All About Cloth:

Cloth Diapers: Common Myths Dispelled!!

Different types of cloth diapers and what will work best for you:

How Many Diapers Do I Need?

Washing Instructions:

In actuality, changing a cloth diaper is not messier than changing a disposable diaper. Yes, any solids need to be disposed of in the toilet, but everyone should be doing this anyway! The poop of babies who are exclusively breastfed is completely water soluble and doesn't need to be rinsed or dumped at all. You can simply change the diaper and put the whole thing in the diaper pail. Once your child starts eating solid foods, there are great flushable liners that allow the solids to roll right into the toilet without touching anything. Diaper sprayers also work wonders as your child is making the transition from breastfeeding to solids.

Although there is an investment when you first purchase your diaper supply, over the lifetime of one child, you can save between $1,500 and $2,000. If you have more than one child, you can save much more as cloth diapers are reusable for years with the proper care! There are a variety of ways to cloth diaper that start at from spending as little at $150 for the duration of diapering your child. I can help you evaluate all the options and find out what is right for you and your family.

For too many babies, having a diaper rash is a common occurrence. Diaper rash should NOT be a part of daily life! With my first daughter, she had horrible diaper rash for months that seemed incurable, even with a prescription. We made the switch to cloth and it cleared up within 3 days. There are a variety of chemicals in disposable diapers that aren't present in cloth diapers.

When in cloth, if your child is developing a diaper rash, they could have a sensitivity to a detergent or diaper cream. Please contact me and I will help you figure out how to clear it up.

For many years, pins and rubber pants were used in most households. Cloth diapers have changed a lot over the years and now can be as simple as disposables. Many brands velcro on just like disposables. Snappis have totally eliminated the need for pins and the invention of all-in-ones and pocket diapers means diapering is as quick and easy as disposables! Every family is a little different and I can help you figure out what will work best for you!

In years past, poorly made cloth diapers were definitely a leaky mess. Today, with the modern advances in the industry, cloth diapers usually leak much less than disposables. Most cloth diapers have elastic along the back of the diaper, which prevents blowouts up the back that are seen so often with disposable diapers. Many brands also have gussets at the leg holes that contain most messes. The fit and style of cloth diapers are much better than they were even 20 years ago.

Cloth diapers can easily be washed at home, making them very easy to care for. Usually, hot water and an extra rinse is all that is required to make sure you are getting your diapers nice and clean. Every cloth diapering family has their own wash routine that works for them and I would be happy to help you figure out what will work best for you.

Prefolds are the cheapest, most cost-effective way to diaper your baby. They are super absorbent and no longer need to be pinned. Snappis, developed by a dad, are an easy way to faster the diapers. They come in sizes, but your baby will probably wear each size for quite a while. At $1.25- $2.50 a piece for high quality prefolds, they are a great buy! These do require a diaper cover to be worn over top, as they are not waterproof. Prefolds can last upwards of 3-5 years of consistent use with the proper care. Choose from bleached or unbleached.

Fitteds also need a waterproof cover, but they don't require pins or Snappis. Most fitteds either have Velcro or snaps. One of the major advantages that fitted diapers have over prefolds is that they have elastic at the leg openings and at the back, which helps contain messes even better. Fitteds generally run somewhere between $11.00 and $20.00 and are generally sized, meaning you'll need to buy bigger sizes as your child grows. Some fitteds are more absorbent than others depending on the materials that they are made of. Let me know if you have questions about which ones will work best for you.

For both a prefold and a fitted diaper, you will need a waterproof cover to go on top of the diaper. There are a variety of type and brands of covers that will run anywhere from $8.95-$15.95 each, but you will generally only need 3-4 as they only need to be changed when they become soiled with poop. Many of them now come in a one-sized option, meaning that you will be able to use it from birth to potty training. You can now find them in fun colors and patterns as well!

Since pocket diapers appeared on the market, many more families are switching to cloth! These diapers fasten just like a disposable with either Velcro or snaps and contain messes even better! They consist of a waterproof shell lined in fleece or suede cloth into which you can stuff inserts that come with the diapers. These inserts are of microfiber, hemp, bamboo, or a variety of other absorbent fabrics. One great thing about pocket diapers is that they can be stuffed with as much or as little as your child needs. The fleece or suede cloth that touches the babies skin, keeps the moisture away and your baby feeling dry. Many pocket diapers now make a one-sized version so they can be used from 8 - 35 pounds! Although they are a little more expensive to purchase in the beginning, they can be used up potty training for many kids without purchase of anything else. Price are anywhere from $16.95 - $22.95.**Easy to Use**

These are probably one of the easiest systems out there. All-in-ones can be great for babysitters, grandparents, and even dad! There is no stuffing to think about. The diaper is all in one piece that velcros or snaps on easily. Simply through the whole thing in the diaper pail when it is soiled. All-in-ones come in sizes from newborn through extra large. A few brands have come out with a one- sized option to take you from those itty-bitty days to potty training. One downside of all in ones is that they do take longer to dry since they are all one piece. They are priced anywhere from $15.95 to $24.95.**Easy to Use**

Every family and every baby is different, so the number of diapers you will need really depends on a few things. Take into consideration how much your child wets as well as how often you plan to do diaper laundry. (we recommend every 1-2 days)

Washing every other day, these are estimates of how many diapers the average baby would need.

Newborn - 3 months: 20-25 diapers

3 months - 10 months: 18-20 diapers

10 months - potty training: 12-16 diapers

**If you wash on a different cycle, please take that into account when thinking about diaper quantities. E-mail me with any questions.**

Washing everyday, for a newborn, you will probably need about 18 prefolds or fitted diapers, as well as 3-5 waterproof covers. As your child gets older, this number will go down. After 6 months, as you add in solid foods, the number of diapers will decrease a bit. During this stage, 15 diapers will probably be fine. Once your little one enters toddlerhood, 8-10 diapers will probably be fine as long as they are nice and absorbent. Each diaper could be a prefold, fitted, pocket, or all-in-one.

It seems that every family has their own routine for washing their diapers. While there are many factors to take into account when doing your wash, this is a basic wash routine that works for most people. Remember, water is your friend! Set your washer to the highest setting and try not to wash more then 15-18 diapers at a time. There are many lists of detergent recommendations out there. In general, you want to steer clear of detergents that contain chlorine bleach, fabric softeners, or are titled "Free" or "Free and Clear".

Pre-rinse or short cycle wash with cold water and no detergent

Hot long wash with 1/2 the amount of detergent

Extra rinse

Dry on low in the dryer or hang in dry.