How do I get started with cloth diapers?

How do I store the dirty cloth diapers? Do I need a diaper pail?

How do I prevent leaking?

Do you have a wipes solution recipe?

Newborns use between 10 to 12 diapers a day (newborn sizes are worth having. They eliminate the added bulk of a standard size).  As baby gets older they go through approximately 8 diapers per day.

If you plan to wash your diapers every 2 to 3 days here is a good estimate:

• 24 to 36 Unbleached Prefold diapers
  
• 6 to 8 covers
  
• 4-6 diaper doublers for night time diapering (more if your baby is a heavy wetter and needs extra absorbency all the time)
  
• 5 to 10 All-in-Ones for convenience (great for babysitters and dads) some moms use these exclusively
  
• 2 Aristocrat Wool Soakers (strongly suggested for night diapering)
  
• 24 wipes
  
• 2 tote bags (one for outings and one to line you diaper pail)
  
• 1 diaper pail
  
• 1 Wipe Warmer

Please use this as a general guideline. Your laundry habits and preferences will play a factor in your diapering supplies.  Diaper covers may be air dried between uses and rotated unless soiled or smell like urine.  I find that I get the longest use out of wool covers (they are the most breathable for baby too).  I highly recommend the Aristocrat Wool Soaker.  If the 
soaker is only wet, hang it to air dry till the next night.  When the wool soaker gets soiled, wash with Eucalan No Rinse Wool Wash.   Really!  Wool has wonderful natural qualities that keep it dry and odor-free.  Liners are nice for clean-up with soiled diapers.

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There are so many fancy-schmancy diaper pails on the market.   I actually used a 30-dollar Diaper Genie with my first son.   At least until the weight of the cloth diaper, wore out the turning gizmo.   Then we switched to our $18 trash can with a lid that opens with a foot pedal. These are available at your local store with no shipping. charges!

With the foot pedal operated lid, you can have the baby in one arm and the dirty cloth diaper in the other hand.   Step on the pedal, the can opens.   Drop in the dirty diaper in and away you go.   The trash can is lined with a 13-gallon washable wet bag.

Come laundry day, take the liner out and off to the washer.  Dump the diapers in the washer, without touching a one.   Then in goes the diaper pail liner for a good cleaning as well.   If you have two diaper liners, keep one in the bottom of your trash can.   Then when you pull out the full one, the next liner is right there at the bottom of your pail.   Clean and ready to go.   Just put it in place before you run off to the washing machine.

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With today’s efficient home washing machines, cloth diapers are easy to care for.   It may take some trial and error to find the routine that works best for your washer and your water hardness.   Here is a basic laundry procedure and guidelines for washing cloth diapers.

Basic routine for washing cloth diapers:

First, make sure that you have removed the solids from the cloth diaper.   It is easiest to shake the solids into the toilet at each change.   A spatula in the bathroom is great for removing as much as you can. For exclusively breastfed babies, the soiled diaper can go right into the washer. Yet another benefit of breastfeeding!

1. Take your diaper liner full of soiled diapers to your washer.   Dump all the diapers and the liner into the washer.   Put the washer on a cold rinse. Nothing to add.   This cold water rinse will remove any protein based stains (poop).   I often do this step right before I start dinner.
   
2. Restart the washer on a hot wash with your diaper detergent of choice.   If you are using an detergent available at your local grocery store, use much less.   About a quarter of the recommended amount will do it.   This will ensure the diapers rinse clean. Set the water level on your washer as high as possible.   Make sure you don’t overstuff the washer. There has to be enough space for the water to circulate around the cloth diapers.   Never use fabric softener in the washer or dryer.  It will destroy the absorbency of your diapers.  I put the diapers on the wash cycle, and then put dinner on the table.
   
3. A hot dryer will fluff up your prefolds beautifully.   Most prefold diapers are made to withstand these harsh conditions. Most covers can stand the heat.   However, you could place the diaper covers on top of the dryer to capture some of that escaping heat. Some cloth diaper manufactures of microfleece products recommend air drying and others recommend a medium dryer setting.   However, these also could be hung up to dry overnight near the dryer.   I start the dryer right before I go to bed.   In the morning, there are fresh clean diapers.

Or

Use a clothesline for all your cloth diapers.   The sun will naturally bleach out any stains.   Here is a trick for softer prefold diapers.   Hang your prefolds so they overlap.   That is, half of the first diaper is covered by the second diaper. And the other half of the second diaper is covered by the third diaper.   They will take longer to dry, but they will be soft and fluffy. If your diapers are still too hard, check how much detergent you are using.   When I choose to hang the diapers outside, I hang them in the morning before the boys are awake. Our South Florida sun has them dry, well before lunchtime!

There are many variables; baby sensitivities, family diet, water hardness to name a few.   This basic routine is a great way to start.   Tweaking this routine can be done later, IF you have a problem.

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How do I prevent leaking?

Remember that cloth diapers are not made with super absorbent chemicals. They need to be changed frequently.  Depending on your baby, about every two hours.   Make sure the cover is fitting properly.  Not too big or too small.  Run your finger around the edge to make sure the diaper is completely tucked in. Maybe you just have a heavy wetter. Try using a doubler for added absorbency.

Also, make sure that you have prepared your diapers.  Unbleached Prefolds, for example, must be washed in VERY hot water.  Depending on your water hardness and your detergent, 2 or 3 washes may be necessary.

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Do you have a wipes solution recipe?

My favorite wipes solution is made with Baby Bits.  Baby bits are sugar cube size bits of soap.  This mild glycerin soap features olive oil infused with plantain and chickweed herbs to help clear skin irritations. They even include tea tree and lavender oil.  One bit per cup of water. 

Or, if you would prefer to mix your on solution, you might try using the following as a guide.  

• 2 cups distilled water
  
• 2 tsp. Dr. Bronner's Organic Hemp Soap
  
• 1 tbs. your favorite Baby Oil
  
• 2-3 drops of Tea Tree Oil (for it's antiseptic and cleansing qualities)
• 2-3 drops of Lavender Oil (for it's soothing qualities)

Once you have created a solution, there are different ways to use it.  One option is to  keep the solution in a spray or squirt bottle near the changing table.  And, wet the wipes as needed.  Or, put the solution in a wipes warmer and keep a stack of dry wipes near by.  When changing a diaper, dip the wipe into the warm solution.  For my diaper bag, I use a small squirt bottle.