Three days ago, our little ball of sunshine turned six months old. Yup, half a year of fun and new adventures has already passed. And so has experiments on cloth diaper combinations.
Now at six months, we've settled on a cloth diapering scheme that works for us everyday, whether indoors or out. So, from the variety of dipes in my stash as mentioned in my previous entries, we've now narrowed it down to two: (1) Bumgenius! One-size pockets and (2) Prefolds + Diaper Covers.
1. Bumgenius! One-Size Pockets - Everyone who takes care of Damian has grown very fond of the BGs. We love them! I have 10 in my stash and they're on duty for overnights and outdoor trips. I just stuff the pockets with one regular insert and it lasts 8 hours without leaks. For daytime use, I make sure Damian gets changed every 2-3 hours when on BGs, unless of course the diaper is soiled. And because BGs hold so well, it's easy to neglect the changes. So, less stuffing = less bum exposure to pee = minimal rash occurances.
2. Pre-folds + Diaper Covers - This is what Damian wears mostly during the day. I would say this combination actually holds as well as a pocket but only lasts for 2-3 hours. And it's perfect that way since the time limit forces us to change often. What I do is I twist fold the pre-fold and skip on the Snappi. The cover pretty much works as a fastener itself and there have been instances when Damian had side leaks when the pre-fold is held by a Snappi. Open sides work better for him.
Oh, finally I was able to try the Tushy Wushies on Damian! Now that he's six months old, the wushies fit nicely around his legs. They're ok. Frankly, they're not as great as their imported counterparts, but considering the price, they're ok. Construction-wise, I think the wushies have room for improvement. The tabs bulge on the side when fastened and the velcros are really sharp. I'm afraid it can scratch a baby's tender skin. So, changing the kind of velcro fastener and a few more stitches on the tabs will do a lot of good. Absorbency-wise, they're alright. The waterproof outer looks like umbrella fabric so they're not actually waterproof. They do get moist on the outside (but not to the point of leaking) when the diaper is full. If you are on a budget but still want to use pockets, I would still suggest using Tushy Wushies. As I said, they're not as great as the other pockets, but it can still serve its purpose.
In a day, we're down to a total of 5-6 changes. And given that rate, we can afford washing the diapers every 2-3 days and still have enough left in our stash. It's good that the sun is always out, the diapers dry easily and the heat acts as a natural whitener and disinfectant on the dipes.
If you're using cloth diapers, here are some tips on how to wash and spring clean them.
Regular washing:
1. Always rinse the pocket and insert with cold water once it's full or soiled. This makes it easier to wash the diaper and prevents stains and smells.
2. It is recommended that the pockets be washed in hot water with 1/4 the amount of detergent you usually use. This is easier for those with washing machines, but for those who don't (like me), washing the diapers with tap water under the heat of the sun works well too.
3. Do a double rinse. Then, smell the diaper. If it still smells like detergent, do another rinse. This is to make sure that there are no detergent residues in your diapers because residues lessen absorbency and causes leaks.
Spring clean washing, also known as stripping:
If you notice that your diapers are no longer as absorbent and have become stinky, chances are it needs a good stripping. Spring cleaning or stripping is done to remove residue left by detergents, fabric softeners, rash creams and stuff on the diaper.
Generally, all cloth diapers require spring cleaning, except for those with waterproof lining as the stripping process breaks down the material. But, some WAHMs (work-at-home-moms) suggest stripping just the same. I, however, suggest checking the washing instructions on your diaper and strip according to your needs.
There are several ways to do stripping, the simplest of which involves just the use of water.
Wash the cloth diapers in the hottest setting your machine can handle until all soap bubbles disappear. For hand washing, what I do is I soak the cloth diapers in very hot water. Then I wait for the water to cool a little before I hand wash (with gloves on, of course). This method is the only one I use for pockets and diaper covers.
Another method to add 1/2 cup of white vinegar when doing your final rinse. The vinegar breaks down the residue and acts as a disinfectant thus eliminating odors and stains. Hang to dry and don't worry, the diapers won't smell sour at all.
Another trick is to add 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil or tea tree oil to the load to disinfect and get rid of odors. These two oils are known for their disinfecting properties and of course they smell wonderful. However, since these are oils, I suggest that you resort to this method when the problem involves smelly diapers. For residue build-ups, I think it is still better to use the water and/or vinegar methods, depending on your needs.
Get more tips on how to wash cloth diapers through these links:
Happy cloth diapering everyone!
thank you for this post, dear!! super helpful! you're one of my favorite bloggers, ever! 