The official May babies in Cloth thread! - Page 8

[lotus.blossom]

Sounds like you got a good stash started kelly!

I was trying to think of what fitteds I liked and I can't think of many. The thing about most fitteds is that the leg holes have that puckered edge and I found it to be super bulky under a cover. I have a half dozen WAHM no name fitteds that i LOVE because they have a gusset but none of that extra bulk around the legs. Its just simply elastic. I wish I knew what they were! Looks like the thirsties don't have that bulk either, but they do have the microfleece. There are SO many variables with diapers!! Thats why its good to just try out a few before you drop cash on a system. I'm so glad I went through a lot of (preowned) diapers for my DS. I was able to determine that swaddlebees were a great fit, Fuzzi Bunz were a good fit but they stunk, Happy Heiny's leaked nb poo out the leg holes, BG's (v 1.0) were AWEFUL for leaks but the fit was good at around 6 months or so. Wonderoos were too wide in the crotch as were Snap Ez.... and on and on and on. Thank goodness for buying and selling used!

[Madalyn]

My diapers came in the mail today! :

I have a few washing questions though. When I try to google I'm mostly getting stuff about prepping unbleached prefolds, but mine are bleached.

1- Do I use detergent every time I prep-wash them or is it more about the heat of the water? And do I need to dry them after each wash or can I wash them a few times in a row then dry them once?

2- I read you can boil them on the stove instead of using the washer. Does anybody use that method to prep them?

3- What about the covers? I was guessing I only need to wash those once but what temp should the water be for them? Could I just toss them in with the prefolds one time on hot or would that be too harsh on them?

I'm SUCH a newbie. I've never known anybody who uses cloth and now I know that all the pics I've seen online have been of already washed ones. I did not realize they came so thin and flat!! I was panicking I'd bought the wrong thing lol.

[the_lissa]

I just washed them a lot without detergent, but I haven't tried boiling.

[JoyfulJaime]

Dh is picking up our diaper stash this Saturday :-) I'm so excited! I have a little one who is still in diapers so we kinda needed to buy another stash because I can't predict when our littlest will be out of diapers.

So with our son we have:

22 Wonderoos Pocket Diapers
2 FuzziBunz Pocket Diapers

and for the new baby:

32 Motherease Bamboo One size (<-- am I the only one who *loves* these?)
10 Motherease Bamboo snap in liners^
4 Motherease covers
2 Aristcrats Wool Covers
1 Nikki Wool Cover

We plan to EC with this one again so we don't really need a smack load of covers as I don't cover them up in the house.

We should have a thread for pictures of our stashes once we've got them all! :-) I love seeing all the different kind of cloth out there!

[lotus.blossom]

I just checked out the motherease, Jaime, and they look pretty awesome, and a great price!! Another example of a non leg flared fitted! I may have to try some out when my little guy gets bigger. Seems like they might be really bulky on a newborn though.

[nigellas]

ME OS diapers are great, but they are really big.

-----------
I'm just about done diaper shopping for this guy. I went with small sized diapers since I expect him to be smallish (my last son was 35 weeks, 5 lbs - and my doctor expects this one to be early too.)

-9 Swaddlebees Organic Velour Newborn Fitteds
-6 Preemie prefolds
-3 covers
-5 XS Fuzzi Bunz
-8 Bum Genius AIO XS

I also have a ton of OS diapers that my toddler is currently in, so if I run short I can use those in a pinch.

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by Madalyn

My diapers came in the mail today! :

I have a few washing questions though. When I try to google I'm mostly getting stuff about prepping unbleached prefolds, but mine are bleached.

1- Do I use detergent every time I prep-wash them or is it more about the heat of the water? And do I need to dry them after each wash or can I wash them a few times in a row then dry them once?

2- I read you can boil them on the stove instead of using the washer. Does anybody use that method to prep them?

3- What about the covers? I was guessing I only need to wash those once but what temp should the water be for them? Could I just toss them in with the prefolds one time on hot or would that be too harsh on them?

I'm SUCH a newbie. I've never known anybody who uses cloth and now I know that all the pics I've seen online have been of already washed ones. I did not realize they came so thin and flat!! I was panicking I'd bought the wrong thing lol.

I just finished prepping my prefolds, which were bleached Chinese. I was so taken aback at how flat they were, too, haha.

I washed in hot and dried with every wash-- because I heard that it's the drying that really does the work, anyway, and with the bleached you don't need so much washing. I used detergent with the first wash, none of the subsequent washes. I just ran them through four times: wash (with det), dry, wash, dry, wash, dry, wash, dry. They are amazingly soft, fluffy, and absorbent now-- not at ALL like they were before.

I'm excited, haha.

Should be getting the fitteds and covers in the mail on Friday.

[~Katie~]

Originally Posted by Madalyn

My diapers came in the mail today! :

I have a few washing questions though. When I try to google I'm mostly getting stuff about prepping unbleached prefolds, but mine are bleached.

1- Do I use detergent every time I prep-wash them or is it more about the heat of the water? And do I need to dry them after each wash or can I wash them a few times in a row then dry them once?

2- I read you can boil them on the stove instead of using the washer. Does anybody use that method to prep them?

3- What about the covers? I was guessing I only need to wash those once but what temp should the water be for them? Could I just toss them in with the prefolds one time on hot or would that be too harsh on them?

I'm SUCH a newbie. I've never known anybody who uses cloth and now I know that all the pics I've seen online have been of already washed ones. I did not realize they came so thin and flat!! I was panicking I'd bought the wrong thing lol.

Since they're bleached you only need to use detergent for the first wash. Make sure you're using a detergent that is appropriate for cloth diapers, there's a chart on my website under washing instructions that gives good suggestions. Washing and drying 3-4 times should be sufficient, and drying after each wash. Boiling is only necessary as an alternative when stripping diapers, not for every day washes. Covers require 1-2 hot washes and dries in order to seal the PUL, but once that's done I don't machine wash my covers. To extend the life of your covers, ALWAYS hand wash. I can't stress this enough. The aplix and binding on covers does not hold up well to frequent washing and drying via machine, so overtime they end up breaking down and pulling away and getting pilly. You can just use a bit of the same detergent and wash and rinse in the sink, then hang to dry.

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by KatieJD

Covers require 1-2 hot washes and dries in order to seal the PUL, but once that's done I don't machine wash my covers. To extend the life of your covers, ALWAYS hand wash. I can't stress this enough. The aplix and binding on covers does not hold up well to frequent washing and dryer via machine, so overtime they end up breaking down and pulling away and getting pilly. You can just use a bit of the same detergent and wash and rinse in the sink, then hang to dry.

Thanks for the info on the covers... all of mine are PUL with aplix, and I had no idea of how to handle them.


What about fitted diapers... I'm getting a few Thirsties, and a few Kissaluvs, and a few BumGenius Bamboos, just to try some different styles. Anything special I need to do with these?

[major_mama11]

I guess I'm super-late joining, but I am planning to use cloth. I CD'ed my DD until I went back to school when she was 9 mos, then dropped to 1/2 time CD use. Then I got a job in addition to school, and CD'ing went out the window...

This time, barring the unforeseen, I will get to be a 90% SAHM, so I'm hoping I can stick with it this time.

My stash so far:

12 small fuzzibunz
6 med fuzzibunz
6 wonderoos
~12 prefolds
2-3 prowraps covers (no smalls though)
3 bumgenius (just bought these- never tried them with DD)
3 snap-ez training pants

I would like to try making some homemade ones for budget reasons, but don't know if i'll get around to it...

[~Katie~]

Originally Posted by Kelly1101

Thanks for the info on the covers... all of mine are PUL with aplix, and I had no idea of how to handle them.


What about fitted diapers... I'm getting a few Thirsties, and a few Kissaluvs, and a few BumGenius Bamboos, just to try some different styles. Anything special I need to do with these?

Fitted's need 2-3 washes usually, not as many as prefolds. The hand-washing is especially important if you plan to sell them after you're through with using them, it keeps them in better shape and you can get a better price for them.

[mamasurprised]

Motherease Bamboo One size (<-- am I the only one who *loves* these?)
[/QUOTE]


I have two of the MEOS and a cover just to try out. I have been eyeing them for literally years! Long before this LO was even thought about! I hope that they work well, I would love to get more! I know they are a little bulky too, but with all the clothes my MIL gave me last night....this baby is outfitted for the next two years practically!!! So I'd be able to use a size larger clothes to cover the bulkiness if needed.

My small stash so far includes:

24 GMD orange edge prefolds
2 MEOS
1 ME Airflow
3 Bummis Super Whisper Wraps

I want a few more cute covers and probably another doz prefolds. I like the simplicity of the prefolds and covers. I have my eye on a few more dipes I'd like to try out too. And I plan to start buying the next size up a few bits at a time.

My question: I've been researching cloth for about 3 months before even making any purchases. But I haven't quite got into basic care. I'm familiar with detergents etc....but what about diaper pails. Which do you use and what has worked and not worked? How do you transport from pail to washer? Has anyone hooked up the sprayer to the toilet? Any other tips and tricks we newbies should know or try?

ETA: just for laughs I thought I'd share: My darling DBF has made it known that poop is NOT going into his washer and he is investing in a pressure washer to prewash. I crack up everytime I think about him out in the yard spraying down the dipes!!!!

[~Katie~]

Originally Posted by mamasurprised

My question: I've been researching cloth for about 3 months before even making any purchases. But I haven't quite got into basic care. I'm familiar with detergents etc....but what about diaper pails. Which do you use and what has worked and not worked? How do you transport from pail to washer? Has anyone hooked up the sprayer to the toilet? Any other tips and tricks we newbies should know or try?

For diaper pails, a regular trash can with a lid works great. A pail liner is necessary for holding the diapers and transporting them to the washer, you can purchase those from the major cloth diaper shops or make your own. They will be called a pail liner or x-large diaper tote, both will work for diaper pails. That's funny about power washing the diapers I've never used a diaper sprayer and haven't had the need to, breastfed poo washes out completely in the washing machine and by the time we start solids it just empties out into the toilet.

[iana703]

I have a sprayer on my toilet from my first dd and I personally love it. For a while she was in daycare using pockets so sometimes poop would be dried on the cover and I had to spray it. I actually still use the sprayer to spray the bowl from her potty chair. You should definetly get a pail liner and a regular lidded trash can. When its time to wash, I dump the diapers and pail liner in the machine.

[lotus.blossom]

I got one of those garbage cans at target that had the inner plastic tube that came out of the can so I didn't end up using a liner. Just took out the tube and dumped the dipes in the washer! (then I sprayed the tube out with homemade cleaner and wiped it down with a cloth. Once a week or so I would bleach it out since plastic kind of holds smells.)

My son never had solid toddler poops, and thats one of the reasons why I quit. It was sooo hard to scrape the poo off his diapers after the newborn phase. I think that this time I may do a rice paper liner or get a diaper sprayer if I want to keep cloth diapering. And stick to only cotton to avoid rashes.

[~Katie~]

That is the one thing I hate about starting solids. Only a mother would miss breastfed poo, but once those solids are introduced I really despise diaper changes I am really looking forward to PLing for that reason alone.

[Miasmamma]

Originally Posted by KatieJD

That is the one thing I hate about starting solids. Only a mother would miss breastfed poo, but once those solids are introduced I really despise diaper changes I am really looking forward to PLing for that reason alone.

I remember saying the exact same thing to my DH when DD started eating solids!!! I hated changing her after that! I think that's why I jumped on the potty bandwagon so early with her! She was out of diapers all together before her 2nd birthday. I'm going to try ECing earlier with this baby and see where we get. I have the book Diaper Free, but I'm going to read it again in a month or so just to refresh myself.

I do have most of my stash through 5-6 months done though.

[RasJane]

I am really looking forward to newborn bf poo! I never scrape it-just stick it in the wash. There is nothing that would get "stuck" or anything, so I never worried about it. Formula poo on the other hand. Blech.
I always wanted one of the sprayers and just never got one. Not sure why.
I love my diaper pail though. I use a food storage bucket, you know, the big white ones, with a lid called a Gamma Seal. It is air-tight and screws on. My toddler can't get it open if it is screwed on tight. And because it is air tight, it doesn't ever stink. Oh, and the food-safe plastic doesn't hold odors too bad either.
Now if I could just get the pail to empty itself into the washing machine, I'd be all set!
Hmmm, and time to sew up the rest of the diapers I want to finish before baby comes....

[~Katie~]

Originally Posted by Miasmamma

I remember saying the exact same thing to my DH when DD started eating solids!!! I hated changing her after that! I think that's why I jumped on the potty bandwagon so early with her! She was out of diapers all together before her 2nd birthday. I'm going to try ECing earlier with this baby and see where we get. I have the book Diaper Free, but I'm going to read it again in a month or so just to refresh myself.

I do have most of my stash through 5-6 months done though.

We ECed up until DS turned 1, and then he refused the potty after we moved. I can still read his cues and get him to sit on it, but he won't go on it. Its more of a game now I guess. I was great while we did it though, I'm hoping he'll come around to using the potty again soon.

[~Katie~]

Originally Posted by RasJane

I am really looking forward to newborn bf poo! I never scrape it-just stick it in the wash. There is nothing that would get "stuck" or anything, so I never worried about it. Formula poo on the other hand. Blech.
I always wanted one of the sprayers and just never got one. Not sure why.
I love my diaper pail though. I use a food storage bucket, you know, the big white ones, with a lid called a Gamma Seal. It is air-tight and screws on. My toddler can't get it open if it is screwed on tight. And because it is air tight, it doesn't ever stink. Oh, and the food-safe plastic doesn't hold odors too bad either.
Now if I could just get the pail to empty itself into the washing machine, I'd be all set!
Hmmm, and time to sew up the rest of the diapers I want to finish before baby comes....

That's a good idea about the food storage bucket! I'm looking for something that has a better lid on it in order to keep DS out of it, we have a smallish house so keeping the odors down is a must as well.