diaper washing tips

[samstress]

our two-year-old daughter has been wearing cloth since day one, however we've used a diaper service from the start (so i've never actually washed a diaper . dd is currently learning to use the potty and is wearing less and less diapers. was thinking about canceling the service to save a little money since we're not using it as much.

so, my questions are...

how many diapers will i need? where should i get them? the service we use sells them for $24/dozen. is that a good price? i did notice, however, that the diapers are recommended up to 25 lbs (our daughter weighs more than that). are there bigger ones i can get? also, what will i need in order to wash them? can someone give me the basics or direct me to a good primer on this subject?

TIA

[samstress]

anyone?

[fruitfulmomma]

Yes, you can get larger diapers. Green Mountain Diapers seems to sell the largest selection of prefolds. http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/ How many you would need depends on how many she is going through a day and how many days you want to go between washes. I think 24 is a good amount, but less might be okay if she is using the potty a lot.

Do you have covers? If not, I think 3 would probably be okay since she is already working on potty training. Stacinator So Simples (See Happy Heiny's website for retailer list) can be pulled up and down easier than some other kinds.

Washing is very simple. I have a 5 gallon plastic bucket (no lid) that I throw the dirty ones in. In an older child who is eating solids, you will want to shake out the poop in to the toilet. Some people recommend spraying them out but I haven't found this necessary. I wash every other day. If you decide to spray them, I recommend not letting them sit for more than a day or two because they can become mildewed. To wash them, I use a hot wash and a cold rinse. I start the water, add soap (Bio-kleen), and dump them in. Then I do an extra rinse when they are done. With older babies I do a second wash with no soap. Then dry in the dryer.

For more info try looking at www.diaperpin.com and pretty much any retailer will have info on how to use, wash, etc...