Troubleshooting your cloth diaper

There are always going to be some bumps in the road, just like any other parenting venture. Here are some helpful hints for  the most common cloth diapering problems. If you are having any issues with the products you bought from us, or just general help with cloth diapering, especially if you are just starting out, do not hesitate to contact us, we will be more than happy to help you!

Leaks!

The most common of your diapers leaking are :

• improper fit, If the diaper is leaking, but not fully saturated, check to see if you have an improper fit.  If the leak is around the leg area, make sure there no gaps and try to get as snug a fit as possible, without it being too tight. Try adjusting the diaper to a different size or checking the insert. If the insert is not flat it could be creating a pocket area for pee to seep into and leak out of. 
• repelling  If you've got a good fit and you're still leaking, the most likely problem is that your diaper is repelling wetness instead of absorbing it. The causes of repelling could be from diaper cream residue or detergent build up. For either of these causes, there are a few remedies you can try: If you have been using diaper cream on your baby, without the protection of a flushable liner, your diapers will eventually have build up.
• over saturated diapers. First check to see where the leak is coming from, if the diaper is completely soaked, you know you're problem and it's time to change your diaper or insert. If your baby is soaking through diapers quite quickly, you made to change ore frquently or add in a doubler or insert.

Odors

It happens to everyone, you just did laundry and you go to change your babies bottom, and you open it up and you get a strong pungent smell, but it's not from a poopy diaper. It's just ammonia from pee. If you're diapers smell of ammonia, or have any other strong unpleasant smell, it is most likely caused by a detergent build up. To get rid of the smell, you are going to have to strip your diapers. (see above)

Another way to keep odors at bay is to use a little baking soda, in every other wash (1/2 cup). Baking soda is a natural odor eliminator, and a very effective one.

Staining

When dealing with baby poo, staining is inevitable. Staining won't affect how you're diapers work, but lots of parents don't like how it looks. Some good ways to prevent staining are to 

rinse your diapers in the toilet before washing, just swish them around with a stir stick. Or you can purchase a diaper sprayer. A handy contraption which is widely available, that is easily hooked up to your toilet so you can spray poo off the diapers before washing them. Also try not to wash them in hot water right away, or you risk "baking" the stains into the fabric.

If you have stains and want to get rid of them, hanging your diapers to dry outside on a bright sunny day will be the best way to achieve this. Sunlight is the cheapest and most effective way to brighten your diapers.

Caring for your hemp and bamboo diapers

Hemp and bamboo are wonderful fabrics for diapers, and are some of the greenest choices you can make. There are some special care procedure you need to make sure you do to allow them a long life. Before using your hemp or bamboo diapers make sure you pre-wash them at least twice. They will not reach it's maximum absorbency until the 8-10th wash, but you can start using them before then.

When you are pre-washing any diapers, make sure to pre-wash the hemp and bamboo ones separately because the natural oils can coat your other diapers.

How to wash cloth diaper

Top Loader

• Always use the highest water amount setting 
• Fast Agitation. 
• You will see the best results with less than 15 diapers per load.

Step 1: 
Cold rinse. This removes any remaining solid waste left in the diaper and helps prevent staining.


Step 2: 
Hot/Normal wash with Cloth Diaper Safe Detergent. I recommend Rockin' Green. Follow Manufacturer's directions for amounts. If you choose a standard clothing detergent (at your own discretion) please use half of the recommended amount.


Step 3: Rinse in Cold.


Step 4: Optional extra cold rinse.


Step 5: Line Dry (suggested) or use your Dryer on Medium Heat.




Front Loader/HE Washer


These can be tricky. My best advice is to use as much water as possible when washing/rinsing.


Step 1: Pre-Rinse or runs a Cold Short Cycle


Step 2: Run a Hot Wash with your detergent (note- many HE machines do not accept powder detergents!)


Step 3: Rinse (be sure you hae as much water as possible)


Step 4: Optional Extra Rinse.


Step 5: Line Dry (suggested) or use your Dryer on Medium Heat.

Intro to Cloth Diapers: Terms and Materials Guide

Size Options:

One Size: 

This diaper is a “one size fits most” and should fit babies between-8-13 pounds up to 30-40 pounds (3-14kg)- depends on baby's cuttings too.

Example : 

Bumgenius 4.0, Bumgenius Freetime, Blueberry Os pocket 

Sized: 

This diaper only comes in sizes (XS, Sm, Med, Large, or XL in most cases).

Example :

Itti Bitti Snap In One (SIO), Itti Bitti AIO, simplex 2.0

 

Dual Size: 

This diaper has 2 versions, usually referred to as Size 1 and Size 2.  It either comes just as these sizes or has adjustments within those ranges on the diaper.

Example :

Thirsties Duo Diaper, Thirsties duowrap, Capri Cover

Newborn: 

This diaper is a newborn size which should fit babies at birth.  Most newborn diapers begin fitting between 4-6 pounds and go up to 9-16 pounds depending on the brand.

Sizing Details:

3-Step Rise: This one size diaper uses a snap down rise system with 3 size settings.

4-Step Rise: This one size diaper uses a snap down rise system with 4 size settings.

Sized: This diaper only comes in sizes (XS, Sm, Med, Large, or XL in most cases).

One Size Elastic Adjustable Button Elastic: This diaper is sized using button hole elastic in the legs (and sometimes also in the waist). 

Example : Charlie Banana

Free Size Elastic: This diaper is sized using elastic in the waist that is tightened or loosened with a toggle and held in place.  

Free Size: This diaper has no sizing system but fits babies of multiple sizes.

Internal Snap Down Rise Adjustment: This diaper uses a snap down rise system located on the inside of the diaper to adjust the rise.

Fold Over Rise: This diaper is sized by folding the front of the diaper over then securing the closure (snaps or Velcro) to control the rise.  Sometimes this system is in conjunction with rise snaps.

Dual Size: This diaper has 2 versions, usually referred to as Size 1 and Size 2.  It either comes just as these sizes or has adjustments within those ranges on the diaper.

Example : Weehuggers, Thirsties duowrap, Thirsties Duodiaper, Thirsties fab fitted

Diaper Type:

All-in-One: This diaper is one piece and most like a disposable.

All-in-Two: This diaper is a 2 part system that usually has a waterproof shell and an absorbent soaker or disposable insert.  The shell can be reused multiple times, the dirty soaker can be replaced with a fresh one.

All-in-Three: Diapers in this category can usually be used in many ways, as an All-in-Two or as a pocket or cover.

Pocket: This diaper is usually a waterproof shell with a lining into which an absorbent insert can be stuffed.

Cover: This diaper is just the waterproof shell that has to be used over a non-waterproof diaper.

Fitted: This diaper is not waterproof.  It needs to be used with a cover.

Prefold: This is a rectangular piece of absorbent material (usually cotton, but can be hemp/bamboo/or others) with more layers in the middle.

Flat: This is a rectangular or square piece of material that can be folded in many ways to fit around a baby or laid in a diaper cover.  It is usually only 1 layer (most common material is birdseye cotton) so it dries quickly.

Sleeve: This diaper functions like a pocket and an All-in-One.  It has an opening on the front and back.  The insert will agitate out in the wash but needs to be re-stuffed when clean.

Tongue-Style All-in-One: This diaper has an insert that is only attached at one end.  It will still need to be stuffed after washing but the insert stays attached.  You do not need to un-stuff before washing.

Snap-in-One: This diaper is often referred to as an All-in-One, however the soaker snaps into place.  You can usually leave it snapped in to wash.  Also usually has options for more inserts.  Faster drying than true sewn in AIO’s.

Hybrid: this diaper has a re-usable shell but can be used with disposable inserts.

Insert Material:

Microfiber: A material made from polyester, commonly used for cleaning, that is ultra absorbent (can hold 8 times its weight) and inexpensive.  It is also relatively trim and dries quickly.  This is the most common insert material for cloth diapers.

Cotton: Diapers with cotton inserts or soakers are not as absorbent as certain other materials, but have the boasting rights to being a natural fiber that is less likely to have build-up or stink issues.

Bamboo:  As a material, bamboo has to go through processing that essentially makes it the same as Rayon, so it is usually referred to as Rayon from Bamboo Fibers.  Bamboo is a fast growing crop and very absorbent.

Hemp: This material is ultra trim and very absorbent, making it perfect for the heavy wetter or for overnight diapers.  It is often blended with cotton to make a hemp jersey that is softer than plain hemp inserts or soakers.  Since hemp cannot be grown in the US all hemp is imported.

Micro-Terry- Another name for Microfiber.

Lining Material:

Microfleece- This material is synthetic and made from polyester.  It wicks moisture away from the baby’s skin.  After many washes it often pills up (like a sweater.)  It has a tendency to attract build-up.

Suedecloth- This material is synthetic and made from polyester.  It wicks moisture away from the baby’s skin.  It remains smooth after many washes. It has a tendency to attract build-up.

Bamboo Fleece: Fleece derived from bamboo.  It does not stay as dry as a synthetic fleece.

Bamboo Terry- looped terry derived from bamboo fibers.

Bamboo Velour- Velour (tiny fur like hairs that feel soft and buttery) derived from bamboo fibers.

Cotton Velour- Velour (tiny fur like hairs that feel soft and buttery) derived from cotton.

Hemp/Cotton- A Hemp/Cotton blend.  It doesn’t wash up as soft as others on this list but is natural and has anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties.

Outer Materials:

PUL- Polyurethane Laminate has one layer of polyester (facing the outside of the diaper) with a laminate on the inside which makes it waterproof.  This laminate is shiny when exposed, like in many diaper covers. 

TPU- Thermoplastic Polyurethane.  TPU is manufactured in a way that makes it more environmentally friendly than PUL as well as making it biodegrade faster than PUL.

Fleece: Usually derived from polyester, sometimes made from recycled plastic bottles, this material is waterproof in most conditions.  It is breathable and inexpensive.

Wool:  This material is used for covers and soakers and can be handknit from wool yarns, factory knit, or made into an interlock (tightly woven) material and sewn into covers.  Wool is waterproof, breathable, and able to be used many times before washing because it is “self cleaning.”  It will need to be lanolized to maintain waterproofness.

Minkee- Minkee (or minky) is a super soft fabric made from polyester (microfiber) than is often places over TPU or PUL but not always.  It often comes in vivid colors and prints.

PUL with Cotton Knit: Sometimes diapers are made with PUL but covered in decorative cotton knit fabric.  This makes for a very colorful and decorative diaper but depending on the quality of the sewing, it can lead to wicking (moisture moving from the inside of the diaper to the outside cotton material.)

All In Two's (All In Two Diaper)

All In Two's


All-in-Two’s, are waterproof shells (covers) with replaceable inserts.  This definition means you could use virtually any combination of waterprof cover and soaker pads, but there are many cloth diapers designed for this purpose.

Most All-in-Two’s are One Size Fits Most diapers using a snap down rise or Leg Elastic Sizing. These are only a small representation of the brands available.  

The point of an AI2 is to save more money by having to buy fewer “pricey” diapers, and AI2‘s are space savers when going out or traveling.  Many AI2‘s can also be used with disposable inserts.

Pros:

• Less expensive than a full set of AIO‘s or Pocket Diapers (Example : Weegro applique cover)
• Still Easier to use than flats or prefolds ( No need to use with snappi..just fold the soaker and lay on inside the cover)
• Trim (mostly AI2s' is trim : Grovia, Flip, Best Bottom)
• Typically One Size ( flip, grovia)
• Easy to Use
• Variety of soakers (inserts) in every material type including organic and stay dry.
• Can mix and match soakers with shells of multiple brands by laying them inside other systems.  (Not all snaps are compatible with one another)- grovia snaps not compatible with most of other brands like Lunatots and Best Bottoms

Cons:

• Depending on the system, liners can get wet after the baby pees ( for some brands which use fabric as a inner lining : Itti Bitti, Bamboolite Perfect days)
• When the baby poops it often soils the cover.
• Inserts can shift when when baby moves potentially causing a leak.
• When changing the diaper you need to touch the wet/dirty inserts to remove them (but using a cloth wipe is the best solution)
• Slightly more time consuming to change than removing a whole diaper, then replacing with a new one.

AI2 system that we have

• Flip Diapering System by BumGenius
• Grovia
• Weegro applique Cover
• Capri Cover by Swaddlebees
• Bamboolite Perfect days
• Itti Bitti (Snap In One)
• Best Bottom Cover

to purchase : 

email us at bummiakids@gmail.com

go to our website

http://bummiakids.com/all-in-two-ai2-and-hybrid-system.html

All about prefold

What is Prefold ?


Prefolds are rectangular diapers with more layers of cotton (or chosen fabric sewn into the center, and less on each side.  Most prefolds are 4x8x4 layers.  The most common prefolds are Chinese or Indian.  Many brands have colored stitching to help visually tell their sizes.

There are lots of reasons to love prefolds, they:

• Are affordable. Prefolds with cover system is one of the economical system that available on diapering your baby.A dozen will run between 15 and 40 dollars but you can find them even cheaper used. Used prefolds should cost more because the work of “prepping” is already done.
• Can take a beating (lasak).   Prefolds are very durable and should last through more than 2 kids, but probably even longer.  When it finally starts showing wear, they make excellent dusting rags.
• Are easy to wash.  DSQ (diaper service quality) Prefolds are cotton, and no matter if you have Indian or Chinese, they wash the same.  It would take a lot of abuse to cause a prefold to have detergent buildup.

There are a few downsides to prefolds, they:

• Are sized (usually) and it can be hard to decipher the dimensions and thread colors to choose what will fit your baby.  You will never need every size available.  Many babies skip the preemie and possibly even the newborn size.  Others never get large enough for the large or toddler, or potty train early.
• Have a higher learning curve.  (lucky for you I have videos for that)
• Intimidating at first.
• Take longer to dry than some diapers.
• Are bulkier than many pockets or AIO‘s.
• Need to be prepped more than most pockets or AIO‘s.

Better fit Prefold.. perfect for cover

Better Fit prefold

Econobum prefold after few wash

credit to : www.dirtydiaperlaundry.com