So what do I actually NEED for cloth diapering? At bare minimum: They say you need 26 cloth diapers if you have a newborn. My son is 17 months and we have done ok with only 13-14 diapers (full time). It depends on how often you plan to wash diapers. You don’t want to go more than 2-3 days before washing a load (trust me), so you only need enough diapers to last for 2 or so days. I wash a load every day and still have 4-5 diapers that are clean while I wash. Keep in mind that having more diapers DOES have an upside-longer life. The more you wash and use your diapers, the faster they will wear out (which, good diapers take a couple of years to wear out so that isn’t a huge deal). So ideally, at least 26. My original stash was 40 diapers, and it was more than enough. *Beware: there is something about cloth diapers…they are addictive. You only NEED that amount but you will want to buy more. I know a lot of ladies that SOMEHOW accumulated around 100 diapers. I think they just like how they look hehe. Let’s face it, cloth diapers are adorable. Still under the category of bare minimum: ~ 2 dozen cloth wipes, if you plan to use those. I like the double-sided of flannel & terry ~ a cloth diaper-safe diaper cream. Regular diaper creams are NOT ok to use on cloth diapers! They can make them repel urine instead of absorb-no bueno. A couple that are ok to use: coconut oil (in moderation) and CJ’s Butter. You can check other cloth diaper sites for a full list of cloth-safe creams. We use coconut oil, as long as it isn’t something that requires an antibiotic (like a yeast infection) coconut oil will usually clear it up. ~ a diaper-safe detergent. This is important. Using a detergent that isn’t cloth-safe can cause your diapers to develop build-up, which will keep them from absorbing (which can cause leaks and rashes), or it can even fade your cute, colorful diapers. Ya don’t want that, especially if you went all-out on your cloth diaper stash! pinstripesandpolkadots/detergentchoices.htm has a full list of detergents, and describes what each detergent has in it, as well as whether or not it’s ok to use it on your diapers. ~ storage for your diapers. There are different methods, but most recommended is a dry pail. You can use a regular garbage pail and empty your diapers into the wash and throw away the bag, OR you can buy a reusable pail liner (like the ones listed for sale here nickisdiapers/diaper-pail-liners.html) . Another great option is the wet bag (currently what we use). The wet bag comes in different sizes. We have a large in our bathroom and a small that I use in E’s diaper bag. They have an inner waterproof lining and a zipper to keep the wetness and the funk contained. Some wet bags have an extra, separate compartment on the outside to store clean diapers in. Ideally you want two of whichever you choose, so that you have a clean one to store your diapers in while you wash the other (reusable liners and wet bags can be washed with your diapers-how convenient!). Things you may discover that you want or need: ~ disposable liners (you can use regular creams with your cloth diapers IF you use a liner. ~ fleece liners (to keep baby extra dry, or to use with creams) ~ a diaper sprayer, for those poopy diapers. Some folks use em, some folks dump & swish (haven’t been able to do that yet haha), there are a few ways to get the poop off of your diaper. For babies that are exclusively breastfed, those poopy diapers can go straight into the washing machine. ~ inserts, doublers, soakers-added absorbency for your diapers. You might need ‘em, you might not. Most will need them at night, for heavy wetters. ~ drying accessories. This could be a clothesline, drying rack, or some wool dryer balls. You CAN dry your diapers on low heat typically, but I like to air dry when possible. Not to mention the sun naturally removes stains from your diapers! The wool balls can help freshen your diapers (since you CAN’T use dryer sheets in diaper laundry). ~ More diapers. Yup, it’s a major possibility. * Where can you BUY for your cloth diaper stash? Some recommended sites are nickisdiapers and kellyscloset. If you are local to Okinawa, consider buying from Chisai Bums! Great name-brand products, and you can take your items home instead of having to wait for shipping. https://facebook/pages/Chisai-Bums/183711628319702 I personally recommend brands like BumGenius, Kawaii, Grovia, and SunBaby. I hear great things about AlvaBaby, Happy Heinies, FuzziBunz and many others. I do not claim to be an expert, I am still learning but I love to share info! Tomorrow: helpful tips & tricks!
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 04:13:04 +0000
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