Huggies vs. Luvs

My two favorite name brand diapers are Huggies and Luvs. I feel like there’s a huge misconception that Pampers are the best diapers for the simple fact that they’re the OG in the diaper industry. Truth be told, Huggies and Luvs do the job just as well and are way more affordable.

                Economically, Luvs are the better choice: Huggies are about $0.19 per diaper and Luvs are about $0.15 per diaper. Those prices are based on the average box size of each brand of size 1 diapers. Huggies sells a box of 120 for about $23, and Luvs sells a box of 104 for about $16. On a side note I would like to add that Luvs also sells an economy box of 252 diapers for $30 which would knock the price down to an exciting $0.12 per diaper! The biggest box of size 1’s that Huggies sells is the 120 count. For those of you wondering, Pampers average about $0.22 per diaper. They’re robbing you.

                Considering the design of the diapers, I think that Huggies and Luvs are pretty equal. They are cut in a curve around the thigh area to better fit your baby. They both feel comfortable when you put them on. Some generic brands feel stiff and scratchy, but these brands are flexible and soft. I do think that Luvs fit a tad smaller than Huggies. When my daughter was wearing newborn size diapers she grew out of Luvs faster than Huggies. At the time when she was borderline newborn/size 1, she was wearing newborn diapers in Huggies and size 1 in Luvs. I didn’t find that to be a deal breaker, though.

                Finally, there is absorbency. I think Huggies is going to take the cake in this category. When my daughter has a really wet diaper Huggies keep her much drier than Luvs. Also, if it has been a while since you have changed your baby, and the diaper is full, Luvs tend to turn mushy. I almost feel like if I would squeeze the Luvs hard enough, I could wring out some pee. If you put the same amount of liquid in a Huggies diaper it would feel much sturdier. That’s the only way I know how to put it.

With all that being said, I would like to add that my all-time favorite diapers are the Up&Up Target brand diapers. A box of 120, size 1’s are only $20 which puts the cost per diaper right in the middle of Luvs and Huggies at $0.16 per diaper. For my daughter, they get the job done better than Luvs, Huggies, and Pampers. At one point, I was beginning to think that every time Kiana pooped it was going to be a blow out. That was until I tried the Up&Up brand. Kiana has never pooped through a Target brand diaper, which to us moms is a big deal. The only downfall for us though is that Walmart is much closer than Target.

All in all, if you’re trying to go cheap; go for Luvs. If you’re ok with spending a little more for better quality; go for Huggies. But if you can make it to Target, do that!

Cover Your Boobs!

As a breastfeeding mom, one of my biggest obstacles is how I plan on feeding my daughter while I am out. Breastfeeding in public is always a hot topic, and now that I fit into that category I can finally shed some empathetic light on the controversy.

Get ready to shame me moms, because I don’t understand moms that breastfeed in public uncovered, I really don’t.

Don’t get me wrong, I think that breastfeeding is beautiful. I think that the ability of a woman’s body to produce the nutrition for her baby to grow is an amazing thing. I also find it astonishing that a newborn baby, never exposed to the world before, knows exactly how to latch and feed themselves. Breastfeeding is such a natural thing, and it is hard not to see the beauty in it. However, I think the biggest reason I find it so beautiful is because it is a very private and affectionate moment for you and your baby. There is not a better way to bond with your baby than sitting in a quiet, peaceful, empty room breastfeeding your baby.

I think women need to stop only considering how they feel about exposing their breasts in public and start considering how it makes other people feel. I have breastfeeding friends who see no issue in plopping their boob out in front of a room full of people, and while it doesn’t necessarily bother me, it is awkward for some people. When we are planning a trip to see family, or anywhere that would require a feeding while we are out I either plan to pump a bottle, or I pack my nursing cover. If I am at a family member’s house I tend to go to a back bedroom and feed my daughter there. It really isn’t inconvenient, and it’s much more comfortable for everyone.

I honestly thought that I would be on the losing side of this argument, but I found some interesting statistics to back me up. I found it surprising that on that specific website 60% of voters said yes, cover up.

I think about it this way: Before being a mommy I never whipped my boob out in public. If I had it would have been completely inappropriate. Why does this value change now that my breasts carry milk? They look the same? They’re the same pair? Call me old fashioned, but mommy or not I think your breasts should be a private issue. For further reading on this issue, this mommy blogger makes some awesome points too.

I’m a huge breastfeeding advocate. If you can produce breast milk then by golly you should be giving it to your baby. I am much more comfortable feeding my baby something my own body produces than feeding her something some strangers in a warehouse concoct. I am also much more comfortable letting that experience be a private one.

My Daughter is Black

 

In light of the newest incident where an unarmed black man was killed, I can no longer muffle the words I have been longing to say. No, I do not have an opinion on this because "I date a black man therefore I think I'm black." I have an opinion because sadly, I live in a world where I have to fear that my biracial daughter is going to be subjected to irrational violence and cruel words simply because her skin color is slightly darker.

There’s something that a vast majority of white people suffer from that I refer to as ISOS or Ignorant Superior Opinion Syndrome. This means that these people feel their opinions are superior even though they are completely ignorant to the real facts. This is pretty ironic considering the definition of the 'N' word is an ignorant person. Clearly not all white people suffer from this because I am white, and I am stating my opinion based on facts.

I am continuously hearing remarks regarding these murders that are quite astonishing, but there is one in particular I want to comment on.

"This is not about race."

These murders have EVERYTHING to do with race. No, not every shooting was done because the man behind the gun was racist. Not every cop thought, "This man is black, I hate black people, so I'm going to shoot him since I am a cop, and it will be justified." However, every cop was more "on their toes" because the man they were pursuing was black. Black Americans have this stereotype hovering over their head that all black Americans are dangerous criminals, or have the potential to be such. Had these men been white, these cops would not have felt so threatened or anxious behind the trigger. That makes these cases prejudice cases.

These such cases are racial because to the oppressed (Black Americans) it has ALWAYS been about race. It’s the reason doors are locked when a black person is approaching. Even though white people are 6 times more likely to be murdered by a white person than by a black person. It's the reason remarks such as "A black man took my job” are made. Even though the only reason he was hired over you is either because he was more qualified or because racial quotas have to be put in place to protect the black community. Or the infamous, “I’m tired of working so hard so black people can sit on their ass and collect welfare.” Even though the percentage of white Americans on welfare and black Americans on welfare only differs by 1 percent. It's the reason why a financial aid advisor cops an attitude with a black person who wants more money for tuition. Even though based on statistics this race should be qualified for more aid than others.

White people don’t know what it’s like to constantly wear the very reason of their judgement.  Because for white people it has never been about race; we have never been discriminated against because of our skin tone, so we find it unbelievable that black people are always throwing the race card around. But these oppressed people are only practicing what we, as white people, have taught them.

Unfortunately, race will continue to be an issue throughout my life and even my daughters. People need to open their eyes. I am continuously told that race is not an issue; that no one cares that my boyfriend is black and we have a mixed daughter. What these people don’t hear are these comments being made, and they don’t see the looks and stares we receive in public.

This is about my daughter’s life. I know I can’t protect her from everything, but it scares me to death that the color of her skin will determine so many things for her in her life. I want to protect her from everything, but this is the one thing that makes her and me different. I am white; and clearly so. Though she is half white, her skin color does not indicate that clearly. It shouldn’t matter. The color of her skin is beautiful, and that’s all it is. How could anyone not see that?

I don’t expect to change the world, but if I can get one person to understand; I will be immensely happy. My daughter is going to be at the forefront of this, but she’s never going to be alone.

How do we prepare our daughters to be teenagers?

Fourteen and pregnant was Kim’s story nine years ago. Being a mom at the age of 22, I cannot imagine being a mom while being practically a baby myself. Some of us are fortunate enough to have supportive boyfriends, husbands, or family members, but for Kim that was not the case.

Kim found out that she was pregnant at the age of 14. She delivered her daughter five days before her 15th birthday. She came from a family of young parents, so when she found out she was pregnant no one really questioned it. This life was expected in her family. Her boyfriend at the time was 18, and when he was told the news he acted as if he wanted to be a family.

During the time that Kim had gotten pregnant, her boyfriend was living with them, Kim was not on birth control, nor were they using birth control as a couple. At such a young age it is very understandable that Kim believed she really could not get pregnant. Who knows that much about their body and about sex at 14?

Due to her mom’s rocky relationships, Kim was forced to move away from her boyfriend, and in turn, Kim did not have much of a relationship with him until after her daughter was born. When her daughter was just three months old, Kim had the revelation that she had to get her life together because she was going to be alone on this journey: the father of her child had up and left, leaving her daughter crying on the couch.

One of my biggest fears for my daughter is how will I ever prepare her to be a teenager. I honestly think preparing our daughters to be a teenager is the first step in preventing our daughters from becoming teen moms. When do I have the infamous “talk” with her? At what age is appropriate? What age is too soon? What will I say? How will I get through to her what I am trying to say?

I don’t want her to ever struggle. I don’t want her to miss out on anything.

How am I going to get her to listen?

I asked Kim how she is going to handle “the talk” with her daughter as well as what age she feels is appropriate. Kim’s advice is that mothers and daughters need to have a strong and open relationship. Her daughter is now 8, and Kim says just last week they had a discussion about how her body will soon be changing and what to be prepared for. As her daughter approaches 14, Kim plans to make sure her daughter knows to always have respect for herself. She also wants her daughter to know that just because she had made some questionable decisions in her past, that doesn’t mean that she has to make the same ones.

At 14, who thinks about becoming pregnant? Pregnancy should be included in your discussion when you decide to have it. Make it real. Explain to your daughter that regardless of what she thinks, it can happen to her. No one could ever truly understand how hard being a parent can be until they actually are one, but try your best to explain the dedication and time raising a child involves. Talk about what she’ll be missing out on if she became pregnant. Being a teenager is supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to be carefree. Being a teenager is about being spontaneous, going out with your friends, and being “young and dumb.” All of that becomes nearly impossible to accomplish while being a parent.

Think about yourself at that age. What were you like? The only thing I was worried about at 14 was falling in love and living a fairytale, and regardless of what the adults in my life told me, I truly believed I was going to marry my crush. You know, the phrase “boy crazy” is a real thing.

It’s important to remember that in their eyes, the love of that first crush is real. Don’t treat it as a joke or it will likely make your daughter feel stupid for talking to you about her relationships. As Kim said, keep your relationship strong and open. Don’t be judgmental.

Personally, at 14 I had not been warned about “love.” I think one of the biggest mistakes parents make is losing touch with their inner teenager. Of course now we look back on our high school relationships and see how invalid they were, but in the moment we never once thought that way.

Talk to your daughter about sex. Tell her how sacred and amazing it can be when it happens with the right person. Warn her not to devalue it by jumping the gun and doing it with someone she thinks may be the love of her life. Remind her that she is only 14 and she has so many years ahead of her to find the right guy. Tell her that when she grows up and truly finds her soul mate the last thing she wants to do is look back and think, “I wish I would have waited.”