Tell me about using diaper pins

[saimeiyu]

DD has recently learned how to pull off her velcro diaper covers. I don't have the money to buy snapping ones, and I like to let her go coverless sometimes, anyhow, b/c she gets a heat rash if she's in a cover all day long and it's hot/humid. (we don't have a/c.)

Problem is, we use prefolds and covers for the most part. And Snappi's. Except I've discovered that using no cover with a snappi'd diaper is... shall we say... perilous. I've gotten my skin snagged by one a couple of times, and it's not at all pleasant. And then when DD climbs all over me, it snags my shirt, and I have to unhook her from me-- not so easy when she's squirming all over.

And, to top it off, DD has been climbing all over the couch recently. And managed to snag her snappi on the couch bad enough to pop the bottom snappi part right off, and get a nasty welt.

We're done with using snappi's and no covers.

I am trying to use diaper pins for the prefolds, but... I am not seeming to get a very good fit with them. And I'm having trouble putting the pins on both sides. So...

I need someone to take pity on me, and teach me how to use pins properly. Please.

[majikfaerie]

well, we used flat diapers with pins from the get-go, since i had no idea there was any other option than the old-school style. i never had a problem with getting the pins in at all. make sure the pin goes all the way through the layers, then all the way back out to the top again before you close it - so the pin goes totally through the layers twice. that way it doesn't slip any. and i think if you have trouble doing it on the other side - don't try pinning one in the mirror image of the other; do them both pointing in the same direction.

[KristyDi]

It does take some practice to get good at pinning. Now I feel like I get a better fit with the pins.


I agree with pp, don't worry about getting the pins facing the outside of the diaper. Just pin them both facing the way that's easiest for you.

Pull tighter than you think it needs to be because it loosens after you pin it.


The leg pull thing in this video helps too.

[lifeguard]

This might be obvious (but maybe it's not 'cause dh didn't know) but if you put your other hand inside the diaper you won't have to worry about poking dc with the pin. I've also heard storing your pins in a bar of soap helps keep them lubricated & makes it easier for the pin to go through the fabric.

[leerypolyp]

Here's a big thing: Make sure you have good pins.

The Gerbers from the store, were thick and relatively dull, and difficult to operate. The Dritz pins I got from a diaper website were awesome -- thinner, sharper, and easy to slide the locking mechanism. It makes a huge difference when you're not using all your strength to force the pin through the diaper, and instead it just glides through where you want it.

I second the soap recommendation. And pinning tighter than you think you should.

[Aubergine68]

Originally Posted by lifeguard

This might be obvious (but maybe it's not 'cause dh didn't know) but if you put your other hand inside the diaper you won't have to worry about poking dc with the pin. I've also heard storing your pins in a bar of soap helps keep them lubricated & makes it easier for the pin to go through the fabric.

you can use cheap pins if you use the bar of soap trick. Lubricating the pins makes a huge difference.

Oh, and the important thing is to pin so that you have a snug fit around the leg to prevent leaks. Having them snug around the waist is of secondary importance.

[saimeiyu]

Originally Posted by KristyDi

It does take some practice to get good at pinning. Now I feel like I get a better fit with the pins.


I agree with pp, don't worry about getting the pins facing the outside of the diaper. Just pin them both facing the way that's easiest for you.

Pull tighter than you think it needs to be because it loosens after you pin it.


The leg pull thing in this video helps too.

Ah! Thank you! This is what I was looking for!

Wonderful!

Also about the diaper pin thing-- Oh, duh. I suppose I should have thought of that.

[BlessedOne]

I am new to the whole cd thing so I kind of had to teach myself a way that would work well. The thought of using pins used to terrify me and honestly still does a little, but until I get velcro on the dipes I made, I have to use pins on the homemade dipes.
Leaks:
I stuff the dipe so full of soaker material that leaks are not too big of an issue for me, although it it hard to tell when she is wet without checking or until she has peed so much that it has soaked the inside and starts to soak the outside.
I tighten it much tighter than you would think would be comfy...but as previous posters said, it will loosen. If you have it loose to begin with, it can lead to big gaps, which can lead to leaks. Since my baby is still little and the dipes are kind of big on her (hints the extra soaker stuffing to fill the gaps), I get away with just using one pin sometimes (depending on the dipe).
I put the pin through a little different than most. I do not go through all of the layers.....so the pin is not against baby. and of course I have my hand between dipe and baby.....so if anyone gets poked it is me.
I agree that the gerber ones are not easy at releasing and there has been a time or two that it almost got her because it was hard get open and then just popped open in a flinging manner (if that makes sense). I have not tried others so as other posters said, there may be ones that are better.
I try not to poke the pin directly towards the baby. I kind of do it more in a scooping manner (like scooping ice cream). I poke into some of the layers of the fabric, then across the fabric and back out, then latch. Sounds kind of confusing...but seems to work for me.....but I kind of have extra stuffing as leak insurance

hope you figure out what works best for you!