SHOPBaby Care |
Questions
How much money will I save using Cloth Diapers? TOP The average household (based on Oklahoma disposable diaper prices in Jan 2010) will save $1,500 to $2,000 using cloth diapers on their first child. Each additional child after that will be $2,000 to $2,500. How many diapers will I need? TOP We get this question a lot. It really depends on you and how often you want to wash. We recoomend 24 diapers to start. That will allow you to wash about every other day. As the baby gets older you will need fewer diapers during the day. Newborns need diaper changes 10 - 14 times a day. At 3 months a child will need 8 - 12 and at 6 months 6 - 8 changes per day. Do I need snaps or hook and loop (velcro) closures? TOP This really comes down to personal preference and who will be doing the diaper changes. Both options have pros and cons. Snaps are great because toddlers can take them off as easily and they are super easy to take care of when washing - no laundry tabs. At times snaps can be confusing and difficult for grandmas and dads. Hook and loop (velcro or aplix) diapers go on just like disposables and is the easiest closure for size adjustments. This is the easiest option for the new cloth diaper user. However, there is more maintanence with velcro. Laundry tabs must be used in order to keep diapers in good working condition. Some little ones can easily open and close velcro, so they are not always the best for older babies. Velcro is super easy when you have little squirmy baby to change quickly.. We suggest a mix to get started. You will appreciate having options in your diaper stash. What is a pocket? TOP A pocket diaper has an outer layer of material that is laminated with PUL (poly urithane laminate). A layer of material (usually microfleece, micro cotton, or hemp) is attached to the outer layer with an opening in the back of the diaper to create a pocket. The pocket is stuffed with an abosrbant material (usually microfiber, hemp, bamboo or cotton). The microfleece layer next to the babies skin wicks moisture away and into the inner absorbant material. There are generally snaps or hook and loop closure that you use to put the diaper on the baby. Easy peasy! At wash time, remove the insert and wash BOTH the pocket and insert. Pockets should only be reused after washing unless used as an all-in- two. bumGenius, Fuzzibunz, and Econappi are popular pocket diapers. What is an All-in-one? TOP All-in-one (AIO) diapers have the absorbant material sewn onto the layer with PUL. There is no stuffing and unstuffing with AIOs. The entire diaper is wash and used just like a disposable. These diapers come in one size (designed to fit babies 8 - 35 pounds) and fitteds (small, medium, large). Examples of AIOs are the dreameze all in one and the bumGenius elemental. What is an all in two? TOP An All-In-Two diaper is a diaper that you can reuse the outer layer by replacing the inner layer. AIT's allow a user to reuse the cover throughout the day. Examples of AIT are the GroVia shell and soakers and the AppleCheeks envelope system (when the insert is layed in the diaper not stuffed in the pocket). How do I wash my cloth diapers? TOP Everyones washing routine will vary slightly depending on the type of machine and the detergent that you use. At The Changing Table, we love Rockin' Green Soap for all of our laundry needs. It has an amazing ability to kick the stink out of micro fiber. The key to washing diapers is water. We offer a quick run down and sample wash routine to get you started. Top Loader 1. Cold Rinse/Wash - no detergent 2. Hot Wash (2-3 tbsp Rockin' Green) 3. Extra rinse Front Loader Front loaders can be a little more tricky. 1. Full rinse cycle cold no soap (add a towel or two for bulk if you need more water) 2. Hot wash with extra rinse (1 - 2 tbsp of Rockin' Green) 3. Rinse one more time... Are my diapers really clean? They look stained. TOP Staining or discoloration is no indication of how clean your diapers are. The best test is the sniff test. If they small and feel clean then they are clean. Poop stains! If the stains bother you, use mother natures bleach! Set them in the sun for an hour or two after washing and let the sun take away those stains. Some stains (like breastfed poop) might take a few times in the sun to really get out and natural fibers such as hemp, bamboo, and cotton tend to hold stains a little longer. If all else fails, a non-chlorine bleach can be used in the wash. Be careful because this can damage the PUL. Do I have to take the insert our before washing? TOP Not all the time but generally, Yes! If you use AppleCheeks, the pocket is designed to aggitate the insert out in the wash for you. All other manufactorers recommend removing the inserts before washing. |
