cloth 101

Each kit is made up of a variety of styles of diapers. For instructions on how to use each type, see the Types of Diapers Section.

Putting a cloth diaper on is very similar to putting on a disposable diaper – just put it on baby and fasten.

To make sure you are getting a good fit, check around baby’s legs. You shouldn’t be able to see any gaps, but it should be loose enough that you can slide a finger underneath it.

Pee diapers – can go directly into the diaper pail. They do not need soaking or rinsing

Poopy diapers – for exclusively breastfed babies – put directly into the diaper pail. They do not need soaking or rinsing

Solids/formula fed babies – get the majority of poop off of the diaper by shaking over the toilet, or swishing in the toilet bowl. A pair of rubber gloves is very handy for this.

• Laundry detergents with fabric softeners
• Bleach
• Fabric softener or dryer sheets
• Diaper rash cream containing petroleum or zinc oxide

Leaks don’t have to be part of cloth diapering. If you are experiencing leaks, here are some steps to troubleshoot:

• Check if the inserts are soaked. If they are, add an extra layer of absorbency or change baby more often.
• Check that the fit is good. You should not be able to see gaps around the legs or waist, but not tight enough to leave red marks (pink marks like the ones your socks leave on your legs are fine)
• Check that there isn’t any of the interior of the diaper sticking out. This will wick moisture out onto baby’s clothes
• If you are still having problems, contact us. We will help you troubleshoot.

Diaper rashes happen with many babies, whether in cloth or disposable diapers. 

Only a doctor can diagnose and treat a rash, so if a rash stays for more than a couple of days, looks painful or you are concerned, go to your doctor.

Some ways to deal with rashes are:

• Change baby often, especially while they have a rash
• Change detergents in case baby is allergic
• If baby has been diagnosed with a yeast diaper rash, contact us for instructions to deep clean your diapers
• Use a cloth diaper safe diaper cream at change time
• Make sure diapers are rinsed thoroughly when washing
• If a rash is accompanied by diapers that don’t smell clean, contact us.

Pack your bag up with just the necessities:

• Cloth wipes & a small bottle of water to wet them with (these double as wipe cloths for sticky fingers and faces!)
• 4 - 5 cloth diapers (AIO, pocket or fitted diapers), and 2 - 3 covers (if you’re not using All in Ones) 
• A hand towel or changing mat.
• A waterproof wet bag to tote dirty diapers home in.

When you’re changing your baby, just drop the dirty diapers into the wet bag, and toss the diapers and bag into the washing machine when you get home. Simple! 

 1. Do a rinse cycle on cold with a 1/4 of detergent to cleanse diapers

2. Hot wash with detergent (any detergent without fabric softener will work) with cold rinse

3. Either air dry or put in diaper on low heat

Tips for shared laundry: (e.g. laundromat)

1. Rinse diapers at home before doing laundry

• In tub or sink, add diapers, warm water and ¼ amount of detergent you would use for a load of laundry. Wring out diapers well.  This step will get rid of the majority of waste.

2. Air dry at home to save money on drying

3. Use warm water setting on machine (hot is usually too hot) 

Hand washing diapers is an awesome alternative to machine washing if machine washing isn’t easily accessible. 

You can use your bathtub or sink, or a large bucket. An ordinary toilet plunger can also be used to agitate the diapers.

• Fill tub or sink with hot water and detergent
• Add diapers and swish until they are all wet
• Let soak if desired
• Put on rubber gloves and agitate diapers for a few minutes
• Drain water
• Rinse with warm water until rinse water is clear
• Wring out and hang to dry

Tips:

• Make sure you aren’t using too much detergent. You should be using enough that the diapers are coming out clean, but that it doesn’t take ages to rinse all the bubbles away
• Consider washing every day. It is less overwhelming to wash less diapers at a time, and they generally take longer to dry.

Line drying your diapers is a great way to save money on laundry costs. You may consider washing daily, as it does take longer to air dry.If you don’t have an outdoor clothesline, there are plenty of alternatives, even for small spaces

• Indoor drying rack
• Shower rail
• Hanging drying racks

Tip: 

1. Sun is the best way to fight stains, is natural and free. 

2. If diapers end up feeling crunchy after they have dried put them in the dryer for 10 mins on air fluff, it will soften them up again.

Prefolds are still a commonly used cloth diaper today. ... Flat and rectangular, you fold them into the shape you want, fasten on your baby, and then put a waterproof diaper cover on top.

A fitted cloth diaper can be made of any number of absorbent materials (bamboo, cotton, etc.) and usually has either a snap or hook/loop closure. These are a wonderful choice for night time, as the whole diaper is absorbent! 

These diapers require a cover. 

Pocket cloth diapers have an outer waterproof layer and the inner part of the diaper contains a soft fabric with an opening ("pocket") to insert the absorbent layers ("insert")

All-in-Two (AI2) cloth diapers allow you to snap or lay in an insert, often with the ability to reuse the cover by wiping it out and replacing with a clean insert.

All-in-One (AIO) cloth diapers are the closest you can get to a disposable in style. All you do is put it on - no pockets to stuff, no inserts to lay down, no folding. They have a waterproof outer layer and absorbent layers either sewn in or attached.

A diaper cover provides the waterproof layer needed to keep your child's clothing dry when using cloth diapers. A Diaper cover should be used with fitted and prefold diapers.