Cloth diaper questions - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[Monkey Keeper]

Wow....what a steal for FREE! Lucky mama!!

[crystal_buffaloe]

Yeah, excellent news!

[MadiMamacita]

newborn cloth rental:
I pinned this to pinterest a while back and then forgot about it. Sounds like it could be pretty cool, especially if you are on the fence about cloth or want to try out styles before committing.
http://shop.earthycrunchymama.com/collections/recently-added/products/newborn-cloth-diaper-rental

[cryswilkins]

Originally Posted by MadiMamacita 

newborn cloth rental:
I pinned this to pinterest a while back and then forgot about it. Sounds like it could be pretty cool, especially if you are on the fence about cloth or want to try out styles before committing.
http://shop.earthycrunchymama.com/collections/recently-added/products/newborn-cloth-diaper-rental

Is it really only $25?  That is a really good deal.  Some of the rental programs I have seen are way more money, so it never seamed worth it.  I haven't spent much on my NB diapers.  All of it is used, bought out of our used bin at the CD store I work at.  Most of the covers were $7 and prefolds were already prepped and $1.50 so totally worth it to me.  Plus I can resell them after I am done.  If that wasn't an option for me I could see how renting would be more cost effective at that price.

[MadiMamacita]

I'm not totally clear on how the pricing goes. There is a deposit and then a monthly charge... maybe worth looking into though. I wish we had a store like where you work!

[cryswilkins]

Even $25 a months isn't terrible.  Some of the rentals are $150 to $200!  

[MissE]

I had another question. What kind of laundry detergent to y'all use on your diapers and is a special detergent really necessary for pockets? I'm using Purex right now, with scent and everything and I would switch over to All free/clear before the baby. There are no sensitivities in this family so I'm not worried about rashes and such. I remember I used PLANET when doing cloth diapers with DS and DD diapers but I always felt like it didn't do a great job. I used ECOs (HE) shortly after but had so much suds in my machine that I often had to turn it off and start rinsing.

So, what's your recommendation, preferrably something I can buy at the store and don't have to order online.

[MadiMamacita]

i used powdered scent free Arm and Hammer, which is what I use on all our clothes anyways. I didn't find the "special" cloth diaper soaps to be any more convenient or useful, personally. I think the big things to look out for are added fabric softeners or optical brightners. Those are not good for diapers. And you use much much less than you would on your regular laundry.

[MissE]

I was standing at Walmart the other day (once ever two months I dare to go in there LOL) and had the pinstripes and polkadots chart open on what detergent is best. I think the A&H one was one of them that was recommended. I might try that out too. Thank you very much. I remember when DH was active duty military All Free and Clear was sold without brighteners at the commisary. I think they only sell it on military installations though so their camis don't fade. I used to buy that too but that was for flats, back when I started out cloth diapering.

[help007]

I LOVE Country Save detergent. I found it through the pinstripes and polka dots recommendation, and we now use if for ALL of our laundry. When we lived with hard water, we also used White King Water Softener with the Country Save.

One BIG tip for those learning about cloth diapers: DO NOT USE diaper rash creams with cloth diapers. It might be okay if you use a disposable diaper liner, but most creams will 'clog up' your diapers and make them less/not absorbent. More info here: http://pinstripesandpolkadots.com/diaperrashcreams.htm

[MissE]

Originally Posted by help007 
One BIG tip for those learning about cloth diapers: DO NOT USE diaper rash creams with cloth diapers. It might be okay if you use a disposable diaper liner, but most creams will 'clog up' your diapers and make them less/not absorbent. More info here: http://pinstripesandpolkadots.com/diaperrashcreams.htm

Hence my dawn and toothbrush scrubbing plan a few weeks ago :). I only had one diaper with rash cream on it and it came out ok but I can imagine what a mess it would be if you put it on all the diapers...oy oy oy.

[help007]

Originally Posted by MissE 

Hence my dawn and toothbrush scrubbing plan a few weeks ago . I only had one diaper with rash cream on it and it came out ok but I can imagine what a mess it would be if you put it on all the diapers...oy oy oy.

Ah, yes- that must be why I was thinking about that!!

[BRC_MacKenzie]

I'm another country save fan. I have very sensitive skin so I was worried about finding something that doesn't break me out in a rash that also works with diapers but find it with country save. And I use it on all my laundry now, I think works really great and when I visit my dad, I find myself missing it :-) I do have to order it from amazon but I use the subscribe and save (but cancel the orders because even their slowest refill is too fast for us) and buy a 4-pack so it isn't that expensive and lasts forvever. My daughter is 2 and we started using it a month or two before she was born and we still have 2 boxes of our second 4 pack left. 

Also, I never really had any serious diaper rash issue when using cloth but a few times she pooped in the middle of the night and got a bit rashy so I used just a smidge of coconut oil, let it sink it then rediapered her and never had any repellent issues with our dipes. 

[katt]

Another Cloth Diaperer here too.  We CD from birth.  Most of my stash is a hodge-podge of different styles: prefolds, fitteds, pockets, AIO, etc...  

I agree with other posters that if you are using a public laundry and you are happy with what you are doing atm, then, it might be less of a headache to keep on with what works, you know?

But, having said that I LOVE my diapers.  My stash has been collected via CL's finds, my sewing machine and donations.  A lot of my stash that is aio and fitteds are from a friend who is done with diapers and gave them to me.  I like my prefolds and a cover, or fitteds and wool.  I've got a lovely stash of newborn woolies.  :D  awwwww... so sweet and soft.

I've had to figure out a new wash system everytime we moved and I had access to a new washing machine.  I used the Pinstripes and Polkadots site to pick out detergents.  I've used Country Save when I used an HE washer and then continued to use it on my wipes after my DS was done with diapers.  That little box has lasted for like 4 years!  

tips i've learned

-PUL likes hot water, it's made for hot water, don't be afraid of hot water and PUL

-NO diaper cream (i think there may be one or two out there that is safe for cloth, but i'm not sure which ones they are

-PF dry faster then fitteds and AIOs

-strictly bf poo is water soluble and can go directly in the wash

-once your kid starts eating solids and fruit skins (grapes, blueberries etc...) make sure you get the skins into the toilet when they come out the other end cause they can stick to the sides of the washer.

[MadiMamacita]

Originally Posted by katt 

-once your kid starts eating solids and fruit skins (grapes, blueberries etc...) make sure you get the skins into the toilet when they come out the other end cause they can stick to the sides of the washer.

yeah, and peas, and beans, and lentils... I had forgotten about that!