Cloth Diapering 101

Here is the first of many posts about how to cloth diaper. There are so many reasons that cloth diapering is a good choice notwithstanding that I've found it to be enjoyable. I even love doing diaper laundry ;)

I won't go into detail about the environmental or chemical reasons we choose not to use 'sposies but here's a great article that I highly recommend reading, Why Cloth?

So here we go...

PREFOLDS

Prefolds with covers are the cheapest diaper solution (and the simplest really). They wash well, are cheap and last through several sizes. You can buy a prefold for less than $2.00. You'll need about 8-12 of them a day.

These are unbleached indian prefolds (or UIPF). They are made of cotton twill which is a very thin fabric. It is folded in such a way that there are 4 layers on each side and and 6-8 layers in the middle, depending on the size you purchase. The middle has two rows of stitching about 5" apart to make it easy to fold. The UIPF on the left is an Infant size and on the right is the Regular.

You can also purchase chinese diaper service quality (chinese DSQ) prefolds. These are used by the diaper service companies and are very durable. These are my favorites, Clotheez, from Green Mountain Diapers. UIPF are softer than DSQ prefolds but aren't as durable and may not last as long.

When you first purchase your prefolds they will be flat. It will take up to 8 washings in hot water to make them fluffy and absorbant like those above.



This is a bamboo velour/bamboo fleece doubler made by me. Doublers are used to add more absorbant layers to your diaper. If you want your baby to experience the stay dry feeling like a 'sposie, use a microfleece liner. These are my favorites here at Cotton Babies.


Just lay the doubler in your diaper and fold it up like normal.

PREFOLD FASTENERS

Some people just fold the prefold right into a cover and don't use any type of fasteners. Brian does this but I don't like to. So I use these, pins and the Snappi (but not at the same time).
Good old locking head pins are easy to use and very safe. I keep mine in soap so they will just slide right through the fabric.

The Snappi is a very popular choice now. It has teeth on the back side that dig into the diaper and hold it (it will also dig into your babie's legs if you don't get it snug so be careful).


You will need some sort of a cover over the prefold or your babie's pants would be soaked!

COVERS


This is a Thirsties wrap style diaper cover made from PUL. It goes right ove the prefold and will prevent leaking on to your babies clothes. There are many styles of diaper covers to choose from, but this is the most common. Others include wool, nylon & fleece. I personally use wool (but that is for another blog post!)

Here are some simple folds (I'll get some pics on a baby doll later).

This is the trifold. Simple fold your prefold into thirds and lay it into the diaper cover.


Place your baby on top and wrap the cover around them.


Then there's the angel wing fold. Trifold the prefold like above but pull out the back to make wings.

Pull up the bottom to match the top.


Then you may have spread the part you just brought up around your babie's waist or if the diaper is big enough, just keep it folded. You can now close it with a Snappi or pins.




Coming up: Fitted, Pockets, AIO, washing your diapers...

Hi

This greeted me when I went to get some ice cubes from the freezer. 6 Playmobil people stuck in the ice and apparently on a Disneyland ride.

Anyway, we spent all day Saturday fighting Molly's 104 degree fever. Tylenol and Advil weren't making a dent in it. From 11 pm until 4 am, Molly cried and didn't seem to know where she was. She only wanted to be held so we took turns. Finally Sunday morning came and we decided to call our doctor. 104 seemed rather high. She told us to take Molly to the ER as she didn't have any other symptoms except the fever. Off we went.

They checked her out and decided to do a Urinary Tract Infection test. This involves putting a plasic bag on her to catch her pee. Fun stuff. After 1 hour with only a few drops, I grabbed Graedon and said "let's pray". So we prayed. "Dear Jesus, please help Molly to go potty. Open the flood gates so we can go home. Amen". Grae said a hearty "amen" and then started yelling, "Molly go potty, Molly go potty." :)

She did go potty and four hours later we were released and told it was probably viral and not a UTI or kidney infection. They told us to double the dose of tylenol and advil and that finally brought her fever down. In fact, it broke that night and now she's cool and back to normal.

I'm getting ready to write some posts about cloth diapering. Like Cloth Diapering 101. From what is a prefold to how do I wash wool....and all in pictures, lol. Stayed tuned.

What are you talking about?

I have no idea, but you sure are cute.

What happens during school...

I was teaching school at the dining room table a few days this week as our school room was getting moulding and new blue paint. It's done now (note to self: take pics) but wanted to show you what the house looks like when Grae is left to his own devices.


I have my computer and printer out as I was doing some cloth diaper shipping. He didnt touch those. But I do notice that Ellie's prized christmas doll from Grandpa B is thrown to the ground. Grae's pirate sword is laying nearby...hmm.

Here's where I found him. Looking outside. He built a pirate ship. Looks like a row of chairs to me, but he was insistent is was his ship. He did clean up his mess (well most of it. I think he talked Maddie into "helping" him)

Feelin' the love

I keep looking in there and then feel compelled to walk around and feel the walls. I may have actually kissed them once ;)

Our morning in pictures...

This is my third blog post in one day!


Molly in her pirate 'kerchief.


Ellie is Mary and is holding baby Jesus.


Graedon is a superhero. Not sure how that fits in with the pirate, Mary, baby Jesus theme.


And look who's trying to crawl at 6 mths!


Scar face. We don't know how he got this and neither does he.

11 things about Maddie....

Happy 11th birthday Maddie Joy. Here are 11 things I observed about you.

Maddie with her birthday present, Vmigo the handheld virtual dog game, that she hasn't put down all day.

1. You are patient and kind.
2. You would be an excellent vegetarian, well if you could skip the veggies and just eat bread and sugar.
3. You love your freckles and blue eyes and are happy you look like me.
4. You figure out electronics and video games faster than any of us.
5. You just want to help everyone even if they don't want your help and kick and scream for you to leave them alone.
6. Any chance you get, you pick up Graedon and sometimes he even pretends he's a baby so you will snuggle him closer.
7. When you were born we wondered why we named you Madeline Joy as you were always crying but when you were 6 mths old you became our sunshine. We had you convinced your name was Maddie Joy Sunshine.
8. You love dogs as long as they aren't real or you have to take care of them.
9. You have a very difficult time waiting for anything.
10. You're becoming a great cook and make some mean chocolate chip cookies.
11. The family would not be the same without you.

13 years ago...

I married the man of my dreams (yes you!). We spent this 13th anniversary cleaning up vomit from a 4 year old and trying to figure out why Molly went on a nursing strike (14 hours without eating, ouch). No chocolates, no flowers or jewelry were exchanged but moulding was put up in the school room. I couldn't ask for a better present than your time. Thank you for being an excellent father to our children and a loving, patient and serving husband to me. I don't say it often enough, but I love you.

He gets anything he wants...

Grae has me wrapped around his finger. I guess I better admit it. That boy just melts my heart. Look at that face (two posts down). We went grocery shopping tonight and passed by the candy aisle. Candy was not on my list. Grae casually mentioned wanting some and then said that "sisters would like it". Since he was so philanthropic about it I bought a bag. I would not have done that with the girls. (for the record, he also wanted donuts and I said no.)

I don't let him get away with being disobedient or disrespectful but the little things like a cookie before lunch somehow slips past me ;)