cloth diaper question

[IncaMama]

sooo...how do you clean the nasty poos? do you rinse them off first somewhere? just throw 'em in the laundry all poopy?

how many would i need to start? what kind should i use to start?

i wanna start. LOL

[Minoh]

We rinse poopy diapers in the toilet first, then soak them in cold water. Don't use hot water because that might set the stain - so I was told. We put all of the diapers in a diaper pail with water and vinegar to soak until washing day. Then we do a pre-rinse first, then wash with hot water, soap and vinegar. Any stained diapers can be hung in the sun and will bleach within a day (it's amazingly effective!).

We've found using cloth diapers to be quite easy and we just have to make sure to do a load of wash within about 3-4 days. We have about 30 diapers at the moment, but one of the kinds is getting to be a bit small. But I'd say have at least 12 to start, which would give you at least 2 days worth of diapers. If you like them, 24 is a good number, IMO.

We really like the Motherease diapers because the covers are super leak-proof and the diapers are one-size, so they're a good investment. I'd like to get some Fuzzi Bunz to try when he outgrows the smaller ones, or some similar AIOs.

HTH and good luck!

[Geofizz]

Pre-solids poos go into the wash as is. I wash this way:

Cycle 1: Hot wash, cold rinse. 1T detergent, 1/4 c baking soda
Cycle 2: Hot wash, cold rinse. 1/2 c vinegar

I've got about 35 prefolds, washing every 2.5-3 days.

[IncaMama]

what's a prefold? LOL! i'm so clueless.
there are kinds where you need a cover and kinds where it's all in one, right?

[Geofizz]

prefold The most basic diaper. Needs pins or a Snappi. (There are covers where you can just fold the prefold and put it all on together, but my experience is that as soon as they start wiggling at 2 minutes old, the diaper's in the wrong spot.) Prefolds need covers.

"All in ones" go on like a disposible -- cover and absorption are all together. They are a lot easier, but a lot pricier and take a whole lot longer in the dryer.

There are a bazillion variations in between. "fitteds" "pockets" are some of the things that I put between prefolds and aios.

[birthjunkie27]

Michele, I was new to CD for this baby as well and now I feel like an old pro.

I've tried using diapers and covers and I'm now switching over to an ALL Fuzzibunz stash for sake of simplicity. That, and Samara is now such a little wiggle worm that it's takes forever for me to get a diaper and then a cover on her.

I like this website. It gives you an idea of what everything is. Prefolds, fitteds, AIO's and pockets. http://store.naturalbabies.com/products/

My wash routine:

I don't rinse poopy diapers yet, since she's exclusively bf she only has creamy poops anyways. Once solids start, I'll dump the solid poop into the toilet and maybe rinse with our showerhead (it's detachable) into the toilet.

I throw all diapers into the pail (which I have lined with a MOE bag like this ~
http://www.heinyking.com/catalog.php?category=24) . On wash day I just take the diapers, bag and all and put them in the washer on a COLD soak/wash. Then I do a HOT wash with a tiny bit of Tide detergent. Drier for one cycle then I'm done! I will admit though that some of the diapers take longer than once cycle to dry (another reason I'm going all Fuzzibunz, they dry quickly).

[mariposita]

prefolds are standard flat diapers, the cheapest way to go for cloth diapering. we used unbleached chinese prefolds (see the thread on our ddc a couple of days ago for a co-op). i use wraps with mine - different kinds.

we EC so i rarely deal with poopy diapers, but with carter we just tossed them in as is and didn't launder any special way. well, we used less detergent. but we wash them with all of our regular clothes anyhow. and since we have the tiniest washing machine in the world they get cleaned often.

i say keep it simple at first, then you can branch out. we all know how you get obsessed about these things (slings, anyone?) LOL by the way, i get obsessed too.

[mkoontz]

[QUOTE=Geofizz]Pre-solids poos go into the wash as is. I wash this way:

Cycle 1: Hot wash, cold rinse. 1T detergent, 1/4 c baking soda
Cycle 2: Hot wash, cold rinse. 1/2 c vinegar


I wash kinda like this too. I dry pail, then leave then to soak in cold water overnight in washing machine. The cold wash with very little detergent and then hot wash.

But I've got questions.... I've tried using vinegar and it STINKS. I'm using white vinegar, should I use something elce? I usually have to rinse it about 5 times after I use it.

And what is the baking soda for? I don't use that, but maybe I should???

[birthjunkie27]

I use vinegar when the diapers start to stink. Like for example, my 3 yo Ds uses Fuzzibunz at night for sleeping and recently they've begun having a HORRID odor when he pees in it (and since it's overnight, it's a lot of pee). I SWEAR he has poop, but nope. The diaper just smells so dang bad when he pees in it. Anyways....in this case I put vinegar into the COLD soak/wash cycle. And then Tide in the hot wash. I HATE the smell of vinegar so I don't use it in the final wash. I don't want the diapers to end up stinking like vinegar.

[IncaMama]

LOL andrea!!
ok...i'm gonna read up on it some more...i'd like to start cheap to see if it's even something i can keep up with.

[kofduke]

Hey Michelle - I have a few prefolds, a few fitteds, and a few AIO's - I don't CD exclusively (as you know) but try and keep up with it at home. I just throw everything in the wash, hot wash cold rinse 2X with detergent the first time, and then dry, but I'm not trying to keep anything perfect...if you wanna see the next time we get together I'll bring some stuff over.

[Geofizz]

Originally Posted by mkoontz

But I've got questions.... I've tried using vinegar and it STINKS. I'm using white vinegar, should I use something elce? I usually have to rinse it about 5 times after I use it.

And what is the baking soda for? I don't use that, but maybe I should???

Try another rinse cycle.

{Chemistry lecture}
The baking soda helps get the pee and poop (acidic; low pH) into the wash water and out of the diapers. Detergent works best under basic conditions, but adding all that pee makes the water too acidic for the detergent to work. The baking soda makes the wash liquid more basic (higher pH).

Now I've got a lot of basic stuff in my diapers. Some of the detergent and baking soda are left behind even after 2 rinse cycles. To get that stuff into the wash water, I need to lower the pH again to get the basic-loving stuff into solution and rinse it away.
{/Chemistry lecture}

[iris0110]

I use all pockets now for both boys. When I just had Kearnan I used all AIO's. I don't like to fuss with diapers and covers, plus I don't like the bulk. I use almost all fb's for Kearnan, and almost all Bumgenius and Green Acre Designs pockets for Tharen.

Right now while Tharen is exclusively breastfed I just toss the poopies in the pail, no dumping or anything. For Kearnan I dump off all of the solids, and then toss the dipe into the pail. I use a dry pail, so just the pail with a reuseable liner. On wash day (I wash everyday) I toss pail liner and all into the machine. I do one cold soak with white vinegar, then a pre rinse. If Kearnan had any nasty poopies that I couldn't dump off I give it another cold soak with more vinegar, if not I move on to washing. I hot wash with Allen's Naturally detergent. Everything else I tried either caused build up on the fleece and made the diapers repell fluid, or left the diapers stinky. After the hotwash I run them again on warm/warm with a tiny bit of simple green to help them smell better. I do one extra warm rinse. Then I hang the bumgenius and PUL diapers to dry (they take about an hour to air dry) and toss the inserts into the dryer. Then I restuff everythign so it is ready to go when I need it. They are as easy to put on at changing time as disposables.

For Tharen I need about 3 dozen pocket diapers. I can have less, but then it is really tight if I can't wash every day. If I have between 3 and 4 dozen I can wash every other day, but the washing machine gets kind of full, because Kearnan is still using diapers too. But at least if he has lots of poopies one day or something I still have plenty of diapers. And I am covered if I can't wash one day for whatever reason.

ETA: If you have hard water do not use baking soda, or washing soda. It will cause your diapers to repel, especially if you use pocket diapers, or fleece topped doubler or soakers. Hard water and baking soda are a huge no-no.

[Turtlemum]

Hey Michelle,

I've posted this before but I'll post again because I can't say enough about the Motherease diapers! I've worked with many CDing moms and some (not all) stop because they find it confusing, overwhelming etc. Most have a learning curve and are just fine (so whatever route you go - you'll be fine - especially with the support here on MDC!). So, when I noticed that moms that used Motherease LOVED them and said they were as easy as disposables, I pick that brand...

I have 24 diapers.
They fit all sizes (folding and snaps allows going from newborn to toddler with ease)
Each diaper comes with a liner to use when baby gets older and pees bigger amounts (these snap in)
I have four covers (which can be used four or five times before needing to be washed)
This package is around $350 (I think) Canadian (on her website she has US pricing) and well worth it.

I rinse the poos off with my detachable shower head and then put them in a pail with water and a bit of detergent (or borax or vinegar).
My sister used these as well and never rinsed the bf poos...

I have a VERY small apartment sized washer and do laundry every 3 days.
I put the diapers in the machine, add detergent, turn on normal wash cycle and THAT IS ALL.
When they are done I hang them to dry (which takes about 4 hours)

I LOVE THESE DIAPERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They are high quality, EASY, and UNCOMPLICATED!!!!!!!!!

I highly recommend them!!!!!

Just google Motherease diapers...

PM me if you have questions.

Kelli

[Minnow_]

We have about 30 prefolds and 6 covers, plus some fuzzibunz that we use at night. We got almost everything used, off the trading post here.

We wash diapers about every other day. We rinse off poopie diapers using the Mini Shower before we put them in the diaper pail.

I've actually found that cloth diapering doesn't seem to eat up a lot of time work - yes, it's more laundry to do, but it's not like you have to fold or iron it!

[aisraeltax]

omg michelle! this is so exciting that you are considering it!!!
i haven't read the rest of the posts yet, so i may be repeating but just to let you know...i did the calculations yesterday and if we had purchased disposables when Ethan was born up to yesterday, we would already have spent MORE than we have in small diapers! yeh me! that doesnt include the mediums i have been buying, but i havent sold all my smalls yet either!!!

right now i dont clean the nasty poos...i throw everything from the diaper bag to the washer (i take out the inserfs from the pocket diapers, but you dont have to...most of them come out during the wash). once he starts eating solids, i think i will dump in the toilet but i have another 3-4 months for that.

to start? at this stage, if i were you i woudl get some fuzzybunz mediums (what size is she) and go from there. here is what i use right now:

prefolds with wool covers (i knitted myself mostly)... i use these for when i want him to air out. mostly i dont use the covers at home b/c i just change him when he gets wet.

fuzzybunz (fb's) these are my favorites for going out b/c they are a bit trim, depending on what you insert them with. check out cottonbabies.com for a 10% discount and free shipping with "mothering" as the coupon code. fb's are about $14 bn.

ecobaby one size. these are awesome for overnight. i love them and usually dont even put a cover on them. i bought them bn but from a mama on ttp so i got a great price but they are very awesome diapers.

i have about 30 extra "diaper basics" that are size med.s that i use on days i do wash (i dont go through all his diapers in 3 days but i hate to use the "good" diapers while the diapers are in the laundry, b/c then i know i wont have them for 3 more days...its a psychological thing with me).

i have various other fitted. i have several MUTTS but they are huge and if i had it to do over again, i wouldnt buy them. they are cute though.

i dont have AIO's anymore but had some Rumpsters (still have them, trying to sell them). they are expensive and not worth it to me when fb's do the job great. plus, they take a ton of time to dry and i hate watching them get destroyed by the dryer, kwim??

washing is simple!! here is what i do:
put them all in a cold water wash. add baking soda (set my washer on 2 rinese and heavy duty wash)
after thats done, set my wash to hot water, add about 2 tsp. of Tide and a downy ball 1/2 full of vinegar and start the wash again.
remove the fb outers and anything that has stains on it (less now that i use the vinegar and bs) to be hung on the laundry thing a majig (you know what i mean, those things that you can hang laundry to dry on) in the kids' bathroom that has a large window for sunning.
usually takes 2 dryer cycles to dry everything (its the inserts and ecobaby dipes that are the culprits).

hope i helped...now i get to go see what everyone else said!!

rach

[birthjunkie27]

I just got a shipment of 6 fb's from Cottontail Baby today. I LOVE getting fluffy mail! And they're oh so buttery soft. Yummmmmm

[aisraeltax]

i scored on some used fb's (was going to buy new but couldnt pass up this bargain) but did place an order with cottonbabies a few days ago for some yummy wool covers taht were on sale. check out their "sale" and "clearance" sections (cant remember which one). MAJOR deals!!!

[aisraeltax]

michelle,
wonder why im hanging aroudn here all day like this? if so, check out the UTN coop!! wnat to get this over with!

one thing i forgot to mention is that i was having a conversation with a friend of mine (whose dd just got out of sposies) and i really do not think cd's take me more time than sposies. i never have to run to the store b/c im running out of diapers...i never have to look for coupons for diapers like i did with ds2 (they ARE expensive). DH likes it b/c i deal with all the wash and i never call him and ask him to pick diapers up on the way home.

as for leaks, i have rarely had a problem. i had more of a problem with sposies. the only prob. is that i tend not to put covers on E and dh will pick him up and get upset if he gets his shirt wet. GET OVER IT ALREADY!!!

[judybean]

I could talk cloth All Day Long. Seriously. :

I could give you a dissertation on all types of diapers because I've tried all kinds.

(and really, if you want to get technical, the absolute cheapest route is to get birdseye flats -- but not the gerber kind... get good ones from diaperware or another quality site ... flats are one-size -- typically 28 x 28 I think? -- so they're good for all your babe's diapering days... and you can customize folds the way you want, they're snappi-able or pinnable of course, they wash up easily and dry in no time.... blah, blah, blah... http://www.gumbush.com has some good stuff about flats and prefolds)

Anyway... if you're at all sewing inclined, they're actually really easy to make and it's fun : ... really! Gosh.. I'd love for you to have success with cloth, because it's totally attainable!!! Let me know if you need anything at all... I have all kinds of dipes that I'm trying to get rid of (because I' making my own now and don't need nearly the amounts of fluff we have!)

Eventually, you'll figure out what you like and don't like. Me? I didn't like the Mother-Ease one-size diapers. At All. Now, I *LOVE* their air-flow covers, but didn't like the diapers.

I go on diapering style kicks that go along with the weather (and the saying in WY is, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change!")... so, basically I'm all over the place.

Right now I hate fleece. So I hate pockets (sure, I *could* make some pockets lined in velour -- can you say totally luxurious?! -- but I'm making AIOs instead). I like fitteds, but I'm still working on finding a pattern that I like to make some with. I've made up my own front-snapping pattern and I like it well enough, but just haven't taken the time to make more.

I'm all about All-in-Ones right now. I make them in the http://www.verybaby.com Very Baby style. They have an internal soaker and aplix (like velcro) closures. Basically, they look and function exactly like a disposable diaper -- except that you wash them!!! If you were to buy these diapers they can certainly get pricey, but if you make them... gosh.. it's darn cheap (well, speaking in terms of cost-of-materials.. this doesn't count time and such).

Gosh... I could go on all day long. But I'm probably all over the place on this and giving you way more than you need or care to know....

Oh.. and for our wash routine? I don't rinse anything. I don't soak anything. I'm probably the laziest washer there is. But I like to keep things simple. I'd rather do other things than monitor my diaper laundry all day!!!

With Katherine, I hold the diaper over the toilet, and anything that rolls, plops off goes down the toilet. Then the diaper gets tossed in the washable bag. All Lucy's diapers go straight in there. Lucy's diapers do get stains, but come on! They're DIAPERS!!! They're designed to catch poop. If stains *do* bother you, sun them. The sun is *awesome*, especially on bf poo!

On wash day (every other day), I put in 1/4 of the recommended amount of detergent, dump some vinegar in the spout for fabric softener, and wash on hot with an extra cold rinse.

Then everything goes in the dryer on hot. I'll see people hanging out their PUL covers in hopes of 'sparing' them from the heat and damage, but actually the heat is *good* for PUL in helping to keep the seal there. Really. Sure, it might not be good for elastic, but it's good for the PUL

hm... and that's all. (that's all? )

If you have any questions, I would *love* to help out!!! I truly love using cloth diapers and want everybody else in the whole dang world to love them too!!!