Switching to cloth for 1-year-old - economical options?

I'm considering a switch to cloth diapers for my one-year boy, who just started walking. I have checked out some forums on diapers, but haven't found any that address all of my questions:

1. My husband and I both work, so we need something that can be washed on the weekends and requires little upkeep during the week. (Please see #2 before suggesting disposable inserts :)

2. We are on a limited budget (I know, who isn't!) and need something cost-effective (money wise) in comparison with store-brand disposables.

3. Many forum users cite months of usage, and I'm looking at a potential of two years or more, on an active toddling child. I need a cloth diaper that will hold him!

I really hope to make this switch work and reduce our household landfill contributions, so any responses to the above will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! hoping for green poops

If you decide to go with Bum Genius, I do have some washing recommendations: Spraying off poop with a garden hose sprayer really helps get the diapers cleaner, because the legs are SOOO nice and tightly gathered that washing machines have a hard time getting it completely out of the gathers (it's nothing major, just some light stains in between the gathers that you won't have if you spray the diaper thoroughly before washing). And, doing a wash occasionally with baking soda, to neutralize the ammonia from the urine (a LOT of baking soda).

Check them out at www.cottonbabies.com Best of luck in your diaper search! Love my Bum Genius!

There are some really good starter sets you can get with covers and everything, but make sure you get toddler sized prefolds. My one year-old is in them now (they're a little bulky, but fit well). She will wear these until she is in training pants (which might happen before you thing--cloth diapered babies generally pt early [as did my son]).

Diaperswappers.com is a great community of cloth diapering mamas where you will find good stuff for really cheap! cloth lovin' mama!

Three Diapering Questions

1 - When using diaper cream, how do you all keep your baby from from getting it all over his hands? My 4 1/2-month-old is quick as can be ... I can never seem to finish up & get the diaper on before he's gotten it on his hands. I've tried giving him something to hold, and that only rarely works or doesn't distract him long enough. Hints?

2 - For home-laundering cloth diaper-ers: I like to line dry my chinese prefolds whenever its not raining. But man, do they come out stiff and NOT soft. Even after putting them back in the dryer for 20 min. Even after several extra rinses to try & get all the soap out. When they go straight into the dryer, they come out so soft ... even if I don't do extra rinses. How do I line dry and get soft diapers?

3 - Fuzzy Bunz question - sometimes the inner 'wickable' lining makes its way to the outside around the edges and then clothes, etc. are wet. Any tips for keeping that lining to stay in?

Thanks so much Many More Diapers to Go!

For eliminating some of the stiffness from line-dried diapers, try using less soap in the washing machine. To make sure that the diapers got clean, we did the heavy duty cleaning by hand using a pretty mild soap and then finished the diapers off in the washing machine with very little-to-no detergent.

My daughter was always small so the fuzzibunz edging would sometimes stick out of her clothes too. We tried different ways of folding the diapers and eventually found that if we folded down the inserts and rolled the edging of the fuzzibunz inward a little bit, we had less leakage. And then, we tried to check for wetness early on, to avoid leaky mishaps on the road and out-and-about. Also, and this may sound strange, be sure you have the right size FBunz and liners. If the wrap is too loose and the liner too bulky, you can fold till your fingers fall off and you'll still get leakage. Best of luck! no more leaks!

Change to cloth diapers for potty training?

I'm considering switching to cloth diapers for my 15 mo old because I theorize this will make potty training easier. Has anyone done this? Did it work? Any suggestions on how to get up to speed on cloth diapers (how to use them/where to buy/how to clean)? Thanks. hoping to potty train this one before 3.5

wash is easy - hot/cold with mild detergent. add baking soda to wash, vinegar to rinse for cleansing boost. don't use bleach or fabric softeners. toss in dryer, no dryer sheet. the sun (yes that big round thing in the sky) will get out poop stains; just dry dipe outside, might need to drying cycles. use flushable liners to catch poop for easier cleanup. happy CD mom of 2

Cheap source for Fuzzi Bunz Cloth Diapers

Where's the cheapest place to get Fuzzi Bunz diapers?
Georgina

Cloth diapers and chemicals?

our baby is due in August and we're trying to figure out what to do about diapers. we know we want to use cloth diapers, and i would love to be able to have a service, at least for the first couple of months. but i do have the concern about unwanted chemicals against our babies skin. does anyone with this concern have any advice? are there any services that offer 'healthier' diapers (organic?) and non-toxic soaps? also, it seems like when we use any kind of ecologically friendly soap for clothes washing the clothes just don't get clean... if we do it ourselves does anyone have any advice on what soap to use? is there any diaper resource anyone can point me to? thank you! larissa

I was daunted at first, but it all went smoothly. We do use ''sposies'' (disposables) for travel. We also, once she was on solids, started using a diaper liner (looks like a dryer sheet) that makes dropping the poop into the toilet a breeze.

There's lots of support for you at places like www.diaperpin.com and in the forums on www.babycenter.com cloth diapering happily!

We have enough (18) so that we only wash every other day when he was younger and every third day now. They're fleece (with hemp inserts) so the baby's bottom stays really dry. We found them to be way less expensive than a service and our baby stayed in the smallest size until he was almost a year old. We have a low water use washer and they suggest using seventh generation soap and they do get really clean. If they're stained at all after washing you just leave them in the sun to bleach.

When it's warm enough we dry them outside to save use of the dryer and it's better for the diapers. There are many different options like this available anon

Now, here's a much cheaper (and very easy, acutally) idea than a diaper service.

There is this thing called ''The Potty Pail'' for $20. It's not fancy, but it's a lifesaver and SO easy (totally different from how our moms had to rinse each diaper off in the toilet - ew). It is a set up that hooks to the water pipe behind your toilet. Then you pull the plug from the bottom of the pail, set on toilet, take the poopies and spray off the chunks with the high- powered attachment. All said, less than five minutes. Pop everything in washer.

Seventh Generation Free and Clear works for us. You can also buy their Non-chlorine natural bleach, or just add vinegar to the load. Good Luck!

For whatever it is worth, I am happy we have cloth diapered and washing them ourselves has not been the burden everyone told me it would be. It is quite easy and means that we are in control of using the types of diapers, covers, and cleaning agents we want to use and it means we don't have bags of dirty diapers sitting around during the week. (With a service, you still have to wash the covers yourself, I believe.) It also means that after the initial supply expense, there has been very little cost in diapering our baby. Hope this helps! happy cloth diapering parents

Where to buy cloth diapers in the Bay Area?

Any recommendations on where to buy cloth diapers, such as pockets, AIOs and fitteds, in the Bay Area? I see a lot of them online, but I'm one of those people who likes to see what they are going to buy before they buy it. Also, where might I find used cloth diapers for sale? Brenda

Good luck. I also recommend the wool covers. Biobottoms are good if your baby has thick legs, but if (s)he is skinny like mine, then Imse Vimse is much better.

Cloth Diapering - What Are My Options?

Seems like the two main diaper services out there (ABC and TinyTots) only offer the cotton prefold option. No one seems to do contours, fitted, All-In-Ones, Fuzzibunz, Wonderoos or any of the other seemingly more advanced cloth diapering options. Are my only options to either (1) go with a service but have to settle for prefold cotton or (2) go with the diapering system of my choice but have to launder myself?

Any experienced cloth diaper users have advice about systems/methods that work well for them? Any advice about classic diaper covers vs. soakers, wool vs. polar fleece soakers, etc. There are so many options out there, I'm overwhelmed! Brenda

This is what I found out about diaper covers: the best ones for you baby depends upon your baby's shape. I only had the first size of covers initially until i found out which ones worked best for him. He was a skinny, tall infant and so my all-time favorite wraps were ProWrap Classics ($7.95 ea) with velcro (not the ones with snaps, those don't work well) and the Bummis Whisperwraps. No matter if he was in a skinny phase or a growth spurt chunky phase, these always fit him and they washed out really well. Oh yeah, the dirty secret of wraps is that you will spend an anourmous amount of time washing poop off of the elastic leg openings and then washing the whole bunch of wraps several times per week. I found that if I couldn't get the poop off the wrap immediately, letting it dry actually allowed it to come off easier and stain less than wetting it and letting it sit damp until I got home from work. Then, a scrub with a bar of Ivory soap did the trick (I always kept a pair of rubber gloves with the soap- this gets rough on your hands.) I also used LiteWraps ($8.95 ea) for nighttime diapers because they were so big! They made his butt look like a ballon if I used them under his day clothes, but they held a diaper and insert well at night. I think I eventually decided that about 6-8 day wraps and 3 night wraps for each size was enough.

Here are the wraps I tried and why I did not like them:

CottonWraps- just like LiteWraps but much harder to clean and not waterproof.

Motherease- I really wanted to like these wraps! But they just did not fit my guy. The Nikiwraps and All-in-Ones had the flimsiest leg elastic so that all the goop would leak out. And they were billowy everywhere else yet the tummy elastic was thin and strangled his tummy. I wasted about $30 trying to get these to work. Bumpy Imse Vimse- I got into a phase where I bought quite a few of these, but ultimately I couldn't use them because they are cut so small and low at the front, which is not good for a boy, and the velcro was so scratchy that he would get little bleeding abrasions on his inner thighs at the height of his crawling phase. They are also expensive ($12.95 for day and $14.95 for night) but they are made well and have very cute fabrics. If you try one, don't bother with the night one- no different from the day one that I could tell, maybe a very slightly more dense moisture barrier but not enough to warrant the extra $2. They also tend to get kinda damp if your guy is a heavy wetter.

Diaperaps- I had older Diaperaps that I loved, very simple good design! So I bought several newer ones and was unhappy to find that they had changed the king of velcro band that was across the tummy. Instead of soft and flexible, it was now hard and non- bendable which meant that every time my guy leaned forward a very thick band of hard velcro cut into his tummy. I wrote them about this because it was so annoying, but I don't know if they have switched back to the old velcro or not. Before you buy this brand, go into Baby World or Rockridge Kids and take it out of the package to test the flexibility. You will know exactly what I mean if they have not changed it.

Aristocrats wool soaker and also the ones made of fleece- This is the most expensive wrap ($22) and not necessary in my opinion. I tried one as my baby tends to be a heavy nightime wetter and this seemed like a perfect solution. But the upkeep on the wool is quite extensive, and again, I had enough to do just getting the poop off of the daytime wraps. Plus, the smell of wet wool and pee was very strong, and it just became too much to be hit with first thing in the morning. Diaper insert- I ended up using a fleece/flannel diaper insert at night with 1 regular prefold diaper and the litewrap wrap. At first I used the fleece side of the liner directly next to his skin, but I got tired of rinsing and spotting all of the poop off the liner when some mornings he would wake with a poop. I found that it worked just as well to place the liner under the diaper, right next to the wrap where it could catch extra pee but not get soiled by poo. I washed the liners out once a week in a pre-wash then hot wash in my washing machine and they laundered beautifully.

I can't remember the other brands that I tried, I guess I got kinda obssessive about finding the perfect wrap! But it was worth it, now he is almost potty-trained and the cotton really helped him know when he was wet or poopy. I tried so many places to buy the wraps, both locally and on-line, used and new. But my all-time favorite site for buying the wraps and liners is:

Katie's Kisses, they were great and had wonderful prices. I even bought a few of their unbleached Chinese cotton prefolds to have around for accidents and clean-ups and those are some of the thickest, nicest diapers I have ever seen. Best of wishes to you and thanks for thinking of the environment and your baby's comfort by going to the extra work of using cloth! Another cloth baby and mommy

I'm a typical diaper aversive guy, but changed and laundered thousands this way, no problems. but glad it's overwith

The difficulty of washing diapers depends a lot on the setup of your home. If you have to, say, climb two flights of stairs and go outside to get to your washer and dryer, you'll be a lot less happy about doing laundry every 1-2 days than if they are right next to your bedroom. Also note that cotton and hemp prefolds take a very long time to dry, while polyester fleece diapers like Fuzzi Bunz dry much more quickly. Wool covers generally should be washed with special detergent and line-dried, but you shouldn't need to wash these too often.

Another nice way to reduce diapering costs and hassles, no matter what type of diapers you use, is to practice Elimination Communication, where you start teaching your baby to eliminate in the toilet (or somewhere besides his diaper) as early as a few days old. This system is practiced in much of the developing world and was even common the US until 60 or 80 years ago. You can read about it on the internet or get a book about it (it is also called Natural Infant Hygiene, Infant Potty Training, and other things). One East Bay group that meets weekly and exchanges emails is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EastBayDFB. EC has worked for us so far--with a moderate level of effort, our 14-month old now averages fewer than 6 diapers a day. A Dad

Mending cloth diapers

I have two questions regarding cloth diapers and am hoping for some wisdom from others out there who have purchased and wash their own diapers (I know you're there; I just don't know anyone else who is doing this!). First: My son's Snugglebottoms diapers, after almost 2 years of use, are showing their age. Has anyone ever successfully repaired their diapers? I know this may be difficult without an overlock sewing machine, but I want to hear any tips, things to avoid, whether to avoid the whole idea, etc. I found that the otherwise wonderful Diaper Duck has added to the shred factor, due to the plastic flashing from the mold. (We've since filed down the rough edges, and wish we'd known to do this from the start.) Second: (I suppose this falls under the Recommendations category, but I don't want to split the questions.) Though this is lessening, night time leakage has been a problem. I know there are special night time cloth diapers available which are supposedly super absorbant, but I'd like to hear any ideas on names of cloth diapers that are good for night time use. Thanks! jen

As far as nighttime goes, have you tried Fuzzi Bunz diapers? You can customize the absorbency and the fleece lining keeps baby's skin dry all night. However, they are pricy and, in the large size at least, can leak on a skinnier child. I am currently using Little Dumpling diapers at night, lined with polarfleece. I'm not sure what the web site was, but if you search on ''little dumpling diapers'', you will find it.

I hope this helps! Catherine

For day and night time, I have loved the Bummi SUper Whisper Wraps (velcro style for a tighter fit). THey last forever, as long as you don't wash them on hot. JenH

Potty training and cloth diapers

Our 2 1/2 year old twins (boy and girl) are expressing interest in the toilet. We put a potty chair in the bathroom and one likes to sit on it, and the other likes the ''big'' one. A couple of times, they have occasionally used each successfully. Here's my question: how do we transition from cloth diapers? Is there any alternative to disposable pull-ups? If I go that route, how long am I in for? We have used a diaper service since their birth; should I keep those for night times? At this point, my daughter is very unhappy about putting a diaper back on immediately after the potty experience. Thanks for any suggestions! Debbie

Switching to cloth diapers - cost and logistics

I am sick of using and feeling horrible about filling up the landfills using disposable diapers for my 5 month old and want to switch to cloth. We can't afford a diaper service and so I will be washing them at home in the washing machine. I don't know where to start. Please tell me where to buy cloth diapers, wraps and clips, the best kind to buy (easiest to use), how to wash them (preferrably using no bleach) and approximately how much the start-up cost will be. Thank you for your help!

On the web, either Born to Love or BabyBunz & Co are great places for diapers and covers. I use wool Nikky covers with china prefolds, but I think if I had it to do again, I think I'd use the featherlight nylon taffeta covers with snaps and pins or these neat sliding plastic clips.

Or you can go whole-hog and get the wonderful Mother-Ease velcro diapers and use any covers you want.

You're past the ''pees constantly and cries every time'' age that all three of mine went through for a few months.

Washing them was no problem for me. I don't rinse or keep a wet bucket any more: just shake off any solids, toss them in the diaper pail ''dry,'' then wash once a week. Air drying it any available sun once in a while helps bleach them, but then you have to air fluff them so you're not trying to press a cardboard- like cloth around your baby!

And don't forget what neat crafts you can make with cotton diaper dryer lint! stefani

Some people can get darned fanatic about it, let me tell you. Here's a story about cloth diapering by salon.com: http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/1999/11/22/cloth/

Here is also a group devoted to cloth diapering: http://boards.parentsplace.com/messages/get/ppdiapers408.html

I am sure you will have all your questions answered (and more!) by them. I got my diapers online at www.mother-ease.com and more information at www.weebees.com. Have fun, and good luck! Laurel

http://www.gentleparenting.com/diaper_faq.html
http://diapershop.com/yardage.htm
http://diapershop.com/favorites.htm

I recommend that you check out the Jan/Feb 2003 issue of Mothering Magazine (www.mothering.com), an article called 'Crazy for Cloth: The Benefits of Cotton Diapers' on page 36. It gives you a run down of what is available, discusses the cost, and gives you lots of places to look.

Some of the links recommended in the article are:

www.clothdiaperinfo.org
www.borntolove.com
www.diaperpin.com
www.wahmill.com

You can even purchase good quality second hand diapers off Ebay.

To make your own diapers check out www.diapersewing.com Good Luck! Siana

Basically there are the cloth diapers themselves and then the covers which go on with snaps or velcro. I bought 2 dozen high quality cloth ''prefolds'' and 10 covers to start (5 each of two styles to see which ones I liked) When my daughter was young we were doing diaper washing about every third day. As she got older and poops were less of a blow-out we soiled fewer covers and did less frequent washes as well as buying fewer covers as she grew.

start with the website and the magazine and feel free to email with further questions Nicole

Here are some basic answers:

The quality and cost of diapers and wraps is quite variable and everybody has their favorites. To my mind, the most important variable is the quality of the wrap (how leakproof and how soft and flexible so it doesn't scratch baby). My favorite wrap brands are the Japanese kinds--Nikky and Niji--and Biobottoms, which is now out of business (but you can find them secondhand). These are very expensive--$15 to $20 new, but so worth it, especially if you plan to have a second child. I sometimes find them for a few bucks secondhand. Another great source is orangestarfish.com for new and used diapers and covers.

The quality of diapers is also key--the kind you can buy at Target and Toys R Us from Gerber are worthless, being insufficiently absorbent. Try to find ''Chinese prefolds'' on the Internet or look for the fitted kind (Indisposables makes a great fitted diaper).

Depending on whether you manage to get secondhand or not, I would say startup costs for getting a child from newbornhood to potty training are about $400-$500. If you have a second child, your additional cost is $0.

My system for washing is:

Have a big 5 gallon bucket with a strong sealing lid (like a paint bucket) filled with warm water and Borax (follow instructions on the box). Wet diapers go directly in the bucket. Poopy diapers get rinsed in the toilet to remove solids. You can use a disposable liner to make it easier to flush; I've never bothered. Covers only get washed if they're poopy or have gotten very wet and smelly. Otherwise they are hung on a towel rack to dry in the bathroom. They go in the bucket to soak when dirty. Make sure to close all Velcro.

Every 3 days, I empty out the bucket water into the toilet, then dump the sopping diapers into the washing machine. I run a rinse and spin cycle first, then add soap and do a hot wash and rinse. I used to add vinegar for neutralising urine but no longer bother. No bleach ever. Then I dry on hot; when I lived where I had a clothesline, I dried them on the line (great for bleaching out yellow stains when baby is tiny!) and finished them in the dryer.

For wipes, I started out using cloth rags which I washed along with the diapers. This was convenient for washing, but inconvenient for taking along with the diaper bag. Now I use commercial wipes, and have to dispose of them separately. For traveling outside of the house, I bring a supply of plastic bags (courtesy of the Chronicle) to wrap wet diapers.

Good luck! My first kid potty trained before age 2, and I'm sure the cloth diapers helped. vm

I really like the fact that there's only one piece to launder and for my son to wear.

The initial investment may seem high, but it's worth it. anon

Cloth Diapering for two

I am expecting my second child anyday now and am wondering how best to handle cloth diapering for two. Specifically, do you recommend soaking the cloth diapers separately for each child (i.e. each child has their own diaper pail and the diapers get washed separately) or is it fine to mix them and wash them together? For some reason I am stumped over this! How do other moms handle this? cloth diapering for two

Cloth diapers preshaped or flat?

Hi, we've been using a diaper service but have decided to buy and wash our own. I see that there are preshaped fabric diapers on the market that cost more than the regular ones. They look like they'd fit better and be less bulky. Has any one tried these? What do you think of them? Were they worth the extra money? Do you have to keep buying different sizes? Also I found some regular diapers lined with terry cloth. Would these be more absorbant and perhaps be a good night time diaper? Do those diaper doublers actually work? Actually any washing your own diapers or buying your own diapers advice would be welcome, it seems like no one does this anymore... Thanks so much, Natalie

http://www.motherspirit.net/articles/pregnancy/diapers.htm
http://www.motherspirit.net/articles/pregnancy/diaperreviews.htm
http://www.motherspirit.net/articles/pregnancy/diapers2.html

There are some one-size diapers available, supposed to fit the baby from birth through potty training. Some people love these, but I found them insufficiently absorbant and my husband found them frustratingly complicated. So yes, I do keep buying bigger sizes, but I am STILL spending less than I would on disposables.

My best advice is for you to check out the diapering board at www.parentsplace.com. Those great ladies are cloth-diapering addicts and will give you more info than you ever wanted. Other websites for buying diapers (don't buy anything you find in a store; they are terrible): www.mother-ease.com; www.kissaluvs.com; www.cloud9softies.com; www.naturalbabies.com. There is also a great sewing pattern available at www.geocities.com/honeyboydiapers.

If cost is an issue, you can find diapers used at ebay or www.wahmall.com.

My advice with the wash routine is to keep it simple. I do a cold pre-soak in Biz, then a long hot wash with Tide, then throw everything into the dryer. I do this about twice a week and really find it to be no hassle at all.

Good luck! Catherine

-We found the preshaped ones to be less substantial and be more likeley to leak.

-We found diaper doublers VERY effective and handy.

-We found some roll of flushable liners that we used on outings when our child's poop became more solid. This was helpful because it meant less poop to take home when out and about.

-A diaper duck was an inexpensive plastic device that allowed us to dunk diapers in the toliet and flush and minimized hand contact.

-A diaper pail liner (reuseable and washable) was great. We just turned the whole thing upsidedown over the washer.

-Wool soakers were expensive but worth it. They don't need to be washed very often. Air drying really did remove smells. We only washed them if they had poop on them or if we had gone a long long time without washing them. We got two per size. You need to get velcro or snap diapers (or deal with pins) to go under these.

We did our own diapers for a little over two years and are preparing to do so again with our next soon to be born child. I'd be happy to discuss cloth diapers further if you want to email me. Doing your own diapers is easier than lots of people think. Hurray for you! Susan

1) Buy diapers and covers used, but get good brands. Better a quality used cover than a cheapo new cover. You can get used diapers and covers on the Marketplace list here, and at orangestarfish.com, and at children's resale shops around the Bay Area. My favorite types of cover, out of maybe 15 or so I tried, were Nikky and Biobottoms. Nikkys cost $18-20 new, and Biobottoms is out of business. If you can find them used, grab them! Avoid the cheapy brands, especially Dappi.

2) Flat vs. shaped--I found it depended on the shape. The hourglass kind never seemed to give thorough coverage, but we used them as liners. Shaped ones that had elastic at the leg were super--very leakproof. Another possibility is all-in-ones--a shaped diaper and cover that you take off the baby and throw in the wash, all in one. They're expensive but very nice to have, especially for babysitters, grandma, daycare, etc. Indisposables is a good brand of all-in-one. For flat diapers, don't get those Gerber birdseye weave ones they sell at chain stores; useless. Get a good quality ''Chinese prefold,'' used or off the Internet; there are several sizes, but I got through newborn-toddlerhood with just 2 sizes. You want thick, soft cotton that just gets softer with washings. I've had good luck with diaper doublers; however, by the time my kid was 18 months old, we couldn't find any combination that got him through the night, so we switched to disposables for nighttime only. We also used disposables occasionally when we traveled.

3) Washing. My system was to have a pigtail bucket--a 5 gallon paint bucket with a lid that clamps down hard--next to the toilet. Fill it 2/3 full with water and Borax according to directions on the Borax box. Rinse any poopy diapers in the toilet, wring, and put them in the bucket. Wet diapers go directly in the bucket. You can re-use wet covers several times, but if they get poopy, toss them in the bucket. The Borax cuts down odors tremendously and the tight lid keeps them out of the bathroom air. Every 3 days or so, when the bucket is full, do a load of laundry and thoroughly clean the bucket, toilet, and bathroom floor. Dump the bucket water in the toilet and the diapers in the washing machine. To avoid having to wring out the diapers, I would run a rinse and spin cycle before I put soap in for the load. Hot water, detergent, and--if there's a lot of urine, maybe 1/2 c of vinegar in the rinse water--and that should do it. Dry in the dryer, or--while your baby is small and the stains quite yellow--dry on a clothesline to sun-bleach the stains. If you use a clothesline, it's nice to fluff them in the dryer for 10 minutes before you fold them.

4) Wipes. My kid was allergic to the chemicals in wipes, so we cut up old T-shirts for wipes and washed them right along with the diapers. My feeling is that if you do this, you will have less smell even than people who use disposables, because you're not throwing poopy disposables and wipes in your trash.

Final note: I'm a huge fan of this do-it-yourself method. Not only did we save gobs of money, but my son toilet-trained just before age 2. I'm sure that's due to him having lifelong awareness of his urinary and bowel movements. Also, if you plan to have a second child, your cost is basically zero for #2. I have to admit that sometimes it was a real hassle--especially when we had a newborn--but it just gets easier and easier. If you have any more questions, feel free to e-mail. Vam

I went with ''Snugglebottoms'' which are a shaped diaper with velcro closures (very convenient when your baby is squirming!) I bought them from a very nice company called Baby Bunz (babybunz.com). They ship promptly at very reasonable prices. Baby Bunz has lots of options. Heather is the woman I usually talk to. She's very helpful and knows all the options.

To keep costs down, I bought 2 dozen Snugglebottoms and 1 dozen ''diaper service flats'' (also from Baby Bunz). I use the flats as backups when I run out of Snugglebottoms. I run a load through the wash every 3 days.

For night diapering, I use a Snugglebottom with a doubler and a knit wool cover called an ''Aristocrat.'' The wool seems to keep his dipaer warm even when it's damp, and it never leaks.

Baby Bunz also has the full range of Nikky diaper covers, which are softer than Diaperaps or Gerber.

I love using our own diapers. They are softer and thicker than diaper service diapers, I can wash them frequently instead of having a weeks worth in a pail, and they wash up beautifully in the machine with a little soap and vinegar. Elisa

We own 30 diapers and 6 covers. They're not cheap - I think they cost $8 each. I now wash them 15 at a time (about twice a week). My daughter gets outside care 3 mornings a week and we use paper diapers for her during that time. We also use some prefolds made from a gauze fabric as night-time doublers - just fold the short way to make a long ''pad'' in the diaper.

Washing: I use a flushable diaper liner strip every time I diaper and when there's poop I peel that strip (plus a few tissues I've used for clean up) into the toilet and flush it down. I've been washing my own cloth diapers for 20 months and I've never stuck my hand in the toilet (I like that)! If it's just a wet diaper it goes liner and all into the pail. I keep two dry pails, 1 for poopy, 1 for wet. On wash day I put all the diapers into the washer and do a cold prewash (if the poopy diapers are really a mess I'll put them through a seperate heavy wash cycle on cold), and then I wash the diapers twice more on heavy wash with hot water. I don't use bleach or any wash additives except occasionally vinegar in the final rinse. You may object to so much washing and I'll tell you ''in my defense'' that I use an energy-star low-water front-load machine, a top-loader uses three times as much water and may not require so many washings, I don't dunk (and then flush) or soak, and also that I am persnickity about my diapers - they are completely stain-free after 20 months of constant use. The diaper liners which were washed are reused until they disintigrate. I use flannel squares and water for final poopy clean up rather than disposable wipes and these are also washed with the poopy diapers. Diaper covers (I alternate between one on her bottom and the other hanging on a hook to air out) are washed with the regular laundry in cold water.

I think washing your own cloth diapers is one of the best kept secrets of parenting. I'm saving a couple thousand dollars per child this way - more than enough to pay for my fancy washer and dryer (which I love and work the bejeezus out of). With that said - it's a lot of laundry! If you dislike doing laundry, I don't recommend it. I started because I was thinking of environmental impact and costs. And personally, I don't mind laundry and I get what can only be called a bizarre satisfaction out of my tidy stacks of clean, fluffy diapers. Cheers Cheryl

Making your own cloth diapers

Has anyone had experience sewing their own cloth diapers' If so, I'd love to hear specifics (where to buy fabric, good patterns, etc.). Also, I'm considering using the ''snappi'' clips, but also would like pattern ideas for velcro covers. Thanks! Nina

Cloth diaper logistics

We are planning to use cloth diapers for our soon-to-be-born baby (with a diaper service), but are realizing that we have several logistical questions that I couldn't find the answers to in the archives. First of all, is it necessary to use snappy clips or pins with the diapers, or does it suffice to put the diaper wrap on snugly over the diaper? Second, it seems like we need 3 diaper pails- one for the dirty cotton diapers, one for the dirty wipes, and one for dirty diaper covers. Am I missing something here, or do we need all of this? Has anyone figured out a good system for dealing with all of this in a relatively easy, non-smelly manner? Also, we have a dog who likes smelly things, so a secure top is an important consideration. Thanks! Martha

dirty diapers/covers were deposited in a plastic container up high (out of dog/kid reach)until there were at least 3 and/or until i had time to deal with them.

then, wearing dishwashing rubber gloves, i'd rinse the diapers or covers very briefly in the toilet -- pee diapers first, and then poop diapers. you can do about 3-4 diapers per toilet bowl of water/flush.

rinsed diapers were deposited in plastic filing bins with snap on lids (available at target) filled with water and about 1/4 cup of clorox 2.

twice a week (sundays and thursdays) we'd do a load of diapers with an additional 1/4 cup regular chlorine bleach.

we purchased about 3 dozen diapers and about 4-6 covers -- in general, you can use a cover for at least a day if not more. camille

We use only two containers -- the plastic, lidded hamper that the diaper service provides for the dirty diapers and a lidded ''hamper'' we bought for the dirty wipes and wraps. (We also use some el cheapo washcloths to dry his clean bum before putting on the new diaper; after we use them, the washcloths go into the container with the dirty wipes and wraps). The ''hamper'' we bought is actually a round, lidded garbage can from Target (~$20). It has a plastic insert with a handle that you can take out and carry to the washing machine -- then just rinse it out. The garbage can also has a foot-operated opening mechanism so you don't have to open the lid with a possibly poopy hand. The lid has a good seal and we wash the stuff every few days, so smell hasn't been a problem. Tori

As for all the diaper pails, you can definitely get away with the one from the service for dirtys (although the dog can get probably get into it...) & a diaper genie/champ for wipes (we actually just use a small trash can & empty it every night- less plastic waste). In the beginning you'll burn through covers like they are going out of style- a bucket with bleach & H2O in the tub at all times works like a charm. Later on, the covers will last longer, as the blowouts will be few & far between.

One of my friends put all the diaper stuff in the baby's closet to avoid dog mishaps & later baby mishaps.

This will definitely be a smellier endeavor than using disposables, but Mother Earth thanks you! virginia

I never used snappi clips, but simply brought the diaper (prefold) around the baby's bum to the front and kept in place with a velcro cover.

Since you're not yet doing diapers, why not check out EC? I did it with my last two and would never go back to diapers.

http//groups.yahoo.com/group/eliminationcommunication/ http//www.vavoova.com/diaperfreestuff/links.html Kathy

Covers are where you will have the most variation. We rented 8 covers for the first 6 mos. and are now using only 4. Consider these variables If a natural material (wool, cotton), they are going to take longer to dry, and you may want more; If you have a washing machine and are willing to let them accumulate (which we don't, and so haven't been), you may want more; Age (if you have a newborn, he or she is going to poop 10-12 times a day for the first 6 wks.; so, with a younger baby, you may want more; by 3 mos., our baby was only pooping once a week; we felt silly even with 8 covers on hand during this period. If you were to find the smell a problem (which we really haven't; perhaps with the dog...), Ecobaby sells some natural deodorizers which sound convincing. At the risk of sounding overzealous, I have found cloth diapering to be much, much easier than I had expected. Obviously the dog is a special consideration. But if/as long as the baby is breastfed, no human being would ever know there were dirty diapers in the house (and ours is not a house, but a very small apt.). jb

We only use two containers. One diaper pail, which is provided by the diaper service and has replaceable plastic bags and a mini-deoderizer sticker. When you take off the diaper, it goes immediately into the pail, without rinsing. After a week (or with twins, after 3-4 days) the pail is full and you replace the plastic bag (put the full one outside, tied and ready for service pickup). Wipes go in a covered trash can, also with a plastic liner so you can dump it fairly often. Slightly wet diaper wraps can air-dry and be used again. Really wet ones go into the laundry hamper (OK, I guess that's three containers). Poopy diaper covers go immediately into the bathroom sink where they are rinsed off, and then hung in the shower until added to the laundry. Hope this is helpful... It really isn't as daunting as it sounds. Debbie

Which Brand?

hi - I'm looking for recommendations for brands of cloth diapers - there's a bewildering variety of them. Bummis, Kooshies, Nikki's, Babykins, Indisposables, Cuddlers, Kissaluvs, Motherease - just a few of the names I've seen on the internet. Also, are there any places to buy these brands, or are they just available through the internet? I've checked the website too, but wanted more product comparison type feedback. I've had a diaper service in the past, but am thinking of doing the wash myself this time around. thanks. Karen

You will quickly sort out your own preferences, but here are mine: fitted diapers during the day (I greatly prefer Kissaluvs over Motherease) covered with Alexis Featherlight pullon covers; FuzziBunz stuffed with Joey Bunz at night, and Bumkins all-in-ones for the sitter and the diaper bag.

For more information than you could ever want, check out the diapering board at www.parentsplace.com. Other sites for you: www.kissaluvs.com; www.weebees.com; www.motherease.com; http://store.naturalbabies.com. You can't buy the best diapering products in stores; you have to go online.

I think you'll find that the wash is no trouble at all, and washing your own allows you to choose something more convenient than a prefold and saves the $16/week for the service. Catherine Scholar

We have used chinese prefolds (the kind of diaper that diaper services use) and Nikky polyester wraps since my son's birth 15 months ago. I find the chinese prefolds (which I got online) the most absorbant- we use a double diaper at night and have never had leaks. The Nikky polyester wraps are breatheable (important for boys!) and very stretchy and keeps messes in. As for All-In-Ones, we have used Kushies all-in-ones with little pleasure. They do not seem to hold that much, and leak often. We only use these when we run out of clean or dry prefolds (rarely!). I have, in a pinch, used them with a Nikky cover over them, and this seems to help lots!

Good luck with your search and email me with any questions if you'd like. Laura

I did a test last week and found that the Kissaluvs and the prefolds will hold about the same amount of liquid, the Sandy's, not quite as much, so now at night I either use a fuzzi bunz cover and a prefold or a kissaluv and a piece of polyester fleece (Like the fuzzibunz, but I bought it and cut it myself) and this works really well to keep the moisture away from my baby's skin. Sometimes I also use a doubler at night.

Be forewarned, not all your covers will fit over the fitted diapers. The mother ease covers do, but the are poofy and look lumpy and I won't buy more when I need the next size up. The Bumpy imse vimse is my favorite right now, The prowrap classic worked fairly well at first but I'm having more trouble getting total coverage now even tho it should work for another 5 lbs of baby, some part of the diaper sneaks out around the leg unless I have it centered just right which is not so easy with an eleven month old! Good luck! Washing your own diapers is not too much work and it is satisfying to use something well made. ps I also tried a fitted diaper without snaps and don't bother. natalie October 2001

There is a huge selection of cloth diapers, covers, and all-in-ones at www.orangestarfish.com. I have bought twice from the site in the last two months and been pleased with the results. The diapers are inexpensive and the descriptions (written and jpeg photos) are accurate. Some are new, but most are used. The selection is weighted toward newborn and small sizes, as usual--people seem to give up after a few months--but I've found what I've needed in large and toddler sizes, too. V. M.

We are expecting another baby in a few weeks. After growing tired of paying excessive sums for disposable diapers, with the last child we decided to try cloth diapers. Disposable diapers are definitely a negligible improvement over cloth and primarily play on the squeamish factor present in many new parents.

Unfortunately, we went shopping for cloth diapers last weekend, but could not find any in the appropriate size. Wal Mart (we tried three different Wal Mart stores) had a scant few in 14x20 and 27x27, but none in newborn sizes. Can anyone recommend a retailer that carries cloth diapers? We also tried Long's and Walgreen's. Thanks for your help.

Here are the names and numbers of some great companies w/ soft diapers. We ordered our son's through babyworks but they are prefold. they have various kinds though. It's a great, small personable company. call for a catalog. some of the places listed have inexpensive samples so you can try diapers out before buying by the dozen.

Babyworks: environmentally kind baby products: 1800-422-2910 (they list one diaper called unbleached flannel no-folds)
Simple alternatives: simple things for special babies: 1800-735-2083 (carries barefoot baby diapers that i believe are non fold.)
Hindercovers: organic products for mom and baby, that nurture the body and soul:1888-hinders
Snugglebundle: bundle, bootom and layette products for the environmentally responsible baby: 1-413-525-1972

Regarding the very soft diapers. I bought some very soft flannel diapers to use as burp rags. They were quite large and not pre-folded. If this is what you're looking for you can buy them at Cotton & Co. on College Avenue. I think they come in bags of 6 and feel like a well worn flannel shirt.