Saturday, May 3, 2008
Fleece...the wonder fabric of cloth
I have been testing out different cloth covers, and just can't believe how easy fleece is to care for and also how it just doesn't leak! My daughter is a heavy wetter at night, and so a Stacinator fleece cover was recommended to my to try. This cover is soooo cute, and didn't leak a bit all night long. I also can just throw it in my regular laundry with no worries or concerns about ruining it. I don't even need to use a special detergent. I like the fact that the fleece allows the skin to breath. A friend told me that if for some reason, I find that my fleece cover is starting to leak, to throw it in the dryer with a dryer sheet, and it will re-waterproof the cover. That's so easy! They also come in many cute colors and prints. It doesn't get much better than that.
Thirsties diapers and covers
Thirsties top the list of a great diaper and cover! The terry cloth is very soft and absorbant. The stretch makes it easy to fit right up to the baby's skin and around the legs. I recently have tried this diaper, and just had to get a few more as my youngest baby is getting to big for the current diaper he is in.
The Thirsties cover has a wonderful gusset that holds in moisture and prevents leaks. Once that baby is moving, those gussets are a must!
This cover does not wick moisture along the edges and really fits well around the legs. The velcro is GREAT, and has tabs to fold down for the wash. I also like the coordinating colors for the covers and diapers. Very cute!
If you don't have the fitted diaper, and prefer a prefold, just fold the diaper into thirds (long ways), and after laying the baby on the diaper, pull the top edge out around the hip and the front edge toward the hips also. You don't need a fastener to hold the diaper since the cover will hold it in place. If you like a snug fit, I would recommend a snappi. You can find these at my favorite online store called http://thechangingpad.com If I'm in a hurry, I'll even just leave it in thirds like a stip of cloth from front to back. Some people like to double it up in front for a boy or in back for a girl, but I generally don't find that it makes a big difference. I prefer to use a doubler for those areas if needed.
The Thirsties cover has a wonderful gusset that holds in moisture and prevents leaks. Once that baby is moving, those gussets are a must!
This cover does not wick moisture along the edges and really fits well around the legs. The velcro is GREAT, and has tabs to fold down for the wash. I also like the coordinating colors for the covers and diapers. Very cute!
If you don't have the fitted diaper, and prefer a prefold, just fold the diaper into thirds (long ways), and after laying the baby on the diaper, pull the top edge out around the hip and the front edge toward the hips also. You don't need a fastener to hold the diaper since the cover will hold it in place. If you like a snug fit, I would recommend a snappi. You can find these at my favorite online store called http://thechangingpad.com If I'm in a hurry, I'll even just leave it in thirds like a stip of cloth from front to back. Some people like to double it up in front for a boy or in back for a girl, but I generally don't find that it makes a big difference. I prefer to use a doubler for those areas if needed.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Wraps
I've tried several wraps and definately find that they are great for newborns especially!
I have tried Prowraps, thirsties,bummis whisper wraps and kushies.
The only wrap that I've had some issue with is the bummis. It lacked the gusset feature and would hold a smell after washing. It took quite a bit of work to get the smell out. They also had issues with the velcro raveling over time.
I prefer to use wraps with newborns since their little bms tend to go all over and leak easily no matter what diaper you use. Fitteds plus a wrap seem to be the best solution that I've found so far. Many times, the all in one or pocket diaper will not be as adjustable around the legs to hold everything in. Once the baby gets bigger and becomes chunkier or just larger in size, the other diapers work much better!
I have tried Prowraps, thirsties,bummis whisper wraps and kushies.
The only wrap that I've had some issue with is the bummis. It lacked the gusset feature and would hold a smell after washing. It took quite a bit of work to get the smell out. They also had issues with the velcro raveling over time.
I prefer to use wraps with newborns since their little bms tend to go all over and leak easily no matter what diaper you use. Fitteds plus a wrap seem to be the best solution that I've found so far. Many times, the all in one or pocket diaper will not be as adjustable around the legs to hold everything in. Once the baby gets bigger and becomes chunkier or just larger in size, the other diapers work much better!
Caring for your wool cover
Wool covers are very low maintenence in my opinion.
Hand wash in a tepid waterbath. I mix a little Johnson's baby soap and gently clean soiled areas. You can use a stain remover on spots if needed. I don't think that Eucalin wool wash is necessary unless you just like it. In my experience, it didn't lanolize adequately alone.
To Lanolize, just take a tube of lanoline and squirt a dot about the size of a large marble into a pan or glass. Add a little johnson's wash and as much water as you'd like. Heat the mixture and mix until it has a milky consistancy. There should not by any clumpy spots.
Dump this into your tepid waterbath for the soakers. I soak them at least 20 minutes.
You can either roll up the cover in a towel to extract the water, or run it in the spin cycle in your washing machine. Lay out to dry.
I only wash my covers if they start to smell after drying or if they get soiled.
I lanolize maybe once a month when I notice moisture wicking.
Your cover will smell when taken off the baby, but once it dries, the smell should be gone.
I like to make sure the cover is "tacky" to the touch after relanolizing. I think it is a tell-tell sign that it is waterproofed. This feeling will go away once you start using it.
Hand wash in a tepid waterbath. I mix a little Johnson's baby soap and gently clean soiled areas. You can use a stain remover on spots if needed. I don't think that Eucalin wool wash is necessary unless you just like it. In my experience, it didn't lanolize adequately alone.
To Lanolize, just take a tube of lanoline and squirt a dot about the size of a large marble into a pan or glass. Add a little johnson's wash and as much water as you'd like. Heat the mixture and mix until it has a milky consistancy. There should not by any clumpy spots.
Dump this into your tepid waterbath for the soakers. I soak them at least 20 minutes.
You can either roll up the cover in a towel to extract the water, or run it in the spin cycle in your washing machine. Lay out to dry.
I only wash my covers if they start to smell after drying or if they get soiled.
I lanolize maybe once a month when I notice moisture wicking.
Your cover will smell when taken off the baby, but once it dries, the smell should be gone.
I like to make sure the cover is "tacky" to the touch after relanolizing. I think it is a tell-tell sign that it is waterproofed. This feeling will go away once you start using it.
The Amazing wool cover
Wool covers just amaze me at how waterproof they are, and yet are sooooo breathable and durable to last for generations. I have used plastic covers on my first babies in cloth diapers, and have switched to wool in the last year. They make such cute covers too!
The wool actually will absorb quite a bit of moisture before "breathing" and still not wicking onto the baby's clothes or blanket. If your wool cover is leaking, check to make sure you are using more layers if the baby is not being changed for a while. Also, try relanolizing your cover. If you still find that the cover is wicking moisture, consider felting the cover a bit to allow the fibers to tighten up a bit. WARNING! If you felt your cover, it may shrink considerably. Keep this in mind before you do this. It should be last resort.
The wool actually will absorb quite a bit of moisture before "breathing" and still not wicking onto the baby's clothes or blanket. If your wool cover is leaking, check to make sure you are using more layers if the baby is not being changed for a while. Also, try relanolizing your cover. If you still find that the cover is wicking moisture, consider felting the cover a bit to allow the fibers to tighten up a bit. WARNING! If you felt your cover, it may shrink considerably. Keep this in mind before you do this. It should be last resort.
Which type of cloth diaper?
I regularly have people ask which cloth diaper is the best one. I personally it depends on which system you would like to use. Decide what price range you are willing to pay. Do you want to go more natural with less synthetic fibers or do you want the traditional bleached cotton? I believe this is a good place to start in finding the right diaper for you.
I personally prefer a fitted diaper over a prefold, pocket or all-in-one diaper.
I find that many covers can be used over and over before being washed, and the fitteds tend to prevent leaks over other types of diapers.
When an all-in-one diaper gets ruined for whatever reason, it is a much more expensive loss than just a single fitted diaper.
I recently have tested hemp and bamboo diapers. They absorb great! The bamboo was particularly impressive b/c it was cool to the touch and did not irritate the baby's skin after being completely wet. It is VERY soft too. I think it was the softest diaper I have tried so far.
Pocket diapers are a good option to keep the wetness away from the baby's skin. The fleece is a great way to keep that skin dry. (I use a fleece strip or a doubler with fleece on one side when I am not using a pocket diaper.
My Kushies All-in-ones are very absorbant and fit well, but they try to rip where the velcro strip is sewn to the diaper. I tend to be very careful with these diapers when putting them on an taking them off the baby.
So to answer the question, which diaper do I like? I prefer a fitted diaper with a wool cover. If my child is due to have a loose bm, I will use a cover with pul fabric. Gussets are a plus on my covers too!
My babies mostly wear wool covers over a fitted, and when we go out and have other people changing diapers, I keep my easiest to use diapers in the diaper bag (such as an all-in-one.)
I personally prefer a fitted diaper over a prefold, pocket or all-in-one diaper.
I find that many covers can be used over and over before being washed, and the fitteds tend to prevent leaks over other types of diapers.
When an all-in-one diaper gets ruined for whatever reason, it is a much more expensive loss than just a single fitted diaper.
I recently have tested hemp and bamboo diapers. They absorb great! The bamboo was particularly impressive b/c it was cool to the touch and did not irritate the baby's skin after being completely wet. It is VERY soft too. I think it was the softest diaper I have tried so far.
Pocket diapers are a good option to keep the wetness away from the baby's skin. The fleece is a great way to keep that skin dry. (I use a fleece strip or a doubler with fleece on one side when I am not using a pocket diaper.
My Kushies All-in-ones are very absorbant and fit well, but they try to rip where the velcro strip is sewn to the diaper. I tend to be very careful with these diapers when putting them on an taking them off the baby.
So to answer the question, which diaper do I like? I prefer a fitted diaper with a wool cover. If my child is due to have a loose bm, I will use a cover with pul fabric. Gussets are a plus on my covers too!
My babies mostly wear wool covers over a fitted, and when we go out and have other people changing diapers, I keep my easiest to use diapers in the diaper bag (such as an all-in-one.)
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