All you need to know to cloth diaper!

This was an email I just sent to a friend, I thought it might help someone else out there.

I've tried all different systems. I started w/Fuzzi Bunz (a brand of pocket diapers which I still use) as well as some older style all in one diapers (AIOs), the AIOs took so long to dry, but I'm sure they make them better now. I've tried onesize Bum Genius pocket diapers, but have had little success w/those, they aren't as absorbant as the FBs and my girl sat in her urine for too long in those, creating terrible open sores. They are now covers for our prefold system, great as diaper covers!

I love the prefolds, they work wonderfully and are financially manageable. I used to be intimidated by them, but they're called "prefolds" because they're "prefolded" for you! In the 50s women would use LARGE pieces of birdseye cloth and fold them a zillion times into something worthy for the baby's bottom, and all we have to do w/our prefolds is fold them into thirds, lay it into the cover, and snap or velco, and voila!

We are die hard FBs for night time, because now our kids are older and sleep all night, the layer of fleece repels the moisture away from their skin to keep them drier than cotton against their skin. The SAME effect can be done by cutting fleece strips and lining the diaper w/them.

Note: I've ruined many several FBs by using barrier creams w/them, like zinc oxide, A&D ointment, etc. Liners are a must if using barrier creams, unless special creams are made/purchased. Olive oil or shea butter or jojoba oil washes out well. Angel Baby Bottom Balm is good on cloth diapers. I also have disposable liners that are flushable that I use, great esp. for poopy diapers.

I make a wipes spray to clean my baby's bottom, mostly water, add some liquid baby soap, some tea tree oil, some lavender oil, and some jojoba (or olive) oil. Use cloth wipes, warm w/warm water first, works wonderfully! My favorite wipes are Kissiluvs terry wipes, although most of mine are normal baby washcloths or homemade wipes from extra cloth. Also, I make a spray similar to Kissiluv's diaper lotion potion (I am reusing my bottle, actually!) w/witch hazel, add tea tree and lavendar oils, spray on the baby after wiping, no need to wipe up, like an astringent, and it's anti-everything (bacterial, microbial...)

OK, so I recommend prefolds, esp. to start. Cost aside, it's what I prefer. Babies grow SO fast, and at $13- 17 per pocket diaper when you need 36 to diaper an infant for 3 days, they say, it's a little harder to swallow.

There is a site that you can try out different systems for a reasonably small fee ($10 plus shipping both ways, so about $28), may try these for 21 days:
www.jilliansdrawers.com
I recommend this to purchasing items and later deciding there's probably something better, like I did. If only I knew!

The best site for great prices on infant prefolds are www.affordablediapers.com

Note: I've had a poor experience w/the brand Tiny Tush Unbleached prefolds. I'm sure their bleached are fine, but the oils never washed out of my unbleached, so they never quilted up like they're supposed to, and they take the longest to dry.

Bummis diaper kits can be a great way to go, economical, including diapers and covers and a roll of liners! For the expense, you should also get free shipping, google it and shop around. About $130.

Upon receiving prefolds, be prepared to wash them about five times before use to get all the oils out! They'll start to quilt up and look pretty.

Basically, if you spend enough, most sites will give you free shipping. www.diaperpin.com has a sales and annoucements page where you can even find discount codes or min. orders for free shipping. There's also a directory of merchants. There's a lot out there, it's very overwhelming and can be very consuming. Weigh the time vs. saving a couple bucks.

For covers, I recommend trying several kinds at first to find your favorite. They all have pros and cons. I really like my "onesize" covers because they can accomodate both infant and toddler. Since my bum Genius pockets were a flop (I don't recommend these at all) I use them as covers, love them as that, but they're not worth $17 each as a cover. The velcro is decent, and somewhat flimsy so it's easy on the baby.

I like my onesize WonderWraps, they are thick and come in a variety of colors to pick from! I love my bright raspberry color for my girl. The velcro on these is SUPER velcro extremely sticky, also big and thick, maybe too much for a newborn. I think it's worth having one around, esp. for the future.

Bummis is the most popular brand, and they have a couple I recommend trying. The Super Snap is a wonderful, non intrusive choice for babies, during the sitting stage the snaps are less disturbing when the baby folds than velcro may be (a highlight to the Fuzzi Bunz pocket diapers). The Super Snap comes in plain 'ol "white".

Bummis Super Whisper Wrap has an effective yet gentle velcro. This comes in a variety of designs (or white), including a cute flower print. In their "whisper wraps), bummis now has Super Brites in trendy, modern colors and designs, worth getting one of these, too.

Thirsties is a brand w/PUL covers, too, like the whisper wraps, w/gentle velcro and a huge selection of covers. I haven't tried these, mostly because it looks like there's not as much fabric between the velcro strip and the top of the cover, so it looks like the Bummis brand would keep the velcro off the baby's skin better, but I really wouldn't know. Worth trying!

A great place for diaper covers is: www.nickisdiapers.com
They ship their covers for free and have a great selection.

There are other brands w/cheaper ($7) PUL covers, like prowrap or litewrap. These brands also have $12 covers that are cotton or hemp blends.

There are many covers that are fleece or wool instead of PUL, they are more breathable. Fleece is easy to care for, wool needs special care. These aren't easy to put under clothing, but w/a girl in the in summer these could be a very good option. Bummis Polar fleece or Stacianator are great places to look for these.

I recommend hooking up a toilet sprayer to hose off the diapers. To do the cloth diaper thing, this will make life more sane and cloth diapering bearable and worth it! These are about $32. It's worth it, every cent. My husband put on together for us, but he still spent $26 putting parts together at Home Depot. Save yourself and get the assembled, esp. if you're not so mechanically inclined.

I just found a site on detergents, what to use or not:
http://www.bummis.com/en/Detergent-Residues.html

It recommends, as do I, Country Save detergent. I tried it partially because it's a local company to me, and also because of learning the difference between soaps and detergents, studying the brands, etc. Also, this is probably the cheapest (at least how I buy it) for me. Here's a site w/a list of stores in FL that sell it:
http://countrysave.com/cgi-bin/store_search.cgi?action=Search&search_field=5&sort_on=2&search_for=FL&x=7&y=16
They also have "Comparative Lab Test Results" on the site by an independent company, using the powder detergent. I use liquid w/success as well.

www.diaperpin.com has a ton of info on cloth diapering, a store directory of their merchant members, product reviews, washing recommendations, and more. Great resource.

DO NOT use detergents w/enzymes (basically most of what's available in the store), particularly Arm & Hammer: This brand in particular has had TERRIBLE results on babies.

I cold rinse my diapers first, then do a full hot/cold cycle with 1/2 (or less) the amount of typically recommended detergent. A 2nd rinse isn't usually necessary. I've used baking soda in the wash as a booster and vinegar in the rinse (both to deoderize), but I must not have the ratios right or something because it throws off the pH balance and burns my girl's butt.


On Baby Carriers:

If you're thinking of baby carriers, for infants, I recently visited a friend w/a New Native baby carrier, a sling of sort, over one shoulder, pouch like. Her baby was so snug! Looked very easy! For my upcoming newborn I'd like a Moby Wrap, I really like how I see them worn, the weight spreads a lot more evenly through the shoulders and back, and it's very versitle how it's tied. The moby has some stretch but doesn't slide around.

We love our Ergo carrier, I've had the most success w/it for babies 5 or 6 months and up. Front or back, up to toddler/preschooler! My 3 year old can still go. It's very comfy, spreads the weight very well. HIGHLY recommend it, $100, you won't be sorry.

I don't recommend Baby Bijorn or Snugglis, although they're getting better on the make. Unless the seat area is 15 inches or wider for the baby, the seat can compress the baby's spine, terrible on the chiropractic end of things, like the Baby Bijorn. Also, the baby bijorn always makes me nervous since the latch to secure the baby in is in the crotch, what if it comes undone? Ah!

Well, that's a lot. Hope it helps. :)