Cloth Diapering 101

I can answer almost any question you have, as well, so feel free to ask. The basic rundown is this: 

Most inexpensive: prefolds and covers--you can either fold the prefold in a rectangle and lay it in or you can wrap the prefold around baby and secure with pins or a snappi. When you change, you just change the prefold and reuse the cover unless it has poop on a fabric part that isn't wipeable. These are great for the newborn period because they outgrow them so quickly, but we also like them for older stages, too. These still make up about half of my "stash".

Hybrid diapers: These are the same concept as a folded lay-in prefold and cover, but most companies have their own inserts that may or may not be stay-dry against baby's skin. Some companies also offer disposable inserts. gDiapers (my least favorite), flip, grovia, and best bottoms are all hybrids.

All in Twos (AI2s): These have a waterproof outer (pul) and a soft inner with an insert that snaps in. When you change an AI2, you change the whole thing each time. Because the insert snaps in, it flaps loose from the shell in the wash, making it an easy wash and dry. I only have one of these because I don't like how the inserts shift on Nathan, but some people really love them. 

All in Twos (AI2s): These have a waterproof outer (pul) and a soft inner with an insert that snaps in. When you change an AI2, you change the whole thing each time. Because the insert snaps in, it flaps loose from the shell in the wash, making it an easy wash and dry. I only have one of these because I don't like how the inserts shift on Nathan, but some people really love them.


Pocket diapers: These have a waterproof outer (pul) and a stay dry inner material (suedecloth, microfleece, microchamois, micropique, or minky). You stuff an insert inside the pocket. When you change a pocket, you change the whole thing. I like to use these when we're out and about because it's a super quick change. My pockets all unstuff themselves in the washer, so I don't bother with removing inserts when I put them in the pail. Pockets are nice because the insert washes and dries separately from the shell so they're easy to clean; I use trifold inserts so they open even further in the wash for a faster dry.

All in Ones (AIOs): These have a waterproof outer (pul), a soft/stay dry inner, and the absorbent part of the diaper sewn in. Changing them is pretty much like changing a sposie--put it on, take it off, drop it in the pail. Because the absorbent part is sewn in, they are harder to get clean (water doesn't swish the whole way through because of the waterproof outer) and they take foreeevvvveeeerrrrrr to dry. I have a couple of AIO trainers and I don't like them, so they're at the very bottom of the pile.


Fitted diapers: These are NOT waterproof, but they are very absorbent.  They typically have a stay dry inner and can be made in the style of an aio, ai2, or pocket.  When you change a fitted, you change the whole thing.  I like to use these during the day without a cover when we are hanging out around the house, changing them when the outside is damp.  I love to use them for nights with wool longies or shorties over them as a cover--that combination is bulletproof for even my super-soakers.


Washing: Dry pails are recommended, rather than the wet pails that our parents used. Wet pails are a drowning hazard and a breeding ground for bacteria, plus soaking in water constantly breaks down the elastic and modern diaper fabric fibers more quickly. I use a tall kitchen trashcan with a washable pail liner (I have 2--babies always poop the second you put diapers in the wash!!). Some people use hanging wetbags, and others use 5 gallon buckets that they wash out each laundry day. When I had 2 in diapers, I washed every 36-48 hrs, whenever we got close to running out of diapers. Now with just 1 and a huge stash, I wash every 4-5 days when my pail gets full. I use Tide Original liquid, clean breeze scent. I do a cold rinse, hot wash/cold rinse with tide to line 2 (or to line 3 if the pail was extra full), and then another cold rinse, then put everything in the dryer on low. If you have hard water, I would go with Tide powder because it has water softeners built in.

Inexpensive Cloth Diapering

Inexpensive Cloth Diapering Tip Sheet

Good covers and prefolds are a great way to diaper your baby inexpensively. 

These are GOOD one-size covers for $11.95: http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=2271  To wash daily, I would get 2-3.  To wash every other day, I would get 4-6.  CottonBabies has free shipping.  I priced out kawaii covers and with shipping from theluvyourbaby vs. free shipping and a coupon code at cb, econobums are less expensive and better quality.

These are good prefolds: http://www.cottonbabies.com/index.php?cPath=51  Get 10 if you want to wash everyday, 20 if you want to wash every other day.  I would get the infant size b/c it's cheaper and you can just fold them into thirds and lay them in the cover.  This site has free economy shipping, which is still really fast.  There are coupon codes on http://www.retailmenot.com/ (search for cottonbabies) that will get you 5% off your order.

If you can't afford good prefolds and covers yet, I would get the covers.  You can put most anything absorbent in them: burp cloths, small towels, t-shirts, receiving blankets, wash cloths, wrap a microfiber towel in a cotton dish towel for night time(make sure that the microfiber doesn’t touch baby’s skin!), buy cotton sheets on clearance or from the thrift store and hem them into big squares to use for diapers.  Use wash cloths for wipes.  Stick with thin items that can be folded because they are much easier to get clean, especially at the laundromat or if washing by hand.  Then if you have some money, get a pack or two of cheap gerber prefolds at walmart.  If you go with the cheap prefolds, you might want to grab a pack of microfiber towels (from the carwash section of the auto department--$5) and you can fold those inside the prefolds to give you some more absorbing power--just make sure the microfiber doesn't touch baby's skin.  Then, as you have $$ available that you would have spent on disposable diapers, you can upgrade your prefolds, or not.

For a one-day stash, 3 covers=$34.05 when you take off the 5% coupon code.  12 gerber prefolds at walmart=$10.95.  12 microfiber towels at walmart=$5-$8.  You could have everything you need for $40 if you wash every night.  It is even less to start if you use receiving blankets or t-shirts if you don't have the money for the stuff at walmart.  That would mean you'd have all you need to get started for $34.05

Plum Crazy Products, a list by request :)

Poly PUL Covers: These are one-size fits most from 10-35 lbs.  They are a single layer of pul (waterproof fabric) with snaps, bound with foldover elastic around the edge. Solids are $9 each, prints are $10 each.

Poly PUL Pockets: These are OSFM from 10-35 lbs.  They have a layer of pul as the outer with minky (soft, wicking fabric so that baby's skin stays dry) as the inner.  These are with snaps as well.  They come with a cotton-topped microfiber insert for $14 or you can upgrade to a more absorbent bamboo/zorb insert for $18.

Fitteds: These are OSFM from 10-35 lbs.  They have a cotton print outer, hidden layer of bamboo fleece, and a soft minky inner.  These have snaps, too.  They come with a cotton-topped microfiber insert for $14 or you can upgrade to the bamboo/zorb for $18.

Inserts: I can make a variety of inserts.  I obviously do the cotton/microfiber and bamboo/zorb, which are made to be folded in thirds to either stuff into a pocket or lay in a cover.  By themselves, the cotton/mf are $1.50 and the bamboo/zorb are $6, cotton/zorb inserts are $4.  I also make shaped inserts that are just a pad to lay in a cover, no folding required.  The price of those depends on the materials.  I can put minky on top of any of them to make them stay-dry against baby's skin for an additional $0.50 to $1.00, depending on the insert.

Nursing pads: I make nursing pads from 3 layers of organic bamboo fleece, backed with 1 layer of poly fleece (to prevent wicking out of the pad and on to mom's shirt!).  $3.50 a set.

Changing pads: Flannel outer with pockets, fleece inner, batting inside to make them soft and comfy.  $15

Wipes: 2 layer flannel wipes, 8 x 8.  Great for wiping hands, noses, or bottoms!  Just wet with plain water.  $5 for 6.

Unpaper towels: These are the size of a paper towel, but made of terry cloth and a cute cotton outer so that you can use, wash, and reuse them over and over.  Making the switch at our house has cut our paper towel consumption from 3-4 rolls per week to less than 1 roll per month!  They are $1.50 each.  I will add snaps and a paper towel tube to allow you to use them on a standard paper towel holder for an additional chare ($2.50 for every 6 towels).

 Dryer Balls: These tennis-sized balls are made either from 100% wool or 100% cotton.  They have hand-knit covers to keep them from unraveling. They soften your clothes and reduce your dry time significantly.  Cotton balls are $6 apiece, wool are $7.50 apiece.

Preschool aprons: These aprons feature an elasticized neck and a velcro waist strap and fit ages 2-7.



and the winner is.....

Dawn!!

Congratulations!  Let me know what you'd like for your prize. :)  Thanks everyone for all of your entries!

Customer Appreciation Contest and Giveaway!

I want to say thank you to my customers this month for helping my business grow!  Because of all of you, I will be stocking Baby Bums Boutique on 8/2, Peace, Love and Cloth Congo on 8/5, Cuties with Cloth Booties Congo on 8/15, and BoyTique on 8/23. :) 

The prize for this giveaway?  A free Plum Crazy for Cloth pocket or pocket fitted diaper (with the upgrade insert!) or any other Plum Crazy for Cloth product of your choice of equal or lesser value.  I will pay shipping.

There are a couple of ways to enter:

• Post pictures of your Plum Crazy product in action in any online forum and post the link here in a comment.  You get one entry for every post.
• If you aren't comfortable posting an action, or the product doesn't lend itself to one, post a picture of it while not in use and tell why you like it in any online forum and post the link here in a comment.  You get one entry for every post.
• Post pictures, either action or inaction, on your facebook profile and tag Plum Crazy for Cloth in the post.  Leave a comment here to let me know that you did.  You get one entry for every post.
• Leave feedback and/or a review on the Plum Crazy for Cloth facebook page, hyenacart if you've purchased from there, or in an online feedback forum and leave a comment here to let me know that you did.  You get one entry for every post.
• Post pictures of your Plum Crazy product on your blog and tell why you love it.  Post a link here in a comment.  You get one entry for every post.
• If you have done these things in the past, they still count!  Bump the post if it's in a forum and leave a link here, otherwise just leave a link or comment here. :)

This contest will end at midnight on 8/23.  The winner will be chosen by random.org.  Thanks for supporting Plum Crazy for Cloth!! :)

Kate

Dryer Ball Upgrade Kit Instructions

Dryer Ball Upgrade Kit Instructions

To upgrade your dryer ball, you will need: a cover, a felted dryer ball, a yarn needle, and at the end, scissors and an old sock or old pair of nylons.

Put the cover on your ball.

Thread the yarn of one tail of the cover through your needle.  It helps to dampen the yarn and pinch it with your fingers before threading it.

Start by putting your needle through all of the stitches on that end to pull the circle closed,

then stitch through each of the ridges to make your seam,

and stich through all the stitches at the other end to close the circle, just as you did at the beginning.

Tie what's left of that tail to the other one to make a knot.

Pull both ends through the middle of the ball (or as close to it as you can get) with your needle

 and cut off the excess.

Felt by tying your balls into an old sock or nylon and washing on hot in the washer and drying on high heat.  The dye from the wool may bleed a bit so you may want to wash separately, with like colors, or use a couple of color catcher sheets.

Once they are felted, you can throw your balls in the dryer with every load to soften your clothes and reduce drying time.... and occasionally pull them out to admire your hard work.  Good job! :) 

 (no, the felting process will not magically change green to purple... I just didn't have a picture of the felted green ones by themselves!) :)

Thanks for ordering a Plum Crazy for Cloth Dryer Ball Upgrade Kit.  Please contact me if you have any questions!