So, what are they made of, anyway?

Diapers are made of many different fabrics.  The differences between them are many, especially when comparing natural vs. synthetic.

Natural Fabric

Some of the natural fabrics that diapers are made of are cotton, bamboo, hemp, flannel, fleece and wool. The advantages to natural fibers in diapers is that they are absorbent, renewable and usually produce less allergic reactions and rashes.  

Cotton that is used for diapers is the same cotton that is used for clothes and everything else.  You usually find prefolds, flats and inserts made of cotton. Diapers that are made of organic cotton are more expensive.

Bamboo cloth is a relatively recent addition to CDs. It is one of the easiest and most renewable fabrics to produce because bamboo grows quickly when cut down. Bamboo is most useful in inserts because it is very absorbent. It's the go to fabric that many moms use for nighttime.

Charcoal bamboo is used in making inserts and is highly recommended for how well it absorbs, its antibacterial/anti fungal nature and how well it maintains the moisture balance inside the diaper. (I'm waiting for some to come in the mail soon. I'll let you know how well it works after I use it for a few nights.)

Hemp is a crop and fabric that gets an unnecessary amount of negative press. Industrial hemp is not the same plant as what people smoke. It is an easily grown crop that produces fabric that is both antibacterial and antimicrobial in nature, making it perfect for use in CDs. However, isn't a very soft material, so it is blended with cotton fibers to be soft enough to not irritate babies' sensitive skin.

Synthetic Fabric (Polyester-based fabric)

Microfiber is the most commonly used fabric in making cloth diapers. It is very absorbant and can hold up to seven times it's weight in fluid, though not as much as some of the natural fibers can. Some parents prefer not to use microfiber inserts in their diapers because they are prone to issues such as problems with smell and repelling of liquids. It wicks moisture away from the skin very well. Unfortunately, it does too good a job because it can wick moisture right out of your baby's skin if you don't have another fabric between them, causing chapping and irritation. Most microfiber inserts are either meant to be stuffed inside pockets made of microfleece, bamboo or some other fabric, or are covered with that fabric if they are meant to be worn against the skin as in an AI2 system. You can tell if your inserts are microfiber (if there's no tag, of course) by how they feel.  They should be sort of nubby in texture like a microfiber towel you'll find in a supermarket or auto supply store.

Microfleece is a type of fleece that used as a stay-dry material in cloth diapers and liners.  Think about winter athletic gear (performance fleece, polar fleece).  It's that stuff.  It also wicks moisture away from the baby's skin, but not out of it so that there are no problems with drying.  The biggest difference is that microfiber is absorbant, while microfleece is not.  That's why it doesn't dry out your baby's bottom.

Suedecloth is another synthetic fabric that is very similar to microfleece, except that it is softer and more durable/less prone to pilling.

Minky is a created to feel soft, like a stuffed animal.

Polyurethane Laminate (PUL) is the waterproof material that most covers are made of.  It is polyester fabric that is lined with polyurethane so that liquids won't absorb or wick into it.

So, why should I worry about what my baby's diapers are made of?  Well, some people are super green and like to minimize the synthetic fabrics in their lives.  Some babies develop allergies or sensitivities to the synthetic fabric as well.  Often blends, such as bamboo/microfiber, give the best of both worlds and help to boost the softness and absorbency of each fabric.  It's yet another thing that is a personal preference.  So far, everything that I have used has been synthetic, but I'm looking forward to testing out the other fabrics as we go along.  My baby is just shy of three months old.  I've got at least another two years of cloth to go through.  (Do I woo hoo for that?)

You know that there had to be accessories!  Most of these aren't absolutely necessary, but they make life easier.

Wipes are a necessary part of diapering any baby.  You're going to need to wipe the baby's butt.  You could use the usual wipes, but I don't think that it's a good idea.  Many moms have accidentally wrapped their paper wipes in the cloth diapers and washed them with the diapers, causing everything to be covered in lint.  You are better off using cloth wipes.  They're no extra work.  You just wash them with the rest of the diapers and you're good to go.  You can find cloth baby wipes, but it's not necessary.  I use cheap baby washcloths for wipes.  You could even make them by cutting up fabric, either purchased for that purpose or repurposed from old cloth that you have in the house.  We're all about the recycling!  

Wipes Solution can be find wipes solution in stores mostly online.  It's sold in spray, dissolvable solid or liquid concentrate form.  As with everything, you can make it yourself at home or just use water.  I'll post some of my favorite recipes later.  The idea is to get your baby's bottom clean in between baths.

Liners are often necessary when cloth diapering.  Certain medicines and most diaper rash creams can cause a big mess and reduce the effectiveness of your cloth.  Adding a liner can keep that from happening.  You can easily make cloth liners by cutting up fabrics, usually cotton knit jersey, fleece or microfleece if you want the liner to wick the moisture away from your baby's skin.  Some liners have absorbant inner fabric sewn in to help keep the diapers from leaking.  There are also disposable liners that are flushable as well.  These are good for catching poop after your little one has started eating solid food.

Doublers or boosters are added inserts that are more absorbant than liners.  Many moms add them to night time diapers to prevent leaks. (Kissaluvs inserts)

Wetbags and pail liners are where you put the dirty diapers.  It's useful to have at least one to go in the diaper bag and two big ones for home, one to use while the other one is in the wash.  I'm particularly fond of ones that have a separate dry pocket for clean diapers.  You don't necessarily need a diaper pail or large garbage pail to hold the dirties.  Some wetbags are made to hang and use standing alone. (Kissaluvs pail liner and Rumparooz wetbag)

Diaper sprayer...ah, the diaper sprayer.  So many people say that they wouldn't know what they would do if they didn't have their sprayer.  It's like the sprayer attached to the sink, except attached to the toilet.  You use it to spray the poop off of the diapers.  (Watch the pressure, though.  Too much and you'll spray poop all over the place!)

Congratulations!  You have just been told everything there is to know about cloth diapers...not!  You do, however, have enough information to know what things mean.  That's a good place to start.  Making a decision will take time because there's no right fit for every baby and every family.  Hopefully, reading my musings will help you make an informed decision.

Prefolds and pockets and AIO's...Oh my! (Part II)

The diapers in the last part of this series were some of the more traditional ones, though they are by no means less modern in many cases.  These are the other types of diapers, the ones that have made the people around me go, "I've never seen diapers like these before!  This is what you meant when you said you were going to use cloth diapers?"  What makes these diapers so different from the others is that they have the cover integrated into the system or the covers are the diaper.  You'll see what I mean.

All-in-One (AIO) diapers are the most like a disposable that you can find without throwing them out when you're done.  They are just what the name says, all in one.  The cover has the absorbant material and often a stay-dry later sewn right in.  You just put them on the baby and go.  They come in sized or one-size fits most, snap and hook and loop varieties.  You can find them in just about any color, pattern or design you can think of.  Many people use them for grandparents, babysitters or other caregivers who might not be as comfortable with cloth as they are.  The issue with AIOs is that they take much longer to dry when you wash them.  Plus, it isn't as if you have a separate cover, so you have to change them with every pee or poop and that can make for more laundry.  (Lil Joey Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper)

Pocket diapers kind of sound self-explanatory.  They are like an AIO whose absorbant material can be added and removed from the pocket in it.  You can stuff them with anything that will absorb liquids, such as folded flat/prefold diapers, towels or other type of cloth, but many pocket diapers have inserts that are tailored to fit the pocket.  They are meant to be worn once and washed just like an AIO, but since you're taking the inserts out when you wash and dry them, they dry much faster.  These diapers are often a favorite for families that like the ease of an AIO without the drying time.  You do, however, have to stuff the pockets.  That can be a lot to stuff when the laundry's done if your entire stash consists of pockets or if you are CDing more than one child!  Some people do it while they watch TV.  (Ecopocket diaper)

All-in-Two (AI2) or Hybrid systems are similar to pockets, but instead of stuffing the insert in, you lay it in the cover or snap it in.  You can often let the covers dry or wipe them clean and just toss the inserts in the diaper pail or wetbag that you use to store them between washes unless they are soiled.  There are AI2 systems that are more specifically hybrid systems.  These have disposable inserts that are biodegradable and even flushable!  Many people like having this option for when they go on long car rides or on vacation.  They can get expensive if you use them instead of the washable inserts, so the best choice may be to alternate between them if this is something that you're interested in using.  You will still have to wash the covers and you don't want to wait too long between washes to have enough covers to fill the machine.  This gives bacteria a chance to grow and you could end up with issues down the road.  (Softbums Echo All-in-Two System)

So, which ones do I like the best?  Well, I haven't tried them all, but for now I'm using pockets and AI2s.  I'm interested in going down the list and giving each one a try just to really see what I like.  I'll review each diaper that I try as I get them, starting with the ones that I have or had.  All I can say is that I'm loving cloth diapering my baby!

There's one more part to this series: Accessories.

Prefolds and pockets and AIO's...Oh my! (Part I)

I was talking to a friend on FB and asked her if she would consider using cloth for her baby and baby to be.  She said that she wouldn't know where to start!  I thought that myself at first and have seen it posted on every CD blog, group and message board I've ever read.  I told her that I would help her navigate the confusion, so it makes sense for me to write it out and post it for all to see.

First, the information is out there!  If you have trouble figuring it all out, there are CD 101 videos on YouTube that many have found to be super helpful.  The FAQs on any CD message board lay it all out for you in print.  You could also opt to go to a high end baby store and ask them for help if you're one who needs to see it in person.  No choice is right for everyone and every baby.

Here's an overview of the different types of diapers, from the simple to the more complicated:

Flats are the diapers that everyone thinks of when you say that you're going to use cloth.  The eyebrows go up and you can see, "She's going to use a big piece of cloth with pins and plastic pants?  She must be nuts!" written all across their faces.  Well, that's what it is, but no, flats lovers aren't nuts.  This is one of the least expensive ways to diaper and one of the most customizable to fit your baby.  The pins aren't necessary anymore either.  Many people use a Snappi instead.  Those are T-shaped fasteners that hold the two waist ends and crotch part together.  They won't poke your baby and I've only heard of one person stabbing herself with them.  You will need some sort of cover to hold everything in as well because the flats are only the absorbant part of the diaper, but they don't have to be plastic pants.  There are many ways to fold flats.  I would look it up on YouTube and see how it's done.

Prefolds are with reference to flats, pre-folded for you, but instead of being one flat piece of cloth, they are thicker in the center where you need the absorption.  You will also need a cover and Snappi/pins for these.  Many prefolds come in different sizes to fit different weights and sizes.  (These are Green Mountain Prefolds.)

Fitteds are the simplest type of diaper that looks more like a disposable diaper.  They are cut to a similar shape with a defined waist and crotch area.  They come in so many different styles and sizes!  Some have to be held closed with a Snappi or pins, but others have snaps or Velcro/Aplix/hook and loop tape to hold them closed.  Some have gussets (elastic around the legs) to be the first line of defense in the battle against poopsplosions.  Fitteds are also not waterproof.  (This one is a Kissaluvs fitted diaper.)

Covers are necessary for each of these types of diapers and there are different kinds.  Some fasten on with snaps or velcro while others get pulled on like underwear.  This is the part of the diaper that shows, so it's where you get the cuteness factor from!  The most important thing about them is that they need to keep the moisture in.  There are two types of covers.

* Plastic/nylon/laminated fabric covers are the most common type that depend on the layer of plastic or other similar material to hold the moisture in.  Like the fitteds, they can be sized or one-size where there are snaps that determine how high the rise is and how tight the leg elastics are.  (Cover by Thirsties.)

* Wool diaper covers are a little bit less common and more expensive, but they are usually of a much higher quality than the other types.  I once made a snarky comment about there being no way that wool could hold the pee in the diaper.  I mean, wouldn't it drip out of the holes in the knit?  That was before I did a bunch of research and found out how they work.  The wool itself is absorbant and can hold up to 40% of its weight in fluids, so that's the first line of defense against wetness by wicking the urine away from the baby.  Also, the natural wool has lanolin in it that is a natural oil and helps it hold the water in and wool is naturally antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial.  (Recycled wool covers)

Okay, I know that this is a lot to absorb, so I'm going to stop here and get to the other types of diapers in the next post.

Hi...my name is Janet...and I'm a cloth diaper addict

I recently asked my facebook family for an intervention.  I got bit by the cloth diaper bug and have been buying them at an embarrassingly furious pace this past week.  I'm obsessing and I think that I may have a problem.

It's not the first time I have obsessed over something.  It's what I do.  Something will take hold of me and it doesn't let go until I'm over it.  When I got pregnant with my first son (B) I obsessed about pregnancy.  I read everything that the Internet and bookstore had on it.  I needed to know what was going on with me and my baby.  I read about breast feeding, vaccinations, car seat safety, you name it!  It was so bad that I needed to talk about it all the time, but I knew that I was going to drive my friends and family crazy with all baby talk all the time, so I found a group of expectant moms all due in the same month as I was.  It was like I was home!  I could satisfy my obsession without driving anyone off the deep end because everyone there was focused on their own pregnancies and could relate.

Fast forward four years...I was pregnant again, happily so!  Yay!  But my need to obsess and know everything came back with a vengeance.  Only this time, I already knew all about what my body was going through.  I knew about breast feeding and car seats (the mom group that I'm a part of has some amazing car seat and nursing gurus who are always willing to help), so I was left with nothing to obsess about!  Uh oh!  My fiance and I had changed our life a lot in the past two years, going as green as we could, so using cloth diapers occurred to me one day.  I spoke to him about it and he thought that it was a great idea.  And so began the obsession with cloth diapers!

My baby (S) is just shy of 3 months old and I still can't shake it.  There are so many styles, colors, designs and patterns out!  They're so cute!  I love that my son's diapers won't be clogging a landfill somewhere.  The best part is the online community surrounding cloth diapering!  It's good that there is an online community that I can talk to because I'm just as bad now as when I was pregnant the first time.

That brings me here.  Since I don't want to drive my friends and family up a wall with the constant cloth diaper chatter.  I'd be all, "Look at this!  Isn't this awesome!"  And they'd be humoring me while not giving a crap.  So I'm going to write about it.  Maybe someone will read what I'm writing and it'll help them navigate the (not so) complicated world of cloth diapering, baby wearing, natural products, etc. and I'll pass on the bug.