a couple questions

[colorbywords]

I am totally new to cloth diapering but after months of research, decided to go with the Rocky Mountain one size pocket diapers.

I got them in the mail today! I have adjusted them to the smallest setting, figuring that's where my little girl will be when she's born... but the insert seems huge! It says to fold the insert to fit into a smaller setting, but I'm not exactly sure how to fold the insert? Length wise? In half? Does it need to cover completely front and back? Can you just fold down the end of it?

My other question is with laundry. We use free & clear laundry soap already and bounce free static thing in the dryer. Can we continue to use the static thing in the dryer or do I need to get dryer balls? We want to hang dry as much as possible, but I am certain there will be times when I need a diaper quicker than the sun can dry them, or it'll just be too dang cold or rainy to go hang them.

Thanks for the help!!

[love4bob]

I have cottonbabies one size inserts for the one size pockets that I made, and I just fold down at one end. And you do want it to cover from front to back of the dipe!

As forthe dryer, do not use any kind of fabric softener bcause it can make the diaper ineffective. It makes it resist water instead of absorb. You can get wool dryer balls which are great! I don't haw any yet, but I plan on making or buying some soon!

[Katie T]

Originally Posted by love4bob

I have cottonbabies one size inserts for the one size pockets that I made, and I just fold down at one end. And you do want it to cover from front to back of the dipe!

As forthe dryer, do not use any kind of fabric softener bcause it can make the diaper ineffective. It makes it resist water instead of absorb. You can get wool dryer balls which are great! I don't haw any yet, but I plan on making or buying some soon!

Yeah that.

[cristeen]

Do you have a back-up plan? Many OS dipes do not fit newborns, and I would be prepared for that possibility.

As for how to fold it - however works for you. I'm sure I fold my doublers/stuffers different than someone else does. But so long as it catches the pee and makes sense to me, it doesn't really matter. And with a girl, you definitely want it covering front to back. With a boy, I usually fold it to give more coverage up front.

And definitely take the bounce thing out of the dryer now. You'll need to run several loads of laundry through the dryer before you put your dipes in there to try to get some of the residue out. White vinegar makes a pretty decent fabric softener - it'll take a while before it starts working on clothes that have a fabric softener build-up, but I've been using it for years now and some of my stuff is softer now than it ever was with softener.

[colorbywords]

Originally Posted by cristeen

Do you have a back-up plan? Many OS dipes do not fit newborns, and I would be prepared for that possibility.

As for how to fold it - however works for you. I'm sure I fold my doublers/stuffers different than someone else does. But so long as it catches the pee and makes sense to me, it doesn't really matter. And with a girl, you definitely want it covering front to back. With a boy, I usually fold it to give more coverage up front.

And definitely take the bounce thing out of the dryer now. You'll need to run several loads of laundry through the dryer before you put your dipes in there to try to get some of the residue out. White vinegar makes a pretty decent fabric softener - it'll take a while before it starts working on clothes that have a fabric softener build-up, but I've been using it for years now and some of my stuff is softer now than it ever was with softener.

We plan to use disposables until the cord falls off as I'm sure that the one size will not give her enough room for the cord.. hopefully by then she'll fit into them! If not, I do have some prefolds and would just need to get snappis and a few covers.

Thanks for the folding advice. I'm going to try it to see if I like it better folded in the front or back... until I have an actual baby to experiment with which I'm sure she'll need the folded part on whichever way I decide not to use!

Anyway, how do you use vinegar as a fabric softener? Does it also take care of static cling? I imagine the vinegar needs to go into the washer, not the dryer?

Thanks!

[lunita1]

Originally Posted by colorbywords

We plan to use disposables until the cord falls off as I'm sure that the one size will not give her enough room for the cord.. hopefully by then she'll fit into them! If not, I do have some prefolds and would just need to get snappis and a few covers.

Thanks for the folding advice. I'm going to try it to see if I like it better folded in the front or back... until I have an actual baby to experiment with which I'm sure she'll need the folded part on whichever way I decide not to use!

Anyway, how do you use vinegar as a fabric softener? Does it also take care of static cling? I imagine the vinegar needs to go into the washer, not the dryer?

Thanks!

f.

You don't need anything for static cling. I promise. Vinegar helps the detergent rinse more thoroughly, and softens some (I think maybe by just removing the last of the residue?) Bumping around in the dryer also really softens things up. Just put the vinegar in the rinse. In my front loader I use it in the fabric softener compartment. In my old washing machine I stuck it in a downy ball. I don't use it every time, though. It's not essential.

[colorbywords]

Originally Posted by lunita1

f.

You don't need anything for static cling. I promise. Vinegar helps the detergent rinse more thoroughly, and softens some (I think maybe by just removing the last of the residue?) Bumping around in the dryer also really softens things up. Just put the vinegar in the rinse. In my front loader I use it in the fabric softener compartment. In my old washing machine I stuck it in a downy ball. I don't use it every time, though. It's not essential.

Ok, thanks. I'm going to try to wash some sheets tomorrow with the vinegar and not the bounce sheet. I think we do have a fabric softener compartment so I'll have to see if I can figure out how it works!

Thanks for all the help everyone!

[Ola_]

I think part of the trick with avoiding static is to not over-dry your laundry. I know when mine comes out really hot and completely dry it's static-y (even though I use vinegar).

[cristeen]

Static cling is mostly an effect cause by polyester/synthetic fibers. Natural fibers don't tend to get that "snap" type of cling.

As for the vinegar, if you have hard water, you probably want to use it regularly. If you don't have hard water, I don't know - I've always had hard water.