Cloth Diapering: My Two Cents

We have been cloth diapering Addisyn since she was 2 months old, and I have had several friends who are also interested in cloth diapering and wanting my advice, so here goes...

Types of Diapers:
Traditional Prefold - These are the traditional diapers that our mothers/grandmothers would have used.  A rectangular piece of cloth that is folded onto the baby and then pinned to fasten.  Some sort of waterproof cover must be used with these diapers.
All-in-One (AIO) - These are essentially the cloth diaper counterpart of a disposable diaper.  When wet/soiled, the entire diaper is changed.
Pocket Diaper - Like an AIO, the entire diaper is changed.  Consists of a waterproof cover with a fleece or flannel interior.  The back edge of the diaper is left open forming a pocket into which the absorbent pads are placed.
Hybrid/All-in-Two (AI2) - Consists of a waterproof shell and soaker pad.  If the shell isn't wet/soiled only the soaker pad needs to be replaced.  If desired the shell could be used as a waterproof cover for a prefold diaper and would hold it in place without pinning.  You also have the option of using disposable inserts in hybrid diapers (basically it's a disposable diaper without tabs that is held on by the shell.

Diapers are available in fitted sizes, or in one-size fits all.  Most one size fits all diapers have rise snaps on the front of the diaper that allows you to adjust the length of the diaper (from back to front) to fit babies from around 8 pounds up to around 35 pounds.  Of course every baby is different, but essentially these diapers can be used until the child is potty trained without having to buy different sizes as they grow.

There are websites out there that will allow you to try a variety of different cloth diaper styles and brands and keep and pay for only the ones you want, like Jillian's Drawers.

How many diapers do you need?  Manufacturers will have their own recommendations.  You need at least enough diapers to get you through a whole day, though most people like to have enough for at least 2 days it seems.  The general rule of thumb is that the more diapers you have, the less often you'll have to do laundry, and the longer the diapers will last (more diapers = less use/washing per diaper = longer lasting).  You will find that cloth diapers become an addiction, and you'll add to your stash here and there as you go.

What We Use:
Our stash (the term used for your cloth diaper collection) consists of GroVia AIO and AI2 diapers, BumGenius pocket diapers, and a Fuzzy Bunz Pocket Diaper.  All of our diapers are one-size fits all and all have done a great job of growing with Addisyn.

Our GroVias see the most use.  The AI2 diapers fit smaller babies than the AIOs do, but Addisyn was still able to use the AIOs when we first got them at 2.5 months.  With our AI2s we mostly use the reusable cloth soaker pads that snap into the shells, and if more absorbency is needed there are also booster pads available that can be laid on top of the soaker pads.  We do use disposable biosoaker pads when we travel, or if we're going to be out of the house for a while.  Unlike disposable diapers GroVia biosoakers are biodegradable and contain only about 1/5th of the chemical that makes disposable diapers absorbent.  GroVia AI2s are available with snap closures, or hook-and-loop closures (like velcro).  Hook-and-loop can be adjusted to a more precise fit than the snaps since hook-and-loop can attach at any point whereas snaps are placed at intervals along the waist of the diaper.  Snaps will last longer though (hook-and-loop will eventually wear out with use), and you don't have to worry about the velcro coming loose and getting stuck to other diapers.  Snaps are also more difficult for the child to remove once they get to the stage where they like to try to take their diapers off.  In the beginning I preferred hook-and-loop, but now I buy snaps when I get new diapers.

We only have a few BumGenius pocket diapers and use them exclusively for night time.  Because diapers are on longer at night more absorbency is needed.  At first our GroVia AI2s worked fine for night time, and when we started needing more absorbency we switched to the AIOs.  Eventually that wasn't even enough, so we bought a few BumGeniuses, and they have worked great.  Most nights Addisyn can stay in the same diaper for 10-12 hours without leaks (unless we didn't do a good job of getting the diaper on).

We have 1 Fuzzy Bunz diaper - I like the diaper, but I'm not crazy about the size adjusting system.  Unlike our GroVias and BumGenius diapers it does not use rise snaps to change sizes.  Instead there are 2 places where the elastic in the diaper is exposed and you pull the elastic to desired settings to get the fit right.  Once the you get the size figured out it's a great diaper, but it was a real pain to adjust to the right size.

Other Helpful Items:
Wet Bags and Pail Liners - These are reusable, washable waterproof bags with drawstring or zipper closures that are used to store wet/dirty diapers.  Wet bags are smaller in size and great to keep in diaper bags to keep soiled diapers in until you get home.  Pail liners are larger bags to be used in diaper pails.

Diaper Pail - We just use a trash can with a lid that locks on.

Cloth Wipes - I find it easiest to use cloth wipes instead of disposable  wipes because there is no need to separate the wipe from the diaper, everything can just be thrown into the diaper pail and washed together.  I also don't need to use as many cloth wipes as I do disposable wipes when I change poopy diapers.  You can buy cloth wipes, but they are rather expensive.  We just bought a bunch of baby wash clothes and they work great!  You can also make your own out of fleece, flannel or terry cloth.  A wipes solution can be made using various combinations of baby wash and oil (there are many "recipes" available on line) and you can either presoak your wipes, or keep the solution in a spray bottle and wet the wipes as you need them.

Diaper Liners - A thin liner that can be placed on top of the diaper to catch solid waste.  Liquid will still go through, but the solid waste can be removed by a diaper simply by removing the liner.  These come in rolls like paper towels.  We usually only use these while we're out of the house so that we don't have to bring home a diaper full of poop.

Diaper Sprayer/Diaper Shower - These are often hooked up to the toilet water supply line, are similar to sink sprayer, have adjustable water pressure, and are used to rinse solid waste out of the diaper directly into the toilet.  You can buy these, or buy supplies at any hardware store to make your own (just Google "homemade diaper sprayer").  We actually bought a pet shower that hooks up behind our shower head since our toilet water supply line is weird and the shower is close enough to the toilet to use.  If your baby is exclusively breastfed there is no need to rinse out poopy diapers! :)  Breastfed baby poop is completely water soluble and washes away easily in the washing machine.  If your baby is on formula or eating solids though you'll definitely want to rinse out the poop (or you could just use liners all the time).

Diaper Care:
Storing Dirty Diapers - You want to use a dry laundry pail for dirty diaper storage.  Of course diapers will be wet with pee, or wet from rinsing out poop, and that's okay, but you don't want to have a pail filled with water that you keep diapers in.  This used to be common practice, but it's very unsanitary (harbors lots of nasty bacteria) and being left in water like that is not good for the cotton.


Washing - Cloth diapers come with directions from the manufacturer as to what washer and dryer settings to use when washing, or if an item should be hung to dry (many shells are like this), and the amount of detergent to use.  Often (especially with front load washers) you don't want to use as much detergent as you do with clothes because soap will build up in the soaker pads and make them less absorbent.  You must also prewash new diapers a number of times before use (again, the manufacturer will give this information), this is to wash out all of the natural oils that are in the cotton and increase absorbency.

You don't want to use just any old detergent with cloth diapers because a lot of them aren't good for the diapers (mostly because of problems with soap build up, which decreases absorbency and may cause rash in your baby).  We use Tide Free and Gentle which works just fine, All Free and Clear is another option.  There are also other brands that aren't available in grocery stores that are more cloth diaper specific; Tiny Bubbles and Rockin' Green seem to be very popular cloth diaper detergents.  You don't want to use anything that has plant (phyto-) chemicals in it (like 7th Generation).

Rash Creams/Barrier Balms - You also don't want to use just any diaper rash cream or balm because most over-the-counter varieties will accumulate in the cotton and make your diaper less absorbent.  We use "Magic Stick" which is put out by GroVia and love it!  It's a bit pricey ($14), but lasts a long time - we've had the same stick for 5 months now.  It is like a giant tube of chapstic (so no need to get it all over your hands), and can be used as a barrier against wetness to prevent rash or to treat an existing rash.  Most people have more trouble with rashes in disposable diapers (because of the chemicals), but they do happen sometimes with cloth diapers because moisture remains closer to the skin or because of soap buildup (or a combination of the two).  Again, there are many options that are cloth diaper-friendly, and you can Google this (California Baby is another one and is available at Target).

Stains - You don't want to use any sort of stain remover on your diapers (again, buildup issues, and bad for the cotton), and bleach should be used very infrequently if at all (see manufacturer's suggestions).  The sun is a GREAT way to get rid of stains!  Just wash your diapers, and hang them or lay them in the sun and the stains will be naturally bleached out in no time.  If the diapers/soaker pads are left to dry like this they will be stiff, but 5-10 minutes in the dryer will make them soft again.  Sunning will also work from inside (good for when it's cold out), just put them on a drying rack in front of a sunny window - may take a little longer this way.

Well, I hope this helps everyone!  I know it's a lot of information, and may seem overwhelming, but once you've used cloth for a few days and get a routine down that works for you it's just as easy as using disposable diapers.

The "Science" of Raising a Baby

A friend recently made the comment that according to new research they weren't raising their kids correctly, and I have been thinking about it ever since...

There have been many times since Addisyn was born that I have contemplated what she really needs versus what society says she needs.  When did "research" become a better parenting aid than instinct, or better yet signs and cues from your baby?  Sure, there has been plenty of advice based on research that I have followed, mostly those things to prevent SIDS.  But what about the other things?

Nursing a Baby to Sleep:

This is a big no-no in the minds of a lot of people - it goes along with other rules such as not rocking a baby to sleep, or not taking them for rides in the car to put them to sleep.  The reasoning behind these recommendations is that you don't want your baby to get used to being put to sleep in such ways otherwise they will have trouble falling asleep on their own.  

I never rock Addisyn to sleep, nor do I count on car rides to get the job done, but I will nurse her to sleep anytime thank-you very much!  Look at all of the other mammals in the world who all nurse their young, is there someone there to pull the babies off of their mothers before they can fall asleep while nursing?  What about people in other societies, the societies where breastfeeding is more prevalent and lasts much, much longer than it does on average in the US?  (The global average for breastfeeding is 4 years, in the US it is well under 6 months).  Yet other cultures and other species seem to have no problems when their babies are nursed to sleep (or at least I have yet to see research indicating that wolf pups are unable to put themselves to sleep).

Sleeping With Your Baby:

It's called co-sleeping.  While I would not officially call myself a co-sleeping parent, I will lay down with Addisyn to take a nap during the day most days (while nursing her to sleep - *gasp*!).  Addisyn is just not much of a napper, and she never has been.  In fact it's rare that she even sleeps for an hour in one stretch during the day.  It has really only been the past month or two that I've done these day time naps with her, but it is really the only way I will get a nap if I need one, and she does occasionally sleep a little longer when we sleep together.

These are probably the two biggest rules I break in one way or another.  But we have gotten so much parenting advice from our pediatrician that I struggle with on a daily basis, and I believe it is because my instincts (or sometimes just my brain) are telling me it's just not right; letting a baby cry it out for instance.  I am not one of those parents who runs to their child every time she cries in the middle of the night, and if it sounds like she might calm down on her own I will give her some time to see what happens.  But I can tell when she is crying and is not going to be able to calm herself down.  During times like these I will do the next recommended thing: try calming her and soothing her without picking her up.  Fortunately this works a lot of the time.  If it doesn't we move onto rocking (only until she's drowsy), and then feeding is a last resort. 

While we do follow a lot of the rules that "research" has shown is "best" for our babies I just think that many of these recommendations go sometimes go beyond what a baby is ready for.  Other animals know when it is time for their young to leave the den, to be weaned, to begin learning how to hunt, etc., and I think that we as people have these instincts too, so why not use them?  People always say that too many kids grow up too quickly - is society driving them to do so?

One last point that I believe applies...  I recently watched a National Geographic special called "Science of Babies" that covers development during the first year of life.  One point they make (and I have heard other places) is that in comparison to other animals, people are born well before they are ready to be physically.  Almost all other terrestrial mammals are born able to walk shortly after birth, but it takes humans nearly a year, maybe longer to be able to do this.  It is because of human anatomy that our babies must be born completely helpless; if human gestation was longer than 9 months babies wouldn't fit through their mother's pelvis during birth.  Human beings are essentially still fetuses for the first several months of life. 

Water, Water Everywhere, But Which One Should I Drink?

Bottled water is not something we buy very often at all because it is so much more expensive than just turning on the faucet and filling up our own glass, cup, or bottle.  When we do buy it it is generally to put in the cooler for a road trip or because we're out somewhere and want something to drink.  I have known for some time that drinking (tap) water standards are higher than bottle water standards, but like most people never really gave much thought to it.  And I had never stopped to wonder about the scope of human impact caused by the bottled water industry or the way they take advantage of people.  Until today...

Today I watched a documentary called "Tapped", a very informative 75 minute film all about bottled water.  The first part of the film is set in Fryeburg, Maine, a community of just over 3,000 where the Nestle company has a bottled water plant.  Unlike surface waters (streams, rivers, lakes, etc) there really is no legislation preventing companies from just coming in and pumping out ground water, which is exactly what is happening in Fryeburg and many other small towns where bottled water plants are taking up residence.  The people of Fryeburg have spent lots of time, energy, and money keeping their surface and ground waters clean, and due to lack of restrictions on ground water Nestle is able to just come in and take their water without any sort of compensation being made to the community and then turn around and sell them their own water.

In fact 60-70% of all bottle water is sold in the same state where it was acquired and bottled.  I have already mentioned that bottled water is virtually unregulated, and if it's possible it is even less regulated when it does not cross state lines because there is no inter-state commerce.  In cases where bottle water is to be sold in another state the FDA provides "regulation" if it can even be described as such.  There is only a single person in the Food and Drug Administration who oversees the bottled water industry, and that is only a portion of their job.  Bottled water companies are not required to provide reports to the FDA, and it is not required that any reports be made available to the public.

Some other tidbits that disgusted me:
*Independent analysis of bottled waters have found synthetic industrial chemicals, arsenic, bacteria (including fecal coliform), and various drugs (esp. caffeine and acetamenophen).
*Benzene (a carcinogenic agent) is commonly released into the atmosphere during manufacture of  PET and PETE plastic bottles, and may also be leeched out of the plastic into the bottle of water if left in a warm vehicle.
*The worldwide recycle rate for plastic water bottles is only 50%, in the US it is a much lower 20%.

I had previously read about the North Pacific Gyre, aka the North Pacific Garbage Patch.  It is actually the point on the earth that is the farthest away from any land masses, yet it is filled with trash (mainly plastic bottles).  Because of the way the ocean currents flow much of the garbage that is in our rivers, streams, and oceans will end up here, or in similar gyres in other oceans.

As I said, we do not buy bottled water often, but after seeing "Tapped" and thinking about the information presented and the information that I already knew I have decided to not buy or consume bottled water for any reason.  It will not be a difficult change at all - instead of packing bottled water for road trips we will simply fill our own reusable bottles and pack those in the cooler.  The other instance where I commonly bought bottled water is when I travel by plane, but I can just as easily bring an empty reusable bottle with me and fill it at the water fountain once I'm through security.  We definitely try to do what is healthiest for us and best for the environment when and where we can (and when and where we think about it), and it is so much easier for us to do when those choices also save us money: we have homemade, reusable microfiber cleaning cloths that we use with our Swiffer, we use cloth diapers, I make my own baby food, and now it is strictly tap water here!