Twins, hard water, front-loading washer... can I do this?

[eatingfor3]

I would really like to CD this time around but I feel like the cards are stacked against me and honestly, after researching CDing for the past couple of weeks, I am so incredibly overwhelmed! I really need some direction.

I am having twins. For their first 6 months we will be living way out in the country in a house that has a well with extremely hard water. The water will be treated with a water softener, which makes it hard to rinse out soaps for the first few days after we add it, but there are normally still spots on the dishes when they are washed. The washer we will be using is a front loading washer, which I have read can be tricky when it comes to getting out stains and getting the diapers clean. Should I be worried about the washer and the well water?

I am also not sure what kind of diapers to try and would love it if someone could help me narrow down my options. Besides the water and washer issues, here are a list of my concerns:
1) ease of use. I will be alone w/ the twins and my other 2 kids for 6 months. There are no diaper services in our area either.
2) my kids have very sensitive skin (my other 2 and I are allergic to wool)
3) the twins will most likely be very small at first (4-5 pounds). My kids don't grow very fast either.

Can anyone give me any guidance on what direction to take? What kind of diapers would you try?

Thank you so much for any help!

[chely7425]

I think you can DEFINITELY do it!! I would probably try fitteds and covers, as I have heard natural fibers are less of a problem with hard water? I am having hard water issues myself right now but I am sure there are other more experienced CDers who can give you better advice!!

[Michigan Mama]

Have you cd'ed before, Mama? How do you feel about prefolds? I think they would be a great option for you for a couple of reasons:

They come in a nb/premie size, that would fit your babes.

They are easy to clean. No hassle. No folding or stuffing. You can bleach or boil them if you were to have problems with the water. Anything with a polyester inner is a little more picky when it comes to washing.

There is a learning curve if you have never used them, but once you get past it, they are simple.

They are cheap!

Proraps have a premie diaper cover. They are relatively inexpensive and must hold up well because a lot of diaper services use them, I think.

Another option are all in ones, but I find they can be a little trickier to get a good washing routine, can take a long time to dry. Pricier. But also do-able. Not sure off hand who makes a premie size aio.

There are a few ideas to chew on! If you get something low maintenance, I don't think you'll find the extra laundry unbearable. You could probably still wash every other day, even with twins. You're gonna have your hands full mama, so don't feel guilty if it seems like too much. You can always start later if you want. That said, I do think it's doable! Good luck Mama!

[ChetMC]

You Can Do It

We don't have twins, but we've had two in diapers twice. I think two in diapers is actually a bigger deal with disposables. With two in cloth, you see the financial benefit more quickly, and if you buy enough diapers, you can still was diapers just once or twice a week once you're out of the newborn stage.

With a front loader and hard water I'd be inclined to steer clear of fleece and microfiber and to stick with natural fibers that are easier to clean for your diapers. If you find that you need something next to baby to keep the wetness away I'd just use a microfiber or fleece liner.

Some front loaders seem to be better than others for cloth. I had no problems at all with the first front loader I'd used. I'd never heard of stripping diapers in three years of cloth diapering. In the front loader I have now I need to manually add some extra rinses, but it's not a big deal.

[eatingfor3]

Thank you, everyone! I feel a little more confident now. This is my first time CDing so I'm clueless. I've wanted to do it with the other 2 but our living circumstances haven't allowed for it. I'll look at the diapers mentioned and I'm sure I'll be back with questions!