Why is Baking Soda a Natural Ingredient?

Recently a friend suggested for me to try using baking soda mixed with coconut oil as a face wash because I was having breakouts and I was looking for something new. I tried it and to my surprise it totally worked and exfoilated even better than the stuff I was spending $8-10 a bottle on every few months. I started to tell others how awesome it was, but then started to wonder what it actually was? Am I the only person to sit around and wonder such things? lol. What is baking soda and where does it come from? Why is it considered a natural ingredient?


The research:

So I started to do some research on it and apparently commercial quantities of baking soda are mined in Wyoming and Colorado in the form of the ore trona, Since trona is not pure sodium bicarbonate it has to be processed to derive soda ash first then baking soda is produced from the soda ash by adding C02 Sodium bicarbonate precipitates as a solid from this method naturally.

There are over 62 identified natural sodium carbonate (trona) deposits in the world with supposedly enough raw product to satisfy the world’s needs for thousands of years.

Here is its technical definition:

Sodium bicarbonate (aka baking soda) or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula NaHCO₃ (1 sodium, 1 hydrogen, one carbon, and 3 oxygen molecules). Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline taste resembling that of washing soda (sodium carbonate). The natural mineral form is nahcolite. It is a component of the mineral natron and is found dissolved in many mineral springs. Baking soda tends to maintain a pH of 8.1 (7 is neutral) even when acids, which lower pH, or bases, which raise pH, are added to the solution.

Heres a brief history on Baking Soda:

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3500 BC: Ancient Egyptians use natron (primarily comprised of sodium carbonate) as a soap-like cleaning agent. They also use it to make mummies.
1843: Alfred Bird, a British chemist, makes the first version of baking powder to help out his wife, who was allergic to yeast.
1846: The Arm & Hammer brand is created. The iconic logo that exists today – which represents Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking – isn’t introduced until 1867.
1924: Recommended to treat & prevent the cold & flu virus.
1927: National magazines like Good Housekeeping and McCall’s begin promoting the usefulness of baking soda in the home.
1970: Arm & Hammer is the sole sponsor of the very first Earth Day. Baking soda gains attention as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical cleaners.
1972: A new use for baking soda receives widespread adoption – Americans begin storing a box of baking soda in their refrigerators to keep food fresh.
1986: To celebrate the Statue of Liberty’s 100^th birthday, its inner copper walls are cleaned and restored with baking soda, which removes 99 years of grime and leaves the copper undamaged and completely clean.
2000: Kids use it for school science expirements
2012: Baking soda is one the the most popular pinterest pins, for its versatility.

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Uses for Baking Soda:

Medical uses

• Sodium bicarbonate mixed with water can be used as an antacid to treat acid indigestion and heartburn. It is used as the medicinal ingredient in gripe water for infants. (dont give your infant a solution of baking soda before asking their doctor if its ok first)
• Sodium bicarbonate has been known to be used in first aid, in treating scalding, to prevent blistering and scarring with instructions to cover the scalded area with a liberal layer of sodium bicarbonate and water paste and seek medical assistance. This is due to the endothermic reaction that occurs between sodium bicarbonate and water and sodium bicarbonate's mild antiseptic properties.
• Sodium bicarbonate can be used to treat an allergic reaction to plants such as poison -ivy -oak or -sumac to relieve some of the associated itching.
• Bicarbonate of soda can also be useful in removing splinters from the skin.
• Treating or preventing the flu: Simply dissolve the recommended amount of baking soda in a glass of cold water and drink it. Recommended dosages from the Arm & Hammer Company for colds and influenza back in 1925 were:
  
  • Day 1 -- Take six doses of ½ teaspoon of baking soda in glass of cool water, at about two-hour intervals
  • Day 2 -- Take four doses of ½ teaspoon of baking soda in glass of cool water, at the same intervals
  • Day 3 -- Take two doses of ½ teaspoon of baking soda in glass of cool water morning and evening, and thereafter ½ teaspoon in glass of cool water each morning until cold symptoms are gone

Personal Hygiene:
 



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• Toothpaste containing sodium bicarbonate has in several studies shown to have a better whitening^, plaque removal effect than toothpastes without it. Sodium bicarbonate is also used as an ingredient in some mouthwashes. It works as a mechanical cleanser on the teeth and gums, neutralizes the production of acid in the mouth and also acts as an antiseptic to help prevent infections.
   
• Sodium bicarbonate in combination with other ingredients can be used to make a dry or wet deodorant.
   
• Sodium bicarbonate may be used as a buffering agent, combined with table salt, when creating a solution for nasal irrigation.
•  A paste made from three parts of baking soda combined with 1 part water can be used as an exfoliator for your face and body. It’s natural, inexpensive and gentle enough to use every day.
• Baking soda and apple cider vinegar make a wonderful spa-like bath for soaking away aches and pains and detoxing. It also cleans the tub and the drain, as a bonus!

Cleaning:

 

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• It can be administered to pools, spas, and garden ponds to raise pH levels.
• Baking soda is commonly added to washing machines as a replacement for softener and to remove odors from clothes.
• Sodium bicarbonate is also effective in removing heavy tea and coffee stains from cups when diluted with warm water.
• I have also put it in a empty parmasean cheese container with some essential oil for fragrance and sprinkled it on the carpet prior to vacuuming.
• Sprinkle baking soda in your shoes for a natural deodorizer.
• Leave an open box of it in your fridge to neutralize odors, like last nights leftovers.
• In the event of a minor grease fire in your kitchen, use baking soda to help smother out the flames.
• Baking soda mixed with apple cider vinegar is a bubbly combination that has many uses. As a drain cleaner, sprinkle baking soda down the drain, then add apple cider vinegar and let it bubble for 15 minutes, then rinse with hot water. This is a safer alternative to dangerous drain cleaners
• Make a paste with lemon juice and baking soda to get rid of hard water scale on your kitchen sink or bathroom sink.

Entertaining the Kids:

 

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• Play Clay: 2 cups ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda, 1 cup corn starch, 1-1/4 cups cold water (can add food coloring to color clay) Instructions can be (found here)
• Magic Beans: Fill vase/jar with water, Add 3-4 drops of food coloring. Add vinegar, then the ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda, Drop in rice, buttons, pasta – and watch them rise and fall. - (See detailed instructions)
• Sneaker Peekers: Fill a sock with 1 cup ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda, secure with a rubber band, Tie ribbon around rubber band, cut off extra sock (cuff area). Decorate the sock then leave in your shoes overnight for fresh smelling shoes - (See more here)
• Erupting Volcano: Baking soda, food coloring, water and vinager, You know the rest.. (here's the instructions)

Cloth Diapers & Baking Soda:

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• You can use it as a pail freshener by combining baking soda, salt and tea tree oil
• Make your own washing soda (RLR substitute) by heating a shallow baking dish of baking soda at 400 degrees, stirring until its clumpy like washing soda. Then just add 1/2 cup to a load of diapers on hot cycle then do a hot rinse cycle. To remove ammonia & detergent buildup and odors.
• You can also use 1/2cup of plain baking soda to the rinse cycle to remove odors from diapers.
• Use 1/2 cup to wash to help neutralize Ph level on your diapers after a bout with yeast or teething rash.

In Conclusion:

Technically Sodium Bicarbonate, aka baking soda is not a RAW ingredient but it is not chemically processed anymore therefore is a natural by-product. It is considerably less harmful and less dangerous than most cleaning, deodorizing, whitening & medicinal product's on the market. It has proven to be a very economical as well as extremely versitle product with a long history of successful use to back it.


Resources:
https://brightnest.com/posts/a-brief-history-of-baking-soda#sthash.DnYfggPc.dpuf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baking_soda#Personal_hygiene
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/08/27/baking-soda-natural-remedy.aspx
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/baking-soda-introduction.html
http://www.bookrags.com/research/baking-soda-woi/
http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/blogs/back-to-basics-arm-hammer-baking-soda
http://www.good.is/posts/seven-surprising-ways-to-use-baking-soda
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/what-is-rlr-and-how-to-make-a-cheap-substitute/
http://www.armandhammer.com/solutions/solution-9/Baby-Laundry.aspx
http://www.armandhammer.com/solutions/solution-28/Magic-Beans.aspx

SoftBums Diaper Report Summary

Ok a while back I did a personal study on 1 week of using SoftBums exclusively to see what it took and how many shells and pods I went through with our 8 month old (non heavy wetting) (at the time)

Heres what I found out:

(10) Shells Used: Midnight Owls Echo & Ebony Omni, Safari Echo, Sprout Omni, Blueberry Echo, Snowcone Omni, Peace-a-Phants Omni, Chocolate Omni, Nuclear pumpkin Echo, Firecracker Echo.

Total Pods Used: 9 OS bamboo pods, 8 large bamboo pods, 2 OS super drytouch pods, 2 large drytouch pods.
Cloth Wipes Used: 7

 

I am going to do another study this week to compare on our now 10 month old. Check back to see it on my Month 10 Diaper Report.

PB & J Roll Ups

Saw this on Pinterest here: http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/french-toast-roll-ups/

I made a slightly different version, the boys loved it!! It is a nice change up from a regular sandwich but takes just as much time to prepare.

Ingredients :
4 slices of bread (white or wheat)
4 Tbsp Peanut Butter
2 Tbsp Jelly

Rolling pin

Directions: Roll out all the bread slices so they are flat as you can. Apply PB to each slice, apply jelly to each slice. From one end roll them each up. Serve.

You could also slice the rollup and then they are swirl bites.

10 Months

It finally happened Connor learned to crawl!! He is currently chasing a ball around the living room! He is so much happier now that he knows he can move independently. He also has been standing & taking steps on his own!!

He also finally popped some bottom teeth!! He has two, and just this week he has decided to use them to bite me. Thankfully he also knew he was being naughty and it wasn't serious. Lol

He now recognizes music and will jump and dance to it. He will do the same if you sing to him. It's cute.

He is being more vocal dada is frequent, icky and mom on occasion.

Eat: he loves chicken & avocado, & bananas!! They are his fave for sure.
He pretty happy eating everything. Gram crackers & Cheerios. Cheese, and ham.

Sleep: he loves to sleep but naps still taking 3 a day, totaling 2.5 hours. I know as soon as he is ready to push back the first one he will just take a good one.

Play: he is really into cars, toothbrushes, wood puzzles, and anything that's not a toy, oh and emptying everything out if a box or off a shelf. His favorite thing to do though us his and Cade's chasing game around the house.

Routine:
730: wake up nurse
8:00: eat bfast
9:00: playtime or errands
10:00: bub nap & nurse
11:00 -12:00 lunch
1:00 boys nap & con nurse
3:00 snack time bub& playtime
4:00: snack time cade
5:00: errands / make dinner
5:30: bub nurse & nap
6:00: dinner
7:00: playtime with dad
7:30: bubba nurse & bed
8-830: Cade story time & bed

Recently Cade has been going to bed but going in and out of his room till 9-930 driving us crazy. I think we might have to up his bed time to 730 like Connor.

Potty Training a 18-24 Month Old

Yikes, sounds crazy right?


No we did it and I am so thankful!!

Here's why:
I was 10 weeks pregnant and I knew that I wanted to get boo boo into preschool in the spring before bubba came to give me some alone time with the new baby & boo boo some social time.
He was showing interest and I read a book called Potty Training Boot Camp that said there was a opportunity time frame between 18 months and 24 months that boys specifically do well at potty training if you do it seriously. If you wait they loose interest and then you have to wait till after 3 before they are ready again.

 

Ok so here are some tips on how to do it:

1. Start on a Friday/ Long Weekend, set up the potty seat or potty chair in the bathroom, explain to them what it is and how to use it.. haha. (sounds easier said then done)
2. Put up something fun to look at on the wall in front of the potty. We did the ABC's with animals of each letter so while we were "trying to go" we had something to look at and do. Also do make it important to wash hands afterwards but dont make it super fun either or let them dwell in the sink.. They will then start to associate going potty with playtime and then you really will spend far too much time in the bathroom. We sang the alphabet and then were done.
3. Put on big boy/girl cotton undies or trainers. Pull ups feel just like diapers to them. They need to feel that wet feeling instantly to fully understand what is happening.
4. Don't punish failure. When they have accidents (and they will) make them clean it up with a old towel. Remember every accident they have is a learning expirence. If you make a big deal about an accident it will trigger attention to them that could be confused as positive attention. This will cause more accidents and prolong the PT process. Instead, make a sad face, stay calm and clean it up and move on.. (The book says if they are having 5-6 or more accidents a day wait a week and try again, fresh start)
5. Every success in the potty REWARD! HUGS, KISSES and CHEERS make every time a special event! Rememeber "what gets noticed, gets repeated" You can try sticker charts but in our expirence they just dont fully understand it at this age. BUT they do understand special potty treats.. (aka bribery)  This is entirely up to you, but for us it worked and didn't end up being a bad habit. Every successful potty we would also give him a "special potty treat" we started out with chips ohoy mini cookies but that got to be too many cookies in a day, we switched to m&ms then gummy snacks. (One for a pee, two for a poop) Once he started to understand that he liked getting them he would ask for one and we would say "special potty treats" are for boys who go potty on the potty chair. You have to go potty to get one. Then after a while we would stop giving the treats every time and only for poops on the potty. Then after he was successful going with no accidents in a day we stopped all together.
6. Bring back the special potty treats/reward for regression, if he/she started to regress and having accidents again (more than 2 a day) we would bring back the "reward program" for a couple days to help him get excited about going on the potty again.
7. Try to do it on a weekend when you have support (ie. another parent or grandparent to help) also doing it on a weekend where you dont have to go anywhere. This will help with staying in undies all day to get them used to the whole idea. IMO every time you put them back in diapers during the day it will just confuse them.
8. Use diapers at night, at this age (unless they aren't wetting diapers at night) they are not capable of holding their bladder all night. Every child is different but until they have 3 nights of dry diapers then you will know they are ready to wear undies at night. (another messier way to PT at night is to just let them go to bed in trainers/ underwear, some say it works the same, they get tired of wetting the bed and figure out to either go to the potty during the night or hold it. But doing it this way is much more time consuming, messy and tiring)
9. Put on the Underwear the minute they get up in the morning. We found that if he stayed in his diaper longer than an hour after getting up, he would forget he was wearing undies when we finally did put him in them, we would have more accidents
10. Set a timer, The first couple days or so is the most important time to keep on schedule. We chose every 45 mins, set a timer on the oven, then when it went off we would ask if he had to go potty.. If he said yes we would go and try, if he said no we would ask again in 10 mins and he was usually always ready to go and try.. You can play it by ear but for us it was better to have a reminder system because it was easy to forget how much time it had been, and then he would get busy playing and have an accident. After three days we were ready to stop watching the clock but looking back it was nice to have. I guess there is an app you can download now that you can time and keep track on.
11. Reward for communication, they are only truely potty trained when they can tell you that they have to go to the potty and then actually go. We always praised when he learned to come to us and tell us he had to go.. This is very important skill to learn. So make sure to tell them it is something they should do everytime they need to go. Once our son was consistantly not having accidents we switch why he got potty treats, and explained each time why, "You get one fruit snack for telling mommy you had to go potty, you are such a big boy! great job" Something like that. You could do stickers here too because they freaking love stickers at this age. Which is why I thought the sticker chart would work well but he never understood why we had to put stickers on the chart and in a certain box.. He wanted to wear the stickers. lol
12. Going out, I am not going to lie, it was the scariest thing I had to do in a while.. haha I put a towel under his car seat and layed a cloth diaper shell under his butt haha. But it was unnessesary he did fine and then whenever we got to where we were going we made sure to hit the bathroom first and right before we would leave to get back in the car.. Basically just be prepared, you may not always beable to find a bathroom as soon as they need one, and if you have a girl, peeing on the sidewalk isnt as easy.. lol keep 3-4 pairs of clean undies in the car and 2 pairs of pants, just in case. If your child particularly doesnt like a certain pair of pants keep those in the car and they will be renamed the dreaded pee pants, they have to wear if they pee in their nice pants.. lol jk
13. Dont let them drink Orange Juice during this learning stage, OJ is a diuretic and it will cause them to have more accidents. DS is 3 now and he still cant drink OJ 2 hours before bed or he will wet the bed.
14. Tricks? hmmm cheerios in the toilet for aiming but then they have to be tall enough to stand up and pee, my mom used to turn on the faucet to help me pee in the potty, but I think that messed with me bc now anytime I hear running water I feel like I need to go.. hahaha

I think that is about all the tips I can think of.. I wish anyone who is ready to venture down this path the best of luck.

Cloth Diaper Report- Month 10

How many diapers (shells) a day used? 2, (changes: morning, after nap, after dinner & before bed)

How many wipes? 1 in the morning, 3 if poopy, none for wet

What Brands were used? SoftBums, Grovia, Rock-a-Bums, Mud Butt

What brand/ style fit best? SoftBums & & Rock-a-Bums

Were you able to reuse your AI2 shells during the same day? If so how many times? Yes about 2-4 times,
What fit problems did you have? None
What was the print/ color you grabbed the most? SoftBums Midnight Owls Echo
Best on the go diaper? Rock a Bums
What type of insert/ soakers worked the best? Really digging the rockabums soakers with the grey fleece top they hold up good for 3-4 hours never worry about poop.
The worst? Grovia poop gets between the two layers = messy
Overnight? OS Bamboo pod in OMNI shell
Did you have any blowouts? None
What was your washing schedule like? Hot wash heavy duty, then a warm wash normal, washing once a week air drying shells, pods dryer
Detergent used? Using Tide original powder.
Love it or hate it? Love how my non cloth diapering friends consider me a eco chic.. lol really I am just saving money & the being green is just part of it.

Things you learned?  Calgon is a cloth diaper safe water softener that can be used with each load of diapers to help get them cleaner when you have hard water.
Some fit pictures: