(Part 2) Top products from r/clothdiaps

I have 2 that I have cloth diapered since birth. Can I ask why you want to wait a few months before starting cloth? Just my opinion, but it might make it harder to transition if you get a routine and get comfortable with disposables. For our first, when we were nervous about how to do the whole cloth diapering thing, we used a diaper service for the first two months. That way we could cloth diaper and get used to doing that, but didn't have to worry about the laundry aspect just yet. It was a really good experience and only cost $21/week.

Ok onto your questions!

1. If you do prefolds, I would recommend anywhere from 24 to 36 of them, depending on how often you feel like you want to do laundry. We always had 36 because I like to do laundry every 3-4 days. Covers also depends on how often you want to do laundry. I have 9 covers and I never run out before laundry day. My preferred closure for prefolds is snappis. Anywhere from 2-4 would be fine.
   
   
2. You tube has great videos on how to fold diapers. Particular folds you probably would like to research are the "angel wing" or "newspaper" fold, the "jellyroll", and the tri-fold. The Jellyroll should be your best friend if you do decide to try cloth in the newborn phase. They tend to have very explosive poo and the jellyroll is almost guaranteed to hold all that in. I have never had a leak from jellyroll :)
   
   
3. Yes, totally put that pail to use with your cloth diapers. I love my Planet Wise Pail liner. I have had it through 2 kids and it is still going strong. I wash it along with the diapers.
   
   
4. Laundry is one of those things, like a crock pot recipe, where someone can give you the general rules but you might need to tweek it to fit your particular taste and what you have to work with. My personal routine is: Launder every 3-4 days, pre-rinse on cold with 1/4-1/2 cup of white vinegar (depending on load size), hot wash with Tide Free & Gentle and OxyClean, cold rinse. Some people do extra rinses, but I generally don't and have not had a problem. Once per month I strip with blue dawn. This means one small squirt of blue dawn (maybe 1/2 tsp) in the machine after my regular wash, run through a full wash cycle and then do an extra rinse. I only ever use bleach if my kid has been sick or had a yeast rash, to sanitize. I wash everything together. I am not about making this hard. All of my stuff goes into the same load, end of story. I dry everything together if its later at night on the second highest heat setting. If its during the day I hang anything with PUL/TPU and dry everything else on the hottest setting. I do not use wool, so keep that in mind as wool has its own special set of laundering needs.
   
   
5. Yes! But as with anything, its going to depend on your baby. My babies are long and slim, so Thirsties covers seem to work well for us. I love the Thirsties xs diaper covers for newborns. The Thirsties duo size 1 will fit from about 8 lbs until around 16 lbs, then the duo size 2 will fit until potty training. I also used Bummis Super Brites sz small, they are a bit roomier and seem to accommodate night diapers well (doublers). As for prefolds, I love Green Mountain Diapers. Very absorbent and sized well. And they last very well, I have used mine with both kids and they could easily go through 2 more, if not more. I would also recommend looking into an "easy" diaper for when you go out. I like to use fitteds, pockets or all-in-one's. I linked my personal favs there.
   
   Some other tidbits I have learned along the way:
   
   

• If you breastfeed, don't bother rinsing your diapers in the toilet before you wash them. Breastfed poo is completely water soluble so there is no need to worry about it, just throw them in the diaper pail then directly into the wash.
  
  
• I tried all the "cloth diaper friendly" detergents out there and none of them wash as well as good old tide. I don't like the scent in original Tide so I use the free and gentle which has no scent. Basically you will be ok if you just make sure to use detergent that is free of dye and don't use fabric softener!!
  
  
• When you wash, make sure to use lots of water. I generally just use the highest water setting. If you don't you might find things not rinsing as well as you'd like.
  
  
• Check out Diaper Swappers. You can get quality used diapers there, and if you end up with a diaper that doesn't work for you, you can sell it there as well.
  
  Good luck, its super fun!!

To be honest the insides of the diaper haven't changed all that much. The real difference is in the outside cover.

There are four main types of diaper insides

1. what you linked, the flat diaper or nappy. A simple square of fabric that is folded in various origami-esque folds around the baby and either pinned or snappi-ed in place then covered with a waterproof wrap or cover. Flats are one size fits all and very economical. If you can fold a decent paper airplane, you can fold a flat. I love my flats for the newborn stage as they are AMAZING at catching all that poo but now by the time I've gotten my flat ready my my toddler has gotten up, walked away and peed on the floor. At this stage they really need to be folded in advance (while baby is sleeping so he doesn't "help" you with them)
   
   
2. the Prefold diaper. As the name suggests these are basically large flat diapers that have been prefolded by the manufacturer. They are extremely absorbent and much easier to use than a flat. here's a great article going into more detail on prefolds
   
   
3. the Fitted diaper. This style of diaper removes all need to fold and pin diapers, and so is super convenient for wiggly little babies that like to dance during diaper changes. The elastics around the legs and across the back help this style of diaper to easily contain the most explosive of poos. For older babies there are Several. Different. brands. Available that are perfect for overnight use. the main disadvantage of fitteds is the price, on the cheap end they are about $10 each but can run for as much as $30 a diaper
   
   4)The Rectangular diaper insert. Simply lay these inserts inside a cover or stuff inside a pocket diaper. Super convenient but sadly not as absorbent as a trifolded prefold diaper or as great at containment as a flat. These are best for older children with solid-er poos, it is often necessary to double up thinner inserts to provide adequate absorption for heavy wetters. Great budget option for moms on the go who need something that takes literally three seconds to put on.
   
   
   
   
   There are also four main styles for the outside of the diaper.
   
   
   
   
   
4. the simple cover, something like the Thirsties duo wrap or the Bummis super whisper wrap. These are simple water resistant exteriors that are placed over top of the absorbent diaper insert. They work great in combination with flats, prefolds, fitteds and inserts and are easily the most versatile of the diaper cover options. Most covers are made from a water resistant fabric called PUL, but it is also possible to get them in naturally water resistant fabrics like Wool
   
   
5. The Pocket diaper, this is what most people think of when they say modern cloth diaper. there are expensive brands like Bumgenius, Apple Cheeks, blueberry and AMP
   And discount brands Imagine Baby, Happy flute and Alva Baby. Stuff the pocket with a rectangular insert, a prefold or a flat diaper and then it is as simple as snapping the diaper on the baby. Like flats these diapers require a bit of prep, after washing it is necessary to take a few minutes to stuff the diapers. But once they are stuffed they become an easy diaper for daycares, cloth resistant relatives and babies that wont stay still long enough for an old school diaper.
   
   
   
6. All in Two diapers are really similar to pocket diapers but instead of stuffing a small pocket you just snap an insert onto the shell. Popular brands include grovia hybrids, best bottoms and Soft bums. These diapers are extremely convenient however its hard to customize absorbency and the proprietary systems can be quite expensive.
   
   
7. All in One diapers. These diapers have it all together in one package, no folding, stuffing or snapping required. Just take the diaper off the line and put it on the baby. Mainstream brands and discount brands are available. the only downsides with AIOs is that they are expensive, can be hard to wash and take a very long time to dry.
   
   
   
   

Everything seems super complicated but you'll soon find it's a lot simpler than you thought. At least, that happened to me. Make sure you have a proper wash routine for your washer. Check out Fluff Love University to find your washer and determine the best routine and detergent. This will ensure everything gets as clean as possible and prevent things like diaper rash from retained waste, or plain old stinky diapers. My wash routine uses tide powder and looks like: express wash on hot/hot, then another round on heavy duty with hot/cold. We also dry the diapers on delicate.
This works well for us. Once you get in the routine you'll probably want to wash every other day. We don't stuff (put inserts into the pockets to prep them) after we wash. I hate stuffing the diapers and find it simpler to stuff on the go but that is a preference thing.
Do you have a discard system? We got 2 of these buckets with charcoal filters and a wet bag liner. Odorless Cloth Diaper Pail (7 gallon: 1-2 days) by Busch Systems https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0053Y2B6E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hzyfzb7E65P80


We ended up using an open pail system as it seems to smell less so the tops of the buckets are just hanging out under my daughters dresser haha.

Just another note. We have bumgenius and the same Alvas you have. We love the Alvas, especially for the price. We have had no issues with them. Just make sure you are snapping them at a good size and stuffing with the correct absorbency. If you have leaks before 2 hours, you will likely want to increase the size or number of inserts. Also make sure you do change every 2 hours. It is normal with cloth diapering for the diapers to leak around 2-3 hours. But even with regular diapers they should be changed every 2 hours or if you smell poop or know the baby has peed. I'm training to be a nursing assistant right now and it is apparently the same for adults- 2 hours. My grandparents are super helpful and in love with my daughter. They were watching her yesterday and they mentioned they had to wash her clothes because she leaked so I asked how long it had been since they changed her, and they had gone nearly 4 hours. Another note- this changes at night! We let her sleep and she sleeps 12 hours (she's almost 1). We just double stuff the diaper. You may be getting up to change at first but as your baby gets older, you should be able to double stuff with inserts and let him/her go longer. Sorry if this is way too much info!

Total dissolved solids are different than total or general hardness.

Calgon is a non precipitating softener and borax is a precipitating softener. They work differently but achieve the same the result of not allowing minerals (mostly calcium and magnesium) to bind to the fibers of your diapers where they will then attract bacteria and buildup to the point that diapers won't absorb liquid.

You'll need to retest your water hardness for a number. Test kits can be found a Walmart, pool supply stores, hardware stores, pet stores, and online. You'll need to make sure the kit says it tests for Total Hardness or General Hardness. Testing water directly from the machine is best. If you plan to use hot water to wash, both hot and cold should be tested.
** Avoid the free Whirlpool and Water Boss brand tests as they have been known to give inaccurate results. Also, avoid the electric TDS tests as they do not test Hardness.

If you have a Petsmart nearby they test water samples for free. Canada Home Hardware tests for free, as well.

If you don't want to search for a kit, here's one you can order from Amazon

Tide original powder covers up to 180ppm on its own.

For water hardness 181ppm-250ppm add 1/4 cup borax or a half cap calgon to the prewash and a 1/2 cup borax or a cap of calgon to the main wash.

For water hardness 251ppm and above add 1/2 cup borax or a cap of calgon to both the prewash and the main wash.

Detergent and softener amounts are the same for all machines 2.0 cubic feet capacity and greater.

Happy to look over your routine if you'd like, but those are all the details and guidelines I believe you were looking for. They're starting points and minor tweaks may be necessary but you shouldn't need to strip every couple of months following this.

My daughter (now 17 mo) has the same issues, and they started around 8 mo too. We figured out it was a yeast rash, so the pediatrician gave us prescription diaper cream. We use that when she gets the sores/blisters, and use extra strength Butt Paste to keep it at bay (like every time she poops but doesn't have a sore). Try airing her bottom out every time you change her--give her a few minutes of "naked" time before putting a clean diaper on.

We found that changing up the detergent also helped. I was using Tide for a while, but had to switch to Rockin' Green. It's been gentler on her skin and we don't have as many rashes with it.

Also, to get rid of any lurking bacteria in the diapers, I started adding 1/4 cup bleach to the wash. I did this when she had sores, and it helps clean the diapers better. Sometimes rashes may be caused by not getting diapers clean enough. You may need to increase detergent (tablespoon by tablespoon) until you feel that your diapers are getting clean enough.

We chose to use disposables only at night because her skin is sensitive to being in contact with wet cloth for that long (she sleeps through the night about 10-12 hours).

Hope it helps!

Has anyone used bar mop towels as diapers? I know flour sack towels are a thing, but I have a few Snappi brand diapers that are terrycloth with some sort of center panel inside, and that got me to considering the aforementioned towels. I have a friend who said she used wash rags as diapers when her sons were little, but I'm thinking either her kids were tiny or her washcloths were huge. This is the sort of thing I'm talking about, though I think they're cheaper somewhere like Sam's Club.

Also, does anyone have interest in a Tunisian crochet prefold diaper pattern, or regular crochet contour diaper pattern? I'm asking before I work on writing them. I do not sell my patterns, ever, so this isn't a business thing, and I already have a Tunisian fitted (though it's really more contour) diaper pattern on Ravelry that in my experience works really well, but I'm tossing around the idea of coming up with one based off the Snappi diapers

Honestly I don't remember which sprayer we have I think my husband just got an attachment from Menards? It has an extra long hose which is really nice.

This is the spray shield we use and it's fabulous. Totally worth it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00S1I4P1S/ref=mp_s_a_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499000673&sr=8-5&keywords=diaper+sprayer

Here's the diaper pail we use and I love it too. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0053Y2B6E/ref=mp_s_a_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499000855&sr=8-4&keywords=cloth+diaper+pail&dpPl=1&dpID=310yH6-EseL&ref=plSrch

Awesome, hope it works out!

If you want a reusable wipe recommendation, I have these and they work great! I also spray down the changing area after I'm done and use one of these to wipe it off, easy peasy.

I was gifted a bunch of pocket diapers and all in ones from my registry when I had a shower, but when it came time to actually diaper a newborn, they looked HUGE and uncomfortable.

I also didn't start cloth diapering until baby was a month old. That was just for my sanity.

I ordered a bunch of wraps and used store-bought Gerber diapers with a Snappi fastener. It took a few tries to figure out what folds worked best when she was bigger, but for the first few weeks I just folded the diaper in thirds and put it in the wrap.

Once baby was bigger and ready for daycare, I switched to the all in ones and I haven't looked back.

I have 15 diapers total now that I cycle through and that works for us (3-4 diapers used a day, washing every 2-3 days). I also use disposables at night or when traveling.

Go to Nicki's Diapers, to "winter sale" and scroll until you see the Planet Wise hanging wet bags! They have a few prints for $18 (normally $30!). I think the code "five" also gets you another 5% off too.

I got a sprayer that you can throttle back so it's not all or nothing. So, I can have it turned on to juuust the right level to remove the poop without making a mess. No need for a shield! This is the exact one I have. Love it!

We have this portable drying rack and, with a few sandbags to keep it stable, it works really well. It rotates, too, so if you need to spin it to get sun on all sides, you can. A great solution!

I cut up an old fitted sheet that has lost its elasticity (tore off the old elastic first.). It made a ton of rags, which we use for little spit ups and for diaper wipes. We use a little cube of baby bits diaper solution (Baby Bits Wipes Solution - Makes 1,000 Natural Wipes • Made in the USA! (1 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E570Z72/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Jo.lDbX1K4A5B) in a spray bottle to spritz the torn up wipe and it gets everything really clean. (Seems better than disposable pampers.). Then we toss dirty wipes in with laundry for later washing. Works great so far!

There are ways to [test your water yourself]
(https://www.google.com/amp/m.wikihow.com/Determine-if-You-Have-Hard-Water%3famp=1), or you can buy a testing kit, I'm sure.

We definitely have hard water, and I put Rain Drops on my Amazon Subscribe & Save list so it just comes every few months without me having to think about it. I got a cheap jar from the dollar store, threw the right size measuring cup in here with it, and just add a scoop every time I have to wash diapers.

It's a pocket diaper with two petal soakers sewn in the inside layer. You can pull the diaper inside out to wash and dry. The pattern was super easy (and I'm a person who has to call my mother whenever I have to put in a zipper or figure out how to turn a handbag inside out through the liner hole when sewing). I found the pattern in this book that I found at Jo-Ann.

Here's a picture of the diaper inside out: http://imgur.com/ZkkQugT

I have "slightly hard water" but they recommend just using the hard water treatment I have this on my registry and hopefully will be able to try it out.

I use these dryer balls. It's a great price, and they work really well. I just leave them in the dryer for all loads and it's definitely cut down on drying time when I don't dry outside.

I use these solution cubes and you can get a [starter kit] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01090QDDI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_nzp8AbDWPT3AS) that comes with a spray bottle. It's really been perfect for us.

I recently got my first wool cover. Lanolizing it was tough -- I got big greasy splotches at first that I had to wash/massage out, then re-lanolize the whole thing. This is the lanolin I have... I'm a cheap-ass but if it emulsifies better with the water, liquid lanolin might actually be worth the extra $$!

The third time she was wearing it, she got poop all over it -.- You're supposed to be able to go 2-3 weeks without washing! And it's still not quite lanolized properly. I'm too lazy for wool, I think. I might wait to use it until she can wear her fitted diapers and she's got more solid poos that don't get on the cover so easily!

http://www.amazon.com/Flour-Towels-Commercial-Grade-12-Pack/dp/B003BS4856/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416127032&sr=8-2&keywords=flour+sack+towels&pebp=1416127038476

They are used like flat diapers but they are a lot bigger than flat diapers are. I can still do the origami fold on my 10 month old. You can fold them in the pad fold too, and then tuck them inside a cover like an insert or prefold. They wouldn't be the best option for daycare, a prefold would be better, but they are great for weekends. They also dry a hell of a lot faster.

I'm a big fan of my diaper sprayer. My little guy goes to daycare, so it is sometimes 8+ hours before I can sort/spray the dirty diapers from the day. The sprayer is great for quickly getting off little bits of poo that have dried and are harder to remove. This is the one I purchased that has worked well:

http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Bidet-D1-Adjustable-Certification/dp/B00FPZUJRO

We don't use liners or a buckets/splash guard.

do you know offhand if any pure lanolin would be ok? I found a jar of it on amazon for $8 for a huge 7 ounce jar. Seems to be cheaper than anywhere else. This is it.

I have a stack of probably 45 cloth wipes. I got a wipe warmer as a baby shower gift so I usually pre-soak half of my cloth wipes in water (hand squeezed out) and put them in the warmer where they stay damp and the rest are dry. I got them for the same reason you did, to just throw in the pail with the cloth diapers.

I wipe and dry out the warmer about once every two weeks and have never had mold or anything.

I bought mine on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/OsoCozy-Flannel-Baby-Wipes-Unbleached/dp/B000138GNY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368585868&sr=8-1&keywords=cloth+wipes because I don'y sew but I imagine making your own would be simple if you make your own diapers!

Planet wise pail liners (http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Wise-Diaper-Liner-Avocado/dp/B003XSEV2O/ref=br_it_dp_o_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=J9P0PZ85MGTG&coliid=IGJK1823WFCS)

I made my wipes from flannel, some two ply and some single layer. For the two ply ones, I cut 8 1/2" squares and sewed them together with a 1/4" seam allowance leaving a small opening to turn them. Turned them right side out and then top stitched them. For the one ply I used the left over flannel from the two ply wipes so they range in size from 5 3/4" to 7" square. I used a stitch on my machine that mimics serging on the edges.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DIJ0W30

This is a brand I’ve seen them recommend quite a lot!

> Flour sack towels

Do you mean something like this? http://www.amazon.com/Flour-Towels-Commercial-Grade-12-Pack/dp/B003BS4856

We used flats on our LO for several (4?) weeks because the prefolds were so bulky. They're not expensive or hard to wash. Might be worth having some! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VBYVVA/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_jK5yub0ZC9ATX

Amazon! These are mine: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GA9P5P0/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_Q9bwtb0C28BTZ

Here is the mobile version of your link

We use the Dekor plus with the reusable cloth liners. It holds two days of diapers for us and contains the scent completely

Pail: https://www.amazon.com/Hands-Free-Diaper-Easiest-Economical-Diapers/dp/B00F55P1WW/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?adgrpid=62892986304&hvadid=274711713065&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9033461&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17113171650591573032&hvtargid=aud-676677759484%3Akwd-303364397475&hydadcr=1511_9897332&keywords=dekor+plus+diaper+pail&qid=1558076793&s=gateway&sr=8-4

Liners: https://www.amazon.com/Dekor-Cloth-Diaper-Perfect-Diapers/dp/B00IZULWCC/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_7?keywords=dekor+plus+diaper+pail+cloth+bag&qid=1558076938&s=gateway&sr=8-7-fkmrnull

http://www.amazon.com/RLR-Laundry-Treatment-Pack-10/dp/B007E29GV6

Reading this thread makes me wonder if we should be doing a prewash? We have a bidet hooked up to the toilet for the BM and just do a single hot cycle with this detergent and do not get any pee smell or residue on the diapers.

Is there another reason to be doing a prewash?

Just the covers, we use bamboo diapers and then the covers. Never tried the all in ones or pockets.

We are using a pattern from this book: https://www.amazon.ca/Dritz-Babyville-Boutique-Cloth-Diapers/dp/B0068RQPZI

If you have hard water you might want to try something like Charlie's Hard Water Treatment. Our diapers were getting stinky after we moved to AZ and this has helped us tremendously!

I think someone suggested one of these once:
http://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Aids-Steamer-Basket/dp/B00012K5I4#
It expands and collapses, fits most pots.

Has anyone used rain drops for hard water...[link] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005NZ4MGU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_lMOAxbXMGNC33)...? I can't find Calgon in the store and is it expensive on Amazon. 😞

I got 4 of these and two used covers from a local mom. I stuff them with these hemp inserts, but I've also used inserts that aren't as absorbent, and once I forgot to put an insert in at all... but still no leaks.