Missing Big Sister

While Addison enjoys special time with Grandma and Grandpa at the cabin, Charlotte enjoys a few of her big sisters favorite things...

Sleeping in Addie's bed

Playing with the teapot from the kitchen set

Playing with the letters. And yes, she broke the rules and put the letter in her mouth. (Don't tell Addie!)

Smiles all around!

The Diaper Study - Report

After much anticipation, the diaper study results are in...

Conclusion (since most of you will be bored with the details): no rashes observed with any of the diaper types and leaks occurred with all diaper types. No significant differences were observed between the Pampers Swaddlers Dry Max, Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive, or the Huggies Little Snugglers diapers per the testing and conditions defined in the test protocol.


Rash Results

• Pampers Swaddlers Dry Max: no rash observed, all 45 samples rated = 1.
• Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive: no rash observed, all 45 samples rated = 1.
• Huggies Little Snugglers: no rash observed, all 45 samples rated = 1.

Here at the MitMit household, we suspect that the application of diaper cream with each diaper change may have had a significant impact on the absence of diaper rash observations. Had the study have been conducted without the application of diaper cream, it is possible that sensitivity to diaper variation may have been detectable. However, we were not willing to trade sensitivity for potential bum impact.


Leakage Results

• Pampers Swaddlers Dry Max: 1 occurrence (poop) out of 45 observations. Leakage occurred out back of diaper.
• Pamples Swaddlers Sensitive: 2 occurrence (poop) out of 45 observations. Both leakages occurred out back of diaper.
• Huggies Little Snugglers: 2 occurrence (poop) out of 45 observations.* Both leakages occurred out leg holes of diaper.

*In fairness of this qualitative study, one of the Huggies diapers had more baby poo than I have previously observed. Ever. I hypothesize (although unable to replicate and prove) that failure would have occurred regardless of diaper type.

In all test sample groups, essentially the same number of W (pee), BM (poop), and W+BM (both pee and poop) diapers were recorded. All test sample diapers were worn by the test wearer no longer than 2 hours, or changed upon first detection (hypothesis) of dirty diaper. While minor variables do exist within this study (milk volume consumed was not regulated or recorded, baby aging over duration of study, and others not identified here), there was no significantly different performance with regards to leakage observed. All diaper types leaked. Parents, expect to need that back-up outfit in your diaper bag. If your baby "produces" like our test wearer, expect to use 1 - 2 back-up outfits per week. Also consider placing a scissors in your diaper bag as well. There are some "leakages" that really merit just cutting off the onesie versus smearing poop up back and over head.



General Observations
While outside of the specified scope of the diaper study, we offer these qualitative observations and opinions on the diapers tested:

• Pampers Swaddlers Dry Max were by far the thinnest diaper with no negative impact on absorption performance. These diapers feel soft on the inside and out. These diapers also smell (strongly!) like fake baby. While no issue was identified in this study, we still can't quite shake the feeling that the formidable smell indicates something a little more harshly chemical with these diapers.
• Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive were slightly thicker than their Dry Max relatives, but with a more subtle fake baby smell. Marketing may be winning me over with the name "sensitive" and the gentle images on the packaging and diapers; these did seem less harsh. The Velcro tab fasteners on these diapers were a little harder to remove from the diaper body when first opening to install on baby, tending to stick and were a minor nuisance.
• Huggies Little Snugglers put on a good show - these seemed markedly improved to the Huggies we remembered using and disliking 2 years back with our first child. The outside of the diaper feels more paper-like (less like the synthesized soft cotton feeling of the Pampers diapers), but the inside was comparably soft. These diapers had the least offensive smell, almost none. The elastic along the back of these diapers was impressive at stopping leakage (blow-outs occurred out the leg holes). However, since the poop can't escape out the back of these diapers it tended to spread up the front into the girl area. Not sure if this is better than having poop blowing-out the back of the diaper...tough call.

Toddler Crafts: Stamping

While our little caveman toddlers need structure in their days, coming up with "successful" activities for them can be a little challenging. Specifically when considering that everything will end up in their mouths (paint, beads, dirt, you name it) and clean-up is directly proportional to the amount of fun an activity will present. Coloring: fun factor = 1, Clean-up factor =1. Making mud pies: fun factor =5, Clean-up factor = 50. And let's face it, the fun factor attributable to clean-up is at least a -20; we're lucky to escape without a full scale, defiant temper tantrum. Because picking up and washing your hands, are sooo awful and I must be the meanest mom ever.

This week we present the toddler craft of stamping, as we begin to ramp up our sweatshop for fathers' day gifts. Ahh, sophisticated handy-crafts.

A Stamping Tutorial (for you novices out there):

Step 1- procure stamps and washable, non-toxic ink stamp pads
Step 2- introduce toddler to the graceful art of inking the stamp and
pressing into paper
Step 3 - sit back with pride as toddler creates magical scenes of kittens
and rainbows
Step 4 - quick and easy clean-up with a wet paper towel and hand wash

The reality

• Toddler will be so giddy at thought of stamps that she can barely maintain focus long enough to look at you, forget listening.


• In approximately 15 seconds toddler will cover every conceivable inch of giant floor pad paper with stamps. And not the pretty stamps - ours chose windmill and guitar, bypassing cat, dog and rainbow all together.


• Stamping may need to be re-purposed as an outdoor activity: toddler will yell out the name of the stamp every time she stamps it. WINDMILL! WINDMILL! (Please, please don't wake up the baby!)


• When you turn your back to get a new sheet of paper, toddler will create a near-perfect tattoo sleeve of stamps on her arms.


• Remember how you specifically purchased "washable"ink? Well, apparently "washable" is a loose interpretation. After multiple hand washings, including scrubbing with your favorite exfoliating sugar scrub - your toddler's colored fingers & arm tattoos remain. Now is when you can at least feel better about saying no to a second arm stamp yourself.

And the winner is...

No, sorry to disapoint those of you eagerly awaiting results, the diaper study isn't complete.

Instead we offer photos from the girls watching the Miss USA pagent, in crowns. Charlotte is even wearing her own teeny crown. Yes, it is made out of tin foil. Classy.

Dispite her short attention span, Addie did get into the spirit of the pagent and made her own runway out of pillows. Good idea in principle, but proved to be very difficult to walk on without falling over.

The Diaper Study - Test Protocol

Brought to you by the MitMit household with two children in diapers and an author with underutilized engineering skills, we present the Diaper Study.

Introduction
This test protocol has been created based on concerns raised over pampers "dry max" diapers and diaper rash. The following details the comparative (attribute) analysis to be performed on three diaper types:
1. Pampers Swadlers Dry Max
2. Pampers Swadlers Sensitive
3. Huggies Little Snugglers
Author's disclaimer: this testing is not sponsored, affiliated, or authorized by any company (diaper manufacturer or other). Nor does the author assert that these results will conclusively prove or disprove the concerns raised over diaper rash. Realize that this is just an engineer keeping herself entertained...so enjoy this journey into geekdom.

Test Samples

• This study will use a single diaper user, Charlotte (age on 5/12/10 is 4 weeks, 1 day) currently weighing approximately 8.5 lb.
• In this study diapers from a minimum of 1 lot (each) of the 3 diaper types will be used.
• Study will use size 1 diapers only.
• Sample selection: Test samples will be randomly selected from within package and serialized for traceability. At time of protocol, lot numbers are TBD. Lot numbers will be recorded in the report.

Test Sample Preparation and Conditions

• When switching between diaper types, diaper user will use "new" type for 24 hours prior to starting the test sample diapers to minimize residual effects (if any) from previous diaper type.
• Test sample diapers will be changed every 2 hours, at a minimum, or when suspected to be dirty.
• Test sample diapers and analysis will only be performed during daytime hours (6am - 11pm), to minimize errors attributable to night time change snafus.
• Sensitive diaper wipes will be used with each diaper change (Brand = Kirkland Unscented Ultra Soft Cloth Baby Wipes.)
• Diaper cream (Brand = Desitin original) will be applied with each diaper change.

Sample Size
A sample size of 45 diapers from each type will be used in this attribute study. For individual diaper type analysis, this represents an an attribute sampling plan of n=45, a=0 intended to demonstrate with 90% confidence that the results are greater than 95% reliable.


Validation Tests
For this testing, the test sample diapers are to be subjected to standard use conditions as worn by the diaper user (i.e. Charlotte will the test sample diapers just like normal diapers.) During the removal of the soiled test sample diapers (i.e. diaper change) the test samples will be analyzed for the following two tests reflective of diaper performance during "use":

1. Leakage
This test for leakage is an attribute result to answer the question: did the diaper leak, yes or no? Analysis will be performed by individual removing soiled diaper by inspection on diaper user's attire for signs of pee or poop. (Pee and poop are scientific terms, right?)

2. Rash
This is an qualitative test for rash which will inspect the skin in the diaper area of the diaper user during removal of the soiled diaper. Rating for rash will be recorded based on observation of individual removing soiled diaper based on the following scale:
1 = no rash
2 = Minor localized rash
3 = Significant localized rash
4 = Significant wide spread rash
5 = Severe rash (red bumps against red background, broken skin, etc.)

Instructions for data recording
With each test sample diaper record the time installed, the time removed, the condition of diaper upon removal (W = pee, BM = poop, W + BM = pee & poop), leakage observation (Y/N), and rash rating (1 - 5).

Method for Data Analysis
Since I'm a little tired, I'm going to leave the analysis details somewhat unbound at this point (rather than limit my options based on what I can think of now). Intention is to compare attribute performance of each diaper type discretely. Intent to also compare results across the different diaper types to determine if there is a significant difference.

Report to follow...stay tuned as the MitMit household conducts this testing.