Cloth Diapers: The Basics

In most parts of the country, the decision to use cloth diapers instead of disposables is considered radical. Many parents don't even know they have a choice. Those that have heard of cloth often have misconceptions about it. Most of us cloth users were converted when we actually talked to a real, live parent who uses cloth diapers and told us the truth about them. Others found them online in their quest to find eco-friendly baby products or through parenting message boards.

Whatever motivated their switch to cloth, most parents are thrilled that they did. Some even become advocates for the "Cloth Movement" when they see how easy, fun (yes, really), and beneficial they are for parents, baby, and the planet. Please check out the Real Diaper Association for an exhaustive list of the benefits of cloth diapers, complete with references. For many, the core benefits are substantial cost savings (we're talking thousands) and environmental friendliness.

I'm not going to try to persuade anyone here; nor am I going to pass judgment on parents/caregivers who use disposables. I still use disposables myself in certain situations, and I respect every family's right to decide what is best for themselves. But lately I have been fielding a lot of questions from curious friends, family, and even strangers, and I can remember how confusing it was for me when I first got started. There is a lot of information out there to wade through, and sometimes it feels like cloth diapering parents are speaking a different language. I feel compelled to help others understand and use cloth diapers, as I wish someone had done for me. I could have been spending all those hours of internet research having romantic dinner-movie dates with my husband!

So, let's go through the basics of what you need to know to successfully cloth diaper your baby.

Diaper Options:
There are actually a variety of cloth diaper styles on the market, so you'll want to research your options and decide what works best for your family. This YouTube video gives an informative look at each type of diaper and how they differ. You'll want to consider your budget and lifestyle in order to select the diapering system that will work best for you. Keep in mind that your preferences may change with experience, so avoid buying one huge lot of diapers until you've tried a few different styles. Personally, I tried hybrids and then pockets - each time thinking this was the perfect diaper for us - until I realized I prefer an AI2 system best. Luckily, cloth diapers in good used condition have a pretty good resale value, so if you make a mistake or change your mind, all is not lost. Speaking of resale, it's a good idea to shop around for gently used diapers on sites like diaperswappers.com. Consider trying a couple different diaper styles for different purposes; for example, hybrid diapers for car trips, AI2s at home, and pockets overnight. Whatever system you choose, most babies will need extra absorbency to last through the night. Other considerations include whether you prefer snaps or velcro; natural fibers or synthetics; your baby's allergies or sensitivities; or the business ethics of the diaper manufacturers. Some babies, like my son, are intolerant of certain synthetics, such as microfiber, and may need to have natural fibers against their skin. Some parents prefer to avoid synthetics because they are said to hold odors more than natural fiber diapers.

If you're a savvy sewist, you may opt to make your own diapers. You can find diaper patterns and tutorials on the web. Another option is to purchase diaper shells, but make your own custom inserts to use with them. If you're willing to replace elastic or do other minor diaper repairs, you can save money by purchasing used diapers and fixing them yourself. Some parents will even give away diapers they can't repair themselves. Even if you buy new diapers directly from a company, your sewing skills will be a great asset in extending the life of your diapers -- particularly if you're wanting to use them for a second baby. But if you're not feeling the DIY love, don't despair. Proper care and maintenance will ensure a long life for your diapers, too.

How They Work:
Most cloth diapers work just like disposables, for the most part. If you're not using all-in-one diapers, you'll probably want to assemble a few diapers ahead of time so you can grab and go when you need one. To start, you simply put a clean one on and fasten it in place, usually with velcro or snaps. If you need to apply diaper rash cream, be sure it's cloth-safe; most diaper creams are not, and they will ruin your diapers by adhering to the inserts and causing them to repel liquids. When it's dirty, take it off, wipe your baby, and put on a clean diaper. Once baby is changed and happy, you'll take care of that dirty diaper, and this is what many newbies have questions about.

What to Do with Dirties:
Every parent - even within one household - has their own routine, so some elements are simply a matter of personal preference. First off, you're going to need a container of some sort to store your dirty diapers until laundry day. One option is a dry diaper pail, which is just a tall garbage can with a tight lid and a diaper pail liner. A diaper pail liner is a waterproof laundry bag designed to hold diapers. Look for one with a tab on the inside that you can dab essential oils onto to mask odors. Tea tree oil works well for masking the inevitable ammonia smell that will build up in your diaper pail. It's a good idea to wash diapers every 2-3 days; as long as you do, odor shouldn't be a problem. The diaper pail liner will need turned inside out and washed along with the diapers. Simply grab the bag from the bottom and dump the diapers into the washer, then push your hand up through the liner from the bottom to turn inside out without touching the dirty side of the bag. You'll want to have two diaper liners, so you can use one while the other is being washed. Another option is a wet bag, which can vary in size from very small and portable to quite large, and typically features a zip closure. Even if you use a pail at home, you'll probably want a couple small wet bags for car trips and errands. Diaper pail liners and wet bags are widely available, but I found some nice handmade ones for a good price on Etsy.com.

If your dirty diaper is just wet, you can toss it straight into the pail until laundry day. If you use an AI2 or hybrid system, you may be able to reuse the cover; in that case, only the insert will get tossed into the pail. If you're dealing with a poopy diaper, there are a couple extra steps. If your baby is exclusively breastfed, you can simply toss the dirty diaper - poop and all - straight into the diaper pail without thinking twice. Breastmilk poop is water-soluble, so everything will come out clean in the washer. If your baby is formula-fed or eats solid foods, you'll want to dispose of the solid waste before dropping the diaper into the pail. Some parents use a flushable diaper liner that catches most of the mess for you and makes clean-up easy. The liner and poop are flushed down the toilet, and the dirty diaper goes straight to the pail. Many parents swear by their diaper sprayer, which is just what it sounds like - a small hose attached to your toilet which is used to spray the diaper out into the toilet. Solid waste goes into the toilet, and the soiled diaper goes into the pail. You may want to wring out the excess water if the diaper is fairly wet from spraying. Fold the diaper over so you're not touching the dirty side. It goes without saying that you'll be washing your hands well after depositing your diapers.

How to Wash Your Diapers:
Most diaper companies have their own washing instructions for their particular diaper, so be sure and check those first. Just as before, everyone has their own opinion on what wash routine and which detergent works best for them. Most laundry detergents at the supermarket aren't good for your diapers, so you'll want to do your research and select a detergent well before laundry day. I recommend checking this detergent chart as a starting point. Some online diaper shops offer detergent samples so you can try it before you buy a large quantity. Use a very small amount of detergent with your diapers; because diapers are so absorbent, you have to be careful not to use too much or you'll have detergent build-up in your diapers. When in doubt, start with less detergent, and if your diapers don't come out clean, use more until you find the optimal amount. Many cloth users recommend a cold pre-rinse, followed by a regular hot wash and rinse for a full/heavy load, and an extra rinse at the end. Top loading washers typically do a better job of cleaning diapers because they use much more water, but an HE washer can work if you find the right set-up for your diapers. Be prepared for a little trial and error, and remember that once you have your system in place, keeping it going for the rest of your diapering experience will be easy peasy.

As for drying diapers, many cloth users prefer to simply line-dry them, but you can use a conventional dryer on a low setting as well. Do not use dryer sheets, because this is yet another product that leaves residue on your laundry that is harmful to diapers. You can buy or make your own wool dryer balls to safely and naturally soften your diapers while also speeding up drying time. Waterproof covers should be line-dried to preserve waterproofing as well as the elastic. If your diapers become stained (and they probably will), you can lay them out in the sun while clean and wet, and the sun will bleach out most stains within a few hours.

Resources:
Fortunately for you cloth diapering beginners, there is a wonderful online support system to help you along the way. Even if you don't know another person close to you who uses cloth, you will find a wealth of wisdom and advice if you know where to look. I took the liberty of putting this list together for those of you who want to know even more about cloth diapering. Enjoy.

Real Diaper Association
Diaper Pin
The Cloth Diaper Whisperer
Diaper Swappers
gDiapers Yahoo Group
Abby's Lane
Fluff Envy
The Diaper Jungle
The Nappy Shoppe
Fashionably Green Baby Shop
Fashionably Green Baby Blog

Happy diapering!

Project Veggie Garden, Day 64

We've been at this gardening thing for 64 days already! The outdoor veggie garden is in full swing. We picked a rectangular piece of the backyard, pulled up the grass, turned the soil, and mixed in a bag of organic garden soil. The lettuce, spinach, cucumber, and zucchini seedlings have all been transferred to the garden one at a time following a week of "hardening." One week before planting the seedlings, we began the hardening process by sitting them outside for just a couple of hours the first day and increasing the amount of time each day until finally they were outside overnight the night before planting. We also gradually moved them from indirect to direct sunlight, exposing them to more sunshine and wind over the period of the week. This process is supposed to toughen the plants so they'll survive out in the elements once planted.

Most of the plants adapted well, except for the red leaf lettuce. Since they were the first to begin the hardening process, and our spring weather was being quite fickle, they sat outside during some pretty chilly weather with almost no sunlight and strong winds. Thus most of the original lettuce seedlings died off that week and we had to start over with new seeds. An experienced gardener would have postponed the hardening week, but I was too excited to get the outdoor side of the garden going to wait. It all worked out in the end, though. We planted the surviving lettuce plants in the dirt and sowed additional lettuce seeds directly in the ground. They have sprouted just fine outside and we now have lots of gorgeous lettuce getting bigger and more colorful by the day.

We planted carrot and green bean seeds directly into the ground, per the instructions on our Seed Starting Chart. The carrot tops are still small, but looking good so far. Beans have not yet sprouted, but it's only been a week. I also started watermelon seeds indoors and have two happy little watermelon seedlings sitting in my windowsill. I would have had five, but my curious toddler dumped the other three and I haven't replanted just yet. I'm also having bad luck with basil seedlings. My first batch died off during early spring when we couldn't get any sunlight. I replanted and they sprouted quickly; however they were killed when hubby mixed up the water bottle and the vinegar bottle and watered them with cleaning solution. I will be replanting, though, because I love basil and can't live without basil pesto. Let's hope third time's a charm.

With all these veggies outside, the garden needed a little protection from bunnies and rodents. Brian picked out steel fence posts and poultry netting at Lowe's and installed a sturdy fence that has kept everything but the birds away from our veggies. The birds poke around inside the garden, probably looking for worms, but I haven't seen any damage from their presence so far. If they do cause problems, we'll probably try to construct a scarecrow to keep them out. The fence didn't seem to take long to install, but it must have been difficult because I was informed that we were never, ever taking it down.

This week, we are planting eggplant seedlings and hardening the pepper seedlings. We are down to only 3 eggplants and 2 peppers, but have decided not to start more at this time so the garden stays small and manageable in our first year as gardeners. So far, I don't think we're doing too bad, considering we're newbies with zero experience. There haven't been too many terrible mishaps -- just enough to keep it interesting.

Stick around for more adventures in veggie gardening. Happy planting!

Urban Gardening

One huge disadvantage to living in an apartment is no yard for gardening. But you shouldn't let that stop you! Most plants are happy to live indoors in their own pots. My husband and I got some seeds, soil, and those little peat dishes to start. Since our windows are facing east we also had to get some special plant lights but they turned out to be much cheaper than expected. So far we have cucumbers, tomatoes, chives, onions, and spinach. I must say, though, that the spinach doesn't appear to like the indoors very much and I haven't figured out why. So if you know, please tell me! Here's the setup and a pic of the starts.

As soon as they get a little bigger, I'll be transferring them into their own pots so they can get nice and big. A major advantage to indoor gardening is that you can do it all year round. Due to our latitude in upstate New York, it is better to start indoors anyway. Especially since right after we seeded them, it started snowing outside! Gardening is a lifelong learning experience so don't be afraid to give it a try whether it's indoor or outdoor!