Milk

Breast is best. It really is. So why do people use bottles? 

I have breastfed all of my babies but I have also used bottles. I have expressed my own milk and also used formula. Since I have used the bottle less (and to be honest, I prefer breastfeeding) I will hit the good about the bottle first because there is the least to say.

Bottles are nice because Papa Bear doesn't have to share. Let's be honest here, some men really care about this and in reality, your kids will grow up and leave the nest but that man will be with you for the rest of his life. If he REALLY cares, it may be something to consider. 

Bottles are awesome when you just don't have the milk. This happened to me after Thing 1 and Thing 2 were born. They nursed, but they just didn't gain weight. I had to chose between their health and my pig-headedness that I could do this (after all, the previous 7 hadn't needed a bottle). Bottles kept my babies healthy when I couldn't. Which leads to the topic of pumping. Pumping is awful. A plastic sucky thing attaches to your breast while you sit there and feel like a cow at the milking parlor. You can't move, or play XBox or do anything easily. Women who work and pump - woo! We are talking over the top amazing ladies! If I was a breadwinner instead of a breadmaker, it would be bottles all the way. Because pumping sucks.

So what good is breastfeeding, you may wonder? There is so much good about it!

Studies say breast milk fed babies are more intelligent than bottle fed. 

Breast feeding is better for baby's teeth. It helps to align the jaw so that they grow in straight(er). 

It helps prevent allergies. 

It is cheap. The first time I bought formula for Thing 1 and Thing 2 I almost died. Oh my goodness it is expensive! And there are so many different types! And remember when that Chinese company put nasty stuff in their baby formula? Well beast milk makes it so you don't have to worry about any of that. Unless you are on drugs. If you are on drugs, formula might be better. And stop taking drugs. They are bad for you.

It contains the correct balance of fats and solids for a baby to grow best. Formula is a concoction of cow milk. Or soybean extract or rice extract depending on what you are feeding your little tyke. Mommy milk is perfect for building little people, rather than baby cows, beautiful soy plants or lush rice plants. And it is perfectly organic! You don't have to buy organic formula because - dude! You made it yourself! Awesome.

Breastfeeding releases hormones in your and baby's body that do so many good things. For you, it contracts your uterus to get it back to its normal petite size after turning into a tanker to hold your sweet little one. It also releases oxytocin, the "love drug", for you and baby. Nursing helps you love him even when he pees in your face. And the touching that nursing sort of forces helps baby grow bigger and stronger.

If it benefits brain, body and heart - why isn't everyone breastfeeding? Well, let's be honest here, our society is completely obsessed with breasts. Now, I am not one to go to a nude beach or anything, and I carefully covered myself when I nursed, but some people (evidently) still found it sexually arousing to see me nurse my babies. Which leads me to wonder if there are some porno sites that specialize in breastfeeding? Gross - moving on. 

Another reason, for which I have less feelings of annoyance, is mentioned above. Some Moms have to bring in the money. Pumping is a pain, nursing is impossible because baby is at home with someone else, etc. Being the breadwinner requires sacrifice. This may be one of them.

Also, when you first start it hurts. I'm not talking labor pain or anything, but it is uncomfortable until your nipples toughen up. There is this great organization called La Leche League that can help you through that starting time and now many clinics have breastfeeding consultants - loads of help by people who really care. I mean, they REALLY CARE. 

The moral of this story is, do what keeps you and baby healthy and sane. You will still be Mommy whether you use a bottle or breast. Be in a good spot emotionally because this Mommy business lasts a long, long time.

Diapers

I was raised by hippies. We ate honey instead of sugar, had no television and ate fruit leather. When my baby brother was born we used clothe diapers and being the eldest by 7 years, I had the dubious privilege of changing many of them. We had a service that would take the stinky bin away and replace it with beautiful snowy white diapers each week. Looking back now, I have no idea how they got those stains out!
Fast forward 16 years and our first little one was born. Cloth or paper? Mr. Mom is quite interested in research and he reported as potent a source as Consumer Reports declared that disposable are better for the environment! Though possibly not for the pocket book.
Regardless, cloth diapers have come a long way in the years since my little brother filled them. Current brands including but not limited to bumGenius, FuzziBunz, GroVia, Rumparooz, Blueberry, and Thirsties fit like a disposable and even have disposable inserts to make washing the hourglass shaped cloth part not get soiled in case of a dirty diaper. People save lots of money using cloth, and I even ventured with Super Hero to go cloth.
They were an expensive investment, but it was a one time purchase. I felt like I was being a better mother. I am not really sure why this is... I did not enjoy changing the dirty diapers with cloth, but Super Hero was very accommodating and would have only one B.M. very early in the morning so I could use cloth the rest of the day, just changing out the wet liner. Becaus the cloth gets so very wet, I did have to change it more often than disposable. I am of the opinion that wet diapers can go a long way and if baby isn't complaining, there is no reason to go changing it unless it is hanging around baby's knees. The other good thing about cloth is it decreased rashes. Super Hero was allergic to some disposable diapers and I didn't have to worry about it when I used cloth. It did, however, increase the laundry and since Super Hero was #7 the only reason that worked was everyone else was doing their own laundry. I was only in charge of mine, Mr. Mom's and Super Hero's.
Paper diapers, also called disposable, are very convenient, especially for traveling. Even my granola parents didn't use cloth when we were traveling. It is just too difficult (read gross) to deal with a poopy/wet cloth diaper when traveling. I do have a liberal definition of traveling. It means walking out my front door. 
The benefit of disposable diapers is primarily ease. Since I am Mom, I pay myself. Sometimes it is buying lunch for the gang while we are shopping rather than bringing it or waiting until we get home. Sometimes I pay myself to not wash cloth diapers. With Thing 1 and Thing 2 pooping all day, every day, that is my current pay and I must say - I am a pretty good deal. $100 a month for everything I do and my life is easier on top of it all? Woo! It's a win/win situation. 
Beware, however. Not all disposable diapers are the same. Now you may think I am encouraging you to go for the gold: name brands or whatever. Not so. Instead, I am suggesting you watch your babies precious little bum for rashes. Although I love the price of Luvs (and personally, I think they smell pretty good, I mean before they are used) Thing 1 and Thing 2 get a nasty rash from them. But not from Walmart or Kirtland brand. 
A final thought on the debate: There are some studies that say cloth diapers are better for a boy baby's future sperm production. All I can say is Mr. Mom was raised on disposable and we have 9 children. Whatever limitation there may be doesn't seem terribly imposing.