Cloth Diaper and Babywearing 101

For everyone who was at my support group at Village Pediatrics on Friday, I said I would post the handouts for you, so here they are! For everyone else, these are great resources for getting started with cloth diapers or babywearing.

1. My laundry detergent recipe can be found here.

2. The Babywearing handout can be found here. Check out their site for lots of babywearing info.

3. I want to give credit to Megan Hillyer of Diaper Parties by Megan for the cloth diaper handouts. Hers were so awesome I just stole them instead of making my own! Show her page some love. Here they are:
 

Cloth Diapering 101

How Many Diapers Will I Need?

To successfully cloth diaper full time, you will need at least 24 diapers. Newborns can easily soil a dozen diapers a day, so 24 will be a two day stash. To have a little breathing room and back-up, it is recommended that you have 30 diapers so that you have a few on hand to use while the rest are in the wash. Having ‘extra’ definitely makes the wash routine a lot more convenient! Be sure to rotate your diapers so that they are used equally. Remember that the fewer diapers that you have means more wear and tear on the diapers.

                Typical Newborn Use: 12 diapers/day

                Typical Baby Use: 8-10 diapers/day

                Typical Toddler Use: 6-8 diapers/day

How Much Money Will Cloth Diapering Save My Family?

Let’s say the average time for a baby to be in diapers is two and a half years. This number will vary depending on gender, first born child, younger sibling, and many other factors. The average cost for a disposable diaper is $0.30. We’ll be conservative on the changes per day number and say the average is 8 changes per day. Let’s do a little math break-down:

8 changes/day x .30 cents/diaper x 365 days x 2.5 years = $2,190 for disposable diapers

Please note that this number does not include disposable wipes, rash creams, powders, trash bags, or the time, effort, and gas money to pick up diapers. The average family will spend approximately $1,000 per year on disposable diapering and associated costs.

There are, of course, associated costs with cloth diapering such as cloth diaper safe ointments/creams if needed and cloth diaper safe laundry detergent, which can be used for household laundry as well.

The average cloth diaper start up is $200-$500, depending on the method you chose and the cost per diaper.  That’s a savings of around $2,000 with a child diapered for 2.5yrs.

Cloth diapers can be used on multiple children, thus passing on additional savings! Quality used diapers may also be sold to recoup start-up costs.

Types of Diapers

Type	Description	Brand Examples (Not All Listed)
All In One (AIO)	A diaper that has the waterproof cover and absorbent material sewn into one unit.	- Swaddlebees - GroVia AIO - BumGenius - Lil Joeys
Hybrid	A diaper system that is made up of a reusable outer liner called a shell or diaper cover and a disposable, biodegradable, absorbent insert liner. Reusable, washable inserts may also be used.	- Best Bottoms - Flip - GroVia
Fitted	A term referring to diaper that has its own closures, but requires a waterproof cover, and comes in sizes like Sm, M, L, or Size 0, Size 1, etc.  There are fitted AIOs, pockets, etc.	- Blueberry - EcoPosh - GroVia - Kissaluvs - Sloomb
Flat	Your grandmother’s diaper. A traditional, single layer of material. These require a waterproof, reusable diaper cover.	- Blueberry - Hemp Babies - OsoCozy - Swaddlebees
Pocket	A diaper that has an opening, or pocket, between the outer waterproof layer and the inner layer. One or more absorbent insert is stuffed into the pocket.	- Blueberry - BumGenius - FuzziBunz - Happy Heinys -Rumparooz
Prefold	A flat diaper that has been prefolded and stitched so that the middle is thicker and the sides are thinner. These require a waterproof, reusable diaper cover.	- Econobum - GroVia - OsoCozy - Thirsties

Pros and Cons of Different Diaper Types/Features

Diaper Style	Pros	Cons	Average Cost Each
Prefolds	Simple, wash well, durable, inexpensive	Needs a separate cover. Must be folded before use, can be bulky, baby will usually need more than one size.	$1.25-9.95
Flats	Simple, wash well, durable, inexpensive	Needs separate cover. Perceptually difficult, must be folded before use	$1.25-9.95
Fitteds	Absorbent, prevents most blowouts, durable	Needs a separate cover, more expensive than prefolds/flats, need to buy bigger sizes as baby grows	$12.95-34.95
Hybrid	Simple, flexible, disposable option	Disposable option can be expensive	$15 and up
Pocket	Simple for babysitters/daycare, dry quickly, wash well, less expensive than AIOs, easy to customize absorbency needs with inserts	Inserts must be stuffed into diaper for each use, entire diaper must be washed each time	$14.50-24.95
All-In-One (AIO)	Very simple, one-piece construction, good for daycare	More expensive, longer dry time, entire diaper must be washed each time	$14.95-25.95
Snap Closures	Durable, won’t snag other diapers, harder for baby to take off	Requires more hand strength/flexibility, takes longer to put on	N/A, Feature
Velcro Closures	Quick and easy to size and fasten with tabs	Will eventually wear out, can easily snag other diapers in the wash, easier for baby to take off	N/A, Feature
One Size	Grow with baby, no need to reinvest for larger sizes	More bulky on smaller babies, will wear out faster due to extended use	$12.95-25.95

Other Cloth Diaper Necessities

Product	Reason / Benefits
Cloth Wipes	Reusable, washable, leave in the diaper after a change, no worrying about throwing away or washing a disposable wipe, can be used to clean up other messes
Cloth Diaper Safe Rash Cream	Normal rash creams will coat the fibers of the diaper, making it repel moisture. This leads to leaks and blow outs.  Some rash creams can stain your diapers. Cloth diaper safe creams are better for baby’s skin and can be used for more than just diaper rash! These cloth safe creams are petroleum by-product free, allow airflow to baby’s skin for faster healing, are easier to clean off, and contain more natural based ingredients. Please use a band such as: GroVia, Eco Sprout, Grandma El’s, Thirstie’s, CJ’s, or Mum + Bub.
Wet Bag	Wet bags are waterproof bags that store soiled diapers. They generally have a handle that can be hung from the door or changing table, are great for use on the go, can be easily washed with the diapers, and can be used for other things like wet clothes, bathing suits, towels, etc.
Pail Liner	If using a diaper pail, a pail liner is useful to hold soiled diapers. This liner can be tossed in the wash with the diapers for easy clean up.
Bottom Spray	If you choose to use cloth wipes, bottom spray is useful for tough to clean messes and wetting wipes.
Flushable Liner	Flushable liners are useful for catching solid waste that can be easily flushed away. These thin, disposable liners do not absorb moisture.
Cloth Diaper Safe Laundry Detergent	Use a detergent that does not contain any lighteners, brighteners, bleach, fabric softeners, or fabric life extenders. Most generic laundry detergent will damage the diapers, can cause repelling, and diaper rashes. Please use a brand such as: Rockin Green, EcoNuts, Eco Sprout, Tiny Bubbles from GroVia, BumGenius Detergent, or Ruby Moon.
Diaper Sprayer	A diaper sprayer is useful for getting out the last of the bits. This is a sprayer that attaches to the toilet’s water line and is used to spray off any poop that does not easily roll out of the diaper. Though poop will not ruin or make your washer gross, many parents like to ‘pre-wash’ off the poo.

How do I wash my diapers?

Every manufacturer has their own recommended instructions for washing diapers, please check the product information before washing to be sure you do not void any warranties. Keeping a wash routine simple, here are my suggestions for washing:

Prewash your diapers before the first use. Natural fibers such as cotton and hemp should be washed separately from synthetic fibers at least 4-5 times in hot water with a small amount of detergent. Dry natural fiber diapers for 20-30 minutes in between every second or third wash cycle. Synthetic fibers can be prewashed once in warm water with a small amount of detergent then dried in the dryer on low.

TIP: To reduce drying time while prepping your diapers for first use, throw a clean, dry towel or two in the dryer with the diapers.

Once diapers have been prewashed properly, all diapers except wool can be washed and dried together.

Regular Wash Routine: Using as much water as possible, run a quick cold wash or prewash with a very small amount of detergent or no detergent at all. Then run a hot wash (not a sanitize cycle) with the recommended amount of a residue free detergent or 1/2 the recommended amount of other detergents (1/4 the recommended amount if you use an HE front loader). Bleach can void warranties, but if you must use it, 1/8 cup is plenty. Either hang your diapers to dry in the sun or dry them in the dryer on a low to low/medium setting.

Tips: Don’t use anything with additives such as softeners, dyes, perfumes or enzymes. These can decrease the absorbency of diapers. Don’t overfill your washer with diapers. Diapers need plenty of room to swish around in, so use plenty of water. If you still see detergent suds during the rinse cycle, rinse again. If your diapers still smell stinky after washing, wash them again (some babies produce stinkier diapers than others). Stripping your diapers is rarely necessary, but I can tell you how to do it.

**This is the wash routine we use at home and that has proven to be simple and easy to follow. Before you use any additives, please check the manufacturer’s instructions. Diaper Parties is not responsible for damage or injuries caused by following our suggested wash routine.**

Wool and Washing Wool

Wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight before leaking! Got a baby with tiny legs or chunky legs? Wool is great for both. It fits around chubby thighs without chafing or hurting sensitive skin. While many PUL covers don't get a tight seal around skinny legs, wool can provide protection from diaper leaks even if it is loose on little legs. Longies and shorties can be used as covers but also as clothing. This prevents you from having to pull down pants and a cover to change a diaper. Covers can be worn under clothing or in warmer weather, on their own. Wool is breathable so it keeps baby cool in warmer weather and warm in cool weather. Longies are great for pjs, especially in winter. If you are looking for a bullet proof night option, wool is a wonderful option. It may be more costly than other covers but you need far fewer. Most feel that 3-4 covers is sufficient but if you are using them as clothing because they are so cute, you might want a few.

About Lanolin

Lanolin is anti-microbial and waterproofing. It's what keeps sheep dry. Lanolin turns pee into ammonia salts and water. When the lanolin has been used up, you will start to smell the pee on your covers even when dry. This is how you know it's time to wash and lanolize.

Sloomb recommends solid lanolin. You can use tube or liquid lanolin but it won't work as well, especially not for overnight use.

Washing

To wash wool, you will need a "soap" (liquid wool wash like eucalan, wool wash bar or baby wash). Just get your warm water soapy then gently squish and squeeze your wool (right side out) around in the water. You can spot clean with a wool wash bar or soap if needed. Rub gently so you don't felt (squish the fibers together) your wool. Let soak for a few minutes and then rinse. Gently squeeze out the water. You can use a towel to roll it in, to get even more water out. If your washer has a low spin cycle, you can use that too. Lay flat to dry. Wool needs to air dry and can take a couple of days depending on the humidity in your home. You can point a fan at your wool to speed this up.

Lanolizing

You will wash your wool first to get all those "pee salts" out and spot clean any dirty spots with a wool wash bar. Follow the instructions above for washing. While your wool is soaking in the soapy water, get your lanolin ready. Warm a cup of water in the microwave, add a teaspoon or so of lanolin per cover (more for larger pieces or for heavy lanolizing). Once this melts, you will need to emulsify your lanolin with one of the following: wool wash bar, liquid wool wash, baby wash or a small piece of a Sloomb cube (easiest!). Add a little bit of your emulsifier to the cup and stir, stir, stir. Once this mixture looks like whole milk, you are ready to go. If you use the Sloomb cube, fish out any remaining chunk of the cube, once your mixture looks right and save for next time. If it looks like skim milk or you can still see the yellow of the lanolin, keep adding more emulsifier (soap, cube, etc.) until you get to whole milk. This prevents lanolin chunks and stains.

Rinse your wool and set aside. Keep wool warm so you won't shock your wool when you add the warm water and lanolin mixture. You can keep spraying it with warm water or just keep it in a little bit of warm water.

Now, fill your sink or small tub (or bathtub for lots of pieces) with warm water. Add the still warm lanolin mixture and stir to combine. Be sure your water and your wool are close to the same temp so you won't shock your wool and felt it. As long as you aren't going from cold to hot, you should be fine. Add wool (inside out to get the most lanolin on the inside where it's needed) to the bin/tub, you can gently squeeze it a bit to get things started and then use a spoon or plate to weight it down. You can soak anywhere from 15 minutes to overnight. After soaking, you can follow the instructions above for getting the water out. Gently squeezing, wrapping in towel, using spin cycle etc.

It's best to have a few covers in rotation even if you are just using them overnight so they will have plenty of time to dry between uses. Check for urine smell once dry. If they smell ok, keep using, otherwise it's time to wash and lanolize. You only will need to wash every couple of weeks depending on how frequently you use your wool, how dirty it gets, and how many pieces you have. You do not have to lanolize every time you wash, unless you want to, of course. New wool may need a few rounds of lanolizing to be at its best for nighttime use. If your wool is sufficiently lanolized but it is leaking or very saturated in the morning, then you may need a more absorbent diaper or additional inserts.

Why Cloth Diapers?

Cloth diapers are not only good for the environment, but they’re better for baby and your budget! Here are a few facts to consider:

-  No one really knows how long it takes a disposable diaper to decompose, the first one hasn’t

even decomposed yet, but it’s estimated at anywhere between 250 and 500 years

- Disposable diapers contain dioxin, a chemical listed by the EPA as one of the most toxic of

cancer-linked chemicals.

- Disposable diapers can cost up to $2,500 PER CHILD. Buy a stash of cloth diapers for an

average of $300 and use it for multiple children, save yourself THOUSANDS of dollars!

- Cloth diapers are CHEMICAL free and rarely do babies with cloth diapers have rash issues

- Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal

problems in humans and animals.

- Disposable diapers contain Sodium Polyacrylate, a type of super absorbent polymer (SAP),

which becomes a gel-like substance when wet. This chemical can cause skin irritations and

severe allergic reactions including vomiting, staph infections, and fever.

- In 1955, before modern disposable diapers were sold and consumed, it was estimated that

7% of babies and toddlers had diaper rash. In 1991, long after plastic disposable diapers

dominated the market, the number jumped to 78%.

- Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent about

4% of solid waste. In a house with a child in diapers, disposable make up 50% of household

Waste

- If you purchase disposable diapers, you can easily spend over $65 a month. You will have

spent more than $1,600 by the time your baby turns two. You will have nothing to show for this money except stinky diapers in a landfill!

Source for above info: Real Diaper Association Trifold Hand-Out

- Cloth diapers save money

- Cloth diapers help the environment

- Cloth diapers are easier on baby’s skin

- Cloth diapers are much easier to use than before

- Cloth diapers come in a range of colors and prints, lending style and excitement to an otherwise disliked aspect of child rearing