In
a previous post, I mentioned how I sort of avoided cloth diapers for the longest
time because of a misconception that they’re
complicated and expensive (Despite how eye-catching they are!). As a newly-converted CD patron, I could honestly say that once you get the hang of it, cloth diapers are not complicated, and they
are definitely not expensive. If you do the math, a dozen cloth
diapers which you can use well into your tot’s potty training days is only
worth two months of disposables.
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| Gotta love CDs! More CDs from Baby Wizard in velcro and snap-on closures |
let the sophisticated look of cloth diapers intimidate you. True, there’s some learning that needs to be done, and it can be a lot to take in for a new user. But it is also an excellent long-term solution to costly disposables.
If you’re like me
who’s too lazy to bother with technicalities and jargons, here are the main things you need to know about cloth diapers, especially pocket diapers:
information overload.
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| Pocket diapers have these pockets for absorbent inserts |
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| Snap-ons from Baby Wizard and Alva and Aplix/ velcro from Baby Wizard |
Velcros hugely resemble disposables but may be a bit more expensive. Some CD users say that with larger babies, the velcros don’t hold up as securely as snap-ons do. I have both and so far, I’m satisfied with both types. The velcros are much more convenient to deal with though, especially if your baby is fussy during diaper time.
3. Usage. If you’ve previously used a disposable diaper, using a pocket diaper should be
a no-brainer. You simply stuff an insert inside the diaper’s pocket, adjust the rise (or height) of the snaps to suit your child’s weight, then close the snap-ons or velcro at the top
just like you would a disposable. Change every 2-3 hours, unless it has poop of course.
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| Adjust the rise according to your child’s weight: Smallest setting for 8-16 pounds; medium setting for 17-23 pounds; large setting for 23-33 pounds
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For overnights, what I do is I stuff 2 inserts in the pocket. This usually lasts 10-11 hours without changing (Lia’s a medium wetter. Heavy wetters usually last 7-9 hours with 2 inserts).
4. Inserts. Cloth diapers are sold with at least one insert, or that absorbent component that you insert in the pocket between the outer core and inner lining. The term insert can be confusing as there are many that fall into this category : trifolds, prefolds for prefold inserts, pocket stuffers for pockets and others.
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| Different types of inserts: Microfiber, MF-Bamboo, and Pure bamboo |
CD inserts though usually refer to the pocket stuffer. Each brand has its own insert specifically designed for their respective shells, although inserts are typically interchangeable with those of other brands (I found that Baby Wizard’s tend to be longer than other brands, but more on that in a separate post).
Inserts can be made of microfiber, microfiber-bamboo, and pure bamboo. There’s also the charcoal bamboo insert. Microfiber is rough and is the least absorbent, but is the cheapest type. A bit more expensive, the microfiber-bamboo is typically made of 80% bamboo and 20% microfiber, making it more absorbent, smoother and slimmer. Pure bamboo inserts are the most expensive, with each piece ranging from P120 to P170. These are ultra-slim, supple and silky, and slides easily into pockets when stuffing. They can be great as overnighters as they are less bulky yet highly absorbent. Because of the silkiness though, they may slide out of place, too.
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| Closer look at microfiber and pure bamboo inserts. Notice the obvious softness of bamboo. |
If you wish to save up on inserts, Clarice of tickledmoms suggests using socks as inserts.
During travels, you might want to buy those disposable liners that strain the poop so you don’t need to laundry soiled diapers as usual .Liners are different from inserts in that they do not function for absorbency but as a barrier for solid waste.
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| This is where you stuff the stuff. |
What I do is I first
wash out the poop using a bidet or a showerhead before submerging the diapers in tap water for a few hours to further remove stains and urine. Then I throw them into the washing machine with water and Cycles baby detergent (others use Charlie’s soap) to wash and rinse as usual. Easy peasy.
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| Photo by Chloe of Baba’s House |
whole purpose of CDs being cost-effective. In addition to a couple of extra inserts for the night and a wetbag (waterproof and designed
to accommodate 6-7 soiled diapers during trips), diapering equipments are just the same as with disposables: A changing mat, baby wipes or cloth wipes, and a pail. Some mommies use a diaper pail, but I simply use a basin we had in the house to cut down costs. Serves the same purpose anyway.
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| Cute 12×12 wetbag! Got this for a hundred from Baba’s House |
How about you, cloth diapering mommy? What have you learned about cloth diapers so far? If you’ve thoughts and tips to share about cloth diapering, I’d love to hear from you!
Hi Butchie! I'm new to your site…
You have a comprehensive review of cloth diaper right there, I'm also a CDying mom, and we use Grovia.
And I agree, the initial investment is quite expensive. But when you think about it and take out your calculator, it will come out cheaper than using disposable ones.
You'll be able to use it till your baby reached her 2nd year plus it can be passed down to the siblings. Plus more environment friendly.
Glad you're enjoying your CD journey.=)
Anyway, I would like to invite you to our new mom blogger network in FB. Hope you could join here https://www.facebook.com/groups/activemommybloggers/.
Hope to see you there!=)
Nova, I agree. It sure seems like a huge investment at first, but in the long run, CDing proves to be way more economical than disposables, even with all the laundrying. Grovia CDs are awesome, but unfortunately they're way out of my budget lol. I'd love to join the group, dear. Thank you for the visit and the invite 🙂