During de-lurking week, I actually got a question! And it was about cloth diapers - what we like, use, etc. So here we go!
We started out at 3 months with the cloth diapering by purchasing two Thirsties covers and some "prefolds" from Meijer. Important note - if you can buy them at Target, Wal-Mart, Meijer, or like store, they are not diapers. They are burp cloths. Although I am now using those original "prefolds" as inner layers of diapers I make, they really don't do any good. We managed to make them work at first by adding a strip of terry cloth and a strip or two of flannel down the middle part. Rewind - prefolds are flat pieces of cotton that are overlapped in the middle, so you have
three panels - two on the outside that are generally 4 layers thick and one in the middle that is 8 layers thick. We also bought some used diapers (I know it sounds disgusting, but really, you sanitize and wash them like crazy) that were All-in-Ones (AIO) and Pockets. These have a waterproof outer layer like the Thirsties covers, plus they have a soft inner lining and the AIOs are stuffed, pockets you insert a microfiber (generally) insert between the two layers. From the "prefolds," we progressed to
me making fitted diapers. This means that the diaper is in the shape of your generic disposable diaper and you have elastic in the legs and back and close it with a snappi (will show later). I still haven't really perfected the making of diapers but I'm
getting a lot closer. Then I bought some REAL prefolds. Those things are heavenly. Here is Ev in a prefold, held together by a snappi.
We don't have any pins, but I want some to keep using my old flannel diapers that the snappi can't grab. Over the prefold, we have some options. I love
Thirsties covers. See little baby Everett here wearing one.
The only time we've ever had a leak is when the diaper is not entirely inside the cover. Plus,
this company employs work-at-home moms who make the diapers here in the US and the company just installed enough solar panels to offset 110% of their current power usage.
Another option is wool covers. You can get just covers, shorties, or longies (or skirties for girls) These things can sell for a LOT of money, so I just make my own. Here's my first pair of longies.
And second pair that I just finished last night.
Guess who Ev's running after here. :)
I'm going to make some shorties and soakers for the summer too (wool is great. warm in winter, cool in summer....) Another great thing about wool is that it is naturally water repellant and the wool itself fights off bacteria growth. All you do is lanolize the wool every 2-4 weeks. AWESOME.
There are a lot of other options and I am slowly making my way through them. Here is the Flip diaper (waterproof cover with a microfiber/cotton insert (not my favorite diaper, but I love the snaps).
I also just purchased some real fitted diapers that are supposed to be great. I'll let you know.
We still do disposables at night because I haven't yet figured out a bulletproof setup for cloth. I've heard that a GoodMama or Bububebe fitted diaper are great with maybe an extra insert and a good wool cover, but haven't tried yet (I ordered two used GoodMamas - they retail for about $28-$30!!).
For washing, don't let anyone tell you that a front loader can't do cloth diapers. They're full of it. I do a hot wash, cold rinse, extra rinse with a detergent called
Crunchy Clean. If diapers get a bit smelly, I do a cold prewash, extra-hot wash, cold rinse, extra rinse, with some vinegar in the fabric softener tray and maybe a squirt of blue dawn in with the hot wash. Our water bill has not been affected that I can tell.
When it's at all sunny out, dry diapers on the line. It does leave them a bit crunchy, but the sun bleaches any stains (I can't wait for the sun!!), uses no wasteful energy, and is good for the covers. The covers should be dried in the dryer every now and then to reseal the waterproof coating. My diapers have been in the dryer all winter and it's getting a bit dull. I love hanging diapers on the line.....where was I? Oh yeah! Where do we keep diapers between washes? In a garbage pail with a lid, lined with a pillowcase. No need to keep them soaking (besides that it's a safety hazard with toddlers...). Wash them every 2-3 days and you're good. What about when you're away from home? Companies make "wetbags" that are made of the same waterproof material as diaper covers (polyurethane laminate, or PUL). Of course, I have not purchased one, but I've made two out of a shower curtain, zippers, and extra fabric.
With all these cloth diapers, why not have cloth wipes too? We do! Little squares of flannel can bit dipped in a solution of water, a drop of baby wash, and a drop of tea tree oil and clean SO MUCH BETTER than disposable wipes. Then you just toss them in the pail with the diapers, and launder every 2-3 days.
Well....I can't think of anything else right now, but if you have any questions, just ask!
