I need some advice from parents who use cloth diapers???

Question

I am concidering changing my 15mo daughter to cloth diapers, she has a terrible problem with continuous rash, sometimes it get so bad it blisters, and i believe the cloth diaper being more breathable will help reduce this rash problem we've been having.
but i don't really know where to start, i hear about liners and ones with pins and ones with velcro??? and how many do i buy? i change her diaper roughly ever1 to 2 hours everyday except while she's asleep at night, so thats roughly 8 to 10 times a day, not to mention she wakes up in the middle of the night still so i change her when that happens to. so i'll give it a dozen diapers a day. do i day two dozen then? or three? i want plenty for those Just in case moments, and someone told me you change more often with a cloth diaper.

so what'er liners? do i have to buy those seperate? How many should i buy? where is a good place to buy from? to i have to bleach them when i was them? soak them?

Anyone who can teach me, THANKS!

And whats a cover? someone said i'd need covers and the cloth diapers, and that i'd need like 30 of them...????

Answer 1

Cloth diapers are the best.

If you use prefolds (the cheapest option) then I'd go ahead and buy 2 dozen, 3 if you want some extra wiggle room (they really aren't expensive, so you may want to regardless). I do my diaper laundry every other day with about 30 diapers in my stash.

When you get your prefolds, you will want to wash them about 5 times to remove any natural oils that would inhibit absorption. If you buy hemp prefolds, wash them 10 times (hemp has more natural oils)

Don't use bleach on any diapers. One, it may void any warranty on the diaper, especially if you end up using pocket diapers or other "fancy" dipe. Two, it will break down the fibers in the diaper much faster and you won't get as much life from your purchase. Three, any residue left in the dipe will irritate baby's skin.

When I wash, I follow this routine: Hot wash, Warm rinse - use 1/2 capful of free & clear detergent. Then hot wash warm rinse using 1 TBSP dawn dishwashing detergent. Once a month I add 1 C Baking Soda to the first wash and 1 C White Vinegar to the second wash.

You can get by with maybe 5 or so covers. I do a combination of prefolds and pockets (fuzzi bunz) and I have 3 covers in my stash. If you're doing only prefolds, you may need up to 10 covers. You don't have to wash your covers every time, just let them air out unless they get poop on them. Otherwise, wash them once a week or so. (covers available on the web: http://www.bummis.com/en/Products/covers/SuperWhisperWrap.html http://www.imsevimse.us/store/category/8kop/Diaper_Covers.html )

Liners go inside the diaper and are good when baby's poop is still mushy (still on just breast milk) because they lift right out and you can flush the poop and liner instead of having to deal with a poopy diaper :) Since a 15 months old's poop is relatively solid, you can just dump it right out into the toilet, you don't need the liner. Liners are nice at this age if you need to use an ointment so that it won't get on the diaper. You might want to buy one package. (diaper liners: http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/doublers.htm )

Here are some GREAT resources:
http://www.thediaperhyena.com/diaper_folding101.htm - how to fold a prefold
http://www.diaperswappers.com - forum for cd users, tons of very knowledgeable mamas.
http://diaperpin.com/howto.asp - FAQs including how to wash cd's
http://diaperpin.com/clothdiapers/article_differentsystems.asp - explanation of different diapering systems

Answer 2

It has been over 20 years ago, but I used cloth diapers with my oldest 3 children. I am sure there are plenty of additional products available, but I used pre-folded cloth diapers, diaper pins, and plastic pants. I had a regular diaper pail (not sure if they even make those anymore) that I kept in the bathroom. I would put water and Dreft laundry soap in it to soak the diapers until wash day. I used bleach and a second rinse than hung them outside to dry. We live in Michigan so it is very cold a fair amount of the time, but if the sun was shining, I would wash the diapers and put them outside. When I brought them in, I would run them through a short cycle on the dryer to make them soft. I typically had 4-5 dozen diapers. As the babies got bigger and would sleep longer at night, I would double diaper them using a non pre-folded diaper with a pre-folded diaper inside. There are diaper liners you can get, but I found them to be a nuisance and I always seemed to find at least a couple that accidentally got in the washing machine. We rarely bought disposable diapers in those days - much too expensive - but I usually had a pack for trips or as a back up in case it rained when all the diapers were out on the line! I have been a mom for 28 years and have provided child care in my home for 20 years. I have not noticed a measurable difference between cloth or disposables in regards to how often you change them. I think it is about the same, but I check diapers pretty often. I think cloth diapers are not that easy to find anymore so you may have to search online for a source to buy them at a good price.

Answer 3

There are so many options for cloth diapers now. Some great places to start getting information are diaperpin.com and diaperswappers.com.

We use prefolds with snappis (no pins) with occasional contour diapers (no folding) and a variety of diaper covers-I have some ProWraps and some Bummis, but I may get a few from Bumkins cause they have cute patterns. I have a few Fuzzi Buns pocket diapers as well, which are great for quick diaper changes at night or out of the house. How many you need will depend on how often you want to do laundry. Pocket diapers have a pocket that you can fill with various liners to make them as absorbent as you need them-you wash the lining separate from the cover, but they go on and off in one piece like a disposable diaper. All in Ones are a similar option-they come in one piece, and go on and off like a disposable diaper but they're made from cloth. I've not used them, but I've heard good things about the ones from Blue Penguin. They do have slightly different washing instructions from the rest.

No bleach needed. No fabric softener either-both can damage your diapers and make them less absorbent. http://www.diaperjungle.com/washing-cloth-diapers.html will tell you about your washing options-wet pail and dry pail.

Good luck. And, if you switch to cloth, you may discover that your daughter potty trains sooner than other children her age who are in disposable diapers-children in cloth are much more aware of when they're wet and often begin to use the toilet before their peers.

Answer 4

firstly....do a net search for cloth diapers....and you will discover a world of diapers you never thought available

no pins....that is outdated

no "plastic pants"....that is outdated....you don't need anymore than 5 covers though

and liners are not neccessary

i use hemp fitted diapers....and they are the best!

hemp is super super absorbant, antimicrobial, naturally organic, durable....hemp lasts years longer than cotton and works well for your next baby(s) as well

all cloth diaper sites will also sell covers

the diapers i personally use are from Crickett's and Growing Greens

the growing greens come in organic cotton and hemp/cotton blend variety.....as said i prefer the hemp

here is the link to the website.....and the vendor frequently has ebay sales for their "seconds"....that is where i got my first batch of growing greens for a good deal

and washing is easy....you just wash them

no bleach

no fabric softner

use some vinegar in the wash to strip the diapers of detergent and oils

and if you buy quality diapers changing is no more frequent than sposies....notice i said quality diapers.....no matter the type you choose you must buy quality.....don't expect to buy some Gerber prefolds from Wal-Mart and be happy...those are not meant for effective diapering

good luck!

Answer 5

10 Good Reasons to choose Bio-Baba Nappies
Bio-Baba nappies are simply the best cloth nappy on the market – they are the only all-in-one nappies (nappy, liner and waterproof so no separate time-wasting procedures when fitting) which have wide-band Velcro for a snug fit; smart-fit tabs which stop the Velcro picking up lint during washing; multi-padding with hemp for super absorbency and breathable outers.
The hemp used in the removable ‘Booster Pad’ does all the hard work of the nappy. So, instead of the waterproof doing the hard work (which it does in other cloth nappies), this pad absorbs all the wetness, wicking it away from babies skin. Hemp is recognized as one of the world’s strongest natural fibres – the more you wash it – the more absorbent it becomes! It also has anti-bacterial qualities and uses no pesticides in its growth.
You will be saving a great deal of money - Considering that a baby will on average have 5,500 nappy changes, that equates to between R 12,000 and R 15,000. By using the Bio-Baba nappy you could easily save R10 000 (including water, electricity and detergent for washing). Invest the saving of at least R 7,500 for your child's future. By the time he/she reaches 18 years of age this amount would be worth over R 60,000.00 even if invested conservatively.
There are numerous health issues: the first is the use of Sodium polyacrylate gel can absorb 100 times its weight in liquid and makes for a very absorbent nappy! However, it has been linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome in tampon use and is no longer used in their manufacture. It is still used in disposables. Also, the lack of padding in disposable nappies is considered a hazard when baby is learning to walk and falling on his/her bottom on a regular basis. Some paediatric specialists believe that the increase in hip dysplasia and other spinal injuries is related to the lack of padding and support provided by disposables. Extra padding in the Bio-Baba nappies reduces this risk.
The Environment – considering that each child has at least 5 500 nappy changes resulting in 350 million disposable nappies being thrown away in South Africa a year…by choosing an eco-friendly alternative you are consciously looking after the environment in our home country and making choices that are ensuring a future for your children.... the Bio-Baba nappy is a 21 st Century product for forward thinking parents.
We are our children’s teachers – Aristotle said “The habits we form from childhood make no small difference, but rather make all the difference”. You are sending a positive message to your children by teaching them to respect the planet and not to litter it with disposables that will take 500 years to decompose.
Comfort - The Bio-Baba nappy is extremely comfortable. You will simply not find a better cloth nappy; they have been specifically designed to wick moisture away from the babies’ skin, meaning that even though the baby may have an extremely wet nappy, the baby itself is dry. Moreover, careful fabric choices such as soft 100% cotton, hemp with anti-bacterial qualities and breathable outers have been used to ensure maximum comfort. The breathable outer also ensures that when baby needs to be changed – mum will know.
Toilet Training - children in real nappies DO toilet train, on average, around 6 months earlier than their peers in disposables: a child in real nappies knows when they are wet, and so makes the connection between bladder release and a wet nappy. It is this which is the vital first step in toilet training. Bio-Baba nappies are excellent nappies for potty training.
Like all Acorn products, Bio-Baba nappies come in fun bright primary colours; Red, Blue and Yellow as well as a white. The best teaching moments are ones that aren’t planned – choosing a different colour nappy is a great way for toddlers to get to grips with their colours.
Employment – one of the biggest problems faced by South Africa today is a lack of employment. We often have highly skilled, highly educated people unable to find work. Bio-Baba nappies provide work for the communities of Grassy Park, Lotus River, Athlone and Bonteheuwel. They are not cheap imports and are made with the finest quality South African fabrics.