 Diapers and more at Auction! |
Diapers and more at Auction! |
 The Boards Diapering Info Alley Reading List Resources |
by Jennifer VanLaanen-Smit My experience: I use Chinese prefolds (dark blue stitching, 4x8x4), some are
organic cotton ones and these are the best for absorbency (ask for second quality for huge discounts on new diapers). ). I got the prefolds before my 6 year old was born and they are still
in great shape (I have about 2 dozen), the organic ones were given to me before my newest baby was born and they were slightly used (I have 6 used and now 2 dozen new). I love Biobottom’s
all-cotton and wool covers, and Dappi's all-cotton covers; again mine were given to me used. I have Bumpkins all-in-ones bought new for our newest baby. I like these for outings and at night.
I have 6 medium and 6 large. I have 6 or so gauze flat cotton diapers that I use as doublers at night. And I use the above bicycle seat shaped liners during the day for extra absorbency.
At night, the all-in-ones are nice to have when you are changing diapers half asleep (jut insert prefolds for more absorbency). And if my memory serves me right, I remember children going
through one to three stages of not wanting to lie still while their diaper is being changed. The all-in-ones do come in handy at this time as you can put them on quickly, even on a standing,
wiggling, jumping child.
I use Aristocrats wool soakers (I was given 4 used) at night with 2 organic prefolds and a diaper doubler insert inside. No leaks!
For going on outings using prefolds and a cover is easy. In fact, you can use the cover as a diaper pad.
I have used Kooshies regular and ultra all-in-ones with my first baby and they barely lasted for my second. I wasn't happy with them. The regulars wicked up
the wetness over the cotton front (every time! For newborns I did not mind this, as I was in seclusion and knew I would be changing diapers every hour, but as a
bigger baby having to change their clothes with their diapers was not my intention) and with the ultras- the leg area got very scratchy as the vinyl cracked and
broke apart. Ouch! I have also used the rainbow-edged shaped (contoured) diapers, and did not like them. They are okay for newborns, but after a few washings the
middle clumps up in hard balls (I can't imagine that is comfortable to lie/sit on) and the absorbency is not very high. Luckily I have only 6 of these.
I have Cottontail diapers and Ecology Kids. I have one terrycloth and flannel diaper, and a few thick diaper doublers (oval shaped). I have the following diaper
covers: Nikky's, Gold Bug, Planet Pants, Napees, Kooshies, regular nylon pull-up style, and a bunch of un-known ones that are similar to Planet Pants. These were
all given to me used and I have tried them all, I still prefer what I mentioned above. Though the terrycloth and flannel diapers do a great job too.
And I have heard excellent reports from MotherEase users.
I wash my diapers (exclusively breastfed baby diapers do not need to be rinsed. After they start eating food, I just plop the poops into the toilet) in warm
water with Country Save or Bi-O-Kleen detergent, 2 scoops of baking soda and a glug of distilled white vinegar. I use the second rinse cycle on the washer.
I do use the dryer for diapers, I do not have enough of them to sit around and wait for them to dry. I do a load of diapers about every other day. Do not use fabric
softeners as they can cause rashes and they also make diapers less absorbent.
I use cloth wipes, cut from receiving blankets and washcloths. Just dip these in warm water and Voila- they work great! And wash with the diapers.
I use an (donated) empty wipe container filled with water and keep the wipes in this on the changing table. I have one of those great wipe warmers wrapped around
it to keep them toasty warm. I clean this out regularly. There are many homemade wipe recipes out there, I have used a few (add almond oil and other stuff- I can’t
recall them now), yet plain warm water works just as well, Is easier, and will save you money. You don't even have to fold diapers after they are dry, just keep
them in a laundry basket and take them out and use as needed.
I have 3 children; I have never put a disposable on any of them even with traveling. I am not saying this because I think that this makes me a better mother,
I am saying this to let you know just how easy cloth is. I never run out of diapers, this is just not a worry I have. If I did I could always use dishtowels or cotton
T-shirts while the wash is running. My children have very sensitive skin and they never had any bad rashes (Weleda has a great natural baby cream for rashes).
Plus my beginning expenses going out to cloth diapers have been put to use with now 3 children, and I am sure on to more if I have them.
My diaper bag contains a Ziploc bag of wet wipes, Bumkin all-in-ones, a few pre-folded diapers and a diaper cover, a nylon drawstring bag to hold the wet/dirty diapers
(I dump these into our diaper pail when we get home), a sweater, a hat, a sling, and a change of clothes.
Many diaper companies have samples that you can buy and try out. Find what works best for you and your family.
Oh, and keep in mind that most baby clothes these days are made for babies wearing 'ultra-thin disposable' diapers, not for bulky cloth diapers.
So you will find that your baby will be wearing bigger clothes than you might think. And when he/she is finally out of diapers, he/she might be able to wear some of those 24-month clothes again.
Another bonus from using cloth diapers is that toilet training is quicker and easier. When your child pees he will feel wet in cloth, disposable gel stuff keeps them feeling dry,
so they don’t put together the feeling of urinating with the feeling of wetness. Plus they don’t have to lug around a diaper that weighs 5# and hasn’t been changed in 6 or more hours.
My children used the toilet when they were ready; I never “trained” them. Once they were ready they were diaper-less virtually without any accidents. I do not use small potty’s either,
to me it seems like more work to then get them to use big toilets, especially away from home. And I admit that the job of cleaning a small potty is not appealing to me in the least.
I do have a step stool so children can reach our toilet easily. The regular toilet has never been a hardship or problem for my children.
Another tip is to put a mirror near where you change your baby, so he can see himself and be less wiggly. It really does help.
I want to mention that when you buy new diapers, you must wash them, with soap, at least 5 times before using . . . and still they might not absorb the pee quickly.
But be patient, don't throw in the towel, we have all been there. New diapers just need a bunch of washings to get the oils out of them, once this is done, you will notice
that your baby's pee stays in the cloth diaper and doesn't run out the sides (like at first). I hope that helps people first starting out with cloth.
Reader Jill Butterworth shared these two great diapering tips; For my newborn, I took the cheap cotton prefolds that you can buy at Wal-Mart and I sewed a zig-zag stitch about 1/4 the way into the diaper length wise and another stitch
about an inch above that. Then I cut in between the two seams...therefore making a smaller diaper (still pre-folded) and a scrap piece with a seamed edge to use as a wipe.
As you wash these diapers and wipes the frayed edges will ball up down to the stitch and you can just trim these off after each wash until all gone. My baby is big and has
pretty much outgrown these at 4 weeks (she's 11 pounds), but they worked great in those first few weeks and were worth the minimal cost and effort. Plus, we'll be able to use them on future babies!
FOLDING CLOTH DIAPERS IN COVERS:
Your baby will spend about 25,000 hours in diapers and need about 6,000 diaper changes during the first years of life. Your decision to use disposable or cloth diapers, will have a great impact on your baby’s comfort and health, and on your peace of mind and finances. The 90’s cloth diaper systems are so easy to use (no soaking, no pins). Since your baby will spend so much time in diapers, lets take a closer look at disposable diapers. On the market since the early 60’s, the disposable diaper changed from a plastic diaper with a lot of paper fluff to a diaper constructed of a waterproof plastic outer layer, an absorbent pad with super absorbent chemicals, and an inner liner. The super absorbent chemical, sodium polyacrylate, absorbs and holds fluids in the diaper. This chemical has been linked to toxic shock syndrome, can cause allergic reactions, and is lethal to cats if inhaled. Death has occurred from ingestion of just 5 grams of this chemical. Pediatric journals contain reports of this chemical sticking to babies’ genitals. When the baby’s skin gets wet, this super absorber can poll fluids form baby’s skin. Dioxin, the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a byproduct of bleaching paper. Even in the smallest detectable quantities, dioxin has been known to cause liver disease, immune system suppression, and genetic damage in lab animals. Dyes found in some disposables are known to damage the central nervous system, kidneys, and liver. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) received reports that fragrances caused headaches, dizziness, and rashes. Problems reported to the Consumer Protection Agency include chemical burns, noxious chemical and insecticide odors, reports of babies pulling disposables apart and putting pieces of plastic into their noses and mouth, choking on tab papers and linings, plastic melting onto the skin, and ink staining the skin. Plastic tabs can also tear skin, and disposables may contain wood splinters. In 1987, the Sunday Democrat and Chronicle published news about the new Pampers Ultra. The new gel they used caused severe skin irritations, oozing blood from perineum and scrotal tissues, fever, vomiting, and staph infections in babies. Employees in Pampers factories suffered from tiredness, female organ problems, slow-healing wounds and weight loss. According to the Journal of Pediatrics, 54% of one-month old babies using disposable diapers had rashes, 16% had severe rashes. A survey of Procter & Gamble’s own studies show that the incidence of diaper rash increases from 7.1 percent to 61 percent with the increased use of throwaway diapers, great for manufacturers of diaper rash medicines. Widespread diaper rash is a fairly new phenomenon that surfaced along with disposable diapers. Reasons for more rashes include allergies to chemicals, lack of air, higher temperatures because plastic retains body heat, and babies are probably changed less often because they feel dry when wet. About 5 million tons of untreated body excrement, which may carry over 100 intestinal viruses, is brought to landfills via disposables. This may contribute to groundwater contamination and attract insects that carry and transmit diseases. In 1990, 18 billion disposables were thrown into United States landfills. Is it wise to use 3.4 billion gallons of oil and over 250,000 trees a year to manufacture disposables that end up in our already overburdened landfills? These disposables are not readily biodegradable. The paper must be exposed to air and sun to decompose. Thirty percent of a disposable diaper is plastic and is not compostable. Even if the rest of the diaper could be composted, these plants could only handle 400 of the 10,000 tons of diapers tossed in landfills EACH DAY, assuming they didn’t have to process any other compostable garbage. Biodegradable diapers have cornstarch added to the plastic to break it into tiny pieces. The pieces still end up in landfills. It’s the late 1980’s, people are becoming concerned about the environment. Disposables are on the decline. The disposables manufacturers fight back. Articles and advertisements say disposables are OK. Many mothers, glad to hear that and relieved of guilt, switch to disposables. Disposables manufacturers say energy usage is the same for cloth or disposables, but the fact is that throwaways use five times more energy than reusables. Diapers do not need to be presoaked, I don’t even rinse mine. Just dump solids in toilet, if it does not fall out then put in hamper, the washing machine will do the rest. No pins are necessary. Cotton covers hold the diaper together. Two to three loads of laundry a week. You have a lot of options available through several mail order companies. There are diaper and cover combinations or all-in-one diapers which are as easy as disposables. The representativesat these companies can assist in your choice. The initial cost runs from $200-$300 to get started and willtake you through the first year or so. Disposables will cost around$2000 during thesame time period. By using cloth you could save more than $1600. Andhave diapers for your next baby! You can also make your own diapers using old towels and receiving blankets (the thrift store is a good cheap source). Just sew the towelbetween the flannel blankets, in which ever shape and/or size you wish.
NATURAL CLOTHING-Synthetic clothing strangles and chokes the body and is a barrier to oxygen- the breath of life. We should use only natural fibers for the clothes we wear and also for our bed covers. Warmth is an important experience for baby, both physical warmth and inner warmth, the experience of closeness and warmth of his parents. An infant is not able to maintain his own warmth and here too baby is dependent on those who care for him to provide adequate clothing and blankets for him to keep warm. Maintaining proper warmth is important. This can be done by dressing baby in natural fabrics. Synthetic fabrics are not the same. Unfortunately, the longer we wear synthetic fabrics, the less discrimination we have. When synthetics were first made, people were aware that the air could not pass through the fabric as it does in a natural fabric. Then people noticed the difference. They objected to the lack of absorbent qualities in synthetic fabrics. Our skin is also an organ of respiration and this is affected by synthetics. People were aware that synthetic ‘cottons’ were uncomfortably warm in the summer and the synthetic ‘wools’ did not keep them warm in the winter. Natural materials relate to people; there is an exchange between the clothes and the people wearing them. Now people have worn synthetic fabrics for so long it has been much more difficult to discriminate. Do this: Put a synthetic blanket over your face and breathe: notice that you feel suffocated? Now use a wool or cotton blanket. Notice the difference. When a baby is in synthetic sleepers you may find that his skin is cold to the touch, but he is perspiring. Put him in cotton or wool sleepers and check the difference. Try wearing natural fabrics yourself for six months and then wear synthetic fabrics and see the difference yourself. Static electricity is a problem with synthetic fabrics that you will not have with natural fabrics. The synthetic is a barrier; it does not absorb, transfer and conduct. It does not support the natural life processes. Synthetics do not appear in nature, they are man-made. Natural fibers work in harmony with our bodies, while synthetics have vibrations that work against the human vibration. What we wear can affect our emotions. Wearing synthetics can make you feel irritable, jumpy. Start wearing natural fibers and much of this nervousness will disappear. In addition, natural fibers-- cotton, wool and silk--- allow our skin to breathe and give off toxins. As a matter of interest, rayon is made out of cellulose; it is sometimes called the "natural synthetic". It's the only man-made fiber that comes close to behaving like a natural. Silk is one of the greatest and best materials that can be worn, as it is a live substance, spun from the body of the silk worm using organic vegetation. The next in preference would be materials from animals (sheep wool, camel hair, etc.) as these can be used without killing the animal, and yet give mankind the advantage of its use. Next are the higher vegetable types (linen, cotton, hemp, nettles, etc.). The nylon and many other man-made synthetics will not allow the skin to breathe properly and in addition are highly combustible and a definite fire hazard to the skin. It is absolutely imperative for air to circulate between the skin and clothing, so a free and loose-fitting organic-type clothing is superior. Many people even become covered with itches and rashes from wearing "economical" and "long-wearing" man-made cloth. Some children’s sleepwear is treated with the flame retardant Tris. Tris is absorbed through the skin, persists in fabrics even after repeated laundering, and has recently been shown to be both carcinogenic and mutagenic. Jennifer VanLaanen-Smit © 1999 jvanlaanen@netscape.net |
1. Lay flat or prefold diaper
flat.
2. Fold diaper
into thirds. Lay in open diaper cover.
3. Spread open back of diaper for maximum coverage. If diaper is too long, fold up front to fit.
Fasten Velcro® or snaps of diaper cover at sides.