New 2 cloth... Suggestions?

[bonjourmama]

I just scored some hand me down diapers. I have about 14 of them. Will this be enough to diaper my 7 month old? Should I purchase a few more?

They are bumgenius. Do they need special soap?

Thanks!

[LeighPF]

Play with them for a few weeks. How often do you need to wash? Do you want more so you can go longer between washes? 14 is not too few.

I would buy a good cloth diaper detergent as BGs (as they are known) do tend to hold residue and need to be stripped if you are not good to them. They will have suggestions on their site for care, but Country Save, Rockin Green and their own brand are all good choices.

You will need somewhere to store the diapers before washing, I like a pail (any Garbage can) and pail liners by Wammies and Planet Wise, or a large wet bag and no pail. I love cloth wipes and you can buy them, make them or repurpose baby wash clothes. Just throw them in with the diapers.

Once baby is on more than Mama milk the poop needs to go in the toilet. You can dump and scrape it out, use flushable liners (I like Bummies) or get a diaper sprayer (the best option IMO).

[FancyCloth]

I have 12 for my two year old.and we are doign just fine

howver for my  newborn I had about 24 diapers and we washed ever other day

As far as detergent there are some awesome ones I have tried..on etsy I tired a vegan friendly one

def cleans them.

As far as regular soap You should be able to use any soap you want. I never switched soaps becuase of my LOs sensative skin. you just haveto use about HALF of what the directiosn tell you and make sure you RINSE ..soap residue causes repelling, stinkies..if you ever get repelling issues you can use the blue dawn dish soap, it's gentle and mild :)

You can use this awsome chart (that I never follow but it is super helpful to know what detergents have in them and what is totally CD sfe :)

http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm

[1love4ever]

I only have 11 diapers, I started CDing when my DD was 11 months. Once in awhile I have to supplement with my disposables I have left over. I wish I had more CD's.

I have the Happy Heinys Organic one size pocket diapers, and I use the Fuzzibunz size medium hemp inserts. I really like them, except I prefer snaps, but no big deal.

I use baking soda and vinager to wash them. But after about a month they get to stinking a little after DD pees so I have to put a little bleach in the wash, then wash them again to get it out. I hate having to use bleach but its the only thing I've found that works. I would try a cloth diaper detergent like Rockin Green. I used that for a little while but it is not sold where I live. Country Save is also good I hear.

I guess I have to rant a little about certain cloth diapers. I hate it when a cloth diaper has a "stay-dry fleece" liner or inside that touches baby's skin. That is polyester, and polyester off-gasses, and is made of petroleum which depletes petroleum resources and pollutes the environment. Diapers that have hemp touching baby's skin are less likely to cause diaper rash because hemp is naturally antibacterial. I also get the Grovia Bioliners made of corn fibers that keep ALL wetness away from childs skin so there is absolutely no diaper rash, and it catches poop so you can just throw it in the toilet, and not have to rinse the diaper much, if any.

Anyway, HTH!

[littlelamb4011]

14 would probably be enough if you're washing every other day. I recommend Rockin Green soap. Since I've been using that I haven't had any buildup issues. Happy diapering!

[oma to 9]

I gave my daughter and my son a pack of Soap Nuts along with the Cloth Diapers I made for my grandchildren.  They work very well and are about as natural as you can get.  Once a month or so the mamas strip the dipes with RLR or blue Dawn detergent. 

Once out of newborn size, the One Size diapers are a favorite since they grow with baby.  My family tends to prefer the Rita's Rump Pocket since there are no snaps at all and it can just be folded to fit.  With a good fitting cover, you don't even need pins!  I made super soaker liners for the toddler nighttime terror diapers, and it went wonderfully well.  As a matter of fact, I just made some for the youngest one who is now into saving all her pee for bedtime and then letting loose with what seems like half a gallon while she sleeps.  With two 4-layer soakers made from bamboo fleece, bamboo velour and bamboo terry, there have been no - and I mean absolutely no - leak throughs, no spurting diarrhea when baby eats something their tummy isn't ready for yet, and no wet sheets in the morning. 

Just our experience.  You  can even make the RRP as an AIO but it kinda defeats the purpose of folding to fit, if you know what I mean.

Trisha, Oma to 11 now 

[1love4ever]

I have tried soap nuts too, and was so disappointed.  After just one wash, they diapers stunk and I had to strip them.  They were still extremely stained too.  So I am not stuck with a pound of them that I paide $17 for, and it was a total waste of money.  I REALLY wanted them to work because I wanted a totally natural way to wash, but this was not it

[bonjourmama]

Yikes, the soaps are sort of expensive no? Thank you for all of your suggestions!

[Nicole730]

I use Tide powdered detergent.  Works just as well as Country Save did.  I do use bleach every so often to eliminate the stink.  I use about a TBL of Tide in my front loader. And vinegar in the rinse cycle.  (then an extra rinse on top of that)

[bonjourmama]

Awesome! I am using my Tide right now too because I can't afford the new soap. Thanks mama.

[oma to 9]

That's weird.  I love my soap nuts.  I can't use many types of laundry products, and with Soap Nuts I don't react, don't break out, and best of all I don't have to use fabric softener!

For stains, you need to add something like Oxy Clean, washing soda or borax since Soap Nuts aren't the best with heavy stains.  However, I've not had any problems at all with odor since I automatically add OxyClean to hubby's work clothes or if he's out playing in the yard digging up trees or what have you.

i'm willing to buy those soap nuts from you for the $17 plus shipping if you'd like.  Let me know and I can send you paypal.  That way at least you get your money back.

Originally Posted by 1love4ever 

I have tried soap nuts too, and was so disappointed.  After just one wash, they diapers stunk and I had to strip them.  They were still extremely stained too.  So I am not stuck with a pound of them that I paide $17 for, and it was a total waste of money.  I REALLY wanted them to work because I wanted a totally natural way to wash, but this was not it