What am I doing wrong?

[crazyeight]

I wish I could see the future. I have spent SOOO much on diapers and STILL don't have enough!! PLUS I am having a hard time getting them to work.

All in all I have completely made 6 good looking, useable diapers (oh it feels like so much more...). Today I finally sewed the sides in like the FB's do so that the microfleece and the PUL are lined up and not wicking through to the clothes. I put it back on ds and it STILL leaked prematurly (not as badly, nor as quickly). The ONLY thing I can think of is that the over tabs (i use touchtape not snaps) are too long and don't have enough touchtape on them. I noticed that when i took the diaper off the little ends that wrap around from the front to the side were sticking out/falling down and that the touchtape although comepletely attached, couldn't hold that up and that when ds stands up theres a small opening in the front where his belly isn't snug to the diaper. So I am going to try shortening my tabs and sewing on another inch of touchtape.

Did anyone else have this problem? Also please note that i didn't buy a diaper patter. I bought a FB, traced it with an extra 1/2 in for seams and then used that.

I would love to give up and just buy FB's cause I am so tired and worn out from this pregnancy AND I have gone through yet ANOTHER bag of sposies that I didn't want to. Its not saving me money when I buy cloth diapers AND sposies!! Plus I still want to get cloth for new dd...and times running out to make my own!!

Oh please help....

[tree_hugger]

I'm sorry I can't help. I'm new to nappy making also, and still waiting for it to be satisfying and enjoyable.

[Kari_mom]

Today I finally sewed the sides in like the FB's do so that the microfleece and the PUL are lined up and not wicking through to the clothes. I put it back on ds and it STILL leaked prematurly (not as badly, nor as quickly).

Try washing and drying the pocket diaper on hot to seal up the needle holes, it should help. Also make sure you have a good absorbant stuffer inside. Is the stuffer saturated when you change? Add more stuffing. Barely damp? Make sure your diaper fits well around the legs and that the inner lining is wicking and not repelling.

HTH! Come back and let us know if you still have problems.

[amysuen]

What are you using to stuff your dipe? IME more than half the leaking issues are really absorbancy issues. Maybe your stuffins aren't absorbing quickly enough or holding enough liquid??

[fek&fuzz]

When I first started making diapers, the urine would pool and then leak out. After a few washes in hot, they are absorbing wonderfully. Wash them a few more times. And, there are lots of free patterns in the sticky at the top of the page.

[crazyeight]

I am using 2 liners that are 2 layers of flannel and 2 layers of terry (and for some reason i "feel" that i must put the terry layers down and the flannel "up")

The last time i changed him when it had leaked (i am still bouncing back and forth between sposies and cloth) the inserts weren't completely wet BUT they were more wet than before I had sewn in the legs. its just odd that sometimes it would work and sometimes it wouldn't. the few days i tried these on vacation they mostly worked except at night (i swear i could NOT get a big enough diaper for him to not wet through )

so i will try hot water after i sewn the tabs a little shorter. i hope i can get that done today so i can try them out or i am going to have to go buy more sposies.

i will keep you updated. thanks for the suggestions!!

[fek&fuzz]

You might need more layers in the soaker. I use 6-8 layers of flannel and 2 of terry, or 3 of terry and 4-5 flannel.

[crbyard]

From your description, I think it may truly be an issue with proper fit. I know what you mean about the sagging area causing the legs not to be snug. I have been using the Very Basic AIO pattern and had lots of leaking issues myself. Topstitching around the elastic as it sounds like you have done does help tremendously. I actually extended the length of the elaticized legs almost completely from the top of the leg hole to the bottom. Ultimately, however, I found that I had to just wait a couple of months for my babe to grow some thighs! She has finally gotten chunky enough to make the leg holes snug and we are having much better luck. One question -- are these pocket diapers like the Fuzzi Bunz you copied? If so, what kind of fleece are you using as the liner? I had horrible problems with Malden Mills Microfleece and have since switched to JoAnn's. The combo of my daughter growing and my fleece choices has made our diapers suddenly work.

[kc7fid]

i did the same thing and had the same probs, but finally i boiled my diapers because of stink issues and there has not been any leaking since! i think they just needed that extra heat to seal the holes. Good Luck