Cloth diapers?

Question

I don't know the first thing about using cloth diapers. However, I'm expecting my first baby, a boy, in late November, and would like to use them (I think!).

What are the pro's, the con's, how do you clean them, how do you attach them to the baby, etc? Any links, resources, suggestions? Thank you!

I know disposables are easier. But my husband and I are on a tight income, I'd like to try to save money. We'll use disposables occasionally, like when we're out, but for at-home I'd like to use cloth.

Please, I'd like tips from mothers who use cloth diapers, not people who use disposable diapers.

Thankyou!

I'm also looking at the environmental aspect (no millions of non-degradable diapers in the landfills)

and the hygenic aspect
(less chance of diaper rash or irritation)

Answer 1

CD's are easy, economical, and so much better for your baby's bum! (I know I don't want to wear paper underwear with gel in it, so why would my baby?)

Most good info on cloth diapers will come from the internet. CDing is something that people still tend to shy away from, for one reason or the other. There are great resources out there, though, and as most CD online retailers are WAHMs, they have great customer service and are willing to work with you to find the best system for you.

Basically there are 4 types of CDs..
The Prefolds: These are what you get when you use a diaper service. They are most economical of all the diapering systems. The prefold is the old fashioned diaper that needs pins or Snappis for fastening. They will leak, so you will need either a PUL cover, or a wool cover.

The Fitteds: A step up from the prefolds, fitteds are diapers made of very absorbant material which are shaped to fit your baby (like a disposable) and which fasten with snaps or Aplix (like Velcro but stronger). The can be cotton, or hemp, or some combination of materials. They also require a cover as they tend to leak once they reach saturation point.

The Pocket Diapers: These are what I primarily use, and I love 'em! These are diapers with a super absorbant microfleece or microfiber layer next to baby's skin with an attached PUL covering. The back of the diaper has a pocket which you need to stuff... you can use just about anything. There are special hemp and microfiber inserts that are highly absorbant, and the layer next to baby wicks away moisture and poo, so the baby stays amazingly clean and dry. SO much cleaner than a disposable, where the poo is merely "contained". These diapers need no cover, and can be made as absorbant as you like, depending on what you stuff them with. They fasten with snaps or Aplix. We use FuzziBunz and love them!

AIO: The all-in-one; the most like a disposable in that you simply put the diaper on the baby. Nothing to stuff, no cover needed. The inside has a special liner and is very absorbant, and there is an attached PUL covering. These are super easy but also the most expensive.

Diaper care: Very easy to care for cd's. You don't need a special diaper pail. You don't need to keep them in a wet pail (eww!). We use a diaper champ and it works great. On laundry day, you soak in cold, then wash in hot with about 1/8 the amount of detergent you would normally use, and a cold rinse. Voila! Some people use what is called a mini-shower to rinse poop; this is a hand held device that attaches to the toilet, to the fresh water line. It's a sprayer and you can just rinse diapers into the toilet. No NEED for it, but some people really like them. If you have any discoloration, just dry your dipes in the sun, the sun bleaches them nice and white.

I am always finding that for every 4 moms who think cd'ing is gross, there is one more who loves the idea and eventually switches over.

Good luck with finding the right diapering system!

Answer 2

When you take the cloth diaper off your baby, you scrape any solids off into the toilet and place the used diaper into a diaper pail of either water or diluted bleach. Every second day (every day if you have the time) you wash the diapers twice, once with a baby laundry soap like Ivory, and once with just very hot water. You can either dry them on a line or in a dryer. Do not use any fabric softeners. They interfere with absorption and they may irritate the baby's skin.
You can either buy the kind that has velcro closures and a rubber outer cover or the kind that is a square of flannel. The square kind have to be folded and pinned and have to be covered with plastic or rubber pants. They are much cheaper and once you get the hang of them are not really a lot more work than the all in one velcro kind.
You will need to change the baby a lot more often with cloth than with disposable, but they are much less irritating to the skin. Most babies don't need much in the way of diaper creams, vaseline, powder and the like. In fact these products can interfere with the ability of the diaper to absorb properly.
Cloth diapers are cheaper to use( especially if you can get them as baby shower presents) and can be used for many years after the baby is through with them for rags. The impact on the environment is obviously much lower as well.
When your baby is born the nurses in the hopital can show you to how to fold the square diapers, or most grandmas know.

Answer 3

They're *not* that difficult to use. If you launder them yourself, you have an extra couple of loads of laundry to do every week (you won't notice it once you're washing baby's clothes!!). Even if you use diaper pins, it only takes a minute to take off the used diaper and put on a clean one. What takes time is cleaning off the baby, and you have to do that no matter what type of diaper you use (and even if you don't use diapers at all and choose to use elimination communication instead!).

The cheapest way to use cloth is to buy Chinese pre-folds (also known as DSQ or diaper-service quality) plus covers. Do *not* buy department store diapers (they are too thin!!!); only buy from a Web store. Depending on the type of cover you choose, you may not have to pin or close the diaper at all; the cover may hold it in place.

You also may find a diaper service, especially if you live near a big city. They cost more than laundering them yourself, but they're better for the environment because they are washed in larger loads and therefore use less water per diaper to clean.

I am including some links (see sources section below) that have some good basic information. The first group is from unbiased sources; the second group has pages from diaper stores, so they may be encouraging you to buy their own products.

Answer 4

I had to use cloth diapers on my first born because the disposable daipers would give her a rash. They are really different now. You can get the ones shaped like a disposable diaper. No pins they have velcro to close them and elastic around the legs. They sell diaper liners to put in them. You pull it out and put it in the trash when the baby goes. It doesnt catch it all but most of it. I really didnt think it was bad using them. If you are a stay at home mom I think it is just as easy as using a disposable you just have to put them in the washer, and thats no big deal. Good luck to you and your new baby.

Answer 5

the pro are baby will not get rash and it is re-usable. the con will be you need to change them regularly if not baby will be uncomfortable and there will be lot of laundry to be make. when you were using cloth diaper maybe you can consider putting one piece of diaper liner on it so that when the baby pass motion all you have to do is throw away the liner and it is easier for you to wash the cloth. By the way, the liner is re-usable too. However, it is not advisable to use cloth diaper at night because both my husband and you need to sleep.

Answer 6

I know my mother n law used them and told me that after they were dirty she had to put them in a bucket full of bleach right away to clean the bacteria off of them and then she said it stunk and then after a couple built up she would wash them in the washer.. she said you have to keep one of those plastic underwear thing around the diaper because the pee goes right through the cloth diaper.. My mom used them too.. but back in the day my parents had money so they had a thing where a service that would come by your house and pick up your dirty diapers and clean them and bring them back.. to be honest it's cleaner and less expensive by the time you wash and dry them so many times to just go ahead and by disposable diapers.. but if you choose to still do the cloth good luck..

Answer 7

i know you cant put them in the washer with poop in them. you have to do it by hand. and i use disposables

Answer 8

its easier to use pampers.