please help me figure out inserts!

[mom2ewc]

I'm new to CD, and I'm a bit confounded by all the talk about inserts and doublers. Can someone give me a crash course, please!

I have mostly CPFs... but I also have some of those microfleece inserts and doublers that come with BG 3.0. I also have a hemp babies insert.

I'm not sure what to do with them, specifically:
1. I read somewhere not to put the microfleece next to baby's skin. This is easy when they go inside a pocket dipe, but how would I pair a microfleece doubler with a CPF? Just tri-fold and wrap the CPF around the doubler? I usually use the newspaper wrap, what kind of doubler can I use with this?

2. Can the hemp doublers be washed/dried?

3. I've read that fleece is a great doubler material... is this true?

Basically, I'm wondering what doublers work best... which doublers can go next to the baby's skin... what doublers can/can't be washed or dried... and which combinations works best next to each other for night and daytime use?

My little 5-week old looks HUGE when I pair the doublers together... not sure how much absorbency I really need, but not a lot will fit in between his tiny little thighs at this point

Thanks from an enthusiastic but slightly overwhelmed newbie!

[TaraRae82]

:

Right there with ya mama!

[chely7425]

If I was using a microfiber doubler I would wrap the CPF around it. If the double was hemp I would just lay if on top of the diaper if that is easier. You can wash hemp just like anything else, at least I always have!! I have never used fleece as a double but I HAVE used it as a stay dry layer, which was especially good at night.

[mom2ewc]

Thanks - helpful!

So the fleece doubler doesn't absorb moisture, but it will wick moisture away from bum into CPF? The purpose is to keep the babe's bum from staying in wetness all night?

The hemp can be next to skin, it sounds like... does it absorb better than a cotton CPF?

And if hemp was paired with a cotton CPF, would it be placed on top or in the middle?

Thanks!

[chely7425]

Originally Posted by mom2ewc

Thanks - helpful!

So the fleece doubler doesn't absorb moisture, but it will wick moisture away from bum into CPF? The purpose is to keep the babe's bum from staying in wetness all night?

The hemp can be next to skin, it sounds like... does it absorb better than a cotton CPF?

And if hemp was paired with a cotton CPF, would it be placed on top or in the middle?

Thanks!

Yes, fleece will help wick moisture away from the babies bum, this is great for overnights (like you said) or if you have a baby who is particularly sensitive to any kind of wetness on their skin!! you can make fleece liners just by cutting any old fleece from the fabric store into rectangles

I think hemp absorbs better then cotton but it probably has a lot to do with the hemp and cotton in question. It can go next to skin and I think if you paired it with a CPF it could go in the middle or on top. Which ever is easier!!

[Michigan Mama]

You already got some great advice here, I just wanted to add that the reason we love hemp so much at our house is that hemp absorbs more than cotton, so you don't need as much bulk. For example, at night, if we use a pocket diaper for ds, we put 3 inserts in - 2 microfiber and 1 hemp or visa versa. If we were using cotton, we would probably need 5 (or 6?) to get the same absorbancy. For pockets, I also really like a combo insert, where the hemp and microfiber actually come sewn together...

[myfairbabies]

I was confused at first by microfiber and microfleece. Your inserts are made from microfiber and liners are made from microfleece. Microfiber is the one that's bad for baby's skin and microfleece is just nice and soft. I've also heard that hemp is great and very absorbant, but it doesn't absorb as fast as microfiber or cotton, so if your baby holds it and then pees really fast all at once, you could get leaks. I guess some people can only use hemp underneath something else (though it doesn't hurt to have it touch the baby). But I'm not cding yet so I can't really help with any experience yet!

[TaraRae82]

So, for overnights, the fleece layer goes where? Right next to baby's skin or under the absorbant layer?

[chely7425]

Originally Posted by TaraRae82

So, for overnights, the fleece layer goes where? Right next to baby's skin or under the absorbant layer?

You want the fleece right next to the baby's skin

[AlwaysByMySide]

Along with the difference between microfleece and microfiber, there is a difference between microfleece and other fleece (bamboo fleece and/or hemp fleece).

I've always washed hemp seperately when prepping it (first two or three washes), but after that, wash with everything else.

Once I discovered bamboo, though, I never went back to hemp.

[mom2ewc]

this is helpful - thanks!

So... what's the deal with bamboo??

And can you lovely ladies provide links to sites that sell your favorite doublers/liners? Maybe hemp, microfiber, fleece... and I guess bamboo, too? Is there a difference in quality & price, depending on where you buy from?