Safe detergents for cloth diapers

2009-05-29T07:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm

This site is a VERY helpful chart for the right detergent to use on cloth diapers! The detergent you use doesn't sound like a big deal, but it really can make or break the way your diapers work! Take a minute to look it over and decide if you need to make a change in the way you wash to help your diapers in the long run!! (I know I do- somehow even thought I thought I bought a soap that was high on the list- turns out not so much! lol)

I <3 cloth diapers!!!

2009-01-10T16:16:00.000-08:00

I really do love cloth diapers! They are just SO much better in SO many ways that Trashies. I hope you will give them a try, because once you do, I KNOW you will not go back! To prove my point, I am offering 20% off to any mama new to Cloth Diapering! Go go ahead, give it a chance, you know it will be worth it!

(This site is still a work in progress, so please let me know if there is anything I can do for you!)

Take a little time and read the FAQ to get a better idea about what CD'ing is all about!

How To

2009-01-10T15:29:00.000-08:00

a work in progress

FAQ

2009-01-10T15:24:00.000-08:00

- Doesn’t a cloth diaper consist of a flat white towel like thing, pins and plastic pants? How comfy can that be?
This was my exact concern before I started CD’ing. I didn’t know what it was, bust all I knew was that I couldn’t afford to have a baby unless she was breastfed and Cloth Diapered, so I was determined to make it work. I did a LOT of research, and I have added some of my favorite links here for you, so you don’t have to waste as much time as I did! Haha

There are many different kinds of Cloth Diapers, and many different kinds of fabrics that they can be made out of. Some have elastic, some don’t, and some are waterproof, while most require a cover. And hey, don’t diss on plastic pants, they can be a lifesaver in a pinch! Here is a quick crash course on just some of the different options you have. (I will try to keep it simple and not confuse you!)

Flats- A flat piece of fabric. Needs to be folded, has no elastic and needs a pin or Snapi to keep it on.
Prefold- a flat that is already folded! These are the traditional ‘cloth diapers’ that you can buy at Walmart. Flat fabric with some sort of absorbent layer and no elastic. They require a cover and pins or a snapi to keep them on.
Contour- A diaper shaped as an hourglass. These have no snaps or Velcro, but have elastic in the legs to keep stuff in. They also require a cover, but do not need anything to keep them on, the elastic holds they pretty well in place with a cover over them.
Fitted- A diaper that looks just like a disposable. Made with an absorbent layer inside and has snaps or Velcro to keep it on. Requires a cover, but also has elastic in the back and legs to keep it completely in place. (can be worn without a cover, like on hot summer days, but it will be wet, so don’t let kids get too active this way!)
Pocket- The outside is a waterproof layer, while the inside is usually a stay dry fabric (like fleece). The end is left open for stuffing in an absorbent layer (It has none sewn in) These can often times be worn multiple times without washing, just changing out the stuffer. (I couldn’t do it, but some people do! J ) Has elastic in legs and back and is held on baby with snaps or velcro.
All in Two- an outer waterproof layer and an inner stay dry layer have an absorbent layer sandwiched in between. Also an extra soaker layer is layed or snapped inside to make for easy drying. Has elastic legs and back with Velcro or snap closures.
All in One- The same as a disposable diaper except it is cloth. Made with a waterproof outer layer, absorbent inside and a stay dry layer next to baby’s skin. Does not require a cover and all layers are sewn in so you just have to put it on and drop it in the diaper pale. Has elastic legs and back as well as snaps or Velcro.
PUL Cover- A cover made out of waterproof material that will not leak. (In theory) Has elastic leg and back, with the edging being made of elastic. Held together with snaps or Velcro, or can be pulled on (different kinds).
Fleece Cover- A breathable cover that has no elastic, snaps or Velcro. Think or a pull on panty cover. Fleece should wick to diaper and not to clothes, but if clothes feel a tiny bit damp it is ok and to some moms (me included) it is worth it to not have the rough elastic on baby’s legs.

- Cloth diapering is too hard, I don’t have the patience.
I absolutely HATE it when people say this, and I guess it isn’t really a question- but it still needs answering How can you KnOw that it is too hard if you have not tried it yet. Most people are very close minded about cloth diapering. People think that it is something you only do if you are broke. While this is a good reason to CD, there are so many other reasons that make it so rewarding. CD does not take any more than 10 seconds longer than disposable diapers. It has always amazed me that people will be so worried about buying organic food, not vaccinating their children, carrying canvas shopping bags and everything else for the environment, but refuse to even attempt CD’ing. The way CD’s are made now is not even close to the diapers of yesterday. On many instances, when I have told someone that I use CD’s and have had them look at me funny and make a comment about how someone they know did that when they were poor, I will show them one of the diapers that I have made, and they are amazed at how much they are like disposables! I have convinced more than one of these people that CD’ing is so much easier than disposables!

- Can Cloth Diapering really save THAT much money?
The other day my husband and I sat down and were talking about how many diapers 1 baby uses in a year, and how much those diapers cost. We came to the conclusion that an average baby uses about 6 diapers a day. One pack of diapers holds about 40 diapers and costs about $12. So an average baby uses about a pack of diapers a week, making it about 4 ½ packs a month. So at $12 a pack, that equals $54 a month, or $648 a year- and 6 diapers a day is minimal for a baby! So when an average child is in diapers for 3 years, that means you are spending at least $2,000 on diapers PER child! Now imagine being able to buy a whole “stash” of diapers, lets say 15 per size (so about $150-$200 per size) which means about $500 for the entire time your child is in diapers- PLUS they can be used by multiple children! That is only paying ¼ of what is the norm for diapers, and that is for just one child! How could you pass up a deal like that! So all you “deal seeking mama’s” out there need to take a chance and use cloth!

- Can cloth really be better for the environment?
You better believe it! Did you know that human feces and disposable diapers take over 500 years to decompose in our landfills? Have you ever read the back of a package of disposables? It clearly states that you should dump solid waste into the toilet before throwing it out. Have you ever done it? Even just dumping diapers would be a huge help for the environment, but using cloth completely takes millions upon billions of those diapers out of the landfills! Even if you just get cloth diapers to be worn at home, while you are just hanging out, you will be more than going green. Not to mention that switching out just 2 of your diapers with CD’s would save you hundreds of dollars! How could you go wrong with saving the environment AND saving money!

- I have heard that CD’ing is hard with a heavy wetter.
Absolutly wrong! First of all, from my experience, heavy wetters do better with a CD at night, because it is more absorbent and doesn’t wick as easily to clothes! I have found my babe more than once, with a saturated disposable that has folded the top down in the night and her entire outfit is soaked! With CD’s and fleece or wool covers, your baby may feel a tiny bit moist (almost like their bottom is sweaty) but you will RaReLy have wet clothing! I have also had trouble with Disposible diapers and my daughter just wetting right through them- like when she is sitting on my lap and her leg bends the wrong way. Not with CD’s! CD’s hold tightly to your childs skin and move with them, not to mention multiple layers and soakers can be placed inside the diaper for naps and bedtimes or when heavy wetting is a problem.

- Why would a baby care what is covering their bum?
Have you ever spent the day walking around with a thick plastic pad rubbing against your legs, or an uncomfortable pair of undies that hike up your back side? You know that it makes a difference in the fabrics you want to have next to your skin- so why would you think your baby doesn’t care! How soft can a 1 inch thick plastic sheet stuck between your legs feel? Your baby deserves a plush flannel against their skin, and soft fleece wrapped up against their soft squishy legs! CD’s can be made with fleece, suedecloth or minky fleece on the inside also, which completely wicks the moisture away from your childs skin. (without the gross goo in a disposable diaper!) I can make anything really, I am just offering flannel fitteds because they are my favorite to make and use, but PLEASE email me if you have any special orders you would like me to make- including pockets with PUL outside and Minkey insides.

- Don’t you spend more money in washing diapers than you would buying them?
I must honestly say that I have never seen ANY indication that my water bill went up. Expecially if you are hanging up your diapers to dry, you are not using any more energy that you normally would. You will soon find it much easier to do a load of diapers than to run to the store to buy a package in the middle of the night!

- Diapers are way to hard to wash, and the thought of scraping them out makes me sick.
I agree, this could turn anyone off from Cloth diapering, but what most people don’t know is that Diapers do not need to be scraped, soaked or have anything done to them! This is expecially true with breastfed poop. When my daughter was young I would just throw the diapers right into the pail.( I use a dry pail) There were occasions when they were REALLY full that I would rinse them out in my wash tub, but often I would just sprinkle a TON on baking soda (A CD’ing moms best friend) right on the diaper and then hold it over the toilet, see if anything fell off, but if not it ALL comes out in the wash! For an older baby on solids, all you need to do is simply shake the diaper over the toilet and it is taken care of! (You can get some funky stuff in your washer and dryer if you don’t!) They have flushable liners that are a lifesaver if your babe is on a good predictable pooping schedule. I also use these liners for diaper rash cream, because it is not really good to get on CD’s. Anyway, these liners are pretty much a long piece of toilet paper, a little thicker, so I am sure you can make a homemade one out of a paper towel cut.
When it comes to washing, it is a cinch! The only thing you have to worry about is getting too much detergent on your diapers. (sounds silly since they are probably the yuckiest things that will go in your washer…. But too much detergent build up can cause a nasty rash and make the diapers less absorbent- it is easy to fix though- simply wash them in the hottest water possible until there are no suds left in your washer.) I start filling my washer up while I am rounding up all my diapers. This is the way I do it-
Cold Soak- (This will get all the yucky stuff off before it gets set in.
I put in a scoop of Oxyclean and some baking soda, also about ¼ as much baby detergent as I would use for a load of clothes. Also, make sure you always wash diapers with the most water possible.
Hot wash- This will wash them as well as sanitize
Hot second rinse- to make sure everything is clean

It is recommended you hang your diapers in the sun. It not only sanitizes them, but it will also bleach out stains that didn’t come out in the wash. (this is more important with newborns when the diapers are easily stained) I did this in the summer, but I just throw mine in the dryer for a cycle and they come out great! All diapers, covers, wipes and liners (that are cloth) can be washed together. NEVER use any sort of fabric softener, as it will make the diapers not absorb liquid, and that would make them pointless!

Wet Bags

2009-01-02T12:16:00.003-08:00

Wet bags are a great way to store dry diapers and supplies on your way out the door and a great place to put those wet/dirty one when you are done with them! I can make one in just about ANY pattern you could choose! It is zippered on the top and has a snap removable strap to hold it right to your bag or pocket!

Kits

2009-01-02T12:16:00.001-08:00

A work in progress

WIpes and Supplies

2009-01-02T12:15:00.001-08:00

wipes are $.25 a peice. I have terry cloth, flannel and fleece. SO take your choice, or mix and match! They are sewn with cute verigated thread so they last! CLoth wipes are SO much better than disposibles!!!! (wipe the whole bum up with 1 wipe!) ** Pics up soon!**

WIpe solutions-
I love to come up with new and fun wipe solutions. $3 for a tiny travel sized bottle, $5 for a larger one. Some of my favorate solutions right now are-

Cucumber Mellon
Lavender
Baby magic
Johnsons baby lotion
anti fungal
citrus

and I am willing to try anything! Just let me know what sounds good to you!

Fleece Covers

2009-01-02T12:13:00.004-08:00

Fleece covers are the best kind of cover in my oppinion.... I make mine with double layers of fleece to make them even better at wicking back to the diaper. I can embroider something cute on a plain color, or I can come up with any kind of fleece they make and do one of those for you! (NFL ones being my fav lol haha) SO let me know what you want and I will try it- No elastic on the legs or back, so these are perfect for newborn skin, and babies like mine who have a really hard time with the elastic on PUL covers. $12 a peice

Pul Covers

2009-01-02T12:13:00.003-08:00

A PUL cover is a waterproof cover that keeps everything inside. They can be made with gussets for newborns or without for older babies. The kind I make have snaps like the diapers and look alot like them actually..... They have elastic around the entire diaper and are snug fitting and great! Make diapering a breeze, expecially because they only need to be washed when soiled! $15 for small sizes

** More pictures to come**

These are some of the colors I have, but I can get almost anything!

Fitted Diapers

2009-01-02T12:13:00.001-08:00

Fitted Diapers are what I like the most for my little girl. They are made with flannel and have a terry soaker inside. The diapers are $10 a peice.

A small starter kit includes:

10 diapers

5 diaper wipes

1 fleece or PUL cover

for $100- every diaper ordered with that order afterwards is $5 a peice.

Some fun boy prints

Some fun gender nutral prints

A large starter kit includes:

15 diapers

10 wipes

2 fleece or PUL covers

for $150- every diaper ordered with that order afterwards is $5 a peice

This is what I have right now all done up and in stock- let me know if there is something else you want that isnt pictured!

Thomas the Train, green football, cabin fevertractors, airplanes, thomas with green snapsTeady bears, frogs, bubblesTrain, snowflakes, blue footballs

Penguins, lots of babies, blue icecream conesYellow babies, brlue with hearts, white with starsLoads of babies, yellow dots, pastel

My Cloth Diaper Addiction