is a pilot in the air force and they are not allowed to use lip products with Petroleum in them for this very reason. Should they experience a fire in the cockpit, they don't want the pilot's lips to fuel the flames!!!! Go figure!
The Material and Safety Date Sheet for Petroleum Jelly has this under Toxicology: "May cause eye, skin or digestive irritation."
Also this, under Stability: Stable. Combustible. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.
Of course, it does go on to say: Personal protection: Material presents a low health hazard in normal use.
So this should give us some peace of mind, but.....exactly what IS "normal use"? This made me a little nervous, so I did more research & this is what I found ---
...according to the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. focused on safeguarding public health and the environment, here's a report:
INGREDIENT REPORT: WHITE PETROLATUM
As listed on the labels: WHITE PETROLATUM
WHITE PETROLATUM is found in these product types: Lip Balm/Treatment, Moisturizer, Eye Drops/Artificial Tears, Pain/Wound Treatment, Diaper Cream, Anti-itch/rash Cream, Sunscreen/Tanning Oil
May contain harmful impurities or form toxic breakdown products potentially contaminated with or breaking down into chemicals linked to cancer or other significant health problems
So, as moms, what are we to do? I'm starting to lean toward making my own stuff! At least then I'll know exactly what's going on my baby's little bunz!
I am currently using cloth diapers for my 2nd and 3rd children. A friend of mine said she had heard good things about Fuzzi Bunz and had purchased a set for herself. I had been wanting to use cloth for sometime, but like you, didn't know where to start. It was nice to have someone's opinion on something they had used. I hope I will be able to do the same for you here.
Fuzzi Bunz, like some others, are considered a pocket diaper. This means they have a diaper shell and you insert something absorbent into the "pocket". They are lined with fleece (I read another's response to you that encouraged using a fleece liner for easy disoposal of solid waste) so they make it pretty easy to "knock off" anything solid into the toilet bowl. (No potty swishing required!) I purchased a water-proof diaper bag as well that hangs in my bathroom. Once the diaper is wet or soiled, I shake the insert out of the diaper and drop them both into the diaper bag. Each day at wash (I usually wash in the evening so I can throw the bag in with the diapers) I dump the diapers and inserts into the washing machine and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
I have enjoyed the cost benefits as well as knowing I'm doing better by the environment.
A good place to see all that is offered in the world of cloth diapering is www.diaperpin.com. This site is a community of cloth diaper users that rate cloth diaper stores and it is very informational.
