I get so many inquiries about so many different aspects of cloth diapering from parents that I thought I would just put a little informal resource guide here with some leads for further information sources. Again these are my personal experiences with cloth diapering. Chances are there will be a lot of information here that you will take and much you will leave as every baby is different. I'm hoping this little how to guide will serve as a good starting point for learning all about what type of cloth diapers will work best for your baby and your family Major types of cloth diapers Pocket Diapers This type of diaper has an outer layer, inner layer and a removable insert that fits into the pocket. The outer layer is usually comprised of a waterproof material such as PUL, with a soft inner that is next to baby's skin which can be anything from microfleece to organic velour. The insert is made of some absorbent material typically microfiber or hemp. The benefits of using this type of diaper are that the removable insert makes these type of cloth diapers generally the quickest drying. These are also generally the trimmest fitting. The downside is that you have to get them ready after you wash them by re-stuffing the insert back into the diaper, which isn't a big deal for most but somehow dad can have a way of botching this step if you leave it to him AIOs or All In One Diapers The name here says it all. These diapers have a waterproof outer, a soft inner made from a soft fabric which sits next to baby's skin and has some inner layers that serve the same function as the insert described above for the pocket diapers but these are sewn into the diaper to make this a self contained, "all in one" diaper. These are good b/c they are most like a disposable in the fact that they are ready to go, no fussing with any additional steps. These are also the diaper of choice for fathers, daycare, the grandparents, sitters, etc. Basically they're a no brainer. The downside for me is that these generally take a substantial amount of time to dry, (think double the time that a regular load of laundry takes) because of all the layers that are sewn together. Many diaper companies tend to add more layers to their AIO designs which make these a bit bulkier and I also always have the feeling that with all this bulk baby's skin is getting overheated. Fitted Diapers These are cloth diapers that are usually (but not always) comprised entirely of cloth (no PUL waterproof outer layer) and require a cover for wetness not to escape. These can be made of any kind of absorbent fabric in & out. These generally feature either a sewn in or lay in soaker layer which absorbs most of the wetness but are usually designed to be quick drying, so all in all you're looking at a dry time of a bit longer than a pocket diaper but nowhere near as long as an AIO (think, the dry time of a pair of jeans) Some people take the cover as an extra step, but I'm here to tell you that you don't need a cover for these… I love them for around the house and to be honest we sometimes use these out and about without a cover as well. In fact I never use a cover with my fitteds! The diaper may become wet to the touch after the baby pees but it's not like you'll have wetness all over the place. It's just not a big deal to me and I like the fact that these do not have the waterproof outer. It makes me feel like the baby's skin in the diaper area is breathing and not so hot. I think these are nice as without a cover for newborns as well. Feeling the wetness is also a good step in teaching awareness for to prepare for potty learning. DON'T try this if your baby is a heavy wetter though! The only cons of these are that this system is generally the bulkiest, especially if you use a cover. Prefolds This refers to the type of diapers used in the old-school diapering system with the square diaper & fasteners & cover. This is the most cost effective system around but a bit cumbersome IMO! Other terminology Doubler- An additional layer(s) of cloth that sits between the diaper and baby or, in the pocket of a pocket diaper, to add an extra layer of absorbency. This step is totally optional but can be helpful for occasional leaks (like for overnights). Like diapers, these can be made of many different fabrics and styles, but are typically made from hemp or flannel (a thinner doubler), fleece (used for wicking properties, keeping skin driest) or velour (soft, luxurious). Soaker- Layers of fabric that are sewn onto, snapped into, or laid in a fitted diaper to serve as the absorbent layer. This term is also used as a synonym for diaper cover or longies (see below). Longies- cute wool pants that are usually knitted or made from recycled sweaters (it's way cuter than it sounds) that when worn eliminate the need for a cover over a fitted diaper. These are also worn just for the heck of it, as they are so cute! Snappi- A type of fastener that eliminates the need to use pins on a prefold. These greatly reduce the chance of poking baby as there are no sharp edges or pins exposed… Beyond this these are tough to describe. Just click the link for pic and you can figure out how they actually work. FAQs Q-I'm new to cloth diapering, can you recommend a type of diaper to me? A- It all depends on your needs and the particular needs of the baby. Please see overview of diaper types above. Q- My baby is a heavy wetter, can you recommend a diaper to try? A-The overwhelming consensus on this is try an AIO. I have to admit though, my daughter is not a heavy wetter so I can not offer any practical experience on this issue beyond that :-/ Q- There are so many fabric different choices, how do I know what I need? A- A quick sort of rule of thumb when considering fabrics for the diaper inner is that the synthetics (microfleece, microsuede) keep baby driest while the organics are popular because they are organic J Also, when considering the softness factor of velour vs. terry keep in mind that while velour is initially softer, it stiffens with repeated washings while terry gets softer with use. Q- How do I care for my cloth diapers? Is it difficult? A- No, not at all, read on. How I care for and wash my cloth diapers It's simple really! There are a lot of unnecessary diapering accessories out there but here is what has worked for me through some trial & error. First of all, get a wool wetbag. I can't emphasize the importance enough. The plastic diaper pails make everything so stinky (with a deodorant smell on top, YUCK!) and a hamper can get messy. Get a really big one to hold all those diapers in between wash day and then some! Don't worry, you do have to handwash the wool wetbag but you will not have to do it often, only if it gets soiled or smelly. When diaper is soiled, remove any inserts or otherwise disassemble the diaper and put it into the wetbag. Shake out any loose poo. I never bothered rinsing squishy poopy diapers b/c I would just make more of a mess that way but feel free if you are so inclined, or you could use diaper liners or the small rectangles of perforated paper towels. On wash day I just dump the entire contents of wetbag in the laundry room and launder poopy or extra dirty diapers on cold with a very small amount of regular detergent this is only about 2 tablespoons at most. Only just enough to get the agitating water to produce a small amount of suds. This is so important, since the diapers are made of absorbent fabrics. If you use too much soap there will be residues in the fabric that will cause the diapers to break down faster and/or smell bad. Do not use any additives No bleach, fabric softener, etc. these will cause the same problems as too much soap! After the cycle, add the rest of the diapers and wash on hot with a similar amount of soap as before, or less as you see necessary. After this you should be good to go but feel free to repeat the hot wash as needed. Dry as necessary. I always dry in the dryer on high with no issues at all. After this everything should be sparkling clean! My diapers stayed really nice using this method and only one or two have stained under extreme circumstances. I got a tidy return on these when it was time to sell them. They were well-used but in very nice condition! A few more cloth diapering tips: Ditch the disposable wipes too. The alcohol is so drying and is often the cause or aggravator of diaper rash! Try washable wipes (you're already washing the diapers anyhow right?) Or better yet use clean rags and diluted castile soap or even better if your baby is small enough to let you, wash their bum in the sink with a mild soap and water! If you start early enough they won't protest so much when they get older. Having seen some BAD rash on my youngest sister I am happy to report my daughter has never had diaper rash since I started doing it. Best of all, one less accessory to purchase! Yay!
(click term to see an example)
- Bought Pocket Diapers that didn't come w/inserts? Go to your local megamart! In the auto-detailing section you can get a bag of microfiber cloths for about $5-10 for a ten pack! The best thing is, you can fold these for customizable wetness protection or double up, AND they will fit in all your other Pockets too!
- If you really want to go green, consider Elimination Communication! It's not as scary as the name sounds and is actually very Attachment Parenting oriented. If you are interested in more info, check your assumptions at the door and click here!
And last but not least, a few helpful resources-
Read reviews on cloth diapers and accessories at Diaperpin.com
Look for a cloth diaper bargain or resell your GUC cloth diapers at forums like those found on HC Forums, Diaperswappers and ThePin
Support a WAHM and get something for baby made with pride by another mama at Hyenacart. Diapers you can find there run the gamut from luxurious to very reasonable.
Please let me know if there is anything that I missed or that you think would be helpful on this page & as always, if you have further questions about anything at all don't hesitate to contact me, borja010@gmail.com
THANKS!
0 comments:
Post a Comment