Cloth Diaper Help

[Alwaysgreener]

My little one is in cloth, when she wakes is barely wet. So if we change her right away. She will soak her first diaper and we end up changing every thing. But if we wait 20 minutes, she fills the night diaper with the double layer in and no leaks.

Other than that we tend not to get leaks, except when I was new at the whole thing and was not washing right for my water type.

[AuntTami]

Doesn't bleaching the cloth diapers ruin them? Aren't they supposed to be "sun bleached"? Maybe DCM IS actually bleaching them and thereby ruining them accidentally?

I don't have any advice as I don't have much experience with cloth, but I'm considering cloth diapering my own (future) children, so this thread is great! I love this board

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

My little one is in cloth, when she wakes is barely wet. So if we change her right away. She will soak her first diaper and we end up changing every thing. But if we wait 20 minutes, she fills the night diaper with the double layer in and no leaks.

Other than that we tend not to get leaks, except when I was new at the whole thing and was not washing right for my water type.

See, my kid is a super peer so her nighttime diaper is as follows...Kawaii Heavy Wetter/Overnight diaper with 2 microfiber inserts and 1 hemp insert in the pocket, 1 charcoal bamboo insert laid on top with microfleece covering that, and then topped with a Thirsties cover since those 4 layers still soak all the way through and will get her jammies and bed wet. If she wakes, we change her as well. She pees so much. It is crazy.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Doesn't bleaching the cloth diapers ruin them? Aren't they supposed to be "sun bleached"? Maybe DCM IS actually bleaching them and thereby ruining them accidentally?

I don't have any advice as I don't have much experience with cloth, but I'm considering cloth diapering my own (future) children, so this thread is great! I love this board

People say it can ruin the PUL fabric (waterproof part in most diapers) or make the elastic shot. But, really...no....it is good to do it once a month or so. I cant remember what expensive brand reccommends that?? Bumgenius??

[AuntTami]

People say it can ruin the PUL fabric (waterproof part in most diapers) or make the elastic shot. But, really...no....it is good to do it once a month or so. I cant remember what expensive brand reccommends that?? Bumgenius??

That's good to know! Thank you!

[SignMeUp]

Just curious - how do you 'strip' the diapers? I cloth diapered mine but that was before all the fancy stuff. We just had all-cotton diapers and folded them to fit (the folding method was the 'fancy stuff' back then) and pinned them on
If the diapers are cotton (the inserts) why wouldn't the diaper cream wash out of them like it did from the old cotton diapers?

I have cloth-diapered with BumGenius for several children, but I just used what the parents brought for diaper cream. I am a modern cloth-diaper-idiot.

[Alwaysgreener]

Just curious - how do you 'strip' the diapers? I cloth diapered mine but that was before all the fancy stuff. We just had all-cotton diapers and folded them to fit (the folding method was the 'fancy stuff' back then) and pinned them on
If the diapers are cotton (the inserts) why wouldn't the diaper cream wash out of them like it did from the old cotton diapers?

I have cloth-diapered with BumGenius for several children, but I just used what the parents brought for diaper cream. I am a modern cloth-diaper-idiot.

Stripping only happens if you use diaper cream or the wrong detergent for your water type. Process is to use something like bleach (some use vinegar) and hot water to remove the cream or soap out of the diaper. Some will boil the diapers while I just washed over and over checking the water for suds and gray water. once the water was clear, i rinsed again to remove the bleach and prevent the bum for ammonia burn. I never had diaper cream issues so I did not have to do the covers just the microfiber inserts.
I switched detergent added water softener for my water type and then added vinegar to the rinse cycle to help remove any keep the inserts from getting any build up. Have not needed to strip since. (some will use blue dawn dish detergent to remove the cream, others do not recommend because you are adding to soap build up)

I found that if you use prefolds, flats, flour sack towels or receiving blankets to stuff the diaper with instead of microfiber, stripping is not needed. It is the microfiber, that is man made, which causes the most issues with cloth diapering. Which most diapers come with microfiber unless you upgrade to hemp or bamboo inserts.

Another reason that the DCG leaks is the compression issue with microfiber. Although they are great with absorbing, the leak when compressed, which is why they microfiber is great to clean up spills, they soak up quick and rig out almost dry.

For those of you who are considering, cloth diapers and are interested, there is a forum that.

[SignMeUp]

Thanks, 284878 (Is it okay if I think of you as R2D2-C3PO?)
I didn't realize that the inserts were not always cotton. I guess I just figured that it was kind of a "natural" movement, so it would be a natural fiber. I suppose people have any number of reason that they cloth diaper though

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Thanks, 284878 (Is it okay if I think of you as R2D2-C3PO?)
I didn't realize that the inserts were not always cotton. I guess I just figured that it was kind of a "natural" movement, so it would be a natural fiber. I suppose people have any number of reason that they cloth diaper though

Back when I began using them on kids there were many crunchy mamas doing the same. Now, it seems like it is a money saver for a lot, and that is why they do it, so I will start talking to a mom assuming she's crunchy or semi-crunchy and she has NO IDEA what on earth I am talking about in other areas. Ooooops.

[SignMeUp]

Back when I began using them on kids there were many crunchy mamas doing the same. Now, it seems like it is a money saver for a lot, and that is why they do it, so I will start talking to a mom assuming she's crunchy or semi-crunchy and she has NO IDEA what on earth I am talking about in other areas. Ooooops.

They are so expensive though People really use them to save money?
(Realize this:: I have never bought disposables either, so I have no real idea of the expense.) I will say that the fabricated diapers are easier to use than the old ones, and even though I liked folding my child's diapers ( weird huh) the new ones would be a breeze. Not sure if I'd like all the special care though. I just did a double-wash cycle on ours and hung them out for the sun to bleach

[jenboo]

For those interested in cloth diapering, there is a Facebook page called fluff love & CD science that has all the info on washing, stripping and disinfecting. They also have a list of cloth diaper safe creams and the best detergents for your water type.
Everything is confusing at first but once it's all laid out in of you, it's really simple.

[Alwaysgreener]

They are so expensive though People really use them to save money?
(Realize this:: I have never bought disposables either, so I have no real idea of the expense.) I will say that the fabricated diapers are easier to use than the old ones, and even though I liked folding my child's diapers ( weird huh) the new ones would be a breeze. Not sure if I'd like all the special care though. I just did a double-wash cycle on ours and hung them out for the sun to bleach

Expense is really up to you. Flats and prefold are still available and are the cheapest and easiest route. Now days they use wool cover or PUL instead of plastic pants. I got Alva brand pocket and it was 1/2 the cost of the name brand diapers and work just as good. And it is the microfiber that cause so much trouble, if you stuff with prefold, it works better. (Gerber prefolds are not recommend, man made fabric in the middle) Washing is no trouble, you just have to avoid some of the (new) wives tales about washing them.

[bananas]

My daughter was in cloth diapers. The pocket diapers (the kind where you stuff the insert) ALWAYS leaked almost instantaneously. She was super teeny tiny too! Prefolds/covers almost never leaked! I changed her roughly every 3 hours when she was in them. Prefolds are more "work" - as in you have to oragami fold them and then snap the cover on - but after a while I could do the whole process in about 10 seconds.

[jenboo]

They are so expensive though People really use them to save money?
(Realize this:: I have never bought disposables either, so I have no real idea of the expense.) I will say that the fabricated diapers are easier to use than the old ones, and even though I liked folding my child's diapers ( weird huh) the new ones would be a breeze. Not sure if I'd like all the special care though. I just did a double-wash cycle on ours and hung them out for the sun to bleach

I have started building my stash (no kids yet but I use my nephew as my test subject). I buy a lot used but the main part of my stash will be new (and are a little pricey). I will be spending around $700 total. These will work for all my kids (hopefully at least 3). So 3 kids in diapers will cost. $700..... Way cheaper than 3 kids going through sposies. Also, diapers have a great resale value.
So $700 total to diaper all my children and that's not even the cheapest way to do it.

[AmyKidsCo]

Woo hoo! I make/sell cloth diapers on the side so I'm thrilled to see so many people NOT on a cloth diaper board who know about them! happyface

IME cloth diapers need to be changed a little more often than disposable, and they definitely need plenty of absorption. I've also found that microfiber doesn't hold wetness as well as natural fibers - it'll absorb quickly but the wetness will wick out with pressure, like if she's sitting or lying down. Natural fibers absorb a little more slowly but hold wetness better.

Another problem could be that the PUL (waterproof fabric) is breaking down and letting wetness through. Or it could be that the diaper doesn't fit around her legs well and wetness is leaking out.