Before I get started on your questions, I want to bust a few myths. Also, if this is your first CD post on my blog, be sure to check out my original post, Everything and More That You Would Ever Need to Know about Cloth Diapers. I explain terms, abbreviations and much, much more!
I didn’t CD my first child, should I CD my second?
YES! You will still be saving money, your child’s skin and the environment. Plus well kept CD have a great re-sale value.
I am only going to cloth diaper on my days off, I don’t want anyone else having to do the laundry.
Totally get that, here are a few suggestions!
We actually printed out a copy of the washing instructions, with step by step how to set the washer, and it worked really well! My husband now washes CD if I am not home, my mom was doing them at the beginning when I was on bedrest.
Plus, like I mentioned below, you only want to wash diapers every 2-3 days, so unless you are working 5 days a week, in a row. It is very easy to wash only on days off!
We actually started washing diapers at night, it freed the washer up during the day for regular laundry, and then if I got up in the night I would turn it on etc.
My mom, husband or in-laws wont want to cloth diaper.
Okay okay, I think education is power. However I also believe in “changers choice!” We do keep a handful of disposable diapers around, and if whoever is watching Liam isn’t familiar with CD, they can use disposable, or if they style of CD clean is not one they are familiar with they can use a disposable. The Bum Genius Free Time diaper is definitely my go to for grandparents and baby sitters, it is the closest thing to the on and off process of a disposable.
Okay on the your FAQ, last week I asked on Instagram what questions you had, and here they are! If you do not see your questions below, be sure to check out my original CD post, Everything and More That You Would Ever Need to Know about Cloth Diapers. If you still do not see your questions, please leave them in the comments of my latest Instagram post and I will add them to this list!
What is your go to detergent.
Definitely Charlie’s Laundry Soap, we actually use it on all of our laundry. I feel like clothes are cleaner, stains come out better plus I love the price point at $16 for 100 loads.
Now, I don’t want to offend anyone, HOWEVER, if you see cloth diapering for the following.
Better for the environment.
Better for your baby.
And you are using tide…..
In my opinion you are better off in a seventh generation or babyganics disposable.
Tide is NOT safe for the skin.
Tide is NOT safe for the environment.
Please don’t let words like free, clear, unscented deceive you into thinking it’s safe.
You also want to avoid,
Fabric softeners (So no Eco’s Detergent)
FS will causes diapers to not absorb.
Liquid detergent, it just does not get them as clean.
I have tried a few other powdered detergents, but between them costing an arm and a leg, they also just did not work as well as Charlie’s Soap, we also use their Hard Water booster.
What is your wash routine and how do you deal with stink.
Well, first of all, that stink isn’t poop, its AMMONIA.
Our wash routine has definitely changed over the last two years, when we first started (Liam was a week old) we did the traditional
Rinse cold no detergent
Wash hot with 1 scoop of detergent
Rinse cold no detergent x2
Hand to to dry
By the time Liam was a few months old, the size of a 1 year old at 4 months (not joking) was breastfeeding around the clock (aka peeing around the clock) we started to get ammonia build up.
We could smell it.
We could see a slight burn on his skin.
So what to do?!
There are a few factors.
Are there enough diapers in the washer to really agitate each other?!
It is recommended that you have enough diapers to wash every other day. This ensures there are enough CD to properly agitate each other.
Is the soil level on your washing machine set to high?!
If you are like me, you have a HE washer and dryer. Setting the soil level to high ensures enough water and agitation occurs.
Well first, there are fabrics that hold on to ammonia more so than others. Such as microfiber.
You know your husband’s stinky gym clothes that just never smell clean?!
Same type of fabric.
Well for us, micro was definitely a favorite, so I was determined to come up with a solution.
The other main contributing factor to ammonia build up, is hard water. Which here in Solano County, we have major hard water.
The minerals in the water also trap the ammonia to the fabric, not matter what type.
We have always used Charlie’s Washing Soap. As I mentioned above.
So back to AMMONIA BUILD UP,
This is happening because the diapers are not getting clean.
So we switched up our routine. Yes the whole washing process takes longer, however all ammonia issues went away and have STAYED away.
Rinse cold no detergent (We use and “express wash” setting on our washer. I change water temp to cold, and change the soil level to high.)
Wash Hot with THREE-FOUR scoops of detergent and TWO Scoops of booster. (We use the “normal wash” setting, change water to hot, soil level to high and I actually change the spin to low… you will see why)
Then continue that above cycle (Normal wash on hot 3-4 more times with NO detergent.)
There will be plenty of detergent from above to wash the diapers in the following cycles, the reason I set the diapers to low spin, is to cut down on time.)
Last but not least Rinse cold no detergent x2
(We have a “rinse and spin cycle” I actually add 3 additional rinses and still do that x2.)
I want to make sure all the detergent is out!
This method has worked for us for a year and a half, we have never had to “strip” or use bleach on our diapers to get the ammonia out. They are also still in amazing condition!
Is Breastmilk poop water soluble?
Yes! What does this mean?! This means that breastmilk baby poop, can go straight from bum, to wet bag to washer. No need to spray, dunk or remove the poop. Which is GREAT, because I feel it really eases new-cloth-diapering parents into the whole poop thing!
What are Liners and how do you use them?!
Liners, inserts, doublers?? What’s the difference?! Be sure to read Everything and More That You Would Ever Need to Know about Cloth Diapers for those answers!
Liners AKA Grovia Bio-Liners, are a compostable, flushable, sewage safe liner.
Bio-liners do not absorb any moisture, I typically describe them as a dryer sheet. They are very thin, but work wonders!
Bio-liners are necessary at all stages, not just when baby has started to eat. As I mentioned above, breast milk poop can go straight into the washer, no prob.
So when would a Bio-liner be needed in the first 6-9 months?! Anytime you apply cream, weather it is diaper cream with zinc, or a shea butter protective ointment, you will want to put down a liner!
I do not care what the package says, “Cloth Diaper Safe” Cool, still using a bio-liner. If you do not, the cream will rub onto the diaper and REPEL all of the pee, resulting in a leaking diaper.
Once Liam started eating solids around 11 months, (yup…. It took that long.) We started using a bio-liner during every changing. You just never know when, or how many times in one day a toddler will poop!
When he does, we take the whole diaper to the toilet, and in ploops the poo, bioliner and all! We do have a diaper sprayer that gets occasional use, when it’s used i’m SO glad we have it. Occasionally the bio-liner will be left out, the poop-a-palooza came to town, or the liner was just in the wrong spot from too much wiggling.
When would Inserts or Doublers or pre-folds be used?
Inserts and doublers are used when more absorbency is needed. A Insert is a single length piece of fabric (Hemp, cotton, bamboo or microfiber) and a doubler or pre-fold is folded in half or thirds to become the size of the diaper (both length and width.)
When is extra absorbency needed?
Nighttime,
Naptime,
Long car rides,
Running errands,
Everyday.
Liam’s night time diaper is a Flip Organic Cotton Prefold, with 1-2 inserts inside. I lay the inserts in the middle of the prefold, and then fold the outer flaps in, and I have a cloth diaper insert sandwich! I then shove that CD sandwich into a pocket diaper and he can go 12-16 hours in one diaper, assuming he doesn’t poop.
During nap time, car rides, errands and now just everyday with a toddler, I add an extra micro-fiber or bamboo insert to every diaper.
If you feel like you are having to change your baby’s diaper every 2 hours or less because it is starting to leak, add a insert.
Due to the quality of cloth diapers, and the absence of chemicals (such as in disposable diapers) baby can go 4-6 hours in one diaper, without a rash, if there is enough to absorb. Please note, do not go this long if your diapers are cotton.
What washer and dryer do you have?
We have just a standard HE washer and dryer that is the Kenmore brand. However, if I was to buy another one while CD, I would definitely get one of the newer style washers that allows you to wash a smaller load while the larger drum is in use. It SUCKS when a quick load of clothes need to be washed to prevent staining, or my husbands work clothes need to be washed. I would need to do more research first to make sure that they dirty water does not get recycled to that smaller compartment!
How do you deal with diaper rash?
On the rare occasion Liam gets a Diaper Rash (typically from ammonia build up, being left in a diaper too long, being left in a cotton diaper too long, or the occasional acidic diet.) we always use either the Beautycounter Baby Daily Protective Balm or the Beautycounter Diaper Cream (this one contains zinc.) Typically the Baby Daily Protective Balm is enough, plus it can be used head to toes.
Didn’t see your questions answered?! Check out my original post Everything and More That You Would Ever Need to Know about Cloth Diapers. If you don’t see your answer there, leave your question on my latest Instagram post and I will add it to this list!
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