Started solids... what do I do with this new poop?

[stephbrownthinks]

My DS is 8 months old (first baby) and up until now has been EBF. I have always just thrown the diapers in the wash, done a cold rinse, hot wash with some detergent and occasional oxy clean, cold rinse and then dryered or line dried. We have never had any staining problems that sunning couldn't take care of. I have a mix of flats, prefolds, fitteds, and pockets. They all look like brand new even though we have used them since DS was born.

Well... now he's started solids and I'm not sure what to do. He used to poop so regularly (as in between 6am and 7:30am only haha) and now its completely random. Sometimes it will be a hardish small poop that doesn't really get on the diaper (those I try to wipe with TP and throw in the toilet), and sometimes its massive greenish explosions. Its usually the same consistency as the EBF poo... can I throw it in the wash? I've heard people talk about transitional poo when first starting solids, how long till it turns into "normal poop?"

I have fleece liners and flushable liners (not sure what kind, it looks like a roll of thick TP). It seems like using the fleece liners would be a big mess but the disposable liners seem really rough.

I don't want stains. Right now a few of my BG pockets and some inserts have staining. I was going to try re-washing (also maybe a little bleach on the inserts?) and sunning tomorrow. Does sunning even work on non BF poop stains? My work schedule makes it hard to sun them Monday-Thursday. My mom watches DS while I'm at work 3 days, then we have a nanny for one day. What is the best/easiest thing to have them do? My mom is willing to use prefolds, fitteds, or pockets. Will one kind stain less likely than the others? Is it time for a diaper sprayer? My DH has been super supportive and even excited about cloth diapering but I feel like its all about to go downhill. Do I need a new wash routine? I have a front loader, soft water, and use ECOS if that helps. Please help me save my sanity and keep my diapers looking nice!

[Chamomile Girl]

Well...just as a warning my post is not going to be very helpful to you...but:

IME solid-food poop leaves stains.  Maybe others have different experiences than me, but all of my diapers have poop streaks.  But you know what?  They're diapers.  So what?

I have tried to sun them and had no luck.  Bleach works.  However if you are going to get into bleaching diapers than I would stick with prefolds.  Bleach and PUL don't go well together.  I don't like the way dipes feel after bleaching so I no longer bother unless I am sizing up and need to store a bunch of prefolds.

ETA:  I have a frontloader too and have basically the same wash routine as you.  And like you it worked great for EBF poo.  Now the diapers get smelly so I have to do a sanitary cycle wash every now and then.  But this does nothing for the stains.

[MayasMama88]

I just wanted to say that poop is poop, and although the consitency change might require you to alter your wash routine slightly, it should all come out in the wash. ;)  I have never sprayed my CDs, except for one time when there was a TON of EBF poop in one and I had to handwash the diapers during that month. I don't have any stains. You should make sure that you are doing a cold pre-wash with NO detergent first (although you could probably get away with just a pre-rinse if there isn't any poop), then do a hot wash with detergent, followed by the cold rinse, followed by one more cold rinse to make sure you've gotten all of the detergent out. The initial cold pre-wash is to make sure you get all (or at least most) of the urine and fecal matter out of the diapers so you aren't trying to get diapers clean with dirty water (which is ultimately futile). Solid poop goes in the toilet, wet poop that won't come off the diaper easily can go into the wash.

When will it turn into "normal poop?" Only time will tell, really. I think every baby's body is different and will process waste their own way in their own time.

Sunning works very well, but you have to make sure that your diapers are wet/damp when you put them out in the sun. If they're dry, the sun doesn't do anything. Adding a bit of lemon juice helps with stains, too, I've heard.

I hope this helps! I can't really offer much else because I've only ever used pockets, so I'm not really sure if one type of diaper will stain more or less than others, but hopefully somebody else with that experience can help you out. :)

[cristeen]

I agree with Cham - solids poop stain. Especially if your kid likes blueberries. I put my guy in a brand new never worn white dipe the same day he ate half a basket of blueberries. You can still see the discoloration 6 mos later, although its faded w washing. Sunning did nothing.

As for poop being poop, that isnt quite accurate. A lot depends on the types of solids and your washer. Things w insoluble skins like beans, grapes, blueberries, those skins come out whole in the poop. I had to start spraying my dipes because after every wash load i was having to clean all those little bits of skin out of my machine. If your kid is eating purees or only soft foods that dont require chewing, you probably dont need to spray or scrape at this point. But when the poop turns chunky, you'll be able to tell the difference.

[RthyCrunchyMama]

We are in the same situation with our son.  We have introduced solids and his poop has switched from the easy to manage breastfed poop to big boy poop.  I have 3 suggestions.  

1. Diaper sprayer.  Whenever your baby poops spray off your diapers.  This will minimize staining.
2. Disposable Liners. These provide a great barrier between your diaper and poop.  Some may still get through but it really minimizes how much comes in contact wit your diapers.  You just toss them in the toilet and flush when you are done with them.  You can combine this with spraying if you want. The GroVia ones I linked too are my favorites. They are huge allowing for complete coverage (especially when using a prefold fanned out in back or snappied, or can be cut in half for twice the usage. 
3. Reusable Liners.  These can provide a barrier between your diapers and poop, while still being reusable.  They are cheap enough that if they get gross you can just toss them and get new ones.  If you don't want to buy them, you can get some microfleece and make your own.

Also I find that my flips and rumparooz stain the least.  Try a 6 hour oxyclean soak if you want to whiten them up.  Sun bleaching will also work on older kid poop. 

[Chamomile Girl]

Originally Posted by cristeen 

I agree with Cham - solids poop stain. Especially if your kid likes blueberries. I put my guy in a brand new never worn white dipe the same day he ate half a basket of blueberries. You can still see the discoloration 6 mos later, although its faded w washing. Sunning did nothing.

As for poop being poop, that isnt quite accurate. A lot depends on the types of solids and your washer. Things w insoluble skins like beans, grapes, blueberries, those skins come out whole in the poop. I had to start spraying my dipes because after every wash load i was having to clean all those little bits of skin out of my machine. If your kid is eating purees or only soft foods that dont require chewing, you probably dont need to spray or scrape at this point. But when the poop turns chunky, you'll be able to tell the difference.

That explains quite a lot.  My kid eats blueberries almost every day.  Its one of the only foods that he will reliably consume.

I also agree with the not-all-poop-is-the-same sentiment.  If I don't get all the poop off before the dipe goes into the washer my machine gets really gross.  But again, I have a front loader.  It may be different with a top loader as they use more water.

I'm still curious though:  Why does it matter if diapers get stains?  Maybe I should start a new thread on that one lol!

[stephbrownthinks]

Thank you everyone! Has anyone ever tried bac-out?

I know they're just diapers and stains shouldn't matter, but I've spent a lot so I want them to look nice. Plus if they have stains I feel like when other people change him (grandma's, babysitter) they'll feel like the diapers aren't really clean and judge me or something. Hah, I know it makes no sense. But if there is something I can do to keep them looking nice, I'll do it!

[plantnerd]

Diaper sprayer, for sure.  As his solids experience advances he'll turn out some stuff you do not want hanging out in the pail (or washer).  I spray off poop as soon as we change and have not had staining issues.