Cloth diaper basics?

Question

hey all, I'm expecting my second child in October and I want to go the cloth diaper route, but I have no idea where to start, anyone have any advice, tricks, methods and maybe some websites you could provide to help me out with?

Answer 1

I'm a BumGenius 3.0 lover.

the diaperpin is a great website.

good luck! I'm happy to know there are more people out there doing this.

Answer 2

http://www.diaperpin.com/clothdiapers/cl...

That website has a lot of info and a forum on cloth diapering.

What we're doing is I'm making about 30 all in one diapers with flannel inners, terry soakers, and PUL outters.

We use a 10 gal storage bin with a cover in the bathroom and soak the diapers in there (minus poo of course, that goes in the toilet) with about 1/2 cup vinegar to minimize bacterial growth.

Use 1/2 cup baking soda with detergent to remove stains, and vinegar in the fabric softener cycle.  Don't use bleach because it will wear out the fabric too quickly.

La Leche League's website has a forum, and if you join and go under user cp to group memberships you can join the cloth-diapering threads.  You have to have membership for two weeks and 15 posts to be approved for the cloth diapering thread.

Answer 3

There are several kinds of cloth diapers. A few basic ones:

AIO (all-in-ones): these are all one piece and go on like a disposable. Probably the priciest.

Pockets: A stuffable cover lined with PUL. You can remove the insert. They dry much faster than AIOs. You can also overstuff them for nighttime.

Prefolds & covers: "old timey" diapers, folded and put on, held with pins or Snappi fasteners. You use a PUL cover with these. There are a lot of different kinds of prefolds: chinese, indian, hemp, regular old cotton.

Here are some informative websites:

http://www.cottonbabies.com

http://www.abbyslane.com

http://www.punkinbutt.com

http://www.treecitydiapers.com

http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com

It is also much easier to use cloth wipes!

I use bum genius 3.0 Pocket diapers or Chinese prefolds with Thirsties covers. I use Kissaluvs terry wipes, soaked in a solution of water with a drop or two of tea tree oil. I have a Wahmies pail liner and I use a regular 54gal trashcan for my pail. I wash the diapers in Allen's Naturally detergent and line dry.

Answer 4

The Diaper Pin is a great website.  I learned a lot there.  

I also learned a lot at www.cottonbabies.com.  They sell diapers and they have a lot of great information.

www.dy-dee.com is a great place to find environmental information and lots of folding techniques.

I love prefolds with a Snappi and a good cover.  Bummis SWW and Proraps Classic are great.  I really like homemade wool soakers.  If you or someone you know can knit or crochet (or sew recycled wool sweaters from the thrift store), then you can have some really good diaper covers.

The other piece of advice I have for you is to start with the washing methods from your favorite website.  Each website has slightly different advice.  Choose and use it as your starting point, then change it to suit your water chemistry and your routine.  Don't worry too much about washing correctly, just avoid bleach and fabric softener and you'll be fine.

You'll love cloth Diapers!  I'm getting ready to CD my third baby.  I would never go back to disposables.