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There are a number of questions that I am frequently asked. So, I decided to have the answers available to everyone who visits Little Neetchers. Remember, all the answers I give are based on my opinions, experience, and research.
What diapers work the best for newborns?
This is a tricky question. Many parents cannot effectively or safely cloth diaper until the umbilical cord comes off. As of yet I have not found a cloth diaper that safely goes under the umbilical cord. Once the cord is off you are good to go. I would love to say that one-size diapers will truly fit an 8lb baby, but I have found this not to be the truth. Most are just too big and bulky. If you really want to start with a one-size diaper then I would recommend using Gro Baby or Soft Bums, they fit smaller babies than the Bum Genius diaper will. The only trick with using the Gro Baby or Soft Bums diapers for a newborn is to forgo the provided inserts that each diaper comes with (for a time, till the baby is bigger), and use preemie prefolds inside them. This will give you a better, smaller and more secure fit. I am also impressed with the FuzziBunz® One-size. The one-size diapers will look a little big, but if you don't mind, then go for it. I used, primarily, the Newborn Whisper Wraps and Super Brights with the Preemie prefolds inside. The infant prefolds are just too big to fit in the newborn covers. Using the Whisper newborn covers worked really well for me and made a smooth transition to the small size covers. Also, the FuzziBunz® XSmall pocket diapers are great for nighttime use. They are super cute and super soft and the size is perfect for newborns.
What diapers can I use for my 3-4 year old who still wets the bed at night?
Using cloth diapers at night for a little bit older children is yet another way to save money. Most disposable diaper companies charge a lot for their larger diapers or training diapers. If your child wets at night, but not a particularly large amount I would go with the Bummis Training pants. The sizes will fit large kids. If your child is a heavy wetter, like my 3 year old, I would highly recommend the Wonder Wraps for 3 year olds! I have had no leaking issues and they fit 30-40lbs kids on the largest size. Use the Regular size prefolds in these and they work like a dream. If you still think you will need more absorbency, put a stay dry doubler on top. You will be pleasantly surprised at how well this works for heavy a wetter.
Do the prefolds really stay in place with out pinning them?
Yes the prefolds really do stay put! The key is to have a great fitting cover. If the cover fits well the prefold will not be able to move around. All of the covers Little Neetchers sells I have used exclusively with unpinned 1/3 fold prefolds with no problems. Usually cheaper covers lend themselves to being bulkier and not creating a good fit.
Do you use fitted prefolds?
I have never used fitted prefolds because of the cost. If you use the Organic prefolds that we sell each prefold costs you between $2-3.50. Fitted prefolds cost you $12-18.00 per fitted prefold. So, if you need 2 dozen prefolds to cloth diaper the savings are considerable when just using regular prefolds. People say that using fitted prefolds makes your diaper cover last longer because it holds the poop in, however because of the cost difference you could afford to buy more covers and still be saving money! Once babies start eating solids and their poop is formed, there is absolutely no need for expensive fitted prefolds.
Do you really scrape poop off the diapers?
Do you want the truth??? I have never scraped poop off of my cloth diapers! When babies are primarily breast feed, their poop is thin and runny which means there is no need to scrape or dunk diapers in the toilet because the poop will easily come off in the wash. Remember, the washer empties the same place as the toilet. As your baby starts eating baby food, poop will continue to be very soft. My rule of thumb has been, whatever poop stays on the diaper as I hold it over the toilet is soft enough and unformed enough to be washed out in the washer. Also, with the new designs that incorporate fleece in diapers and as inserts, you will be pleasantly surprised at how easily poop comes off fleece. If you use prefolds instead of pocket diapers that always use fleece, you can buy Bummis Fleece liners to put on top of your prefolds to help poop come off easily with NO SCRAPING! It really is that easy!
What information do you have for parents who want to cloth diaper but their baby is in daycare?
Many daycares are hesitant to use cloth diapers because of two main issues. 1. The handling of poop. 2. The storage of poop. Daycare providers need to be sure that these two issues are handled within their state’s regulations for daycare safety. Most daycares will use Bum Genius diapers once they are shown how to use them and store them. To deal with the 1st issue (handling of poop), the daycare needs to know that they do not need to do anything with the poop. This means that if your child is under their care and poops in the diaper they can simply leave it for you to take care of. Some daycares will empty the poop into the toilet, but most won’t. That means that when you bring your diapers home you will need to dispose of the poop. This works well with the Bum Genius because they can be rolled up and velcroed, much like you would dispose
What do I do if my diapers smell really strong after each wetting?
This can mean a couple of things.
1. The detergent you’re using is not rinsing completely out and is in return holding the stinky diaper smell in your diapers. The best detergent I have found to remedy this is Charlie’s soap. After switching to Charlie’s it only takes about 5 washes for your old detergent residues to be completely rinsed out, and from then on you’ll have no problem with soap residues if you continue to use Charlie’s.
2. You may need to add an extra rinse or wash cycle to your diaper washing routine. Every washer seems to wash differently, so you may need to adjust your washing routine to keep your diapers smelling clean. I have found that every month or so I need to do 2 extra washes with detergent to really get them smelling good again. Remember that when you do extra washes after the poop is already washed out, you can throw in your other laundry so you are not wasting water when doing an extra wash cycle. Side notes: I have found a large range of differences in the amount a diaper smells between different children. It seems as if some children’s urine smells more than others. Don’t quote me on this, but there is a big difference in smell between my son and my daughter. I have also noticed that pocket diapers or All-in-Ones tend to hold smell in more than my prefolds and need an extra rinse or wash cycle. This could be the difference in fabrics or because of how two fabrics are sown together.
Do you still have more questions? Feel free to contact us. We are happy to help!
