The Mommy Times
The Truth About Cloth Diapers,
Heather B. Crawford
If you hear the phrase, “cloth diapering,” chances are you wince at the thought of sticking yourself with a pin. Since there’s no way to know unless you try, our tester mamas spent months road testing modern cloth-diapering options. The results are captured in this guide, which will take the mystery out of this traditional diapering method. (And you’ll probably be glad to know that pins are no longer required).
Cloth Diapering Dictionary
Prefolds. Those rectangular pieces of cotton -- that many people use as burp cloths -- are prefolds. Now instead of pins (still available) you can use a plastic cover, usually called a wrap. Wraps have Velcro-like tabs and go on very much like a disposable diaper.
Notes from the Mamas: We tried the Bummis Cotton Diapering Kit with Super Whisper Wraps. With the kit and a few extra wraps you’ll have everything you need to start this type of diapering. Bummis Super Whisper Wraps fit well and rarely wick -- when the baby’s clothing absorbs moisture from the diaper usually at the leg or around the tummy. One drawback for this type is they can’t be easily "preloaded," so you’re folding and fitting the prefold into the cover while baby squirms on the changing table. The tradeoff though is that you can reuse the wraps for several diaper changes because usually just the prefold gets dirty. When they do get messy just toss in the diaper pail with the prefolds for washing. Probably the biggest benefit of the Prefold/Wrap system is they have the lowest cost. Everything you need to get going is about $150-175.
Fitted Diapers. This is another two-part diapering system that works with a wrap, but instead of a prefold you use a super-absorbent fitted cloth diaper.
Notes from the Mamas: We tried the Bamboozle by Bummis with a Super Whisper Wrap. The fitted diaper goes on baby with snaps that are easily adjustable so there are no tricky folding techniques to master. Only issue is the "poof factor." Most baby clothes are now cut for disposable diapers so with the cloth diapering and especially the fitted system, there is a lot more mass involved, so some clothes won't fit right. For many moms the no-folding convenience of fitted diapers makes this issue workable. One big advantage of the Bamboozle fitted diaper is its bamboo fabric -- bamboo is said to be 60 percent more absorbent than cotton, making it great for nighttime use. If you go completely with fitted diapers you're probably looking at about $450-500 to start.
All-in-Ones. (a.k.a. AIOs) Take a fitted diaper and sew a wrap around the whole thing and you have an all-in-one.
Notes from the Mamas: The biggest advantage is convenience. For those who have avoided cloth diapering because of the assumed "ick" factor, it's important to note that when used with the available flushable liner, poopy messes are as easily gone as with disposable diapers. Heavy wetters and nighttime use may require a doubler (extra padding that you place inside the diaper) for extra absorbency, but other than that you just grab these and go. Overall downside is cost. Since a completely new diaper for every change is needed (you can't reuse the wraps), a larger supply is needed to get going.
We tried the bumGenius 2.0 and Kushies Reusable Ultra Diapers. The bumGenius has a super soft fleece-like lining that is comfy for baby’s skin; however, we found that they required extra rinsing and drying time when compared with other diapers we tested. Getting started with bumGenius will cost about $360. The Kushies have an outer made of a hospital-grade plastic material, but it does tend to wick around the tummy. There is a cotton lining with a flap sewn in to help with the absorbency. The flap design overcomes the bumGenius washing problem by allowing the water and air to get to more of the layers. As far as all-in-ones go, Kushies are relatively inexpensive and available through Wal-Mart’s site to store option getting you started for about $175.
Pocket Diapers. A soft inner layer is sewn to a waterproof outer with a pocket in the middle for absorbency pads. Liners are available in all sorts of fabrics from cotton to hemp.
Notes from the Mamas: Pocket diapers are by far our favorite! The biggest advantage is that you can customize the absorbency. Once they are loaded they have all the convenience of an all-in-one, so keep a pile preloaded and ready to go. They also get a better cleaning as the water and air can get to all the parts. We tried Fuzzi Bunz and the Happy Heiny’s One-Size-Fits-All. Both worked well. Fuzzi Bunz diapers have snaps instead of velcro-like tabs that allow for a custom fit around the legs. Our top choice is Happy Heiny’s One-Size Diapers which are adjustable so you don’t have to buy various sizes, increasing your overall savings. Getting started will cost $350-400.
Flushable Diapers. This is the hybrid diaper that uses a cloth diaper wrap with flushable, absorbent liners. The liner has “tree farmed fluff pulp” and “sodium polyacrylate” (or SAP -- a crystalline absorber found in most disposable diapers and feminine products. It is considered safe to flush and “green.") The liners are easy to use and you can choose to flush, compost or toss them. According to manufacturers, they take less than 60 days to break down.
Notes from the Mamas: We tried the Diapers starter kit and love the concept. One of the biggest obstacles of cloth diapering for moms on the go, is storing and bringing home the mess. Not here. Flush the liner or just toss it like any other disposable. The downsides include wicking around the legs and cost. You can buy multiple starter kits to get going so the wraps cost about as much as any other cloth diapering wraps, but buying liners continuously makes this a pricier option. A starter kit comes with two wraps and 10 liners and costs $27. If you decide to go with it you're looking at an initial investment around $100 but the liners are about $0.32-0.42 each after that.
Getting Started
Like to give cloth diapering a try? Nothing short of a trial run will reveal if cloth diapering will work for you. After reviewing the Cloth Diapering Dictionary above, pick the system that sounds right for your lifestyle and try ordering just a starter kit. Also consider trying several brands before committing yourself to one. Having various types around isn’t a bad idea either; it allows you to use certain types for certain occasions -- all-in-ones on the run but prefolds at home. Once you’ve found what you love be sure to shop around and don’t be afraid of seconds or gently used. Seconds usually mean there’s some minor defect that won’t allow the manufacturer to sell it as “perfect” and gently used diapers usually come from someone who tried them once but just couldn’t get into it.
All of the diapers and covers are usually available in prints and fun colors -- fine for when baby is lounging at home, but our mamas preferred diapers that were solid or mostly white as the others tended to show through baby’s outfits.
It may go without saying, but once you buy diapers be sure to read the instructions and "Frequently Asked Questions" on the manufacturer’s website -- loads of answers and tips are available. Also, don't be afraid to call the company for advice as they are usually experienced cloth diaper users and more than willing to answer questions, provide suggestions and general encouragement.
Storing and Laundering
There are two methods for storing your diapers before laundering; wet pail and dry pail. Just as it sounds, the wet pail involves keeping a covered bucket with a water and your manufacturer's additive of choice (vinegar, baking soda or something else) mixture to store soiled diapers. The dry pail method eliminates soaking and instead you just store the dirty diapers much as you would in a trash can. The advantage of dry pail is you don’t have to deal with nasty diaper “soup” as you pour the diapers into the machine. Not all manufacturers recommend this method, but our mom testers preferred it.
The pail itself does not need to be anything special. A simple kitchen garbage can with a flip lid works fine. The lid does not even need to seal as the oxygen can actually help keep diapers from stinking. In reality, the odor shouldn't really be a problem because when you start to smell the diapers while the lid is closed, its time for a washing. Bleach your diaper pail every time you put in your wash. This two-minute routine will keep odors at bay.
In general, it is necessary to wash a load of diapers every 2 to 3 days. Our testers found that doing the soak and prewash cycles with cold followed by a full wash with hot, produced the best results. Probably not what you'd want to do at a laundromat -- if your laundering facilities are not at home and you want to use cloth diapers, a diaper service (although more costly) would be a more viable solution.
Laundry detergents are a big deal in the cloth diapering world. Most of the diaper brands recommend a detergent that is free of basically everything that is common in name brand detergents. Those brighteners, whiteners, and fragrances actually contribute to wicking by coating the fibers and taking away their absorbency. Charlie’s Soap Laundry Powder is a powerful, biodegradable laundry detergent recommended by most of the cloth diaper companies. It isn't necessary to use a special detergent, but our testers were amazed that just one tablespoon of Charlie's Soap got dirty diapers clean. When it comes to folding clean, cloth diapers, it’s more like stacking. It is recommended to preload pocket diapers so they're ready to go.
Nighttime
If you're lucky enough to have a baby that sleeps through the night, you may be facing the difficulty of wet sheets from leaky diapers. With a heavy wetter, this situation can arise whether you're using cloth or disposable diapers. Fortunately with cloth diapering, it is possible to add doublers for more absorbency -- combine doublers from different brands, add multiple prefolds to a pocket, or even put doublers in a disposable. Mix things up until you find the perfect solution.
Also, it's okay to take time and transition to cloth diapering. Linda Byerline, creator of Happy Heinys said, "Nighttime diapering can be a bit tricky, and we always recommend that you first get your daytime cloth diapering down before venturing into nighttime diapers."
On the Move
Cloth diapers should never make you feel home bound. For quick trips baby should be fine in any cloth diaper. For longer trips it is easier to use an all-in-one, flushable, or regular disposable diapers. The only hassle with changing cloth diapers while you're out is storing the yucky diaper until you get home. Many cloth diapering companies sell some sort of bag to help, but a plastic zip-top bag will work perfectly.
Cloth diapering while traveling? Sure. It just requires a bit of forethought. One of our mom testers even went camping with cloth diapers on her toddler and infant. Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with mixing diapering methods. It is just fine to use cloth diapering when you're home and disposables when you're out. Remember that diapering is different for everyone; let your lifestyle and baby's needs determine your family's diapering preference.
