Non-biodegradable diapers are not only an environmental nightmare, but they often cause terrible rashes and cost a fair sum too. Cloth diapers are one viable alternative, but washing them is time consuming, requires energy and water expenditure, and frankly doesn’t look like an awful lot of fun. So how about mitigating all of these problems by building a Beshik cradle from Uzbekistan? Hit the jump to learn more about baby’s first bed pan.

After sleeping with their mothers for six weeks, Uzbeki babies are treated to their first major celebration — the Beshik Toyi. This involves a gathering with family members who show up with armfuls of food and other essentials, and baby’s new cradle.

The elder women leave the younger generation to create a festive environment while they bed baby down in this unusual contraption using blankets and straps. The cradle is decorated with all sorts of colorful tassels and trinkets, and they come in varying degrees of opulence.

There’s a hole at the base of the Beshik, which appears to be an exit point for baby’s number two, while a bucket at the end of the cradle catches urine transported via a short pole that looks like a very thin and hollow eggplant.

Since boys and girls have different apparatus, it stands to reason that different mechanisms are used to capture their waste.

Having met a handful of talented Uzbeki musicians, I can attest that they seem perfectly normal and not at all traumatized by starting out life strapped to a cradle.

That being said, we are uncertain how long they stay in their Beshik or how they stay clean and dry when running free.

Still, we are big fans of indigenous solutions to daily needs and this is no exception.

More on Diapers and Babies:
Are Cloth Diapers Green Even in Water-Scarce Middle East?
Going Halfway on Kushies Washable Diapers
All About Cloth Diapers

The post Uzbek babies don’t use diapers appeared first on Green Prophet.

It’s been 4 months since I’ve given birth and I decided that I was fit enough to try washable, reusable diapers. My daughter is exclusively breastfed, an undertaking that completely overwhelmed me for the first few months of her life. But the benefits of breastfeeding are enormous. Call me a wimp, or call me out for not being green enough, but I couldn’t ever imagine during that period, finding the energy to wash diapers. Praise be to women before the invention of disposable diapers. But as the editor of Green Prophet, I know I need to walk the walk. It was time to try washables.

Where I live in the Middle East, the only options open to me are online ordering, and I found all the systems and options so expensive and really confusing – not to mention the sour behavior from my husband every time I brought the idea up. (He’s thinking smelly diapers all over the place). So back in Canada for a visit – I took a trip to the local BabiesRUs to see with my own eyes what washable diapers are available. Here’s my story.

I’d read a lot of good stuff about “G” diapers, Kushies, and many more that Green Prophet’s resident eco-mom Sophie had blogged about. But the only choice available to me at BabiesRUs in the small town where my parents live were Kushies. They were simple all-in-one diapers, with an outer plastic layer sewn into the diaper itself.

Kushies are made nearby in Canada, and I like the idea of supporting the local economy, so I bought 2 packs. Ten diapers in 2 packs (The Ultra), came to $100. I brought them home and my eco-thrifty dad was super excited about the cost savings. A 50 pack of disposables are about $15, so it doesn’t take long to see how adding washables into the cycle can start saving you money (and of course the environment too). They will fit my growing girl until she is about 25 pounds.

Here’s what I found with Kushies:

The Pros
1. I like that they are all in one and I don’t have to think “diaper system”
2. I like that the internal liner is attached to the back end of the diaper and falls out to scoop out the number 2 – which isn’t that serious right now because girl child is still nursing exclusively.
3. I like the biodegradable washable liners you can buy to handle the more serious stuff
4. I worry about all the gels and plastics in disposables. I can smell the chemicals on them and am happy to know my kid will be exposed less to the stuff (that would be true for all reusables, I guess).
5. I like that they are cute.

The Cons
1. My well-fed baby is already a little bottom heavy. The Kushies are really bulky making it harder for her to squeeze into her sit-up chair and onesies.
2. They don’t wick the liquids away like disposables causing more diaper rash. Forget about overnights. She is soaked half way through the night.
3. The washing business. The diapers can be dried on low in the dryer. In the Middle East sun they’d obviously dry out very fast. But in the winter in Canada they need a couple of hours in the dryer, or a day on the line near the furnace to dry. That’s a long time if you’ve bought only the minimum.
4. The outer layer is rough. I wonder how that feels on her skin which looks all crinkled when I take them off. There is the comfort factor here. The disposables just look more comfy.

Over all I am happy I tried Kushies and will keep them in the drawer for use. Until I find a better solution, I won’t use them for overnights or trips out of the house for more than a couple of hours. I plan on trying out some other diapers, Happy Heinys, G or Motherease. They look less stiff. Any advice most welcome.

Read more on washable diaper options:

EcoMum On Swim Diapers
All About Cloth Diapers
More Tips on Using Cloth Diapers

The post Going Half Way On Kushies Washable Diapers appeared first on Green Prophet.