Making Diapers - Page 2

[jillybeans]

I get the dye at Joann's. I think a package is like $1.99 and I could dye up to 5 infant prefolds depending on how dark I wanted them. I now have 36 beautiful prefolds, which I'll probably sell.

[raismama]

Originally Posted by Leilalu

Well since you are planning ahead, just plan to have enough covers to not have to use the g-diaper. .

I'll be using my gdiaper covers, not the gdiaper insert, since we already have them, and I'd hate for them to go to waste.

[ripcurlgirl26]

We have a couple G-diaper covers and I don't think that they would work well for prefolds. The problem is - and this might be b/c I have an older version of them? - that the cotton outer fabric meets the PUL on the inside of the cover, so it will wick badly to the outside if it gets wet at all.

My suggestion is to buy some PUL and make your own covers, or invest in a couple really nice wool covers. Those will have more stretch and waterproofing than the G-diaper covers.

[MonP'titBoudain]

Originally Posted by ripcurlgirl26

My suggestion is to buy some PUL and make your own covers, or invest in a couple really nice wool covers. Those will have more stretch and waterproofing than the G-diaper covers.

The PUL covers are a little more complicated to make so if that sounds intimidating (or if you're a total novice) you might try making some bum sweaters out of recylced wool sweaters. Again, I hit the bag sales at the thrift so whenever I find wool then I toss it in, but I'm willing to spend a little money for 100% wool too. Men's sweaters give you the most bang for your buck... or old army blankets (which are usually already felted, too). For a small baby you can get 1 pair of longies (or try these if your sweater is smaller) and 2 bum sweaters from 1 wool sweater (although how far your wool will go will depend on how big your child is and how big your sweater is). I think the best part of wool is that you can get away with as few as three covers per size cause they don't have to be washed nearly as often as PUL or fleece. I wash mine only once a month. I have a friend who washes hers even less (of course they aren't soiled, then you just have to wash them straight off). hth!

[melibee]

NAK
We've used the g-diaper covers with prefolds and didn't have any trouble.
Good luck!

[raismama]

I hate to sound like an idiot, but what is PUL?

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by raismama

I hate to sound like an idiot, but what is PUL?

polyuerathane laminate
http://www.sewzannesfabrics.com/pul-...elaminate.html

People normally use the 1 mil when making diapers and covers.

[raismama]

Oh, I knew that

[lilkat]

OK, time to expose my total ignorance: it never occured to me to use anything but disposable plastic diapers until joining this group. I had no idea how many alternatives there are! But it's all a little overwhelming. To top it all off, DH totally balked the one time I brought up cloth diapers. I joked to him, "You didn't know you married a hippy, did you?", but the look on his face told all. We are both very new to all this. So, is there like an idiot's guide to cloth diapers out there that can explain really simply what some of the options are? And do any of you have advice on how to help DH be a little more open-minded? And what other advice would you have for a first-time mama whose used to the main-stream? I've already started trying to navigate the vax vs. anti-vax debate (whew!), and I imagine there are any number of other alternatives out there. MDC is a great resource, but even here some things are a little over my head... Thanks!

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by lilkat

OK, time to expose my total ignorance: it never occured to me to use anything but disposable plastic diapers until joining this group. I had no idea how many alternatives there are! But it's all a little overwhelming. To top it all off, DH totally balked the one time I brought up cloth diapers. I joked to him, "You didn't know you married a hippy, did you?", but the look on his face told all. We are both very new to all this. So, is there like an idiot's guide to cloth diapers out there that can explain really simply what some of the options are? And do any of you have advice on how to help DH be a little more open-minded? And what other advice would you have for a first-time mama whose used to the main-stream? I've already started trying to navigate the vax vs. anti-vax debate (whew!), and I imagine there are any number of other alternatives out there. MDC is a great resource, but even here some things are a little over my head... Thanks!

Go visit the diapering board And the diaper making board. Seriously. When I decided to switch, I spent like 3 days straight online figuring stuff out.Go to every diapering link in the archives, or what people are talking about so you can see what's out there.Diapering services are always and option but it can be so much cheaper, and more fun(think cute diapers as opposed to prefolds and flats only.) to have your own.

[raismama]

I very much agree with lilkat. Before I started asking around on here I knew a tiny bit, but these ladies in this ddc, and on the diapering board have really helped out a lot. Granted I still don't know everything, but I know enough to get me going for now.

[Leiahs]

Originally Posted by lilkat

OK, time to expose my total ignorance: it never occured to me to use anything but disposable plastic diapers until joining this group. I had no idea how many alternatives there are! But it's all a little overwhelming. To top it all off, DH totally balked the one time I brought up cloth diapers. I joked to him, "You didn't know you married a hippy, did you?", but the look on his face told all. We are both very new to all this. So, is there like an idiot's guide to cloth diapers out there that can explain really simply what some of the options are? And do any of you have advice on how to help DH be a little more open-minded? And what other advice would you have for a first-time mama whose used to the main-stream? I've already started trying to navigate the vax vs. anti-vax debate (whew!), and I imagine there are any number of other alternatives out there. MDC is a great resource, but even here some things are a little over my head... Thanks!

I know there are other "cloth diaper newbie" resources out there, but I don't feel like expending the energy to track them down right now, lol. So here is the first one I found, which is pretty comprehensive and may give you a good idea of what kind of things you want to learn more about:
http://www.cottonbabies.com/clothdiapers.php

I started cloth diapering my son when he was about 6 months old. I had been thinking about it for months, asked advice from other posters on my more mainstream board who used cloth diapers, and just read as much as I could read for a long time. I finally decided to go with the advice of prefolds/covers plus Fuzzi Bunz for nighttime. I ended up very much liking the Fuzzi Bunz over the prefold/cover combo, and bought another dozen and made Fuzzi Bunz my almost exclusive stash. I kept the prefolds and covers as backups.

I was feeling like it would be an overwhelming jump to go from disposables to cloth, but you know, I LOVED the choice. It actually became my favorite chore (from a girl who HATES chores!) to wash those diapers. Taking them nice and soft and clean out of the dryer just made me feel so proud and good, I loved it. It's not so exciting anymore, now that I've got a 2 year old and the diapers are showing their age (I reeeeally need to replace some elastic, bleh), but I'm also really looking forward to cloth diapering a newborn.

[Leilalu]

Another thing to consider is skin. Some babies are very sensitive skinned, and can't really be in a PUL for too long. So fitted diapers and wool covers are a great option then.
Some like the ease of washing for prefolds, some hate the folding! Depending on budget, cute fitteds are fun. Wool covers are easy to wash, and fun to use. Diapers like Very Baby All in Ones are easy for other people to use, as they velrco, and don't require a cover. We are going to use pockets at night this time around, as you can stuff them as much as needed. So I would suggest looking at all different sites to really get a feel for what is out there before you decide to either make diapers, or invest in them

[AllisonK]

You guys have me so excited to try diapers. I am going to hit the good will outlet and get some sheets and such for insides and then use up my fabric stash on the outsides. I cannot wait to have some sewing time.

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by AllisonK

You guys have me so excited to try diapers. I am going to hit the good will outlet and get some sheets and such for insides and then use up my fabric stash on the outsides. I cannot wait to have some sewing time.

that's great

I am usign up old doublers (additional inserts) from old diapers for the pocket diapers I make. I am also going to try to recycle some prefitteds(sewn from prefolds, use a snappi with them)by adding new elastic and serging them again.Trying to cut corners where I can so I can make the really sute stuff I want.

I actually just ordered my own snap press and got a great deal, by joining a yahoo co-op group for them.

I also plan to make some fitteds solely out of scrap fabric in my stash.

[lilkat]

Thanks for the help and suggestions!

[AllisonK]

So I could not wait to sew a diaper and tried one last night. I made a L for DD. I used a old towel for the inner and a sewn in soaker. The inside is pink fleece and the outside is a pretty blue with green and yellow daisy flowers. I am horrible that I don't want to read the directions so I am kind of winging it. I made my own pattern by tracing one I kind of like and altering it to what I wanted. I have not sewn it together yet though as I could not figure out how to put the elastic in there. So nap time today I will be reading directions for the elastic. I will try and post pics when I am done.

And a question: I can use fleece for the inside right? I have these fleece liners that I throw on her now when I think she is going to poop or when I need to put some ointment on her. I thought why not just make it all fleece.

[salt_phoenix]

hahaha @ "married a hippy"

Both my prev. kids were cloth diapered in one form or another, a service for a while, prefolds, covers, home-made covers, good old fashion cotton do it yourselves with "rubber pants" and giant baby safety pins... lol... so it never occurred to me anything else...
When I first got pg. it DID occur to me that dh is pretty young and i KNOW no one in his family (save his gmas) cloth diapered their babies, so I said to him:
"What goes through your mind when I say 'cloth diapers'?"
DH: "hippies"
Me: : "Well, at least you are on board."

He's terrified of cloth diapers...hahahaha. When I showed him that he didn't have to impale the baby with a giant pin, and that there are many alternatives to disposables, he warmed up... I asked him if he'd rather be wearing cotton or plastic on his bottom, it became pretty clear how it was going to go...hahaha Sometimes his discovery period is the cutest thing I HAVE about being pg. again.

I'm excited to make some cute covers out of crazy prints... I enjoy sewing those.... sure makes a few disposable diapering moms reconsider, if for nothing but the "fashion statement"

[lilkat]

Originally Posted by salt_phoenix

I asked him if he'd rather be wearing cotton or plastic on his bottom, it became pretty clear how it was going to go...hahaha

What a great way to re-frame the discussion! Thanks

[patchynurse]

New conceptions has good cd patterns. I have used then and made some pretty good diapers. I am trying a whole lot of different things before I commit myself to any brand or method. But I prefer the wool covers. I got a lot of 26 DSQ prefolds and 6 wool covers on craigslist for 50.00.