Ive been looking into cloth diapers and was wondering what brands are better than others? and do they still have affordable diaper cleaning services around like they used to? are they really much more effort than disposable diapers? I just think they would be kind of messy... and advice?
Cloth diapers are not at all that much more effort than disposables. Actually, I find them just as convenient. As far as messiness: Dump all your diapers into the washer, do a hot soak, add in baking soda afterward with a downyball full of vinegar, do an extra rinse/spin cycle. You don't *have* to touch the poo (although you will be getting poo on you more than once). And don't buy gerber! They are horrible quality, they don't absorp well, and the wraps are rough and itchy. If you need cloth diapers, I have 3 dozen cloth diapers you can buy from me for extremely cheap. 36 dollars, and I'll ship them for free. They are DSQ (Diaper Service Quality) Bleached CPF (Chinese PreFolds). I'll even throw in some newborn pro-wraps for free!
if you ask a dozen cloth-diapering moms for advice, each one of us will tell you something different. I do agree, forget the cloth diapers sold in stores that make a fortune off disposables. If they were worth a flip, the stores would start losing money on all those throw away diapers they sell. I prefer unbleached chinese prefolds (chlorine bleach has it's own issues, but you have to boil the unbleached ones or wash them a dozen times to get all the natural oils out of the cotton before they will absorb baby's urine), and Bummis covers for daytime, Stacinator fleece covers at night. Those worked well with both of my children. Some of the diapers and covers that worked well for DD1 don't work at all for DD2. But prefolds you can fold to fit any size or shape baby, and when they are outgrown, use them as doublers inside the larger ones. We don't have a diaper service here where I live anymore. Couldn't use it if we did, as my children are too sensitive to harsh detergents, and like I said earlier, I avoid chlorine bleach at all costs. I don't find cloth diapering any more work than disposables were. I'm either taking the bag of diapers outside to the trash or downstairs to the laundry. The big issues for us were the cost, and the fact that my first child was very sensitive to whatever chemicals and scents they put in disposable diapers (why do babies need perfumey butts, anyway?).
thanks hippyfreek I might just take you up on the offer. i am definitly looking to save whatever money i can. I read somewhere that you have to wash them like 7 times, everytime they're dirty.. is that true? do they get clean after just once? and have you seen these new flushable diapers? I wonder if they work as well as they claim... seems like they would also get really expensive though bc you have to keep buying the liners.... http://www.gdiapers.com/ hmm...
if you look up "g-diaper opinions" or g-diaper reviews on google, you'll find some review websites and opinions from real mommas. Basically, if they're disposable, you're going to be spending more money. and that in my opinion, isn't necessary. You don't have to wash cloth diapers 7 times to get them clean when they are dirty. You wash them 7 times if you buy them new and they are unbleached. You do this to get the oils out and help them absorp more. How to Wash Diapers Washing diapers is really very easy. If you've been soaking your diapers, drain off excess solution into the toilet. Empty diapers into washer and turn to the spin cycle to get out extra diaper solution. Continue with washing instructions. * You may wish to run your diapers through a cold presoak cycle, depending on the efficiency of your machine. * Wash only 2 dozen diapers at a time. It's best to use a detergent with no phosphates and minimal additives and to use less detergent than listed on the box. Do not use natural soap products as they contain oils that will coat your diapers and make them less absorbent. On diaper covers, natural soap will cause your covers to leak. Problem soaps are All Free and Clear, Dr. Bronners Soap, Bio-Kleen liquid and powder, 7th Generation, Dreft and Ivory Snow. Detergents we do recommend are anything cheap (Sunlight, Era, Tide, Cheer, Sams Choice). Just be sure to use 1/2 of the recommended amount. Do not wash too many diapers at once or pilling will occur from the friction in the washer. * Use a hot or warm wash and a cold rinse with the highest water level. If rashes are a problem, you may wish to double rinse or fill a fabric softener ball with 1/4 cup (or less) of vinegar and drop in at the beginning of the wash cycle (it will open automatically for the rinse cycle) or add it to your automatic fabric softener dispenser. You could also add vinegar manually right after the spin cycle. Vinegar helps get rid of detergent/soap residue. When washing diaper covers with diapers, it is best to skip the vinegar rinse. * Do not use fabric softener or chlorine bleach ~ bleach causes premature breaking of the fibers and fabric softener adds a coating to the diapers that make them less absorbent. * Dry on normal heat for about 60 minutes. To make diapers dry faster, add a dry towel to the dryer. Drying in the dryer helps sterilize the diapers, as does drying in direct sunlight. Diapers will not reach their full absorbency until washed and dried a few times. This is because the cotton fibers need to be "fluffed up" a bit first. [Return to Top] How to Wash Diaper Covers Some covers such as the Bummi Super Whisper Wrap may be machine washed and thrown into the dryer to dry. But other covers require special care to retain their waterproofing. Allow covers to air between wearing. Once soiled, they should be rinsed off and stored in a small basket until wash day. They should not be put in the diaper pail with diapers, if you use the presoak method, as this will peel the waterproofing off. Some covers can be machine washed, but should be air dried. An exception is made for wool covers. Wool covers (such as the Aristocrats) should be aired between uses and washed every one to two weeks (unless soiled). Once soiled, they should be hand washed in lukewarm water and baby shampoo or 1 tsp. Eucalan Wool Wash. Soak for 15 minutes. Gently squeeze garment, do not rub or wring. Add 1 tsp. of vinegar to the final rinse (no rinsing required with Eucalan). Roll in a towel and squeeze out excess moisture. Hang dry away from strong heat or sunlight. Life span and performance of the diaper cover will be enhanced by adding lanolin periodically. Proceed to lanolizing instructions.
even if you are flushing them... they still end up being a drain (haha) on the environment. Basically... there are different ways of looking at the choice to cloth diaper, at least there were for me. I wanted to do it for the environmental reasons.... couldn't deal with the idea of my baby being 2 years old and already adding that much trash to the world's giagantic garbage pile. My husband finally came on board when I showed him a cost comparison to disposiable diapers. I made diapers.... they have elastic edges, a waterproof middle layer and velcro closures. They are just as easy to put on as disposable (my husband didn't like the pin idea). For liners or extra absorbancy, I use cloth pads I made from the left over fabric. I think cloth diapers are the way to go. Plus, as one of the momma's said, they are better for sensitive baby bottoms!
I know people who wash their nappy clothes 3 times a week, that means only doing 3 nappy washes which is good - but then you have to get a bucket and soak them and stuff for quite a while
it's always great hearing about mamas putting clothe diapers on their babies! My mom used clothe diapers on me and i will use them on my future babies.
Check out diaperswappers.com-you will find everything you need to know there I switched to cloth about 3 months ago and I don't think I do any more laundry than before. I also don't think its any messier-I get pooped on, peed on, drooled on an barfed on every day...no matter what diaper I use! I use mostly thirsties or motherease fitted diapers and wool covers. It's all really easy. I use a dry pail, its really a trashcan with a lid, toss the dipes in there poop and all. I wash every other day, one cold wash to get rid of yuckies, one hot wash to kill germs and an extra rinse to get all the soap out. I use All free and clear powder detergent, and only about 1/6th or a scoop for each wash. I keep it as simple as possible and never get any stains. Mommacommune.com is a nice site to order from, it's run by a wham, and she always has the best prices and free shipping. If you want to buy used (I usually buy my wool used) the FSOT board on diaperswappers is excellent. It's great that you want to cloth diaper! It's really not as hard as most people think it is! Just remember, once you have a baby you are gonna be doing laundry all the time-a few loads of diapers really won't make much difference
Oh, this is just my opinion, but I would go with sposies for the first week or two because of the meconium (sp?) that babes have in the beginning. Poop for the first week or two is like tar and I think it might be easier to just toss it instead of washing in the beginning.
yea, people have been giving me plenty of newborn disposables, so that's probably what i'll do at first anyway. but in the long run i'd really like to use cloth. thanks for all the advice.
I wouldn't, didn't use sposies on my second child. I would return them to BabysRus or Target and get something more useful instead. Cloth diapering a brand new baby is so much easier! You don't even have to rinse the poop off before throwing the diapers in the wash, and the diapers themselves are so tiny, even though you are changing them more often (like every time baby nurses) you still have less laundry to do than when they get bigger. Plus, newborn diapers make great doublers when baby is in larger sizes, and they also make great postpartum mama pads, too.
I have been using clothe diapers on my son since he was born. I am already poor, and couldn't imagine how broke I would be if I had to go buy diposables. I know for sure, come march I will be using clothe diapers on Axi as well. The only problem I have with the clothe diapers is that the plastic pants are difficult to find around here. All the stores sell the clothe diapers, but none of the sell the plastic pants to go with them, doesn't make sense.
Wal-Mart and K-Mart have rubber panties. But, it's like $15 for only 3. I use disposables when I'm feeling extremely lazy or when I've just forgotten to do laundry. I have TONS of disposables and they're tempting. I also use Gerber brand cloths. They're alright. I've never used any other brand so I can't compare. Cloth ones are better for Alexis bottom. (I've been slacking and using disposables for about a week and a half and air hasn't been getting to her and she now has diaper rash). I don't really have a lot of extra laundry because they're small. I use a little baking soda on Alexis' diapers. So far, no stains.
The wal-mart by me only carries 1 size of rubber/plastic pants. I found all the ones I have at some weird store that has nothing to do with children.
I used plastic pants with my oldest. They always would tear or crack after a while. I found a nylon (plastic type) pant at sears. there brand. They cost like a dollar more for a 3 pack. These pants last forever. I just through a worn pair out when i moved a year back. My oldest just turned 13. They really do hold up.
I get all my cloth diapering, diapers and covers, online. I think Dappi covers are now being sold at babysrus, under their own name brand. Those worked great with my first child, who is and always has been very long and thin. Didn't fit DD2, and now i understand why people don't like those covers much. Much prefer Bummis wraps for daytime and Stacinator fleece at night. They've held up very well through two kids and I sold the outgrown ones on Ebay for someone else to use. Some of my used covers, I even managed to sell for a profit, after both of my kids wore them (the price has gone up that much since I bought them new, five years ago).
I use wool covers...not plastic. I just made a ton of longies for Lily out of wool sweaters from goodwill. They were super easy to make, and now I don't have to worry about finding pants that will fit over her bubble butt
