 |
|
 |
 |
|
Diaper FAQ
What do I need to get started? TOP
How often do I need to change the diapers? TOP Cloth diapers are not like disposables. You do have to change the diapers every 1 1/2-2 hours during the day for newborns and about every 2 to 3 hours for older babies. This all dependens on your baby and how much he/she wets.
Do I need to pre-wash any of the items? TOP Pre-Washing Micro-Fiber and Polyester Products: Fasten laundry tabs on items that have Velcro. Wash with a small amount of detergent. Do not pre-wash polyester products with natural fibers; this may cause pilling of the fleece. Pre-washing Natural Cotton or Hemp Products: Wash 3-5 times in hot water with a tiny bit of detergent. This enables the diapers to absorb properly. Dry between each wash for proper sizing. Your Cotton Prefolds will arrive somewhat flat and stiff, but will fluff and soften wonderfully after washed. All prefolds require pre-washing. The natural oils of cotton is preserved in the natural prefolds. Prewash 3-5 times with a tiny bit of detergent in hot water. Dry between washes for proper sizing. Additional initial washings are required for ideal absorbency in unbleached diapers. Natural prefolds will continue to increase in absorbency and will reach their ultimate absorbency after about 8 washes. How do I wash my diapers? TOP Put soiled diapers in your dry pail when soiled. Every 2-3 days toss everything in the wassh. Put diapers, inserts, cloth wipes and diaper pail liner into the washing machine and prewash on cold or evern better let them soak. (Use the pre-soak option on your washing machine, or soak for one to two hours. Soaking overnight is a great way to save time.) Then wash in warm or hot water with no more than a Tablespoon of regular laundry detergent with two cold rinses. Do not use bleach or fabric softener!
Diapers can be hung to dry, or put in the dryer. For best results, hang covers and pocket diapers to dry, or put on a lower heat setting in the dryer.
Visit our Diaper Care section for detailed washing instructions for each manufacturer. This information is intended as a guideline only – always follow manufacturer instructions when washing and drying cloth diapers. How can I get stains out? TOP Why are my cloth diapers leaking? TOP Then, figure out where the leak is coming from. If the diaper is leaking out the top, make sure that the insert isn't pushing the lining fabric up against your baby's clothing. That will cause the diaper to wick moisture up and out of the top. The top edge of the diaper should be flat against your baby with the soft fabric against your baby's skin. If the diaper is leaking out the side of the legs, change the diaper and remove the insert. If it is saturated then your baby either needs something more absorbent or a more frequent diaper change. If it isn't saturated, then you either have a fit issue or a repelling issue. To observe fit, pick up your baby's legs after putting the diaper on and observe how it fits around the bottom of their bottom. If the diaper is leaking out the back, make sure that the insert is tucked in completely. If the insert is sticking out the top of the diaper, it will wick moisture onto your baby's clothing. Every baby is different. Some brands of cloth diapers and diaper covers may just not fit your baby well. It's a good idea to try a few different brands when first starting out. What is a Pocket Diaper? TOP A pocket diaper has a waterproof outer layer and a microfleece or suedecloth inner layer. A pocket (usually located in the back of the diaper) is where you can place an absorbent insert to draw moisture away from baby's skin. Because the insert is separate from the rest of the diaper, you can customize the absorbency to fit your child’s needs. This is great if you need varying levels of protections and absorbency. Another great feature is that you can use almost any naturally absorbent material to put in the pocket, including old flat and prefold diapers. The separate insert also makes washing and drying quicker and more effective. Examples of pocket diapers include Fuzzi Bunz, Happy Hieny, DryBees, and Just Ducky Baby Pocket Diapers.
My diapers are stinky, even after washing. Help! TOP Diaper odor is most likely caused by detergent build up. Run your diapers through an extra hot wash with no soap; if there are any suds, the detergent did not rinse out completely, and this residue is what causes the ammonia smell when the diaper gets wet again. Run your diapers through an extra cold rinse cycle after washing or use less detergent, or switch brands to prevent detergent build up.
I periodically soak my diapers overnight with oxyggen bleach to get them fresh and squeeky clean. Follow with a regular wash and extra rinse. What is diaper "stripping"? TOP “Stripping” is the process of removing detergnet build-up from your diapers. These residues can cause waterproofing to wick, or persistent odor problems, or rashes. Begin with clean diapers. Fill washer with very hot water and and a few scoops of oxygen booster like oxy-clean or oxo-brite (don't holdback!). Allow it to agitate, and then soak for a few hours, I let mine soak overnight. Rinse and then run a hot wash with nothing but water. If there are any suds during the wash, repeat the plain-water wash until there are no suds. That should help. It’s best if you do not return to using the same detergent that caused the problem. In fact, repeated washing in a residue-free detergent will also remove residues, just not as quickly as an intense “stripping”. Some people have found better success with hand-washing in a sink filled with hot water and dish detergent, where you can scrub each individually with a nail brush to speed the removal of residues. That may not be practical, however, if you have two dozen pocket diapers! As always, do not hesitate to contact us for more help.
|
|
Account Functions |
Cloth Diapering Information
|
Store Information
|
|
|
|
|
