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Here's all the information you need to start cloth diapering:
What will I need to
Cloth Diaper?
- Cloth Diapers – How many of each? – see below.
- Covers – How many of each? – see below.
- Cloth wipes (No reason to use disposable wipes – simply throw wipe directly in the diaper pail with dirty diaper)
- Diaper pail (You could use a standard kitchen garbage pail with a foot pedal lid)
- Diaper pail liner to put in diaper pail (Using this alleviates the urine and pooh from getting directly on the diaper pail, therefore, less cleaning. Simply empty the cloth diapers, covers and wipes into the washer and air dry the diaper pail liner and/or throw in the washer to be cleaned.)
- Travel-size Tote Bag – optional (You could use a plastic bag, air out between outings, and reuse.)
- Washing detergent – I recommend using eco friendly detergents such as Bi-O-Kleen All Natural laundry detergent. Do not use detergents that have whitening enzymes. Whitening enzymes can be associated with severe rashes. Do not use fabric softener or bleach; bleach will break down the fibers of the cotton and fabric softener decreases the absorbency of cotton.
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How many cloth diapers do I need?
This is my recommendation – please call me directly if this is your first experience with cloth diapering – I know how I felt when I first started – a bit overwhelmed – but you don’t have to feel this way – once you have your cloth diapering supplies, it really is easy!
Full-time cloth diapering, from birth to underwear:
TOTAL: approximately $400.00
For those of you who would like to start out using cloth diapers slowly or have your child in a daycare setting, you may opt for using cloth diapers on a part-time basis, keeping in mind that the less amount of time your baby is in a throwaway plastic-and-paper diaper, the less exposure to chemicals, less garbage polluting Mama Earth, and more money in your pocket.
Part-time cloth diapering:
TOTAL: approximately $175.00
Example for part-time cloth diapering:
At bedtime, put on fitted cloth diaper, doubler and Aristocrat cover. Keeping in mind, the importance of a wool cover, it let’s your baby’s bottom breath and it virtually never leaks! In the morning, throw wet/soiled diaper in diaper pail. You and your baby go about your day. When you arrive back home in the evening, put a cloth diaper and cover back on and then when bedtime rolls around, put on the fitted diaper, doubler and Aristocrat cover for a nice, comfortable sleep. On the third morning, wash diapers and covers. Now you are ready to begin again!
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How do I fold a Prefold
cloth diaper without pins?
Option 1:
Lay diaper flat. Fold diaper into thirds, right along the seams. Lay in open diaper cover. If diaper is too long, fold over front. Velcro or snap cover on baby.
Option 2:
Lay diaper flat. Fold diaper into thirds, right along the seams. Lay in open diaper cover. Spread open back of diaper (sort of in a fan shape) for maximum coverage. If diaper is too long, fold over front. Velcro or snap cover on baby.
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How do I change cloth diapers?
It’s very similar to using a throwaway diaper except this time you reuse the diaper, saving one ton of untreated human waste from being buried, per baby, in Mama Earth, and saving you time and money spent going to the store to purchase throwaway diapers.
- When your baby has a wet diaper, simply throw the cloth diapers in your diaper pail, let your baby’s bottom breath and then put diaper and cover back on baby. Hang dry cover if damp. Rotate covers between diaper changes.
- For a poopy diaper, either dampen the cloth wipe on your way to changing your baby’s diaper or be sure to have handy a small bowl or a squirt bottle with water to get the cloth wipes wet and then wipe pooh from your baby’s butt. Dump pooh into the toilet, and put the diaper and wipes in the diaper pail. You know what’s next, the soft clean cloth diaper. See, it’s really not that bad!
- With regards to diaper creams, cornstarch powders, and soaps – use sparingly, what’s best for your baby’s skin is plain old warm water and a soft cloth. Do not use Desitin, it contains cod liver oil which can stain and cause fishy odors on your cloth diapers. For redness on baby’s bottom, plain zinc oxide is fine. Balmex works well.
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How do I wash cloth diapers and covers?
Wash and dry new cloth diapers and doublers 3 to 5 times to remove any natural plant oils, wax, and chemicals (bleached cotton), to increase the absorbency, and soften the fabric.
Suggestions for washing cloth diapers:
(Recommended to wash every two to three days.)
- Place soiled and wet cloth diapers in the machine and wash on cold. Do not add detergent.
- Machine wash on hot with a small amount of detergent. If you use Bio-Kleen or All Free Clear try using only 1 or 2 tablespoons of detergent.
- Line dry, tumble dry or a little of both.
- If after using cloth diapers for a while they begin to retain odors, you may want to run the diapers through a cold rinse cycle without any detergents. Detergents can remain in the fabric causing odors. Another option, wash cloth diapers with ¼ cup baking soda or rinse your diapers in a ¼ cup of white vinegar. Always try the initial extra rinse of diapers – this can do wonders for smelly diapers. You may even run the diapers through a few rinses and see if any suds appear. If you see suds, then you definitely have detergent build-up on your diapers.
Bummis Super Diaper Covers:
- If soiled, throw in the washer with cloth diapers and do a cold water and hot water wash.
- If only wet, then just machine wash with cloth diapers on hot.
- Line dry only. Covers will last longer and you conserve energy too!
Aristocrat Pull-On Wool Pant:
(Washing instructions included with cover.)
- Air dry between uses.
- Once every two weeks or when the wool cover becomes soiled, hand wash using a mild soap(your baby shampoo works just fine)and warm water. Let soak for 5 or 10 minutes and dry wool cover by rolling it in a towel and hang dry or lay flat on a towel to dry. Avoid sun exposure or direct heat when drying.
- Periodically wool will need to be re-lanolized to maintain the water resistance (usually once a month). Lansinoh is a great product, popular for healing sore nipples and works to re-lanolize wool covers. Microwave or heat 1/8 teaspoon of lanolin in 1 cup of water until hot. Add mixture to water and let your cover soak for 10 minutes. You can use your fingers to work the lanolin into cover. Dry cover by rolling it in a towel and hang dry. Avoid sun exposure or direct heat when drying.
Woolums Diaper Covers:
(These are felted covers so they can be machine washed – shrink 10%)
- Air dry between uses.
- Once every two weeks or when the wool cover becomes soiled, machine wash with diapers.
- Hang to dry or lay flat on towel. Avoid sun exposure or direct heat when drying.
- Periodically this wool cover will need to be re-lanolized. Follow directions under Aristocrat cover.
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This is how I cloth diaper my son, Jakob:
Let’s begin at bedtime:
Jakob will wear a fitted diaper, doubler and an Aristocrat wool cover.
Now it’s morning time:
Jakob’s diaper, doubler and cover are removed. Diaper and doubler are put in diaper pail and Aristocrat is hung up (inside out) to air dry.
Throughout the day, Jakob wears either a Hemper(folded in thirds) or fitted diaper with a Woolum, Aristocrat, or Bummis cover. He usually gets changed every three hours or so or sooner if he has gone poopy or appears extremely wet.
It's really simple. If you haven't cloth diapered before, I would say it takes about two to three weeks to get accustomed to it, and then it's smooth sailing!
Remember you are not alone, people that cloth diaper love to talk about it. If you have questions, or would like to discuss your options in more detail, please contact me at debbie@earthymama.com or call me directly at 860.485.0639. I would love to talk with you!
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How To Cloth Diaper 