Cloth Diaper Virgin

mamasthree

· #2 · Apr 20, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by november

Ok, I am totally, 100% clueless when it comes to cloth diapering. I have spent hours reading about it this evening and I need to stop and ask a few questions before I give myself a migraine.

1.) Can you cloth diaper using well water? It is very hard water and I'm unsure if this will work as I know the care and washing of CD's is very particular. Yes, you can CD! Washing of CDs doesn't have to be so complicated. I would recommend cotton or bamboo diapers for anyone with hard water or an HE machine, as these natural materials are less prone to washing difficulties.

2.) Is it possible for someone living in a rented duplex to use a sprayer on the toilet? Or are these permanent fixtures that only home owners can really use? These are pretty easily added on and removed, so you can use one. You don't need to rinse the poo from an exclusively breastfed infant, they rinse quite easily in the machine.

3.) Are there any tried, true, and tested homemade laundry detergents that you can use with CD's without ruining them? Hard water + soaps from homemade laundry detergent=soap scum and build up.

4.) How on Earth do you decide which diapers to go with? Did you initially buy one of each, use them on the baby, and then create a stash? Or just go with your gut instinct and hope for the best once baby is here? This depends on why (primary reason) you want to CD--is it cost? Then the majority of your stash will be prefolds or flats--this is the least expensive way to CD, and these diapers will last through multiple children.

Hope this helps a little--I'm sure others will chime in!

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michelle123

· #3 · Apr 20, 2009

Diaper sprayers can be added on and removed without much fuss. As for the diapers you decide on, it will depend on what features are most important to you. What you decide may be one kind of diaper or a blend of a couple different kinds/brands. Think of what's important to you and narrow it down from there.

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brietta

· #4 · Apr 20, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by november

1.) Can you cloth diaper using well water? It is very hard water and I'm unsure if this will work as I know the care and washing of CD's is very particular. I have pretty hard town water. I've found that getting a good-rinsing detergent is all the more important with hard water. I also use liquid Calgon, which is something I only added in the last month-- I wish I had started sooner as it has made a HUGE difference.

2.) Is it possible for someone living in a rented duplex to use a sprayer on the toilet? Or are these permanent fixtures that only home owners can really use? I don't use a sprayer, so I can't help with this one. Sorry!

3.) Are there any tried, true, and tested homemade laundry detergents that you can use with CD's without ruining them? Charlie's Soap, Allen's Naturally, and Country Save seem to the top 3 diaper-friendly detergents. Any one of those should be fine. It's the detergents with soap, fragrances, dyes, etc. that can really ruin your diaper and/or bother your baby's skin.

4.) How on Earth do you decide which diapers to go with? Did you initially buy one of each, use them on the baby, and then create a stash? Or just go with your gut instinct and hope for the best once baby is here? Everybody has a different way of deciding. For me, it was as simple as reading about the different kinds and then going with what I thought would work best for me: http://www.jilliansdrawers.com/newtocloth. Others really like trying a variety: http://www.jilliansdrawers.com/produ.../tryclothfor10.

Good luck!

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Michigan Mama

· #5 · Apr 21, 2009

I just have a couple thoughts to add. First, the diaper jungle has a nice list of detergents, and at the bottom, there is a recipe to make your own.

I am one who believes in the philosophy of try a few different things before you buy a bunch. When I first started cloth (I discovered it after the nb stage), I bought 4 pocket dipes of all different brands and 12 prefolds. I made a bunch of pockets, then fitteds. Now my favorites are fitteds!

Some people love bumgenius, some people hate them - and that goes for pretty much every brand out there. My fave is TinyTush, as far as pocket dipes go - for both fit and durability. But really, my point is you never know what you'll like or what will fit your baby.

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skolbut

· #6 · Apr 21, 2009

1.) Can you cloth diaper using well water? It is very hard water and I'm unsure if this will work as I know the care and washing of CD's is very particular.

Yes you can, some people have no problems and others use calgon in the wash to soften the water. We did OK with our household softener stocked with rust remover pellets.

2.) Is it possible for someone living in a rented duplex to use a sprayer on the toilet? Or are these permanent fixtures that only home owners can really use?

You can totally add one to any toilet with the right supply line, or use your sink sprayer, or dunk and swish.

3.) Are there any tried, true, and tested homemade laundry detergents that you can use with CD's without ruining them?

I don't think there's one method that works for everyone all the time. You sort of have to try what works for you. Unless you're doing something really harsh, dipes are pretty hearty and you can always strip out the buildup if it becomes a problem.

4.) How on Earth do you decide which diapers to go with? Did you initially buy one of each, use them on the baby, and then create a stash? Or just go with your gut instinct and hope for the best once baby is here?

You have to try a couple different things, but it also depends on your personality. If you get grossed out really easy and need convenience, AIO's might be the way to go. If you like folding laundry (I don't and that's why we don't), use pockets. If you like cheap and don't mind a little extra work at changing time you might want to try some flats, prefolds, and fitteds with covers. If you're into all natural you might want to find something organic, cotton, or bamboo with wool over it. Are you going to stay at home? If so you might not need the convenience of an aio or a pocket, even for going out. Otherwise you'll need to find something your care providers are comfy with (for example my MIL much prefers prefolds because that's what she knows but my dad prefers the AIO's). If you have the luxury of putting some $$ into your stash you might want to invest in some one size AIO's that will last you through a couple kids. The only downside with that is that they're harder to wash and dry, so where are you going to do your laundry?? If it's coin op you might want flats, prefolds, and fitteds so you can dry them on a drying rack really quickly (or in one hot dryer cycle) to save $$), and so on.

So my advice on this point is to think about what your preferences are, then try some different brands and kinds, but only a couple in the style you think you want (like 2-4 different pockets or all in ones or a dozen prefolds with 3-4 different styles of covers, something like that), then get a stash of what you love!!! (try some mamas around you if you know anyone who cd's, they may have something to loan you to try once or twice).

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