When using cloth diapers do you HAVE to use a diaper cover?

Question

My son's bottom is super red from runny poops and i've been thinking about stopping in at the local walmart and buying some cloth diapers. If i'm securing the diapers with pins do I have to have a diaper cover as well? I just mainly want to use them for a few days at home to clear up his little bottom.

Answer 1

You don't have to but they may tend to leak more.

Get a couple of all-in-ones.  They work just like disposables with snaps or velcro instead of pins and a built in cover.  They make a bit more laundry and take a bit longer to dry but are dead simple.

If you do choose to use prefolds remember that you don't change the cover each diaper change, only if it becomes soiled.

Answer 2

If the cloth diapers you are thinking of getting are gerber prefolds I wouldn't waste the money  they are garbage. I would have  been turned off cloth diapering if these were the first I tryed. Do you have a playpen? if you do you could put a towel in the playpen and put your son in it even 5 minuets of air can do wonders

Answer 3

i was until bubs got a red bottom too... now i jus change it as soon as i feel it wet or no its poo... which is better cos hes changed more often

Answer 4

It depends on the diaper.  If it's just a cloth prefold then yes.  But BTW the ones from Wally World are c**p.  Literally, c**p all over.  I'd invest in some good one size pocket diapers like BumGenius 3.0.

Answer 5

Now, this was many years ago...Pampers and Huggies were scented and were the only disposable diapers available and they were not cheap!  That said, I spent the money on them and loved them...at first.  After several rashes, yes I kept them changed (even more frequently than anyone else I knew), my daughter continued to get rash after rash.  Turns out I changed brands and at first it seemed to help and than after a couple of days it started getting worse again.  As a new mother I felt horrible!  I thought I was a terrible parent because I couldn't take care of a lousy diaper rash.  Low and behold, she was allergic to something in the diapers.  I switched yet again and went to coth.  Hooray!  Diaper rash started clearing up but only when I used them without the covers.  So, while this made for a lot of laundry, I used them without covers.  Make sure you keep lots of washcloths or wipes on hand.  His hind end will indeed clear up.  Fresh air is also good.  When she napped (what little she would) I would gently roll her and tuck a prefolded diaper underneath her.  I guess with a boy you better be careful there in case of a fountain!  Anyway, it really helped!  When I took her out to the store or in public places, I would use a cover but would remove it as soon as we got home.  Remember, urine burns the skin.  Covers should really be changed as well and should be machine washed and drip dried.  

I sure hope this helps!  I know it was very frustarting for me.  Oh, also try a different brand of Desitin or whatever you are using on his hind end.  I found thought my daughter had very sensitive skin and was sensitive to a lot of the soaps, baby washes and creams.  Through a lot of trial and error, we made it through and you will too.  

Good luck!

Answer 6

If you use those cloth diapers, yeah, you'll have to use a cover, unless you want a big mess.  

Why not just look into cloth diapers permanently?  Then you'd have less red bums to worry about, you'd be preventing a ton of trash from going into the landfills, and you'd be saving money in the long run!

Answer 7

He could leak through without the diaper covers.  Your best bet is to let him air out for awhile, just fold a towel/blanket up and sit him on it.