Cloth diapers. - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[laurac5]

Originally Posted by Dealea86 

I think part of the problem is that if I use too little detergent, the diapers don't get clean and they stink. If I use too much detergent, they don't get fully rinsed. I'm having a really horrible time finding that balance. And it could be that a perfect balance doesn't exist for my washer. 

Have you tried putting a soaking wet towel in with the wash?  It could be that your FL will never put in enough water, and I've heard that the towel hack effectively gets around that. Not sure if you'd want the wet towel in the wash or the rinse....

FWIW, I do 3 washes (full warm wash as a prewash, soak in that overnight, 4 hour extra-water wash with detergent, and then a full warm wash to rinse) in my washer, which is supposed to be one of the better ones for CD's.   So I could imagine on other models, you would need to do 4 or more washes.

Not to harp on drying, but I would also be sure they are dry, dry, dry when you're taking them out.  But if you're already doing that, then nevermind. :-D

I hope RLR works for you.  My understanding is that it helps with hard water, and I thought we had soft water here.  But I could be wrong, and in any case I would be glad for it to work for you.  I know how important cloth diapering is to you.

[chrissy]

I also always do 3 washes: 1st on "Sanitary" with 1/2 cap of sportwash, 2nd with vinegar, 3rd with nothing. 

[Bella Catalina]

We have CD'd our two boys and will CD this one, too. We started with BG 1.0 pockets with DS1--I think they were brand new on the market back then, and switched to fitteds with wool and PUL. My fave PUL covers are thirsties (original--haven't tried the duos)--at least for the infant stage. I still have a lot of my fitteds. My nb stash is made of GMD orange edge pf and a mix of Mutt and Bizzy B Hive nb fitteds. I've held onto these diapers and they've been passed along to two or three friends, so the elastic is shot and needs replacing (should have sold them lol). I'm not comfortable with elastin or sewing 3-step zig-zag, so I'm going to re-do them all with cased elastic.

We have hard water, and DS2 ended up in sposies at 16mths because we just couldn't get rid of the build up and rashes. A friend is using All F&C and Calgon, and has never had any problems with build up, so that's what I'll try. We have a new HE top loader and it has a sanitary cycle, so I'm hoping that will help, but I foresee dumping an extra bucket or three of water in with each diaper load.

[sere234]

Originally Posted by oikophile 

This is my first baby and I'm really curious about EC (which for most of my life I read as "emergency contraception"--gotta get used to that!). I definitely want to use cloth diapers, but I am a big believer of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, in that order. So hopefully if we do EC, that'll help with the Reduce part, and I am hoping to get a lot of cloth diapers used (either buy secondhand or hand-me-downs from friends). I'd like to keep it as simple as possible. Definitely not in buying mode yet--I'm still kind of superstitious about going all out acquiring baby/maternity stuff. :/

Glad to know all of you seem to know what you like in cloth diapers--I may come back here later with questions!

We did EC with DS and it worked until he turned a year and started walking. Apparently life was too amazing to sit still for even a minute on the toilet! I'm going to try ti again with this LO though!

[poema304]

I can't wait to start building up my stash again! I gave away most of my diapers when I thought we were done having kids, so I have a few newborn fitteds that my friend returned. I used FuzziBunz and Happy Heinys in the past, but not sure if I want to go that route again. I have a friend using Bum Genius AIO's and she absolutely loves them, so I guess that is something else to consider. 

[finnegansmom]

I love bumgenius AIOs..they are so easy.  They just came out with a new version, the 'Freetime' which is one size.  The AIOs I have are all velcro and are sized.  I generally prefer snaps as well as natural fibers and we have the BG elementals which are organic cotton inside, but my kids all have some sensitive skin issues and eczema, and sometimes I need to keep them dry down there (it doesn't help that they are usually pretty rolly down there too so moisture gets trapped).  I might order a few for my son now and if I like them order a dozen for the new baby.

[poema304]

Is the only difference between the 4.0 and the Freetime that you have to stuff the 4.0? I find it strangely therapeutic to stuff diapers ;) 

[finnegansmom]

You do have to stuff the 4.0...I don't know why but that isn't my favorite.  I have a bunch of FBs and some BG 4.0s but the FBs were handed down from my older son and I don't see them making it through 3 kids.  We always use pockets for nighttime though, with 2 big inserts and I never have a problem with that.

I like something trim and easy for the day, and with 2 in diapers it'll be nice just to grab 3 or 5 of them for an outing all the same size and not have to worry about whose is whose.

I am seriously chomping at the bit to buy diapers....ack.
 

[JudiAU]

Originally Posted by poema304 

Is the only difference between the 4.0 and the Freetime that you have to stuff the 4.0? I find it strangely therapeutic to stuff diapers ;) 

Ha. I feel the same way.

[sere234]

Originally Posted by JudiAU 

Ha. I feel the same way.

Me too! I love sorting through all the diapers and inserts and matching them up. DH knows it's MY job do fold the diapers. Relaxing!!

[finnegansmom]

Originally Posted by sere234 

Me too! I love sorting through all the diapers and inserts and matching them up. DH knows it's MY job do fold the diapers. Relaxing!!

I love folding and stacking everything up but the feeling of the pul from the inside of the diapers and handling the MF inserts isn't my fave.

when I have time I really need to go through my 14 month old's stash and see what I have, I know I've fallen into the trap of using the same ones week in and week out and there are some neglected ones on the bottom of the shelf.  Since he was supposed to be our last, I sold some off and was thinking of selling more off but I'm so glad I didn't.  My mom is going to buy us a clothesline...finally...I'm so excited.  I've wanted one since we've moved here.  I love hanging diapers out to dry in the warm sun...

[Igottafeeling]

oh, I can't wait to start on my nb stash! A woman from my local LLL that I had gotten to know a few years ago has been handing me down a few dipes. I had given her my whole stash of RRP's that btw are my favorite! (because I can make them myself for CHEAP!)  We won't find out gender and I prefer PF's for my babies for the first few months. but once I know what were having I can't wait because there are so many dipes that I'm drooling over already!

[Igottafeeling]

I wish it was half as relaxing to fold the rest of the laundry. LOL!

[finnegansmom]

Well I just made my first purchase! I got 2 dozen infant PFs and 5 covers today.  They are used but that's OK.

I also bought my 15 month old 3 Bg Freetime from kelly's closet and right now, if you spend $59 you can get a free newborn diaper, so that's on the way to me too.

I'm excited but I hope I don't end up going overboard since I still have 24+ more weeks!

[Thyme Mama]

I have cloth diapered on and off for 6 1/2 years now. More off than on. I've been feeling guilty about how little I've actually used them for years because I have this super nice stash of organic newborn fitteds, Disana covers, organic cotton one-size Imse Vimse contours, organic flats and prefolds, more Disana covers and wool Imse Vise covers. I had to be really honest with myself about why I kept going back to sposies (7th generation at least). One big practical issue has been my craptastic LG front loader. But I think that the biggest obstacle was that I am such a clean freako that I made more laundry for myself with the cloth diaper system I chose. I realized that to make cloth diapering work for our family, I need AIO's.

I decided on BumGenius Elementals and I am also going to purchase 36 newborn BumGenius dipes (my newborns usually have poop issues due to my crazy milk supply, so I go through A LOT of diapers). Since DH and I plan on having an unknown number of more children, I feel that this will save us a ton of money and be a system we can actually keep up with. My first shipment of Elementals came the other day and they are so soft! I can't wait to start using them on my 22 month old. First I have to sew some sofa covers and that will be a lot of extra washing and prepping fabric, so I won't be able to prewash the Elementals at the same time. But I look forward to easing myself back into the cloth diapering groove, guilt-free.
 

[JudiAU]

Originally Posted by Thyme Mama 

I have cloth diapered on and off for 6 1/2 years now. More off than on. I've been feeling guilty about how little I've actually used them for years because I have this super nice stash of organic newborn fitteds, Disana covers, organic cotton one-size Imse Vimse contours, organic flats and prefolds, more Disana covers and wool Imse Vise covers. I had to be really honest with myself about why I kept going back to sposies (7th generation at least). One big practical issue has been my craptastic LG front loader. But I think that the biggest obstacle was that I am such a clean freako that I made more laundry for myself with the cloth diaper system I chose. I realized that to make cloth diapering work for our family, I need AIO's.

I decided on BumGenius Elementals and I am also going to purchase 36 newborn BumGenius dipes (my newborns usually have poop issues due to my crazy milk supply, so I go through A LOT of diapers). Since DH and I plan on having an unknown number of more children, I feel that this will save us a ton of money and be a system we can actually keep up with. My first shipment of Elementals came the other day and they are so soft! I can't wait to start using them on my 22 month old. First I have to sew some sofa covers and that will be a lot of extra washing and prepping fabric, so I won't be able to prewash the Elementals at the same time. But I look forward to easing myself back into the cloth diapering groove, guilt-free.
 

Congratulations for recognizing what you needed to make it work. I like one thing, and one thing one. =)

[Carinthia]

A question for those that have experience with prefolds: Do they work well for newborns and infants? Which cover to use? Do you have to use a snappi or can you just use a cover? I used them for DS starting at age 2 and loved the simplicity of them and I didn't use a snappi with him. I need to add to my newborn/infant kl's and I'm wondering about prefolds.....they are also so much cheaper!

[kateaton]

I have a question about prefolds and covers... I've never cloth diapered before.  How many times can you use a cover before you have to wash it?  If they pee, doesn't it get wet right away?

[Thyme Mama]

Originally Posted by JudiAU 

Congratulations for recognizing what you needed to make it work. I like one thing, and one thing one. =)

Thanks!

Prefolds work great for newborns and infants, and a wrap cover is the easiest way to go. I personally don't like touching a pee soaked prefold diaper to remove it from the cover, nor do I like pulling off a pull-on style cover when there is pee or poop everywhere, so that's why I opted for AIO's.

As far as covers go, you should be able to use a cover multiple times. Most covers won't be wet even if you have a soaked diaper. Unless the cover has gotten poop or pee on it, it can be used until it gets funky somehow. It is best to rotate your covers though, that way they all get an even amount of wear and get a chance to freshen up between uses.

[finnegansmom]

I've used covers on newborns and the liquidy EBF poo tends to make the covers hard to use more than once. 

I use trifolded PFs, not snappis or pins and maybe that's why.

I love the thirsties covers, and the xs are great for newborns (even for a chunky newborn like mine are 9-10#+).

Some of the one size covers aren't quite low enough in the rise to be worn with the cord stump still attached.

Bummis newborns are great too.

I think I like to have 8 newborn covers, or at least 6.  I'm going to get a handful of the BG XS AIOs which are adorable but my babies always outgrow those within the first week or two.

After a few weeks we'll move on to One size.