Lots of random Q on CD

[Vvivo]

Hi,

I'm new to CD and have a bunch of random questions on it.

1.) How many covers do I need? What's the minimum?
2.) How many prefolds is a regular "full load" for a front loading washer? 2 dozen? Something like that?
3.) How often do covers need to be washed? (Obviously if they get something on them, but I'm wondering how often does that happen?)
4.) What detergent do you wash your CD in? I've looked at a bunch of websites, and it seems like it's all over the board. So I'm just wondering what do you use?
5.) What do you think about liners? Are they that useful? I'm considering the flushable kind.
6.) What brand of wipes do you use? or did you make your own?
7.) Can prefolds be also used as wipes? burp cloths? etc?

Thanks!!!

[justmama]

1.) How many covers do I need? What's the minimum?
depends on your baby and what's under the cover. for newborns, it's recommended to get 6-8. I have 4 for my two year old with solid poop and it's not an issue. But minimum 4.
2.) How many prefolds is a regular "full load" for a front loading washer? 2 dozen? Something like that?
For us it's about 1 1/2days of diapers, about 2dozen flats and wipes and a few covers.
3.) How often do covers need to be washed? (Obviously if they get something on them, but I'm wondering how often does that happen?)
we rotate covers to let them dry between dchanges and what gets used during that day and a half gets washed.
4.) What detergent do you wash your CD in? I've looked at a bunch of websites, and it seems like it's all over the board. So I'm just wondering what do you use?
i've diapered two of my little girls for 5 years straight now, from one to the next with 8 months of two in cloth. I had success with the old formula of sun and then they changed it. At our old place dawn dishsoap was enough. at this house with this water, it's tide. tide is the only constant over 5 years that has worked and worked well. it's not very environmentally friendly and all those chemicals freak me out but i am NOT going to have constant ammonia stink in my diapers. it works, it keeps staining from my daughter's GREEN medicine poop to a minimum and we never have stink.
5.) What do you think about liners? Are they that useful? I'm considering the flushable kind.
meh, not really. I don't see the need. Whatever dumps off the diaper goes in the toilet, everything else goes in the pail. I don't do sprayers or toilet dunking(where's that vomit smilie?). It all comes out in a hot wash and cold rinse. I dont' see the need for liners.
6.) What brand of wipes do you use? or did you make your own?
made my own. flannel king sized sheet from the consignment shop. cut it up into flats and used the scraps to make wipes. they work awesome!
7.) Can prefolds be also used as wipes? burp cloths? etc?
yeah but they are a little bulky for wipes. personally i prefer flats. never thought i would say that but they are no more difficult than prefolds and much trimmer and the drying time is WAY down. would never go back to prefolds after using flats!

[lalemma]

1.) How many covers do I need? What's the minimum?

How old is your baby? That informs a couple of the questions here.

For a newborn, diapering with prefolds and covers, I had six covers. It was nice, but I don't think I actually needed that many. If I had been very concerned with frugality, and willing to rinse and dry the covers frequently, I think I could have gotten by with three.

2.) How many prefolds is a regular "full load" for a front loading washer? 2 dozen? Something like that?

I don't have a front-loader, but look forward to hearing the answer from others.

3.) How often do covers need to be washed? (Obviously if they get something on them, but I'm wondering how often does that happen?)

This depends a bit on the age of the baby. Newborns have lots of basically liquid poo, many times a day, and I'd use multiple covers a day, because there would be some poo on the leg openings or whatever. Once my baby hit a month, he started pooping once a week. So now I pretty much use one cover a day (and I could reuse it the next day, it's just habit to start each day with a new one) unless it gets poo on it, and even then, if you have a cover with a slick inner surface, you can just wipe it clean. (But I would probably be less cavalier about this if I were dealing with "real" toddler poo, you know?)

4.) What detergent do you wash your CD in? I've looked at a bunch of websites, and it seems like it's all over the board. So I'm just wondering what do you use?

My sense of this is that there are people who will claim up and down that you can ONLY wash CDs with natural detergents, you are absolutely destroying your diapers and your child's precious bottom if you do anything else, and many others who have gone through many detergent trials and wound up using Tide.

I am not sure there's that much difference, especially if you're washing natural fibers like prefolds.

We mostly use homemade detergent, or sometimes a free-and-clear-type detergent. I don't see much difference between the two, if any.

5.) What do you think about liners? Are they that useful? I'm considering the flushable kind.

If your baby has formed or sticky poops, I think flushable liners are the best (I am maybe unusually squeamish for a CDing person...?), but for a baby who's only eating breast milk, they really aren't necessary yet. The poo just washes right out in the machine.

6.) What brand of wipes do you use? or did you make your own?

I made all of ours. I serged together flannel and terry (scraps from diaper-making and old towels, respectively) to measure 4x8. They are awesome. I just throw them in the wet bag and wash them with the diapers.

7.) Can prefolds be also used as wipes? burp cloths? etc?

Yes! Yes! Prefolds are the best for cleaning up giant poos! Or wiping away spit-up. Or laying your baby on so his bottom can air out. Or for use as a changing pad. Etc. (I am, obviously, a pretty big fan.)

[cristeen]

1.) How many covers do I need? What's the minimum?

Like a pp said - how old's the babe? For my NB we had 1. For my 5 mo we have 2 PUL covers and half a dozen (+/-) wool.

2.) How many prefolds is a regular "full load" for a front loading washer? 2 dozen? Something like that?

Depends on the size of the machine. We have lg capacity machines and they'll hold 3-4 doz. I got 21 as a gift and just tossed them in with 2 days of dirty dipes for prepping with no problem.

3.) How often do covers need to be washed? (Obviously if they get something on them, but I'm wondering how often does that happen?)

When they start smelling if they don't have poo on them. Mine usually get poo on them before they start smelling.

4.) What detergent do you wash your CD in? I've looked at a bunch of websites, and it seems like it's all over the board. So I'm just wondering what do you use?

I use Country Save, Baking Soda and White Vinegar.

5.) What do you think about liners? Are they that useful? I'm considering the flushable kind.

Again - age dependent. For a child on a liquid diet they're kinda pointless IMO. Once they're eating solids I might feel differently.

6.) What brand of wipes do you use? or did you make your own?

I use moonbees hemp wipes. I bought them originally for family cloth and just repurposed them.

7.) Can prefolds be also used as wipes? burp cloths? etc?

Absolutely. Not really as wipes, too bulky, but burp clothes, lap pads, anything else you can think of.

[AlishaLukesMom]

You have a lot of great responses, here are min

1.) How many covers do I need? What's the minimum? I would have at least 4 or 5. They can be rinsed and hang to dry between washing days if you have the minimum. They will get worn down sooner and may not last multiple kids. The larger rotation the less wear diapers get.


2.) How many prefolds is a regular "full load" for a front loading washer? 2 dozen? Something like that? I'm not really sure. I would think 2 - 2.5 dozen would be pretty full


3.) How often do covers need to be washed? (Obviously if they get something on them, but I'm wondering how often does that happen?)
If it is a poopy diaper I wash them even if no poop gets on the cover. With a newborn breastfed poo you will most likely get some poop on the covers. Other than that they can go 3-4 changes, before I wash them. You can rotate between 2 a day so they can air dry between changes.

4.) What detergent do you wash your CD in? I've looked at a bunch of websites, and it seems like it's all over the board. So I'm just wondering what do you use?
There is a lot of detergents. I found Tide Free to work for me and it was the only one I could find locally. I have used Tiny Bubbles as well which worked.

5.) What do you think about liners? Are they that useful? I'm considering the flushable kind.
I never use liners. They could be useful but I just don't want to bother with them. I have some Bummis liners that are very soft.

6.) What brand of wipes do you use? or did you make your own?
I use cloth wipes. I cut up receiving blankets to make wipes and use Monkey Butt soap bits in a spray bottle. Works great!

7.) Can prefolds be also used as wipes? burp cloths? etc?
I use my very stained prefolds as cleaning towels. They are excellent

Hope all these responses help you

[Vvivo]

Thanks for all of your replies... and yes, my questions were directed regarding a newborn. I'm currently pregnant & my due date is in about 3-ish weeks.

[coldandsleepy]

1.) How many covers do I need? What's the minimum?

We had 3 PUL covers when our guy was first born, and that was fine. While newborns do generate a lot more dirty diapers than older babies, our experience was that the contents almost always stayed inside the prefolds. Now that he's older and he stools less frequently/has larger poos, we have 6 covers just so we're never caught without.

2.) How many prefolds is a regular "full load" for a front loading washer? 2 dozen? Something like that?

I think you probably COULD put closer to 4 dozen in my front loader, but I like to wash around 2 dozen at a time to give them room to really get clean, if that makes any sense. Ours is a large-ish capacity machine though.

3.) How often do covers need to be washed? (Obviously if they get something on them, but I'm wondering how often does that happen?)

Our cover routine is basically this: if there's poo on the cover, it immediately goes into the diaper pail. If it's just from a pee diaper, we swap it out for another cover and let it air out. When I wash diapers, I wash all the covers that have been used, even if some are just airing out. I don't make any special laundry runs for covers, but if I'm washing anyway, I figure I may as well put them in!

4.) What detergent do you wash your CD in? I've looked at a bunch of websites, and it seems like it's all over the board. So I'm just wondering what do you use?

Opinions really vary on this and I'd say it depends in part on whether or not your baby has sensitive skin. We've been using Seventh Generation's free & clear detergent and haven't had any problems with it in five months.

5.) What do you think about liners? Are they that useful? I'm considering the flushable kind.

We haven't needed them. Not even for the meconium poos. I think they might be more useful once the baby gets to solid foods, maybe?

6.) What brand of wipes do you use? or did you make your own?

I made my own cloth wipes originally but found them hard to keep track of. Too many little pieces of cloth floating around in my house.

7.) Can prefolds be also used as wipes? burp cloths? etc?

Oh, definitely. One of the reasons we don't use many disposable wipes is that I generally give our little guy a wipe with the clean part of the used prefold (if there is a clean part ) before involving any other wipes. And like other posters have said, prefolds are great for absorbing just about anything you might need absorbed!

[Erinjvrn]

1.) How many covers do I need? What's the minimum?

4 PUL--like thristies or imse vimse or swaddlebees

2.) How many prefolds is a regular "full load" for a front loading washer? 2 dozen? Something like that?

sounds right, if they are preemie or infant, might actually be a small load

3.) How often do covers need to be washed? (Obviously if they get something on them, but I'm wondering how often does that happen?)

I would toss mine at the end of the day

4.) What detergent do you wash your CD in? I've looked at a bunch of websites, and it seems like it's all over the board. So I'm just wondering what do you use?

I use dawn and oxyclean

5.) What do you think about liners? Are they that useful? I'm considering the flushable kind.

never tried

6.) What brand of wipes do you use? or did you make your own?

wahm made--I have 1/2 organic velour wipes for sore bottom days and 1/2 sherpa wipes

7.) Can prefolds be also used as wipes? burp cloths? etc?

Id say not unless you designate them for that purpose, b/c the wash routine is different for regular laundry. I think a pf would be way too big to use as a wipe

[Chamomile Girl]

1.) How many covers do I need? What's the minimum?
I had around 6 or 7 when he was a newborn, and now I think I have eight (not counting wool overnight covers). I actually need to wash the covers more often now than when he was smaller because since he started solids his pee now smells pretty strong. o now I change the cover whenever he has a saturated diaper...probably 5 times a day.

2.) How many prefolds is a regular "full load" for a front loading washer? 2 dozen? Something like that?
I wash every other day and we have 24 medium prefolds plus eight pockets. I have washed them all at once without issue (and yes, I have a frontloader).

3.) How often do covers need to be washed? (Obviously if they get something on them, but I'm wondering how often does that happen?)
Pretty much the covers get washed as often as the diapers.

4.) What detergent do you wash your CD in? I've looked at a bunch of websites, and it seems like it's all over the board. So I'm just wondering what do you use?
I use Ecos unscented because it has the most loads for the price. Plus I hate smelly laundry soap!

5.) What do you think about liners? Are they that useful? I'm considering the flushable kind.
Liners are a PITA. However once the kid starts solids I'm thinking liners are better than a poo spatula.

6.) What brand of wipes do you use? or did you make your own?
We use those lightweight, crappy baby washcloths that you find in packs of 10. They work great for wipes, but I can't imagine using them as a washcloth...so flimsy!

7.) Can prefolds be also used as wipes? burp cloths? etc?
I guess they could be but cheapie washcloths work better and cost less too. We found washcloths on sale at target for like five bucks a ten pack and bought two. These get used for everything from cleaning up baby vomit to diaper doublers. I'm not a big fan of using them as wipes because the pile is kinda thick and for some reason that oogs me out. They wash up great though so I don't know what I'm worried about.

[McMandy]

Detergent:

I hated my front loader when it came to washing cloth diapers. Because these are meant to be eco friendly, they don't really have a soak option (at least mine didn't), which I feel is important for clean diapers.

Also, front loaders tend to get mold/mildew in the front part of the machine (where the door closes and water gets caught) which also makes clothes and diapers smell a bit if it is not taken care of. (There is a special formula you can by to get rid of that though.)

I used All Free & Clear (easy to find at any grocery store) and they still had that "stink" to them. Occasionally, I'd wash them with vinegar and such, but that smell tended to linger.

I have no problem with All Free & Clear in my top loader though- so maybe it was just my washer/mildew issue.

I also think 7th generation's brand of detergent is pretty good. Just steer clear of anything with softeners in it as it makes the inserts repel liquid.

Liners:
I just purchased Bummis disposable liners and I feel like I wasted my money. They do not stay in place. They get stuck in my baby's butt. (Hehe, which is kinda funny...) But, over all- not helpful. If you are worried about having to keep up really messy poos- make some fleece liners (You dont have to sew them, just cut some strips) and if something is too disgusting for you to throw in the wash or deal with.... you can throw it away. Over time, dealing with the poo doesn't seem like such a big deal though.

I'm just getting back into the swing of things after going on a CD break (we moved and I switched to disposables and now and switching back... especially since we are expecting another little one.).

[lifeguard]

I haven't read the other responses so I'm sorry if I'm duplicating answers (or totally contradicting!).

1.) How many covers do I need? What's the minimum?

We have 7 covers which is plenty. 5 would probably the minimum imo.

2.) How many prefolds is a regular "full load" for a front loading washer? 2 dozen? Something like that?

I rarely have more than 2 dozen for a load & it is definitely not a full load in my washer, but that is good as the more water the better for getting them really clean.

3.) How often do covers need to be washed? (Obviously if they get something on them, but I'm wondering how often does that happen?)

I find pretty much all poopy diapers end up with some on the cover (maybe others are more talented than I at folding but I've just come to accept that a poopy diaper means the cover needs to be washed). The overnight cover usually needs to washed as well with ds as I find it usually smells to strongly to use again. Otherwise the covers can generally be used anywhere from 3-10 times - really depending on how frequently they are changed (I find the longer the diaper sits wet inside the cover the smellier the covers get).

4.) What detergent do you wash your CD in? I've looked at a bunch of websites, and it seems like it's all over the board. So I'm just wondering what do you use?

I've tried a bunch of things but I am currently using the new Sunlight that is supposed to be greener. I personally found a lot of the more eco friendly detergents left the diapers clean but kind of smelly.

5.) What do you think about liners? Are they that useful? I'm considering the flushable kind.

We use the liners occassionally but I worry about clogging our old pipes. I find they tend to bunch up in the diaper & so are not as effective as I would like.

6.) What brand of wipes do you use? or did you make your own?

Whatever is on sale! We just recently started using washcloths - a friend of mine gave me about 3 dozen baby washcloths that she used as wipes for her kids. I just put them into a old wipes container with a little water & a squirt of organic baby soap.

7.) Can prefolds be also used as wipes? burp cloths? etc?

My prefolds would be awfully thick & cumbersome as a wipe. Definitely would work as a burp cloth. I've also used them to lay under us at night (especially when ds was a little & my breasts leaked a lot). Or to lay under ds during nakey time. They wipe up messes really great (like when ds pees on the floor).