Cloth Diapers For Today’s Families Presented by Courtney Durfee With Information Contributed by Ashley Heckman and DiaperSwappers.com Moms Cloth diapers have grown and changed with the times. They’re just as easy to use as disposables – daddy and daycare friendly! They are healthier for your baby and the environment and cost less than disposables over the entire course of diapering! In this packet you will discover all the options available to you. I will cover Cloth Diaper Types , Diaper Covers , Accessories (Pins, Snappis, Liners, Doublers, etc.), Diaper Pails and Storage , Washing and Drying , Cloth Safe Creams and Products, Local Resources and Cloth Diapering Resources . Feel free to pass this packet on to others and share the cloth love! Contents Cloth Diaper Types – Pages One and Two Cloth Diaper Covers – Page Three Diaper Comparison Charts – Page Four Accessories – Page Five How Many Do I Need – Page Six Pails & Storage – Page Six Washing & Drying – Page Seven Cloth-Safe Creams & Other Info – Page Eight Cloth Diapers in Day Care – Page Nine Resources & Links – Page Ten Local Resources – Page Eleven WAHM’s & On-Line Suppliers – Pages Eleven through Seventeen Books & Articles – Page Seventeen Discounts & Great Deals – Page Eighteen A Special Thank You to our sponsors: Alycia from Lil’ Fluffers Diapers for providing diapers for the class & Elizabeth from Earthy Products for Supporting our class & providing us with materials Cloth Diaper Types Flat: A single layered fabric (typically cotton) that can be folded where absorbency is needed most, or simply folded into a square and used like a prefold. Cotton weaves include birdseye & muslin. Economical and one sized (can be doubled when baby is older). Receiving blankets can be used (but need to be pinned). You need a cover to make this type of diaper waterproof. Needs pins or snappi and many use with a doubler for naps and overnights. There are a variety of folds that can be used with flats. See the resources and links page at the end of this packet. Prefold: A flat, layered, rectangular diaper with extra layers for absorbency in the center. Commonly used with a fastener and waterproof cover. Economical to buy and can be repurposed as burp/cleaning cloths or inserts/doublers. Great for the newborn stage. You need a cover to make this type of diaper waterproof. Prefolds can be customized with a decorative fabric on one side or the middle layer. embellished prefold pictured by Staceyroo77- http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/member.php?u=14094 Pre-Fitted: A fitted diaper made from a prefold. Goes on like a disposable. May have snaps or aplix (a.k.a. velcro, hook and loop, touchtape) closure, or require pins or a Snappi. You need a cover to make this type of diaper waterproof. Fitted: A shaped diaper that includes elasticized legs. Most commonly has an aplix or snap closure. You need a cover to make this type of diaper waterproof. Contour: Shaped, like a fitted diaper, but without elastic and usually without attached closures. Commonly used with pins or a Snappi. You need a cover to make this type of diaper waterproof. Pocket: A 2 layered diaper that requires the addition of an absorbent insert. The outer layer is most commonly made of PUL, with the inner (the part that sits against baby's skin) being a "stay-dry" fabric (microfleece, suedecloth, etc.) that allows moisture to seep through to the insert, keeping baby's skin dry. Use a fresh, clean insert and pocket at each change. You do NOT need a cover to make this type of diaper waterproof. First diaper pictured by www.babysweetbottoms.blogspot.com All In One (AIO): The closest option to disposable diapers. Outside is made of a waterproof layer, and the absorbency is sewn in- no stuffing inserts! Some AIO’s are “hybrids” with a pocket to stuff extra absorbency if you so choose. You do NOT need a cover to make this type of diaper waterproof. All In Two (AI2): Similar to an AIO, but with a removable absorbent layer for easier washing and faster drying. Absorbent layer is usually snapped in place inside the diaper, sitting directly against baby's skin. You do NOT need a cover to make this type of diaper waterproof. AI2 by www.mamamarshscreations.com Diaper Covers For use with flats, prefolds, fitted and prefitted diapers Polyurethane Laminate (PUL): The waterproof fabric commonly used for making diapers and diaper covers. Can be air dried and reused in a day's rotation unless soiled with poo. 3-6 are usually adequate for a full diapering stash. Nylon: Not as commonly used as PUL, but a popular economical alternative. Usually found in a pull-on style cover. Gerber makes a variety of these pull-on covers. Wool (Soakers, Shorties, Longies, Skirties): Wool yarn can be used to knit or crochet diaper covers that, once treated with lanolin, are quite waterproof. Wool covers also offer breathability that PUL covers do not, as well as certain antimicrobial properties. Hand washing/applying lanolin necessary. Can be used multiple days without washing. Interlock (Soakers, Shorties, Longies, Skirties): Wool or acrylic yarn that has been tightly woven into more of a fabric than knitting or crocheting produces. Acrylic (Soakers, Shorties, Longies, Skirties): Like wool, but made with acrylic yarn. Can be washed more often and washed/dried with your normal laundry. Must be washed after a day or less. Fleece (Soakers, Shorties, Longies, Skirties): A synthetic alternative to wool, fleece can be treated with fabric softener for water resistance and used as a diaper cover. Must be washed after a day or less. Soaker: A term for a diaper cover made of wool, acrylic, or fleece, most commonly in the form of a pull- on (rather than wrap w/ aplix or snap closure). See also: Soaker definition in Accessories. Fleece skirtie (pictured above) and soaker by Staceyroo77- http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/member.php?u=14094 Cloth Diaper Quick Reference Chart Highest Rating **** Lowest Rating * Needs Dad/Day Care Type of Diaper Closure Type Cuteness cover? Friendly Flat or Prefold Yes Pins or Snappi Diapers * * Fitted, Pre- Pins, Snappi, fitted and Yes some have Contour ** ** Velcro or snaps Diapers Pocket Diaper No Velcro or snaps *** *** AIO, AI2 No Velcro or snaps *** **** Diaper Comparison Chart from babycottonbottoms.com Highest Rating ****** Lowest Rating * Flat Prefolds Contours Fitted Pocket All -In -Ones Economic ****** ***** **** *** * ** Ease of ****** ***** **** ** *** * Cleaning Minimizes * ** **** **** ***** ***** Bulk Absorption *** ****** Depends on Depends on ****** Depends on brand brand brand Durability * ****** **** *** ***** *** Ease of Use * ** *** **** ***** ****** Accessories Pins : Special safety pins used to fasten certain types of diapers. Snappi : An alternative to pins. 2-3 is usually adequate for a full diapering stash. Aplix, Touchtape : Velcro Liners : Piece of fabric or paper that is laid into a diaper to protect the diaper from creams, make removal of poo easier, or provide a "stay-dry" feeling on baby's skin. Most of the paper liners on the market are flushable. Fleece liners are easily and cheaply made by cutting synthetic fabric store microfleece into rectangles. Inserts : Separate absorbent layers for use inside pocket diapers. Doublers : Extra (usually smaller) inserts for use in combination with primary inserts. Soaker: Another term for the absorbent layer of any diaper. See also: Soaker definition in Covers. How Many do I need? Newborns will need between 10-12 diaper changes a day. After 3 months your baby will need 6-10 changes a day. The numbers below are the bare minimum amounts recommended for full-time diapering by parents who specifically use each kind of diaper. Less of each would be required if you use more than one type. Each amount listed is per child in diapers. Flats Two dozen diapers, 4-6 covers, 2-3 snappies, and at least one set of pins Prefolds Two Dozen, 4-6 covers, 3-10 doublers, 2 to 3 snappies, and at least one set of pins Fitteds/Pre-Fitteds One to two dozen diapers with 5 to 10 covers Pockets, AIO's and AI2's 12 diapers Cloth Wipes 2 1/2 to 3 dozen Pails and Storage Wet Pail: A dirty diaper storage pail that employs water and/or additives in which dirty diapers soak until wash day. Covered diaper pails with water and some detergent is a common combination. Wet pail users must be extra diligent about the safety of little ones. Pails should lock and be in a closed off location to prevent babies from drowning. Dry Pail: A dirty diaper storage pail that does not use liquids to soak diapers. Dirty diapers are sprayed or wiped of solids (or left alone), and then simply tossed in the dry pail until wash day. A common combination is a “wetbag” in a covered garbage bag or a hanging “wetbag” on a doorknob. Combating Pail Stink: Though some moms use commercially marketed diaper pails with success, the most common solutions seem to be simple lidded plastic trash cans, buckets, or tall laundry hampers. Most seem to agree that the more air that can circulate around the diapers, the less stink they have (and their home still smells normal as well!). Cleaning the inside of the pail on wash day goes a long way toward getting rid of any smell, as does a few drops of essential oil (like Tea Tree Oil) on a small piece of cloth tossed into the pail and some pail liners even come with a piece sewn in for this purpose. Washing and Drying Some diaper brands have specific washing directions but the following holds true for most diapers: Detergent: You cannot use just any detergent on your cloth diapers. Those with whiteners and softeners may cause your diapers to repel (instead of absorb) moisture.