• Why Cloth Diapers?
• What type of cloth diaper is for me?
• How do I wash them?
• Can I use a front loading washer AND cloth diaper?
• Which laundry detergents are safe for my cloth diapers?
• How do I prepare my unbleached Indian cotton prefolds?
• Cost Calculator
• Is there a baby, naturally physical location?

Why Cloth Diapers? TOP

In this day and age of convenience, you may be wondering why anyone would use cloth diapers when disposables are so readily available and easy.  The reason for each family may be different, but let me share with you why we came to the decision to cloth diaper my son:

1.  The cost factor: figures vary, but we found that the average cost to use disposables for a minimum of 2 years would be between $1500 and $2000. That is repeated for each child you have. With cloth diapers, there is the initial set up cost, which can run between $300-$1000, depending on the cloth diapering system you use. This is a one time cost, because the diapers can be reused with any future children you have. There is the consideration of the cost incurred to wash the diapers, but we have found our water bill has only increased by a few dollars per month so far...much less than we would have been spending if we were using disposable diapers.

Diaper Decisions has put together an AWESOME breakdown of the costs of cloth diapering.  If you are a numbers person, please check out their chart here.

2.  The environmental factor:  this article breaks down the environmental benefits involved with using cloth diapers better than I could.  I'll just point out the main factors it touches on:  consumption (what is consumed to make the disposable diaper), overburdened landfills, and health hazards caused by human waste in landfills). 

3.  The comfort factor:  we like the idea of keeping soft cloth next to our baby's bum rather than plastic.

4.  The cuteness factor:  cloth diapers are adorable.  They come in fun prints and colors and give baby an irresistibly fluffy butt.

5.  The convenience factor:  Just kidding.  Disposable diapers are still more convenient, but I do want to point out that modern cloth diapers have come a long way in ease of use over the years.  Ease technically varies by style of diaper, but if you were looking for ease of use as one of your deciding factors, know that it is possible to find a cloth diaper that goes on just like a disposable (with velcro or snap tabs), come straight off and can be put right into the diaper pail or wet bag, and then dumped into the wash when ready.  Easy peasy.

 

What type of cloth diaper is for me? TOP

The type of cloth diaper you choose can be determined by how much you plan to spend to build your stash, and how easy you need your routine to be.  I'm going to break down the main types of diapers for you to help you as you make your decision.

• Prefolds:  this is the most economical option.  A prefold is a rectangular diaper that is thicker in the middle than on the sides.  They come in many different thicknesses, and obviously the thicker you go, the more absorbency you get.  You can also find these diapers in bleached or unbleached cotton and they are distinguished by the location in which they are made (e.g., Chinese Prefolds or Indian Prefolds).  If you go with bleached, make sure they are oxygen bleached and not chlorine bleached to prevent any chance of irritation.  Chinese prefolds are generally a bit more durable than Indian prefolds, but Indian prefolds win the prize for softness.  We went with unbleached Indian prefolds for our son.  They have held up great so far and are super soft!  When looking at thickness, you will see measurements such as 4x6x4 or 4x8x4 (that is 4 ply on the edges, 8 in the middle).  Go with the bigger numbers, if available.  They'll be a bit bulkier, but you won't have to risk leaking as much.  If you do go with the thinner, make sure you have doublers on hand. You can either pin the prefold, use a Snappi, or trifold the prefold and lay it inside the cover.  You will need to use a cover with prefolds. 

• Covers:  Covers can be made of a waterproof fabric such as polyurethane laminate (PUL) or in some cases wool or heavy fleece.  They are worn over prefolds or fitted diapers to contain leaks.

• Fitteds:  A fitted diaper is shaped similar to a disposable diaper and usually snaps or is pinned into place.  These diapers work great for newborn poo and also require a cover to prevent leaks onto clothing.

• Pockets:  Pocket diapers consist of a shell and an insert that is stuffed inside a "pocket" opening in the shell.  The benefit of having a removable insert is decreased drying time, ability to get the inside of the diaper clean, and ability to stuff with extra inserts if needed (e.g., over night or long car rides).

• All-In-Ones:  An All-In-One diaper is just as it sounds:  all parts are included in one diaper--insert and cover all together.  These are the easiest for daycares and dads.

How do I wash them? TOP

Finding the perfect wash routine is going to vary for each person.  Be sure to check with the diaper manufacturer's laundering instructions for their recommendations as well.  There are 3 main factors to take into account when coming up with your perfect wash cycle:

1.  Hardness of water:  the harder your water, the harder it is to keep stains and oder from building up.  Hard water means the water has a high concentrate of minerals (usually calcium and magnesium, but others may be present as well), making it harder for the detergent to clean your clothes and diapers because it also has to work to soften the water.  There are a couple easy ways to tell if your household has hard water--1. Check your bathtub, faucets, and drains for white or rust colored mineral buildup. 2.  You may notice a difficulty getting soap or detergent to lather.  So, you've got hard water.  What can you do about it?  Most diaper manufacturers approve the use of Calgon water softener on their diapers, so that is one option.  Just add the recommended amount in with your rinse cycle and see if that helps.  

2.  Type of washing machine:  your routine will differ depending on if you have a front loading or top loading machine.  Front loading (HE) machines need considerably less detergent than top loading.  Generally, manufacturers suggest using 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent when washing cloth diapers in a top loading machine.  For a front loading (HE) machine, use 1/6-1/4 the recommended amount.

3.  Choice of detergent:  please see next question...

 

Now, let's break the washing routine down.

1.  Remove your child's soiled diaper and place it in your container of choice (I personally use a flip top plastic garbage pail lined with a wetbag).  

2.  On wash day, take your wetbag containing all of your diapers out of the container of your choice and haul it to your laundry room (unless, of course, it is already stored in the laundry room.  Then, just consider yourself lucky to save a trip carrying a bag full of diapers through your home!).  

3.  Dump all diapers into the washer, then toss the wetbag in on top, and run through on one short rinse cycle on cold.  This is too remove any large pieces of poo that may have remained on the diaper.

4.  Run the diapers through another wash cycle, this time on hot using the recommended amount of detergent (see #2- type of washing machine -above).  Follow with a cold rinse cycle.

5.  If needed, run an extra rinse cycle on cold.  Add Calgon if needed to this rinse cycle.

6.  Remove diapers and either line dry (recommended to increase the lifetime of your diapers!) or dry on medium heat.

 

Some notes:

• I sometimes add just a drop or 2 of detergent to my initial cold rinse cycle.
• Sun bleaching is a wonderful way to remove stains.  Just hang the diapers out in the sun and watch the stains magically disappear! (or, if you have better things to do, and I'm sure you do, just hang them out there and go about your business.  The stains will be gone when you return.).
• If you line dry and don't like how stiff the diapers can get, you can just toss them in the dryer for about 10 minutes to soften them up when you bring them in the house. 
• If you dry in the dryer and miss the softness of fabric sheets, consider using a wool dryer ball (or 2 or 3).  These can greatly increase the softness of your diapers AND decrease the drying time!

Below are the links to the manufacturers' recommendations for laundering your cloth diapers.  Be sure to check them out before trying out your routine to make sure you don't do anything to void your warranty.

AppleCheeks Care

FuzziBunz Care

GroBaby Care

Wonder Wraps Care

Thirsties Care

 

Can I use a front loading washer AND cloth diaper? TOP

I've had several people ask if this was a possible combination.  In most cases, yes.  Yes, it is USUALLY possible to use a front loading washing machine to clean your cloth diapers.  Be sure to use a low-sudsing detergent. Here are some trouble shooting tips if something isn't quite right:

• One of the most common causes of smelly diapers is detergent build-up. With a front loading, HE machine, you really need VERY LITTLE detergent.  In most cases, a Tablespoon or so is plenty. 
• If you are using a powder detergent and it doesn't seem to be compatible with your detergent dispenser, try putting the detergent directly into the drum with the diapers.  If you are using a detergent not designated HE, try using MUCH less--about a tablespoon total--and see if that helps.
• Make sure you are not using a wet-pail storage system for your dirty diapers.  You don't want to dump dirty water from your storage pail into the machine.
• The beauty of the HE washing machines is that they use MUCH less water (better for the environment and better for your pocket book when bill day comes around).  This is wonderful for washing clothes; but when it comes to getting your diapers clean, it can actually be a nuisance!  In order to get really clean, there needs to be an adequate amount of water to swish the diapers and rinse them.  If your diapers are coming out smelling fresh and clean from your HE machine, then carry on, by all means!  If not, you may want to try the following tip.  I admit, it is going to lengthen your diaper routine, and if you bought your machine because it uses less water then you may not like this idea, but desperate times (and smells) call for desperate measures.  So.  After adding your dirty diapers to the washer, try pouring about 3-5 gallons of water into the machine.  Close the door, then set your machine to whichever cycle you usually run.  The machine will then add its water ON TOP of the water you just poured in, thus increasing the water in the drum, thus allowing the diapers to swish and rinse better.  If you are doing a rinse, cold water is fine.  If you are doing your main wash, try boiling the water first to get it nice and hot to aid in sanitation (be careful carrying boiling water from your stove to your washer, though).  I personally don't recommend boiling the water every time, because the extra hot water can wear on the elastic in your diapers, but every so often for extra sanitation is ok. I hear you can also pour the water in through the soap dispenser during the wash cycle, but I can't speak from experience on that.
• Try washing your inserts and your covers/shells separately.
• Add an extra rinse cycle.
• Find the cycle that uses the highest water level for your machine, and make sure to run at least one wash through on that cycle (either before or after your hot wash).  This will usually be your delicate or hand wash cycle.

Experiment with your cycle, adding some of these trouble shooting tips if needed.  If your diapers are super smelly or repelling, you may want to start by stripping them before you experiment with your routine.  Good luck!

Which laundry detergents are safe for my cloth diapers? TOP

It is best to follow the diaper manufacturer's recommendations when choosing a detergent for your diapers.  In general, you want a "bare bones" detergent, meaning no optical brighteners, no enzymes, no fabric softeners, and no bleach.  All of these ingredients can affect the performance of the diaper by causing build up or can cause irritation to babies skin because they may not rinse clean from the diaper and then cause a reaction when baby wets.  Some babies also may be sensitive to dyes and fragrances.  Chlorine bleach is never recommended for cloth diapers.  An occasional use of an oxygen bleach such as Oxy Clean is usually ok, however.  Hanging the diapers out to dry in the sun also has amazing bleaching properties.  

 

There are several great resources available online that have tested detergents for their effectiveness and compatibility with cloth diapers.  Before you choose your detergent, you might check them out:

The Diaper Jungle

Pinstripes and Polkadots

The Zany Zebra

 

 

How do I prepare my unbleached Indian cotton prefolds? TOP

When you receive your prefolds, you will notice that they seem larger and flatter than you may have expected. DON'T WORRY!  They will quilt up soft and shrink up as you wash and prepare them for use.  Unbleached prefolds tend to take a bit longer to prep than bleached due to the natural oils remaining.

To prep your new unbleached Indian cotton prefolds, you need to run them through a wash cycle on HOT with a bit of detergent (about 1/4 of the recommended amount on the bottle) in each cycle for 4-5 cycles.  Dry on high in between cycles.  After 4-5 cycles, take a dry diaper and pour a bit of water onto the fabric.  If the water is absorbed into the diaper, then they are ready for use.  If the water repels off or rolls off the fabric, you need to run a few more cycles, then test again.

Although the diapers will be ready for use typically after 4-5 washes, they will continue to soften and become more absorbent with subsequent wash cycles.  

Cost Calculator TOP

When trying to decide the benefits of cloth diapering, many parents consider the cost savings to be one of the most important factors.  To get a good idea of how much cloth could save you, I am going to send you over to the wonderful folk at Diaper Decisions.  They did all the hard number crunching for you.  Feel free to substitute your own electric rates, if applicable.  Our rates are slightly higher, but it still works out cheaper for us to cloth diaper!

Is there a baby, naturally physical location? TOP

Not yet.  We hope to open a store front as the store becomes established!  Watch for information coming on baby, naturally trunk shows, booths at local fairs, and baby sign language classes!