About and FAQ

About this Site

I started this site after my experience cloth diapering my daughter. When I decided to use cloth and began researching diapers, I found the amount of imformation to be overwhelming. I made this site to be a basic primer for those setting out to CD, distilling all my research and experience down for those starting out.

FAQ

Most of the common questions (How many diapers should I buy? What should I buy? How do I wash them? Why cloth diaper? How do I care for wool?) have been answered on the other pages. (If you need help finding them, please check the sitemap. Here are others that aren't answered elsewhere. If you have a question you don't see answered here or on the other pages, please contact me!

• What should I use for night?
• Will diaper cream stain my cloth diapers?
• What about making my own diapers?
• Do cloth diapers fit well under clothing?
• Do they make cloth trainers/pull-ups?
• What about meconium? Should I use liners/disposables for this?
• Are cloth diapers sanitary? What about second-hand cloth diapers?

What should I use for night?

Nighttime diapering can seem daunting, but really you just need to add some absorbancy. If you use pockets, you may want to try doubling up on inserts or using a hemp prefold. Many pocket diaper companies make or sell nighttime inserts. Some parents also put wool or flannel covers over the pocket diaper for extra protection. Another popular way to go is a nighttime fitted diaper with a wool or fleece cover. Very Baby Simply Nights is a good nighttime fitted diaper. Check out the wool page for information about wool soakers.

Will diaper cream stain my cloth diapers?

It depends on what kind. Diaper creams that contain zinc oxide (for example, Burt's Bees, Boudreaux's ButtPaste, Desitin and A&D Ointment) can stain cloth diapers. Some creams that do not contain zinc oxide follow: Balmex Daily Skin Protectant, Hyland's Diaper Ointment, Weleda, Angel Baby Bottom Balm, Baby's Bottom Diaper Ointment Lotion Bar. I personally use Northern Essence All-Natural Diaper Rash Salve and love it.

What about making my own diapers?

That's a great and economical way to go. You can find patterns for diapers and wool soakers online. You could also order a few different diapers, see what works and doesn't work for your babe, and base a design off of them.

Do cloth diapers fit well under clothing?

Cloth diapers are a bit bulkier than disposable diapers, but what size clothing to get really depends on your child's shape and build and what diaper you use. Pockets and AIOs are very trim, and can make very little difference. You may have to size up if you use a bulkier diaper, but I actually know some mothers who love that cloth diapers help their skinny babe's clothes fit.

Do they make cloth trainers/pull-ups?

Yes! Snap-EZ makes great trainers, as does Imse Vimse. There are many other brands out there as well - try a quick search at Hyena Cart to find a few.

What about meconium? Should I use liners/disposables for this?

Meconium, which is the bowel movements from an infant, is sticky and tarlike (to see a picture and more information, click here for the Wikipedia entry on meconium). Many people worry before having a newborn about meconium stains on their cloth diapers, and whether they should use liners or disposables.

In all my research, in my own personal experience, and in reports from many other cloth users, I have yet to hear about one case of meconium staining a diaper, so I wouldn't worry about it at all. use you diapers just like you would at any other time. To be honest, breastmilk bowel movements stain much more, but the stains easily sun out, so again, no worries!

Are cloth diapers sanitary? What about second-hand cloth diapers?

In a word, yes. Cloth diapers and made to be washed and re-used over and over again. Diapers don't need to be sterile, just clean (disposables aren't sterile, either). Of course, one should wash second-hand diapers in hot water (some people feel more comfortable if they add a capful of bleach to this) and dry in either the dryer or the sun before use (both of these kill bacteria).