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Diaper FAQ
Why should I make the switch to cloth diapers? TOP Your baby and our planet will thank you! You baby will be so much more comfy in cloth! Would you want to wear paper or plastic underwear? Cloth is a great money saver. You can customize your stash based on your needs and budget.
Babies in cloth have less diaper rash. Sensitive skin can breathe! Kids in cloth diapers potty learn earlier. And did I mention they are OH SO CUTE!!! Need more convincing? Read our 10 Great Reasons article. Ok, but what about the POOP! TOP What do I need to get started? TOP
My diapers arrived, do I need to pre-wash them? TOP Pre-Washing Micro-Fiber and Polyester Products: Fasten laundry tabs on items that have Velcro. Wash with a small amount of detergent. Do not pre-wash polyester products with natural fibers; this may cause pilling of the fleece. Pre-washing Natural Cotton or Hemp Products: Wash 3-5 times in hot water with a tiny bit of detergent. This enables the diapers to absorb properly. Dry between each wash for proper sizing. Your Cotton Prefolds will arrive somewhat flat and stiff, but will fluff and soften wonderfully after washed. All prefolds require pre-washing. The natural oils of cotton is preserved in the natural prefolds. Prewash 3-5 times with a tiny bit of detergent in hot water. Dry between washes for proper sizing. Additional initial washings are required for ideal absorbency in unbleached diapers. Natural prefolds will continue to increase in absorbency and will reach their ultimate absorbency after about 8 washes. How do I wash my diapers? TOP Shake off solids into toilet and toss diaper in the pail. Wet diapers and breastmilk poo can go straight into the pail. We recommend the "dry pail" method. Simply use a pail liner or hanging pail to store diapers until wash day. Every 2-3 days toss everything in the wash, I do not recommend going more that 3 days between washings. Put diapers, inserts, cloth wipes and diaper pail liner into the washing machine. 1. Prewash cold 2. Warm or Hot extended wash with 1/4 recommended detergent and plenty of water! 3. One or two rinse cycles 4. Tumble Medium or hang to dry. For best results, hang covers and pocket diapers to dry, or put on a lower heat setting in the dryer. Do not use bleach or fabric softener! Bleach can break down the PUL and elastic in your diapers and is very hash on the fabric. Not to mention it is bad for the environment. Fabric softeners can leave residues on your diaper which will in turn cause leaks. I preriodically use an Oxygen Booster (OxoBrite or OxyClean Baby) to brighten up and remove stains and odors. The sun also works wonders! Visit our Diaper Care section for detailed washing instructions for each manufacturer. This information is intended as a guideline only – always follow manufacturer instructions when washing and drying cloth diapers. Do I need a special Detergent? TOP You will want to use a detergent that is free of additives such as optical brighteners, enzymes, softeners, perfumes. etc.
Optimal Detergents are:
Allen's Naturally Powder /Liquid
Country Save Powder/Liquid
Planet Ultra Powder/Liquid
Planet 2X Ultra
Mountain Green Free & Clear
Mountain Green Free & Clear Baby
Tide Free
When washing diapers start by using 1/2 the detergent manufacturer’s suggested amount. Too much detergent can leave build up, you may see suds in the rinse. Too little won't get your diapers clean enough. It may take a little bit of trial but once you get it down, it's a breeze! Diapers are actually my easiest load of laundry I do, and I do A LOT! I have an HE machine, do I need to do anything different? TOP If you have an HE machine, you will need to tweak your wash routine a bit. Make sure to use an HE detergent. HE machines use less water which means the wash water is dirtier so you really need to get those diapers rinsed well!
If you have the option, set water levels to high to be sure that diapers are cleaned and rinsed properly. If the weight of the load determines the water level, put a wet towel in with diapersto increase the weight of the load.
I will do an extra short wash in only cold water after my wash cycle if I feel the diapers need a good rinse. How often do I need to change the diapers? TOP Cloth diapers are not like disposables. You do have to change the diapers every 1 1/2-2 hours during the day for newborns and about every 2 to 3 hours for older babies. This all depends on your baby and how much he/she wets.
How can I get stains out? TOP I am using disposables at night and am ready to switch, what do you reccommend? TOP One of the most common questions I get is about nighttime diapering.
Many families who use cloth during the day resort to disposables at
night because they are afraid of leaks or have not found the right
solution. Nighttime diapering does involve some trial and error. The key is finding find a diaper that will hold an entire night's worth of wetness
without being to bulky. I believe that wool and other natural fibers work fantastically for nighttime, this combination will keep baby cool and comfortable. Add a stay-dry
liner, if desired, for that stay dry feeling. You can calso use pocket diapers as long as you add enough absorbancy. If using pockets be sure
you have excellent leg fit, no buildup in your microfleece, and a pocket
properly stuffed with something that absorbs fast enough for your baby. If the overnight
diaper is wicking wetness because it is getting too soggy, then try
some more absorbency. Be sure to check out our Nighttime Solutions section. Why are my cloth diapers leaking? TOP Then, figure out where the leak is coming from. If the diaper is leaking out the top, make sure that the insert isn't pushing the lining fabric up against your baby's clothing. That will cause the diaper to wick moisture up and out of the top. The top edge of the diaper should be flat against your baby with the soft fabric against your baby's skin. If the diaper is leaking out the side of the legs, change the diaper and remove the insert. If it is saturated then your baby either needs something more absorbent or a more frequent diaper change. If it isn't saturated, then you either have a fit issue or a repelling issue. To observe fit, pick up your baby's legs after putting the diaper on and observe how it fits around the bottom of their bottom. If the diaper is leaking out the back, make sure that the insert is tucked in completely. If the insert is sticking out the top of the diaper, it will wick moisture onto your baby's clothing. Every baby is different. Some brands of cloth diapers and diaper covers may just not fit your baby well. It's a good idea to try a few different brands when first starting out. What is a Pocket Diaper? TOP A pocket diaper has a waterproof outer layer and a microfleece or suedecloth inner layer. A pocket (usually located in the back of the diaper) is where you can place an absorbent insert to draw moisture away from baby's skin. Because the insert is separate from the rest of the diaper, you can customize the absorbency to fit your child’s needs. This is great if you need varying levels of protections and absorbency. Another great feature is that you can use almost any naturally absorbent material to put in the pocket, including old flat and prefold diapers. The separate insert also makes washing and drying quicker and more effective. Examples of pocket diapers include Fuzzi Bunz, Happy Hieny, DryBees, and Just Ducky Baby Pocket Diapers.
My diapers are stinky, even after washing. Help! TOP Diaper odor is most likely caused by detergent build up. Run your diapers through an extra hot wash with no soap; if there are any suds, the detergent did not rinse out completely, and this residue is what causes the ammonia smell when the diaper gets wet again. Run your diapers through an extra cold rinse cycle after washing or use less detergent, or switch brands to prevent detergent build up.
I periodically soak my diapers overnight with oxyggen bleach to get them fresh and squeeky clean. Follow with a regular wash and extra rinse. What is diaper "stripping"? TOP “Stripping” is the process of removing detergnet build-up from your diapers. These residues can cause waterproofing to wick, or persistent odor problems, or rashes. Begin with clean diapers. Fill washer with very hot water and and a few scoops of oxygen booster like oxo-brite (preferrred) or Oxy Clean Baby (don't holdback!). Allow it to agitate, and then soak for a few hours, I let mine soak overnight. Rinse and then run a hot wash with nothing but water. If there are any suds during the wash, repeat the plain-water wash until there are no suds. That should help. It’s best if you do not return to using the same detergent that caused the problem. In fact, repeated washing in a residue-free detergent will also remove residues, just not as quickly as an intense “stripping”. Some people have found better success with hand-washing in a sink filled with hot water and dish detergent, where you can scrub each individually with a nail brush to speed the removal of residues. That may not be practical, however, if you have two dozen pocket diapers! This is meant as an occasional treatment for your diapers, not as a part of your everyday wash routine. As always, do not hesitate to contact us for more help. How do I fold a prefold or flat diaper? TOP |
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