Cloth Diapers: Just Tell Me What to Buy- Reluctant Caregivers

Late in my pregnancy, Dan and I started discussing cloth diapering.  We both liked the idea, but didn’t know where to start.  I went to the blogosphere and spent hours reading “Cloth 101” posts.  I practically got a degree in the subject from YouTube University.  By the time I needed help crawling out of bed, I felt decently prepared to fold, wash, pin, and spray my way through fluff heaven.  I had only one question: “What EXACTLY do I need to buy?!”

No matter how long and hard I searched, I couldn’t find a simple shopping list.  There is, of course, an explanation for this.  You see, each family is different and has its own specific needs.  Your unique situation will pose unique challenges, to which there will be unique solutions.  So how could there be a single, perfect shopping list that works for everyone?  Answer: There can’t be, and isn’t.

What I am attempting to do is define some typical situations, then offer some suggestions for how to fit cloth diapering into them.  As I completed the draft, I realized that it was way too long for a single post.  I’ve decided to break it into a series.  Each post will begin with this introduction and the basics for any fluff momma, then follow with a more specific type of family in mind.  I’ll post a new entry each day until I’m out of ideas.  Let me know if I miss something, I’d be happy to address it!

Yesterday we talked about newborns.  Read it here.  Today, let’s discuss reluctant caregivers!

The (Basic) Situation:

You’ve decided to cloth diaper.  Congrats, Momma!  You’re going to have so much fun!

The Challenges:

Cover the basics that any fluff momma will need.

The Solution:

You’ll need a container to store dirty diapers until wash day, some waterproof bags for on-the-go changes, and some good detergent.  You may also want to have some dryer balls, some cloth diaper-safe rash cream, some cloth wipes, and a small spray bottle for wipes solution.

Try a laundry basket for your dirty diapers, as the airflow will prevent stink.  If you’d rather go with a closed system, you’ll need a couple of large wet bags to line the pail.  Two smaller wet bags will fit in the diaper bag for outings.  

Don’t waste your money on “cloth safe” detergents.  Whatever you use on your clothes is probably fine, unless it has fabric softener in it.  Fabric softener and dryer sheets are big no-nos for fluff, because they make your diapers repellent.  Most commercial diaper rash creams will do the same.  Wool dryer balls can replace your fabric softener, and there are some lovely cloth-safe creams on the market.

As long as you’re doing diaper laundry, you may as well use cloth wipes as well.  Purchase enough to get you from wash day to wash day, and get a small spray bottle to wet them with.  No need to buy special solution, as there are many recipes on Pinterest, or you can just use plain water.

The Shopping List:

• A tall laundry basket or diaper pail
• 2 large wetbags (if you choose a pail)
• 2 small wetbags
• A detergent without fabric softener
• At least 2 wool dryer balls
• A cloth safe diaper cream
• 30 cloth wipes or cheap baby washcloths
• A small spray bottle

The Situation:

You have a reluctant caregiver who is intimidated by the “complexity” of cloth diapers.

The Challenges:

• Find a super-simple system that resembles non-scary disposables
• Still have money to send the kid to college

The Solution:

All-in-ones (AIOs), all-in-twos (AI2s), or pockets work much like disposables.  An AIO goes straight onto the baby, no muss, no fuss.  An AI2 needs to have an absorbent insert snapped in, then it can go on the baby.  A pocket needs to be stuffed with an absorbent insert before it goes on the baby.  You can pre-snap or pre-stuff to make it simpler for your caregiver if you choose an AI2 or pocket.

Why would you want to choose and AI2 or a pocket, though, if you have to do an extra step?  Two reasons.  They tend to be less spendy (depending on brand) and separating inserts from covers make them easier and quicker to wash and dry.  Whichever you choose, remember that aplix tends to be simpler than snaps, but snaps hold up better.  The decision can be made based on budget for replacement diapers.     

Most AI2s and pockets come with one insert for absorbency, usually made from microfiber.  If you feel you need more absorbency, you can buy extra inserts.  I recommend hemp doublers, but you won’t need many.  If you’re changing your baby often enough, you’ll only need doublers at nap and nighttime.  5 should do it.

The Shopping List:

• 24-30 AIOs, AI2s, or pockets with inserts (try different styles and brands before committing to a whole stash of one thing)
• 5 hemp doublers

Cloth Diapers: Just Tell Me What to Buy- Newborns

Late in my pregnancy, Dan and I started discussing cloth diapering.  We both liked the idea, but didn’t know where to start.  I went to the blogosphere and spent hours reading “Cloth 101” posts.  I practically got a degree in the subject from YouTube University.  By the time I needed help crawling out of bed, I felt decently prepared to fold, wash, pin, and spray my way through fluff heaven.  I had only one question: “What EXACTLY do I need to buy?!”

No matter how long and hard I searched, I couldn’t find a simple shopping list.  There is, of course, an explanation for this.  You see, each family is different and has its own specific needs.  Your unique situation will pose unique challenges, to which there will be unique solutions.  So how could there be a single, perfect shopping list that works for everyone?  Answer: There can’t be, and isn’t.

What I am attempting to do is define some typical situations, then offer some suggestions for how to fit cloth diapering into them.  As I completed the draft, I realized that it was way too long for a single post.  I’ve decided to break it into a series.  Each post will begin with this introduction and the basics for any fluff momma, then follow with a more specific type of family in mind.  I’ll post a new entry each day until I’m out of ideas.  Let me know if I miss something, I’d be happy to address it!

The (Basic) Situation:

You’ve decided to cloth diaper.  Congrats, Momma!  You’re going to have so much fun!

The Challenges:

Cover the basics that any fluff momma will need.

The Solution:

You’ll need a container to store dirty diapers until wash day, some waterproof bags for on-the-go changes, and some good detergent.  You may also want to have some dryer balls, some cloth diaper-safe rash cream, some cloth wipes, and a small spray bottle for wipes solution.

Try a laundry basket for your dirty diapers, as the airflow will prevent stink.  If you’d rather go with a closed system, you’ll need a couple of large wet bags to line the pail.  Two smaller wet bags will fit in the diaper bag for outings.  

Don’t waste your money on “cloth safe” detergents.  Whatever you use on your clothes is probably fine, unless it has fabric softener in it.  Fabric softener and dryer sheets are big no-nos for fluff, because they make your diapers repellent.  Most commercial diaper rash creams will do the same.  Wool dryer balls can replace your fabric softener, and there are some lovely cloth-safe creams on the market.

As long as you’re doing diaper laundry, you may as well use cloth wipes as well.  Purchase enough to get you from wash day to wash day, and get a small spray bottle to wet them with.  No need to buy special solution, as there are many recipes on Pinterest, or you can just use plain water.

The Shopping List:

• A tall laundry basket or diaper pail
• 2 large wetbags (if you choose a pail)
• 2 small wetbags
• A detergent without fabric softener
• At least 2 wool dryer balls
• A cloth safe diaper cream
• 30 cloth wipes or cheap baby washcloths
• A small spray bottle

The Situation:

You have a newborn baby!  Yay!

The Challenges:

• You don’t want to spend beaucoup bucks on newborn sizes because Baby will grow out of them too fast.
• Time is at a premium!
• Diapers have to be changed every 2 hours or so, even in the middle of the night.

The Solution:

Prefolds are going to be your best friends.  Newborn and small sizes can be as cheap as $2 apiece, they wash and dry quickly and easily, and they can be jelly rolled to contain that runny, newborn poo.  Because your newborn will poop and pee more often than you could ever imagine, you’ll need between 30 and 40 prefolds to last from wash day to wash day.

Prefolds don’t have closures or waterproofing, so you’ll need to purchase those separately.  Snappis, Boingos, or pins all work, but I find Snappis easiest for fastening.  You’ll need one for the diaper bag and one for the changing table.  

There are many options for waterproof covers, but a PUL with aplix closure is probably your best bet for those dark, middle of the night changes.  You really won’t want to fumble with lining up snaps at 2am!  You’ll need about 4 of them, because you only have to wash them when they get poopy or really wet.  Otherwise they can just be cleaned with the wipe you’re using on Baby and put back on.

Finally, you might consider getting a 4-5 newborn fitteds with aplix closure.  This is purely a luxury, but they’re really nice to have!  They save you from having to jelly roll and Snappi in the middle of the night or on outings.  

The Shopping List:

• 30-40 small prefolds- some newborn, if you wish
• 2 Snappis
• 4 PUL covers with aplix
• 4-5 newborn fitteds (optional- you’ll only use these for a short time, and they can get pricey, so do what fits into your family’s budget)

Hesitating to Cry It Out

Everyone warned us to bid sleep goodbye.  We knew what we were facing.  When we brought Alice home and snuggled her into her bassinet beside the bed, we didn’t really expect her to sleep well.  That’s why we didn’t concern ourselves over her frequent waking.  We assumed that her inconsolable crying was a normal part of being a newborn, and settled into the state of exhaustion that comes with loving a brand new human.

But then, two weeks after Alice was born, my doctor urgently readmitted me to St. Joe’s Mom and Baby ward to treat a uterine infection from delivery.  Since I was nursing, Alice needed to stay with me, and Dan joined us to help out.

Despite sleeping away from home, we tried to keep Alice’s bedtime routine consistent, rocking her, nursing her, changing her, and zipping her into her jammies all in the right order at the right time.  Alice also tried to be consistent by waking to fuss every half hour or so.  My nurse, a tiny, pretty filipina woman, seemed to be concerned over the fussing.  She’d eye the cradle each time she came in to check my IV or blood pressure.  

Finally, in her thick accent, she offered, “You want me show you how to make her sleep?”

We were taken aback.  Were we missing something?  Doing something wrong?

“She cold,” our nurse told us in a matter-of-fact tone.

“No,” I was relieved, thinking the nurse hadn’t seen the jammies, “She’s wearing this warm flannel.  She’s not cold.”

As if she hadn’t heard me, she asked, “You want me warm her up?”

I sighed, “Sure.”

Why not?  We were desperate enough to try anything!

She disappeared for quite awhile.  I figured she had taken the hint and dropped the idea.  Just when Alice was waking up...AGAIN...crying, our beautiful nurse came to the rescue with a huge stack of receiving blankets.

“You have to make them warm,” she advised.  

Sure enough, she had heated the blankets in the labor and delivery incubator.  She spread two of them out and placed Alice for swaddling.  Then she piled several more onto Alice’s chest before expertly wrapping her into a little burrito bundle.  The last of the warm blankets went under Alice’s head, onto which she pulled an infant beanie.

“Little babies need help being warm,” our angel of a nurse stated before bustling out of the room.

I watched incredulously as my baby visibly relaxed.  Her crying stopped and her ice-blue eyes peacefully closed. Instead of quickly waking, she slept deeply for longer than she ever had in her short life.  The poor little thing had been trying to tell us for two weeks that she was cold while we assumed she was crying for no reason.  

This whole experience came with a big lesson for us as parents.  You see, Alice is naturally a pretty happy baby who rarely fusses (now that we’re keeping her warm!).  The incident taught us to observe her closely, so that when she does get upset, we’re much more likely to successfully identify the problem.  Because of this, she’s learned to trust us to help her, and we’ve learned to trust her to let us know when she needs us.  Is it a perfect system?  No.  Does she always have a good reason for crying?  Nope.  But our belief that crying was nothing to be worried about left our baby uncomfortably cold for the first two weeks of her life.  It still makes me tear up a little to remember it.  I just don’t see fitting the “cry it out” method into our life as a family.

I know many parents use this method extremely successfully.  If that’s you, leave a comment with your story!  Maybe, like us, you’re allowing a pause of ten to fifteen minutes to allow your baby to try to put herself back to sleep.  How’s that working for you?  Do you completely eschew the method and immediately respond to your baby?  Tell me about it!  Thanks for reading, and see you next time!

Cloth Diapering: My Secret Weapon

I don’t claim for a second to be an expert, but I absolutely LOVE fluff and want everyone… EVERYONE to share that love.  Believe it or not, cloth diapering doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive.  I’m about to tell you the secret to easy washing, lightning fast drying, and virtually eliminating blowouts.  Are you ready?  Let’s talk flats!

What’s a flat?  Just what it sounds like: a large, single layer of absorbent material that you cover with something waterproof.  Sometimes called, “Your Grandma’s Diaper,” the flat has been used since...forever.  The old-school flat diapering system often looked like this:

But don’t let that scare you. Modern flats are much cooler than the old-fashioned, thin, cotton squares of yesteryear.  They can be made from cotton, but also hemp, bamboo, or a blend of fibers.  They sometimes have a percentage of spandex to make them a bit stretchy.   You can find them with fun, colored serging around the edges, and some mommas collect different colors from one brand or another.  They’re no longer fastened with scary pins; now we have cute Snappies and Boingos for closure.  Neat, right?

I know what you’re thinking.  You want to know why fiber blend or colored edges should make you purchase difficult, outmoded flats.  You want a simple, all-in-one diaper that you can just snap on like a disposable.  I don’t blame you.  It seems like that would be the easiest route to take, and for some families, it may be, but before you turn that dial, let me give you some real reasons to make flats a part of your stash.

They fit any baby.

Pockets and AIOs are already sewn into their shape.  The snaps or aplix are placed and the elastic is sized.  Though there is some choice in where you snap the diaper, a perfect fit can be elusive.  You may end up buying several different brands and styles before you find one that works at all, much less one that fits perfectly.  That’s gonna get expensive fast!

A flat, on the other hand, is a blank canvas.  You can essentially custom fit them with folds.  There are folds for girls, folds for boys, folds that fit skinny-waisted kids, and folds that work for chubby thighs.  The brands with spandex can be stretched around your baby’s legs and hips for a trim, snug fit.  Whatever your baby needs, a flat can handle it!  Check out the Dirty Diaper Laundry and Diaper Dirt with Ms Diaper D channels on YouTube for some detailed folding tutorials!

Just about anything is a flat in disguise!

You don’t have to run out and buy a whole stash of new flats.  Most of us were gifted about three zillion receiving and muslin swaddle blankets at our showers.  The majority of those products are 100% cotton and about 28”x28”...just like a flat.  Baby towels are usually cotton blend terry and measure 30”x30”, just like terry flats (Sweet Iris, Orange Diaper, etc).  Cut the seams of an extra-large cotton t-shirt, remove the sleeves and collar, and voila!  Two flats!  If you can learn to use a flat, you’ll never be without a nappy.

Flats can be very affordable.

Let’s say you do choose to buy some flats for your little pooper.  Sure, you can splurge on a bamboo blend with a bit of stretch and fancy stitching.  I actually just spent $50 on a three-diaper purchase from Sweet Iris as a special Mother’s Day treat.  Yikes!  Those are a luxury, though.  It’s not necessary to do anything like that.  You can buy flour sack towels at Wal-Mart, Target, or Ikea for about a buck apiece.  If you want to do a 24-nappy stash with about four covers, you could do it for less than $100 this way!

Low-maintenance time-saver.

People think flats are difficult because they have to be folded.  Though the folding is an extra step, it doesn’t take that long.  I clocked myself at seven minutes to fold my whole stash in the “happy anteater” fold, but if you don’t feel like practicing your origami, you can pad fold the flat (fold in half, then fold in thirds until it’s the right size) and just lay it into your cover. I can pad fold my stash in less than four minutes.  You’ll make up for it in washing and drying time anyway.  Think about it.  One layer of fabric.  It washes super-efficiently because there’s nothing to tuck or bunch, then it dries quickly in the dryer or on the line.  My Alva pockets and inserts (pulled apart) took about five hours to wash and dry in my LG combo machine.  My flats take two to three hours, depending on how many double-size muslins I use.  What a difference!

No blowouts.

I guess I can’t guarantee that you’ll never have a blowout with flats, but I never have!  Flats provide more bum coverage, and they wrap snuggly around the baby, effectively trapping all cacapooey.  There are folds you can use to hold in all that runny, newborn poo, and folds that make it easier to spray solid waste into your toilet, so your flat will grow with your baby from breastfeeding, to purees, to solids.

Speaking of spraying, I do have one complaint.

I can only think of one con.  Folded flats are difficult to spray.  If you use a Spray Pal, you’ll find it hard to clip the flat into it so that all soiled parts are showing.  I don’t even use the clip anymore.  I just hold onto the flat and turn it this way and that to make sure I get to all the poo.  It’s messy, and not ideal, but I’ve gotten pretty good at it.  I would suggest buying a pair of rubber dish gloves if it bothers you, but you don’t really need them.  I get away with holding onto a corner and never touching soil or water.

Have I convinced you yet?  Honestly, if you have doubts, whip out one of those receiving blankets, watch a few tutorials, get your fold on, and give it a test run.  I bet you’ll be just as smitten as me after only a few days.  Let me know how it goes, and check out my other fluff entries,  “Cloth Diapering,” and “Lessons from 6 Months of Cloth Diapering.”

Lessons from 6 Months of Cloth Diapering

If you’re unfamiliar with any of my “fluffese” words or terms, please see my earlier cloth diapering post here for definitions!

On May 11th my little baby will be seven months old.  I can’t believe my bitty, 7 lb, 7 oz girl is going on 17 lbs, eating solid foods (or purees, actually), sleeping longer at night, and showing some beginning signs of crawling!  All this brings me so much joy, and each day I’m eager to discover the changes she’ll make.  It also presents me with new challenges to our cloth diapering system.  

As you know, Dan and I’ve been happily using cloth nappies since Alice’s newborn days.  You’ve heard it before, and I’ll say it again: I LOVE FLUFF!  I love that we never have to run out in the middle of the night for diapers and that we don’t have to drop $60 a month on them.  I love that we’re saving space in the landfills.  I really love limiting Alice’s chemical exposure.  It’s fun to try different strategies and products as she grows.  The fluff love community provides enjoyable conversation about diapering, but also about parenthood in general.  I’m so excited about cloth, and I think you will be too, if you try it.  Let me share some of the lessons I’ve learned over the last six months to get you started.

Have a few disposables on hand.

Stay with me here, Purists.  Having a new baby in the home is crazy, even for the most “together” parents.  Between sleeplessness, visitors, and just getting to know your new mini-human, the ball sometimes gets dropped, and that ball often takes the form of soiled diaper laundry.  A newborn needs to be changed about twice as often as older babies after all, so twice the laundry accumulates.  Depending on the size of your stash, you may run out of clean diapers before you have a chance to address it.  That’s when, in my opinion, it’s perfectly acceptable to slap a disposable on the kid, guilt-free.  Repeat after me: “I’m doing enough.  I’m a good parent.  I will not kill the planet, my child, or myself by using this disposable diaper.  I need more coffee…”

Wash at least every other day, no matter how many diapers you own.

Any longer than that and you’re going to have stink problems.  If your diapers come out of the dryer with a “barnyard” smell, or if they reek of ammonia right after Baby wets, you may need to consider washing more often.  If you’re already washing every other day (or more), and your dipes still smell like wet cow, check your detergent…

“Fluff safe” detergent sucks, and prewashing/extra rinsing is key.

There are actually people who swear by this or that brand of “safe” detergent.  There are also people who get by without a prewash or extra rinse.  I am not one of those people.  A prewash rinses all the pee-pee away so you have clean water for your wash cycle.  An extra rinse removes any leftover detergent so it doesn’t cause bum irritation or repelling.  Some how-to sites recommend large amounts of detergent, some very small amounts.  I use the “regular” amount I would on any load of clothes, and it’s always liquid Tide.  I switch back and forth between the “Pure and Free,” and the “Original.”  Whatever’s on sale.

Blow outs are a phenomenon of disposables.

I’ve had fewer than I can count on one hand with cloth!  It’s a whole different story with ‘sposies.  The only poop-splosions I have had with cloth happened when she was wearing diapers made to work like disposables.  No kidding!  Even the cool, modern nappies have more issues than… well, this is a perfect segue to my next point…

Grandma knew what she was doing.

Flats.  Don’t hang up!  I know what you’re thinking.  That flats are old-fashioned, high-maintenance, and not fun.  I assure you, they’re not your grandmother’s nappy.  Gone are the pins and awful rubber panties of yore.

As I wrote this section, I realized that I have way more to say about flats than what will fit into this post, so stay posted in the next few days for a post on their many benefits and how we use them.

Nearly one in three American families struggle to afford diapers… and we can help!

There is NO public assistance for diapers.  None.  When I think of the desperation a mother must feel when she realizes she won’t have enough diapers, my heart breaks.  To have to choose to leave the wet diaper on for a bit longer so your supply will stretch until payday is… unthinkable.  But 60% of those below the poverty line have access to laundry!  Cloth diapers could be the saving grace for these families.  Check out this YouTube video from Dirty Diaper Laundry, then visit Giving Diapers, Giving Hope to see how you can donate some fluff love.  You know that’s where my nappies are going when we’re done!

What lessons have you learned from your fluff journey?  I’d love to hear about it!