Cloth Diapering

Good Day! - posted on 02/05/2011

Ashley...I was also very confused about all this. All I really knew is that I wanted to use cloth. The diaper representative I met with really cleared up a lot of my confusion.

Here is her website. I'm sorry, this is a local company, but at least this part of the site I'm linking you to will answer some of your questions.

http://elemenopeeonline.com/cd101.html

Celeste - posted on 02/05/2011

I wasn't aware of the different kinds of cloth diapers with my first daughter. I thought it was the old school plastic pants and pins. So, I used disposables.

I planned on CD'ing with my 2nd pregnancy but found it was twins. I was convinced that I wouldn't be able to handle laundry, newborn twins and a 4 year old.

A few months in, I couldn't believe how much $$ we were spending on disposables!! It was CRAZY! So, I decided to look into cloth diapers. I bought prefolds, covers, snappis, and pockets. LOVED them and never looked back.

It wasn't as labor intensive as I thought it was. I had all these preconceived notions in my head so I was really surprised that it was easier than I thought!

Ashley - posted on 02/04/2011

Im so confused you ladies made me think that i should cheak into this but there is so much i dont no were to start the pocket diapers looked neat but do u buy different sizes or the 1 fits all and what else do u need. lol thanks

Nikkole - posted on 02/04/2011

I used cloth diapers as spit rags (my mother in law bought me some) they work so well for spit up to :)

Good Day! - posted on 02/04/2011

I met with a cloth diaper rep today. She spent four hours with me...answering my questions and showing me all different products. I chose a one size pocket diaper from a company that hires work at home mom seamstresses. I would make diapers if I had any sewing skills at all. But that is one skill the good Lord did not gift me with. I don't mind supporting the moms that made the diapers I purchased! =)

Chelsea - posted on 02/03/2011

If you have some basic sewing skills and a decent sewing machine, do some internet research. You can make your own out of things you have at home (old wool sweaters, t-shirts, old towels, and old flannel) and can find at Goodwill or the Salvation Army for CHEAP. I don't think I spent $30 and we have over 40 cloth diapers, and they work great! There are all kinds of free information and ideas for making your own diapers. I even found a free source for diaper and cover patterns. We are now using cloth wipes with a lavender and tea tree oil solution you can make and put into those empty spray bottles you can find at Walmart. No chemicals for your pretty baby!

Charlie - posted on 02/03/2011

I have just started cloth diapering and I LOVE IT !.

I was to scared with my first son but I have tried them and they are easy and will save money and enviroment in the long run !

Lisa I want a goat for milking too !

Zoe - posted on 02/03/2011

never hered of these sprayers, we just used the shower spray in a buckit and proed it down the loo. saddos eh.

Zoe - posted on 02/03/2011

Hi Sara, i used the bamboo ones, one pack of 15 was fine.
£150 including breatherbel wraps, i would recomend them to everyone having a baby.

Jayde - posted on 01/31/2011

Before i gave birth to my daughter 21months ago i didn't even think twice about cloth or disposables. I chose disposables. Only because i thought cloth nappies were like what they were when i was born the big towel & pin things haha (mum used cloth nappies on myself & all my sisters). I wish i had've known about the MCNs then cos i would have tried it but now its wouldn't be worth it - my daughter will be toilet trained soon enough.

Sarah - posted on 01/31/2011

I'm currently using disposable diapers with my 16 month old son, but I plan on trying out cloth diapers with my next child. I think cloth diapers are really cute!

Minnie - posted on 01/31/2011

Kati, it is my dream to own a goat and make my own cheese :D

Minnie - posted on 01/31/2011

Oooh Candi you probably had gentian violet. It usually works well for thrush on mother's nipples and baby's mouth. But it sure does stain whatever it touches!

Kristian Amber - posted on 01/31/2011

LOL @ Sara D. My hubby says I'm a hippie too. He's completely on board with me CD'ing our baby girl though, he actually found me a cheap little sewing machine ($20 at KMart) and has given me the go ahead to start making my own. I'm so excited I can't wait! I think he gets the hippie idea from the fact that I've started making a lot of our household cleaners. I don't buy laundry soap, fabric softener/sheets, dishwashing detergent or anything like that anymore. Not even carpet shampoo for my kirby. I've found so many good websites to make my own at a fraction of the cost and I actually know what's in everything! That and I started couponing like crazy, he absolutely loves the fact that I'm trying to save us money, even though it isn't really an issue, we don't struggle, I just want us to start having a savings so we can buy a new car and not have to worry about how many more days until payday.
For any mommies trying to find some cheap cd's: I got on Ebay for a little while and found a few AIO's I think they were, and they were like $5 brand new, I can't remember the shipping, and they aren't brand name or anything, but they shipped from China or somewhere overseas. I have about 4 of them now, which will hopefully keep us going until I can get our little girl measured and make some for her.
I have my 3D ultrasound on the 8th, and it's a 45 minute drive, but hopefully after its done I can go to the JoAnns they have there and start buying some material! There are just no good places here to find fabric or any earth friendly baby items, and if you can find them, they'll for sure run you bankrupt! Not even the thrift stores (as few of them as there are here... sigh) have any good items for a good price to start cd'ing.
Both of my boys were in disposables... I didn't want to use them, but my hubby at the time said we had no choice and refused to stop dishing out money to bowl on 3 different leagues a week so I could try. Even when I explained to him that it would end up saving us money he was adamantly negative about the whole thing. He didn't want to deal with cloth diapers when he had to change the boys (which he never changed them, ever) and it would be too expensive and gross. That is why I am so happy that my hubby now (our 1st Anniversary is Feb 23rd!) is so willing to let me try things, especially if they'll save us money!
Also, all the parts and supplies you would need to make your own Potty Pail is right at Lowe's or Home Depot. I was looking at the design of it and realized how insanely cheap it would be to make one! I used to work at Lowes and the on/off switch that attaches to the toilet for the sprayer is in the plumbing dept and shouldn't cost more than $3-5, if that. I had asked my hubby to look at it and make me one when he reminded me that we wouldn't need it since our boys' bathroom has a detachable shower head with an on/off switch that sits right next to the toilet! I hadn't thought of that at all and am so happy that my hubby is a forward thinker! LOL! He showed me a diaper pail that was $25 at some store and I explained to him that with how often I do laundry we could get away with just getting a water proof liner and buying a cheap tall kitchen trash can with lid.

Sorry, probably a lot more info than you guys needed about my opinion on this but I am just so excited to finally get to do this with one of my babies!
And- for diaper rashes, my oldest couldn't use Desitin or anything like that, it actually made his rashes worse, so my mom, and a naturalist friend of mine, told me about bag balm (udder cream) and I started using it. My oldest had had a horrible rash where his skin was actually peeling off and security at our ER was going to throw me out because I wouldn't sit down since it made my son scream in pain, so I went out and bought some, the very next day his rash was already healing and I never used any commercial brand of diaper rash cream ever again!
You can find it at walmart, when I got it it was in a green tin for like $3. A little goes a long way, its very sticky and doesn't like to come off, but works fabulously!
Hope some of this info can be helpful!

Julianne - posted on 01/30/2011

@megan, you dont need to wash the diapers, you can choose to go with a cloth diaper service as well.

Johnny - posted on 01/30/2011

The information about Lotrisone came from the Mayo Clinic website, not from any alternative/natural health source. I think the point is that it is really commonly prescribed by doctors, and is actually completely inappropriate if not dangerous. Sadly, this is all too common, I was prescribed a drug for years for my interstitial cystitis by my GP that my urologist eventually told me made my condition significantly worse.

Candi - posted on 01/30/2011

My daughter had a yeast inf. when she was a baby. The Dr gave us some purple stuff that dyed her skin!! One day the stuff got knocked off the mantle. Colored my carpet and both of my kids purple!! They had purple legs, feet, and hands. It was awful. This stuff stains and we had to just let it wear off....about 2 weeks they were purple! By the way, it did not do a thing for her. We finally used Lotrimin for Athlete's Foot. That was 10 years ago and she hasn't had a problem since. Good Luck

Rosie - posted on 01/30/2011

im a huge fan of probiotics, but carol my doctor actually prescribed that type of cream for my kid when he had a yeast infection. so i wonder what is really going on. i'd ask a doctor first april, and then go from there.

on a side note, all of you that sew and dye diapers!! lol! i think it's great, but i have absolutely no desire to do any of that. i couldn't imagine being that handy!! but then i make my own ricotta cheese, and jam, and freeze corn and do all sort of other things people probably wouldnt want to do either, lol!

Meghan - posted on 01/30/2011

cheaper or not, I HATE doing laundry. I would rather spend the money than wash, dry and fold/put away everyday. I think I still have stuff downstairs from 2 weeks ago...

Jane - posted on 01/29/2011

I think cloth diapers are fine if that's what a mom wants to do. ME? I was not into it but NEVER looked down upon someone who wanted to do it. Environmentally they both have their advantages and disadvantages. I think it's all about preference.

Johnny - posted on 01/29/2011

April, I'm a big fan of cloth diapers, but they aren't the right choice for a baby with a yeast infection rash. The gel of the disposables draws the moisture in, which is helpful for this problem.

And just taking a quick look, I found this note about topical anti-fungals:

Betamethasone dipropionate is a fluorinated high-potency topical corticosteroid that is formulated with clotrimazole in the brand-named product Lotrisone. This product is frequently used inappropriately in intertriginous (diaper regions where deep folds of skin overlap) areas. Such potent corticosteroids have no role in the treatment of a Candida diaper rash. The absorption of such a highly potent steroid may produce multiple (and potentially severe) side effects.

Diaper yeast rashes can also have dietary allergy causes. My girlfriend fought this for 2 years, and it turned out her son was allergic to milk products, but this was the only symptom.

Julianne - posted on 01/29/2011

april probiotics for babies cures yeast rashes and prevents them from returning, antibotics for yeast infections in the form of creams treats the symptoms, not the cause.

Beck - posted on 01/29/2011

I have done disposables for both my girls but I plan on going to cloth for the last baby I have, (if I have another) I like the idea and am so not going to be lazy like i was last time :) I just couldnt be bothered thats why I changed to disposables

Becky - posted on 01/29/2011

we got some really cheep shaped terry nappies called easy peasy from amazon and then i sewed an extra soaker into them made from old towels and died them purple.
i also make woolen wraps out of old wool jumpers [wooly bum jumpers] so they are free except the lanolin.

Kelina - posted on 01/28/2011

april it wouldn't hurt to try treating it like a yeast rash. you can buy the $10 canesten athlete's foot stuff from the pharmacy, rub it on twice a day and then cover it with his regular diaper rash cream. If it starts looking better that's what it is. A good characteristic is if it looks like someone took a lighter to his bum. My son had a bad one quite often when he was in his first cloth diapers, but they can actually be caused by the chemicals in disposables. good luck!

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 01/28/2011

My husband is handy, but doesn't like to be handy very often lol. I don't plan on buying the expensive sprayers. I've seen some cheaper ones (around $30) that look just like the ones for your kitchen sink only it comes with a mount to put it on the wall by the toilet. I'm not quite sure how to hook it up, but it says you don't have to do any plumbing, I'm not sure if that would be the same with the kitchen sprayer, but if you can get it cheaper it's worth a shot.

Julianne - posted on 01/28/2011

gabby poops like 5 times a day. and i just flop the poop into the toilet, throw in the diaper gene...i wash them every night..the washer smells when its on..but i dont stay in the laundry room

Julianne - posted on 01/28/2011

cloth diapers are cheap as anything.

1 go to a thrift store, buy old cotton and fleece clothing and wool sweaters..

2 go home and sew them into diapers..



3 put on baby.



50$ to diaper her..

i did end up with my hands on fuzzibuns though ♥

i love nice people :)

Minnie - posted on 01/28/2011

Hahah yeah, crap diapers did scare me at first, but they're not that bad. Only one per day and I don't really have to touch any in the bin we use- they just get dumped in the washer.

Rosie - posted on 01/28/2011

when i was younger my mom used cloth diapers on my brother, and i was horrified at the prospect of using them on my children. i am now aware that they are completely different now, but still, the thought of cleaning pails of poop pissy diapers doesn't appeal to me at all.
i think i would've liked to try them, but i don't have any more kids in diapers and won't any more (whoot whoot!!) so it's pointless now. meh, doesn't bug me too much that i didn't get to wash loads of crap diapers, lol!

April - posted on 01/28/2011

I'm off to google what a yeasty diaper rash looks like. I've never heard of it, sadly, so the thought didn't occur to me. :( But yes, he's had it nearly since he was born. It is almost always the same shade of red and occasionally you'll see dots of blood where it appears that the skin is coming off? I try to use the rash cream often...if I forget...my son reminds me. Which also makes me feel like a bad mom or something :(

Good Day! - posted on 01/28/2011

@Sara D...my husband is making a diaper sprayer for me from a kitchen sink sprayer. He's convinced he can do it for half the price of a real diaper sprayer. I know it's not a necessity to have one, but if he can do it I'm all for it! He's so handy with stuff like that, and he loves it when his skills are useful to his babies!

Kelina - posted on 01/28/2011

we did a combination af cloth and disposable with my son, we had the sears baby with plastic pants. It drove me so nuts because no matter what I did he always leaked. So this time around I sprang for the all in ones and they work great! they're actually a pocket diaper and I love them. since he's still in diapers i've got him in them too and they work beautifully-finally, no leaks! i'm not bothering with disposables for her. the cloth are all that's needed.

Minnie - posted on 01/28/2011

Hmmm...I have heard good things about tushies diapers- they're gel-free. http://www.amazon.com/Tushies-Diapers-La...



If Zach's rash is that bad April, maybe it wouldn't hurt getting 10 or so prefolds and using them for a few days to see if his skin improves. If you feel that he would be better off in cloth it's ok to switch, even this late in the game.



Also- have you considered that his rash might be yeast? That can hang around for ages.

Candi - posted on 01/28/2011

We used CD with our oldest. We requested them at the baby shower and got enough to last. It was so easy. The only "dumping" we had to do was when he pooped. Just shake it out into the toilet. We washed a pail of diapers everyday. Once a week or so we bleached them. We had diaper covers with velcro, so we didn't have to use diaper pins anymore (very painful). To replace them was way less than a pack of disposable diapers, even with diaper covers. People laughed at us and called us crazy. Even the pediatrician gave us funny looks. I didn't care. When my daughter was born 16 months later, the cd would not fit her at all. No matter what size or shape we bought, nothing fir her around her legs. She would pee all over the place. Sshe was only a few OZ less at birth than my son, but for some reason, the diapers would not fit herWe had no choice but to buy disposables, but she was in real panties at 2, so it was no big deal. With our 3rd, we used disposables. Luckily we didn't have an issue with diaper rash.

April - posted on 01/28/2011

@ Sara...I was just like you with my first (and only so far) child. I just thought disposables were way easier. Now I am thinking I was totally selfish. He has a near constant diaper rash, sometimes so bad that the skin bleeds a little bit. He loves his diaper rash cream and tells me he needs medicine for his heinie. I feel horrible...a child shouldn't have to beg for diaper rash cream!! ;(

Cyndel - posted on 01/28/2011

Thanks Lisa, I'll look into it!

Minnie - posted on 01/28/2011

Check out www.diaperswappers.com Cyndel. You might be able to find some second hand diapers.



It depends on what you're looking for, too. Me, I am happy with some prefolds and wool soakers, which in total, has set me back what I would pay in three months of disposables. Sara wants fitteds, which are more expensive, especially if they're all-in-ones.



I actually get my prefolds from www.greenmountaindiapers.com. They have a wide range of sizes- my daughter has been using the brown edge since 12 months and she's 27 months now.

Cyndel - posted on 01/28/2011

I would love to use cloth diapers however we cannot afford the start up price right now. With my husband in school full time, living off the state until he graduates $20 is a lot of money to us, but at least $20 will get us a box of diapers while online it will only get us one cloth. I can't find a place anywhere around here that sells anything but the rectangular diapers that my son would have grown out of by 9 months, I have huge babies (9lbs 15oz, gained 7oz the first 5 days rather then loosing anything like I was told to expect).

But if we had the money then yeah I would definitely use cloth diapers. I plan on it in the future, when my husband has a job and we can actually save for them.

I'm gonna try and find them at the biannual Duck-Duck-Goose consignment sale, where I can buy or sell any baby items, clothes, furniture, maternity, kids & teens clothes, toys, etc. I'm gonna try and find them there. Can't always find stuff like that but it is possible.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 01/28/2011

They have so many things now that make cloth diapering easier though. From what I understand you used to have to dunk the CD in the toilet. Now they make sprayers that you hook up to your toilet, no plumbing required, and you just spray the little pieces of poo that come off in the toilet. The rest comes out in the wash. And you don't *need* the sprayer. You can just shake the excess poop out. I was terrified of the thought of cleaning poo diapers, but found out how easy it was. My husband thinks I'm a big dork too, Sara. We found a great little store in our area that sells many types of CD, slings, carriers, BF stuff, etc. My husband called me a hippie at least 20 times the day we went lol. But I know he will be happy to never purchase any more disposables. I've also been told how gross it is to put dirty diapers in your washer. Well if your washer doesn't do it's job then yes, that's gross, but I grew up on a farm. My dad came home in cow poop covered clothes and had to wash them in our washer. I turned out ok and I'm sure my baby's poo is much "better" if there is such a thing lol.

Good Day! - posted on 01/28/2011

But Toni, at least you made an informed decision. I didn't with Eliza. I just did what everyone else was doing without questioning it. =)

Toni - posted on 01/28/2011

We realy looked into cloth nappies and wipes when I was pregnant with Ethan but decided against it because we felt it just wouldn't work for our family. We have been really lucky though in that Ethan only gets nappy rash when he is teething and that happens whether he is wearing his nappy or not so I know it is just his bodies reaction to teething.

My mom found for one of us she had to use disposable nappies and with the other she had to use cloth (she can never remember which way round it was between me and my brother) as one gave us rashes and the other didn't (but it was opposite for both of us), so this along with my MIL saying how the invention of disposables was the best thing ever definately affected our choice of nappies.

It doesn't gross me out and I do think it's a great idea, for those who can do it, but for me I know I am too lazy to use them.

Good Day! - posted on 01/27/2011

I actually have a meeting with a cloth diaper representative next Friday. I'm sooo excited and my husband thinks I'm a big dork..lol! I'm hoping she will help me fill in the blanks about a few things, because I'm pretty much totally clueless about this. All I know is that I never want to deal with another diaper rash or pay another dime towards something that is destroying our Earth.

Why didn't I do it with Eliza? Ignorance. I don't think people who use disposables are ignorant by any means. But I was. The thought of cloth disgusted me. Until Eliza was around a year old and she started getting bad rashes, and I took over the budgeting in our house and realized how much we were spending.

Anyway, I've been saving for my cloth diaper purchase. So cannot wait to see what this lady has to show me!

Johnny - posted on 01/27/2011

We do CD. I've got cotton pre-fitted and she's been in these one since she was 4 months, she's now almost 2 1/2. We started with a diaper service, because I too thought it would be too overwhelming to do the diapers myself with a brand new baby. Plus, the diapers we ended up buying were a bit too big for a newborn. I'd like to add, I've never touched poo, lol. I've got no regrets over using them, the laundry is pretty simple, twice a week, and we do a dry pail, so it doesn't weigh much. If we have a second child, I'll do the same thing the next time. Diaper service to get me through the first two or three months, and then do them myself. I spent about $500 on my stash of 40 diapers, 6 covers, and liners for night-time. I spend about $10/month on disposable liners for poop, which I've only done since she was about 18 months because her poop got harder to clean off the diaper at that age. The beauty of it is, if we do have another, it won't cost me a dime except for the diaper service in the early days. But I know I've spent less just on the first child. So it's a great deal.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 01/27/2011

Yeah, I know the prefolds are cheaper, but the pocket diapers will work best for us. They're more expensive, but I feel like they're going to be easier for me to use. Don't tell my hubby about prefolds lol.

Minnie - posted on 01/27/2011

Eh, we cloth diaper and with a stash of 40 prefolds and some yarn for wool soakers and snappis I was set back about, oh, $100.

I used disposables with my first. Would never do it again. My second calls disposables 'itchy wipes.'