Clothe diaper advice please.

[MammaB21]

Okay, so I know there are tons of threads about cloth diapers, but I've looked and decided instead of reading through endless threads I'd just start my own.

We're thinking about CDing, but I didn't do it with DD, so I'm totally knew at it. I have NO idea where to even start. First off, we don't own a washer or dryer. No laundry room, so no place to really rinse them out. I was thinking I could just rinse them in the tub and then wash the tub out every time. Then I'd put them in a bucket to soak until we could bring them to the Laundromat. Can anyone give me advice on this part of it all? How messy is it really? Will my house constantly smell? Is it just way too much work for what it's worth? Will the waist in water be a problem, since I'd be rinsing, then soaking, then washing in a machine?

Secondly, I'm not sure what brands are the best. Should I be looking at the ones that pin, or snap on their own? We want convenience if possible, but we'd like something easier on babies bum and better for the environment. I've visited some sites and tried to go through the different styles and brands, but I'm in over my head. So anyone have any suggestions? What worked for you, or what didn't? TIA.

[Mandynee22]

I'm also laundrymatting it LOL. There's still no need to soak (I go these a few times a week anyway though). You just do everything the same as if you had a w/d only you travel farther LOL. I am getting the Potty Pail thing (it's like a bucket and diaper sprayer) for poop diapers only because doing extra rinses and all that just isn't an option at the laundrymat. I wouldn't rinse them in the tub and all that stuff because it just sounds like too much work.
I'm a prefold and cover kind of gal but what you like in a diaper depends on you. I got a drying rack (hamilton beach makes it and it has fans) so I can rinse and dry covers at home.
It can totally be done :-)

[JessieBird]

It'll be much easier than that - there's no need to rinse or soak, at least not until your baby starts solids. Just throw the dirty diapers, pee and poop and all into a pail or wetbag until wash day. Once your little one is on solids, you will need to flush the poop first. Most times it will fall into the toilet leaving the diaper almost clean, other times you may benefit from a diaper sprayer attached to your toilet. But you've got a while before you need to learn about that. Breast milk pee and poop can sit on a diaper and still wash out perfectly clean days later without any problem.

My #1 tip is to buy A LOT of diapers (I mean like 30+) once you figure out which ones you like. I'd suggest starting with simple prefolds and covers. They are cheap and super easy to clean. They are quick to dry too. When your baby is 10-12 lbs and if you want to switch to something fancier like a pocket or AIO, try out a few different brands by either borrowing from friends or with a trial kit from a cloth diaper store. Once you decide what kind you want, buy LOTS. This way you won't have to laundry as often. I have about 34 one-size AIOs and I only wash them every 5-7 days now that my DS is 15 mo and not using as many diapers per day. Some will say it's gross to let dirty diapers sit for that long but we've never had a problem.

You'll have to figure out your wash routine (how many rinses, water temp, soap, etc) once you get going depending on the machines at the laundromat and the quality of the water (hard/soft). There will be a bit of a learning curve there but you'll figure it out. You will get lots of help in the cloth diapering forum.

[Pinoikoi]

I could never get the hang of pins, but a snappi is a plastic devise shaped like a Y that is used in place of pins.. it snugs tight, and is pretty easy to use.

For affordability, prefolds and snappis with a cover are the cheapest.. if you go to the laundry mat twice a week or so you would need about 36 prefolds and 6 covers in each size.. if you go less often, you would need more diapers, but I like to wash diapers about every 3 days- wait too long and they do start to smell

Snap fitteds are more convenient/easier.. they still need covers.. again- 36 to 6 is the recommended ratio- but you could do some prefolds and some fitteds..

AIO (all in one) diapers do not need covers.. they are the priciest option.. some have a pocket in the back so you can adjust the absorbancy..

I use fitteds and covers mostly during the newborn/infant stage when poo is really runny. I switch to pocket style AIO when the are toddlers as it is easier to put one thing on when babies are on the go rather than two, and dp diapers a LOT when I go back to work, and they are the easiest for him to deal with..

For us, we cd because of health issues.. my boys had very sensitive skin.. so it wasn't about cost savings (although my new one will have a lot of handmedown dipes, so that does save us money)..

As the other poster mentioned, poop goes in the toilet and then the dipe goes in a dry pail until wash day.

Have you checked the diapering threads on MDC?

[matthia]

My advice would be to head to your nearest cloth diaper retailer and get a lesson...I so completely understand where you're coming from. Except for the fact that I'm a first time mom too, I have many of the same anxieties as you do about CD and no matter how many times I looked up CD terms (AIO, prefolds, flats, pockets diapers, jamtots, kangas, fuzzibuns, snapis, diaper pins, detergent, diaper buckets, wet bags, and on and on and on and on and on....) I just couldn't really take it in or figure out what I think will work.

Now, granted, I don't have a baby yet so my needs and his/hers may change once I'm actually using them BUT today I went into this great baby store we have here and asked about them and the lady pulled out a whole kit. She showed me how they work (basic I know, but I wanted to SEE), what they work with, how interchangable different aspects of different diapers are, fit, sizing, cost, etc, etc. It was awesome to actually talk to someone in person who's done the CD thing, and who also has a mountian of anecdotal advice, and to actually play around with the different styles made me feel a little better about what my options are. Also, I am sure you will be able to get some advice and tips re: not having laundry in your house. As much as I love MDC, sometimes I really need a one on one session to clarify things for me.

[MammaB21]

Thanks all for the replies. I guess I totally blanked that there was even a CD specific thread on MDC. Pregnancy brain....lol. I'll check there as well.

Now I'm mainly concerned with the runny poops at the beginning. It just seems weird to me that they wouldn't smell. And wouldn't I have to rinse them before putting them in the wash? I mean, I can't picture throwing a bunch of poop dripping dipes into a publicly used washing machine. I'm having a hard time with this apparently.....lol, although I do want to try it out.

My mom is the one who suggested using a soaking pale. That's what she did when she CD'd my bro. But that was years ago, and when she told me her routine and how 'easy' it was I got a little scared. Didn't sound all the easy to me.

Pinoikoi - Health is also one reason we're looking into it. DD had really bad eczema as a baby. She was constantly covered in it head to toe, and still has some issues with it at 4 years old. I'm not sure how this babe will be since they have different dads, but I'm preparing myself for the skin issues.

[Pinoikoi]

breastfed poo is water soluble. poop goes in the toilet. the diaper will be wet when it comes out of the toilet, but doesn't need to go in a pail full of water/solution, etc. It might still be damp when it gets into the washer, but shouldn't be poopy.

[zinemama]

I used cloth dipes for two kids. I will give it to you straight: without a washer or dryer there is no power on earth that could get me to CD.

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Diapering

[Mandynee22]

Originally Posted by zinemama

I used cloth dipes for two kids. I will give it to you straight: without a washer or dryer there is no power on earth that could get me to CD.

Really? I've done it both ways and I didn't find it any harder. The ONLY part that might be intimidating is getting dirty looks from other people there if they know what you're doing...but I go to the laundry mat at like 3 am so no one else is ever there LOL

[zinemama]

Originally Posted by Mandynee22

Really? I've done it both ways and I didn't find it any harder. The ONLY part that might be intimidating is getting dirty looks from other people there if they know what you're doing...but I go to the laundry mat at like 3 am so no one else is ever there LOL

Whatever works for you, mama!

But how could it not be harder to shlep to the laundromat - no matter what time of day - rather than go down the stairs to your own basement? And the OP was talking about washing the dipes in the bathtub. Sorry, but that is just hours of backbreaking work I could never take on.

[cristeen]

If you're looking at using a laundromat, I would stay far far away from AIOs as well as any synthetic fibers. Dealing with the extra washes and drys that an AIO needs or stink issues with synthetics is a pain when you have your own w/d... I wouldn't want to deal with it in a laundromat.

My personal preference is for snaps, since that's the easiest for me, but with your situation, I would probably go for prefolds and/or flats, just for ease of washing.

[Pinoikoi]

Perhaps it would be easier to look into a diaper service (they pick up, they wash, they deliver clean dipes).. the one here only costs $25 a week. The only thing you would have to worry about washing are the covers, and heck you could go with wool covers and hand wash them at home in a bucket.

this one is in minneapolis

http://www.dogooddiapers.com/cloth-d...very-packages/
(looks like the price is comparable to what it is here)

http://minneapolis.about.com/od/envi...othdiapers.htm

this article talks about places that will do a diaper consultation with you and also a place that will lend you some freebies to try out.. both appear to be in your area..