cloth diapers? really?...well, where do I start?

Mention cloth diapers to the average person...

and you may get strange looks, raised eyebrows and even the occasional Ewwwww, gross! Why settle for being average, when you can be extraordinary? It's hip, it's modern and it's fun! (Yes! I said using cloth diapers can be FUN!)

There are sooo many types to choose from now. Long gone are the plain white cotton cloth diapers that leak and need a noisy plastic cover. Long gone are the wet-pails sitting in the corner of the room with gross bog like contents. No wonder people stopped using them! The diapers made today are amazing. Cute, convenient, and very functional. Here's the low down on the modern cloth diapers adorning babies butts now-a-days:

Why should I use cloth diapers?
Cloth diapers are nothing like what grandma used. They are innovative with waterproof outer fabric and contain excellent absorbent materials to help against leaks. Although they don't hold as much liquid as disposables, they are environmentally friendly and save you money in the long run.

What is the difference between AIO's, AI2's, Fitteds and Pocket diapers?
AIO's are all-in-one diapers meaning the insert or soaker pad is sewn into the diaper.
AI2's are all-in-two diapers meaning the soaker pad is attached to the diaper but can be removed for washing and drying.
Fitteds have a contoured shape and have gathered edges around the legs. A waterproof diaper cover is necessary when using fitted as no waterproof protection is included.
Pocket diapers have a "pocket" somewhere on the diaper where the insert or soaker pad can be placed and/or removed. The pockets also make it easy to doubled up for extra protection against leaks.

What is PUL? What is Minkee?
PUL is an abbreviation for Polyurethane Laminate. It is %100 polyester knit interlock with a waterproof polyurethane film laminated to one side. It is a breathable, non allergenic material widely used in an assortment of home products.
Minkee fabric is the newest in luxurious, silky soft microfiber fabric. It rivals cashmere in softness and resembles real mink in touch. One customer described it “like petting a newborn baby rabbit”. The baby market has picked up on Minkee fabric and fabricates everything from blankets to toys and cloth diapers. There are different variations in flats and textures: minkee with dots, lines, diamonds, and short or long pile.

What are inserts or soakers usually made of?
Inserts/soakers are made from a super absorbent material. Usually micro-fiber, cotton, bamboo, or hemp.

How many diapers do I need to get started?
The amount of diapers really depends on your washing schedule and the regularity of your baby. Here are some brief rules of thumb you can follow to help you decide.
You will need 12-16 diapers if you wash every second day (3 or more times a week).
24-40 diapers every third (twice a week).

How do I choose which diapers are best for me?
In the end all the diapers work just as well as the others. It just depends on how much time you have and what your washing schedule is like. Choosing between the AIO's, AI2's, Fitteds and Pockets can be confusing. Pockets take a little longer to get ready for use (ie, removing and replacing the insert). While AIO's are easy to just toss on the shelf until use. However AIO's take a lot longer to dry. So you really need to think about how much time you have personally to do laundry. I suggest trying both kinds because there are so many good things about both of them.

How Do I Wash my Cloth Diapers?
The washing routine is very straight-forward:
1. cold pre-soak
2. hot wash
3. cold rinse (if your wash cycle ends with a cold rinse then no extra rinse is necessary)
It's really THAT easy!!

The occasional time you may experience leakage. Most times this is due to detergent buildup on your diapers which is preventing the fabric from absorbing. There is a usually quick and easy remedy for this: stripping.

How to strip your diapers:
1. cold pre-soak as usual
2. hot wash as usual
3. ANOTHER hot wash, without detergent (sometimes it's a good idea to add some boiling water). Add 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup vinegar (this is a wonder stripping combination).
4. Cold rinse
Voila! the detergent buildup should be stripped completely away.

Detergent: use only 1/3 of the suggested amount of detergent for a normal wash. (I highly recommend Tide REGULAR POWDER for cloth diapers! it does not accumulate buildup nearly as fast as most detergents, even detergents made for cloth diapers). Never use "free" detergents (ie. Tide Free), because they contain plant based cleaners which have lots of oils in them...hence NOT conducive to a good cloth diaper cleaner.

Fabric softener: do NOT use fabric softener. This will ruin the effectiveness of your diapers. To soften your diapers, use 1/4 cup of vinegar in the pre-soak cycle.

Dry: dry your diapers on the medium setting or line dry

Stains: do not bleach your diapers to remove stains. Most all stains will come out when placed in the sun! if you have a stubborn stain, add a bit of lemon juice before sunning.

Some of the best cloth diapers out there (in MY opinion):
~SoftBums (AI2) www.softbums.com
~Monkey Doodlez (AIO) www.monkeydoodlez.com
~GroBaby (AI2) www.grovia.com
~Baby Kanga (Pocket)
~JamTots (AIO, AI2, Pocket)