Cloth Diapering 101
Maybe you read my last blog about why cloth diapering might
be right for you, or maybe you were already thinking about trying out the
reusable diaper approach for your baby’s booty. Either way, in this post I hope
to break down the basics of cloth diapering so you are equipped with confidence
as you begin this fun little journey with your littles. Presented here is my
Cloth Diapering How-To in List Format. Enjoy J
1. Choose your diapers. This can be a very daunting task as there are SO many different brands and styles and sizes to choose from. So many, in fact, that there will be a follow-up post exclusively about choosing the right diaper for your baby and lifestyle. My simple advice for the sake of this post is to do some research keeping your goals in mind (how many babies do I want these diapers to last for? How much time am I willing to spend on the maintenance of these diapers? Do I care about having color options?) , and then buy one or a few samples of the different types of diapers you’re interested in trying out. Everything can sound great in theory but you’re not going to really know if it’s right for you until you’ve tried it. I’ve heard that you should have at least 18 per size (which might mean 18 total if you get a one-size style), and have found that this is a proper recommendation and definitely the minimum.
2. Choose your storage method. After your sweet baby has defiled the diaper with defecation, you’re gonna need to know where to put it. There are a couple of options and it took some trial and error for me to understand the products that were being marketed to me, so here I’ll break it down for you. There are two main ways you can store the diapers:
a.
A pail.
A diaper pail is just a sturdy can or pail that can be lined with a reusable or
disposable bag or liner. I personally use a diaper pail with a reusable liner
(ubbi diaper pail and Dekor cloth diaper liner – I like them both, but my
method of purchasing involved finding good ratings on Amazon and then waiting
for good sales or coupons, so don’t take my recommendation as the end-all be-all
on pails and liners – do your own research to make sure you’re getting what’s
best for you, there are a lot of good options out there). A pail is nice
because it’s pretty odor-proof (depending on which one you get, of course) and
since it’s obviously a sturdy, structured piece, it can easily be kept on the
floor next to your changing table and they generally come in lots of colors so
it can match the bedroom décor. Wet storage is also an option, where you keep
your diapers in a pail halfway filled with water, but this method is becoming
more unpopular (think standing poop water that sloshes and splashes when moving
it to the laundry room) and the pail and liner works nicely enough, that, why
bother with it? When you use a liner, you can just throw it into the wash with
the diapers or toss it if it’s disposable. Otherwise you might need to pick the
diapers out of the pail if you have no liner (depending on your pail, the
stickiness of your diapers, and whether you have a top or front-loading
washer).
b.
A
wet-bag. A wet bag isn’t necessarily wet; it’s just a waterproof, sealable
bag that you can store dirty diapers in until washing time. Generally there’s a
hook or handle that allows you to hang the bag over a doorknob or hook in the
baby’s room. The wet-bag is nice because you can bring it with you when you go
out or travel. When the bag is full, you can wash it with the diapers and you
won’t have to worry about touching the diapers for this process. I do not have
a wet-bag yet, but I will be getting a small/medium one to keep in her diaper
bag so I can use her reusables when we go out without having to worry about
smells eeking out of the plastic shopping bags I’ve been using. With reusable
pail liners and wet-bags, definitely make sure that you have at least two so
that you have one that’s usable when the other is being washed.
3.
Choose
your cleaning method. If you love the idea of using cloth diapers but
simply don’t have the time or motivation to clean them on your own, this is the
perfect time for me to bring up cloth diaper services. You’ll have to check in
your area, but there are services that will wash the diapers you already own or
some offer packages in which ALL supplies (pail, liners, diapers, cleaning) are
included. Otherwise, washing the diapers at home isn’t too tough. All of the
diapers that I own recommend that I use eco-friendly detergent and have special
instructions about washing (like any piece of clothing does). Basically I’m not
to wash or dry them at too high of a temperature or it may ruin the integrity
of the waterproof shell. Most of my diapers are “pocket-style” which means that
after I’ve washed them I have to make sure to pull out the inserts before
putting them in the dryer or else they’ll never get fully dry. You can also air
dry your diapers but this can take a long time. Typically you will be doing
laundry every two days.
a.
The post 6
months poop. I mentioned in my other post that when your baby is on
a liquid-only diet (formula or breast milk) the poop clean up is easy – you
just toss the diaper as-is into the washing machine and that’s good enough.
When your baby starts eating more solid foods and the poop starts to change,
then you’ll need to remove as much of the poop as you can before putting the
diaper into the washing machine. There are several methods to doing this,
including:
i.
Diaper
sprayer. An attachable hose/sprayer that connects to your toilet so you can
spray the grossness into the bowl and flush
ii.
Shake or
scrape it into the toilet. Self-explanatory. Use some type of scraper that
can be easily sterilized and stored for easy use.
iii.
Diaper liners.
There are disposable liners that you can put in the diaper to peel off and
flush when changing time comes.
iv.
Dunk it
in the toilet. Dunk the dirty diaper into a clean toilet bowl to rinse off
the preliminary crap (pun intended ;)).
b.
Stain
Solver. Once in awhile I treat my diapers to a Stain Solver soaking after they’ve
gotten a little dingy, even with regular washing. Typically you won’t want to
use anything too harsh or artificial on the diapers because it can ruin the
quality and they’ll breakdown, influencing the absorbing and lasting power of
your diapers. Stain Solver is absolutely incredible for so many things, not the
least of which is getting incredibly stubborn (poop) stains out of clothing and
diapers. Soak the diapers in this organic solution for at least an hour, then
wash as usual and your diapers will be beautifully white once again.
4.
Choose
your commitment level. This decision doesn’t necessarily have to be made
right away, but it’s something to keep in mind as you get started and try cloth
diapering out. What I mean is, right now I use disposable diapers if I’m
traveling or I’m out at a restaurant where I don’t want to deal with keeping a
dirty diaper on me during the meal, but I could certainly decide that this
isn’t going to work for me anymore, in which case I’ll want to make sure I have
a wet-bag for my diaper bag and possibly another stash of diapers in the event
that I’m traveling for several days and won’t have access to a washer and
dryer. You’ll also need to consider
childcare and whether your center or nanny is willing to accommodate cloth
diapers. You’ll need to send a wet bag with your child, and you’ll definitely
want to talk with your childcare provider to know if there are any special
policies regarding diapers.
5.
Choose
your wipes. I’ve been using typical baby wipes and throwing them away
separately in a conventional disposable diaper pail, and it’s been working well
enough for me. Counterintuitive though it may seem, reusable wipes may actually
be my simpler option. Using reusable wipes means that I can just throw them in
the pail or wet bag with the yucky diaper and wash them with everything else. Just
one more item you’ll need to decide on as you start using cloth diapers.
So there you have it. I know it might seem like a lot to
take in and process, but I promise that once you try it out and get your system
in place, you’ll see how easy cloth diapering is and you’ll find yourself
convincing your pregnant friends to register for cloth diapers too J Good luck!
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