Diaper Use and Care

If you are using cloth diapers for the first time, I encourage you to try practicing with the diapers on a teddy bear or a doll, approximately the size of a newborn, until you feel comfortable. That will be your best hands-on experience, pre-baby! This is how I was taught to use prefolds and I found it very effective and a great way to get used to everything before my son arrived.

PRE-WASH

FOLDING THE PREFOLD

Prefolds need to be folded to fit into the diaper cover. There are three sections to the prefold, when laid flat. A thick middle section and two thinner side sections. Fold each of the side sections onto the middle section to make a thinner rectangle. Place the diaper onto the cover, seam side down so that the flat side will be touching baby's skin. There is usually a bit of the diaper hanging over the front of the diaper cover. Just fold this excess over so the diaper fits into the cover. As your baby grows you will not need to fold the front of the diaper as much and eventually you will not need to fold it at all.

THE ACT OF DIAPERING - PREFOLDS

When I diaper my children, I like to put the prefold (folded and ready to go) into the diaper cover then slide the diaper with cover under their bottom. Next, I bring the front of the diaper between the baby’s legs making sure everything is covered and centered. At this point I fold any excess of the top of the diaper over and into the front of the cover. Then I fasten the cover and we're good to go. There are definitely other methods to folding the prefold - twisting, wrapping it like a fitted diaper, using pins – I find the method described to be the quickest, simplest and most efficient. Experiment and see what works for you.

FITTED DIAPER

Fitted diapers do not need to be folded before placing in the diaper cover. Simply place the diaper in the cover. Slide the cover, with the diaper inside, under baby’s bottom. Bring the front of the diaper between the legs. Bring the sides of the diaper around baby’s waist and fasten. Finally, bring the front of the diaper up between the legs, bring the sides of the cover around the waist, and fasten.

SHAPED DIAPER

Just like fitted diapers, shaped diapers do not need to be folded and they do not need to be fastened. The diaper covers I carry will securely hold the shaped diaper in place. Place the shaped diaper in the diaper cover and slide both under baby’s bottom. Bring the diaper and cover between baby’s legs together as one piece. Bring the sides of the diaper around baby’s waist and place each side corner on top of the front of the diaper - basically bring sides of the diaper over baby’s abdomen, wrapping the diaper around baby. Once you have the sides of shaped diaper placed, fasten the diaper cover. Shaped diapers can be tricky at first. You have to juggle the diaper cover and the two sides. With a little practice – this is where that diapering of the teddy bear will really come in handy – you will be a pro!

DIAPER COVERS

The use of diaper covers is detailed above with each type of diaper. Diaper covers can be washed with cloth diapers. Covers can generally be used for an entire day (24 hours) or until they are soiled, whichever comes first. Once the cover is soiled, remove any solid waste from the diaper and cover and put them both in the diaper pail until wash day. Most cover manufacturers recommend to air/line dry the covers. With both my kids, I have put the covers in the dryer the majority of the time and the covers have held up great! In the summer I do line dry to save on energy costs, and it's sort of meditative for me! In a pinch, you can easily rinse a soiled cover in the sink, let it dry briefly and use it again.

I find that when I put a clean cover on my kids in the morning, if the cover doesn't get soiled it can last all day and through the night. When they wake up in the morning, the cover is usually a bit aromatic so it goes straight into the pail. Many parents prefer to switch between two covers throughout the day, allowing one cover to air out while the other is in use.

WIPES

Cloth wipes are to be used in place of disposable wipes. Simply wet the wipe when it's time to change the diaper. I like to use a small cosmetic spray bottle to wet the wipe. You can also wet the wipe in the sink. For a wet diaper, I use one wipe. For soiled, poopie, diapers I use at least two and sometimes three wipes. It's amazing how many folds babies have!! Wipes are also great for cleaning a messy baby and toddler faces and as a reusable tissue.

USING A DOUBLER

Doublers are used to increase absorbency of a diaper and are folded into the prefold or simply laid on top of the fitted or shaped where baby will wet the most. For All-in-One’s, place the doubler under the cloth flap. With prefolds, lay the diaper flat and place the doubler onto the thick middle section. For a girl, place the doubler in the middle of the center section and with a boy, place the top of the doubler at the top of the diaper (basically, put the doubler where they need it the most!). Fold each side of the prefold over onto the doubler as stated above in The Act of Diapering – Prefolds section, then fold any excess of the top of the diaper over to fit into the cover. Use a doubler for nighttime, naptime, long trips or on it's own as a diaper for a very small newborn.

TOTE BAGS

Reusable tote bags are available for traveling and storing wet and soiled diapers. The smallest, the diaper bag tote, is designed for carrying wet and soiled diapers in your diaper bag on daily outings. This size is also great for carrying small toys, wet bathing suits, snacks, etc. The medium size is called the overnight tote and is meant to store the wet and soiled diapers on an overnight trip. T he largest size is the diaper pail liner. Place the liner into your diaper pail and throw in the diapers. When it's time to wash the diapers, just take the liner to your washer and toss in both the diapers and liner.

A WORD ABOUT POOP!

Some parents feel overwhelmed at the thought of removing the soiled matter (poop!) from the diaper. There are a few different methods out there to remove the poop. Chose the method that feels most comfortable to you:

Shake method - shake the diaper over the toilet. What ever falls out gets flushed, the rest comes out in the wash. On occasion you may have to run an additional wash cycle to remove any stubborn poop.

Scrape method - using toilet paper or a spatula, scrape the poop off the diaper and into the toilet, then into the pail it goes.

Rinse/dunk method - rinse or dunk the diaper in the toilet or in the sink (after removal of the bulk of the soiled matter). This would essentially be a pre-wash. My thought is that since my washer already has this feature, why bother.

With exclusively breastfeed children, poop removal is a non-issue until solid foods are introduced. The poop of a breastfeed baby is the consistency of yogurt and will easily wash out in a normal cycle. So there is no need to remove the poop at all - another great reason to breastfeed!

DISPOSABLE LINERS

The Diaperap disposable liners look and feel like a dryer sheet. Wrap the liner around the folded prefold (perpendicular) and place in the cover. I have a picture showing how to place the liner. The disposable liner helps to keep baby's skin dry and helps with clean up. Just peel off the liner, poop and all, and flush down the toilet. Easy! If the diaper is just wet, toss the diaper and liner in the diaper pail. Liners can sometimes be used a second time! Caution – the flushing of liners may cause blockages in old or damaged drains. No responsibility can be accepted for individual drain systems.

In the first few days, your baby will pass meconium, which is a thick, tar-like substance. This too will come off in the wash. However, to make the process easier, I recommend using the Disposable Liners.

I hope all this information answers your questions about using cloth diapers. And I do hope that you are still feeling comfortable with your choice of cloth diapers. Please email or call me with any questions or concerns, or if you need additional clarification. Cloth diapering is fun and, once learned, is very easy!

WASHING CLOTH DIAPERS

Before initial use, all cloth diapers must be washed three to five times – approximately three times for hard water and five for soft water. These initial washings remove remaining plant oils and increase the absorbency of the diaper. Prefolds will shrink approximately 2 inches after initial washing. Please avoid using fabric softeners with any diaper or cover. Fabric softeners drastically decrease absorbency. Whitening agents are not recommended as they break down the fibers and reduce the durability of the diaper. For natural whitening, the sun works great!!

Depending on the amount of diapers you own, you will need to wash on average three times a week – usually every other day. If you are running short on covers, you can try rotating between two covers during the day. Just let one cover air out while using the other. Most covers can be hand washed and air dried in a very short amount of time if needed.

HOW TO WASH CLOTH DIAPERS

DIAPER PAIL CHOICES. There are two choices for diaper pails available – a dry or wet pail. A dry pail uses no water and requires a Diaper Pail Liner of some sort, either plastic/disposable or cloth/reusable. A wet pail is filled with water that is dumped into the washer on wash day.

EASY WASH GUIDE. I like to keep things simple with my diaper laundering. I use simple detergent in a small quantity and try to line dry whenever possible. I feel that keeping the detergent simple makes it easy to adjust or change if needed for diaper rash issues or cleaning abilities.

 HERE’S A RE-CAP:

 DO NOT USE BLEACH OR ANY BLEACHING PRODUCT. Bleaching products are harsh and will break down and wear out the fibers quickly.

DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENERS. Fabric softener will decrease the absorbency of your diapers, drastically. To soften your diapers, use the dryer.

THE SUN IS A FANTASTIC STAIN REMOVER AND STERILIZES DIAPERS. The sun works wonders on diapers. Regular line drying will keep your diapers clean, clean, clean! And you will save lots of money on the dryer (even if you still use it to fluff). Line drying is also wonderful for the thick All-in-One and fitted diapers.

A SECOND RINSE CYCLE IS GREAT FOR SENSITIVE SKIN. A second rinse will remove any excess detergent and help keep diapers extra soft for babies prone to diaper rash.

A HOT WATER MAIN WASH GETS RID OF BACTERIA.

STOP DIAPER PAIL ODOR

Honey, I think the diapers are about to get up and walk out the door!  Is your diaper pail a little ripe?  It’s no wonder considering what goes in there!  But diaper pails shouldn’t smell and they definitely shouldn’t smell up your house.  Here are some tips on what to do if your diaper pail starts to invade your living space!

SPRINKLE SOME SODA ON.  I keep a big box of baking soda next to my diaper pail (you can pick up a big box for just a few bucks).  Sprinkle the soda at the bottom of the pail and then in the bottom of the liner.  Which means since I don’t change the pail every time (hugs for my husband) the soda doesn’t necessarily get in there with each fresh liner.  At least it’s done one a week.  Every time I put a poopey diaper in the pail, I sprinkle a little soda on the diaper. 

WASH OUT YOUR PAIL.  How often?  Just when I start to think, maybe I should clean it out, it’s time to clean it.  The more often it’s cleaned, the less build up of bacteria there will be. 

JUST WHERE ARE YOU PUTTING YOUR DIAPERS?  How well does the lid fit on your pail?  Does your diaper pail have a deodorizer?  Does your pail have a filter?  A little deodorizer and a bit of air circulation can do wonders for a diaper pail!  But if the lid does not fit snug on your pail, odors will escape. 

PUT A LITTLE SUNSHINE IN THAT PAIL!  Get the fresh scent of citrus when you open your pail!  The scent of citrus is energizing and clears the mind!  Who knew cloth diapering could be so good for you!  Citrus Circles deodorizing wafers give a wonderful citrus scent to those closed up diaper pails.  They deodorize pails for about 4 weeks.  

HOW OFTEN DO YOU WASH THOSE DIAPERS?  Cloth diapers ideally should be washed every other day.  But, hey!  Life can get in the way laundry.  Three days is probably the longest you could go between laundering simply as a factor of space and the need for clean diapers!  And after three days, the diapers get pretty funky and will need an additionally wash. 

HELP FOR DIAPER RASHES

Darn, stubborn diaper rash!  What do you do to get rid of a diaper rash?  There are lots and lots of remedies out there.  Narrow down your choices.  Pick one a give it a go.  Really.  It can be really challenging to figure out the cause of a diaper rash.  The best way is to start eliminating the possibilities and make some changes, literally.  Once you start the process, you’ll be closer to a solution. 

HOW OFTEN DO YOU CHANGE YOUR BABY’S/TODDLER’S DIAPER?  Diapers should be changed at least every two hours, even disposable diapers.  Most parents and caregivers do not change disposable diapers every two hours!  For cloth diapering families, it’s a little easier, you’re not throwing away money with each diaper because you get to reuse them.  So change those diapers often.  When there is a diaper rash present, change more often than every two hours.  Change the diaper every time it’s wet or soiled. 

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MOISTURIZED?  Adding lotion helps to moisturize the skin, obviously, but it also puts a barrier between baby’s sensitive/irritated skin and the urine/fecal matter.  Apply lotion with each and every diaper change.  Lotion containing Calendula will help heal the irritated skin.  Lotions such as mango butter are basically water repellent and provides a really strong barrier. 

USE A WET WIPE WITH EACH DIAPER CHANGE.  Many diapering resources will say that you don’t need to use a wipe if the diaper was only wet.  In the absence of a rash that is true.  When there is a rash, use a wipe, a very wet wipe.  Get all that irritating urine off baby’s skin. 

SPEAKING OF IRRITATING URINE, IS BABY HYDRATED?  When the body is dehydrated the urine is very strong and acidic.  Keep yourself and baby hydrated.  In the heat of the summer, we all need extra fluids to stay hydrated and regulate our body temperature.  Make sure you and baby have access to water at all times.  When you are thirsty you are already dehydrated. 

DO BABY’S DIAPERS SMELL EVEN IF THEY ARE CLEAN?  There could be an acid buildup.  How long do you soak your diapers?  Cloth diapers need to soak in COLD water for at least 8 hours and preferably overnight to reestablish the PH (remove the acidic urine).  After the soak, wash the diapers on COLD.  Then wash again on HOT with detergent, using only ¼ the recommended amount.  You only need a small about of detergent.  Be sure to soak the diapers.  If they do smell when clean, add a little bit of vinegar to the wash to help balance the PH.  Only do this occasionally as the vinegar can also build up and cause the diapers to become acidic again. 

HOW OLD ARE YOUR DIAPERS?  Cloth diapers can be used for years and years but they do eventually wear out.  If you’ve tried soaking longer and doing everything else in the previous paragraph, then consider if your diapers are done.  Perhaps it’s time they moved on to retirement, as perhaps a cleaning cloth.

HAVE YOU CHANGED DETERGENT RECENTLY?  Baby could be allergic or sensitive to the new detergent.  Switch back or find a gentler alternative.

READ DETERGENT LABELS.  Does your detergent contain any whitening enzymes or agents?  Read the label.  Still not sure?  Call the company.  Whitening agents and enzymes, no matter how little or how natural they are can be irritating to baby’s skin.  Switch to a detergent without any whiteners or enzymes.  This article elaborates on the dangers of enzyme issue Cut of Cloth Article

HOW MUCH DETERGENT ARE YOU USING?  Cloth diapers require only a small amount of detergent.  The cold water soak balances the PH, and loosens the soiled matter.  The first wash removes that soiled material.  The final hot wash with detergent kills and removes any remaining bacteria.  Use detergent sparingly.  You are only washing a small amount of material compared to a full load of laundry consisting of clothing.  Let the soak do most of the work and use just a wee bit of detergent. 

TRY A LITTLE SUN-KISS!  Dry your cloth diaper in the sun!  The sunshine will kill any remaining bacteria, naturally bleach out the diapers and leave a nice fresh scent.  Fluff the sun-dried diapers in the dryer for a about 10 minutes, or more depending on your dryer, in case the diapers have that stiff, starchy feeling. 

ARE YOUR DIAPERS STIFF?  If a 10 minute fluff after line drying still leaves your diapers stiff, then read the HOW MUCH DETERGENT ARE YOU USING?  paragraph and rinse your diapers.  Try three to five rinses, and I mean just put them in the washer on a rinse cycle in WARM water with nothing else.  Then dry your diapers.  Reduce the amount of detergent you are using in your wash and add a final rinse to your process for a few runs. 

A NEW WIPE SOLUTION COULD BE JUST THE, WELL, SOLUTION!  There is a myriad of diaper wipe solution recipes available on the internet and in books.  Pick a recipe and give it a go.  Many of the ingredients you may already have on hand.  For the rest, you can find them relatively inexpensively.  Find a recipe that works, and you’ve got a gold mine at your finger tips!  A fresh, custom made wipe solution that really does the job.  Here are a few recipes that I’ve found, some that I’ve tried. 

An ingenious no-cost solution from Mothering.com ~ breastmilk:

Gently pat baby's bottom with breastmilk, being especially generous when applying it to reddened or rash areas. Leave baby's diaper off for a few minutes and let the bottom air-dry.  More Ways to Use Breastmilk Article

Another one ingredient solution from Mothering.com ~ Chamomile:

This herb is an anti-inflammatory as well as a digestive aid. For diaper rash or other rashes, soak the affected area with a washcloth dipped in cool chamomile tea, or add chamomile tea to bath water.  Natural First Aid Kit Article

From Born to Love comes this simple recipe for baby wipes:

Use old wipes in either organic cotton, unbleached cotton or hemp.  You can put the solution in a spray bottle and wet the wipe at each diaper change or put the solution and the wipes into an old wipe tub or a reusable plastic container (Tupperware or Rubbermade, etc.) and you have handy wipes ready to go.

1 ½ to 2 cups water (preferably purified or distilled water)

¼ cup aloe vera juice (found at health food store and online)

1/8 to ¼ cup olive oil (preferably extra virgin)

2 tsp. baby shampoo or soap (Tom’s of Main baby shampoo, Jason’s Kids Shampoo, Dr. Bronner’s castile soap, etc.)

2-3 drops of tea tree oil or calendula oil – both are anti-fungal and anit-bacterial

2-3 drops of lavender oil – discourages mold and is great for the skin

Mix up a batch and use generously!!

From Just Peace.org here’s just the basics for wipes:

2 ¼ cups water (preferably purified or distilled)

2 tsp baby shampoo

1 tbsp baby oil

Same as above, store solution in a spray bottle or create your own ready-to-use wipe tub. 

Again from Just Peace.org follow up the wipe solution with this Heavenly Baby Massage Oil.  Also use after bathing ~ for baby AND mom!

4 ounces of oil (olive, almond, grapeseed, jojoba)

5 drops of lavender essential oil

5 drops of orange essential oil

Pour directly into the bottle you’re going to use to dispense the massage oil.  Shake and apply. 

I’VE TRIED IT ALL AND NOTHING IS WORKING!  If you’ve really tried everything and baby is still experiencing a diaper rash or if the rash is painful and/or bleeding, see a doctor.  If you are concerned at any time about the rash or your baby’s health, by all means, call your doctor.  Diaper rashes can also be caused by yeast infections and food allergies.  A stubborn yeast related diaper rash may need some serious diaper cream.