Many of you have been requesting an update on the foray into cloth diapering and Maggie’s rash situation. I’ve postponed my review a bit because I wanted to make sure I had been using these diapers long enough to really see how they stood up, and to make sure that my interest in cloth diapering wasn’t a temporary thing. Now, about a month later, I can honestly say, I love cloth diapers!

When I finally broke down and switched to cloth it was due primarily to Maggie’s horrible diaper rash. We had been to several doctors and used every brand of ointment on the market with no result. Her rashes were raised, swollen, bleeding and extremely painful. Within three days of switching to cloth, her rash was significantly improved and within a week, there was no sign of it left. Now, Maggie does have extremely sensitive skin, so if a bowel movement goes undetected for a half an hour, she will still develop a small rash. This has happened twice in the past month, and both times the rash was gone within twenty-four hours. After fighting rashes for six months straight until we both cried, this is an awesome improvement! I can honestly say that I wish I had gone cloth sooner, and I know I will use cloth diapers when we have another baby. These are great!

I tried out a few different styles and brands to find out what I really liked and what worked the best for me. Originally, I was thinking I would want only All In Ones (meaning that the cover and absorbent parts are sewn together into one diaper). While they are great, I have actually developed a liking for the Chinese prefolds used with a cover. I was really worried about folding them wrong or having them leak all over, but that has not been the case. They are easy to learn to use. You can find several tutorials online to show you how to fold them.

Chinese Prefolds

The most basic of cloth diapers, the Chinese Prefold is a piece of material already folded in layers and sewn together. I am using Green Earth Chinese prefolds, which are ultra-absorbent 4x8x4 diapers (4 layers on the sides and 8 in the middle). They are woven from cotton and have performed very well. They hold quite a bit of liquid and have handled multiple washings very well. One thing I learned using these is to wash and dry them four or five times prior to use because the cotton fibers quilt up and become much more absorbent. I’ve chosen to use these prefolds with covers to lessen the risk of a leak. The most important thing I have found using them this way is to make sure that the prefold is tucked completely inside of the cover. Even a tiny bit poking out of a leg hole can cause moisture to wick onto your baby’s clothes.

Covers

I bought a few different kinds of covers to see which ones I liked best. It turns out that I like them for different reasons. I started out with two Whisper Wraps and two Bumkins covers. The Whisper Wraps worked very well when I needed to double diaper for nighttime use or long car rides. They are a roomier cover and the waist adjusts well to fit the baby. The only downside to these is that they are plain white, and I like cute!

The Bumkins covers win in the cute department. I got a Dr. Seuss One Fish, Two Fish motif on one and a purple floral motif on the other. I like these covers because they are very trim fitting, so they don’t add extra bulk under clothes. Maggie seems more comfortable walking around in a trimmer fitting cover, so I tend to keep her in one of these during the day. Another interesting feature to these is an built in mesh air vent on the back of the diaper. I’m not really sure if I’m being benefitted by this feature, but I do know that if you are pulling t ights over the diaper to go back and check that the flap is down, or the wetness will leak out through the mesh. My mistake, but still, something to consider. One other thing to note is that one of these covers has already snapped its elastic waist, and while it is still functional, kind of leaves me miffed.

The last diaper cover I bought is a VeryBaby cover. It wins in both the cute and functional departments. I got to choose from several nifty materials ( I chose a Mighty Mouse print), so it is, undoubtedly, very cute. It also has the most adjustable waist of any of my covers, and although it is not as trim as the Bumkins brand, it serves well as both a trim diaper cover during the day and a nighttime cover that holds more bulk comfortably, and without leaking. The last thing I really like about these is that the waterproof material they are made from is softer than the other brands, and the outside of the cover is a supple cotton, so it feels good against the skin.

All In Ones (AIO)

I bought two different All In One diapers, and I can honestly say I was shocked to find how different they are in both look, feel, and performance. The first one I got was a Bumkins brand AIO. These come in cute patterns, so obviously, my initial reaction to these, and the reason I bought one was definitely the cute factor. The inside is lined with material and then features another swatch of material running the length of the diaper. While these work fine for one small mess, I must say they aren’t the most absorbent things. She had loose stools once, and they were all over her, the carpet and me. Yesterday Maggie was wearing it while sitting on my lap and needed to be changed, she then wet again, and the diaper didn’t even begin to hold the moisture, so let’s just say I had to change my pants. It is fairly trim and has held up to washing well. This is an ok diaper, but not fabulous. I know I won’t be getting another one.

My favorite diaper is absolutely my VeryBaby AIO! I ordered both this diaper and the VeryBaby cover from Tallulah Baby, a licencee of VeryBaby. The fun thing about ordering from here is that all of the orders are custom made, so you get exactly what you want. The customer service was great, and although I was apologized to for the long turnaround time, I wasn’t even concerned because I didn’t think it was taking that long for a custom order. Seriously, two weeks for a custom order? I’m not complaining! Also, she only opens for custom orders once a month and she’s open now, so hurry on over!

This AIO is awesome! It has the nice supple PUL material on the outside, the inside is very absorbent, and it coms with a doubler inside to make it hold moisture even better. I know from experience this diaper can hold quite the mess without leaking. In addition to this most important factor, the diaper is the trimmest design of any AIO of combination I’ve tried. It also has a nice feature that allows the waist to be fastened tighter than any other diaper or cover I’ve tried, so for those of you with skinny kids- we have a winner! Honestly, the worst thing about this diaper is the stress of trying to choose your favorite color from all of the options. I will definitely be ordering from Tallulah Baby in the future. The VeryBaby designs are great!

Care

To care for my diapers I have been doing a load of laundry right after Maggie’s morning diaper change. It has worked into my routine quite well and really hasn’t been any more stressful than having to throw a disposable away. In fact, since it means I’m in my laundry room, I’m actually keeping up on my other laundry with a little more efficiency. I have been washing my diapers in hot water, and using baking soda and vinegar as detergent. I usually do a double rinse, more due to Maggie’s touchy tushie than anything else. I am looking forward to setting up a diaper line in my backyard now that the weather has improved. The light stains that haven’t been quick to come out in the wash should be easy to take care of in the sun.

I have been told that most cloth diapering people use a diaper pail and wash every two to three days. I use a plastic bag that hangs in my garage and wash daily. I do rinse the messy diapers n the toilet prior to bagging them, so they aren’t really nasty while they are waiting to be washed. This system has worked very well for me. I only bought enough diapers to get through about a day and a half, and I haven’t had a problem yet.

I am very glad I switched to cloth diapers. Maggie’s skin is so much happier, we’re saving money, and its great for the environment. They are cute, and they work very well. I’ve had less leaks, fewer blow outs, and a lot more peace of mind now that her rash is a thing of the past. If you’re considering a change, I encourage you to make it.