To the book, click here.

Written by Autumn Beck
and Jennifer Reinhardt
© Copyright 2016, Jennifer Reinhardt
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this report may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
whatsoever, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,
or by any informational storage or retrieval system without expressed
written, dated and signed permission from the author.
DISCLAIMER AND/OR LEGAL NOTICES
The information presented herein represents the views of the author as of
the date of publication. Because of the rate with which conditions change,
the author reserves the rights to alter and update his opinions based on the
new conditions. This report is for informational purposes only and the author
do not accept any responsibilities for any liabilities resulting from the use of
this information. While every attempt has been made to verify the
information provided in this report, neither the author nor his
affiliates/partners assume any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or
omissions.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 .....................................................................................................................................................................1
New to Cloth Diapers? .........................................................................................................................................1
Why use Cloth Diapers? .......................................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER 2 .....................................................................................................................................................................8
How to Choose the Right Diapers ........................................................................................................................8
CHAPTER 3 ...................................................................................................................................................................11
All-in-Ones/All-in-Twos (AIOs/AI2s)...................................................................................................................11
CHAPTER 4 ...................................................................................................................................................................15
Hybrid Cloth Diapers ..........................................................................................................................................15
CHAPTER 5 ...................................................................................................................................................................17
Pocket Cloth Diapers and Inserts .......................................................................................................................17
CHAPTER 6 ...................................................................................................................................................................20
Fitteds ................................................................................................................................................................20
CHAPTER 7 ...................................................................................................................................................................26
Prefolds ..............................................................................................................................................................26
Flats ...................................................................................................................................................................29
CHAPTER 8 ...................................................................................................................................................................30
Cloth Diaper Covers ...........................................................................................................................................30
Lanolizing and Using Wool .................................................................................................................................35
CHAPTER 9 ...................................................................................................................................................................38
Fabrics ................................................................................................................................................................38
Chapter 10 ...................................................................................................................................................................43
Rashes ................................................................................................................................................................43
CHAPTER 11 .................................................................................................................................................................45
How to Find the Right Size Diaper .....................................................................................................................45
CHAPTER 12..................................................................................................................................................................48
How many cloth diapers will you need? ............................................................................................................48
How Do You Save Money? .................................................................................................................................51
More Tips for Successful Selling ........................................................................................................................53
CHAPTER 13 .................................................................................................................................................................56
Nighttime ...........................................................................................................................................................56
What Do you Do With the Poo? ........................................................................................................................61
CHAPTER 14 .................................................................................................................................................................63
WASHING ...........................................................................................................................................................63
What Detergent Should You Use? .....................................................................................................................67
How do you store clean/dirty cloth diapers? ....................................................................................................70
CHAPTER 15 .................................................................................................................................................................72
Issues & Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................................................72
Leaky Diapers .....................................................................................................................................................72
Stinky Diapers or Leaky diapers .........................................................................................................................74
Stains .................................................................................................................................................................76
CHAPTER 16 .................................................................................................................................................................79
Stripping & Deep Cleaning .................................................................................................................................79
What NOT to do .................................................................................................................................................81
APPENDIX A .................................................................................................................................................................82
How to Fold a Prefold ........................................................................................................................................82
APPENDIX B .................................................................................................................................................................85
Cloth Diaper Terms and Acronyms ....................................................................................................................85
General and Parenting Acronyms ......................................................................................................................90
CHAPTER 1
New to Cloth Diapers?
Having a new baby is big deal. You may find yourself wondering if you’ll
ever see the light at the end of the tunnel. So many options. So many
choices. It can be stressful wondering if you’ve made the right decision. Let
this guide show you that cloth diapers ARE the best choice for your baby
and for you!
Experienced? Veteran?
If you are an experienced cloth diapering parent or perhaps a seasoned
veteran, this book will not only be a refresher course for you but introduce
you to awesome new tips and secrets.
When I started cloth diapering my second child in 2005, I only wished I had
a step by step guide like this to assist me in what to buy, where to buy and
how to use cloth diapers.
I found myself asking... Pockets? Fitteds? Wicking? Stalking? Washing?
Why would I buy a fitted when it has to be covered? What do we use at
night? Why are some cloth diapers SO expensive? Do the cheaper ones
work as well as the expensive ones? All this floating around and all I wanted
was a diaper that would work.
My Story
One day in October 2005, as we were heading out of town I chased down
the UPS truck (seriously) to get my first order of cloth diapers. I had no idea
what to do with them but the fact that I was actually touching and feeling a
new stage in my life put me on a “fluffy” Cloud 9. I was definitely a kid on
Christmas morning.
We were heading to my mother-in-law’s house for the weekend and as soon
as we arrived I started washing my 2 dozen unbleached Chinese prefolds
and 6 Prowrap covers from Ebay—at that time I assumed one wash would
do. The extent of my knowledge was when you buy something new that you
1
are going to wear, you wash it. I had no clue that when it came to prefolds
you needed to do several washes to prep them to their full absorbency.
The whole weekend I had to defend my decision to cloth diaper because
every time I put one on Haven, it leaked.
My sweet mother-in-law very politely asked, “Are they supposed to leak?”
I was not discouraged by this bumpy start. I called my friend who had
walked me through my first purchase. She explained that I needed to wash
prefolds in HOT water 5 or 6 times for them to adequately fluff up for proper
absorbency. You could also boil them on the stove if your washer (whether
in your home or laundromat) is not capable of high heat washes, this is how
my mom prepped/sterilized the prefolds she used on my brother and I.
So, that is how I began my venture into cloth diapers. My friend, Melisa, is
really the one who got me interested in cloth diapers. I had no clue where to
start and she provided me with all the answers I needed. She gave me a
website and literally told me exactly what to order. Thankfully, our son was
a good fit for prefolds and Prowraps! I don’t know what I would have done if
this was a bad match for him.
This first batch of diapers lasted Haven all through his diapering days (15
months to 3+years). I did buy 4 Happy Heinys to supplement his stash. I
honestly thought that I was THE coolest mom for having Happy Heinys.
With my limited knowledge and experience I felt they were the best cloth
diaper ever made. Knowledge and experience have taught me that Happy
Heinys are not the best cloth diaper but they are an excellent, widely
available introductory diaper that works with most babies.
I didn’t have a lot of money to buy more so I needed to wash daily,
sometimes twice, in order for my diapers to last. I preferred using the HH,
which is why I would sometimes do two loads of laundry. (Later I'll show
you how and where to find the best deals in cloth diapering so you don’t
have to do this!)
As we made more money I was able to try some other types of diapers. By
the time my 3rd child was born in December 2006, I was fully immersed in
online forums and had learned of a vast world of fluffiness.
Even after months of surfing the internet and frequenting cloth diaper
2
boards, I was still learning the lingo. I was on the journey to find what diaper
worked best. To make matters worse, I soon discovered that even though I
had “paid my dues” with my son and reached stash nirvana, my daughter
was born and none of what I had discovered worked for her!
A whole new set of questions surfaced. What works best for chubby thighs?
Why does she have this rash when I put on a pocket diaper with suede
cloth inner or a fitted with serged edges? I was at my wits end (or was it the
end of my PayPal money I had reached?)
Again, I put in months of internet time and more importantly bought and sold
DOZENS of diapers to find what would work. I attribute that persistence to
my stubbornness and honestly, my obsession with utterly cute fluffiness.
(Yeah, that’s another term I had to learn: fluff mail).
There are a couple of key points to take from my experience:
Don't assume that the new baby will be able to wear all of the previous
child's diapers. Some may work, while others will have fit or sensitivity
issues.
Don't be afraid to start from scratch. If you find a system or fabric isn't
working for your new baby don't give up! There are so many choices in
cloth diapers, making it easy to find alternatives.
It is possible to cloth diaper more than one child at a time! They may have
different stashes but it is just as simple as and a lot cheaper to cloth diaper
than using disposables.
When it comes to children you never really get anything fully figured out.
The minute you think you do they grow 3 inches, lose 5 pounds or suddenly
have a wool allergy. The answer is to have an absolute (cloth diapering is
the best choice) and be committed to finding a solution to whatever
problem arises.
Where does this leave Daddy? Even though I am an experienced clothdiapering mama, my husband is still back at Day 3 asking, “Why is this
diaper leaking on me?” and fumbling horribly over the dozens of snaps on a
one-size diaper.
3
Dads don't change near the amount of diapers we do but if we want them to
change any it's important to include them in the process. If at the very least
this means buying cloth diapers that fasten exactly like a disposable then
do that. You might just be surprised at how interested your spouse is in
cloth diapering your little one!
That is how I got started with cloth diapers. You may or may not relate to my
story. Either way, if you have recently begun cloth diapering or are thinking
about it, I will walk you through all your questions.
With this manual I will answer questions in categories ranging from types of
diapering systems, washing, accessories, terms, popular brands and links,
how-to’s, and most commonly asked questions with answers throughout the
book. What took me years to learn will be presented to you in one place
that you can refer back to at any time and learn in days.
Why use Cloth Diapers?
When I tell people we use cloth diapers they are almost always shocked.
After they make comments like “you’re so brave” or “I could never cloth
diaper”, they ask me why.
For my family our baby’s health was the reason we chose cloth
diapering. My husband is a chiropractor and that opened the door to a
way of thinking that revolved around health. We were introduced to
natural ways of birthing, organic eating, and the multiple chemicals that
we live with daily. Some we can alter or lessen, others we have little
control over.
When we looked at the chemicals we could eliminate, disposable diapers
were a big one. I did quite a bit of research into the chemicals contained
in the diapers I was putting on my child. Having this info and choosing to
ignore it became very difficult. I literally shudder when I think of what sits
next to our babies most private parts, just soaking up the toxins.
A disposable diaper contains many harmful chemicals that come into direct
contact with your baby's sensitive parts. Some of these chemicals are
known potential carcinogens.
The two big toxins in disposable diapers are Dioxin and Sodium
Polyacrylate. Dioxin is an extremely nasty chemical. A 1994, EPA report
4
revealed that there is no safe exposure level for dioxin. That means that
any exposure to this dangerous chemical is harmful to your child.
Dioxin is a by-product of the bleaching process that occurs in paper mills.
This method is banned in most countries and is known by the EPA as one
of the highest cancer causing agents known.
Dioxin is also known to cause:

liver disease
 immune system suppression
 genetic damage in lab animals
Have you ever looked at those small absorbent crystals in a disposable
diaper? Many times they are found on the skin of your precious baby after
he or she has fully saturated it.
Those crystals are Sodium Polyacrylate (SAP). They have been known to
cause:



coughing and shortness of breath if inhaled
nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if ingested
redness and pain in the eyes and
 redness, itching and pain on the skin
Heather Sanders listed out these properties of Sodium Polyacrylate in an
article on the Diaper Hyena:







It can absorb up to 100X its weight in water (1). Other resources state 200300x.
It can stick to baby's genitals, causing allergic reactions (2).
Reported to cause severe skin irritations, oozing blood from perineum and scrotal
tissues, fever, vomiting and staph infections in babies (2).
When injected into rats it has caused hemorrhage, cardiovascular failure and
death (4).
Banned from tampons in 1985 because of its link to Toxic Shock Syndrome (1).
Has killed children after ingesting as little as 5 grams of it (5).
Causes female organ p ro blems , s l o ws healing wounds, fatigue and
weight loss to the employees in factories that manufacture it (6).
Heather may have listed reactions that seem extreme. But, even the remote
5
possibility that my child could develop organ problems or oozing blood is
enough for me to think twice about using disposable diapers.
There are many things in this world I cannot protect my children from but
this is one that I can. That is truly empowering.
Even those who would never even think of using cloth are
aware of the environmental impact disposable diapers have
on landfills. Not that the dent is huge or anything…well only if
you’re not bothered by the thought of 3.5 million tons of
disposable diapers going into the landfills every year.
Ginny Caldwell, in her article "Diapers. Disposable or
Cotton?” stated that it takes 5x more energy to make and
dispose of a disposable diaper than a cloth diaper. It takes
over 3.4 BILLION gallons of oil and over 250,000 trees!! This makes me
emotional just thinking about it and I’m not even that environmentally
sensitive!
I love this excerpt from ThePanelist.com. Samantha Moller writes:
“In 1991, a neutral advocacy group in the United Kingdom called Women's
Environmental Network (WEN) compared Proctor & Gamble studies. Even
using the disposable industry's own statistics, they found that disposables
use "20 times more raw materials, 3 times more energy, 2 times more water
and generate 60 times more solid waste" than do cloth diapers.”
Recently, the environmental impact disposable diapers have has made
national news. This would be great if they would have in turn recommended
cloth diapers. But instead they chose to stay neutral claiming that cloth
diapers use more water and energy to clean.
To manufacture the amount of disposable diapers to cover 90 percent of the
babies born in the U.S. It takes upwards of 82,000 tons of plastic and 1.3
million tons of wood pulp, or a quarter-million trees! For a more tangible
statistic, it takes one whole cup of crude oil to manufacture the plastics used
in one single-use diaper.
According to a Mothering Magazine article (Issue 88, May/June 1998), 18
billion disposable diapers are thrown into landfills every year and estimates
show it could take around 500 years for decomposition to occur. The Works
host explained the reason for this estimate being plastics have only been
6
around for about 100 years. They really have no idea if it will take 500 or
1500 years.
Once in a landfill, plastic will never fully decompose. Over time it goes
through a process of photo degradation and breaks down into smaller and
smaller pieces. These substances cannot be converted by any known
organisms and as such remain as plastic in landfills, rivers and oceans.
The Landbank Consultancy (commissioned by the Women’s Environmental
Network), an independent organization which conducted -- at its own
expense -- an analysis of the two "life-cycle" studies commissioned by
Procter & Gamble, and found them both to be severely deficient. The
Landbank Consultancy used P&G's own data to arrive at startling different
conclusions:
"In summary form, in comparing the amount of diapers needed per baby,
the environmental impacts are that:
Disposables use 5 times more energy to produce than does cotton diapers.
They use 8 times more non-regenerable raw materials and 90 times more
renewable resources. They produce 2.3 times more waste water and 60
times more solid waste. They require 4 to 30 times more land for growing
the natural materials used in their production as compared to what cotton
diapers require.”
You don’t have to take my word for it. You can see from the multiple
sources above…reuse is always better than single use!
While health and environmental reasons are enough for some families,
others see the thrifty side of it. Buy the least expensive type and reuse over
multiple children. You can find information on the cost of cloth diapers in
Chapter 12.
Whatever the reason you choice for deciding to cloth diaper, please know
that it is a worthwhile and important decision that you have made and will
only benefit your baby.
7
CHAPTER 2
How to Choose the Right Diapers
Before you buy, determine what is most important to you. Is it cost,
convenience, durability, style? Once you have set priorities you can then
choose the system that best suits your needs.
The number one biggest mistake that new to cloth families can make is stocking up
on all one brand or style before trying them out. They may not work on baby and you
may hate them. Try a few brands and styles first. When you use them you will
actually KNOW what works and what you like…then you can go buy more with
confidence.
Prefolds and covers are an inexpensive route but there are other ways to
save money. If you are significantly struggling there are non-profit
organizations that provide cloth diapers to families in need. In the US, check
out Giving Diapers, Giving Hope, The Rebecca Foundation, Share the
Love, and Cloth for Everybum. In Canada there is Cloth for a Cause.
Google your ‘location and cloth diaper bank’ as you could even have a cloth
diaper bank up the road and not know about it!
There are a couple of different ways you can try out the various cloth
diapering systems. Some websites offer sampler or beginner packages.
They typically include a cover, prefolds, fitted, pocket, and all in one in
some combination.
Buying packages allows you to not only try out different types but they are
also new. Nicki’s Diapers also offers a One size Sample Package with free
shipping and a 10% discount. GroVia has one where you receive a shell,
soaker and three bio (disposable) soakers for $20.
Many other online stores offer trial packages giving you the opportunity
wash and wear and then return items that don’t work for you. Sweetbottoms
Baby Boutique (my favorite), Top to Bottom Baby, Mom’s Milk Boutique,
Diaper Junction, Jillian’s Drawers, Chelory are all excellent choices.
8
There are even cloth diaper rental programs. They work like any rental.
Don’t think you only get used diapers with this option. Many shops offer
brand new cloth diapers in these programs. They just sell them at a
discount in their store after you return them! Here’s how it works: you leave
a deposit, pay a monthly rental fee, and choose from numerous brands that
the shop has available. At the end of the month you either decide to
continue your rental or return them.
This is often a great option for newborn cloth diapers. Newborns don’t often
fit for very long, but they are really nice to have. They are cut to fit tiny new
babies so they won’t have the bulk that a one size would on a newborn.
Doing a rental allows you to have these diapers for a short time without
having the obligation to buy them. Plus, you still get to try out a few brands
and see what you like and what you don’t like.
I did this with Sophia. They were all new. I choose 4 brands and received 24
diapers. We ending up renting them for three months and then she outgrew
them. During that time I realized that the GroVia newborns didn’t work at all
for us. After a week or so I just gave up and used the other 3 brands I had.
(GroVia has since redesigned their NB’s and I’ve heard much better things,
but haven’t tried one myself). But if I hadn’t done the rental I wouldn’t have
known until AFTER I had purchased them.
A few stores that offer this are Modern Cloth Diapers, Sweetbottoms Baby
Boutique, My Sweet Pickles, Jillian’s Drawer’s, Kissed by the Moon, and
Happy Baby Company.
Rentals aren’t just for newborn sizes. There are shops that do it for one size
diapers as well. And if you are looking to save more money and don’t mind,
there are also some pre-loved rental programs.
Another way to save big on cloth diapers is to buy used.
Always ask for seller feedback and buy from sellers with excellent feedback
when possible. Make sure there are lots of pictures and ask questions if you
have concerns about anything. Finally, use PAYPAL! When you buy and
sell cloth diapers and pay using the PayPal system, you have a higher level
of protection. You can file fraud claims if the diapers don’t arrive as
described or don’t arrive at all. I suggest familiarizing yourself with b/s/t lingo
9
before you begin. I have included a glossary of terms at the end of the
book to guide you. Never be afraid to ask if you don’t understand something
or need clarification.
I do most of my pre-loved shopping on Hyena Cart in a store called Spot's
Corner. Spot's Corner is a great place to buy cloth diapers in higher
demand and smaller supply.
The other place I like to shop for used are buy/sell/trade boards on
Facebook. Just do a search for whatever brand and buy/sell/trade (b/s/t).
Again, make sure you are shopping in groups that have feedback and make
sure you actually check it before purchasing.
The largest online forum for cloth diapers is www.diaperswappers.com.
Within this forum is a section called the FSOT (for sale or trade).Here you
will find moms reselling the diapers they no longer need.
You can also find used cloth diapers on Ebay.
Finally, if you need very, very inexpensive new cloth diapers there are a few
on ebay and Amazon (Made in China) available. I personally suggest that
you stay away from Baby City brand as MANY people have reported that
they are very low quality. Alva is a better option at a very low price point.
You can also look locally for places to buy used cloth diapers. Check local
mommy Facebook Chat Groups, consignment shops, yard sales as well as
Craig’s List.
Just make sure you always use common sense when buying used. Make
sure you know what you are getting and don’t rush. The little bit of extra
energy and time pays off in the long haul if it helps you from getting
scammed.
10
CHAPTER 3
All-in-Ones/All-in-Twos (AIOs/AI2s)
An AIO for short is generally viewed as a diaper that needs nothing else and
is very similar to a disposable. The soaker is either sewn inside or can be
sewn at either end allowing air flow during drying. AIOs are available in
snap or hook and loop. Velcro is a trademark but there are two other similar
products: aplix (softer and longer life) or hook and loop (stronger stick and
available in a variety of colors) closure.
An AIO does not require a cover. The waterproof cover is already part of
the diaper. Generally, they have a longer drying time because of the sewnin or thicker soaker, sometimes requiring more than one dry cycle. The
addition of a pocket to an AIO makes it a stuffable AIO.
The most popular stuffable
AIO is the bumGenius AIO. It
consists of a sewn in organic
cotton soaker and the pocket
allowing you to add extra
absorbency when needed
(like nighttime or naps). Other
great brands of AIOs that
have a stuffable pocket are
Ragababe and Blueberry (I
actually prefer these instead
of the BG myself).
RagaBabe AIO w/ stuffable pocket
All in ones are the simplest,
most convenient system of diapering. They are ideal for babysitters,
daycares/church nurseries, and dads. At one point I switched to AIOs
exclusively because I desired a routine that required little effort on my part.
Most of my stash consisted of Thirsties AIOs. Another well-made choice
that works for many babies.
Imagine Baby is very affordable AIO made by Nicki’s Diapers. They are
user friendly, absorbent and trim fitting. FYI, they do run a little on the small
11
side but fit us until around two years old. My current favorite is the
Ragababe AIO. It is trim, absorbent, made in the USA and washes and
dries easily. But beware, they are at the top of the price scale (starting at
$35) and can be hard to get.
Many moms use this type of diaper for a babysitter. They can work great
under a pair of blue jeans if you choose trim options like Blueberry or
Peachy Green cloth diapers.
In my experience the Peachy Green and Blueberry are the trimmest options. But if you
want a little more absorbency then Check out RagaBabe and Chelory.
Below is a photo of a Bambino Miosolo AIO. It has an attached snake like
soaker that comes out in the wash on its own and then is stuffed back into
the pocket at the back by the tabs for use. It allows for easier cleaning and
faster drying but is a little more work.
Bambino Mio AIO
An All in Two (or AI2) has a snap in or lay in soaker. The name All in
Two arose from the ability to get two uses out of each diaper. When your
child pees, theoretically, you can remove the soaker and replace it with
another if the shell did not get wet. AI2s also have a much faster drying
time because the soaker is detachable. You can actually reuse AI2 shells
for more than just twice. If it’s just pee I lay out to dry and use it at the next
12
change. I throw in the wet bag once it is soiled or super wet. I usually get
around 4 uses out of one cover.
GroVia All in Two (shell and soaker)
As far as price goes, AIO/AI2s are generally a pricier diaper (than say
pocket diapers). They range anywhere from $15-$40 and can go higher if
you add embroidery or customize it to your child. If you want only natural
fibers touching your baby’s skin BumGenius Elementals and
Bottombumpers are a great option.
13
Above is a picture of a Softbums Echo AI2 . Softbums are an excellent
diapering system with reusable wipeable covers and pods (inserts)They
contain a patent pending toggle elastic in the legs allowing you to precisely
fit the diaper to your baby. Softbums fit newborn babies all the way to 35lbs
(the Softbums Omni has an even larger range).
Here are the AIO/AI2’s I recommend:
BumGenius Freetime: review
Chelory
Peachy Baby one sized: review
*Ragababe AIO & AI2 (If you can get your hands on these BUY THEM!)
Blueberry AIO
Thirsties AIO: review
AIO/AI2 Key Points: very user friendly, higher priced, convenient,
versatile. AIO’s have a longer drying time.
14
CHAPTER 4
Hybrid Cloth Diapers
A Hybrid is similar to the All-In-Two system but with a twist. It consists of a
cover and a set of either snap-in or lay-in inserts that can either be cloth or
DISPOSABLE!
GroVia Hybrid w/ Disposable insert
When your baby needs changing you remove the insert and snap-in or layin a new one in the same cover. If the cover was soiled then you’d grab a
new cover.
Here is a list of popular hybrids and a brief description of each:
Bestbottoms: Made in the US, One size from 8-35 pounds. Can be used
with reusable stay dry or hemp/cotton blend inserts or disposable inserts.
Flip: Simple one-sized cover with an exposed PUL inner. Inserts lay-in the
cover. There are 3 types of inserts: organic cotton, microfiber topped with a
stay-dry suede cloth fabric, and disposable. Flip work great for overnight
when 2 stay-dry inserts are used or 2 disposable inserts. Flip is a very
affordable option.
GroVia: One-sized cover lined with athletic wicking material. The fastening
system can either be snapped or is “Velcro” like and adheres to a wide
15
panel allowing a tight fit when necessary. Inserts snap-in to the front and
back to decrease shifting. Inserts are organic cotton (fully prep before use).
GroVia are available in many cute colors and prints.
Softbums: One-sized cover with microfleece lining. Softbums are truly
unique in that to adjust the size of the diaper you don’t snap down the rise
but adjust the leg elastic via a toggle system. It is simple to do and you get
a customized fit. Inserts are shaped to cover a wide portion of the cover,
helping to prevent messes on the cover. Inserts are available in fleece
topped microfiber, fleece topped bamboo, bamboo/cotton and mini-pods
(for newborns and boosters). Softbums work overnight with an insert and
mini-pod. Available in cute colors and prints. The Omni can also be used as
a pocket.
Tidy Tots: Made in the US, One Size 10-40 pounds. Tidy Tots Covers are
designed to work with Tidy Tots No Fold hemp diapers and Flushies
biodegradable diaper liners.
Disposable Hybrid Key Points: Great to use to dip your toes into cloth
diapers. Perfect for traveling without laundry facilities. Can get expensive
because you have to keep buying disposable inserts. Glue from the
disposable inserts is hard to get off of covers sometimes.
Cloth Hybrid Key Points: Makes it easy to stick with one brand and switch
back and forth between cloth inserts and disposable ones. You can reuse
cover more than once unless it is soiled.
16
CHAPTER 5
Pocket Cloth Diapers and Inserts
A pocket can be made with a PUL (polyurethane laminate which is
chemically sealed waterproof material), TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane
which is heat sealed waterproof material) and fleece outers. The outer can
also be any material backed or lined in PUL. Minky is lusciously soft and
many makers offer this choice for their pocket diapers. They are usually
more expensive than simple PUL. You can also cover the PUL with any
pattern knit fabric.
The inner material choices for a pocket include (inserts): microfleece, suede
cloth, bamboo, hemp, velour, athletic wicking material, and really anything
you can find around the house (I recently saw that a mom made a pocket
diaper out of old t-shirts).
Different materials will feel different on the baby when wet. Most moms
want a material that will feel dry to the baby when wet. The ones I have
listed above, minus the t-shirt, will achieve this.
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So why is it called a pocket?
A pocket diaper is 1-2 layers of material sewn together on 3 sides leaving
an opening for you to insert the amount of absorbent material you desire.
Really anything can be used as long as it fits inside the cover. Pocket
inserts are often Microfiber Inserts. Microfiber inserts are made from
synthetic materials (i.e. manmade). Super-fast at absorbing wetness and
just plain super absorbent. Used in many pocket and overnight diapers.
They are the most inexpensive inserts there are. Microfiber dries fast in the
dryer or clothes line. They are not known for their trimness though. So many
one size Microfiber inserts that come with diapers are too large for newborn
or small babies.
Beware, microfiber inserts have a shorter lifespan than inserts from other
material. Most people agree microfiber has a lifespan of about a year
(although some do last longer). At that point you may notice that it is not
absorbing the same as it did and you may start to have leaks from around
the legs.
If stripping doesn't work, you may need to replace them. Due to the nature
of the material these are made of they tend to hold on to stink and ammonia
easier than inserts made of natural fibers. I have heard claims that people
have to strip these more often than other inserts. I have not had to do this
myself. But I am a Tide user, so that might have something to do with it.
Pocket diapers are wildly popular and almost as user-friendly and
convenient as an AIO. The best approach to prepping pocket diapers is to
stuff them once they come out of the dryer. By doing this you, your
husband, a babysitter, or whoever can grab it and put it on with no extra
steps. Pocket diapers dry very fast because of the ability for the air to get
between the layers.
Pockets can be snap or aplix and many are available in one size.
This is a picture of the Rumparooz
One Size diaper. Julie, the genius
behind RaR, has designed a diaper
that covers all the bases. Leg gussets,
pocket, amazing materials, snap or
aplix, one size! The woman has
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outdone herself. I have used many Rumparooz over the years and can’t
praise them enough.
Different Pocket diaper brands (like other systems) work good for some
babies and poorly for another. Happy Heinys and Fuzzi Bunz aren't the
best choice for a baby with skinny thighs. Side snapping diapers like
Knickernappies and Blueberry are better suited for skinny thighs or for
babies with chunky thighs/skinny waist.
When your baby has chunky thighs and waist a front closure diaper works
well. Rumparooz, Thristies and Happy Heinys all have front snap/Velcro.
A side snapping diaper has 2 rows of snaps allowing you to tighten the
thighs independent of the waist. Whereas with a front Velcro closure, the
tighter you go for the waist the tighter it is on the thighs. Some front
snapping diapers have 2 rows of snaps for independent adjustments
(Rumparooz and Fuzzi Bunz for example).
If you prefer a Velcro diaper but your baby has skinny thighs, look for a
diaper with a lower rise or a one size with different rise settings. With the
lower rise the snap area falls below the belly and allows you to pull in
the fastener tight without squeezing the belly.
Popular and almost always available pocket brands:
Rumparooz (one size)
Happy Heinys (available in one size)
Blueberry Econappie (one-size)
Thirsties Duo (available in 2 sizes)
Moraki
Kawaii One Size
Fuzzi Bunz
Bum Genius 4.0(one size)
Imagine Brand
Babykicks
Pocket Key Points: Easy to use, good starter diaper, widely available, built
in stay dry layer. Cons: You may hate to stuff them. You either don’t mind
or hate stuffing. I was in the anti-stuffing group myself.
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CHAPTER 6
Fitteds
A fitted diaper is a diaper that contains no waterproof layer therefore
requires a cover to be waterproof.
When I started out in cloth diapers I did not “get” fitteds, especially the
gorgeous embroidered ones. Why in the world would someone pay $20,
$30, or $40 (I’ve seen fitted diapers sell for $100!) for a diaper you have to
cover up???
As I was doing some research today I ran across the single most helpful
explanation for the price of fitteds. I don't feel that a WAHM needs to justify
the price she charges but it is a concern that many cloth diapering families
have.
There have been times when I spotted a diaper that I really wanted but
could not afford it and found myself pouting. I hope these paraphrased
words from a WAHM enlighten you as well.
Customer demand for fabric quality has gone WAY up. Now the
market demands bamboo (most is imported from China), organics,
and high end outer materials as well. Embroidery and hand- dyeing is
also very in now. Embroidery machines are EXPENSIVE ($1000 is
entry level) and a good dye job takes lots of experience and lots of
time. In addition to the cost of the materials rising, the cost of shipping
the fabrics has gone up. UPS, FedEx, USPS have all raised their
prices considerably.
In addition to materials, I pay for my website, my advertising, PayPal
fees, packaging and shipping supplies, additional water and energy to
prewash fabrics, gas to run to the post office and shop locally for
supplies, business supplies, ink and paper for the printer, equipment
maintenance and repairs.
It takes most of us 45 minutes to an hour and a half to cut and sew
each diaper. But in addition to actual production time, keep the
sewing room in order, photographing and touching up product
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pictures, list items, field emails, package, print/ship, research fabric
supplies and place orders, prepare materials. Even when I work 40
hours a week, I'm only sewing *maybe* 10 of those hours at most.
And most of us have young children. 40 hours of 'work' time really
takes more like 80 hours spread out over the week.
There is also taxes and business fees to consider. I pay $50 a year for
a local biz license and maintain a business checking account. I also
pay self- employment tax and income tax. That comes out to roughly
25% of my overall profit. If the average fitted uses $7 in fabrics and
notions, sells for $25, and the wahm pays $0.30 + 2.9% fees ($23.96)
that means after materials and fees the profit is $16.96. Subtract
taxes (~25%) = $12.72. If it takes an hour to sew and thirty minutes
on average to photograph, touch up, list - that's an hourly wage of
$8.48 per hour BEFORE overhead.
I'm not getting rich even though I sell out almost every stocking and
my fitteds cost more than $30.00 each.
Fitted diapers are the easiest to make on your own because they can be
made from any material you have laying around your house. I recently
found a fantastic video explaining how to make your own fitted cloth diaper.
It moved me to action and I plan on giving it a try, even with my limited
sewing skills.
Fitted diapers can be made from cotton, hemp, fleece, velour, bamboo,
knits, various types of terry cloth, kitchen towels, old t-shirts, sweatshirts
and various other scrap fabrics you may have laying around. Fitteds are
kind of like quiche…toss in any leftovers and out comes a great product!
The soaker can be made from microfiber towels or kitchen towels.
Microfiber is extremely absorbent and inexpensive and allows for a trim
fitting diaper. I bought a package of 20 from Costco for $10.
Fitted diapers do not contain any waterproof materials. Therefore, a fitted
diaper will need to have a cover over it. Without a cover the pee will soak
through and get you or the furniture wet. If you are just hanging out at the
house for the day a cover isn’t necessary. Just make sure to consistently
change the diaper before a leak occurs.
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Types of fitteds and does price really matter?
A very basic, inexpensive, fairly absorbent fitted is Kissaluvs. Kissaluvs win
the award for the most popular newborn diaper. After hundreds of surveys
and thousands of messages read they seem to be the most convenient and
effective diaper for containing newborn poop, allowing for the umbilical
cord, and not breaking the bank.
I personally used Kissaluvs on my third child from the beginning and I was
very happy. Despite my success with Kissaluvs size 1, I am not sure I would
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use them for the next baby. Paisley was my first child to cloth diaper from
day 1 and I was still fairly new to the cloth-diapering world.
Since becoming very familiar with all the systems and different brands, I
have discovered a multitude of other fitted diapers that offer softer and cuter
fabrics.
Goodmamas are squishy soft and have superb fabrics. The softness of
Goodmamas is due to the bamboo velour (BV). BV is the hot fabric for cloth
diapers because of its absorbency, softness, and the availability of the
bamboo itself. Bamboo is a more expensive fabric, which is one of the
reasons for the major price difference in a Kissaluvs ($15) and a
Goodmama (~$40).
In the last couple of years I have been blessed to try a number of different
fitted cloth diapers. Here is a short description of a few good ones:
1) Pooters: Pooters are a trim fitting one-size hemp fitted cloth diaper. They
have an excellent fit due to the great spacing of snaps (it seems a lot of
diapers never have the snap where I need it!) and the use of hemp to
provide a super trim cloth diaper bottom. Pooters are a slam dunk at night
and can be paired with just about any cover. These diapers appeal to
many families not only because they are extremely absorbent but because
of the affordable pricing ($16!! Plus discounts for buying in bulk.)
2) Sustainablebabyish Organic Bamboo Fitteds (or sbish obf): Aka “Magic
Diaper”, aptly named because it appears to be magic to many parents who
simply could not find a nighttime solution for their child. Sbish (short for
Sustainablebabyish) are super absorbent bamboo fitteds that come in sizes
xs-xl. I love using the xs on my tiny newborns especially since I do not like
to change them at night. Sbish are more expensive than other sized fitteds
but definitely worth it if you are struggling to find a combination that will
prevent leaks at night. Sbish also has a snapless fitted that can be used at
night. You would close the diaper with either a snappi or a pin (included).
The Snapless Fitteds are a one- sized diaper with bamboo on the inside
and cotton terry on the out.
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3) Twinkie Tush: These are made in my home state of New York! They are
super well-made and absorbent. The Night Night holds the most amount of
liquid of any cloth diaper I’ve ever tried. The downside to these is that they
are harder to get. Right now you can only grab them on stocking days and
they sell out quickly. They are also on the spendier side. But if you can I
say…grab one!
4) Tiny Tush Hemp Fitted: Another one-sized fitted diaper but this time the
snaps are located on the front of the diaper. There are no exposed snaps to
baby’s skin. Tiny Tush 4.0 fitteds are made out of a custom fabric
containing 55% hemp, 45% organic cotton. The cotton adds softness to
hemp which can become crunchy over time. Found within the diaper is a
contour/doubler. The contour diaper can be fully removed for easy cleaning
off of poop or can be laid inside a newborn cover to fit the tiniest newborns.
Tiny Tush 4.0 fitteds are trim, absorbent and truly versatile from birth to
potty training.
5) Mother-ease: Often referred to as a “work-horse” diaper. It’s not fancy or
all that special and you can put it through the ringer without doing much
damage. Mother- Ease one-sized fitteds are available in cotton or bamboo.
They do not come with a snap-in doubler which is a shame because they
are pretty useless without one. I advise purchasing the doublers. MotherEase have a wide crotch which can irritate some babies. They are very soft
and gentle though which is a plus. They are certainly affordable but the lack
of absorbency is a big downside.
6) Clotheez Green Mountain Work Horse: 100% cotton, well made and
much the same as Mother-ease, you can put them through anything and
they come out the other side working. But because of them being 100%
cotton, they aren’t the most absorbent. But for the price aren’t a bad choice
if you are on a budget and can add something else to help with the
absorbency.
Hybrid Fitteds
A hybrid fitted is a fitted diaper that has a hidden body layer of poly fleece,
sandwiched between the outer print and the inner velour. This layer of poly
fleece helps the diaper to be more effective and while not waterproof, is
highly water resistant. You will still need a cover (wool, fleece or PUL) to
make it 100% waterproof. But many moms use a hybrid fitted during the day
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with no cover (or pants) to allow maximum air flow.
I highly recommend Kissing Blake as an awesome hybrid fitted option that
just plain works for nights. Here are the specs for the overnight hybrid fitted:
The Extended/Night has 3 soakers. Each soaker has 3 layers. The top layer
is minky and 2 layers SHOBF, middle has 3 layers of SHOBF and the
bottom layer has 2 layers of SHOBF with the bottom layer being matching
polyester fleece. For a total of 7 layers of SHOBF, the bottom soaker
doesn’t have snaps so you can place it where you need the most
absorbency.
Kissing Blake Hybrid fitteds. Day on left Night version on right.
Another one that I love is Twinkie Tush. Made in the USA. Actually in my
home state of New York. These are among the most absorbent I have
EVER tried. And the smooshiest softest as well.
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CHAPTER 7
Prefolds
Prefolds are an absolute staple that every mother should have in her
basket. They are amazingly durable and versatile. A prefold diaper is a
rectangular piece of cloth divided into 3 sections. The outside layers
contain 4 layers of fabric and the middle contains either 6 or 8 layers. The
middle layer is the absorbent layer. You can use prefolds and replace any
insert in any diaper. As long as if fits inside the cover, it works!
You will see the c o t t o n prefolds described as 4x8x4 or 4x6x4. This
describes the number of layers in the sections. It does not always mean
the 4x8x4 is more absorbent. It is the weight of the fabric that indicates
absorbency.
You will find some variations to the number of layers especially if you are
purchasing specialized prefolds made with bamboo velour or hemp. In
some cases there may be 2 layers of bamboo with an extra layer of hemp
in the middle. Bamboo is a highly absorbent material, therefore needing
fewer layers than cotton prefolds. This allows for a trimmer fit as well.
Hemp blend prefolds (my favorite) are the MOST absorbent and trimmest
option of the three.
Prefolds come in a choice of cotton, hemp, or bamboo. All are excellent
options. It comes down to what you want to pay and how soft a fabric you
desire. Green Mountain Diapers (prefolds shown to the right) sell the best
cotton prefolds you can buy. They offer many sizes and their prices are
reasonable.
Prefolds generally come in three sizesPreemie (4-10 pounds),
Infant (newborn to 15 pounds) &
Premium/Toddler (15-30 pounds).
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When researching prefolds you’ll soon discover a number of different terms
and abbreviations.
DSQ simply means that it is Diaper Service Quality versus the type of
diaper you would find in your discount store. They are more absorbent
than the Gerber brand and are the type that you would pay money for from
a diaper service company.
CPF stands for Chinese Prefold and it is the most popular type of prefold
on the market. It has heavy-duty stitching, is usually made of twill, and
washes up extremely well.
Another option for prefolds are Indian Prefolds. Indian prefolds are said to
be softer than the CPF and are made of gauze rather than twill. They are
more absorbent, but do wear out a little faster than the Chinese Prefolds.
There is also the choice of bleached or unbleached. Bleached prefolds are
not whitened with bleach but rather with peroxide. Unbleached are in a
natural cream colored state. Unbleached do require extra prep time to
remove the natural oils in the fibers.
Prefolds can be pinned or snappied on your baby or you can fold it in 3
(trifold) and lay it in a cover. If you choose to use a different system,
prefolds can be used as pocket stuffers or doublers. They are an
investment worth making.
Or even simpler they can simply be pad folded and placed inside a pocket
cover or just lie it in any old cover you have. I have tried many different
brands of prefolds (but I have a hands down, love every single time favorite
that I’ll share with you in a minute):
Thirsties Duo Hemp Prefolds
This is my favorite of the bunch. It’s because I’m not really a flats girl and
this prefold reminds me the most of just plain ol’ insert. I love Thirsties
Hemp Inserts. And I love their prefolds just as much. High quality materials,
SUPER absorbent and made in the USA. If you are looking for something
for a heavy wetter, this is it.
The Thirsties Hemp prefold is sewn into a circle so the layers can separate
in the wash to clean and dry better. The one downside of that is when you
try to trifold this, there will be a hump wherever the seam is because there is
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overlapping fabric. If you use a different fold for this you won’t have the
problem as the seam won’t be stacked on itself.
GroVia Prefold
Anytime you want better absorbency go with a bamboo or hemp blend.
They absorb A LOT more than straight cotton. This is bamboo/cotton blend
that stays soft even after washing and drying. I loved how much this thing
could hold. That makes it a good option to use at night, although we still add
a doubler for extra protection.
One thing that I would change is the size. These run bigger than I thought! I
think the size three (infant long 15” x 18.5”) would have been a better fit on
Sophia. The size four or toddler seems to be more like for 2.5 years and up.
I had trouble containing the length of this in our covers. Just a heads up!
Osocozy Better Fit Unbleached Indian Prefolds
This one is sized to be 2.5” shorter in the infant size and 5-6” shorter in the
premium (larger) size. That solves the exact problem I was having with the
GroVia prefolds. If you are trifolding then you don’t need the extra length
and this allows for that and keeps things trimmer. The only reason I would
say I like the GroVia better is because I need the hemp or bamboo blend
and their increased absorbency at this stage in the game.
These are made diaper service quality, lint free (love that) and made of
100% Indian cotton gauze weaved material. These didn’t stay quite as soft
as the GroVia after being washed either but that is due to the material it is
made from.
So what’s my favorite?
It is a prefold, and I am not really a prefold lovin’ kind of girl usually, but I
would honestly replace every one of my inserts with it if I could. If you are
able to, you have to check out Geffen Baby Jersey Hemp Prefolds. They
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are made with the highest hemp content of anything sold on the market
(60% hemp/40% cotton). They stay buttery soft wash after wash. Geffen
Baby products in general (I also LOVE their Super Absorber Plus) are the
most absorbent and trimmest prefolds and inserts I have ever used. Please,
please try one!
Flats
Flats are another cloth diapering option. Although flats are the only choice
our great grandparents had they are surely a mainstay in the world of cloth
diapers. Simple never goes out of style. A few of my favorites:
Geffen Baby Hemp Flats: Geffen Baby flats are very soft! The flats are
composed of 60% hemp 40% organic cotton, same as their prefolds. This
is one of the few I’ve trusted a flat or prefold at night on a toddler! Plus, like
other Geffen Baby products, their flats are knitted vs. woven, so they are
very soft, and they are 100% USA made from knitting to cutting and sewing,
packing etc.!
Imagine Flats have 2 layers of stretchy bamboo terry serged all around.
They go on like an ace bandage, stay soft and absorb better than cotton.
They are available in cute prints as well.
Osocozy Organic Cotton Flat
If you like to keep it organic then this is the choice for you. This is super trim
and stayed soft after washing. Made of 100% organic Birdseye weave
cotton. And the website says sewn by WAH moms and grandmas! This is
an incredibly trim option. However, I had to use a doubler to have enough
absorbency. Usually, I like to throw in an extra Thirsties Hemp Insert.
Sustainablebabyish flats are more like a prefold in that they have 3 sections
to the flat. They aren’t as stretchy as ODC but have an identical fiber
makeup + an extra layer. They are super absorbent and with a doubler
would be solid for nighttime diapering.
For budget options you need to try flour sack towels. They are inexpensive
and you can purchase them at almost any big box grocery/shopping center
(Walmart or Target in the kitchen towel aisle). They aren’t as soft or as
absorbent as the hemp or bamboo blends, but at the price if you need
something cheap it doesn’t matter. They often go for around $1 a piece.
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CHAPTER 8
Cloth Diaper Covers
Fitteds, prefolds and flats require a cover to prevent leaks. There are a few
different options for covers.
We’ve all heard of “plastic pants” you know…the kind they used in the old
days. Plastic pants are made of Polyvinyl Chloride or vinyl. Although this is
a cheap, easily accessible choice that is still available, it is not the
healthiest.
PVC is a polymer made from vinyl chloride monomer and often contains
harmful phthalates as unbound plasticizers. These vinyl pants do not allow
for any air flow, also called “breathing”. The moisture stays right there close
to your baby’s skin which can encourage the growth of yeast (rash). Plastic
of any kind releases harmful chemicals at high rates when the structure is
heated. Having phthalates in close proximity to your baby’s most sensitive
parts is not a wise choice.
The next choice is covers made from Polyurethane Laminate (PUL). PUL is
applied to the back of a porous fabric like cotton or polyester to create a
flexible, waterproof barrier. Many cloth diaper covers that are available
have PUL that is chemically bonded. There are ecofriendly PUL options that
are available. This means that the cover was instead heat bonded and is
called TPU instead. Examples of cloth diapers that use ecofriendly PUL are
Ragababe, GroVia and Rumparooz.
This type of cover feels softer than covers made from PUL.
When you are using a cover there are often no way to fasten inserts. So you
can just lie any insert, prefold or flat right in and use. Many have wipeable
interiors that make it easy to reuse the cover until it get soiled. Here is a
photo of a Smartbottoms cover.
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TPU or PUL isn't your only diaper cover fabric option. Wool and fleece are
cozy, breathable options. Wool has many amazing benefits when used as
a cover that we’ll get to in a minute.
First, let’s talk about a few good covers and why the might work well for you
and your baby.
Say you're a prefolds and flats girl. You'll want something with impeccable
containment abilities. You'll also want a cover on the smaller side since a
prefold and flat are very trim. For you I'd recommend the Rumparooz One
size cover. Why? The Rumparooz cover has lots of elastic! Elastic on the
belly panel, elastic on the back panel, elastic in the double gussets. The
Rumparooz cover isn't what I grab when I am using a fitted because it is
almost too tight of a fit.
I have used AI2 inserts inside a Rumparooz cover and although there is a
snug, trim fit I don't like the TPU and exposed snaps on baby. I like this
cover when I snappi/pin a prefold or flat. Rumparooz covers cost $14-$16.
Similar to the Rumparooz cover is Best Bottoms cover. They both share the
same elastic placement and internal gussets but the Best Bottoms fit even
smaller and have less stretch than Rumparooz. This isn't a bad thing when
you want a trim fit over a thin diaper. Best Bottoms diaper covers cost
$16.95
If you prefer to trifold or lay in an insert or prefold I would recommend
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Pooters One Size Trim Hybrid cover. Pooters covers have a wide panel in
the front and back to allow for tucking in of the absorbency. Pooters are
very trim and are soft and stretchy. Plenty of rise and waist snaps
combined with a crossover snap allow for great size variability. Pooters
covers are made of PUL and cost $11.00.
Don't like rise snaps on the front of the cover? Thirsties is the cover I'd
recommend (its sized xs-l). Thirsties covers offer plenty of containment
security with front and back elastic and internal gussets. The Velcro makes
for a quick change although over time Velcro can lose its
stickiness. Thirsties covers cost $11.25-$12 Thirsties also has a great one
size cover if you prefer that.
But what if you have an extra fluffy diaper on your baby? You'll need a
cover with lots of stretch and with a wide crotch. My #1 recommendation is
the Sweet Pea diaper cover. Super soft PUL, internal gussets, lots of
stretch and plenty of snaps to fit an infant.
We have had some very large fitted diapers in rotation before and the
Sweet Pea diaper cover always fits. This is important because if any of the
diaper is exposed the wetness will leak out. Sweet Pea diaper covers cost
$10.95. In my opinion, a cloth diaper must-have.
Sweet Pea is super affordable, well made and has double leg gussets
contain messes and allows you to get a super good fit easily.
Fleece and wool are the 2 other choices for diaper covers.
Fleece is a wonderful fabric for diaper covers. It is 100% polyester and
breathable. It is machine washable and does not need to be lanolized. Many
parents find this to be a perfect overnight option. But for the ultimate
protection for a heavy wetter, a fitted like Twinkie Tush and a wool cover is
where it’s at.
Wool is the king of all diaper covers. There are many advantages to using
wool:
Because of its breathability wool, will keep your baby warm in the cold and
cool in the heat (and, yes, that means if you live in Texas, Florida or
Arizona you CAN use wool). Wool will actually pull moisture away from the
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body and evaporate it. Think about how a fan works. The fan is not actually
cooling the temperature of a room, instead it works by blowing air across
the skin and evaporating sweat. The more sweat is evaporated the cooler
you feel. Wool evaporates moisture, the more evaporated, the cooler the
bum.
Wool has the most absorbent fibers of all fabrics. It can absorb up to 30
percent of its own weight in moisture before it becomes really damp.
Wool is very comfortable because of its free movement with the body and
soft fibers.
Wool does not need to be washed very often. When the lanolin (containing
fatty acids, having an acidic pH) in the wool reacts with the urea (basic pH)
in urine, a chemical reaction occurs. Acids + Bases react to create the end
products of water and salt. So the urine is no longer urine - it has been
neutralized thanks to this wonderful chemical reaction! Wool really is “selfcleaning,” with no residual smell of urine, until all the lanolin is exhausted.
At this time, you will begin to notice that your soaker doesn't perform as
well as you know it can- this is due to the salt build-up on the wool fibers,
and the fact that there is no longer enough lanolin left in the wool to power
the chemical reaction that neutralizes the urine. At this point, you just need
to wash and re-lanolize your wool- a very easy process explained further
down the book.
*SUPER HEAVY WETTER TIP* If you want an even drier bum in the morning, leave the pj’s off and the
wool uncovered! Let the air get to it. It will be able to evaporate moisture more effectively and therefor
keep things even drier. If you still want little one’s skin covered use wool shorties in the summer or wool
longies in the winter or in an air conditioned room.
Wool can be knitted or crocheted into longies (wool pants), shorties (wool
shorts) or soakers (wool pull on). Hand knit items can be purchased through
Hyena Cart and Etsy in large selections.
Wool diaper covers can also be made out of interlock wool. It is more
expensive but is an amazing diaper cover (or clothing item). Woollybottoms
offers interlock soakers in several fun colors ($36) and Sustainablebabyish
(or Sloomb) just brought back their interlock soakers ($42)!! Interlock is
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97% wool, 3% Lycra. It is very stretchy, felted wool. Wild Coconut Wear
consistently stocks items on Hyena Cart and Etsy. While these items are
more expensive, WCW are at the top (by a mile) as far as quality and
creativity. Interlock can be harder to come by if you are shopping from an
in-demand seller who makes their own products. If you are diligent you
might catch in-stock items at Woollybottoms. I also really like Bumby Wool.
HumBird Wool Cover with additional wool soaker sewn in wet zone.
Sometimes it’s nice to have a wool cover that goes on just like a PUL cover
(snaps or aplix). This type is convenient and super easy to care for as they
are machine washable (warm water, delicate cycle)
Imse Vimse Wool Diaper Cover: nice wide aplix panel, inner gussets
Happy Heiny Wool Cover: available in single layer for day and double layer
for night.
Babee Greens Merino Wool Cover: has reinforced snaps for increased
durability. Super soft!
Wool can be a more expensive purchase; however you do not need as
many of them in your stash. Having just 2 daytime and 1 nighttime wool
covers would be manageable. Wool diaper covers range anywhere from
$22 to $100+ (the high end is when you purchase wool and have it custom
knit up for you by a talented WAHM).
Recycled wool is a highly affordable way to use wool, as well. I personally
really like recycled wool items because they are so unique (and more
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affordable that interlock) Woollybottoms makes soakers, shorties, longies
and footies all from recycled pieces. They are the leader in recycled wool.
Prices vary and in stock items go quick. Sign up for the Woollybottoms
newsletter and be alerted to when the store stocks. Move fast because you
want to have a pair of Woollybottoms longies for the winter! (Buy these
when you see them because once the cold hits it will be very difficult to buy
them before they sell out). Tootiewilly is another great WAHM that offers
upcycled wool options and is worth checking out.
If you want to make your own, it is easy to do and if you select sweaters
that are soft and thick and 100% wool, you will never have a leak. Here are
a few good DIY wool links to check out:
How-to Make Longies out of Wool Sweaters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7_IvChc_q4
How-to Make soakers from Old Wool Sweaters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bzI_c74i90
http://lo-wren.com/d-i-y-wool-soaker-2/
Lanolizing and Using Wool
Before your wool is fully prepped you must lanolize it. Lanolizing wool is
easy. But it isn’t washed the same as your other cloth diapers. Hand wash
it, lanolize it, air dry it and wear it…that’s it. NEVER put it in the
dryer…Never…that is unless your Barbie is looking for a cute new wool
piece to wear.
You don't need to wash wool diaper covers every time they are used. If you
are using them in rotation with other covers and airing them out between
uses you will likely not need to wash them more than once a month.
How to Wash & Lanolize:
You will need:
Someplace to let it soak. I use my bathroom sink and plug the drain.
A small container to mix the lanolin in. I use the peri bottle they gave me in
the hospital. You know…the little squirt bottle they gave for your lady parts.
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Lanolin. Many people use Lanisoh (nipple cream). But I have heard that is
hard to work with. I prefer to use Woollybottoms Lanolin in Love Spell. Yum!
(Any brand of lanolin will work)
Soap. You need the soap to get the lanolin to emulsify (the act of getting
two different things to mix together). I use Euculan but any gentle type baby
shampoo will work.
1: Fill your sink with enough water to have the cover…covered. The water
temperature should be tepid (not hot and not cold). Too hot and you will
shrink the wool, too cold and the lanoline will turn back to a solid.
2. Add about a half capful of Euculan or a squirt of baby shampoo.
3. Now take your container (peri bottle in my case) and add a pea size dap
(about a ¼” line) of Lanolin. You kind of have to scrap it off your finger into
the bottle. Then add small amount of the soap, just a quick splash. Now add
HOT water to your container until it is almost full. Replace lid.
4. Shake the container like a crazy woman. Once everything is mixed
together, squirt or empty your container into the sink.
5. Add the wool (I prefer inside out) and gently squeeze (no twisting) with
your hands until it is fully soaked with water and lanolin mixture.
6. Now let it sit. I have seen some say for 10-15 minutes each side. But I
usually just let it soak overnight.
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7. Allow sink to drain and have lanolin rich water go through wool. Fold in
halves and push water out with your hands into basin. Do not twist as this
will cause felting of the wool (which makes it fuzzier looking).
8. Two ways to dry: One way is to lay cover in a towel, fold into halves and
lay on floor. Stand on the folded towel and cover to remove the most
amount of water. If you feel like you have a well-made, sturdy cover…and
are brave (I do this with my Woollybottoms soakers) you can spin dry on the
delicate cycle in the washer.
9. Once water is out, reshape and lay flat to dry. FYI, drying racks will leave
lines and try not to dry in direct sunlight. It can fade some dyed wool.
That’s it. It will be clean, fully lanolized and ready for you to use for a few
weeks again.
When using your wool it is not necessary to change after each diaper
change. Keep reusing the same wool all day unless it gets poop on it or it is
heavily soaked. Poop can be easily washed off and does not mean that you
have to go through process I just described. If your wool is wet, like in the
morning after a night of “work”, lay them aside and allow them to dry.
When do you know it's time to wash again?
You will start to notice that the cover is not as waterproof. The biggest sign
is that it will smell like pee when it is dry. It probably smells like pee right
after it comes off your baby. But the lanolin actually eats and evaporates the
urea. A clean cover smells clean after it sits and dries.
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CHAPTER 9
Fabrics
I have mentioned many different materials that are used in cloth diapering,
but I want to take a minute to explain them a little more for you.
Bamboo: fleece, terry, velour. Bamboo is the perfect natural fiber for
diapers, making it a great choice for your baby and the environment.
Bamboo is an extremely absorbent natural fiber, absorbing up to 60% more
moisture than cotton. It has a short growth cycle, so is a very renewable
resource. Bamboo is known to grow up to 4 feet in one day. Therefore, the
use of chemical fertilizers is not necessary. It is naturally pest resistant, so
chemical pesticides and herbicides are not used. Because it needs no
chemical fertilizers, pesticides, nor herbicides, bamboo is naturally organic.
Bamboo is highly biodegradable, making it a great environmental choice.
Bamboo is a very soft natural fiber, the softest natural fiber available for
cloth diapers. It remains softer than other natural fibers, such as cotton and
hemp, wash after wash. Bamboo is breathable and cool.
*Tip* Bamboo fleece can be snappied, whereas, bamboo velour works best pinned if
using this material on a prefold or flat.
Cotton Birdseye: Birdseye is a woven pique fabric that continues to soften,
fluff, and increase in absorbency through use. Birdseye is the material that
is known as the diaper material. When people realize you use cloth diapers
they are picturing the cloth diapers of our grandmas. Back then Birdseye
was the only option. Blue Lake Diapers makes an all in one diaper that has
a Birdseye inner and soaker.
Flannel: can be made from wool or a blend, cotton is the most common
type of flannel. Brushing of the fabric results in a very soft, fuzzy feel.
Flannel is popular for its warmth and comfort. A light or medium- weight
fabric of plain or twill weave. The brushing process creates insulating air
cells that provide more warmth than plain cotton. Flannel is not a fabric I
choose for diapers because of the way they fade when washed. Flannel
also pills (those little balls) badly after washing and drying.
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Fleece: Microfleece is a lightweight, double-sided micro-fiber fleece noted
for its outstanding low pill velour face, stretch, and chamois-like softness. It
is commonly used for the interior portion of diapers because of its softness.
Microfleece wicks moisture from baby's skin very well. Because of the short
fibers, solids don't stick well allowing for easy shaking of the solids into the
toilet. Happy Heinys and Fuzzi Bunz both have microfleece inners.
Hemp: naturally anti-microbial. Your baby will be protected naturally from
bacteria, mold, mildew and fungus and that could mean less diaper rash.
Also, due to the porous nature of the fiber, hemp is more absorbent than
cotton and can breathe, so it is cool in summer and warm in winter. Hemp
is the strongest fiber available, allowing it to hold up well wash after wash.
Hemp gets softer and more absorbent the more you wash it. Hemp fabrics
come in many different varieties, the most popular for diaper making are
French Terry, Fleece (not to be confused with polyester fleece), and a
Jersey knit, like a t-shirt material. Pooters hemp fitted diaper is an example
of a hemp diaper. Thirsties and Geffen Baby both have awesome hemp
inserts.
*Tip* If you are using flats or prefolds hemp often closes better with a boingo than a
snappie due to the nature of the fabric.
Microfiber: Microfiber has the excellent wicking properties. That is, the
microfiber material will absorb moisture and oils rather than allow them to
set on the surface of the material. Do not ever place microfiber directly
next to baby's skin. Because of the strong absorbency, microfiber will dry
out the skin too much. Microfiber is prone to detergent buildup and will need
to be stripped periodically. It is a completely man-made material recycled
from petroleum waste. Not the best health choice but a great environmental
effort.
Minky: 100% Polyester. Great for the outside of diapers like with Blueberry
one-size pockets. There are some brands that have minky on the inside,
however, it isn't that absorbent and does not wick moisture well. Berry Plush
makes diapers that have minky exteriors and minky topped soakers.
Sherpa: Knit terry fabric that has been brushed and washed to raise the
fibers and give a fluffy super soft feel. Many loops of the terry remain, and
absorbency is not compromised. Not 100% cotton, a small percentage of
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polyester is added to the base for durability. More information can be found
here. Kissaluvs is an example of an all Sherpa diaper. Many diapers
contain Sherpa because of its absorbency.
Suede cloth: Has the appearance of regular suede but it is much easier to
care for. It does not easily stain and washes up beautifully. Commonly used
for the interior of diapers for its ease of care and wicking ability. I have
found that suede cloth and wool frequently cause irritations in babies.
Suede cloth does not pill and stays looking new even after years of use.
Bum Genius is a popular diaper that uses suede cloth as the inner material.
Suede cloth was awesome with my son but due to a sensitivity my daughter
cannot use it. Suede cloth sensitivities seem to be more common than
other fabric allergies. 
Terry: Most terry cloth is made with cotton because the absorbent fiber gets
stronger when wet and it can be sanitized in very hot water using strong
bleach and detergent without harm. Terry cloth is usually made with looped
pile because the loops act like very small sponges. Looped pile is also
better able to withstand the strain of rubbing, pulling twisting and tugging by
the user. Loosely twisted loops are softer and more absorbent than tightly
twisted loops, which produce a rougher fabric. Long pile is more absorbent
than short pile. Terry cloth is most absorbent when it has loops on both
sides. Cotton can absorb up to 27 times its own weight in water.
Velour: A thick soft nap fabric which makes it luxurious to the touch. Velour
is a knit, making it is highly stretchy. Velour is typically made from cotton
but is also found in bamboo. Cotton Velour is a highly popular substitute for
the more expensive Bamboo Velour. Cotton velour is very soft but not as
absorbent as Bamboo. Cotton Velour is also more readily available. Most
local fabric shops carry a variety of colors.
Wool: Wool fiber helps to keep your body at the optimal temperature zone
for comfort and rest. Wool fiber is the original wicking fiber. Its coil-like
shape pulls excess heat and moisture from your skin while you sleep. It
helps your body to breathe away toxins. Wool is resistant to mildew. Mildew
and mold won't grow on wool unless it's soaking in water with no air flow.
Wool's natural resistance to mildews and molds comes from the way it
repels moisture, and lets moisture pass through its fibers without holding
the moisture. Although some people do have a rare natural allergy to
Lanolin, the oil found in wool, most people's allergy to wool is a reaction to
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the many harsh and toxic chemicals that go into the treatment, and finishing
of conventional wool products. Wool lasts longer and is more resistant to
environmental degradation than most any other natural fiber on the planet.
Zorb: It is made from a proprietary blend (secret) that contains only tangled
cellulose fibers from bamboo/cotton/viscose and poly micro fiber, the same
fibers found in virtually every AIO diaper on the market. It is super
absorbent and very efficient at moving moisture around meaning the whole
insert will be very effective at soaking pee up.
There are three main kinds of fabrics used as cloth diaper inserts. The
following details how to prep and use them as well as a little more info on
them.
Microfiber inserts are made from synthetic materials (i.e. man made).
Super fast at absorbing wetness and just plain super absorbent. Used in
many pocket and overnight diapers. They are the most inexpensive inserts
there are. Microfiber dries fast in the dryer or clothes line.
How to prep: Microfiber inserts don't need to be prepped. They arrive at
their full absorbency and have no oil to wash off.
How to use: Microfiber inserts should NEVER be placed directly against
baby’s skin. This is because these inserts are SO absorbent that when
placed directly against baby, they will actually pull moisture out of the skin
causing redness and possibly a rash. As long as there is some sort of
fabric between inserts and baby you are safe.
Hemp is a natural fiber that when used in an insert is incredibly absorbent,
trim and naturally antimicrobial. Hemp inserts hold about 2.5x more fluid
than microfiber! Great nighttime solution when used behind microfiber
inserts. Hemp will get softer and more absorbent the more it is washed. It is
also extremely durable. You will often see hemp/cotton blends in
inserts. Thirsties Hemp Inserts and Geffen Baby Super Absorbers Plus are
my favorite to double up with. We use 2 large Thirsties Hemp Inserts in my
18 month old's night diaper in addition to the microfiber inserts. Totally bullet
proof, 12 plus hours and no leaks!
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How to prep: Inserts that are made from natural fibers such as hemp and
bamboo contain natural oils. Because of this it is recommend that be
washed at least 3x separately with a small amount of detergent and hot
water as to not deposit oils on other cloth diapers possibly causing repelling.
I personally only do this once and often just toss in with my clothes laundry
and wash once (no synthetic fabric softeners). They I just throw in the wet
bag and wash with next load of cloth. Then I use them. Just be aware that
most hemp inserts require 8 hot washes with drying to reach full absorbency
and adjust accordingly with more frequent changes or by adding additional
absorbency until the insert is fully prepped.
How to use: Hemp is a slow, stable absorber. Some hemp works better if
placed under (furthest away from baby’s skin) another insert such as cotton
or microfiber. Not all though, as brands such as Geffen Baby do just fine
against little one.
Hemp blend inserts are my favorite to use. It is the most absorbent and trim option. I
would seriously replace every one of my inserts with hemp blends if I could.
Bamboo is another material that is found in some pocket diaper inserts.
Bamboo is a highly absorbent natural fiber. Due to bamboo’s short growth
cycle it is a very renewable resource making it a great environmentally
friendly cloth diapering choice. Bamboo inserts remain soft wash after wash,
unlike many other materials. Kawaii Baby and Applecheeks both have
hogreat 100% bamboo inserts/doublers. Rayon from bamboo which is the
actual material used in cloth diapers, while still super absorbent, does not
retain the antimicrobial properties of the actual bamboo. You will often see
bamboo/rayon and polyester mixes. My favorite bamboo inserts are from
Ragababe, 2 layers of unbleached organic cotton Sherpa with 2 layers of
bamboo rayon on the inside! Charcoal bamboo inserts (CBI) also fall here.
Even though they often have Microfiber inside you would prep them the
same as the bamboo.
How to prep: Please see how to prep hemp. It is the same procedure.
How to use: Bamboo inserts can be placed anywhere you like! ;) No
danger of harming baby’s skin or not absorbing fast enough and getting
leaks.
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Chapter 10
Rashes
I am including rashes below the fabrics because many times a rash can be
remedied by changing materials touching your baby. With my son I used
suede cloth diapers with no problems. However, when my third child was
born, I put a suede cloth diaper on her and her skin turned tomato red!
When I stopped using these diapers the rash went away.
A chemical sensitivity can result when using wool. Non organic wool is
chemically treated and the residual traces can cause an extreme eczemalike rash on your baby's thighs. This was the case with my 3rd child. Some
wools cause her to break out, where others work without any issues. I have
found interlock wool (97% wool 3% Lycra) to be less offensive to babies
with this wool sensitivity.
Is the rash from ammonia build-up? Does your little one’s tushie look red,
like bad sunburn wherever the insert touches? After they pee does it smell
so bad that it burns your nose hairs? You may need to strip your
diapers. Once you have stripped them and hopefully gotten rid of the
ammonia, read this to see ways you can prevent ammonia from coming
back. But the real truth is, ammonia means the diapers are not coming
clean in the wash. So if the underlying issue in the wash routine is not fixed
then the problem will just come back no matter how you strip.
Is the rash yeast? Yeast tends to grow in the folds of baby’s skin, but can
grow anywhere on their tush. A yeast rash can look red, irritated and raised.
Once it gets worse you may see slightly raised red dots and it may begin to
look scaly. You need to disinfect your cloth diapers. Grapefruit Seed
Extract (GSE) is excellent for this.
Is the rash from product sensitivity? You may need to shop around for
another detergent that doesn’t aggravate your baby’s skin the minute it
touches it. To determine if your child's rash is caused by the detergent you
are using, temporarily switch detergents and observe if the rash clears up.
Sometimes it isn't due to the type of detergent but a buildup of detergent in
the diaper. By following the steps on stripping your diapers on page 61-65,
you can thoroughly clean your diapers and determine if the rash clears up
after this process.
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Is the rash from sensitivity to disposable wipes? All disposable wipes
contain chemicals to help clean and possibly moisturize skin. However, they
usually aren’t all natural or preservative free. Some little ones are more
sensitive to this. Try using cloth wipes and buy or make your own healthy
wipes solution.
Finally, if all of the above don’t clear up the rash, consider the possibility
that there might be an allergy to a material used in the diaper. This is rare
and only a very small amount of children have these types of
sensitivities. Suede cloth is one thing that may cause a sensitivity. It is
made of the same stuff as microfleece (100% polyester). However, it is
thinner and more resistant to pilling making it look new longer. Some are
allergic to PUL or TPU used in cloth diaper covers. Alternatives include
covers made from fleece or wool.
If you are unable to clear a rash quickly or your child is in pain, please call
your pediatrician as soon as possible. They will be able to rule many things
out and often provide a faster, more effective treatment if one is needed.
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CHAPTER 11
How to Find the Right Size Diaper
You now have the information you need to choose a system for your baby.
Before ordering you need to check the size tag on the back of your child
and order the corresponding sized diaper: S, M, or L.
Your child didn’t come with an instruction manual, mute button and size tags
that change as the child grows?
Well, at least you’re in good company because none of mine did either. So
how do you know what size diaper will best fit your little one? Here are the
measurements you will need to take on your naked baby:
Waist
thigh
Rise
Weight
You are most likely familiar with 3 of those but rise may be a new term. To
measure the rise, place one end of the tape measure just below the belly
button and go down and around the crotch up to the low back. If you prefer
a low-rise diaper then measure to just above the “crack” (Is there a better
word?). Most of the time taking your child’s measurements will ensure a
great fitting diaper. However, every baby is proportioned differently and
sometimes the size chart is just plain wrong. All diaper manufacturers have
a size chart specific for their diaper.
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A lot of WAHM (work-at-home-moms) offer and prefer to do custom orders.
This allows a truly great fit to occur. Keep in mind the length of time it will
take for a custom to be completed. Will your child still be the same size? If it
is a 2-week wait then most likely, however a 4-6+ week turn-around time
may require that you pad the measurements.
A great option for a lot of families is the One-Size diaper. This is especially
economical for the family with more than one child in diapers and the family
wanting to drastically limit the number of purchases needed throughout the
child’s diapering time. A One-Size (OS) diaper is not always the best choice
for newborns, so you may want to hold off buying or using them until your
child is about 10-12 lbs. or at least until the cord falls off.
OS diapers work by allowing you to shorten/lengthen the rise by the use of
snaps. Some popular examples are Rumparooz, Goodmama, and Bum
Genius. There are now a couple of different ways some brands allow you to
adjust the size of the diaper. Softbums has a toggle on the leg elastic, Fuzzi
Bunz uses a button and elastic (similar to what you find in children’s
clothing) and Bottombumpers uses snaps on the inside of the diaper under
the soaker.
Here is a picture of the Happy Heinys one size pocket diaper at the small,
medium and long settings:
You know it’s time to move to the next size when you’re seeing the top of
your baby’s bottom.
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Other signs that the diaper is getting too small: when you fasten the diaper,
the snaps are on the loosest settings or aplix doesn’t stay closed.
Some other signs the diaper is too small: red marks on the thighs or
waist, leaking, or baby seems very irritated with the diaper. A diaper can
also be too large. Gaping at the waist or thighs, leaking, drooping bum are
all indications that you need to size down. If your baby is in-between sizes
choosing the smaller option will offer a snugger fit, while sizing up for that
in-between time will save you money. Your baby may only fit in the smaller
size for a short time before needing the larger size. If fit is a top priority to
you, then the extra money is worth it.
Here is a link to my favorite video showing how to get a good fit in cloth
diaper. It’s from Lindsey @ A {Simple} Kind of Life:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3vRWLC9UE0
*Night time Tip* Size up your covers (either actual size or to the next rise setting). This allows plenty of
space for all the extra absorbency you pack in at night. By using a bigger size or setting, you avoid the
chance of gapping at the legs and waist.
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CHAPTER 12
How many cloth diapers will you need?
It is hard to know how many cloth diapers you will need when you are just
starting out. There is no set number of diapers that a baby will go through. A
baby that feeds often they will go through more diapers and some babies
demand to be changed immediately after wetting a diaper (this would add
significantly to the cost if you are using disposables!)
The truth is, you really don’t need as many as you think. The actual number
depends a lot on how often you want to be washing them. The number of
diapers needed varies based on the age of your child. A newborn will need
more than a toddler.
Newborns poop A LOT. I remember that it seemed like every time I
changed a diaper it had a number 2 in it! Newborns eat an average of
every two hours. This also happens to be around the time they need to go.
So it comes out to about 12 diaper changes a day. Sort of off topic, but I
just want to mention I have a family member who will remained unnamed
who has a newborn. He keeps commenting on how much I must wash my
cloth diapers because he says they are going through a TON of
(disposable) diapers with their daughter. I think to myself (and have opened
my mouth a few times) on how many diapers they are throwing into a
landfill and how I really don’t do that much more laundry than normal. Ok
back to the facts!
If you want to wash every other day, 24 diapers seems to be a good place
to be for the newborn stage. I only had 18 myself. The 18 I had was
enough to go through the entire first day and until the night of the second
and that is when I washed.
There are many moms that have less when they start. You could have 1215 diapers and just wash every day. Cloth diapers are the best thing for
your baby. Starting small is ok. Every cloth diaper change you do keeps
one disposable diaper out of a landfill.
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Toddlers (16 months-potty training) actually need less diapers than
newborns. While it is true that around that age they start to poop more
often again, they sometimes go a few hours in a dry diaper. So sometimes I
only change every 3 or so hours as needed. Also at this point, they are
sleeping through the night (hopefully) and only need one overnight diaper
for those 12 hours. At this stage you could get by easily with around 18-20
diapers. (Again doable with less and washing more often.)
There are reasons to have more than that. I prefer to go 3 days between
washes around here, which requires a few more diapers. Also, you can
rotate which diapers you use so the same ones aren’t getting washed over
and over again. This helps to extend the life of the diaper as it gets a little
break from washing once in a while. To accomplish this you might find that
25-30 diapers is the ideal number.
When asking how many cloth diapers you need, you have to understand
that this is not an exact science and there is no exactly right answer. The
number varies slightly person to person based on age of child, how often
you want to wash and if you want to have a larger rotation to help keep
every diaper from being washed every single load.
THE COST?
In addition to all of the health benefits of using disposables you also have to
consider the cost. There are numerous calculators available to determine
how much money you will save by choosing to cloth diaper your baby. A
highly detailed one can be found here: The Cost of Cloth Diapers
The best place to start is determining how much it will actually cost to buy
disposable diapers for your baby for at least two years. For the sake of
these calculations we are going to use the prices on Diapers.com for
Huggies Snug and Dry Diapers. It is recommended that a disposable diaper
be changed every 2 hours. Let's assume that at 4 months your baby would
graduate to size 3 diapers. (Prices are approximate)
Newborn-4 months (size 1/2) = 1440 diapers x 0.18 = $259.20
4 months-20 months (size 3) = 5760 diapers x 0.24 = $1382.40
20 - 24 months (size 4) = 960 diapers (every 4 hours) x 0.27 = $25.92
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That comes to a total of $1408.32 for the first two years of your baby's life.
None of my children have potty trained by two so my number would be
higher.
Of course there are always those looking to disprove calculations like this. I
can guarantee that you'd save money cloth diapering even if you cut that
number in HALF!
Are there families that spend thousands of dollars on cloth diapers? Yes.
For them cloth diapering isn't about saving money. Remember there are 3
reasons why a family would cloth diaper and they all have slam dunk
arguments.
What about wipes…
I did not include the price of disposable wipes in the above calculations.
This is a factor that is often overlooked. Disposable wipes are expensive
and easily dispensable which creates more cost. There are also health and
environmental concerns with many disposable wipes as well.
Re-useable cloth wipes are simple. Cloth wipes can be made from anything!
You don’t even have to really “make” them. Cutting a washrag in half will get
the job done. They are also more convenient because you can wash them
with the diapers.
The cloth wipes I used with Paisley are 8x8 lavender Sherpa and cream
velour. I lay them in a wipes box and pour water with lavender essential oil
and tea tree oil mixed in over the wipes. They are then ready to use. After
use toss them in your diaper pail.
These wipes are now used as bath washrags for the kids and I’ve found
others I Iike better. I have tried many cloth wipes from Amazon (link here).
My favorite ones are Thirsties Fab Wipes. They are easy to use and
durable. Some I have tried fell apart after a few weeks of use (Prince
Lionheart Warmies).
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How Do You Save Money?
I'm going to show you tips and tricks to get the best deals in cloth diapering.
If you follow my advice, cloth diapering will save you hundreds of dollars!
USE PREFOLDS. The least expensive cloth diapering route is to use
prefolds and covers. Instead of looking for the cheapest prefolds, like the
ones you'd find at Walmart, invest in some that are well-known to last and
perform. Green Mountain Diapers prefolds are outstanding in all areas. By
ordering 3 dozen yellow edged prefolds (10-20lbs) and 5 Thirsties Duo
Wraps size 1 (or similar PUL cover); you would have spent $153 retail.
That’s a significant savings for at least the first year of your baby's life. But
paying full price isn't necessary. Which leads me to the second tip...
BUY USED.
Spot’s Corner: This is a site hosted on Hyena Cart. It is my favorite spot to
buy both new and used cloth diapers. I like Spots Corner because you not
only have hundreds of listings for all the different kinds of cloth diapers, but
you can also find items such as baby and maternity clothes, Baby carriers,
and hundreds of other miscellaneous child related items. I actually bought a
new set of Baby Signing Time for 80% off retail here. Sellers pay a small fee
to post items in either a buy it now or auction format. Feedback page
available.
Cloth Diaper Trader: Website began in 2011 as a place for American and
Canadian moms to buy and sell both new and used cloth diapers. Seller
feedback is noted on each listing if available.
Diaper Swappers: online forum format claiming 50,000 users that buy and
sell cloth diapers. Seller feedback links are available.
Ebay: I think we have all heard of this one. When I did a search for the term
“cloth diapers” over 37,000 listings came up. Wow. I am pretty sure that
anything, and I mean anything can be bought and sold on this site.
Craigslist: This is a classified listing based website where people can find
items being sold locally to them. Check the website for listings local to you.
Facebook: Most brands of cloth diapers have a Buy/Sell/Trade page. Just
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type ‘BRAND NAME B/S/T’ or ‘BRAND NAME Buy/Sell/Trade’ into the
search bar on Facebook. Many of the pages include a feedback link.
Buyer beware! Not everyone buying and selling is honest. If something
doesn’t seem right or look right, it probably isn’t. (I wish there were less of
this in our world.) Sometimes the best thing to do is just walk away.
Don’t use condition terms (i.e. EUC, VGUC, GUC) to determine the
ACTUAL condition of a diaper when buying. We all have very different ideas
of what we might think EUC is (excellent used condition). One person may
think EUC is only tried on and never washed while another may think only
used on one kid and not all three qualifies.
Ask questions and ask for more pictures if the ones provided aren’t
sufficient. If a cloth diaper isn’t new, ask if there are any issues you need to
know about. This might include condition of elastic, snaps or hook and loop,
pilling, or stains. If your child has any allergies; ask which detergent it was
washed with. Don’t be afraid to ask ANY question if you have one. Most
sellers are more than happy to answer as long as you aren’t just wasting
their time (window shopping).
Look for seller feedback. Most of the B/S/T sites have a system to monitor
feedback. Read what other buyers have said about the person you are
buying from. You are looking for things like: Item as described, fast
shipping, and excellent communication. Just keep in mind that not everyone
has feedback because sometimes it really is their first time selling
something. On the same note, try to leave feedback after you purchase
something whether it was a positive transaction or a negative one. Your
feedback helps to keep everyone protected.
Finally, use Paypal to pay for your transactions. Paypal is a safe way to pay
and be paid without having to share financial information. The seller is
responsible for a very small fee that is charged from Paypal to receive the
money. But it is worth it!
From PayPal’s website: “If an eligible item that you’ve purchased online,
eBay or otherwise, doesn’t arrive or doesn’t match the seller’s description,
we will look into it. If it’s discovered that something is wrong, our Purchase
Protection will reimburse you for the full purchase price of the item plus
shipping costs.”
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The seller also has protection though Paypal. If someone claims that they
never received the item shipped and you have proof of delivery, Paypal has
you covered. Paypal also has a fair resolution process for when problems
occur.
Sellers, I ask that you be honest and upfront about what you are selling.
Buyers, I encourage you to ask questions, do your research and to use
good judgment before buying.
Tips on sanitizing used diapers:
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/simple-effective-ways-to-disinfect-clothdiapers/
SELL/RECYCLE. By selling the cloth diapers that your little one has
outgrown, you are able to recoup half or more of your initial investment. If
you bought used, then recouping 100% is possible. The same places you
buy second hand diapers, you can sell them.
Once your baby can no longer wear a cloth diaper you may also choose to
set it aside and save it for future children. Prefolds are the best diaper for
recycling. They have a long life and the potential for elastic or closures
breaking down while in storage is not an issue.
More Tips for Successful Selling
Always, always include pictures. Having no pictures almost guarantees that
your diapers will not sell unless they are highly sought after brands. Links to
a photo album will only get clicked a third of the time. Buyers want it to be
simple.
Take good pictures. Use the sun to enhance the colors and the appeal of
your diapers. Drab, fuzzy pictures will make a buyer turn away...even if your
diapers are hardly used.
Reveal ALL issues. Even if there are stains that are barely visible or don't
show up in pictures, divulge that info in your post. Check the leg elastic.
You can do this by opening up the diaper and laying it flat-do both sides
look even? Or by gently stretching the elastic and feeling for elasticity.
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Carefully check the outside of the diaper. Are there any mysterious marks
or holes? Give a detailed description of the Velcro (fuzzy? strong/weak?)
and snaps (weak snap? Missing any?). If your diaper was soft brand new
and is now a bit “crunchy” make sure you let the buyer know this.
Rate your diapers using the following abbreviations:
NIP/BN: New In Package/Brand New. Never washed. You can use this
classification even if you tried it on your baby to check for fit. But please
state this in your listing.
EUC: Used either in a large rotation or used for a short time. NO stains!
No signs of wear.
VGUC: Regularly used diaper. May have light stains. No elastic issues or
Velcro/snap problems. Velcro may be fuzzy. Stiff material from original
softness.
GUC: Darker stains that may not come out, ex. Diaper rash cream stains.
Small holes or fraying in the material that do not affect function.
Play Condition: Your workhorse diapers. Significant fading, tears, holes,
missing snaps, Velcro coming off or loose/worn out elastic. Diapers are
still functional, just not pretty.
Price you diapers at the going used rate and ALWAYS include shipping.
Don't expect to buy a diaper for $25 and get $20 for it, unless the diaper is
in high demand. Remember when you pay for an upgrade like embroidery,
your customer base is much smaller. Look through the FSOT forums for
similar items and price your diapers in that range. Make the sale as easy as
possible by building in the cost of shipping to your price. To indicate that
shipping is included write ppd after your price. (Ex. $18ppd) PPD stands for
postage paid.
Be clear what type of payment you will accept and what your shipping
limitations are. Do you accept PayPal (PP)? Will you ship outside of the
United States?
Include a delivery confirmation number when you ship your items. It is a
nominal fee for some protection on your part.
If you have very little or no feedback on the forum you are listing on, let your
potential buyers know where you do have feedback. If you have no
feedback anywhere find someone who can vouch for you or build up
friendships that will develop trust between you and buyers.
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MAKE YOUR OWN. Here are posts full of helpful links on how to make
your own cloth diapers and supplies:
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/make-your-own-cloth-diapers-really/
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/how-to-sew-a-cloth-diaper-cover/
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/how-to-make-cloth-diapers/
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/how-to-make-your-own-cloth-wipes/
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-three-favorite-homemade-wipessolution-recipes/
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/easy-diy-cloth-diaper-wet-bag-step-by-stepinstructions/
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/how-to-make-a-wet-bag-with-a-zipperclosure-keeps-smells-in-better/
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/diy-cloth-diaper-pail-liner/
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/how-to-make-a-changing-pad/
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CHAPTER 13
Nighttime
“Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray to the Lord….a nighttime solution that
will work!!”
Who hasn’t been forced to experiment with different combinations to find
one that won’t leak?
It only takes one, maybe two, mornings where you wake up soaked in pee
that you consider going with sposies (that’s slang for disposable diapers) at
night. But DON’T DO IT! I have enough personal experience combined with
hours of peer advice to keep your sheets dry and prevent you from
resorting to gel crystals! (Which leak as well and add to it the health issues
and …).
One thing I have noticed is that virtually everyone at one point pleads for
advice for their “super soaker”. What child is not a super soaker when we
put a diaper on them at 8pm and expect it to last until 8am? I’m all for not
changing diapers at night. I changed baby #1 at every feeding and started
to with baby #2 but I soon got smart and realized this was not the only way!
There are a few approaches to nighttime dryness:
Any cover with a double gusset leg. This allows maximum space to add
absorbency and not get leg gaps (which cause leaks).
Fitteds with a wool cover. Good fitted choices are Twinkie Tush Night Night,
Kissing Black Nighttime, and Sustainablebabyish Organic Bamboo Fitteds.
I did some at home absorbency testing. For testing, the overnight fitteds
were tested including the inserts and doublers that came with them when
purchased. I used all one sized (OS) or the large version of the cloth diaper.
37 oz...Twinkie Tush Night-Nights OS cotton velour
30 oz...Kissing Blake Extended/Night time OS organic bamboo fleece
28 oz...Sustainablebabyish size large organic bamboo fleece
I’d recommend either a Woollybottoms, HumBird (super affordable) or
Sustainablebabyish wool cover.
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Here are some other recommendations you can try that have been known
to work for nighttime. For the cheapest route, microfiber towels bought at
Wal-Mart in the auto- section work great. Another popular highly absorbent
doubler/insert are Joeybunz. Joeybunz are made of hemp and are very trim.
Combine microfiber on top of hemp for a super absorbent combo.
As previously mentioned, Geffen Baby Super Absorber (and the plus
version once your baby is over a year old) inserts are excellent no matter
what brand of pocket diaper you are using. These are a go-to with many
cloth diaper moms.
Fitteds are probably the most prolific diaper made by WAHMs. There are
hundreds to choose from and dozens of them are worthy of being used as
the nighttime diaper in your stash.
Materials that lend themselves to lasting for many hours are bamboo, hemp
and microfiber layers. Hemp will be the most absorbent and trim of those
options.
You CAN make a go of it with what you already have. To start off with, let
me just throw this out there. Kawaii Goodnight Heavy Wetters or GNHW’s
for short! They are a one size pocket diaper made especially for nights, run
about $10-12 each and best of all they WORK! I started to write about them
here and this post got longer and longer and…..well you get the point. I
decided to break it up into another post. Keep your eyes open on Thursday
for more info about GNHW, other overnight tricks and my easy tip to fix leg
gaps from bulky inserts!
Between the GNHW’s and the few fitteds and wool we have I don't use this
method myself because we haven't needed to. However, many people have
said this works for them! Depending on how big your little one is you will
need two prefolds, one large and one smaller (maybe a newborn one if you
have it.) The smaller something on the inside can be a hemp of bamboo
insert or doubler if you really want maximum absorbing power!
*Tip* One option for a slam-dunk nighttime solution is a microfiber insert laid on top
of a hemp insert or two (depending on how much your baby wets). Thirsties Hemp
Inserts or Geffen Baby Super Absorber Plus are great choices for this! The microfiber
fills up with fluid and slowly leaks onto the hemp- which absorbs much slower.
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You just lay out your larger prefold (1) and place the smaller prefold
(trifolded) in it (2) or your insert (3), then trifold the bigger one over the
smaller one (4). Use this as an insert in your favorite PUL/TPU cover, wool
or fleece soaker. That’s it! If this is still not enough absorbency, keep
reading!
Still having leaks?
Use anything made from cotton/hemp and cotton/bamboo blends. Prefolds,
inserts, doublers…whatever. These blends are trimmer and absorb A LOT
more than 100% cotton or even microfiber.
Try to use a thicker, higher quality cover if you have any. Lots of people
have had success using Flips, bumGenius, and Thirsties covers. An even
better, affordable option are fleece soakers!
Fleece soakers are a more affordable alternative to wool. They are super
soft, breathable, great at wicking moisture away from baby and are easy to
wash. Fleece soakers are often made from synthetic 100% polyester
fibers. Fleece needs to be washed after each use but can be washed right
in with the rest of your diapers. They are not waterproof, more like water
repellent. So it does need to be paired with a nice absorbent combo to work
at night. There are quite a few available to buy if you look around on Etsy.
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Fleece soakers are even more affordable if you can make your own! I found
this great post from Chana over at Adventures in Fluff that I want to share
with you. It includes step-by-step instructions, pictures and even a video on
how to make your own fleece soakers! Click here to check it out! Please
give Chana some love on her blog and leave a comment or share it if you
like the post!
*TIP #1* One BIG problem many people have with night diapers are the leg
gaps. All that stuffing literally pushes the cover away from baby and can
leave the elastic nowhere near the skin. If you have gaps…you will have
leaks. I have this problem with our Kawaii GNHW’s sometimes (the gaps,
not the leaks). My trick to getting it on right isn’t too hard. I even got my
husband to learn it!
When I put the diaper on I put the back just above the butt crack. That gives
you more to work with in the front (fit and absorbency). Froggy their legs up
and out. (For some of us that may be the position you gave birth in!) Now
pull the front of the diaper up and as you do tuck the elastic in down past
the inserts toward the legs. Snap or Velcro closed the cover so you have a
snug (not tight) fit at waist and legs.
If you still have a leg gap, use your thumb to push the elastic toward the leg
while using your pointer and middle finger inside the diaper to push the
inserts away from the elastic a bit (towards the center of the diaper). If you
have done it right the inserts should still be lying flat, but you will have
created enough give to get the elastic back down to skin.
I am not going to lie, even for me there has been times when I can’t seem to
fix the gap. Sophia is tired…crying…I feel like crying myself! Just
kidding…sort of! Anyway…take a deep breath and just start over. You can
get it!
No matter what option you take, if the diaper is leaking…try adding another
insert for more absorbency. I’ve used up to 4 at one time!
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TIP! Another way to stop leg gaps is to use covers with double gussets such as Sweet
Pea, Thirsties and Rumparooz. The extra let gusset allows you to stuff a mattress in if
necessary and not get gaps. They also make it very easy to get a good fit.
*Tip #2* Rashes due to wetness can be a huge issue, but are totally
preventable. If your baby is sensitive to moisture, then you simply add a
stay dry layer or liner. The moisture easily passes through, leaving the first
layer dry against baby’s skin. This can be something you buy, I don’t make
stuff, so I like Sweetbottom’s Fleece Liners. Or you can make your own by
cutting to size an old, thin fleece t-shirt or getting microfleece fabric from
someplace JoAnn’s Fabric or Michael’s. Many pocket diapers or all in ones
come with an included microfleece or suede cloth stay dry lining as well.
Finally, using a good barrier cream will help to keep ammonia burns at
bay. Click here to check our list of cloth diaper safe rash creams.
*Tip #3*Ammonia can get out of hand in night diapers. Getting a build-up of
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it will certainly cause a rash. It will usually look like a bad sunburn on their
tush. It can be prevented! Keep your baby well hydrated! Use hemp inserts,
they are naturally antimicrobial. Finally, rinse night diapers out with how
water in the morning before throwing in your wet bag or pail.
What Do you Do With the Poo?
In the early days, when your little one is exclusively breastfed or on formula
only; you really are able to just throw everything into the washer and let it
take care of the dirty work. I promise! Especially EBF poo! It is totally watersoluble. Just splash some water on it and you will see it practically breaks
up into nothing. Formula poo is a little thicker, but will also easily wash
away.
I know…I know…some of you are thinking that it may be a little gross to not
clean it off at that stage. Today’s washing machines are designed to handle
just about anything we throw at them. And before 6 months, poo isn’t really
an issue for most washing machines. Feel confident that it will all come out
clean, because it WILL!
After you start any kind of solids, this all changes. Now what???
Disposable liners
This is probably the easiest solution, although not the most cost effective.
Basically, when doing a diaper change, you lay a disposable liner on top of
the diaper and then finish putting it on. Little one poos and you just take the
liner and the poo and flush down the toilet (or throw into trash if you have
to).
Pros of this method include ease of use. Convenient for trips out of the
house because you can get rid of mess immediately and not drag it around
in your wet bag.
Cons of this method include not being cost effective. There also might be
some overflow onto the diapers that goes beyond the liner (so you’d still
have to clean that off). Finally, some septic systems might not be able to
handle these liners getting flushed down (a backed up toilet is NEVER a
good thing!)
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I recommend Eco Sprouts Eco-Bottom Liners. They are by far the softest
liners we have ever tried.
Dunk and Swish
This is just what it sounds like. Maria over at Change-Diapers.com has a
great video that shows exactly how this can be done without getting your
hands dirty. I admittedly find this method a little disgusting. I am sure my
problems with this are all in my head, but there is just something about the
toilet bowl water that skeeves me out! This works for many people with
absolutely no problems!
Diaper Sprayer
A sprayer is attached to the side of the toilet and is used to spray solids off
while you hold diaper vertically over bowl. There is no getting your hands
dirty or bowl water touching the diaper if you don’t want it too (although it is
fine if it does!) If you are using a sprayer and looking for more protection
from splashing anything anywhere but the bowl check out the Spray Pal!
Even if you think you don’t NEED one, it is a super nice thing just to HAVE
one!
This is my recommended method. We also have a Spray Pal Diaper
Sprayer. It was simple enough that I installed it myself. I have been using it
for 20 months now with no problems. For the poo that won’t plop off I just
spray it off just like you would use a garden hose if you were outside. Fold
in half and then throw in wet bag until washday…done!
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CHAPTER 14
WASHING
disclaimer: I cannot be held responsible for any damage that may come to your
diapers or rashes that may result if you follow my personal washing routine or
advice. What I am about to type has proven to work fantastic for us and hundreds of
other moms but there are always exceptions.
There are MANY factors that go into cleaning cloth diapers.
Water: Water is actually doing the majority of cleaning. Your water type
can influence how easy it is to get things clean. 85% of the United States
has some level of hard water.
Photo courtesy Mortansalt.com
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That chart only gives you a general idea of what your water type may be
because it will still vary within each region. If you are unsure you can either
google free water test or buy an inexpensive test strip from someplace like
Sweetbottoms Baby for around $1.
Hard water contains a high levels of minerals. Not limited to, but usually
found are calcium and magnesium.
Soft water is the opposite. The less there are minerals, the softer the water.
Softened water reduces the need for detergent by more than 50 percent
because it doesn't contain the minerals that interact with the cleaning
products. Many people often find that a liquid detergent works better in soft
water. Some soft water users even find that washing in cold water works
better at stain removal.
Soft water isn’t all good though. When the level of water hardness is too low
(or extremely soft in other words) soaps and detergents actually become
very hard to rinse out.
Hard water has minerals that can interact with ingredients in detergents and
reduce their effectiveness at cleaning. So for hard water, you usually need a
little more detergent. People often find that powder detergent works better in
hard water conditions.
*** Please realize that 85% of the US has some level of hard water. That
does not mean 85% of us need a water softener to get their diapers clean.
Most commercial detergents can handle to about 180 ppg. Try adding a little
extra detergent first. You may not need anything extra.
The following is how I personally wash my cloth diapers. I will discuss
washing in a front loading washer soon.
I have moderately hard water, an old school top loading washing machine
and I always wash a large (full) load of cloth diapers. I try to wash every
three -four days even though I do have enough cloth diapers to go longer.
While not impossible, it does become more difficult to get cloth diapers
clean as more time passes between washes.
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1) Dump the contents of the wetbags into the washer.
2) Run a warm prewash cycle. This needs to be something that agitates.
So a rinse cycle is not sufficient in most cases. Either use a quick wash or
a short wash cycle. Ifthe load is especially dirty, I also add either a bit of
OxiClean (to the 1 line), Tide (to the 1 line) or Bac Out (1/4 cup).
3) Next is a HOT wash cycle. I always wash a full load so I personally add
Tide (powder original) to the 3 line and OxiClean Free and Versatile to the
2 line.
4) My machine has an included cold rinse after the wash cycle. I also do
one additional HOT rinse. I do this on my machine by turning the dial back
to the beginning of the wash cycle which allows the machine to fill with hot
water (there is no hot rinse option). Once it is done filling, I turn the dial
back to rinse and allow the wash to finish.
5) I line dry my shells and wetbags and machine dry everything else
(inserts and cloth wipes) on medium heat.
I have a very basic washer. Since all of the cycles are not all that long I
usually run the Heavy Duty Regular twice. Once on warm for the prewash
and once on HOT for the main wash. The extra agitation will help get the
diapers cleaner.
Photo of my Current Washer.
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*TIP* If you have ammonia problems with just your night diapers rinse them out in
the morning. Take the diaper to your bathroom sink and let HOT water run through it
for a minute or two, then wring out and store. This is one of the simplest things that
makes the biggest impact on night diaper ammonia issues.
Tips for getting clean cloth diapers no matter the type of machine:
-Try to keep your wash routine as simple as possible and use common
sense.
-Use a prerinse/wash cycle that agitates and spins. If it isn't doing those
two things, it's kind of a waste.
-Use the LONGEST available HOT wash setting. The longer cycle allows
the detergent and machine time to do its job properly. (This is often the
heavily solid cycle.)
-Use an appropriate amount of water for the load size. The diapers need to
rub against each other as part of the cleaning process. If you use too much
water they are just going for a swim; too little water and they won't be able
to move and therefor won't get clean. For a top loader, a wash cycle should
look like a stew, not a soup.
-Use an appropriate amount of detergent. Soft water requires a little less
and hard water requires a little more. I recommend that you use the same
amount of detergent for cloth diapers that you would use for a same size
load of heavily soiled clothing.
-Don't overload your washing machine. Consult the manual if you have
questions on how to load your machine (there is a right way) and also the
max capacity. An overfilled washer will not clean properly.
-Clean cloth diapers should not smell. If you smell anything out of the wash,
dryer or immediately after a child urinates, there is a problem. Check that
you are doing the above tips and then your first step is usually to add a little
more detergent. If you have further issues, reach out for help. Consult the
manufacturer of your diapers or another trusted source.
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-There is no ONE right way to clean cloth diapers. Clean cloth diapers
are dependent on many different factors including water type, washing
machine type, detergent, type of cloth diapers being wash and
the wash routine itself. Because of this, there are MANY ways that will
work. As with anything in life, you may have to research and experiment a
little to find what will work best for you and your family.
--If you aren’t sure what cycles to use. The answer can often be found right
in the manual for your washing machine. Read through and see what the
cycles are for. If you don’t have the manual just google the model number
(found on the lid or inside of the door of the machine) + manual.
What Detergent Should You Use?
When you first start out with cloth diapers, I recommend that you just use
the detergent that you already using on your clothing. If it works, great! If
not, I also recommend Tide Original (powder for hard water and liquid for
soft) or Persil. For more natural options I like Purex and Lulu's
Glamour Wash.
There is no one detergent that will work for everyone. The only RULE is to
not use anything that includes a synthetic fabric softener in the ingredients.
Use caution with detergents containing Enzymatic Cleaners. These are
great as long as you RINSE your diapers WELL. The enzymes can attack
your baby's skin if there are microscopic bits of poo or pee stuck to baby's
bottom and the diapers have not been rinsed well enough. Some examples:
Bac Out, Charlie's Soap, Sensi-Clean, Method, Wintree (Costco). Enzymes
affect the skin the longer your child is in a soiled/wet diaper. Their
sensitivity may go unnoticed if you change your baby's diaper frequently.
Yet, another healthy reason to change your child's diaper as soon as they
“go” (if you can anyway).
Free and Clear detergents seem to come up in detergent discussions
often. Many websites advise against using them, however, I know many
moms that use Free and Clear detergents and they have had zero
problems. As with any detergent the most important thing to do is observe
how your child reacts when the change is made. If you child never had a
rash and suddenly develops one, go back to the previous detergent and
watch for improvement. Every child is different.
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*Tip* You might find you need to use more detergent when using free and clear
versions. For example if you would normal use a scoop or capful to the 2 line and find
it’s not working, try going to the 3 line or more. Smell means not clean and the first
step to fixing the problem is to first try adding a bit more detergent.
High-Efficiency (HE) washing machines
There is a lot of confusion regarding whether HE washers are good for
diapers or not. Some pros to using an HE are: less water is used, deeper
cleaning/sanitizing cycles, and the potential for less wear and tear due to
the lack of an agitator.
There is also an extra rinse setting and a heavy soil setting that are super
bonuses. When purchasing detergents make sure to buy the ones that
specifically state they can be used in an HE machine.
The biggest mistake I see people making with HE machines is in the
prewash. Use a short cycle that agitates the diapers. The actual prerinse
option is often just a rinse and drain. Presoak is often just a soak. Those are
good for stains, not for pee and poo. You need the agitation to get the poo
out.
Choose the longest available HOT wash cycle and if there’s a heavily soiled
button, push it. Finally, make sure you are using HE detergent and use
enough of it to get things clean.
In Summary, What supplies do you need to clean cloth diapers?
Detergent
Access to a washing machine (at home or a laundromat) or vessel (tub,
bucket or sink) to hand wash
A way to dry them (machine dry, line or rack)
Use common sense with your machine. Think about what cycles you would
select to clean a load of heavily soiled clothing and start with that for your
cloth diapers. Read your owner’s manual to see what each cycle does and
what will work best for cloth diapers and please always ask a trusted source
when you have questions!
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*TIP* Here is a trick I use to keep my hook & loop diapers from forming a diaper chain
in the wash. This works every time and you can do it before you throw the diapers in
the wet bag. Just bring tabs behind the diaper and cross over and hook to itself. One
side is twisted to allow closure.
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How do you store clean/dirty cloth diapers?
Once you have cloth diapers, you’ll need somewhere to put them when they
are dirty. No need to register for that Diaper Genie.
Over the years I have used many different methods for storing dirty cloth
diapers from a cheap camping bag to nice pail liners, to a wet pail, to
wetbags. All effective but most have their faults.
At this point I have experienced the good and bad of all to make a clear
recommendation that wetbags are the best route to go. Again, my
reasoning (like with pockets) is because of the versatility. I like to keep
things simple and not have to have a different product for each thing I do.
Camping bags are uber cheap. But, they won’t last long and they aren’t
smell-proof.
Pail liners are a giant step up in quality to a camping bag yet they too will let
odors out and you can’t carry it with you in the car (or you’ll smell the
diapers).
Wet pails are simply a trash can filled with water and an additive like Bacout or Tea Tree Oil. You then toss in your diapers until laundry day. That’s
where the mess comes in. You have to dump the contents out and, well,
this is gross and I can only imagine the mess I would make.
Wetbags are waterproof bags with a handle and zipper. They come in
several different sizes making it easy to store a couple of days’ worth of
diapers in an XL one or a couple for out and about in a small one.
I have accumulated quite a collection of wetbags, most of which are Monkey
Foot Designs. My top 2 wet bag brands are Monkey Foot Designs and
Rumparooz.
They are all very different! One very key feature I look for in a wet bag is
how easy it is to open when you only have one available hand. This is one
of the reasons Monkey Foot Designs is my
favorite.
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Monkey Foot Designs are by far the best because of the thick waterproof
lining that holds in smells and wetness, easy to grasp zipper, snap handle
that fits over door handles, cute fabrics and a wide variety of sizes. Easy to
use one hand to open. No joke, these wet bags are so good NASA even
uses them in the International Space Station.
Rumparooz has a 3D design. This gives the bag a half moon shape
allowing the top to function as a lid. Fairly easy to open with one hand due
to the design.
Personally, we use a dresser with a changing pad on top. I store the clean
cloth diapers in the top drawers of that dresser. I use a hanging wet bag on
the side of the changing table to store the soiled diapers. I also have a
hanging wet bag in the bathroom for easy access after dumping solids.
Here is my set up with my Monkey Foot Designs bag.
Simplicity is key. As a parent new to cloth diapering and maybe new to
parenting, the last thing you want is a stinky nursery. Go with a system and
brand others have tried and have had success with.
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CHAPTER 15
Issues & Troubleshooting
Leaky Diapers
Sometimes the simplest solution is the right solution. Before you take
drastic measures check to see if one of these is you issue.
Sometimes I felt like I was constantly fiddling with the diapers to get a good
fit at every change. But seriously it is important. If you don’t have the right
sized diaper or maybe aren’t putting it on quite right it WILL leak!
*Tip* for a good fit make sure you don’t try to size up to soon, or extend the diaper’s
use beyond its capability. Using a diaper that is to big will cause sagging and
gapping. Using a diaper that is too small will not offer enough absorbency, and will
most likely be too tight. Make sure the diaper is snug at the legs and waist. Think how
your socks are on your ankles kind of snug, not the cutting off your circulation kind.
Next you need to ask: Are you using the right amount of absorbency? I was
using a large Ragababe insert with a medium under it. It seemed that it
wasn’t quite enough. A few times after only an hour or so I it will leak
through. You should never feel wetness on the outside of a waterproof shell.
I am went to 2 large inserts, no more leaks.
Let’s face it…the bigger the kid…the more they drink….the more they
pee! My little girl loves drinking water. So I need to make sure I can keep up
with her intake.
Obviously, diaper changes need to be frequent enough to keep baby
comfortable, dry and hopefully rash free. Probably more like every 2 hours
is a good interval during the day. But a cloth diaper really should last more
than an hour before they reached their capacity and leak.
I have heard people say it to me before. My answer is: If you are only
getting 60 minutes out of the diaper, you NEED to add more absorbency.
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Pockets are easy to do this with. You just add an extra insert or doubler
inside the pocket. With any other type of diaper you can just lay the extra
insert, doubler or booster right on top of the existing one.
Many brands sell doublers or booster options that match their diaper. Or
you can really use whatever you want as long as it will fit in the
cover. Geffen Baby has a bunch of great insert options (Jersey Hemp
Prefolds or Super Absorbers Plus are good choices).
I love Thirsties Hemp Inserts for doubling up. They are SUPER trim and
absorb a TON! Hemp is more of a slow stable absorber. These inserts are
also great for nighttime use as well.
Keep in mind that many of these inserts and doublers are interchangeable
between diaper brands. As long as it fits inside the cover, you are good to
go. Your baby’s diaper should not be leaking. Do a little investigating and
experimenting with how different diapers fit. Don’t be afraid to add more
inserts if you think it’s needed. What’s the point of cloth diapers if there isn’t
a little fluffy bum once in a while?
If anything is poking out or a piece of clothing is tucked in, wicking will
occur. That means that the wetness will travel outside of the waterproof
layer. Just make sure everything is where it should be.
If you’ve made sure one of these easy fixes won’t work, it’s time to check for
bigger issues.
Delamination: If you have a delaminating diaper, you’ll notice leaking
directly through the fabric. On the inside, you’ll see cracking or bubbling.
Usually a delaminated diaper can’t be saved. But it can be used as a great
swim diaper.
If a diaper leaks and you change it and the inserts are still dry in spots, you
likely have hard water mineral buildup. The easiest fix for that is an RLR
(found on amazon) soak. I personally fill my top loader with hot water and
the clean diapers and 1 packet of RLR. Then soak overnight. Then I do a
wash cycle with detergent like usual. For more info, please read the
stripping section coming up.
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Stinky Diapers or Leaky diapers
There are a lot of things that can cause stinky diapers. One of them occurs
frequently with All-In-One diapers. Basically, it's really hard to tell when the
diapers are dry, because there is waterproof material on the outside, and a
stay-dry lining on the inside. Be sure to dry (on medium) for a good long
while. Try rubbing your thumb or finger near the edge of the diaper (near
the leg elastic is a good place) and see if you can detect moisture. If you
are using the dryer leave them in for two cycles. You can also dry them
once in the dryer and then hang them in the sun. Other common causes
are:
 waiting too long to wash
 HE washer problems: washer needs to be cleaned on a monthly
basis and be sure to leave the door o pen so the moisture
can dry out
 something the baby ate
 chronic yeast infestation
 recent viral/bacterial infection with diarrhea
But they shouldn’t ever smell out of the wash or dryer or immediately after a
pee. My recommendation is to up the amount of detergent you are using as
a first step. You can also add Oxiclean to the main wash cycle to act as a
booster. I use Oxi to the 2 line in every load. Laying diaper out in the sun for
a day is also great. The sun is a great cleaner. See the washing chapter for
more troubleshooting info.
If you have SOFT water…Before you do anything wash the diapers on
HOT water, with no added detergent. Then, rinse a couple of times making
sure to check if there are any bubbles. Sometimes diaper problems are due
to a buildup of detergent. Yes, detergents are designed to rinse clean. But if
you’ve been using copious amounts it may be the easiest fix.
You know this is the issue if you can see a ton of suds and all you used were clean
cloth diapers and hot water.
If you have moderately hard to very hard water (above 180 ppg) then
you might try stripping to remove hard water mineral buildup. My preferred
methods are soaks with either RLR or GroVia Mighty Bubbles.
74
You know this might be the issue if your diapers are leaking and they are dry in spots
when you change the diaper.
If you have a top loader it can be done right in the washer. If you have a
front loader, then you will need to use a tub or other type of water vessel.
Take clean diapers add enough HOT water to cover and the hot water. For
up to a full load (approx. 35 diapers) you may use either one packet RLR or
one GroVia Mighty Bubbles pac. Agitate for a few minutes to disperse and
then let sit for a few hours. You could probably get away with 2 hours. But I
like to let sit overnight because they are done soaking in the morning.
Run through a HOT wash cycle in your washing machine.
If you just need a little help, here is a list of additives that will
help get cloth diapers clean easier:
Bac-Out
Bac-Out by BioKleen is a natural alternative containing a unique blend of
natural living enzyme cultures and botanical extracts. Bac Out has been
successfully used for additional stain removal and to keep the stinkies
away. If you choose to use Bac-Out, you can either keep some in your
bathroom and spray some on each soiled diaper before storing or add it to
your prewash. I suggest using ¼ cup per large load. Just be sure to rinse a
lot and keep an eye out for rashes. If it isn’t rinsed fully away, enzymes can
actually start to attach any microscopic molecules of pee or poo on your
baby’s bottom. Bac out uses live enzyme cultures and lime extract to
remove stains and odors from just about anything, not just cloth diapers.
Baking Soda
Baking Soda has been trusted for over 100 years as an effective yet natural
and gentle cleaner with no harsh chemicals. Baking soda natural effect is to
balance pH, keeping things neither too acidic nor too alkaline, and it resists
further changes in the pH balance. Add 1/2 to 1 cup to the wash cycle to
neutralize and eliminate odors.
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Calgon
Calgon and other water softeners can help by removing hard water
minerals that trap dirt into fabric fibers. Calgon also helps to prevent
detergent build-up, neutralizes the hard water minerals in your water, and
contains no phosphates. Expect lots of bubbles when using water
softeners, so be sure to rinse until they're gone.
OxiClean Free and Versatile
Add this to your HOT wash cycle as a booster. I suggest adding a scoop to
the 1 or 2 line for a full load (depending on soil level). The Free version will
rinse out easier. I found the regular to suds up a lot.
Stains
Some basic things to try (all safe to use on cloth diapers and around
children and pets):
Bac out
See previous section on usage information.
Buncha Farmers Stain Removal Stick
If you have never tried it, you need to. It will remove stains from anything
including carpets and clothing. Click here to see step-by step instructions to
use it to remove stains from cloth diapers!
Oxiclean Free and Versatile
I am an Oxiclean user. I have hard water and I had problems with ammonia
burns and stink. Added this to my routine and it solved those issues for me.
It is also great at removing stains on cloth. To remove stains fill your washer
or tub with water and add clean but stained diapers. If your washer doesn’t
have a soak cycle, just add water in a wash and then stop the washer. Add
one scoop of Oxiclean; agitate or stir a little to mix it in and then let it sit
overnight. Rinse with hot water in washer once or twice to remove Oxiclean.
Sunning
This will not only remove stains but will also sanitize your cloth
diapers using the sun’s UV rays. It’s all natural and free, so also my favorite.
You can’t believe how well this works until you see it with your own eyes!
Ok, so you take your clean but stained diapers out of the wash.
76
Place them still wet outside in a full sun area. You can either hang them or
place them on a flat surface.
That’s it… Mine are usually out all day because I forget about them. Once
they are dry, most of the stains will have magically disappeared. Inserts can
get kind of crunchy when air-dried. A tumble in the dryer usually will solve
that and if it doesn’t help you can add a little Mrs. Meyers fabric softener to
them. If any stains remain you can throw one more thing at them…
Lemon Juice
If one cycle in the sun doesn’t do it, I repeat the process but add lemon juice
this time. Just take the insert or diaper and re-wet in the sink. Wring out the
water. Now take plain old all natural lemon juice (can be found in the juice
isle of any grocery store) and pour a little directly onto the remaining stains.
Place the damp insert back into your sunny location and walk away. Usually
by the time it’s dry your stain will be totally gone. You should rinse or wash
these inserts again as the lemon juice would burn if put directly onto little
one. Did you know that lemon juice can also be used to disinfect cloth
diapers? Here is the post again with all the great disinfecting info!
Bleach
I honestly really don’t recommend bleach. It’s because I feel there are just
safer things to use that will get the job done. I know lots of people use
bleach with success. But be aware bleach is very harsh. It will wear out
elastic and other fabrics much faster than need be.
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Dawn Dish Detergent
This is used to remove oily residue from cloth diapers. That may be from
rash cream buildup. Think about how they remove oil from penguins in an
oil spill. Just wet the diaper, put a small amount of Dawn Original on the
spots and scrub with an old toothbrush. A little goes a long way.
Please remember, if after all this you are still unable to remove a stain, it
won’t affect a diapers function at all. The only harm is that it will lower its
resale value as many people don’t like purchasing cloth diapers with stains.
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CHAPTER 16
Stripping & Deep Cleaning
Sometimes cloth diapers need a little more than plain hot water to get
completely back to square one. If your diapers are still leaking or a faint
odor remains after hot water rinse, you may want to try some of these.
Because the effectiveness of these methods depends on what kind of water
you have and what kind of diapers you use, these methods won't work for
everyone.
As a rule of thumb, I suggest that if smelly diapers can’t be fixed by upping
the amount of your detergent in the wash (see Washing chapter), I would go
with either an OxiClean soak or just adding OxiClean to the wash cycle as a
booster.
If you have leaks that are due to mineral buildup, then an RLR soak is the
answer. You know this is the case if a diaper leaks but is not saturated
when you change it. There will actually be dry areas of the insert. This can
happen in areas that have hard water.
Here is what you do:
Oxygen Bleaches
When choosing an Oxygen bleaching product get your money's worth and
find the product with the largest percentage of Sodium Percarbonate.
OxiClean has a high percentage. Avoid ones with fragrances or enzymes. I
personally found that the OxiClean Free and Versatile rinsed much
easier than the regular version. There are natural brands popping up with
their own oxygen bleaches; Seventh Generation and BioKleen are 2
examples. This works as an amazing wash cycle booster. I suggested
adding Oxiclean and using a scoop to the 2 line in a full load of diapers. As
a soak, follow the directions on the container and either soak clean diapers
in your top loading washer or in a bathtub. Wash once with detergent in hot
water before use.
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RLR
RLR is not a bleach, bluing agent, or detergent. It removes dried-in mineral
deposits and detergent residue from fabrics, pulling the deposits out of the
fibers and suspending them in the water until they gets rinsed out. It is
gentle and safe for all fabrics and PUL, and it is free of perfumes. Add one
envelope to the hot wash or soak overnight. Always rinse thoroughly until
it’s all out.
Sensi-Clean and Sports-Wash
Sensi-Clean and Sports-Wash are actually the same detergent, labeled
differently to address different needs. Sensi-Clean and Sports-Wash do
not contain perfumes or brightening dyes and have been proven to rinse
completely clean leaving no residue on laundry. Add to your hot wash then
rinse as needed.
White Vinegar
**Don’t use vinegar if you think you might have hard water**
Naturally breaks down uric acid and soapy residue. The acid in white
vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, yet strong enough to dissolve the
alkalines in soaps and detergents. It also prevents yellowing, acts as a
fabric softener and static cling reducer, and attacks mold and mildew.
Vinegar can be added to your final stripping rinse to remove the last of the
detergent residue and to soften your cloth diapers - try 1/2 - 1 cup. Don't
worry, your diapers won't smell like vinegar after they're dry.
Stripping…I posted this above, but here are the stripping directions when
using RLR or GroVia Mighty Bubbles.
If you have a top loader it can be done right in the washer. If you have a
front loader, then you will need to use a tub or other type of water vessel.
Take clean diapers add enough HOT water to cover and the hot water. For
up to a full load (approx. 35 diapers) you may use either one packet RLR or
one GroVia Mighty Bubbles pac. Agitate for a few minutes to disperse and
then let sit for a few hours. You could probably get away with 2 hours. But I
like to let sit overnight because they are done soaking in the morning.
Run through a HOT wash cycle in your washing machine.
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What NOT to do
Dishwasher Stripping…Just don’t…
Due to the potential fire hazard we do NOT recommend this method of
stripping. If you are worried that your water isn't hot enough, turn your water
heater up or add some boiling water to the washer. Don't put snapping cloth
diapers into the pot though, because the snaps may melt.
Long Bleach soaks. If you have to use bleach a half hour soak should be
the limit. Anything longer is not necessary and won’t make anything better.
It will just eat away on your cloth diapers.
Not measuring your detergent. You could be using way MORE or way
LESS than you think. Use that little cup or scoop!
Finally, no matter how you soak or strip, if the underlying issue in your wash
routine isn’t fixed the problem with just come right back.
Don’t try ANYTHING, no matter who said it unless you have fully researched whether
it is the right solution for the issue and works for your family. Again back to the
common sense and cloth diapers. The simplest solution is often the right one.
(1). McConnell, Jane. "The Joy of Cloth Diapers."
(2). Caldwell, Ginny. "Diapers. Disposable or Cotton?" Eco-Baby
Catalogue www.ecobaby.com.
(4). Allison, Cathy. "Disposable Diapers: Potential Health Hazards."
referring to: Hicks, R et al. "Characterization of toxicity involving
hemorrhage and cardiovascular failure, caused by parenteral administration
of a soluble Polyacrylate in the rat," JAppl. Toxicol. 1989 June; 9(3): 191-8.
(5). Peggy’s Diapers, Slings N' Things, www.peggysdiapers.com. (6). "Why
Cloth Diapers?" www.diapersafari.com.
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APPENDIX A
How to Fold a Prefold
Newspaper or
pad Fold: Lay
Prefold up and
down. Fold in
thirds. Lay in
cover and fold
over baby.
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This is just like the pad fold but adds another insert for more absorbency.
Good more medium wetters at night or heavy wetter during the day.
Bikini Twist:
Lay Prefold flat. Place baby on
top of prefold. Take the bottom
corners and twist the prefold.
Pull up over baby. Tuck top
corners around baby, pull back
corners around front of baby.
Snappi.
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Angel Wing or Newspaper
Fold:
Lay prefold flat. Fold in
bottom corners, forming
a V. Bring up over baby.
Fold down the top seam,
tuck corners around baby.
Bring back corners around
front of baby and snappi
(or pin).
The Reverse Angel Wing Fold is exactly like the Angel Wing Fold except
that you fold down the back of the prefold (picture to the right) before
laying baby down. You would do this when the rise of the prefold is too
long.
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APPENDIX B
Cloth Diaper Terms and Acronyms
A
AI2: all in two, usually has a snap in liner
AIO: all in one diaper
AP: Attachment Parenting
APLIX: brand of hook and loop similar to Velcro
B
BOV: bamboo organic velour
BKT: burly knit terry
BN: Brand New
Bump: Putting “bump” into a post is a way to move the thread back up to
the top of a forum
BV: bamboo velour
BIN: Buy It Now
C
CBOS: Cotton Babies One Size insert
CD: cloth diaper
CM: chubby medium
Colorway: The color of the yarn
Contour Diaper: Contour diapers are usually hourglass shaped with no
folding necessary. Just lay them in a wrap or diaper cover
CPF: Chinese prefolds
Crunchy: is like super nutty...not what our modern day society considers
normal. It's like an alternative to saying you're nuts! It's kind of used for
natural, earthy, or renounced lifestyles, because these kind of things
seem so strange in a modern world full of 'conveniences'
D
DSQ: diaper service quality
DWR: Durable Water Repellent (a brand of spray used to re-waterproof
diapers)
85
E
EBF: exclusively breastfed (in reference to how a diaper holds EBF poo)
EC: Elimination communication, it is where babies don't wear diapers and
the parents watch for cues that they are about to pee or poop and take them
to the restroom. Lots of mamas swear by it (and it is practiced exclusively in
many third world countries).
EO: essential oil
ETA: edited to add
ETSY: a collection of WAHM stores. All products are handmade by talented
artisans.
EUC: excellent used condition
F
FFS: free for shipping
Fitted: Fitted diapers are used in place of prefolds or contours. They require
a diaper cover or wrap, however they are cut in an hourglass shape and
have elastic around the legs and waist and have either snaps or hook and
loop fasteners
FL: front loader (washing machine)
FLAG: fits like a glove
FLAM: fits like a mitten
Flat: a diaper that is typically 27"x27" square, single ply diaper to fold
FOE: fold over elastic
FPP: funded PayPal FS: for sale
FS: front snapping FSOT: for sale or trade FT: for trade
FUC: fair used condition
G
GN: gender neutral
GUC: good used condition
H
HC: Hyena Cart www .hyenacart.com an online store “A collection of earthfriendly shops”
Hemp: hemp is made from the inner bark of the hemp plant. It is becoming
increasingly popular for use in diapers because of its durability, absorbency
and natural anti-microbial properties
Hyena: term for hard to get, popular diapers that are stalked by diaper
hungry moms
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I
IDNO: in desperate need of
IDSO: in desperate search of
IHA: I have available
IPF: indian prefold
ISO: in search of
JK
L
Lanolized/Lanolin: For a wool item to be “waterproof” you must soak it in
lanolin. Lanolin is a natural product found in wool. You can use a wool
wash containing lanolin or use the Lansinoh brand lanolin you buy at the
store.
LN: like new
Longies: Wool pants
M
M/L or ML: medium long (size usually the same as a medium except for the
rise
MM: Malden Mills (Brand of fleece)
MFYS: My Fabric Your Serger, you have fabric that you want made into
wipes or diapers but don't have a serger, you seek out someone who can
use your fabric and make your product.
N
NB: newborn
Newbie: new to forum or cloth diapering
O
OC: organic cotton
OCV: organic cotton velour
OS: one size - a diaper that usually fits a child from birth to about 35 lbs.
OSFM: One size fits most
OV: organic velour
P
PF: prefold - diapers with a center strip thickness - they still need to be
folded to fit the baby
PL’ed: Potty Learned or Learning
PP: PayPal www.paypal.com
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PPD: postage paid domestic (within the country)
PSA: public service announcement
PUL: polyurethane laminate, a material used to make diaper covers/wraps,
the outer of many pocket diapers or AIOs
Q
QD: quick dry
R
RLR: is a laundry additive that softens the water and helps remove/prevent
build for people who have hard water.
S
SAHD: stay at home dad
SAHM: stay at home mom
SC: suede cloth (stay dry inner folds)
Shorties: Wool shorts
Soaker: Wool cover, think bloomers or underwear
Soggie: A mom that does some crunchy things but is still somewhat
mainstream.
SS: side snapping
Stalking: is waiting around for a product to stock. People ask for stalking
help to have better odds at scoring items on HC
STM: ship to me, as used during co-ops and presales where you have to
pay to have your item shipped to the person running the sale and then
again to have it shipped to you.
Stripping: this is when you have detergent buildup in your diapers and you
must run multiple hot rinses until the bubbles are gone
T
TBW: The BabyWearer
TDF: to die for
T&T: Turned and Topstitched (preferred by some as opposed to serged
edges)
TTO: tea tree oil
U
UBCPF: unbleached chinese prefolds
UBIPF: unbleached Indian prefolds
UC: used condition
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V
VGUC: very good used condition
W
WAHD: work at home dad
WAHM: work at home mom
Wagon: Going on the wagon is choosing (or being forced to choose) to not
buy anymore diapers. It is a term used often with drinking alcohol. If you
have been drinking a lot, you say that you are “going on the wagon” and
then you stop for a while
WIO: wool in one -AIO with a wool cover rather than fleece or cotton
WOHD: work out of home dad
WOHM: work out of home mom
Wool Soaker: basically a diaper cover made exclusively of wool.
XYZ
YPA: you pick all
YYMN/YYMH: Your Yarn My Needle/Your Yarn My Hook, you’ll see if
ordering custom knit or crochet wool soakers, shorties, or longies
89
General and Parenting Acronyms
A
AAFP: American Academy of Family Physicians
AAP: American Academy of Pediatrics
AF: Aunt Flo (menstruation)
AFK: Away from keyboard
AIM: Artificial Infant Milk (or AOL Instant Messenger)
AKA: Also Known As
AP: Attachment parenting
AROM: Artificial Rupture of Membranes
ASAP: As Soon As Possible
ATTN: Attention
AV: Avatar
B
BC: Birth Control BCP: Birth Control Pill BD: Baby Dance (sex)
BF: Breastfed or breastfeeding
BF: Boyfriend
BFN: Big Fat Negative (negative pregnancy test) BFP: Big Fat Positive
(positive pregnancy test)
BIL: Brother-in-law
BM: Breast milk or bowel movement (depends on context)
BTDT: Been there, done that
BTW: By the way...
C
CD: Cloth Diaper(ing)
CD1: Cycle Day 1 (first day of period)
CF: Child Free
CIO: Cry-It-Out (sleep training)
Circ: Circumcision
CM: Cervical Mucous
C&P: Cut and Paste
CS: Co-sleep
D
DCP: Day Care Provider
DD: Dear daughter
DD2, 3…: 2nd d a u g h t e r , 3rd …
DF: Dear Friend or Fiancé
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DH: Dear husband
DIL: Daughter-in-law
DPO: Days Past Ovulation
DS: Dear son
DS2, 3…: 2nd son, 3rd …
DSD: Dear stepdaughter
DSS: Dear stepson
DW: Dear wife
E
EBF: Extended Breastfeeding or exclusively breast fed
EBM: Expressed Breast Milk
EC: Elimination Communication
EDD: Estimated Due Date
EN: Extended Nursing
EP: Exclusively Pumping
ETA: Edited To Add
EWCM: Egg White Cervical Mucus
F
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
FF: Formula Fed/Feeding
FF: Fast forward
FIL: Father-in-law
FMLA: Family and Medical Leave Act
FSOT: For sale or trade
FTR: For the Record FTT: Failure to Thrive
F/U: Follow up
FYA: For your amusement
FYI: For your information FWIW: For what it's worth
F2F: Face-to-face
G
GBCF: Goodbye Cruel Forum
GFSE: Grapefruit Seed Extract
GV: Gentian Violet
H
HB: home birth
HCP: Health Care Provider
HE: High efficiency
91
HED: High efficiency detergent
HPT: Home Pregnancy Test
HS: home schooling
HTH: Hope that helps
H2H: Heart to Heart
I
IBCLC: International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
IBTC: Itty Bitty Titty Committee
IIRC: If I recall correctly
ILs: In-laws
IMAO: In my arrogant opinion
IME: In my experience
IMHO: In my humble opinion
IMNSHO: In my not so humble opinion
IMO: In my opinion
IOW: In other words
IRL: In real life
IRT: In real time
ISO: In Search Of
ISP: Internet service provider
ITA: I totally agree
IYO: In Your Opinion
J
J/K: Just kidding
JMHO: Just my humble opinion
JMO: Just my opinion
K
KWIM: Know what I mean?
KWYM: I know what you mean
L
LC: Lactation Consultant
LLL: La Leche League
LMAO: Laughing my (rear) off LMK: Let me know
LO: Little one
LOL: Lots of laughs or laughing out loud
LYK: Let you know
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M
MDC: mothering.com or Motheringdotcommune
MIL: Mother-in-law
M/S: morning sickness
N
NAK: Nursing At Keyboard
NC: no-circ - Non-Circumcised
NFP: Natural Family Planning
NIP: Nursing In Public
NIP: New in Package
NP: No problem
NV: Non Vaccinating
NWOT: New without tags
NWT: new with tags
O
OALD: Over- Active Let Down
ODD: Oldest Daughter ODS: Oldest Son
O'ed: ovulated
OHT: One-handed typing
OMG: Oh My Gosh
OP: Original Post/Poster
OPK: Ovulation Predictor Kit
OT: Off topic
OTSBH: Over The Shoulder Baby Holder (brand of baby sling)
OW/OM: Other woman/other man
P
PAK: Pumping at Keyboard
PCP: Primary Care Physician
PIS: Pump In Style (breastpump by Medella)
PITA: Pain In the A$$
PLMK: Please let me know
PM: Private Message
POAS: Pee on a Stick
POTW: Person of the Week
POV: Point of view
PPD: Post-Partum Depression
PPP: Post-Partum Psychosis
PSA: Public Service Announcement
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QR
RL: Real life
ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing
ROFLMAO: Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off
ROFLMHO: Rolling on floor laughing my head off
ROTFLMAOPMP: Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off peeing my pants
S
SAHD: Stay-at-home dad
SAHM: Stay-at-home mom
SIL: Sister-in-law or Son-in-law
SNS: Supplemental Nursing System
SO: Significant other
S/O: Spin Off
STBX: Soon to be Ex (spouse)
T
TIA: Thanks in advance
YDD: Youngest dear daughter
TMI: Too Much Information
YDS: Youngest dear son
TTO: Tea Tree Oil
TTC: Trying to conceive
TWW: 2 week wait
TY: Thank you
TYVM: Thank you very much
U
UB: Unassisted Birth
UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
URL: Web page address
V
Vax: Vaccination
VF: vaccination free
W
WAHD: Work-at-home dad
WAHM: Work-at-home mom
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WHO: World Health Organization
WIC: Women, Infants, and Children (US gov assistance program)
WOHD: Work-outside-home dad
WOHM: Work-outside-home mom
WTG: Way to Go
X
XH: Ex-Husband
YZ
YAGE: Yet Another Grand Exit
YK: You Know?
YKWIM: You Know What I Mean?
YW: You're welcome
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