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benefits of using cloth diapers
Cloth diapers
are better for your baby's skin because they are naturally
comfortable, free of chemicals, and gentle on sensitive body
parts. Also many parents report that using cloth diapers
instead of disposables reduces the occurrence of diaper
rash.
The choice to use cloth diapers makes a positive impact on
the quality of your environment. Disposable diapers can take
up to 500 years to decompose and one baby can produce up to
2 tons of landfill waste. Reusable cloth diapers give you
and your baby a safer, cleaner world to live in.
And you can save
money by using cloth diapers! Compared to disposable
diapers, the cost of using cloth diapers is significantly
less. Diapering a baby with disposables for only one year
costs as much as diapering a baby with cloth for up to three
years. Furthermore, high quality cotton diapers can be used
on more than one child.
cloth
diapering terms
Prefold
Diaper or Chinese Prefold or Diaper Service Quality (DSQ)
- a large, rectangular shaped
diaper that, despite the name, still needs to be folded to
fit into a cover. Prefolds are usually either six or eight
layers thick in the middle, and two or four layers thick on
either side, thus the terms 2x6x2, or 4x8x4.
Contoured or Hourglass or Shaped Diaper
- a diaper that requires no
folding because of its hourglass shape. These usually have a
thicker center panel to increase absorbency.
Fitted
Diaper - a
diaper that usually snaps or Velcros™ onto baby, and has
elastic sewn around the legs. These diapers require no
folding, however, they do require a cover.
All-In-One Diaper (AIO)
- This diaper requires no
cover, because the diaper and cover are sewn together. The
easiest of all diapers to use, they usually Velcro™ or snap
on.
Diaper
Doubler -
multiple layers of fabric sewn into a rectangular or
hourglass shape that can be laid into any type of diaper to
increase its absorbency.
Diaper
Liner - one
layer of fabric (usually fleece) cut into a rectangular or
hourglass shape that can be laid into any type of diaper to
wick moisture away from baby's skin without adding any
absorbency or bulk to the diaper.
Diaper
Wrap - a
diaper cover with Velcro™ or snap closures.
Pull-on
Cover - a
diaper cover that must be pulled up onto baby. These are
easiest used with fitted diapers. If prefolds are used with
pull-on covers, the diaper must be pinned.
Wool cover-
Wool diaper covers were used for centuries to keep
babies dry and comfortable. Then rubber and plastic pants
were invented and wool was abandoned as old-fashioned and
messy. Fast forward a few decades and you'll find cloth
diapering moms and dads in the know using wool diaper covers
to keep their babies dry. Why do they choose wool?
Wool has a number of unique properties that
make it perfect for diaper covers. Wool is extremely
flexible and resilient. Wool fibers can bend 20,000 times or
more before breaking. Compare this with just a few thousand
times for cotton and you get some idea how long a well made
wool diaper cover will last. In fact, properly cared for
wool diaper covers will still be working hard for your
children's children.
Another remarkable aspect of wool is the ability to absorb
up to 30% of its weight in moisture before it feels damp.
Coupled with the ability to let moisture evaporate, your
wool covers will allow a lot of moisture to evaporate while
it is still on your baby. This is especially helpful at
night to keep your baby dry all night. Many parents swear
that a hemp diaper and wool cover are the only way they can
keep their heavy-wetting babies dry overnight.
The lanolin in wool will react with urine to create a kind
of mild soap. This keeps your wool diaper cover smelling
fresh for a week or more at a time, reducing your washing
time. Reapplying lanolin (called lanolizing) every few
washes will keep your covers functioning well and smelling
great.
getting started with cloth
Here are
some suggestions to help you decide exactly what you need
to get started with cloth diapering your newborn baby.
Please size up if you are getting started with cloth
diapering on your toddler.
Diapers
2-3 Dozen
Diapers (any combination of prefolds, contours, fitteds, or
all-in-ones)
6-12 Diaper Doublers or Liners
Covers
4-6 Newborn
size wrap covers (Velcro or snap)
6-8 Small size covers (Any combination of wraps or pull-ons)
2-3 nightime covers (such as Imse Vimse covers or wool
soakers)
Accessories
2-3 Dozen
cloth wipes
Baby wipe cleanser
folding tips
Prefold
diapers can simply be tri-folded and laid directly into a
wrap style cover. This method requires no diaper fasteners.
Or, try one of our favorite folding techniques illustrated
below.
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Step 1:
Lay
prefold horizontally under baby. Serged edges
should be at top and bottom.
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Step 2:
Twist
center of prefold.
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Step 3:
Pull
twisted prefold up, pull the back corners
(wings) around to the front.
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Step 4:
Attach
Snappi
Note: For
smaller babies, front of diaper can be folded
down in front after twisting.
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washing diapers
When
diapers are wet or soiled, throw them directly into a pail
with no water. If they are especially soiled, shake the
solids off into the toilet, or rinse the entire diaper out
into the toilet, then put it in the pail. If you are
breastfeeding, it is not necessary to rinse your newborn
baby's diaper in the toilet, just throw it directly in the
pail. Be sure to fold in any Velcro™ tabs before they go
into the pail.
Pour the contents of
the pail into the washing machine, and run a cold rinse
cycle. Then, run a normal hot wash cycle with about ¼-½
the recommended amount of detergent. Detergent build-up can
hinder absorbency, and cause odor in your diapers. If the
diapers need a little freshening up, add ¼ cup of white
vinegar, or a little baking soda to the second rinse cycle.
Vinegar is a natural fabric softener, a mildew inhibitor,
and it also removes excess soap residue. It's not a bad idea
to vary your drying methods. The sun is a natural whitener
and sanitizer, while the dryer keeps the diapers nice and
soft.
Some
special instructions:
Unbleached cotton, hemp, and organic cotton diapers need to
be washed 5-7 times in very hot water and dried once before
using because the natural oils in the fabric have not been
removed through processing. These diapers include Unbleached
Chinese Prefolds, Kissaluvs Fitted Diapers, hemp diapers,
Contours, and wipes, doublers, and wipes. You will want to
use approximately 1-2 tablespoons of detergent for each of
these initial washes. We recommend using a detergent that is
free of bleach and fabric softeners like Charlies soap.
Fabric softeners leave a coating in the fibers of the diaper
which decreases absorbency. Bleach weakens diapers and is
not safe for baby's skin. Never use bleach on diaper covers.
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nighttime diapering
Diapering
at night requires a system that will keep baby's
diaper from leaking and keep baby's skin as dry
as possible. To minimize leaks, we recommend
using a good fitted diaper such as sugar peas or
dreameeze fitteds. To increase absorbency and
keep baby's skin dry, we suggest using doublers
and micro fleece liners.
if diapers leak
Cloth
diapers should never leak. Leaky diapers
can be attributed to a number of different
reasons. The three most common reasons are:
1. Not changing the diaper frequently enough
- This is a very common problem, especially
for parents who have recently switched from
disposable diapers to cloth diapers. Cloth
diapers need to be changed about every 1-3
hours. Heavy wetters and newborn babies will
require more frequent changes. Nighttime
diapering is more involved, and will be
discussed in the next question.
2. Poor sizing/fit - When choosing diaper
and cover sizes, refer to the size suggestions
provided for each individual brand. Most
companies size according to baby's weight. Some
factors that contribute to a poor fit and can
cause leaking are diapers or covers gapping at
the legs and waist, and diapers not being
completely tucked into covers. A nice fitting
diaper needs to be used with a cover that is
neither too big nor too small. Ensuring a proper
fit depends on a good combination of diaper and
cover.
3. Detergent build-up causing decreased
absorbency - If diapers fit well, and are
changed frequently, but are still leaking,
detergent build-up may be the problem. It is a
good idea to wash diapers every once in a while
in hot water without detergent. This will remove
excess detergent, and return adequate absorbency
to the diapers.
Have
more questions? Contact me at holly@papoosebebe.com
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maternity
