I would like more information on cloth diapers.

[reveriereptile]

I've been considering using cloth diapers for whenever I have a baby. I was trying to find more information online but didn't find much. Most of the sites either want you to buy a book, buy their brand of diapers, or don't give enough details about how to use them.

What are the best types to buy that I don't end up with a mess? How do you store them till you clean them? If they only come in certain sizes how many should be bought till the baby outgrows that size?

I've seen some being sold on ebay that were pretty cheap to buy. They were the type that look like they have all the button snaps on them and a insert that goes in it. I don't know if they are any good or not.

 

[AlienChick]

I've always used a diaper service.
They deliver the diapers and provide you with a large plastic bag in which to place the soiled diapers (you don't have to wash them).
They pick up the soiled diapers on a schedule and deliver you fresh new ones.
The diapers come in whatever size you need as your baby grows.
The diapers are 100% cotton so you don't have to worry about chaffing or alergic reactions.
The first time I got the diaper service it was a baby shower gift, so that's how I found out about it.
I have five children and used a diaper service with every one of them.

 

[reveriereptile]

I checked online and didn't see any diaper services around here. Might be due to this area being mostly Amish and all the towns are 20-40 minutes apart.

I've been getting some tips from youtube videos and reading reviews.

 

[Aeropennchick]

I looked into it too - planning on having our first baby soon - and there aren't any cloth diaper services around us either. Deal breaker!

 

[Linn Bee]

Being an old timer, I've used both types of diapers and much prefer cloth diapers - except for traveling. I don't know where you would buy those kind of diapers today. They were about the size of 'flour sack' dish towels (another favorite) but a bit thicker and more absorbant. Hey, it's been 40 years since I've bought any diapers.

I also gifted my daughter with a diaper service after the birth of my first grandchild. For some reason, I was not satisfied with them. And that DID surprise me. The diaper service product was more of a liner inside a protective snap-on pant. I just remember my granddaughter having lose stools and the diaper liner did not hold the mess in at all. Three diapers in less than three minutes there. Most of the time, however, they worked very well.

Details on how to use them? I go back to safety pinning them on both sides. There are cute baby safety pins that really are safe. I'd fold the length into three layers - sides to middles - and fold down one end to fit - the front for my boy and the back for my girl - then pin. Over those go plastic pants.

I had a covered wastepaper container that I kept filled with a mixture of bleach, soap and water to hold the used clothes until wash time which was at least every other day. The soiled diapers I rinsed out in the toilet to remove the pooh before putting in the container. I washed mostly baby clothes in one load with a gentle detergent. . . probably not necessary, but I bought the spiel, and no softeners or cleaning agents with perfumes. Then I hung the clean diapers on the line - I still hang out my clothes, nothing like the smell of line hung clothes.

I bought and used only one size of diaper for both my children. The folding method was how size was regulated. 'Course none of mine were premies or even very small at birth.

Be aware that day care providers will most likely require plastic diapers. Not a problem for SAHMs, but something to be considered. Still, you can choose to use one at home and one away. Certainly for any type of traveling, the plastic diaper is the easiest and cleanest way to go so keep a few on hand even if you choose to go cloth.

Good Luck!

 

[Nielsen6]

I've been using cloth for 2 years now. A diaper service is really a waste, you can launder them yourself. Best resource I know of is diaperswappers.com

You can buy, trade, sell and get some really great info on how to do anything cloth related. HTH!

 

[Linn Bee]

Ah-h-h-h, I see someone mentioned the Amish! You might want to check with an Amish store for real, good quality diapers. While the diaper service is nice, it is possible to do it the old fashion way. It isn't that much extra work washing diapers and I believe it is better for your child. It prevents a lot of diaper rash problems and it will make potty training so-o-o-o-o-o-o-o much easier that you will be the envy of your neighborhood.

I loved those cloth diapers. After the children were done with them, I used them for cleaning until they were nothing but bits of rag. I just may check out an Amish site for myself. Er. . .um. . .for cleaning around the house. . . I'm not THAT old.

 

[CorinneP]

I remember having to use them as my son was so sensitive to disposables.. Seems like you get really used to really fast .. The only bad part was how quickly they really got wet wet . but they made little blue liners you could add to pull the moisture away from the baby .. Little hard when they are nursing and have that lose mustard sinking right in to keep them nice and clean .. I was so happy when poops were solid . then I could just plop that in the toilet and flush lol

 

[sumi]

I used mostly cloth diapers for my son. It was a bit of a pain to wash them daily, but the money we saved by not using only disposable ones made it worth. The best advice I got was to rinse the soiled ones, rub it with a good quality, skin friendly household soap and hang it in the sun for a few hours before washing them. I always tried to take care of the soiled ones a.s.a.p. as my DH liked to let them sit in a washbasin full of water and after awhile the smell was enough to make my eyes water!
I always used nappy liners and reused them unless they were soiled. They are cheap and definitely worthwhile!
I would recommend is let your baby sleep in a disposable diaper though. The cloth ones were not able to handle the load once my son started sleeping through the night.

 

[HEChicken]

Being an old timer, I've used both types of diapers and much prefer cloth diapers - except for traveling. I don't know where you would buy those kind of diapers today. They were about the size of 'flour sack' dish towels (another favorite) but a bit thicker and more absorbant. Hey, it's been 40 years since I've bought any diapers.

I bought and used only one size of diaper for both my children. The folding method was how size was regulated. 'Course none of mine were premies or even very small at birth.

This sounds like what I grew up using on my many younger brothers and sisters. Kind of a one size fits all! Depending on the age of the baby, we folded it differently so it would always fit, and used nappy pins to hold them in place - one in the middle on a newborn, one on each side as they got older.

When I had my own kids, I found those big square cloths of terry toweling were no longer available and I had to buy preformed cloth diapers that in my opinion did not work nearly so well. I persevered but oftentimes wished for the style I could fold myself and get it to fit just right.

What we used to call "plastic pants" - the plastic covering that went over the cloth -worked great - there was never any leaking through. But again, by the time I had my own kids, that style was no longer available and had been replaced by something that didn't work as well. We had lots of leaking through and, particularly with my son, instead of a diaper change, more often than not, he needed a whole change of clothes.

I realize I'm not helping much. There are a couple of people here on the forum who make diapers as a side business and hopefully they can help you more. PM me if you need names.