is this a drowning hazard?

[because]

Posting here for broader audience...

I'm considering trying a wet pail for cloth diapers rather than the dry pail I've always used. Our "pail," though, is just a 5 gallon bucket with the lid set on it but not clamped down. This would be a drowning hazard, though, right? So what kind of pail do you use to soak?

[Shiloh]

Mine have sides that come up and lock down.
I also keep mine elevated to the side of my change table which is in my laundry room and has a door on that with a child proof lock.

[GranoLLLy-girl]

Yes--absolutely. A friend of mine lost her son this way. Dry pail may be more work, but can possibly save a life.

[Alkenny]

Like PP's have said, it's a drowning hazard. I use my washing machine as a wetpail...fill with water and throw them in until I have a full load, spin out and wash as usual.

[aussiemum]

I reckon dry nappy buckets are less work than wet ones, not to mention the drowning hazard issue. It was easy to keep our kids out of the bathroom when they were little enough for this to be a worry, so safety wasn't my primary concern for having a dry bucket. But really, all I had to do was an extra hot rinse in the washing machine prior to washing. I also dunked all pooey nappies in the toilet & wrung them out before putting them in the dry bucket, so there is still a yuck factor involved with the method I used.

[ToniaStarr]

When I used a wet soak bucket I kept it in our bathroom closet with a child lock. But now that I have a too-smart-for-his-own-good toddler I use a dry bucket instead. Better safe than sorry, ya know? Its not been much extra work anyway. I just make sure to rinse real well before and wash them every other day.

[Llyra]

I don't soak. Never found it necessary. We just dump solids into the toilet, dry pail it all, and wash every day or every other day. Haven't had any problems doing it that way-- no stink, minimal stains.

I do run a prewash cycle before the main wash, to get off any remaining stool

[because]

Thanks everyone.

I just switched from all-cotton prefolds to the poly-cotton blended Mother-Ease and they recommend a wet pail. Since I'm too lazy to get a safer bucket or run down to the washer in the basement every time, I think I'll stick to the dry pail and just strip them if they get bad.

GranoLLLy-girl - I am so sorry for your friend. That is just awful! :(

[Storm Bride]

I'd never even heard of using a dry pail.
We have two diaper pails on the go at once. One of them is an old laundry detergent bucket, and one is an old cat litter bucket. I have trouble getting the lids off, so I'm not too worried about dd.

[ombra*luna]

The mom who sold me my diapers (Chinese prefolds) sent a little instruction sheet, which I followed. Dry pail, then in the washer, for a cold rinse and spin. Hot water with a free-n-clear liquid laundry soap. That worked great for me. Stains could be gotten rid of or greatly faded by hanging them in the sun.

[GranoLLLy-girl]

Thank you. The worst part was the fact that it was on the evening news. Imagine this happening to you and then it's on the news before you have a chance to tell your friends (family already knew). When a child drowns, it's always investigated, even if it is completely accidental. Of course, then the news gets wind of it because of the police investigation, etc.
It was just a terrible thing. She has since had twins, but it really changed her as a person.