We’ve shelled out a lot of money in the last year or two buying disposable Goodnites pants for night time diapering. I’ve always felt terrible-because first, we’re wasting so much money, and second, all those disposables are going into the landfill!

I know there has to be a better way, but we have tried other cloth potty training pants and nothing has stayed dry through the night.

One of my children is a heavy night bed-wetter. There has never been a dry night with this one. Tears have been shed and we’ve tried limiting water intake, waking up to go potty, etc…nothing has worked yet. This one’s body just isn’t ready. So, in an effort to let nature catch up, we’ve used the disposable pants (the only thing that would keep the bed dry).

The good news is I think I may have finally found something reusable that may work through the night. I’ve tried it the last two nights and this system is working! I purchased some Potty Scotty Night Time Training Pants.

My child is 5 1/2 years old and I still needed the size 4-6 (even those are roomy). The sizing seems to run big on their chart. They have side-snaps, which are not necessary for a child of this age, but they’re there. They have a nice waterproof exterior that doesn’t “crinkle” when my child moves; this might make a child feel more like they are wearing underwear, but I think they’re too bulky for that comparison.

Inside the training pants is a soft micro terry and a more “substantial” middle section for absorbency.

Though these are meant to be changed after one “accident”, this just isn’t realistic for a child that wets the bed. When the body isn’t ready to stop wetting, it just isn’t ready. We need pants that will last the entire night.

The pant alone won’t make for a completely dry night, but stuffing it with a large Diaper Rite Prefold as well as a Flip Diaper Insert has worked for us.

Admittedly all the stuffing makes for a very bulky fit…a super bulky fit. STILL, it works and lasts the entire night-about 12 hours.

I intend to experiment with the Potty Scotty Night Time Training Pants and two Flip Diaper Inserts and see if that holds; surely it will make for a trimmer fit.

As I experiment with different options I will report back with my findings.
Anyone else out there that has found a suitable night time diapering pant system for bed wetters?

Bobbi Jepsen holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Student Personnel and previously worked at a state university before deciding to stay at home with her three children. She believes strongly in taking care of the resources entrusted to us by our Creator and uses cloth diapering as part of her “Earth friendly” mission.

Washing cloth diapers for the first time can seem like a daunting task. There is so much information out there about how to wash cloth diapers and everyone seems to have their own different method. Not to mention all of the controversy as to what detergents you should and should not put into your diaper wash. No need to worry though! I will get you started on the basics of washing your diapers and you will be a pro in no time!
                                     

Washing New Diapers

When you purchase new cloth diapers it is best to wash them before you use them. Here are a few simple tips to get you started.

• First, and most important, try the cloth diaper on your baby before washing. This way if it doesn’t fit, you can still return it.
• Remove inserts from pocket diapers. It is not necessary to take out snap-in doublers or inserts, just preference.
• Wash hand-dyed diapers separately a few times to ensure they don’t bleed on your other diapers.
• Read the washing instructions carefully from the manufacturer. Often time’s hemp products, such as inserts, may need to be washed several times before they reach maximum absorbency.

Wet Pail, Dry Pail or No Pail?

There are three basic methods for storing dirty diapers. The most popular way to store diapers is the dry pail or a hanging wet bag. Here are descriptions of each way so you can decide which method is right for you.
  

• The Dry Pail - A lidded container, usually plastic, in which you simply toss soiled diapers in. Often a pail liner or hanging wet bag can be used inside the pail to help transport dirty diapers to the washer. A deodorizing disc, essential oils, or baking soda can be added to help eliminate odors if necessary.
• The Wet Pail - A lidded container filled with water and accompanied by additives such as baking soda, vinegar, and other stain and odor removers. When you have a wet pail it is important to have a lid that seals in case the wet pail gets knocked over. You may need to use a separate dry pail, depending on the types of diapers you use.
• No Pail - Instead of storing soiled diapers in a pail, you can throw them directly into the washer, running short cycles or a rinse until you have enough to wash a full load. This method can be a great way to keep your dirty diapers stain and odor free.

Basic Cloth Diaper Washing Instructions

There are many variations on how to wash cloth diapers, but here is the most common method.
 

• Remove solids unless your baby is exclusively breastfed.
• Wash every 2 - 3 days to avoid stains and odors.
• Make sure you use enough water to cover the diapers completely.
• Begin with a cold rinse, no detergent.
• Continue with a regular wash cycle on hot, using 1/4 cup detergent.
• Follow with an extra rinse on hot.
• Dry in the dryer on low or medium or line dry if you choose.
• For quicker drying time, unsnap doublers and inserts.
• Do not use bleach or fabric softener sheets.

If this method does not work for you, try some of the following options:

• Add baking soda to the first rinse help fight stains and odors.
• A 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar will help soften hard water.
• Try Bi-O-Kleen Bac Out in your initial rinse for to eliminate tough stains and odors.
• OxyClean can be used in the hot cycle to kill bacteria and whiten your load.
• Leaving your stained diapers (or any other clothing for that matter) out in the sun for a day can make stains magically disappear.

Other Diaper Washing Tips and Tricks

Here are a few things I wish someone had told me before I began washing my diapers!

• Always attach aplix closures to the laundry tabs. Otherwise your diapers   will stick to each other and can ruin the aplix and cause pilling on your other diapers.
• Desitin and other zinc oxide diaper rash creams will stain your diapers.
• Washing more than two dozen diapers at a time can cause pilling of the diapers from too much friction.
• If your diapers are crunchy after drying in the sun, they can be softened in the dryer with a 15-minute “fluff cycle.”
• An extra spin cycle will help make your diaper drying process faster.
• Dyed diapers can leave color imprints if left lying out while wet.
• Never wash new hemp with anything else. The natural oils of the fiber will cause repelling in your diapers and inserts.

Choosing A Cloth Diaper Detergent

When choosing a laundry detergent, there are a few points to remember to give your cloth diapers a long life and keep them problem free.
  

• Most common laundry detergents contain “optical brighteners” - tiny particles that stick to the surface of your clothes, giving the effect of brighter colors. What does this mean for your diapers? Chemical residue is being left behind which can cause you diapers to repel or cause skin irritation.
• Enzymes in your laundry detergent are made to degrade protein molecules. This can be good for removing stains, but when the enzymes are not properly rinsed from diapers (or clothing), they will actually “eat” away at skin.
• Most don’t know this, but artificial fragrances are made from petroleum
• While chlorine bleach is great for killing germs, you won’t want to use it on your cloth diapers. Not only decrease their durability and absorbency, but it will also eat away at the fibers of your diapers.
• When buying detergent, keep in mind that liquid requires more additives than powder, to keep it in liquid suspension.
• Avoid any detergent that contains actual soap. It will leave a residue on your diapers that can cause them to repel moisture.
• Detergents that commonly known to cause problems for washing cloth diapers are: Arm & Hammer Fabricare, Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin, Cheer, Gain, Melaluca MelaPower, Nature Clean, SA8, The Laudress, Tide HE.

GUEST BLOGGER

Beth is a SAHM of 5 wonderful boys ages 2 months to 14 years. She has been cloth diapering for over two years and has a passion for helping other moms learn all about it. She also loves to write, sing and spend time with her loving family.

You can read more about Beth at her blog, The Diaper Cover.

Why are there so many options? I, of all people, know how hard it is to buy cloth diapers in exclusively unisex colors.  I have a daughter and have been sucked into buying the cute girly colors and patterns.  My husband and I do want to have more children, so what if our next baby is a little boy?  Will we put girly patterns on him?  Could we afford to buy a whole new boy stash?

“Why don’t you go with all white diapers?”  This is a question I have heard many times and I am sure I will hear more when we do get pregnant again.  Simply put, white diapers are boring!!  Cloth diapering allows us the chance to decorate our baby’s bottom while being economical and environmentally friendly.  You are able to let the baby run around with a cute behind without having to put bloomers or pants on.  I like taking advantage of that!

In these tough economical times, it is difficult for many people to build a nice sized stash of fluff for their little ones, I am by no means a stranger to this.  This is the main reason I have ended up with a not so gender neutral collection.   

I typically try to buy cloth diapers that are on sale.  I have absolutely no problem putting my daughter in blue or green diapers.  Unfortunately, what is usually on sale are the pink and purple, polka dot, flowery diapers!  Well, I can certainly tell you, I am not going to pass up a good sale and a great opportunity to build my stash just because the colors are not the most ideal. 

What is a parent to do?

 
Do you just diaper your little boy in pink polka dots or purple flowered diapers?  I cringe at the idea of putting a little boy in a female gendered diapers, but these diapers are just too expensive to just push aside and not use. 

There is good news if you are one of the people in the same predicament as I am, you have a few options!  You can either sell your used stash and buy new diapers that either are gender neutral or are the opposite gender; you can try to find a friend who has a child of the opposite gender and trade with them; or you can buy diaper covers in those bright, bold colors to hide some not-so-gender-friendly patterns. 

Depending on how crafty you are, you could even consider making your own diaper covers.  If you have an all in one diaper to begin with, the material you use should not matter too much (just don’t forget and use it with a cloth diapers that isn’t water proof). 

GUEST BLOGGER

Joanna Barrette is a stay at home first time mom with a 3 month old baby. She loves being around family and feels blessed to have them close. She enjoys reading, baking, cooking, and making crafts.

There is nothing like a month (or four) of unusually frequent rain to make you appreciate the sun. Not only do I, as a beach girl, naturally crave the sun, or as mom of three, desire to send the older kids outside to play, but as a mom who cloth diapers, I need it. I need it to work its magic on those inevitable stains! I need it to freshen- up the fabric. I need it to provide its super drying powers to save energy and make my dipes more absorbent!

Didn’t know about those wonderful rays? Amazingly, many don’t. We have become so self sufficient, living inside our homes, taking care of all of our needs with our great appliances, that we sometimes forget the simple, natural elements that our mothers (or mothers’ mothers) knew so well. Don’t get me wrong – I love the new high efficiency washers and dryers – they are amazing…the sanitizing cycle, programmable extra rinses, adjustable timers and tumblers, but I don’t have these. I have an old, but reliable, Maytag and the sunshine, plus a dryer for back-up. Yet, I have been confounded this extra rain (six inches over average for the first two weeks of this month!).

Every time my diaper pail fills up, it seems to be raining! A few times the sun has revealed itself in the afternoon and I have dashed to wash the cloth diapers but after the long rinse – wash – rinse cycle, the sun is dipping below the trees – Argghh! I have not been completely foiled though. I have found that a mere hour in the sun makes a difference. The stains lighten, odors fade and a long tumble in the dryer finishes them off.

Even if the diapers only see the sun every other wash, it helps to get them out there. It is winter now, after all, and those thick diapers are hard to completely dry outside anyway (the prefold diapers and flannel baby wipes do fine though). Therefore, I have come up with a few laundry boosters to supplement my sunshine.

If I can anticipate a good sunny day…

If I can anticipate a good sunny day, I get the wash done early and get it outside, cold or not, sun is best! That has been a challenge lately, however. Sooo&helli;to combat odors and stains, I add a scoop of Borax to the wash cycle. Then during the final (extra) rinse, I sprinkle a little tea tree oil.

If I have gone a long time without sunning the diapers, and stains are building up, I will rinse, then soak with a scoop of oxygen bleach, then wash as usual. I do that as rarely as possible though to retain the integrity of the fabric. Oxygen bleach is supposed to be much better for fabrics than chlorine bleach.

I then continue my wash pattern and then damp-dry them in the dryer and hang them on the drying rack to finish. My diapers to continue to look pretty good and I believe they have a lot of life left in them – even after the third child! I do contend that the sun dries cloth diapers better and leaves them more absorbent, though a bit crispy (a 5 minute tumble with the dryer balls helps to soften them), and I haven’t found a substitute for that.

Happy laundering!

P.S. The sun works its miracles on spit-up stains too!

GUEST BLOGGER

Jamie Walski is a SAH mother of three. She is a former teacher but now stays busy with the children, gardening, cooking, arts and crafts, volunteering, yoga, running, and DIY projects for the home. She strives to live as environmentally responsibly as possible.

After having 4 babies in 5 years, I grew frustrated with the expense of disposable baby wipes.

Even purchasing them by the case taxed the bank account. Researching homemade wipes opened up a whole world of opportunity. In general cloth baby wipes can be broken done into two categories: disposable and reusable.

Disposable Baby Wipes

A. Prepackaged
These are the most commonly used and the most expensive. These can be purchased at almost any store and join disposable diapers in the landfill by the millions.

B. Homemade Paper Towel Wipes
Many moms have had success with making wipes using a soap solution and rolls of paper towel. Paper towels are a very thin wipe and it necessary to use more than one to take care of messy cloth diapers.

Both of these methods involve waste, as they are discarded in the trash. They also present a serious drawback to the cloth diaper user. If the wipes accidentally join the diapers in the wash, a mess can result. The fibers will fill Velcro tabs.

Reusable Cloth Baby Wipes

A. Wash Cloth And Water
This is the simplest method, as it involves only a cloth and water. It requires trips to the sink and if soap is not used, there is the potential for a rash to develop.

B. Cloth Wipes and Homemade Solution
This is a simple combination of cloth baby wipes and a soap solution. It can be easily stored in a wipe warmer or any container with a tight fitting lid.

The following recipe was taken from The Urban Homemaker catalog.

• 2 cups water
• 1 tsp Dr. Bronner’s soap
• 3 drops tea tree oil
• 3 drops of lavender oil

Cotton fleece wipes, knit terry wipes or flannelette washable wipes can be purchased to use with the solution.

Baby washcloths work well, too. A stack of cloth wipes sit in a basket beside the container of wipe “juice”. Keeping the wipes immersed in the water tend to make them slimy. Using more water can cause an unpleasant odor if the “juice” isn’t used fast enough.

The cloth wipes can be easily tossed in with the cloth diapers for washing. If you are out and about, you can soak a few cloth baby wipes and put them in a resalable plastic bag, such as Ziploc for easy use on the trip.

GUEST BLOGGER

Caron Norton is the mother of four Godly, but rambunctious, children, and the wife of an even more Godly, but rambunctious, husband! Aside from being a mom she is seeking a director’s license to tutor for Classical Conversations: a home-centered education movement. She has been cloth diapering for 5 1/2 years.

Do you dream of perfectly white cloth diapers? Sunning your cloth diapers is the best way I have found to whiten them up and it’s also nicer on the environment.

We have a white clothes drying rack we use to “sun” our cloth diapers. We stagger the cloth diapers on the rack with the stained side of the diaper facing out. Because neighbors have commented that it looks like we’re line-drying underwear outside, the clothes rack is discreetly placed on the side of our house. On occasion, we still get some strange looks and others will ask what it is we are drying on the rack.

Not all of it is negative however, our mailman commented on how nice it is to see someone drying items “the old fashioned way” and how he rarely sees women doing this anymore. Was that actually a compliment? I’m not sure. Regardless, my All In Ones (AIOs) benefit from the sun’s rays; they are very white and I feel I’m being easy on the earth.

When winter is upon us, the bright white cloth diapers go south for a while. I live in a climate where it can reach 20-30 below zero in the winter. Hanging cloth diapers outside on the line in this type of weather isn’t ideal. “So, the diapers get a little stiff and I get a little cold?” you say? “Toughen up and save the earth and all that right?”

Well…yes, I can still work to reduce my footprint on the earth, but I end up doing it from my dreary basement so my toes and diapers don’t freeze solid. And while I do it, I dream of a day when my cloth diapers will once again be perfectly white.

Though my cloth diapers aren’t perfectly white in the winter months, and while my neighbors and mailman can’t make comments about my diapers hanging on the line, at least I know I’ll be warm and my baby’s bottom will be covered in the comforts of cloth while we wait for the warm, sunny days to return.

GUEST BLOGGER

Bobbi Jepsen holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Student Personnel and previously worked at a state university before deciding to stay at home with her three children. She believes strongly in taking care of the resources entrusted to us by our Creator and uses cloth diapering as part of her “Earth friendly” mission.

Ever find that your cloth diapers have become stinky and you just can’t get them to smell fresh anymore? Or you go to change your baby’s cloth diaper and find it just isn’t absorbing and causing leaks? If so, it may be time to strip your diapers.

Over time, a soapy build-up can occur if your detergent leaves residue. That is why it’s always important to include an extra rinse when washing.  Here is a simple step-by-step guide on how to strip your diapers. 

Step 1: Wash your diapers as you normally would. It is important to start with clean diapers before the stripping process is started.

Step 2: Fill the washer with hot water. Make sure the water level is higher than the diapers.

Step 3: Put your diapers in the washer and let the agitation cycle begin.

Step 4: After the diapers have gone through the agitation cycle for a few minutes, add 1 - 2 squirts of liquid Dawn. 

Step 5: Allow the washer to agitate the Dawn while keeping an eye on it. 

Step 6: Continue the wash as normal.

Step 7: Once the wash cycle is finished, run the rinse cycle as many times as necessary until the bubbles are gone. This may take as many as 3 - 4 times.

You may have to complete this process more than one time in order to completely strip your baby’s cloth diapers of any residue. 

How Often Do I Strip My Diapers?

The good news is you may never need to strip your diapers. If after a normal wash your diapers have a bad odor that just won’t go away, you may want to try to rewash them, or use a bit more detergent next time. However, if that does not work, then I would suggest stripping.

If you find that your diapers are repelling moisture, rather than absorbing, it may be due to detergent build-up. Before you strip your diapers, make sure you do not have another problem with your diapers. You may need to add extra absorption such as another insert or doubler. It may be the particular brand of cloth diaper.

I have noticed some pocket diapers seem to have PUL that allows moisture to come through. If this is not why your diapers are leaking, then you may want to try stripping. If you choose, you can strip your diapers on a regular basis to ensure that you will not have any issues with residue build-up. Some mamas choose to strip their cloth diapers once a week, or once a month for this purpose.

GUEST BLOGGER

Beth is a SAHM of 5 wonderful boys ages 2 months to 14 years. She has been cloth diapering for over two years and has a passion for helping other moms learn all about it. She also loves to write, sing and spend time with her loving family.

You can read more about Beth at her blog, The Diaper Cover.

On occasion we have mommas, daddies and caregivers write in with a specific question about cloth diapering their babies. Up until recently we try to handle those questions based on our personal experience and those of our cloth diaper store customers.

Now that we are fortunate enough to have a growing base of Guest Bloggers writing about cloth diapers, we’ve decided to put our most recent question to them - and what a great response!

So, enjoy this particular Q & A Session on Night-Time Cloth Diapering and be sure to click through the links of our Guest Bloggers to see what else they’ve published here at CDB!

THE QUESTION

Hello -
I would like to see a post about cloth diapering your baby at night. My two-month old is starting to sleep through the night. My Prefolds and FuzziBunz were perfect when I was changing her every 3-4 hours at night, but they don’t hold up to eight hours. She is wet every morning, as well as her blankets and sheets. I thought I would stuff two inserts into the pocket diaper, but then I was unable to snap it on my baby. Do you have any suggestions? I don’t want to have to use disposables just at night, but neither do I want to wash sheets and blankets every day.

Thanks so much,
Andrea Hamilton

THE ANSWERS

Becca Gettel writes:

When night diapering my daughter I take two things into consideration: absorbency, and how dry the inner layer is against her skin. For absorbency, a common solution is to use hemp. Hemp is super absorbent, but also trim, so you won’t find that your baby has a monster butt if you double up on inserts. I prefer the Loopy Do inserts from Knickernappies for my night diapering. They have a layer of hemp and a layer of microterry. The microterry absorbs the moisture fast so that my daughter doesn’t feel wet, and the hemp (which takes longer to absorb liquid) holds a ton of liquid for how thin it is.

If that doesn’t work for you, you can try hemp inserts/doublers from Hemp Babies, and also Happy Heiny’s One Size Pocket Diaper. Just remember that you have to wash hemp 4-6 times before it gains full absorbency. If you use it before washing it a couple of times, it probably won’t solve your issue.

My favorite material (so far) to put against her skin is microsuede. No matter how soaked the microfiber insert of the diaper is, my daughter’s bottom stays dry with microsuede. My Rocky Mountain diapers have a microsuede layer instead of fleece and sometimes I can’t even tell if she’s wet when I change her because her skin feels so soft and dry.

Becca Gettel is a part time Spanish Teacher, a part time Stay-at-home-mom, and the wife of the best husband imaginable. Becca’s absolute favorite thing to do is to spend time with her little family. She also enjoys doing anything crafty - from making jewelry, to writing, to sewing, to photography.

You can read more about Becca at her blog, Becca’s Cloth Diaper Blog.

Joanna Barrette writes:

We had a problem with leaking at night too! The way I solved it was by buying the Thirsties All In One Pocket Diaper (I have heard the Thirsties Duo Cloth Diaper works just as well).

I use the medium sized diapers for my 2 month old. I stuff the pocket with an extra insert, and actually use the bumGenius! diaper insert. The Thirsties diapers have extra material around the leg to help prevent leaks. These are the only cloth diapers that haven’t leaked for us at night.

Joanna Barrette is a stay at home first time mom with a 6 week old baby. She loves being around family and feels blessed to have them close. She enjoys reading, baking, cooking, and making crafts.

Terra Jones writes:

Night time diapering has long been an issue for our family. It took almost a year and half of trial and error before we figured out what worked for us - so frustrating! We found the best solution for us were prefold diapers and the Bummis Super Snap Diaper Cover (we prefer the snap covers over velcro).

However, we make them more absorbent by placing an insert into the prefold (we use Babykicks Hemparoo Joey Bunz for the insert) and then tri-fold the prefold. We have found this makes for a very bulky bottom so, we compensate for the “overage” by buying our night time covers in a larger size than our boys need.

We refer to our youngest (lovingly, of course!) as a “Super Soaker” - he can wet through the toughest of diapers! For him, we double up on the inserts for extra protection (if you’re using a larger than needed cover, this will still work just fine). Thisties Diaper Covers seemed to work better for us than the Bummis (not sure why) when he was your daughters’ age and we did the same by buying a larger sized cover. Good luck!

Photos in the image above are contributed by Terra:
The red-head is Keaton at 34 months - Benjamin is 17 months

Terra Jones is a SAHM to two boys (ages 2.5 years and 16 months). She loves blogging, crafting and spending time with her family and friends. She is also working on completing her doula certification to become a birth attendant.

You can read more from Terra at her musings blog or her family blog.

Bobbi Jepsen writes:

Great question! Here is what I do at night. We’ve been doing this since our daughter was about 9 months old. So, it should work for a 2-month old as well. We use a Thirsties Duo Wrap or Flip One Size Diaper Cover. The Flip diaper cover is almost 100% leakproof, so I’d stick with that. With that I have a size small Diaper Rite Prefold and a Thirsties Fab Doubler. For your baby a size small would be huge, so you’d want the newborn size. I personally think the sizing runs very large with the size chart on these.

With the cover, prefold and insert, she’s usually dry all night long for 12 hours. I have tried the Flip diaper cover with a Flip Stay Dry insert and a Thirsties Fab Doubler, but that isn’t as absorbent. Diaper Rite Prefolds are VERY absorbent after they have been washed enough times. The type of prefolds you use makes a BIG difference-try the Diaper Rite ones. They are soft and VERY absorbent. We hardly ever have leaks with this system.

Also, if you still nurse your daughter during the night, you may want to add an additional insert or maybe try a couple hemp inserts with the prefold. If she still nurses frequently, she’s probably going to need a lot of absorbency. I haven’t tried hemp yet, but it seems like they are well respected for their absorbency. My daughter still nurses at least once during the night at 11 months. If she nurses more than that, then we can have leaks if I don’t use extra inserts. Hope this helps. :)

Bobbi Jepsen holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Student Personnel and previously worked at a state university before deciding to stay at home with her three children. She believes strongly in taking care of the resources entrusted to us by our Creator and uses cloth diapering as part of her “Earth friendly” mission.

Leanne Goolsby writes:

My 6 month old son is a super-soaker and has been since he came home from the hospital. “normal” cloth diapers were never up to his night-time peeing abilities, so I’ve spent a while figuring out what works for us. After much trial, error, and laundry, this is what I’ve found to work:

• Bamboo fitteds with a fleece diaper cover: I personally like the organic fitted by covered caboose; it’s a side snapping, all-bamboo diaper with a snap in insert that can be tri-folded, as well as an additional soaker. If you use all pieces, you end up with a something like 15 layers of bamboo; that is some serious absorbing power! We choose fleece diaper covers because we are allergic to wool. I have an Organic Caboose, a Sugar Peas, and a Lovey Bums…all of which work pretty well.
• Thirsties Duo Pocket Diaper: I just started using the Thirsties Duo and love it. When my son was newborn, I used the XS AIO’s on him with great success. Now that Thirsties has come out with this new pocket diaper, I’m getting back into the Thirsties brand. This diaper comes with both a hemp and a microfiber insert that snap together. I add in an extra 4 layer hemp insert and the combination of the three inserts last us through the night. Be sure to put the microfiber on top for quick initial absorbtion. Place the hemp insert on bottom to hold in the liquid through the night. Since your daughter is still pretty small, you would probably be in size 1 and have room for adjustment.
• The final thing that helps is your choice of pajamas. Two-piece cotton jammies have a tendency to creep under the waistband of cloth diapers and wick moisture out onto the sheets, eventually waking your baby up. I have much more success dressing my son in fleece pants, or even better, a fleece “sleeper” (footed, zipper jammies). This just provides an extra layer of protection.

Leanne Goolsby is a first-time mommy to the love of her life, a 6 month old baby boy and also works full-time in Development at a University. In her “free time” she loves anything crafty, being outdoors, saving money, and building her cloth diaper stash!

“Why are there so many options?!”

That is one of the first things people ask when they consider the option to cloth diaper. This question is usually closely followed by, “What does all this mean?” AIO (all-in-ones), pockets, one size, doublers, inserts, prefolds, covers; it’s like another language, not to mention overwhelming!

Sure, some of the terms are easy to figure out. But seeing all these new terms forces a person to ask, what do I really need? I am the kind of person that likes to do research before I buy anything. In my hunt I thought the one size would suit our needs best.

I went with the option to diaper my baby with the one size diapers. I started off by buying a few bumGenius! One Size Diapers (and registered for a bunch more). This was a great idea, so I thought…

Now, after I have jumped in the deep end of the pool, I’m learning to swim - slowly. I have come to know that one size doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll be able to use them from day one. Cloth diapering a newborn is a whole new story.

I found the one size diapers were HUGE (on the smallest setting) compared to my tiny newborn baby. The area between the legs looked twice the size of a cloth diaper that would actually fit this little body. I wondered how I could have overlooked this. I didn’t find a lot of information about what diapers would fit newborns.

Now that my baby is a little bigger and I’ve done more research, I’ve come to realize many people use the prefold diapers along with a diaper cover for their newborns. While prefolds are a great option for a lot of people, they didn’t seem to be the best option for us. I looked into the sized diapers. Although the sized diapers cannot be used for very long, they fit that little newborn body much better than the one sized diapers.

Since my new found discovery, I have purchased several x-small and small diapers. The all in one diapers seemed to be the greatest option for us. We tried the bumGenius! brand. They fit a lot better and they have an insert in them already. The best thing is that there is a pocket, so it is possible to add an insert for those times of heavy wetting. The only down side to these from what I have found is they take a while to dry. The all-in-one size cloth diaper have worked so well, that we recently purchased more in other brands. The best advice I have is to try what you think will fit your life best, and if that doesn’t pan out the way you had hoped, there are plenty of other options in the wonderful world of cloth diapering.

GUEST BLOGGER

Joanna Barrette is a stay at home first time mom with a 3 month old baby. She loves being around family and feels blessed to have them close. She enjoys reading, baking, cooking, and making crafts.

I am a bargain shopper. I learned it from my mom, who learned it from my grandma, and it’s just what we do in my family. There’s nothing better than finding a great deal on something you really like.

One of the best ways to find those killer deals is to find things used – or “Gently Loved” as I prefer to call them. Thrift shops, consignment stores, Craigslist; you name it, I’ve bought from it.

But when I started my cloth diaper journey earlier this year, it caught me a little off guard to see people selling their used cloth diapers. After all, didn’t that thing hang out on your kid’s butt?

When you think about it, though, it’s really not a big deal.

I wash my dipes every three days, starting with a cold rinse, then a super hot wash, and another cold rinse. They’re clean…and I bet other people’s diapers are, too. So if you can get past that teeny, tiny issue, buying cloth used is a great way to go:

COST – Even though CD-ing is significantly cheaper in the long run than disposable diapers, there is a larger upfront cost. After initially researching my options (prefolds? AIO’s? One Size? Aaack!) I decided that I wanted to go with a few middle-of-the-road options. But at $16-24 each, the dipes I was eyeing were a little out of my price range. Fortunately, I was able to find cloth in excellent used condition (EUC) for 40% - 60% off retail prices.

VARIETY – I had read so many good reviews about so many types of diapers that I wanted to try more than one kind when my son was born. While many CD retailers are great about providing value in quantity (buy cloth diaper packages of 12 or 24 and get a significant discount), if you buy just one, it usually comes with a pretty price tag. By finding diapers used, I was able to try out several different types and test drive a few before I decided which ones I liked.

THE 3 R’s – we all know it…recycle, reduce, reuse. And what better way to promote sustainability than by applying the 3 R’s to our diapering habits? Buying used means that fewer diapers actually have to be made, therefore reducing each of our carbon footprint just a little bit. Fortunately for the cloth diapering world, a lot of our favorite things even get better with time! Take Hemp, for example. It actually becomes more absorbent the more it is used, so buying a gently loved hemp diaper really means less work and more absorbency for you!

So where do you find great deals on used cloth diapers?

There are a lot of options: start locally with children’s consignment stores in your area. They often have bins of used diapers at great prices and if you have clothes or diapers to trade in, you can get the diapers for almost nothing! Online options include general websites (Craigslist, Ebay, etc.), diaper specific websites like DiaperSwappers, and online retailers with “gently loved” or “preowned” sections of used cloth diapers for returns. I’ve also found great deals on diapers at garage sales and through friends.

Always ask questions about detergent, diaper rash creams, fabric softeners, and vinegar. If you’re buying in person, check the Velcro, elastic, snaps, and fabric. If you’re buying online, be sure to ask for pictures and clarification for any questions you might have. Shopping for used cloth diapers isn’t really a “try-before-you-buy” kind of deal, so make sure you know exactly what you’re getting. Don’t be afraid to look carefully at each diaper, feel them, and even smell them! On occasion, I’ve ended up with repelling issues, but it was never anything a good stripping couldn’t fix.

If you’re willing to put in a little time and effort, buying your cloth diapers gently loved can save you even more money on top of your initial savings. Give it a try!

GUEST BLOGGER

Leanne Goolsby is a first-time mommy to the love of her life, a 6 month old baby boy and also works full-time in Development at a University. In her “free time” she loves anything crafty, being outdoors, saving money, and building her cloth diaper stash!