bumGenius 4.0!

Well, it looks like Cotton Babies has heard us. Finally, their best selling pocket diaper now comes in snaps! If you like bumGenius 3.0 pocket diapers, but don't like the hook and loop, check out the 4.0's!

There are some other differences in bumGenius 4.0 as well, including:

• "Generous sizing to accommodate larger babies." I hope this doesn't mean it won't fit thin babies anymore!
• Replaceable elastic. This will be nice, especially if you want to sell it afterwards and the elastic is shot.
• New colors!!! They have added 3 colors: Bubble, Sweet, and Noodle. Although it looks like they don't offer it in some of their other colors like Clementine and Ribbit. I'm excited about the purple!

As stated earlier, I am a snap girl only. I actually converted all of my 3.0s into snap closures.

It looks like they are offering preorders, so order yours today! This is a great entry diaper into the cloth diapering world. So, if you have never used cloth diapers, I recommend this as one of a few brands to try first.

Did anyone get to see bumGenius and other cloth diapering mamas on the Today Show this morning? I missed it. :-( This was a fantastic way to get America talking about cloth!!

Swim Diaper Update

I posted earlier in the summer about my Short Stack's swim diaper woes. Long story short, we bought a swimsuit with a built-in swim diaper that she hates with a passion. I'm too cheap to buy another swim diaper and bathing suit for the rest of the season because Short Stack hardly gets in the water in the first place. And I'm not buying disposables. I just can't bring myself to do it. :-)

So, as an alternative, I decided to use an old diaper cover that I don't like and doesn't work very well. I found a cheap swim top at Meijer. So cheap that the first time I took it off of her, the strap broke! I am not the best seamstress, but at least I know how to tack on a strap, so I didn't have to go back and get a refund. Yes, I'm not only cheap, but I'm lazy too. :-)

Well, the top is a go. It's loose enough she doesn't scream when I have to peel it off of her. The diaper cover as a swim dipe, however, not a go. I put it on her, and she immediately said, "No, No!" It was very uncomfortable to her. I was kind of bummed, because it was this bright orange that perfectly matched the top. Boo! But, I do understand why she didn't like it. Without a diaper insert, the cover was big and kind of bulky, and it didn't form to her well.

So, I'm back to using a pocket diaper cover. It has a soft lining inside, so she has no complaints. I am going to use the same one so that I don't ruin any others. It is my only Haute Pocket diaper I have, but it doesn't fit her well anymore now that she is tall and skinny. It has leaked the last 2 times I've used it as a diaper because her legs are too thin. It has probably the softest lining of all my dipes, too.

Next year, I am just going to buy a cheap reusable swim diaper, and build the swim suit around that!

The Joys of Swimming

Well, I decided to go for it this year and buy a swim diaper that was pretty pricey online because of the brand. I liked the swimsuit my little Short Stack had last year, so I went with the same kind. I bought an Iplay one piece swimsuit that has a built in reusable diaper. Unfortunately, even though my tastes have not changed, Short Stack's has changed. Ugh.

My daughter is TERRIFIED of water. It is a life or death situation with her. Last year, she had fun. I wouldn't say she was confident, but she enjoyed herself. This year we are having to re-teach her, which I expected. I did not expect the shear terror that filled her eyes when she saw other people happily jumping in the water or when she saw mommy dunk her head under and swim the breast stroke. My bad, didn't realize that was going to cause a meltdown.

Thankfully, we are improving by leaps and bounds. This past weekend, we took her to our church's weekly high school gathering at a pool, and she watched everyone else having a blast, and she decided it was time to put away her fear and go for it. I was so proud of her! She let mommy take her away from the steps and side of the pool. She even put her face in the water a couple of times. Not only that, but she wanted to jump off the side of the pool like the big kids! That was a MAJOR accomplishment. She is still leery and doesn't want to get her head wet, but the shear terror is not there anymore, and she asks to go to the pool now.

As a result of her early terror, her swimsuit is no longer an option. Every time she saw the yellow one piece death trap, she cried. Now she only wants to swim with her diaper. All of my diapers are PUL, so I don't want to use them too much because of the damage the chlorine can do to the fabric.

So, instead of buying a new swim diaper or buying disposable swim diapers, I've decided I'm going to use an old diaper cover that I hate. I have a few hook and loop diaper covers that aren't in good enough shape to resell that I don't think I will use again. After all, swim diapers don't hold in the pee, only the poo. And a diaper cover will do the same thing, right? That is my rationale.

Of course, as soon as Short Stack realizes the water is not an evil baby devouring dragon, the weather gets cool. I love the irony!

The Flip Diaper

So, I bought a Flip Diaper to try out a while back, and I'm just now getting around to talking about it. The Flip One-Size Diaper System is a diaper that is composed of an insert and a diaper cover. Basically, you place the insert in the cover and that's it. No pins or other types of fasteners are needed because the cover holds the insert into place with a little pocket, or flap, on the front and back. You can choose between a microfiber insert and an organic cotton insert. The cover and the insert are one size, so it grows with your baby.

The cover is very nice. It has contoured legs so it fits snugly to your baby. It has a double row of snaps for closure, so no hook and loop (Velcro) is there to snag your other diapers in the wash. I have not only used this cover with the flip insert, but with other prefolds and WAHM inserts as well. I haven't had a leak yet, and I've used it overnight too. The only problems I have found with the cover is that I only have one! The washing instructions say to line dry the cover, so that might be important to note.

Although I haven't had a problem with the stay dry microfiber inserts from Cottonbabies, I chose the organic cotton insert because I have less stink issues with the cotton than I do the microfiber. It's just my preference. The cotton insert is a prefold diaper that has some serious absorbency power to it. It could beat any diaper I have at the moment in a leak test. My only complaint (and it really isn't a big deal) is that the insert can be a bit bulky. It is not as bulky as a fitted that has the same amount of leak protection, though. I did have a bit of trouble at first getting the diaper to fold under the flap in the cover that holds it in. I mostly had trouble because I wasn't used to the thicker insert. As for washing, no problems. It dries as quick as a pocket diaper insert and quicker than many all-in-ones.

Overall, I would highly recommend this diaper to mommies and daddies. It is easy to use, has superior leak protection, and it is cheaper than my organic all-in-ones. I'm happy with it, and I think others will be too!

~Christie

Swim Diapers!

It is almost time to go swimming!!! Woo Hoo! So, I thought I would post on the subject of swim diapers.

What are swim diapers?

Swim diapers are diapers for babies and toddlers that don't swell up like regular diapers. They are meant to trap feces and keep bowel movements from entering the water. They can be either reusable or disposable.

Do swim diapers work?

The jury is still out on this one. According to the CDC, swim diapers may hold in feces, but some contamination may still occur. There just isn't enough research out there to know how effective these diapers are. The CDC focuses primarily on diarrhea and not to go swimming when your child is ill. (insert Duh! statement here).

Why use swim diapers?

It seems that most of the websites out there selling swim diapers report that 27 states now mandate the use of swim diapers in public pools. However, I could not find a list of those 27 states. The only thing I found was a list of states and their pool regulations on the CDC website. With all this being said, a lot of private pools/clubs/spas require the use of swim diapers. Despite what the CDC says, many pools and spas are sold on the swim diaper idea.

Reusable or disposable?

Whether or not you use cloth diapers on a regular basis, using a reusable swim diaper is a great economic choice. Disposables are cray expensive, and if you are a frequent pool user, this can definitely add up. A reusable swim diaper has a waterproof layer on the outside and an absorbent layer on the inside. You can buy one swim diaper and use it for the entire season for anywhere between $4.99-$13.99. It's not hard to take care of, either. You wash and line dry just like you would the swimsuit anyway.

Additional info and websites

Many manufacturers of reusable diapers sell entire swimsuits with the swim diaper sewn right inside. I just bought my daughter an adorable tanksuit from iPlay. I used this brand last year, and the fabric was nice and snug fitting all year long and really held up. That and the designs are fun. They are kind of pricey, but I just couldn't help myself. :-) Here is a picture of her last year in her swim diaper tanksuit.

Here are some websites where you can find reusable swim diapers:

http://www.myswimbaby.com/

http://www.everydaydiapers.com/

http://www.diaperjunction.com/swim-diapers.html

And, please, for the love of all that is sacred, don't let your baby swim with diarrhea! :-)

Links We All Like For Cloth

I have so many websites that I have used to teach myself about cloth diapers, wipes, and the whole system, but I know that there are so many others out there! So, I thought I would start a list going, but I need your help. If you like a website that you rely on for how to's, purchasing, or anything else cloth diaper related, post a link in the comment section of this post, and I will add it to the list that you can see on the side bar. Here are a few to get us started that I like. If you have your own website or blog for cloth diaper information, feel free to post it as well!

http://www.diaperswappers.com/
http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/
http://www.diaperpin.com/
http://www.zany-zebra.com/
http://www.kellyscloset.com/
http://www.cottonbabies.com/
http://www.diaperjungle.com/

Naked Time

No, not me. Your baby. Have you ever given your baby naked time? A time on a regular basis that you leave a diaper (disposable or cloth) off of your baby? Before you think I'm crazy, hear me out.

A couple of diaper rash & cream facts:

1. The best medicine for diaper rash is air. Letting your baby's bum air out for a few minutes each day is more healing than any diaper rash cream.
2. Commercial diaper rash cream and cloth diapers are not friends. Diaper rash cream will clog the pores of your cloth before you can say, "It's leaking!!" I recommend stripping your baby so you don't have to strip your diapers.
3. Naked time is free. Diaper rash cream is not.
4. Many cloth diaper retailers sell diaper rash cream that is safe for cloth diapers. I originally bought Northern Essence Tea Tree/Lavender Free All Natural Diaper Rash Salve when Alaina was first born, and I am maybe half way through it. She is 17 months old. I love this stuff too, and it smells soo good. By the way, they also make a cream for yeast infections, but I have yet to need it.

So how do I do naked time? Certainly not right after Alaina drinks! I found that right after bath and right before bedtime was good for Alaina because she didn't have to pee around that time. This time was well after her last feeding, so fluids weren't a big problem. And I would put her on a blanket with prefolds just in case she surprised us. When she became mobile, it got to be a bit trickier, and I will admit, I have had to clean up a couple of "piddles." I know that if she had a lot to drink for dinner, I don't do naked time.

Alaina LOVES naked time. It is absolutely hilarious! She babbles and runs around giggling. Love it!

By the way, I do use creams that are not safe for cloth every once in a while. She has had a couple of bad reactions to acidic foods, and I have used cortisone cream or Aquaphor. I put a liner in between her and her diaper to protect the diaper. The liner is usually a cut-up old receiving blanket.

I will admit, I am nervous if I have a boy, but I still plan to have naked time. I just need to prepare myself now for more peemergencies. :-)

Buy $10 Get An AIO FREE!!

My good friend Jess just facebooked me with an awesome deal at Kelly's Closet. Parenting Magazine has 2 bumGenius coupons, and the folks at Kelly's Closet are making them available online.

The first coupon is buy $10 worth of Flip, bumGenius, or Econobum, and get a free All In One BumGenius diaper! Use promo code: BGMAGAIO. I've been curious about the hybrid diapers, so I just bought a Flip diaper to try out.

The second coupon is take 10% off a bumGenius 3.0 one size pocket diaper 24 pk promo pak. Use promo code: BGMAGTEN. This is a great deal for those who are just starting their stash and know that they love bumGenius pocket diapers! If you aren't sure which diaper you want, be careful about buying a 24 pack of anything, though.

Also at Kelly's Closet, for 3 days only, take $20 off Smartipants Seconds 10pk at our Bulk Cloth Diaper Store! Use discount code 20SMART ! (You end up getting 10 diapers,10 inserts for $79 PLUS free shipping!!! No limit on how many you can order) However, the offer expires on 3/21 at midnight or while supplies last..

On top of all this, Kelly's Closet also lets you earn "Diaper Dollars Rewards" points for every purchase that get you free merchandise (including diapers). Sweet!

By the way, for those who are wondering about hybrid diapers, these are diapers that have an insert that just lays in a cover. The insert can be cloth or disposable. I haven't tried one, but like I mentioned, I have one on the way, so I will let you know how I like it!

Happy shopping!

Do I Ever Not Use Cloth?

I get this question quite a bit. Are there times when I use disposable diapers? And if I do, do I still save money?

Yes, I use disposables sometimes. There are usually 3 reasons I do:

1. Vacation. If we are going out of town for longer than 2 days, I will buy a pack of "sposies."
2. Diarrhea. If she has one bad one, I usually wait to see if there's a second, then I switch to disposables. It's not the mess that makes it so bad, because she doesn't usually leak out of the cloth, it is the smell and the "gross" factor. It makes me gag just thinking about it.
3. Really bad diaper rash and nighttime. My daughter can have bad reactions to foods (strawberries made her bleed. We have avoided them since, as it was very traumatic to mommy!), and I like to use medicated diaper rash cream on these rare occasions. I will slather her with it and put on a disposable for that night because I do think disposables wick moisture away a little better.
4. Ok, I just thought of a fourth. Sometimes my daughter will get the cutest pair of jeans as a gift, and if I want have her wear them, I have to use a disposable in order for her to fit into them. It bugs me that I can't find jeans at a local store for her to wear with cloth, but I understand that there isn't a market for it, and using cloth is more important to me anyway.

So, no, I am not completely granola. But even with these reasons, I do still save a lot of money. None of these reasons happen on a regular basis, and I only buy a bag of sposies if we are going on vacation. We just use the leftovers for the other reasons. Right now, I don't have any on hand. Let's hope she doesn't get the runs! :-)

Nighttime Stinkies

I thought I would share a trick I just discovered with nighttime cloth diapering. Now, forgive me if everyone who uses cloth already knows this, but I was very proud of myself when it worked for me. :-)

When Alaina was still breastfeeding, I had no problems with nighttime diapers and stink problems. She has always been great at sleeping through the night, and her diapers never really had a stink problem. Then came weening...

When she weened completely, the ammonia smell became very strong. When I dump the dirties into the wash, I have to hold my breath, or my nose burns. Nice, huh? Nighttime is the worst. When morning comes, and I open the door to her room, the smell hits me like a ton of bricks. I have tried all different types of diapers, and nothing helped.

I don't have leak problems at all during the night. But I tried adding an insert to her diaper, and it really changed the strength of the smell! I added a simple microfiber insert to the diaper, and the smell no longer is unbearable. I think it helps her sleep longer too.

Yay for sleep!

10 Reasons Why Cloth is Freakin' Awesome!

You may or may not have known these reasons!!

1. Fluffy Butt! It's just sooo darn cute to see this tiny human with such a big butt, and fluffy at that! Who can deny the fluffy butt?


2. Fashion statement. Any color or design you want, you can have! We like the elephants from Rainshine Designs. (That dipe is in the wash right now, so I will have to show pics later.)


3. Fun, Fun, Fun! And addicting once you start. Who knew that something that was made to contain excrement could be such a party? Gives new meaning to party in the pants. Wait, was that inappropriate?


4. Frugal. Still saving the moola...


5. Fork resistant. Yes, she fell on a fork. Didn't feel a thing. There's more paddin' for the landin'!


6. Feelin' oh so soft. I have placed a diaper against my cheek like in the Snuggle commercials. Is that so wrong? Once again, who can deny the fluff?


7. Friend convo starter. My "stash" has a completely new meaning now-a-days, but it still makes for a good time with friends. Wait, was that inappropriate?


8. Friendly for sniffer. I can hear the gas, but I can't smell it! Side note, Alaina giggles everytime I ask her if she toots.


9. Fill' er up! These things can hold an amount that should never come out of a baby, and yet it does. An old Saturday Night Live skit comes to mind right now that included a jug of iced tea and folks playing tennis. That's all I'm sayin'.


10. Photo friendly. Ok, it's a ph, but what can you do? Take pictures of the fluff! I CANNOT RESIST THE FLUFF!!

Happy Friday. :-)

Cloth Diaper Questions?

Before you decide that cloth is too difficult or overwhelming, contact me! I also do home visits for anyone that lives in the Tri-State area. For Free! No, I am not going to run off with your jewerly, but I will help you get organized and do demonstrations if you have any questions. I am hoping to start going to organizations in the Cincinnati area to help at-risk or underprivileged parents, so I really need the practice and experience. Email me if you are interested! Don't live in the Cincy area? Email me anyway, and I would love to chat! Or better yet, leave a question or comment on this blog so others that may have the same question may be helped!

crazyforcloth AT gmail DOT com

IT CAN BE DONE! Happy Wiping!

Love,
Christie

Stripping Diapers

What is stripping?

• Stripping cloth diapers is the term used when your diapers have become less absorbent or very stinky. Basically, your diapers have build-up. Build-up of what can be hard to determine. It usually is build-up of detergent. Sometimes a fabric softener gets thrown into the dryer by mistake, and this can cause build-up. Diaper rash cream also causes it, as well as mineral deposits.

Reasons to strip

• Diapers smell good when coming out of the dryer, but as soon as the baby pees, there is a seriously, offensive odor that didn't used to be there.
• Your diapers have started repelling liquid. To know if this is true, pour some drops of water on the diaper. If they roll right off, you have a problem.
• You have used a diaper rash cream that wasn't made for cloth diapers and forgot to line your diapers with a liner to keep diaper pores from clogging up.
• You used fabric softener.
• You have extremely hard water or well water.

How to strip

• I recommend turning your hot water heater up for about 30 minutes before washing.
• Fill your washer all the way with super hot water.
• Wash on hot, and warm rinse.
• Continue rinsing until no bubbles or suds are found in the water.
• I recommend putting about a Tbsp of Dawn Dish soap in the water. Just make sure you completely rinse it out. Not sure why Dawn, but if you look around, Dawn is the only dish soap recommended. Dawn also gets rid of the dingy-ness of your diapers, which is nice in the winter time when you don't see the sun for months. I have gotten into the habit of squirting a little Dawn in my diaper load about once a week, once every 2 weeks.
• There are other recommended additives to put in the washer to strip, including baking soda, vinegar, and even bleach. Be very careful when adding baking soda, as it can cause diaper rash. I have never used anything else in my wash besides detergent and Dawn, and I have had no major problems.

If you have major problems, and this did not work, ask me, and I will try to determine the problem for you. Also, this website has some good tips: http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentbasics.htm#Stripping%20Diapers

Wipes and Solutions

Cloth wipes are so easy to make or buy. And, contrary to belief, wipe solution is not that difficult either!

You can get cloth wipes a couple of different ways:

• Buy the cheap, thin 8 pack of Gerber washcloths at the store. I personally like the thin cloths because I can get into all the crevices when wiping (amazing what a person will blog about, huh?).
• Cut up old receiving blankets and sew a hem around the edges to keep from fraying. I did not have good luck with this because the receiving blanket that I used did not absorb my wipe solution, and it would roll off onto the carpet. By the way, olive oil droplets on the carpet stain...
• Buy cloth wipes online. I have had great luck with www.nickisdiapers.com, and I bought their flannel wipe pack. A little pricey, but guaranteed to work.
• Buy wipes in the store. Babys R Us now sells bamboo wipes along with a cloth wipe warmer. I haven't tried them, but I just gave them as a gift, so I am looking forward to seeing how they work. Again, a little pricey, but they make a great gift.
• Basically anything you can think of that you have lying around the house that would make a good wipe. A cut up T-shirt from the rag bin, an old sheet, the wash cloths you got as a wedding gift that you will never show on display because they are a hideous shade of hot pink...you get the idea!!!

Wipe solutions can be simple, complicated, and anything in-between!

• My recipe has 4-5 ingredients. Simply mix all ingredients together.

1. One cup of filtered water
2. 1.5 Tbsps of olive oil (conditioner for skin)
3. 2 drops of chamomile (cleanser for skin)
4. 2 drops of tea tree oil (cleanser plus anti fungal for skin)
5. Occasionally I will add 2 drops of lavender. Sometimes the smell of lavender can be overwhelming to me, so I often will leave this for the diaper pail air freshener. But most people are not like me, so go ahead and add it in as it is a great cleanser.

• Basically, a wipe solution should have the ingredients listed below. You can use your imagination as to what you would like to use. Some use baby wash as the cleanser and baby oil as the oil.

1. Water
2. Cleanser
3. Oil (this is important because it helps you make a smooth wipe without the friction that can be irritating to baby)

• This link is the best source I have found on all kinds of wipe solution recipes: http://www.zany-zebra.com/cloth-wipe-solution.shtml

There are many different ways to apply the solution to the wipe:

• Spray it on the wipe with a spray bottle.
• Use a disposable wipes container and pour solution onto wipes.
• Use a squeeze bottle to pour solution on wipes.
• Dip wipes into solution that is in a container.

My system includes pouring the solution in a squeeze bottle. I then shake it to mix the oils and water and pour it onto wipes that I have placed in a disposable wipes container. I don't do all the wipes at one time because I don't want to leave wet wipes in the plastic container for too long. I usually just wet a little more than I think I will need.

HAPPY WIPING!

How Do You Wash Cloth Diapers?

Washing cloth diapers is very simple. The easiest thing to do is follow the directions from the manufacturer. Or if you have a mix of different ones, there are just a couple of simple rules to follow:

• Use the right detergent: Nothing fancy, just do not use detergent that contains any dyes, perfumes, whitening enzymes...http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm has a great chart that tells you which detergents are bad, good, and great. I use Purex Free and Clear, not the best but not the worst.
• Cold rinse: Hopefully you have a wet bag that you can just throw into the washer with everything else, including your diapers, cloth wipes, and any covers you may be using. Start by rinsing the dipes on cold.
• Wash on hot: Use about 1/2 of the manufacturer's recommended amount of detergent. I know it sounds gross, but believe me, you do not want detergent residue on your diapers. It makes them smelly and less absorbent. The diapers do come out very clean with just 1/2. If you have an HE machine, please use HE compatible detergent. Pinstripesandpolkadots also has choices for HE machines as well.
• Rinse on warm or cold: I usually add an extra rinse cycle at the end of the wash, just to make sure that the detergent has rinsed out of the diapers.
• Dry: You can line dry or dry in the dryer on medium heat. Sometimes high heat can hurt elastic if your diapers contain elastic. DO NOT add a dryer sheet or any kind of fabric softener. This will cause your diapers to fail. Drying on the line is nice in the summer time, but it can make your diapers stiff. You can throw them in the dryer to fluff to and soften them.

You may have some diapers that stain. Check this out: if you lay them in the sunshine for a bit, the stains will come completely out!!! I thought that was the coolest thing ever when I first tried it!

Creating a Diaper System

In order to make cloth diapers manageable and easy to use, here is a list of items to have on hand:

• Your stash: I recommend at least 2 dozen diapers to use cloth full time; maybe more for newborns. I personally have about 30, and I comfortably wash diapers every other day.

• Wipes: Cloth wipes are a lot easier to use because you throw them in the diaper pail right along with the diapers, just like you were using a disposable system. I recommend at least a dozen wipes.

• Wipes Solution: Cloth wipes need to be moistened. You can store pre-moistened wipes in a waterproof storage container (I use an empty disposable wipes container), or you can store the wipes dry and have your solution on hand to moisten as needed. You can store your solution in a spray bottle, squirt bottle, etc...

• Diaper Pail: Back in the old days, parents used what is called a wet pail, which was a container that had water in it where the dirty dipes could soak. You don't need a wet pail, and in fact, if you use waterproof cloth, a wet pail can ruin your dipes. You can purchase a wet bag, which is actually a dry, waterproof bag that can be thrown into the wash with your dipes. Wet bags can be purchased with zipper closures, drawstrings, elastic to go on a kitchen trash can (what I have), and other ingenious ways to store dirty dipes. Or, if you really want to go cheap, you could try a pillow case in a laundry basket (I'm not sure about the smell though)! I recommend 2 wet bags, one for holding dirty dipes while the other is in the wash.

• Detergent: Diapers don't need special detergent, and yet they do. The reason I say this is that cloth dipes should to be washed in "free" detergents, that is free of perfumes, dyes, softeners, and whitening enzymes. You can find these detergents in the store, although there a lot of really good detergents you can order online. I use Purex Free and Clear because it is cheap, and I can use it with the rest of my laundry. All Free Clear is a good one too.

• Wet bag for diaper bag: I talked about a wet bag for the diaper pail, but it is a good idea to have a small one for your diaper bag. That way you can use cloth if you run to the store and need to change the cloth dipe. Here is a picture of mine. It has a zipper closure and is completely waterproof. Isn't it pretty?



• Fragrance (optional): I only add this because I think that whether or not I would have used disposable or cloth, I would need this. I have the nose of a bloodhound. I use lavender essential oil. I find that this seems to cut the urine smell better than others. I put a couple of drops in diaper pail after every washing. I personally put it on the tag inside the bag, but you can also put a drop or two on a wipe cloth or on a cotton ball (just don't wash the cotton ball, or you will have lent all over your dipes).

• Diaper Sprayer (optional): A diaper sprayer is probably the most complicated part of the next generation of cloth diapers, but I think it is worth it. A diaper sprayer is basically a kitchen sprayer that you hook up to your toilet so that you can spray off poop into the toilet. If you are exclusively breastfeeding, you don't need one because breastfed poop washes right out in the wash (it's magic!). If you have introduced solids, and the poop has become like a crunchy peanut butter consistency, you need to do something! If you don't have a sprayer, you can swish it in the toilet. Older babies have "ploppable" poo, the kind that just rolls off into the toilet with no rinsing needed. A sprayer makes getting rid of poop that sticks to the diaper very quick and clean. This part of cloth diapering turns people off, but seriously, it's not that bad.

• Of course, you don't need all of this. Some flats, some wash cloths and water is all a person really needs if going really really cheap. These items I noted are for those who want cloth diapering to be as simple as disposable. Once you get a routine going, you will never want to go back!

Comparing Types of Cloth Diapers

So which cloth diaper is best for you? That is for you and your family to decide! Here is a comparison of all the types I've written about.

Flats and Prefolds:
Pros:
Very inexpensive
Chances are you can find the cheap ones in a store near you
Can easily be turned into burp cloths, everyday towels, dusting rags, etc...
Cons:
Need a diaper cover
Compared to disposables, they can be difficult to use
Need a fastener and not very Daddy friendly


Fitteds:
Pros:
Still cheaper than AIOs and Pockets
Excellent absorbency
They come with fasteners (snap or hook and loop)
Cons:
Need a diaper cover
Can be very bulky

All In Ones:
Pros:
Still cheaper than disposables
No need for a diaper cover
Very easy to use-Daddy and daycare friendly!
Cons:
Take forever to dry
More expensive than prefolds and fitteds

Pockets:
Pros:
Still cheaper than disposables
No need for a diaper cover
Less drying time than AIOs
Very easy to use-Daddy and daycare friendly!
Cons:
More expensive
Extra step of stuffing an insert
You have to pull out insert when wet or dirty

If you are trying to figure out what is best for you, I suggest trying at least one of each. I suggest prefolds and/or fitted for newborns, but some AIOs and pockets may fit. If you aren't sure about spending the money on them until you like them, a lot of brands have a try it first policy, where you can try them and return them if you don't like them (cleaned, of course!). Or, you can buy used or even ask around to borrow someone else's. www.diaperswappers.com is a huge for-sale-or-trade site that you can find good deals, as well as support forums for just about everything.

Pocket Diapers

Pocket Diapers are yet another type of diaper that does not need a diaper cover. Pocket diapers make up most of my stash, although there are pros and cons to these as well. Pocket diapers look like an All in One in that they are contoured like them and have a waterproof outer layer.

The inner layer is not sewn into the diaper, however. Instead, it is an insert that you stuff into a pocket in the diaper.


Pocket diapers come in all sizes as well, including one-size-fits-all. These pictures here are of a Green Acre Designs brand of pocket diaper. They have TONS of sizes to choose from. It can get confusing! Most of my daughter's diapers are one-size (also known as OS), and they can adjust with your baby as he/she grows. Some adjust more than others, dependent on the brand. BumGenius does an excellent job of this. Pocket dipes, like AIOs, also have either a snap closure or hook and loop.

The great thing about pocket diapers are that they allow you to choose your absorbency level, and they can sometimes be more leak proof than some of the AIOs. They dry much quicker than AIOs because you pull the insert out of the pocket when you throw it in the pail. Some pocket diapers, like the brand, Pocket Change, have openings on the front and back so that the insert comes out on its own during agitation in the wash. Nice. Pockets are also easy to use. My husband and the daycare use them with no complaints. However, the daycare does not remove the inserts. I do that when I get home.

The problem some find with pocket diapers are that you do have to pull out the insert. Yes, you have to touch it when it's dirty!! Most of the time, I don't touch wetness or poop because I don't let it get so soaked that it gets wet in the back (where you pull it out from), and with poop, there will almost always be a clean spot you can touch (although not all the time!). Also, you do have to stuff the clean diapers, which is an extra step. My daughter loves to help me with this. However, there are so many different inserts that go with specific diapers, I don't trust anyone else to stuff them. So that's probably a down side if you have multiple brands, although I don't mind stuffing.

Pros and cons of pocket diapers:
Pros: No diaper cover needed, great absorbency, versatile, easy to use, less drying time than AIO.
Cons: Extra step of stuffing diapers,and pulling insert out of the diaper before washing.

All In One Diapers

Yet another kind of diaper is the All In One diaper, otherwise known as the AIO. Here is a Dry Bees brand.

AIOs are similar to fitteds with two major differences. AIOs have layers sewn into the diaper. Here is what it looks like turned inside out.

The biggest difference is that AIOs do not need a diaper cover, as they have a waterproof outer layer sewn onto the diaper.

So basically, some genius figured out how to combine a prefold and a diaper cover. Sweet!

AIOs are probably the easiest cloth diaper to use. You use them the same way you use disposables. Slap it on the baby, take it off the baby, throw it in the pail. The difference: wash and dry instead of throw away! Dads and daycares are big fans of AIOs. AIOs are similar to fitteds in that they come in different sizes: small, medium, large, etc...However, some brands also make AIOs in one-size fits all. AIOs also have either snaps or hook and loop as fasteners. By the way, I had no idea what hook and loop meant when I first started this. it's Velcro, only Velcro is a brand of hook and loop. Kind of like when we ask for a Kleenex, but what we really want is a tissue! Is that a Midwest thing? Not sure.

So, why doesn't everyone use AIOs as cloth diapers since they are so much like disposables? There are a few drawbacks. First, AIOs are sometimes not as absorbent as fitteds. Although some parents may disagree with me. I think my child is a heavy wetter. I have never used an AIO for overnight, but I'm sure some parents do. Second, some experts say that the waterproof layer can wear out quickly after multiple washes. I have never had this happen to an AIO, although I did just experience this with a diaper cover. It happened overnight too. Fun times...

The biggest complaint about AIOs is that they take forever to dry. And when I say forever, I mean a crazy long time. On humid days, I have had an AIO take 2-3 days to dry! That's air dry. It takes me 2 drying cycles to dry it in the dryer. Turning them inside out helps. They are also more expensive than fitteds and prefolds.

So that's the down low on All In Ones...
Pros: Super easy to use: Daddy friendly, daycare friendly.
Cons: Slightly more expensive than fitteds, and a very long drying time.

Fitted Diapers

What are fitted diapers, and how do they differ from prefolds? Fitted diapers are diapers that are contoured and have elastic around the legs and/or waist to better fit your baby. Fitted diapers are similar to prefolds in that they need a diaper cover. They can be many different fabrics, but they don't need safety pins or Snappies. Or Snuggies, for that matter. Speaking of, do you want a homemade Snuggie? It's easy! Step 1: take out robe. Step 2: put it on backwards. My friend told me that, and I had to share because it makes me giggle.

Fitted diapers are more convenient for those 'rents who are looking for a diaper that has its own fastener, but still is very simple to use and effective. Fitted diapers usually come in different sizes. Small, medium, large, x-small, etc..., and every brand has different size specifications. Kind of like American woman's clothing. Because we are too cool to have our sizes equal our measurements like guys' clothing. Some fitted diapers even have cute belly button cutouts for their newborn sizes. Here are a couple of pictures of my beautiful model showing off her fitted dipe. This particular brand is Baby Beehind. Wonderful absorbency, but I have to say, the hemp can get a bit stinky. This one is actually supposedly a one-size fits all diaper. I cannot imagine it fitting on a newborn, but it does have a row of snaps that you can fold down in the front to make it smaller.




Here is a picture of another brand: Kissaluvs. They make great newborn dipes, and they are so soft and fluffy. Alaina can't fit into this one anymore, so I'll just show it to you to get an idea of what the shape looks like.





As for leak protection, I have never had a leak in a fitted diaper that was not due to operator error. Funny story, one night I had to work late, and my husband put Alaina to bed. We usually use fitted diapers for nighttime because the ones we have are too bulky for my taste for daytime use. Anyway, Daddy was so proud that he used a fitted diaper on Alaina that night all by himself (he's a pocket diaper or AIO man only. Articles to come...). Good Daddy. Oops. He forgot the diaper cover. Bad Daddy. Needless to say, by about 3 hours after she was in bed, the mattress pad was already wet. You need to also be careful to check to see you have covered the entire diaper with the diaper cover as well. One peak of the fitted or prefold will leak onto clothes. However, when used properly, fitteds are super absorbent.

Pros of Fitteds: They are much easier to use than prefolds. They don't require fasteners. They are fairly inexpensive. They are very absorbent.

Cons of Fitteds: They can be a bit bulky. Jeans are nearly impossible to wear (on the baby, not you). They are more expensive than prefolds, running about $4-$11 each. You still need that extra step of putting on a diaper cover (which may bother some men).