Today’s questions come from Z’s Mama.
If the Flip Stay Dry insert is made of “3 absorbent layers of microfiber and a smooth stay-dry suede that wicks away moisture from your baby’s bum”…does that mean that it will trap the urea? I’ve noticed lots more rashes though I’m changing my son as often as I always did, and we use the Flip Stay Dry all of the time.
Also–I don’t know a whole lot about CDing, though I research a lot. The first diapers that I ordered were made by a WAHM and AIOs with a flannel outer and inner with a 5-layer soaker built in and a PUL layer, but I always had problems with them wicking around the legs (I really think I was changing often enough, though I was new to CDing and may just not know how to use those kind of diapers…sometimes he’d leak out and get his clothes wet in 30-40 minutes, though–does that seem normal?). Long story short, we ended up with the Flips, which I love. Do you think the Kawaii are like those WAHM diaps?
1. Do I need something else between the Flips Stay Dry and my son’s skin?
2. Do you always need a wool or PUL cover over AIO diapers?
3. How often to AIO diapers typically need to be changed?
4. Are the Kawaii like the AIOs or hybrid? Really, I guess I just need to know if I need covers or if they’re a one-shot deal. If I buy a couple, do I need accessories?Thanks so much for this site and for everything. You have no idea how helpful it is to people like me who don’t know what they’re doing or have anyone to ask.
Urea is in urine so urea is “trapped” in every diaper. It’s a matter of how well it rinses out. Rashes can be from a sensitivity to the suedecloth (which we had with Paisley) or a reaction to the detergent or the buildup of it.
I’ve found the Flip Stay-dry Inserts to be trickier to strip because they are so thick–which is nice when it comes to absorbency. Soaking them in Rockin Green Hard Rock will break down detergent buildup. If you have ammonia issues, a Funk Rock soak will help. It isn’t a one-time fix always. You may have to regularly strip them depending on your water, detergent and baby’s urine.
Another suggestion is to rinse out the inserts before tossing them in the pail. Adrian of Cutiepoops says doing this has prevented ammonia for her.
In regards to your next question, there are times when a WAHM doesn’t make the greatest diaper. Unless you dissected the diaper there isn’t any way to know the quality of “PUL” she used. For all you know it could have been shower curtain liner–no joke, this has happened many a time. Making a good cloth diaper is an art I’ve found. The wicking could be from her not properly sealing the holes after sewing or from not using a good quality laminate.
Having said that, I’ve used a couple of very popular brands that wicked a lot around the legs. No diaper works for every baby.
I have not had any wicking with Kawaii diapers.
To answer your other questions:
- No, you don’t need anything between the stay dry insert and your son’s skin.
- No, AIOs do not require a cover. The PUL is the cover.
- Changing times vary by soaker material and quality. Bum Genius Elementals are super absorbent and I could leave Sterling in it for 4 hours easy (car trips). Others that I have don’t last 30 minutes.
- Kawaii diapers are a pocket. They do not need a cover. You will need to stuff an insert in the pocket. You can choose from microfiber, bamboo or hemp inserts depending on your preferences. Check out What are the best cloth diaper doublers? for insert suggestions.
Autumn is a wife, mother, homeschool teacher, friend and most important a follower of Christ.
Shiree says
What kind of a rash did you notice for your daughter’s suedecloth sensitivity? I am trying to figure out why diapering isn’t working for me and at this point I only have one non-suedecloth diaper. My daughter’s rash is not a regular, bumpy rash, but more like one or two small spots that are open sores. I have to keep putting her in disposables and then I strip my diapers and try again. It is getting ridiculous. I really want to make cloth work! I am now wondering if my washer is just not rinsing out well enough. I have to add multiple extra rinses to get my diapers clean. It is frustrating. I am now focusing on possible suedecloth sensitivity and I am going to buy some Bac-Out to see if it helps with the washing. Any thoughts?
Krysta says
A friend of mine cloth diapered multiple children, all primarily with pocket diapers. Her last child she constantly battled with rashes and she stripped and stripped to no avail. The only thing that worked was sposies which she hated. She finally went back to using her stash of prefolds and covers, plus bought some flats to add into the mix. Her daughter has been rash free ever since. Mom figures now it must of been sensitivity to the polyester inners of the pocket diapers. Sorry, but I don’t know what the rash looked like.
A sensitivity to the inner fabric can be for all polyester type inners…which all pocket diapers are made from (there may be some cotton…..but not many!). Some kids are just allergic to polyester in general, while some will only be sensitive to a certain type of polyester fabric like suedecloth. I hope you solve your problem, cloth is wonderful but it can be so frustrating when using modern materials. The old time cotton causes little if any problems…..
sarah v. says
Hi Autumn,
I was just wondering if you or any of your readers had any experience washing their cloth diapers with cold water washes only and exclusive line drying. I live in Shanghai and all of the apartments here come with a singular cold water line to hook your washer up to. Also laundromats are unheard of here. In fact most Chinese people don’t even use a washer. Unfortunately hot water just isn’t an option for me but I would really like to cloth diaper my baby-to-be. The fact that disposables would cost me around 9 USD per day to diaper my baby is a huge deterrent. Help! What can I do? I don’t want to spend several hundred dollars on cloth diapers only to find that I can not make it work.
I have a HE front loading washer
Mildly hard water
Cold water wash only
No dryer
Here are some things that I thought might help to make it work:
I can use a pot on the stove on occasion to help strip the diapers
I can use a wet pail with Bac-Out and a toilet sprayer to help curb any more serious washing needs
I can use disposable diaper liners (not thrilled about this)
I can occasionally take the diapers to our local bulk laundry cleaner (probably would use detergent and softener that wouldn’t be great for the diapers also I have no way to communicate with them about what not to use)
I can use hybrid diapers and lots of sunlight to help keep problems at bay
I can get a water filter for the washer to soften the water
I’d love to hear anyone’s experience with this. Additional thoughts and tips to make this work.
Thanks,
Sarah
Charmian says
I’m living in Germany and have a similar situation. My HE front loader is also a dryer though. Here’s what I do to care for my diapers. First of all I use an AI2 style of diaper, this helps with washing and drying time. I use Freddy Leck Baby Waschpulver it is amazing!!!! It comes in a powder form and I add water to it so it can go in the detergent tray, while the washer is filling I add additional water through the detergent tray into the machine. I wash once with detergent and then a second time without. Then I do an additional spin and hang to dry. I sun my diapers everytime, they do tend to be a bit stiff after they are dry but I just shake them out before I “fold” and put away. I too decided to CD to help save money for our family and I have loved my decision. So far so good :o)
Charmian
Mrs N says
Hi Sarah,
There are a number of moms that CD in Taiwan with similar situations as you. I find that if you use a diaper sprayer (which are really cheap and easy to find in Asia since people are used to using water for a bidet-like action; don’t buy a diaper sprayer from the U.S. because the plumbing fittings are different!) and rinse off the diapers really well (even the pee ones) and wash every other day, you do not have to worry about buildup and other laundering problems. Also remember to do extra rinses after the wash cycle.
As for detergent, I’ve used both a local additive-free Taiwanese detergent (powdered, called Sea Power) as well as Country Save that I found at Carrefour and I actually prefer Sea Power although Country Save works as well.
I’ve used pockets (FB, BG), hybrids (Flip, GroVia), and prefolds with great success. Good luck!
HeatherS says
I have been CDing for 17 months now, but all of a sudden, my son developed an insane diaper rash (blistering and peeling). Dr said it was prob due to the bacteria in the diarrhea he had breaking his skin down. She gave me an rx cream that cleared it up, and recommended that I switch to disposables until the rash was cleared up. It did clear up after a few days, but now anytime I try putting him back in cloth he gets severely red again and the cycle repeats itself! I assume its because the disposables are doing a better job of absorbing the wetness and keeping it off his skin. I really don’t want to switch to disposables, but I can’t bear to see his skin this way! Any suggestions on what diapers to use or why this might be happening now? I am currently using bumGenius 3.0 one-size diapers. At night I usually just stuff an extra BG insert in the pocket.
Autumn Beck says
The cloth diapers need to be treated with bleach or tea tree oil.
Ashley says
I had something similar happen…my dr said it was yeast…I listened to Autumn because she has great advice and tto those diapers…it came back so I used more tto…it came back so I bleached…FYI only two or three capfuls of bleach for pockets is enough…inserts I used 1/4 cup. Still the redness came back. Finally I got desperate and bought a bottle of original Dawn thinking maybe just maybe all the tto had built up in my diapers and that was the problem…it was a long shot in my mind. I have a front load machine but wanted all the agitation I could get. I took my diapers to a friend’s house with a top loader. I threw them in clean with 5 drops of dawn. I washed them, repeated the dawn and another wash then rinsed and rinsed and rinsed. It took forever to get the bubbles of all that Dawn out but I had used CD about the same amount of time as you when this happened. This has cured my redness and my ammonia issue. The ammonia was never bad just slight after a full night. Well it was gone after this routine. I can’t say how long it lasts since less than a month later my son decided diapers were the devil and he was using he big boy potty…a month after that he decided that he was going to hold his pee all night too. He’ll be 2 at the end of the month. We’ll see how long this potty thing lasts, here’s hoping. #2 is arriving in Sept so we’ll see then how the diapers do
Jennifer says
Autumn,
I think I have mold on my organic bumgenius all in ones. Please help!
Are they still safe to use? Is there an alternative to bleach?
Thanks!
Autumn Beck says
bac-out, oxygen bleach from crunchy clean, sunning
Jennifer says
Hi Autumn,
Crunchy Clean arrived and did not rid the diapers of the specs of mold (or mildew?). So disappointing… I then (sadly) tried regular bleach, didnt work either… Do you think it is worth ordering Bac Out? Do I get rid of the diapers?
Thanks Again
Ashley says
I’ve rinsed and rinsed my diapers until there are no suds left but they seem to cause redness every time we use them. Could he be sensitive to the fleece? Could there still be detergent buildup? We use Allens Naturally and I’ve been debating about trying rockin green. You suggested a soak in rockin green above for detergent build up. He’s almost 2 and I don’t want to give up but I’m just not sure what’s causing the redness. I need some advice so I can get him back in his cloth. He’s recently developed a sensitivity to Huggies diapers so we’ve switched to the up and up target brand which seem to be allowing his bottom to heal. When I tried cloth again the redness flared to back to disposables we’ve gone.
Mrs N says
Hi Ashley,
See this post by this CD seller – she’s been super helpful, and I like the store, too. http://thecloththatcounts.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/more-washing-issues/
Jennifer Koster says
Autumn,
My husband and I are expecting our first child in April and our excited to start using cloth diapers. I have purchased the Ultimate Guide to Cloth diapering and am pretty absorbed in the whole process. I enjoy your recommendations and we plan to sample several before committing to any particular ones for our stash. I have a friend who has been doing cloth diapering for several years and her entire stash is G diapers. However, I can’t find any reviews on them on your blog. Have you tried them? Any thoughts? I would be curious to hear your opinion on them.
Rochelle says
Jennifer,
my post is right under yours and it’s mainly all about gDiapers. Feel free to read it or post other questions; there’s some pretty good info from three users on there.
Hope this helps!
Rochelle says
Has anyone every tried the gBaby “hybrids”? I’m very interested in cloth diapering but don’t necessarily want to try multiple brands because I feel like it’s a waste of money. I found gBaby covers and inserts at a couple of stores and they seem very easy and manageable for Daddy and me. Also, in your reviews, do you consider hybrids to be pockets? I’m just wondering because you haven’t reviewed hybrids and don’t use the term too often that I can see. Please let me know because I want to make sure that I didn’t go horribly wrong with a ton of gBaby diapers =)
Mrs N says
@Rochelle – if you’re talking about gDiapers, I used them when my son was a newborn. They’re not pockets, because it’s more of a shell that you lay the insert in rather than stuff like an envelope. The disposable inserts were handy when we were out and about, and good for us when we were overwhelmed in the newborn stage. At the time, the gCloth inserts weren’t available, but you could easily substitute newborn prefolds as a reusable insert option to save money. We didn’t stay with them because they’re more expensive as a cloth diapering option, and after you get into cloth diapers you might find yourself wanting to try many brands! I joke that after I became a mom, my shoe and handbag habit changed into a cloth diaper habit. Just like you might want to have a different pair of shoes and purse for different occasions, cloth diapers can become a shopping fixation. :) And cloth diapers are more justifiable shopping expense because I’m not spending money on me, but on the baby!
Rochelle says
If you don’t mind me asking Mrs. N, what brands do you love that are comparable to gDiapers?
Budget isn’t a huge issue before the baby comes but it will be afterwards because I’m not going back to work – So buying everything ahead of time is preferable for me. I would prefer a one size stuffable AI2/hybrid for nighttime and something similar to gDiapers for the day.
Thank you for your help!
Mrs N says
@Rochelle – I understand wanting everything ready before baby but as frustrating as it may be to hear, you really have to wait and see what kind of body type your baby has. Mine is skinny, so I never had the leaking problems @LittleJoy had with the gDiapers. For the first month of my baby’s life, we got by with 6 pants, 12 of the liners, and disposable inserts – I hand washed any soiled liners and pants at night, and it wasn’t too bad.
Other hybrid systems I’ve tried are the Flip and GroVia. My favorite of the two are the Flips, for ease of use and the snap closure – once my baby turned ~9m, he started undoing his velcro closure diapers! My mom prefers the GroVia because snaps are very hard for her to do with her arthritic hands. I have the older version of the GroVia, and the problems I have with it have since been addressed by the newer versions. My gf uses it along with gDiapers with her son (and prefers the GroVia).
We also have the BG 3.0 one size, which is helpful to have with the baby sitter – since it’s all ready to go, it’s easier for her to deal with. I’ve come home to find what would otherwise be a perfectly clean cover marinating with the dirty inserts in the diaper pail, because she didn’t know they could be reused.
Anyways, what I did was get one day pack of the Flips and one day pack of the GroVias. You could try it different hybrid systems that way – that way you’re not spending a whole lot of money on different brands and you’ll have enough to see what works for you and your little one. Another thing to keep in mind is that as your baby grows, what fits and what works may change. We loved the small Fuzzi Bunz on our boy when he was a baby; now that he’s older the medium ones have just never worked very well with his body type.
Little Joy says
Hi Rochelle,
My daughter is growing out of her g’s and we are not buying the next size up, let me tell you why.
The g’s are super cute and trim BUT they take a lot of practice to get them on just right so they don’t leak. It does a good job of containing poo but I find I am washing the pants after only one or two wears because it gets wet from the leaks. Because the pants are made from cotton it smells like pee and needs to be washed defeating the purpose of having the snap in liner. If you are looking for a hybrid/AI2 dipe I would suggest you go with a two piece system rather than the 3 piece g’s. Although I have not tried the disposable inserts myself I have read that the flips work really well with the g disposable inserts. Just my suggestion.
Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions concerning g’s.
Charmian
Rochelle says
Charmian,
Honestly, I plan on having about 24 cloth inserts and about 6 pants in each size so washing them probably won’t be that much of an issue for me. I just really like the hybrids because I don’t want to wash the entire CD every time my son pees.
I’m also having trouble with all of the different brands and the differences. I don’t have the extra money to buy a bunch of brands before the baby comes but I want to be prepared with the brands that I like. I was planning on using the gDiapers during the day and Charlie Banana diapers at night (because if I read it right, they are stuffable and I don’t mind using pockets or stuffables at night because it’s not as much laundry to wash one per night).
My questions are 1) what brand of AI2 are you switching to? 2) do you have a one size great night time diaper that you use? I’ve looked all over this site but I wanted to speak to someone who has specifically used the gDiapers because that is what I like.
Thank you!
Little Joy says
I really wanted to like the G’s but there are a lot of kinks they still need to work out. I have 10 pants and 30 inserts and I’m doing laundry ALL THE TIME! I also like Hybrid/AI2 diapers because I don’t like the idea of having to wash the entire diaper after every use.
I am not able to buy a bunch of diapers either, I’m actually living in Germany right now, so I have done a ton of research and I got my selection down to 4, OS, AI2 diapers. The brands of AI2’s that I looked into are Ragababe – 2 Step, BG – Flip, Best Bottoms, and Softbums.
I’ll tell you about the Flip first since it’s the only one we’ve actually tried because it’s the only one that’s available over here. We really like it. It has become our nighttime diaper and we have had only 2 minor leaks (jammies a bit damp). We will continue to use the Flip for nighttime but we decided to go with a different diaper for daytime for two reasons look, and quality. Call me vain but I didn’t love the way the Flip looks. It is VERY big and wide, it will definitely fit her to potty training because I could probably get them on now (slight exaggeration). They are very bulky and I don’t like how the diaper bunches in front from the rise being snapped up. We’re afraid the size may make it difficult for her to get around when she starts to get a bit more mobile. I like that the Flips leave NO red marks at all but the one layer of PUL and thin elastic makes me a little nervous about how they’ll hold up for the next 2 years.
The diaper we decided on for daytime was actually the Ragababes – 2 Step. It looked like/what I read was that they were really good quality and that they would last until potty training. I was concerned about the snaps in front just because of what we noticed on the Flips but the diaper itself seems to be a bit more narrow. The only problem is we weren’t able to get our order in (long story) so we have now ordered the Softbums.
I like the Softbums because of the internal rise adjustment (no snaps) and thought it gave the diaper a more seamless look. Just like the Ragababes they use a wider elastic and heavy duty velcro. The PUL is covered by a non-wicking material making it more durable. You can wipe it down and reuse it for up to 3 diaper changes or until you have a poopy (This is the same as what you will have to wash the snap in liners for the G’s. As for the pants I am actually washing those more frequently due to them being cotton, any leaks at all – which are very common – means the pants smell like pee and need to be washed.) I liked how the inserts are one size as well and after investing $400 in this system I believe it will last us until potty training. I will let you know what we think once they arrive and we’ve had a chance to try them out.
A lot of people REALLY like the best bottoms, it is actually ranked #1 on Diaper Pin in the AI2 category. I didn’t pick it because the things I don’t like about the Flip the best bottoms have. It does however have snap in liners which is a plus.
One more thing – if you were liking the G’s because of the flushable inserts I have read of people using the G flushable inserts in these other AI2 without any problems.
I hope that helps and let me know if you have any other questions and like I said I’ll keep you updated on how I like the Softbums once they get here.
Charmian
Rochelle says
Charmian,
Thank you so much for all of that info! I’ve looked everywhere and I just feel like I’m not understanding everything unless they are compared to the G’s. I actually chose the G’s mainly because I’ve heard that their inserts are AMAZING and because I really liked their velcro systems. I guess I’m just not a huge fan of the buttons ALL OVER the diapers, and neither is hubby. I’ve also heard that G’s worked wonders with newborns and I plan on using them as soon as this little boy pops out.
I’m actually between a Flip, Charlie Banana and BumGenius for the nighttime diapers. I want a OS and don’t mind the buttons or the pockets for nighttime but vain just like you =) when it comes to the day time look. I’ll definitely look into Ragababes though! Thank you again!
Sara says
I’m a big fan of Flip. I love all the inserts for different reasons. The stay-dry inserts do a lovely job of absorbing and keeping skin dry to the touch. I adore the organic inserts because they absorb more than any other diaper I know of. They are SO trim on a bigger baby, too. The disposable inserts are perfect for travel. I have traveling cross-country with my daughter in a Flip insert and Flip cover with great success. No leaks. No sposie smell. It’s the best of all worlds.
I tried Gdiapers and was very pleased with the inserts. I like how wide they are and that they are sized, which is really nice when your kiddo is smaller. However, the pants are awful. The soft outer is nice and all, but the pants are cumbersome and leak NB poo horribly.
If you’re scared of too many snaps on a diaper, that is an emotion I’m fully in touch with. I would highly recommend Econobum covers. There’s only one row of snaps and they fit wonderfully. The great part is they are so well-priced and the colored trims are darling.
Velcro closures do wear out after a while. It’s just a fact. However, the very best ones I’ve found are Bummis Easy Fit’s closures. They haven’t aged a day in the 9 months of heavy use I’ve thrown at them. Thin and perfect…it just doesn’t stop working and is VERY flexible. I’m not sure why the rest of the diapering world hasn’t caught onto it yet.
Katie says
Hi Autumn!
I’ve made the decision to CD with baby #2 from birth..
I would like your recommendations on Diaper Bags… I tend to be the type that -lives- out of a diaper bag so I was wondering what types of bags work best for cloth diapering because I feel like i’ll be carrying more with me now that i’ve made the switch!
Help?! Thanks!
Karissa says
It sounds like lots of people recommend soap nuts for ammonia issues. Any recommendations for a certain brand???
Sara Betz says
I like Maggie’s Pureland Soap Nuts. Both the nuts and liquid are great for all laundry. Oh my…so soft. No stink.
Sara
clothandcarry.com
Clarissa says
Dear Autumn,
I love your website and it’s helped me a lot! I live in Brazil, where cloth diapering as a movement is just beginning, and I don’t have kids yet. But I’m one of those women that loves researching, so I’ve already started my cloth diaper research. My question is in regards to how some of the brands you recommend fare in the summer or in hot and humid weather. I have the impression that some would be too warm for our Brazilian summers… Have you ever written a review on “summer diapers”? Do you have any thoughts on the subject? (fyi, so far, from your reviews and others, I’m leaning towards a stash of kissaluvs with thirsties covers for newborn, bum genius organic, grovia hybrids and maybe some grasshoppers for later and sustainable babyish bamboo for night). A few people that cloth diaper here recommended Fuzzibunz, but I just like the look/system of Bum genius better. Especially since our weather makes drying time a non-issue (most of the time). Thanks for any feedback and congratulations on the wonderful website!
Little Joy says
HELP!!!
My daughter is growing out of her sized diapers and due to my non-existent budget I am looking to move her into a one size /AI2 diaper to get her through to potty training. I need the diaper to be easy on the budget and good quality so it will last.
This is where the help comes in – I’m in Germany so I am unable to try or even see these products before I buy. I will need to purchase the dipes soon so when my friends come out for a visit they can bring them. I was looking into the RagaBabe 2 Step, the Flip, and the Softbums. You have reviewed all three diapers and was hoping you could give me your honest opinion of which I should invest in.
Thank you so much for your time and this site – it’s been a life saver!
Charmian
Autumn Beck says
All 3 are great systems. Flip is most affordable. Ragababe is a great fit, easy to adjust. Softbums have the best customizable fit. I’d go with Flip if you want a good budget friendly, nightworthy system.
Little Joy says
I’ve read some reviews that the Softbums aren’t made very well, what have you noticed?
Ellie says
What are the trimmest one size diapers? I’m finding the Grovia looks huge on my 2 month old.
Which is your favorite fitted diaper for a skinny baby?
Autumn Beck says
Trimmest: bum genius elemental. but on a 2 month old you may have leaks with the runny poo.
Skinny baby: http://www.allaboutclothdiapers.com/the-best-cloth-diapers-for-the-skinny-child/
Julie says
I’ve liked the Doopsy Diaper one size “R” trim fit. I bought it from babyecomart. But you can google where to get them. I think it is the trimmest of my one sized diaper stash (BG elementals, Kawaii, Knickernappies, FB) for my 8 week old boy. I bought their heavy duty SD one and it leaks and it is thicker. But the basic version is trim and works well. Autumn, I know you aren’t a fan of pockets, but I was wondering if you would review this diaper?
Megan Reed says
This is not totally related to this post, but wasn’t sure where to ask and would love some help! I’ve used most of my cloth diapers for about 2 years now.
fills a diaper. Recently I’ve had trouble not just with leaking (out the
sides?) but also with the outside of the diaper being wet. Most of my diapers are pockets and when I took a look at the inside of the pocket the PUL looks very cracked and worn on a lot of them, especially towards the top of the pocket where the insert goes in. My BGs look the worst, while my Swaddlebees econappies look close to perfect. I am due with our 2nd in April and was really hoping to reuse these diapers. Barring that I would really like to know what caused the wear so I don’t make the same mistakes again! I’ve also been battling
ammonia issues for the past 6 months so the diapers have been washed more
vigorously and I’ve used more bleach than I have in the past.
The BGs are my favorites (or were) they’ve been used more
heavily than my swaddlebees and other assorted brands. Is it possible the PUL on the BGs is lower quality?
Would love any advice! Thanks in advance!
Autumn Beck says
I would contact Cottonbabies in regards to the PUL. Get their advice. If they are less than a year old they *may* replace them.
Ashley says
Bleach though your friend once in a while, if used often will break down the elastic and PUL. That could be the cause of your wear. Fuzzi Bunz recommends only 2 or 3 capfuls of bleach for pocket covers and no more than once a month. Inserts can be bleached separately with more. That’s what they told me when i was battling yeast.
satya says
Hi Autumn,
I’m using Kawaii as my daytime diaper which works reall well. thanks for that i’m so excited that a have a great day time diaper. Should I be boiling my microfiber inserts every few weeks to prevent buildup and ammonia?
I’ve been using the kawaii overnight diaper (with 2 microfiber inserts) for the last few nights and my son who used to sleep through the night seems to be getting up every 2 hours. Any suggestions for what I can do or a different diaper that I can buy?
Thanks for all your help and advice.
satya.
Autumn Beck says
Getting up every 2 hours because of wetness?
Boiling to prevent ammonia won’t hurt :)
Sara Betz says
Buildup is a pain. I was devoted to Planet during my early cloth diapering days. Then when my daughter started solid foods consistently, I had to use more. It built up horribly and we got stinkies. Planet is still a great choice, but it’s not what works for us anymore.
Honestly, my favorite combo for getting diapers clean is Bac Out and soap nuts. Bac Out can cause problems with sensitive bottoms, so use sparingly. The wonderful thing about Bac Out is that it can be diluted in a spray bottle and sprayed directly onto diapers that are sitting in a wetbag. This keeps the bacteria from multiplying so quickly between washes. My bottle is 1/2 Bac Out and 1/2 water. You can adjust as you need to, though. My wetbag doesn’t stink anymore.
Soap nuts are a revelation to me. My clothes and diapers are SO clean and soft. I noticed the change immediately. No stink. No buildup. No need to do a final rinse, even. The most noticeable change was in my bumGenius Elementals and Flip organic inserts. My hard water and previous detergents had made them SO hard that I didn’t want to put them on my girl. After a few washes in soap nuts, they were nice and soft.
I had good success with Rockin’ Green after I discovered the Bac Out in the wetbag trick. This was before Funk Rock arrived and it can do the same thing without any enzymes by adding it as recommended to your wash, not your wetbag. My girl isn’t sensitive to enzymes, so I just put a splash of Bac Out in the initial cold rinse.
Coming up with a wash routine is a process. Listen to suggestions. Don’t count on a magic bullet. There is a solution for everyone, though.
Thanks for letting me share, Autumn!
Warmly,
Sara Betz
Owner, Cloth and Carry
crystal says
i use purex free and clear. a half of a tablespoon bc we have a water softener but if we didnt then i would use a whole tablespoon. ive been CDing for 5 months now and have NEVER had problems with repelling, leaking, smells, ammonia etc. with this soap. now, that being said i also strip EVERY new diaper before ever using it on my son. i use original dawn bc one i used another dawn dish detergent and i DID have leaks. it must be original dawn or i find it wont work in stripping. good luck. try the blue orig. dawn and then try purex free and clear. both are very cheap and work awesome.
Krysta Bauer says
The WAHM diaper that Z’s Mom bought would leak and wick no matter what you did! Having an absorbent inner and outer (the flannel) would cause any AIO to leak no matter what kind of quality of PUL was used.
What happens is the flannel inner gets wet, the moisture starts distributing around the inner. Eventually (sometimes quickly) the wetness makes it all the way to the edge of the diaper inner. Since there is another piece of flannel at the edge, the moisture just keeps going to the outside of the diaper.
It is very hard to put an absorbent fabric on the outside of an AIO, Pocket, or Cover and keep the thing from wicking. Even with the best placement the chances of wicking is always increased when there is a cute cotton print on the outside. Your best choice when choosing a print diaper is to buy one made with a polyester PUL print. Where the waterproof, laminated fabric is the actual print and that fabric is made out of 100% polyester. If it says anywhere that it is a cotton print outer fabric then know that the diaper is likely to leak on you.
Autumn Beck says
Thanks, Krysta! I knew a professional would chime in ;)
Natasha says
Nothing really related to this post BUT I need help. I am soooo fed up with my diapers repelling. I know it’s the diapers and not the inserts, as I have tested with a nasal asperator. Beads of water just roll off the diaper. I use cloth diaper friendly cream (cj’s butter) I have wrote to many websites and no one has the time to reply. The brands I have are nearly all Kawaii and a few mommy’s touch and rumpa’s. Basically they all pockets. I was using rockin green-but don’t use that no more as had bad ammonia and it was not rinsing out well/getting the diapers clean. I switched to thirsties duo wash-came recommended by a cloth diaper small business worker. I like it, as it is a liquid and not a powder (my machine has probs with powders) I live i Italy (have hard water) and the machine is a European FL. I add pitcher of water to wash routine too. Not like I cut corners. I have stripped now 3 times with dawn dish soap. Even scrubbed witha toothbrush last time. They STILL repelling…I just am at a loss. Now my girl is in disposables….literally as soon as she peed-leaks right away (from legs or the back at the top) My wash routine is as follows.
1 Cold short cycle with 1/2 thirtsties pre wash. 2 A cold rinse with pitcher water to soap dispenser (my machine can only do cold rinses) 3 a hot wash with 1/2 thirsties super wash. 4 x2 cold rinses with added water again. Tumble dry (not great weather here until summer comes) Any one can help me beat this-or other ways to strip would be greatly appreciated. Even though I am not keen on rockin green-I just feel like mailing the diapers to Kim and saying please fix (I know they used to do mail ins for diaper fix) Thanks once again ; )
Autumn Beck says
Natasha, I am sorry you are experiencing this. When did it all start? When using RnG? Thirsties Superwash?
Natasha says
My girl is now 7m old and she was not in cloth right away (most would not fit her even though she was born 8>6) All was fine until we hit the 2-3m build up happened. I rock soaks and soaks. Would be okay-but I was using classic-so switched to HR formula. Then she got the rashes and bumps/burns (it was not the recalled bags) I thought thirsties was doing good, then after 2m using it started happening. Basically with both brands. All diapers were brand new and prepped. I am thinking maybe don’t use a cloth diaper detergent??? Maybe a reg one? I just hate spending money on these detergents and they don’t work out for me (I know that does not apply with everyone-so not knocking the brands) just my experience. I know you cannot avoid stripping every once in a while-but mine need stripping after like a couple weeks-I know that is not normal. When I stripped I used to dawn (concentrated one) as the original is not available here in the military commissary. I used much less as know it is concentrated and asked diaper blogs an ppl said fine to use just more rinses-which i did like 3 hot washes and 5 rinses after stripping.
Shanon says
Ugh, I am so sorry you are experiencing problems. I don’t think you should use detergent when you are doing your first rinse. Rinse on cold without detergent, then wash on hot with a bit of detergent. Rinse on warm, or hot if you don’t have warm.
Also, how many diapers are you washing at a time? Do you have your inserts in there? I found that I was washing way too many at a time and they started repelling and stinking. I cut down to only 10-12 diapers and then run a separate wash for inserts, prefolds and wash cloths. A WORLD of a difference.
If you have hard water, try a water softener to add in. Check if you can get Calgon.
Natasha says
I only use the pre wash in the cold short cycle as what the instructions are-the pre wash is for combating bacteria- the super wash is the one that cleans. It comes as a double pack and only use 1/2 oz like recommended-the form is liquid not a powder. I rinse after the pre wash (even though it does not say to) I just do, because like you-I was always instructed to just do a cold rinse first to get stools out/and get the diaper wet good before actually washing.
Shanon/I'm That Mommy says
Check into Tide Original powder. I was using Tiny Bubbles which was recommended for cloth diapers. It was ok, but not great for the price. I was skeptical but switched to Tide Original powder and my diapers have never been fresher or cleaner. I was so amazed. I only use a tablespoon of it during my hot wash.
Natasha says
See I have now read many many people saying that they have results with just plain ol tide. Even diaper companies recommend tide (HH does) I am thinking are these cloth diaper detergents really needed??? Then I also read on rockin green fb page people saying they switched to that, from using tide and were having probs….I know we all dif with location/water/type of washing machine/choice of diaper. I have always been so scared to try tide-but it seems to be success for many people. How long have you been using it for? Thanks ; )
Shanon says
I’m now on a month with Tide. My diapers are softer and smell so much better and the small stains are totally gone. You are right though, every case is different as we all have different water and machines. I haven’t tried RnG because Tiny Bubbles was working for awhile.
Stella says
Hello,
Have you tried soapnuts as a detergent? I live in Greece in an island, we have major hard water issues here. Since I started using Klar liquid soapnuts detergent we have no leaking or ammonia issues. Whenever I experimented with other detergents I had problems and regreted it. I ‘ve been using Klar on cloth diapers for two years (now I am cding my second child). Hope that you find a solution to this problem!
Stella says
I tried using tide myself and was amazed by the diapers smelling really fresh and clean. I thought it was perfect until I had leaking issues. I used a tablespoon or less but leaks happened in less than two months if I remember well..
Autumn Beck says
I want to come visit you! Greece is my dream vacation destination.
Natasha says
I am thinking I need to try this. So the form is liquid and not the actual nut? I seen the nuts before. Thank you ;)
Stella says
Hello,
this is the detergent I use
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Klar-Soapnut-Liquid-Detergent/dp/B0029BIE7O
Autumn you should visit Greece before the so called “development” destroys everything simple and authentic. Most greeks do not care about environmental issues and keeping their country beautiful. Maybe the economic crisis is a good thing after all.. We re all earn money = consume = pollute for the time being..
Heather says
On which island do you live? We went to Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete for our honeymoon and can’t wait to go back!
Stella says
This is off topic :) I live in Chios. It does not attract so many tourists but it is a very beautiful island in the north aegean.
Jessica says
I’m in Germany and we have REALLY hard water… the military commissaries here sell calgon, all free and clear military version (bottle has blue camo) oxi clean free and clear and tide original.
I also order charlie’s soap.
Tide works great by itself – gets diapers clean…
If I use all free and clear military version or charlie’s soap then I will add calgon and oxi clean free and clear.
I’ve washed cloth diapers for 2+ years in Germany with this routine without any repelling issues.
Natasha says
Calgon is the water softner correct? How much would you use and how? Never tried before. Thanks ; )
Natasha says
Thank you to you and your followers for replying. I know it sounds silly, but my diapers not performing well really irritates me and actually gets me down ; ( I don’t have a lot of free time to be messing around trying to strip all the time. I would have more time-but my hubby been gone the last 6m on a deployment to mid east and got another 4 months to go. Also he loves her in cloth too-and it upsets me when she get the rashes from disposables, all because I can not fix this problem. Thanks everyone will list all that you mentioned and will hopefully find success. PS I am going to strip with some RLR- anyone had good success with that? Thank again
Berta says
Hi Natasha – We have a European FL (Bosch), too, and this is my routine:
1. After we change dirty diapers, we rinse them in the sink (usually while running hot water for the bath, so we don’t waste water) so that they’re nice and wet. I read somewhere that b/c diapers are so absorbent, this is so when you put them in the wash they are actually getting washed, not merely absorbing dirty water.
2. We wash every other day.
3. First is hot “wash plus” cycle, with the same amount of detergent I use for a regular load of laundry (so half the rec’d amount for top loaders). I use a local powdered laundry detergent that supposedly has no additives. I’ve had no problems with it since switching to this wash method. And I use a regular amount of detergent because I want to make sure there is enough detergent to pick up all the dirty stuff.
4. After the first cycle is over, we then do another cycle, cold “quick wash” cycle, and I pull the detergent dispenser out. This functions as extra rinses.
It took me awhile to figure this routine out, but we haven’t had any problems with stink since then.
Every once so often, I’ll add a bit of vinegar to the first rinse cycle. Vinegar is an acid, detergent is base, and this way any residual detergent is being neutralized. But not too often because I think the vinegar is hard on the elastic.
I also recommend subscribing to the Abby’s Lane (cloth diaper seller) newsletter and checking out her blog: http://thecloththatcounts.wordpress.com/
She has lots of good advice on cloth diapers!
esra says
Natasha,
I know european FL machines has almost boiling hot water temperature setting. Like 90C. Have you tried washing them that high? I know high tempreature usually takes care of any kind of detergent/softener or other build ups. I would try if you have that high temperature.
Candace says
I tried AIO’s that were handmade by a woman as well (who I later found out is retired and has lots of health problems – which delayed her shipment of the diapers and also makes me think that she doesn’t have any idea how well or how badly her diapers are made and function on a real baby). I too was very disappointed in the quality of the diapers and soakers. My general advice is to stick to name brands. At least they have quality standards, and you can read reviews to see how durable/absorbent/etc. they are. Plus, sometimes you can return used diapers if they are defective. Handmade diapers can waste your money and time.
Sommer says
I hate to say this but I agree with Candace. We have only 3 WAHM-made diapers, fitted diapers to wear under a cover at night, made by 2 different women. These 3 diapers are my least favorite of our fitteds. They are very cute, and seem to be pretty well-made actually, but they do not fit well. They are supposedly birth to potty training one-size, but they did not fit my son until he was about 3 months old, and now they are too small at 19 months old. I wish I would have bought one name-brand diaper instead of 3 handmade diapers with the money. I say if you can find a WAHM-made diaper that has a ton of excellent reviews, you might try it, but otherwise it’s probably best to steer clear.
Shanon/I'm That Mommy says
I actually had to stop using microfiber inserts all together as my daughter has a sensitivity to them. Not sure why, but I think that they don’t breathe as well as natural materials. Makes sense as I can only wear 100% cotton underwear and pj pants. We now use only hemp, cotton or bamboo and her red bumps have completely disappeared.
Shiree says
What did her rash look like? I am wondering if my daughter is having the same problem. I have thought about switching from microfiber… (dd’s rash is just a few small spots that are open sores, not a bumpy red rash)
Brandy says
I just started using the Kawaii diapers and I LOVE them. I wanted to try at least one of each, and my favorites are the ’round tab snap’ with microfleece, and the heavy duty. These are my favorite bedtime diapers too because he wakes up so DRY!!!! (oh, I also have a ‘goodnight heavy wetter’) The ONLY thing I don’t like, I don’t think the microfiber smells as clean after a wash… maybe it’s the super pregnancy sniffer, but still!
Mel says
I love the Flip system! This is what my stash started out with and the majority of my stash is. I’ve never had an issue with absorbency or rashes. I will say that I’ve always used a biodegradable liner (Bumkins are soft on the bum) but I do it to make for eady clean up and minimal staining. Also I use all free n clear 2x concentrate, filling it to about 1/4 of the 1 mark, and I’ve had no issue with build up in his 3 months of life. I’ve also made sure to do a cold prewash and a hot wash with the detergent. Cotton babies also says you can bleach the inserts maybe once a month, but I just did it (first time in 3 months) and it seemed to help the inserts seem fresher. I think I’ve also read that with cotton babies you can try a quarter teaspoon or a teaspoon of blue dawn dish soap (see sure to make sure) in the hit wash will help rid the build up. When in doubt call up cotton babies too, they’ve been a big help for me.
I’m not a pro @ CD but this is what works for me and wanted to share in hopes it may help as well. Best of luck!
Shari says
Have you ever tried Soap Nuts for ammonia issues? We just bought some and they work fabulous!!! :)