We use washable cloth diapers for our babe. We use disposables occasionally but if we use too many in a row he gets a rash. Just wondering what other parents do at michfest - does everyone use disposables? Or has some hardy mama figured out a decent way to stick with cloth?

Any other tips of baby items needed for fest would be appreciated too. I've been many times, but this is first time with baby (9 months).

Thanks!

lots of womyn use cloth diapers. some that do, use disposable for fest, but other use their regular diapers. Childcare (sprouts) is used to that also. Just bring a tub, a bucket, or some other way to wash them @ your campsite with biodegradable soup, then hang them to dry. Bring extras! Also, bring a large ziplock bag to store them in while you are going to and from areas, that will help greatly.

My son was 5 months old his first fest (almost 6mos) in 2008. You will also need a sleep sack or snowsuit for nights whether @ the stage or just at the tent. I brought 2 or 3 (just in case something happened to one. (plus I was RV'ing that year - the only time I used an RV thanks to very generous friend who owned one).

Bring Powdered Formula (if you are not nursing or if you suplement) and Nursery water (or your own water that you regularly use) to mix it with. This will avoid spoiling in the heat and you won't have to keep buying ice. (Bring the Nursery water because it won't be a change from what the baby is used to and will avoid any stomach isssues).

BABY BUG SPRAY, BABY SUNBLOCK!

An umbrella (for rain AND sun - just keep it with you at all times and you can have instant shade for he baby).
Baby sunglasses are good, too, if your baby will wear them. They worked great for keeping the sun out of the babies eyes at the Day Stage and the Acoustic Stage.

A stroller or wagon with large wheels makes so much difference in your fest! (little wheels on most get stuck in the gravel, grass, sand, mud, woodchips etc.) and/or a wagon if your baby is sitting. (I used the wagon as a bed for my son at nap time and at night stage when I was away from the RV or tent).

A back-pack for trasporting baby items and your dishes for meals! seriously, take your dishes everytime you leave your site. That way if you get caught up in something, miss a shuttle or whatever, you won't miss a meal. (if you forget, though, go to the DART Dining area and someone almost always has extra and is willing to share! <like me>)

I can't think of anything else right now, but if you have any other questions, I would be happy to try to answer them.

ToNic,

Thanks for responding to our post! About washing the diapers, do you dump the dirty water in the toilets? Just want to make sure we are respectful of the space...

Thanks again. Good-luck with the potty training issue. We do part-time 'diaper free' so we'll bring the potty but just for the campsite. I don't what to say about lugging it around, cuz obviously you don't want to be taking a wee one to the port'o'potties for long visits. You could just use a bowl instead of a big potty.

Cheers,

Ziy

Ziy~

Definately dump the water in the porta jane (which may mean that you might want to have a relative idea where one is before setting up camp).

I think I'm going to just do pullups @ fest and just do my best.. I'll bring his potty for the campsite

I just posted at more length on the thread Bringing Baby to Fest, but the bottom line is definitely no dumping of potties or diaper wash-water anywhere except in the PortaPotties. I highly recommend disposables - it's just a week, and saves a lot of hassle. There are enough other extras to deal with, having a child at Fest. Make your life easy. We've used Seventh Generation, when skipping cloth, and had no rashes.