Are cloth diapers gross?

When I was getting ready to have my 3rd baby, and I was going to take some time off of work, I thought of things I could do to make our dollars stretch as far as they could go. I started researching cloth diapers and what was my first concern? Which diapers were the best for dealing with poop.

I ultimately went with the Flip system and here’s why. I found out that the all in one styles were super convenient they were almost the same as a disposable when dealing with changing a baby. I then looked into pocket style diapers and decided for a breast fed newborn that they were a good way to go. I bought some fuzzibunz on eBay. I wish I would have bought at least one straight from the vendor then I would have realized the ones I got on eBay were not exactly as described. Nonetheless they were very easy to use and I would recommend these types for a newbie as it is hard to not get them on right. I have to say that I have not noticed a difference with my water or electric bill. I wash at night during off peak hours and I have clean diapers in the morning.

After a couple of months I ordered some Flip diapers from Cotton Babies I really like the site mostly because every order is free shipping. Also if you hang around the site enough you might catch a seconds sale and get some diapers at a pretty good discount. The flip system is 2 parts. An insert and a one size cover. I have been using the flips with the stay dry insert. One insert during the day and doubling at night.

I have to say that I can count on my hands the number of times they have leaked. I know with disposables I would always have to pack an extra outfit in case of a blow out. It seemed to be a common occurrence. The flips however are great essentially no blow outs.

Which leads me to poop. The inserts are very smooth on the side that touches the baby and microfiber on the other side pulls the moisture away from your baby. The smooth surface is perfect for shaking poop off the insert and into the toilet.

I wash my diapers everyday at night. I feel like this is the best way to go because there is no time for the stinkies to build up. You may have to experiment with detergents to find the right one for your water source. I have a he washer and very hard water and I like Kushe I also like Green Mountain they seem to work well.

There are tons of colors to choose from!

I have to say that generally kids are gross and you’re going to touch a lot of things you don’t really want to. I don’t think cloth diapers are any more gross than anything else kids dish out. I would recommend having a couple of wet bags to keep your diapers you need to wash in. I really like my Planetwise wet bags with the extra zipper so I can toss it in my diaper bag. That way I can carry a clean diaper and wipes in the separate compartment and keep the messy ones in the waterproof part. I’ve left a stinky diaper in my Planetwise bag in a hot car and it contained the odor really well.

I have to say my favorite thing about cloth diapers is there is NEVER an emergency diaper run! Also saving $50 every couple weeks on cases of diapers that take years to breakdown in a landfill is a plus too!

Top 5 Essential Items For a New Baby

A mother of 3 is pretty hip to what a brand new baby needs. She will not get sucked into some marketing ploy that a first timer might. That being said, here are my top 5 essential baby items upon becoming a new parent:

1. Side snap shirts. Brand new babies definitely don’t NEED fancy outfits, as a matter of fact I know if I had a brand new umbilical stump I would NOT enjoy a onsie rubbing on it 24-7. Carters has them. I like the company because the quality of their garments seems to hold up to spit up and what not.

2. Cloth diapers. Not only because they save our precious environment, but because they are A LOT cheaper than buying cases upon cases of diapers at the warehouse store! Not to mention you will never have a middle of the night diaper run! I love flips. The are economical, adorable, and poop doesn’t stick as easily to the stay dry insert. I washed everyday and could comfortably get away with 6 covers and 12 stay dry inserts. I like the one size design because they will for baby from about 4 weeks to past 2 years with my son. I got mine at: http://www.cottonbabies.com

3. Since I’m going to assume that people that read this blog are most likely breastfeeding types, I’m going to go ahead and put nursing tanks as #3. If you wear a dark color with a scarf you won’t have milk or nip issues. Scarfs are an easy cover up option that you can have with you. They’re everywhere and I’d recommend getting a size larger than your regular size because right after your baby I hate to tell you that you will not shrink right back to your pre baby size. Sorry 😦 it’s also better for those full tender boobs to have a little support but also freedom!

4. Baby wrap. I’ve tried many kinds and my favorite is the boba wrap. It’s a little stretchy and easier to position baby. http://www.boba.com/store/baby-wrap I definitely watched a couple YouTube videos and practiced with a stuffed animal before I did it with my baby. They are VERY secure it just helps to have a little experience. One important note is to be sure baby always has an open airway when wearing.

5. Essential Oils! The family physician kit from doTERRA has 7 different oils that can save you in the middle of the night. Not to mention help with stress, scarring, fevers, and more! I love my oils. Lavender lemon and peppermint have 101 uses alone! They are a must have for a new family. http://www.mydoterra.com/kellycorrea

Never Buy Another Swim Diaper!

No one should ever have to spend any money on a swim diaper. That is if you have cloth diapers.

All you need is your cover. It is helpful if you have a cover and not a pocket diaper however because they will suck up water.

Even if you don’t cloth diaper you can still get a cover like a flip diaper and if you pick it up at a seconds sale at http://www.cottonbabies.com for $8 give or take or even pay retail at $12 you will only have to buy one ever.

Don’t spend your hard earned money on those disposables when the alternative is SO easy!

Wait a Minute You Have To Maintain Cloth Diapers?

Yes you do. Cloth diapers do need occasional maintenance. It’s called stripping and not it’s not scary. All you need is a little bleach.

Ok so you’ve been using your diapers for a month or so depending on your washing schedule. I wash everyday one because I’m cheap and I didn’t want to buy a ton of diapers. I have about 6 covers and 9 inserts. I also don’t want to store the dirty ones anywhere at all. No diaper pails for me. I just have a couple wet bags and I wash them when I wash the diapers.

When you almost get knocked out with an ammonia smell when you change your diapers it’s time to strip.

Just wash your diapers the way you normally would. I have an He washer and I do a presoak, then hot wash, then an extra rinse. Then just do the same cycle but with only 1/4 cup bleach (no detergent). All you have to do is dry them as you normally do and you’re done.

If you have any staining issues just lay them out in the sun. “Sunning” will naturally bleach them out. It’s sounds like it won’t work, but it does.

Following the above protocol will help keep your diapers clean and fresh! I have been in a very heavy rotation with my diapers for over a year. At about the 18 month mark I did replace some of my inserts but my covers have been going strong.