I want to use cloth diapers with my new baby.?

Question

After researching, I believe it's more healthy, economical and better for the environment. Can anyone give me some opinions on what types of cloth diapers to use and tips on easier cleaning?

I live in a small town, and we don't have a diaper service. The laundry services we have laughed when I asked them about doing diapers.

Answer 1

There are four basic categories of cloth diapers: prefolds, fitteds, pockets, and all-in-ones. Everyone's got their own favorite type of diaper and their own favorite brand. It totally depends on you -- how much you want to spend, which features you like best, and your baby's body type.

Prefold pros and cons: prefolds are a great economical diaper. You can shape them exactly to your baby, they fit under just about any cover, and with Snappis you don't need to use pins anymore. The learning curve's a little steeper, though.

Fitteds are cut to shape. You snap them on and you're good to go. They're a little more expensive, but very cute, soft, and easy to use. They do get wet all over, though, so they're not great if that upsets your baby. Like prefolds, you use a cover over these.

Pockets have a PUL cover and fleece inner layer sewn together. You stuff them with a doubler, soaker, or prefold as your absorbant layer. You can really tailor the thickness of this kind of diaper to your needs. I don't see any downside to them; in fact, they're my favorite kind of diaper, personally. I use a thin layer during the day when I'm changing frequently. They're trimmer than most disposables, look great, and let my kiddos move easily when learning to crawl and walk. If you're ECing or potty learning, they pull down easily and quickly, too. At night, I bulk them up with a prefold and they'll take both kiddos through the entire night and the bulk keeps my youngest from rolling to his tummy (he's not old enough to sleep on his tummy yet, no matter how much he wants to).

All-in-ones are awesome for grandparents, babysitters, or a partner who isn't really into cloth diapers. They have the cover and absorbant layer sewn together. They use velcro so sometimes aren't as durable as snap diapers or prefolds, but are very easy to use, especially for someone used to disposables. You just have to make sure they don't throw them out. They're usually very absorbant, also stylish; the only real downside I can think of is that they tend to be the most expensive kind of diaper. Even still, you'll never spend as much on cloth diapers as you will on disposables over the course of your diapering days.

My personal favorites: FuzziBunz for pocket diapers, Kissaluvs and Swaddlebees for fitteds, Bummis and Bumpy's Imse Vimse for covers, and Kushies for all-in-ones (AIOs). I also have basic cotton prefolds that will last forever, although if you have a very heavy wetter, hemp is more expensive but will absorb 7x more.

I'd recommend getting a couple of several different brands and trying them out on your baby. See what you like the best and what works best for your baby, sell the ones you don't want, and then buy your stash. That way you haven't invested a lot of time and money into just one kind of diaper that you might end up not liking as much as something else.

Washing them is easy. While your baby is exclusively breastfeeding, just store both wet and poopy dipes in a dry pail or something like a Bummis wet/dry bag until you're ready to do laundry. I wash on hot then do an additional cold rinse cycle to make sure all the detergent is out. Dry on the regular cycle; everything can go in together for the same length of time. When your baby starts solid food, shake poop into the potty or use a biodegradeable rice paper liner to life solids out, then do the same as above.

Tip: Don't use soap, use detergent. Soap will build up on diapers and make them less absorbant. Any kind of dye-free, perfume-free detergent should work fine. (I like Arm & Hammer's sensitive skin detergent.) Only use half the recommended amount -- a half-cap at most for a full load. This is plenty to get them clean but will prevent buildup or needing to do extra rinses. If you get any stains, lay the dipe out in the sun for a few hours. For a stubborn stain, rub with lemon juice, then sun them. Oh, and skip the fabric softener and dryer sheets -- they'll make your diapers repel pee and leak.

Answer 2

I use cloth diapers too. I used a diaper service in the beginning, but decided it would be just as easy to wash them on my own. Before I put the diapers in the diaper pail I make sure to get as much of the solids out of them as possible. I then put them in the wash and let it run a full cycle with just plain water or with a half cup of baking soda. Then I run it through again and I only use Bi-O-Kleen Premium Plus All Temperature Laundry Powder with Enzymes. I buy it on line at drugstore.com since I cant seem to find it at any stores. This gets the diapers really clean and fresh smelling every time. I have been using this stuff for over a year and will never use anything else on my diapers. Also as the type of cloth I prefer is the Unbleached Indian Cotton Prefolds that I also buy on line from www.thanksmama.com. They are great diapers and the hold in a ton of liquid. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Oh, I was one of those mothers that was "only the natural stuff for my baby". I wasn't going to use disposable diapers for anything, and that cloth was the way for me. Yeah, that lasted all of a week. I switched to the Target brand of diapers for my baby. The pros: Yeah, it is great for the environment, and also it is better for the baby's skin, for cloth breaths well. And it is cheaper overall to purchase a set of cloth diapers and wash and reuse them. The cons: It is easier to dispose of the dirty diaper than rinse and wash it, and it does create a better barrier agains gaps and leaks, causing less accidents due to a diaper moving in the pants. There are also no pins involved, so no chance of sticking yourself or the baby when the baby decides that they want to run, and not be changed. And it is much quicker to change a disposable diaper than a cloth one. The little balls that you are noticing is from the inside of the diaper. This usually happens when a rip in the liner occures, or you let the diaper get too full. Sometimes a change in brands will be the simple fix, but once in a while you may still see them. I don't think they are harmful if they are just there, and the kid doesn't ingest them. When you see them, use a washcloth and wash them off. That is what I did when I found them. My daughter is now 17 months old, and still going strong in disposable diapers. Good luck!!

Answer 4

The sad part about using cloth diapers today is that people do snicker and laugh. I'm still at a complete loss as to why. (Too bad people have their heads so far up their butts nowadays). Anyhow, I have always cloth diapered my kids and here's what I do. I use regular fold and pin cloth diapers with rubber pants. The cheapest most economical method out there.

For the wet ones, I just toss into the diaper pail. For the poopy ones, a quick dunk, flush, and rinse in the toilet, then into the diaper pail. Every 2-3 days I dump the diaper pail into the washing machine, add some soap, wash, then hang the diapers or dry them in the clothes dryer. When done fold, stack, and use. Totally easy.

The diapers I use are often refered to as two piece cloth diapers (diaper plus panties) system. I like the method because it's tried and true and it works. It's been around forever, and it's totally fuss free. Need I say more?

What you should know is that you "don't" need to use a diaper service just because you use cloth diapers. If you need more info or help, please feel free to private message me. Good luck with it.

Answer 5

You may want to look into a cloth diaper service. Someone else posted a question like this yesterday and really got the third degree. I don't why, but don't let them bother you. I was going to do the cloth diaper thing, but I decided to go with the disposables instead. Nowdays, they do have some really neat cloth diapers out there. I would recommend not doing the Gerber cloth diapers, because I don't think they would hold much, but they make great spit rages. Good luck to you!

Answer 6

My mom used to use cloth diapers on babies that were allergic to the disposable ones (daycare). She usually would dump the #2's in the toilet and then rinse the diaper and wash them with baby detergent (non allergenic and no dyes/ parfume) It was a lot of work but it she did it. She also used "rubbers" for them to wear on top of the cloth diaper. This helped the babies not to soak through or have leakage during "loose bowels" time. It works, but it takes alot of work too.

Answer 7

There is no other way to put it..cloth diapers are A LOT OF WORK, WORK WORK, REALLY FRUSTRATING WORK. I'm talking from experience.

I can understand your reasons, they are similiar to mine, but if you don't have a diaper service its ganna make everything up to you.
TIPS ON CLEANING:
Have 2 seperate containers to keep soiled diapers.
If you don't do laundry everyday, you need to rinse diapers in a fabric softner and gentle bleach mix(easy on the bleach) daily.
Wash diapers by themselves, dont mix with rest of babies clothes (TRY SAOKING #2 OVERNIGHT)
Keep soiled diapers in an airtight container, they can smell real FUNKY...even after you dispose of #2 in the toilet.

Maybe you could use cloth diapers at home only, as they can be real embarrassing and a hassle to change when you are out.

At home you could also use a plastic underwear over the diaper. They are reuasble and a real big help. Also use a plastic liner over mattress.

The real downside to all this is pee may soak on mattress, sofa etc anywhere you put the baby.

GOOD LUCK

Answer 8

I used cloth diapers exclusively on my first BUT it was with the convenience of a diaper service. Unless you can properly sanitize the diapers (and that is a real tough job). Then I would not use them!!!!! The service I used, cleaned the diapers THREE times before returning them back to me. They always came back snow white. While it's good that you are trying to be health conscious with your child, I'd stick with the disposable diapers. At least you know that they are sanitary to use.

mb

Answer 9

There arent really very many "types"- but just make sure you use the liners (that makes for easy clean up for #2), im not sure where they are available, but my mom used cloth diapers on my 11 year old brother and i remember there was a service that picked up soiled diapers and leave u clean ones


It might be more healthy and economical- but really not practical- especially when the baby gets older.
I remember holding my brother and when hed pee, it got on your clothes, and while they are asleep it soaks through the bedding- - my mom only used them for the first 3 months and only at home

Answer 10

Use the removable liners. Get a diaper bin that is air tight. And when you wash them make sure you use baby detergent.