Speaking of Washing....

What  you need to know about caring for that adorable fluff....

General Wash Instructions:
1) Wet diapers can just be tossed into your diaper pail or hanging wet bag until laundry time.

2)  What about the poo? If its breastfed poo, don't worry about it. Just toss the soiled diaper into your diaper pail. Formula poo or once you baby starts solids need to be dumped/rinsed in the toilet and flushed before you put the soiled diaper in your pail. A diaper sprayer or flushable liners make this task a little easier.

3) Make sure your detergent is cloth diaper safe.


4) Washing: We wash our diapers here every 2-3 days depending on how ambitious I am feeling. My pail liner, diapers, and cloth wipes hit the wash together. I run a cold/cold prewash with no detergent and then a hot/cold wash cycle with an extra cold rinse. Your diapers should come out smelling fresh (no hint of stinkies). If you still have some stank, an extra rinse cycle may take care of it. Rinsing out detergent is very important with cloth diapers. If you are still experiencing stink and/or repelling issues, a good stripping may be neccessary (which we will discuss below. 2-3 drops of tea tree oil can also help with smell issues and is anti-bacterial. Don't be afraid to experiment with your wash routine. How you need to wash your diapers can affected by your type of washing machine, type of diapers, and detergent. My method is a pretty standard reccomendation and works well for us.

5) Drying: Line drying diapers is the best...for a few reasons. 1. it saves 50-60% on energy costs. 2. line drying in the sun will "sun out" tough stains on your diapers or liners. 3. line drying will extend the life of your diapers. And 4. line dried laundry smells delightful. Now we live in ND....so when winter comes, goodbye line drying. I would have icesicle diapers. Diapers can then be hung to dry inside or dried in the dryer.  Diapers should dry on medium heat in 60-90 minutes. Diapers or covers containing PUL (the waterproof layer) are best allowed to air dry or dried on low. If your PUL starts to be leaky it can be dried on hot to reseal the PUL. This should only be done about once a month. Make sure you check the care instructions on your specific brand of diaper to extend the life of your diaper.

6) DO NOT use fabric softener in the wash or dryer sheets. They will cause repelling issues and are just down right icky. They contain toxins and will coat you washer and dryer. Wool or synthetic dryer balls work wonders in the dryer. They speed drying time, help with static, keep your diapers soft, and keep the toxins off your clothes. We have 4 lavender scented wool dryer balls that bounce around our dryer and I LOVE THEM. If you feel the need for fabric softener in the wash 1/2 a cup distilled white vinegar is an option. I have also heard baking soda works. Both our cloth diaper and regular detergent contain baking soda, so I have never experimented with natural fabric softener in the wash.

Prepping:

When you first recieve you cloth diapers in their pretty, brand new packaging, most will contain oils or  from the manufacturing process that repell water so they need to be prewashed or "prepped" before you put them on your baby's bum to ensure optimal absorbancy/effectiveness. Think of running water over a brand new, unwashed wash cloth or towel. The water just beads off and doesn't absorb into the cloth. It is the same with cloth diapers and inserts.
Some cloth diapers require more prep than others. Generally your diaper's manufacturer will have prepping instructions so make sure you check. 3-5 washes is a general prepping reccomendation. Diapers become more absorbant over time. To prep, toss them in with your towels, other cloth diapers, child's laundry. If a new diaper leaks when you try in on your baby....inadequate prep work is usually the culprit. This happened to me with our GroVia diapers. Simply wash it a few more times and try again.
The worst part of prepping is the anticipation of getting that adorable fluff on your babies bum.

Stripping:

Got a case of the stinkies? Does your diaper REAK as soon as it gets wet? Having leak issues with a diaper that has always worked well in the past? Build-up in your diapers is to blame. Build-up happens when residue left by detergents, oils or other substances remain in the fibers of your diaper/insert. No worries...easily fixed. Strip those babies.

Make sure you wash your diapers before putting them through the stripping proccess as stains may set if you don't. You don't need to dry freshly washed diapers before stripping them.

The WASH Method:
Wash: Run your stinkeroos through a HOT wash cycle with NO detergent.
Rinse: Rinse your diapers again and again with the hottest water you can muster from your machine. During each rinse cycle, check to see if there are soap bubbles on the top of the water. Rinse until you don't see any more bubbles. It can take up to 4 or more rinses to get all the build-up out so don't get discouraged.

Not Working?
If your stripping process didn't make a difference with the stinkies...it could be because you aren't using enough detergent when washing. Try running a wash cycle, upping your amount of detergent.


The need for troubleshooting happens. If you are having problems let me know and we will find an answer.

Accessorize....

You have all your cute fluff....but what else do you need to make this venture work?

Essential:

Diaper Pail: There are "cloth diaper pails" you can purchase, but to make it work in ND, we went to Target and bought this garbage can for $10. It works wonderfully. This is a "dry pail" system that involves a pail liner and just dropping the diapers in. When you are ready to wash the diapers you just throw everything (diapers, inserts, and pail liner) in the wash. The diapers do not need to be soaked before washing. You also have the option of using a hanging wet bag instead of a pail.

Pail liners: You can use extra large wetbags or cloth diaper pail liners. It is best to have at least two so you have one to use while the other is in the wash. Again, to make it work in ND we purchased two laundry bags at Target (pictured, $4 a piece). We also have a GroVia large wetbag that is much more waterproof. We like all 3. Again, when you are ready to wash your diapers, take the "bag" to the laundry room and dump it all in.


Cloth Wipes: You can also use disposable wipes, but I have personally found it is more of an inconvenience to keep disposable wipes and cloth diapers separate so we switched to cloth wipes. That way, everything gets thrown in your diaper pail for the wash. BONUS: another money saver! 24 wipes is a good number to have on hand. You simply spray the wipes with water or wipes solution and they are just as effective (if not more) than disposable wipes. You can also soak your cloth wipes in water or wipes solution, but the water should be changed daily. Flannel wipes are common, but other materials are available. You can sew your own to save even more cash. Another cost effective option is using baby washcloths.

CD Friendly Diaper Rash Balm: Cloth diapers significantly cut down on diaper rash, but if it does happen, you need to make sure you have a cream that is diaper friendly. Grandma El's, Earth Mama Angel Baby, and GroVia Magic Stick are all formulated specifically for use with cloth diapers. California Baby is another option that is available at Target. There are others you can use such as Lansinoh Rash Ointment and A&D Zinc Oxide with a fleece or disposable liner. Using non diaper friendly rash cream can cause your diapers to repell moisture and leak. On the DO NOT use list are: A&D Original, Desitin, and Bourdeaux's Butt Paste, and Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment.

CD Friendly Laundry Detergent: This is VERY important. Most detergents have enzymes in them which is not good for your cloth diapers or baby's lil bum. Using detergents with enzymes, dye, and other nasties can lead to buildup and stinkies in your diapers and severly affect their "function" (i.e. absorbancy). We use a homemade mix at our house and are currently testing Lulu's in the Fluff Glamour Wash which are specificially for cloth diapers. We also use Arm & Hammer Essentials Free for our other laundry to keep our washer clean of other detergent "nasties". All Free & Clear and Purex Free and clear are options available at local grocery stores and supercenters.

Wetbag: You have to have somewhere to put your soiled diapers when on the go to keep the smell and moisture in. They are also useful when using cloth at daycare. Wetbags come in a variety of sizes with different closure options. Most people prefer wetbags that have a zippered closure. Planetwise are notoriously quality wetbags. We have an Itsy Ritzy Wet Happened (pictured) bag that I ordered during one of our diapers.com orders which is also nice. They are also great for wet swim diapers and other items.


Nice to Have:
(these items are optional, but make life a little easier)

Flushable Liners: These allow for moisture to pass through to the diaper but "catch the poo", making clean-up just a litte easier. After a diaper change, the liner simply hits the toilet with the poo. We use Bambino Mio liners and they are wonderful.

Diaper Sprayer: These are like kitchen sink sprayers, but attach to your toilet water line and are used to help rinse the poo off a soiled diaper. We do not have one. I am looking into a DIY project....more to follow on that. There are several name brands on the market you can buy. If the poo idea grosses you out, this may be a good "invest for success" option. There are mothers I know that claim this to be the best $30 CD investment ever.

Snappis: No more pins for prefolds. Snappis just make it easier. Plain and simple.

Pail Freshener: Now I can't consider this an essential, because you can get by without it. But pail freshener sure is NICE to have. We have Citrus Circles Diaper Pail Deoderizers which are disks that you just drop in your diaper pail and last up to 4 weeks. We also have Arm & Hammer deoderizers that I found at Target in the baby section. There are also a variety of powder fresheners you can order.

When you do any online shopping you will find more "nice to have" accessories. Purchase at your leasure if you think it is going to help your cloth diapering experience.

How big does your stash need to be?

"How many diapers do I need?"

The answer to this question is dependant on how often you want to wash your diapers and the age of your little one. It is reccomended you let your soiled diapers sit not longer than 3 days as bacteria can start to grow after that point. Here is a breakdown to give you an idea of how many diapers you "need" based on the age of your little one and assuming you plan to wash every two days.

Newborn -5 months: 20-24 diapers + 6-8 covers* if using prefolds or fitteds
5 months - 1 year: 16-20 + 4-6 covers* if using prefolds or fitteds
1 year and up: 12-16 + 4 covers* if using prefolds or fitteds

(*wool is a different story and requires purchasing fewer covers)

Keep in mind every baby is different and may require more or fewer diaper changes in a day resulting in more or fewer diapers needed. This is just a guide to give you an idea.

Questions? Comments? Concerns?.... You know what to do.

Weighing the Options

Which type of cloth diaper is for you? It is important to remember that what works for one person may not be the best option for you and your baby. Trial and error can be a part of the cloth diaper journey. We use a variety of cloth at our house partially because we have different diapers for different needs, and partially because I LOVE variety. First starting out I would suggest trying a little bit of everything to get the feel of what works for your household, but here are some questions to think about if that isn't the way you want to go.

Money conscious?
If your main goal with cloth diapering is to save the most money, prefolds and covers are the way to go. One size options of the other types of cloth may be another option if you would like to save money on one of the more "convenient" cloth options. OS diapers are adjusted by snap settings, adjustable elastic, or a folding method. Buying diapers "pre-loved" from sites like Diaper Swappers is also a great way to save money on next to new diapers.

Ease of Use important to you?
Like changing a disposable diaper, with practice, any of the cloth options can become second nature. However, if you or your significant other are weary about cloth, AIOs and Pockets are a good way to go.

Best Diaper for the newborn in your life?
Pockets, AIOs, and AI2s can be tricky to fit on a newborn. Even the OS options of these diapers are tricky to fit. Skinny legs are usually the culprit. Prefolds are great for newborns, but as previously stated, fitteds are notoriously wonderful for new baberoonies, especially to contain BF poo and blowouts.

Like I said, we have a variety in our cloth diaper stash. Once you get in the groove, it is fun to venture out and try different methods.

The Many Faces of Cloth

Gone are the days of frustrating pins and plastic pants. While the new age variety of cloth diapers is wonderful, it can also make for a confusing journey for someone new to the scene. To help, here is a breakdown of the types of cloth diapers. While cloth diapers are always evolving, they can generally be categorized into the following:

Prefolds: Prefolds are what would be consider most like the "old fashioned" cloth diapers of yesteryear. They are layered cotton, with the thickest layer in the middle. They are very soft and absorbent. Prefolds must be folded at each diaper change to fit your baby. They can be fastened with a pin or snappi (pictured), or simply tri-folded and laid in a wrap style cover. Prefold diapers need a diaper cover to be waterproof, but don't think ugly pull up covers. There are adorable waterproof covers to be had on todays cloth market. Diaper covers can be air-dried and reused between diaper changes. Wash them at the end of the day, or when they are soiled. These are the least expensive option in the cloth diaper world and a great addition to your stash.

Fitteds:Fitted diapers are contoured and fasten with snaps or Velcro. They do require a cover to be waterproof but the covers will get dirty less often than when using prefolds. They are a  more expensive alternative to prefolds, but go on quickly and are notoriously great at containing "explosions". Fitteds are also great for a newborn diaper collection. A good fitted and wool cover are also a bulletproof night time daiper.

Pockets: Pocket diapers are just as convenient as disposable diapers! Pocket diapers have a pocket where absorbent material, like microfiber inserts, is stuffed. A waterproof layer is sewn into the diaper so no need for a cover. The inside of the pocket is made from fleece. Fleece is a great material for diapering because it allows the moisture to go through to the insert while keeping baby's skin dry.

All-In-Ones (AIOs): All-In-Ones are the about as close to disposable diapers as they come. They are as their name implies. They are similar to pocket diapers, except the absorbent part of the diaper is attached to the outer waterproof layer. You have the option of laying in a soaker for additional absorbancy, but all in all, no stuffing and no cover needed.

All-In-Twos (AI2s): All-in-twos are easy-to-use diapers that are easier to wash and dry than all-in-ones. The diaper is two parts, a shell and soaker. The shells are designed to be reused while the soakers are changed at every diaper change. Therefore, more soakers than shells are needed. Some diapers of this nature have a disposable insert option and are referred to as Hybrid Diapers.



So many options, so little time. Some may work for you, some may not. The important thing to do is to identify what your cloth diapering needs/wants are. As always... questions? Shout it out.