Whew. I am back. We have been battling a few bugs here at the Environmental Mama household. While I am nature friendly, that does not extend to critters in my kids' bodies :) I also did another guest post on Fit Britt's blog (link on side) regarding finding the time to exercise as a busy mama. Feel free to check it and the rest of her blog out! I have had a few comments about cloth diapering, so I thought I would do a basic cloth diapering post about clothing in the twenty-first century. So, where do I begin?
Basically, there are four different ways to cloth diaper you baby's bum:
1. Covers and prefolds/inserts. This consists of a waterproof cover (usually velcro, sometimes pull-ups or buttons--an updated version of an old-school "plastic pants") and an absorbent insert. Most frequently used are Chinese cotton prefolds or hemp prefolds. The cover usually fits snug enough to be able to simply lay the absorbent part inside. Fleece layer optional.
PROS: Can be most inexpensive option, Less bulky than most
CONS: Larger learning curve, more difficult for wiggly, older babies
2. Covers and fitteds. This option requires a fitted, absorbent diaper (usually affixed with snaps) and a waterproof cover. This way is very similar to covers and prefolds, but uses a sewn diaper inside. The cover is usually slightly larger than a prefold cover. Requires less covers because diaper contains messes better. Fleece layer optional.
PROS: Easier for wiggly babies, runny poops are better contained
CONS: Most bulky, Moderate learning curve and expense
3. Pockets. This option is similar to a disposable diaper. The diaper is "stuffed" with an absorbent insert (prefold, insert, etc.) and contains a cover and fleece layer. It is affixed with velcro or snaps. Some are one-size to make more economical.
PROS: Easy to learn, "guest" friendly, nice for wiggly babies
CONS: Most expensive
4. All-in-Ones. This option is just like a disposable diaper that you wash and reuse. The cover and absorbent insert are all-in-one.
PROS: Easy to learn, "guest friendly"
CONS: Expensive, long drying time, hard to personalize for baby
It seems overwhelming at first, but the best thing to do is pick a few diaper types and try them out (perhaps age your baby with my guide below or go with the always favorite pocket). If you like them, stick with it and order more. If you have given yourself enough time and have decided it's not for you, file this one into the "work on later" category. There are a wealth of websites out there with many more details and instructions for cloth diapering. I will list my personal favorites at the bottom. Browsing their site gives you further information and some ideas for where to purchase diapers. Cloth diapering is an art form in itself, from the diapers to the washing system to the detergents and drying method.
That basic info being said, here is my personal cloth diapering system after much trial and error and lots of practice. Keep in mind, I have not played around as much with baby #3 as with #1 and #2. It is possible that something fantastic has come out in the past year, but I probably haven't tried it just because I already have a ridiculously large diaper collection and would need triplets to make buying more diapers worth it!
Environmental Mama's diapering system:
I use a dry pail (aluminum trash can with lid, purchased at Walmart long time ago) with a diaper pail liner. I have a minimal poop-touching rule, so after the diapers are thrown into the pail, I refuse to touch them again. When it's laundry time, I pull the whole liner, empty into washer and then throw in liner. (I only do diapers with diapers--no other laundry) I run a "prewash" in cold with no detergent (to essentially get the "yuck" out, so the diapers aren't being washed in dirty water), then a hot cycle with detergent. This usually does it. Then I dry all prefolds and absorbent materials in the dryer and hang covers on my drying rack. I wash about every third or fourth day, but if you don't have as many diapers every other day works great as well.
For diapers, I like a combo. I have found that pockets are my all-time favorites. I hate AIOs, they seem great but don't work well in reality. However, pockets are expensive, so here is my combo system based on baby age and stage and my pocket book (Keep in mind, my babies get really fat fairly quickly. You may be able to do things differently if you have normal to small sized babies) :
Newborn and little baby (up to 3 mos): Prefolds or fitteds and covers rock. While I love pockets, they are expensive. Baby is going through a zillion diapers a day with lots of runny poop. They also aren't wiggly worms yet, but lay there. This is the perfect age to learn how to properly position a cover. The fitteds contain poop better, so you don't go through as many covers. Baby also grows so fast, they outgrow newborns or small sizes without making the money investment worth it. Three or four covers and lots of absorbers are great.
Medium baby (4-8 mos): Pockets rule! Baby isn't pooping as much, so you go through less diapers daily. Baby isn't growing as fast, so you can stick with a size. Baby is wriggly, but not too badly. I use mostly pockets and my prefolds and covers on laundry day when I run out, or if I just feel like it.
Older baby (9 mos -18 mos): Pockets are still king! Probably a size up, but still reasonable in daily diaper usage. Baby is wiggly and on the go. Chasing after a baby to put a diaper on keeps me almost exclusively in pockets. Trust me, you don't want to be learning how to prefold and cover on this age baby.
Potty-training time (18 mos and up): Back to fitteds. You can certainly use pockets and I sometimes do, but lose the fleece liner and leave baby in a fitted without a cover. This way you know immediately when they have gone and can work on potty-training. When leaving the house, throw a cover back on and you're all set!
That about sums it up. Here are some random thoughts about the subject:
- Prefolds make awesome burp rags! I have found nothing better. After having two babies with pretty serious reflux, I use my prefolds all the time. They are also great for dish rags when needed.
- Alternate uses for prefolds than with a cover: All sizes--stuffers for pockets, doublers for fitteds. Infant size--great burp rags, Regular size--floor changing cloth, serious burp rag, cover for crib sheet. I have never regretted having lots of prefolds, even though I favor pocket diapers.
- Doublers are additional absorbents that go inside an AIO or fitted diaper
- Fleece layers go between absorber and baby to keep baby feeling dry. Great at night and with a younger baby, but I lose them for the potty training age. Pockets have a built in micofleece or micovelour layer.
- All the colors are fun to play with. Remind yourself to stick with some neutrals if you are having more than one baby.
- While I love velcro, snaps are a necessity for at least some diapers because at some point your wee one will figure out how to unlatch their diaper. Until you teach them not to, this is when you will need those snaps.
- I favor one-size diapers to watch cost. There are many out there, and some are great. Some stink. I have one-size fitteds and pockets. The only pockets my newborns wear are one-sizers because I refuse to buy size small for my fatties :)
- You will probably need different covers for fitted diapers and prefolds. The prefold covers have to fit more snugly to hold the prefold in place.
- Clearly I have an obsession
Here are some of my favorite types of diapers by brand (these are the ones that remain in my collection after buying and selling lots):
Pockets: snaps, sized--Fuzzi Bunz (the medium has a HUGE size range, 15-30lbs)
velcro, one-size--Bum Genius 3.0 (and 2.0, but I don't think they sell them anymore)
Fitted: one-size hemp and bamboo--Baby beehinds
Fitted covers: wool and regular--Baby beehinds
Prefold covers: bumkins, hands-down
Prefolds: Chinese prefolds in cotton and hemp sized infant and regular. Preemie is a waste (unless you have a preemie) and toddler is just too big
Favorite websites:
www.nopins4baby.com
www.storkwarehouse.com
www.kellyscloset.com
I will have to post again on different fabrics and their pros/cons and my aforementioned absorbency "experiment" and my wipes method. But for today, I am done.
As my daughter's swim coach would say, "questions, comments, or things I need to address?"
--EM
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