Luv Ur Bum!

Cloth diapers can be broken down into a couple different catagories:

• Flats/Prefolds/Fitted
• Pockets/Sleeves
• All in One/All in Two
• Covers
• Hybrids

Flats- they are the thinnest of the original cloth diaper...they are one layer and need to be pinned or hooked with a snappi- they are however also the quickest to dry, cheapest to buy and can be folded in MANY different ways.  These do require a cover.

Prefolds- these are diapers that have layers down the middle to aid in absorbtion- they are basically folded for you to a point...you still need to fold them a little.  They are also an economical option and are easy to dry.  They must be pinned or hooked with a snappi and require a cover.  Once a love for a simple Prefold is found, other diapers really don't compare.

Fitteds- these are basically prefolds...that are cut to fit perfectly (providing you buy the right size) so you don't have to fold them...some have fasteners and some need to be pinned or snappi-ed.  IMO these are too costly for their purpose, but some love the ease of them.  They also require a cover.

Pockets/Sleeves- these diapers have a water proof outer layer (often PUL)- Minky is a lovely fav of mine, but also is very costly...they are lined on the inside with Fleece or sometimes bamboo and between the two layers is a "pocket" which is closed at one end or a "sleeve" which is open at both ends so you can "insert" your choice of inserts--ie, bamboo, organic cotton, micro fiber, hemp or some combo of those listed.  Pockets/Sleeves look like a soft bulky disposable diaper and either velcro or snap shut.  They are used just once and then washed (after pulling out the insert)-- they are very daddy and daycare friendly and come in every design or color you could want.  The come in one size fits all or in specific sizes and they range in all sorts of prices.  The bulk of my stash are pockets.

AIO/AI2- are the smae as Pockets, except the are all one piece (ie no inserts) and AI2 have the insert that snaps in and out for easy drying but still eliminates stuffing pockets/sleeves

Covers- come in every color/design one could want and either snap or velcro and are PUL or are knitted wool (no it isn't itchy) --which is wonderfully oldfashioned/simple and absorbant for night time.  Most all covers are reused until soiled with poo

Hybrids- Come in many colors/design...they are essentially a cover that can usually be reused and has an insert but no pocket--the other bulk of my stash is the FLIP hybrid diaper and I Love it.

Boy is that a loaded question...depends on the situation as to which CD is my favorite.  If I need them to fit under jeans or clothes that are getting kind of small I like the FLIP- made by Bum Genius or the AIO organic Bum Genius.  If I want a diaper that can really take a soaking because we are taking a long car ride...I go for the FLIP everytime or a WAHM diaper I have that has bamboo velour inserts.  That thing can hold a lot of pee pee .  And if I am looking for a radically cute and totally soft diaper and not worried about the bulk then I run to my Minkys made by Blueberry.  Those things are so soft and unltra cute.  I have recently discoverd a diaper called Smartipants and it holds up to a lot of pee pee and they are not very costly...But in the end which diaper you like is a very personal choice...what I LOVE you may not...for example I do not LOVE Rumparooz (althought they are growing on me) and that is my cousins favorite.  In the world of covers one beats all as far as I am concerned and that is Thirsties...hands down the best cover on the market.

 This is what we use and I love it:

• 3 cups water Boiled and cooled
• 1 TBSP of your favorite baby wash (mine varies)
• 1/4 Cup Aloe Gel
• 4 drops Tea Tree Oil*
• 8 drops Lavendar Oil*

I mix all this together and whisk brisky then store it in a mason jar and use a funnel to put int a spray bottle or a peri bottle ( I got at the hosptial after having my kids)--the peri bottle snap shut tightly

*Some people don't use TTO or Lavendar oil on boys because they believe it can alter hormones....I do not think that is so, so I have no issues or side effects from using it

Washing is not nearly as hard as it seems and NO you do not and should not dunk and soak your diapers.  Here is how I wash my diapers, BUT everyone has a twist on how they do it..no two moms wash their CD's the same!  I do wash every morning but you can go every 2 or 3 days.

• Dump any solids into the toilet--meaning older babies who are not breastfed--simply flip their poo into the toilet--sometimes and for me sometimes means twice a month I need to use a sprayer that is attached to my toilet (you can use your shower if you want) to spray hard to get off poo into the toilet.  No my diapers are not perfectly clean before they go into the washer, but the Majority of the mess is off.  Almost all poo will just flip into the toilet.
• pull all your inserts out of the diapers and place all of them (a days worth for me--which is 2 babies) into the washing machine and do a rinse cycle in cold water only--I actually use my pre-wash setting.
• put in 2 scoops of Bum Genius cloth diaper detergent or 2 TBSP of Rockin Green detergent and wash your diapers on a HOT wash WARM Rinse...you can do a cold rinse and most people do but the way to avoid stinky diapers is to make sure all the soap is rinsed out and a warm rinse will help make sure that happens, so I do.
• Dry according to the diapers specific directions...I put some in the dryer and some get only line dried...line drying will extend the life of your diaper, but for some diapers, like the AIO that would take FOREVER...so they get dried twice in the dryer.

And that is it...I can say that I have never had a smell issue ever with my diapers and I have never had a build up isse because I have only used the 2 detergents listed above.  I have heard good things about other CD soaps, but mixed reviews on Charlies Soap (most being bad).  I strongly reccommend just using the 2 detergents I listed.  Do not  ever use fabric softner on your diapers it will make them water proof and the won't absorb.  Also it will make them hold the urine smell.  Some companies will let you use Bleach once a month and I once did have to do this because I thought I had a mildew issue from not drying my diapers long enough.  I have once and you can if needed (but only rarely) us Oxyclean instead of bleach for an issue.  An issue not being stains...if you have stains (and I don't understand why anyone would care) hang them in the sun.  The sun is your best germ killing, smell killing, stain killing diaper friend. 

One last thing I need to say about protecting your diapers...do not use diaper cream on them.  Anything with ZINC is a NO NO.  I use California Babies Calendula Cream or I use Lotrimin (yep that's right) the generic brand from Target as a matter of fact.  If you must use a ZINC based cream use a piece of flannel cut out of an old receiving blanket lined in your diaper to protect it. 

Yes you baby poops and pees i nthe diapers, but it also goes against your babies skin and you are paying alot for these diapers so making them last and taking care of them is important.  And if you do a really good job there is a market out there for used diapers--Reduce REUSE Recylce- after all.

Well- there are a lot of ways to store used CD... you can:

• Store them in an empty pail or trash can
• Store them in a pail or rash can with a water proof liner
• Store them in zippered wetbags

And I am sure there are many other ways that I have not even thought of, I even knew a mom who just put them in an empty washing machine until they made a full load and then washed them.

How do I store my used CD?  Right now in zippered wetbags with handles so I can hang them high.  How is that working for me...eehh...it's ok.  I love the zippered wet bags but hanging them is making the handle's stitching pull loose and I have not found the right size to hold all the diapers 2 babies make in a day (either too big or too small).  I love the idea of a pail with a wet bag/liner but that means having a pail on the ground where the babies could possibly get to it and that is just not an option I am good with at the moment...so for now... I say hang em high...in a wet bag with a handle that is.

If paying $40 for a large box of diapers, even if you have a coupon or they are on sale, makes you cringe...like it did me.  Consider the investment into cloth diapers.  A single colth diaper can range in price from $13 each to $33 each and even at the most expensive price that a cloth diaper costs, you will still save TONS of money over buy disposable diapers.  The average baby will need 24 to 36 to last you 2 to 3 days with a few back ups.  That means if all you bought were 36 of the highest price diapers it would cost you $1188 and I don't know anyone who has their whole stash in $33 diapers.  Let's just say you pay $20 per diaper (again I paid on average $13 to $14 per diaper for mine--or less) you would pay $720 for 36 diapers. Compared to $1440 in disposables over 3 years not counting wipes. 

If you are starting with a newborn I would stick to prefolds or flats...they are about $2 each and then move up to a one size fits all diaper or a Med size diaper when the baby is a bit bigger...most babies wear a Medium from about 5 months to about 2 or 2 and a half yrs old.  We have all one size fits all or Mediums and they fit my 6 month old and my 20 month old.  I started with 24 FLIP diapers for 2 babies and 4 Fuzzi Bunz for night time use and that worked great...but I was needing to wash every day (even though I do anyway)...I paid a little less that $380 for all the FLIPS and that was also buying 48 FLIP inserts.  I used online coupons and waited for a sale once I found the diaper I liked.  So anyway you slice it CD are the Economical, Eco-friendly and baby friendly way to go...so LUV that BUM and wear a Cloth Diaper!  (on your baby )