Cloth Diaper Care Part 1: Routine

As a parent I used cloth diapers for 9 years - yes you read correctly, nine years of diapering. So when I say that I have washed, dried and hung on the line numerous loads of cloth diapers you can believe it!

Detergent and care questions are the most common topics clients ask about. We will chronicle in detail some relevant information for parents so you can make a wise detergent choice for your family and establish a solid wash routine for your diaper products. When you make an investment to use cloth diapers, having the right tools and understanding how to care for them is important.

Location and subsequent water hardness may cause your routine to differ slightly from others, but the general guidelines can be followed by everyone. If a particular situation warrants some adjustment to your routine, there is always the ability to tailor it to your needs.

In this first article of a multi-part series on diaper care and detergent, I am going to provide some updated care instructions and some diaper “don’ts”. I want to try to simplify things for you while still giving all the information you need!

The most common questions we get asked by our clients are: "How do I wash cloth diapers? Isn't it hard to do?" The routine itself couldn't be simpler. We'll start at the beginning and share all our dirty diaper laundry secrets!

What do I do with soiled and dirty diapers?

Place wet or soiled diapers into a dry diaper pail with baking soda sprinkled on the bottom to help absorb odor. Baking soda does an amazing job of keeping your pail smelling fresh. Make sure any solid waste in the diaper has been put into the toilet, place the diaper in the pail and lay the lid on top. Wet diapers can be placed in the pail as is taking care to remove any disposable liners if you use these products.

If breastfeeding you don't need to rinse the diaper off but if you wish to, simply put on a pair of rubber gloves and rinse the diaper in the toilet, squeeze out excess water, and place in the diaper pail. A pail liner can be used inside your diaper pail if you prefer. You would dump all the diapers in the pail liner into the wash and place the pail liner in to be washed as well.

Another tip to eliminate odor in your diaper pail is to attach a small square of fabric with tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract on the lid. Carbon filters also do a great job of eliminating odor.

Make sure you wash often enough - no more than 2 days between wash cycles are recommended. The longer wet/soiled diapers sit, the more opportunity for bacteria, mould, and other organisms to develop.

What's the best wash routine for my cloth diapers?

A cold or warm(preferred) presoak, hot wash and cold rinse is the most common recommendation. The cold or warm temperature presoak can prevent stains from setting into diaper fabric. You may want to do an extra rinse to ensure all detergent is completely out of the diapers. Proper rinsing will reduce detergent residue or build up.

If using a detergent recommended specifically for cloth diapers, use the amount indicated in the detergent instructions taking into account the degree of water hardness/softness in your location and the number of diapers being washed per load.

If you have hard water, you may need to slightly increase the amount of detergent used.

By the same token, if you have a water softener installed in your home you may need to decrease the amount of detergent used compared to the manufacturer recommendations.

If using a mainstream detergent, reduce the recommended amount by 1/2 to start especially if it’s a concentrated variety. If any suds remain in the machine, rinse again until there are no suds in the washing machine drum.

You can either line dry (most eco-friendly) or dry diapers and inserts in the dryer as per manufacturers' recommendations.

Cloth diaper care "don'ts"
When using today's modern cloth diapers, there are things you shouldn’t do when caring for them. You want to protect your investment in the products and maintain your safety.

Do NOT use fabric softeners, dryer sheets or detergents with fabric softeners in them. These items cause build up and leaking. Even if you do not use these products with your diaper laundry but use them with regular laundry, they can leave deposits in both your washing machine and dryer by coating the interior drum. These deposits can transfer onto cloth diaper products and cause repelling and leaking.

No bleach or whitening agents as use of these could damage products and void manufacturer warranty.

No vinegar or baking soda should be used in the wash. Vinegar can change the pH of your water and possibly damage elastic. Baking soda can settle into fabric and cause build up. If using baking soda in your diaper pail, dump it into the toilet, rinse out your pail and do not place it in the machine with your cloth diapers.

Do NOT use the sanitize cycle on your washing machine for cloth diapers. The water temperature on this setting is too high and can damage Aplix or Velcro closure tabs, snaps and elastic. You may be able to use it for cotton prefolds or certain insert material like microterry inserts. Check manufacturer recommendations prior to using the sanitize cycle on your washing machine but it is generally not recommended due to the extreme temperature.

Do NOT boil your diapers. This will damage the elastic and possibly the polyurethane laminate in your diaper products. Boiling diapers will void product warranty.

Do NOT wash diapers in the dishwasher as this is an extreme fire hazard.

Our next article in this series will discuss the science behind detergent, which varieties are cloth diaper friendly and local detergent sources (in Humboldt and Saskatoon).

Stay tuned for more great information!

Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135

Third instalment on the science of disposable diapers - what's inside...

Here is the third article on disposable diapers that actually opens them up and looks inside to show you what they are made of:

http://www.zrecommends.com/detail/five-possible-sources-of-irritation-in-pampers-dry-max-diapers

If you have any questions regarding how to use cloth diapers and what's inside, don't hesitate to contact us by phone or via email at Baby Luv Boutique, we'd love to educate you on the benefits of cloth diapers!

Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135
inquire@babyluvboutique.com

More must read information on the disposable diaper...

Here is Part 2 of the article on disposable diapers and the most recent media coverage of the effects some disposable diaper products are having on children:

http://www.zrecommends.com/detail/the-true-story-of-pampers-dry-max-part-2-what-dry-max-is-doing-to-kids/

If you have been following this story, it is just another source of information for parents to consider when choosing cloth versus disposable products.

Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135

Disposable Diaper Science - a must read for parents

We have found the story regarding disposable diaper products in the media of late very interesting with a lot of eye opening information being presented. As parents and business owners, we feel this is something every new or expectant parent should certainly be aware of and should have the information available to help them make a decision about what products they wish to purchase and use.

Here is a wonderful series of articles on disposable diapers and the science behind them:

http://www.zrecommends.com/detail/the-true-story-of-pampers-dry-max-part-1-the-diaper-wars

There are three parts in this series to date and more is expected. We think it is a must read series of articles for parents. Insightful, useful information that can help you choose what products will be right for your family and your children. You may find out some information that will make you take a second look at alternatives to disposable products.

We can't say it enough - isn't now a great time to consider using cloth diapers?

Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135

Diapers in the media: What to choose for diapers in today's world...

There has been a great deal of media attention regarding diapers these days and some of it has brought issues to light that parents may be concerned about. One article to note in particular was posted by the CBC here in Canada:

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/05/28/f-disposable-diapers.html

If you are concerned about the choices available in the market today and what is the best option to use for your baby, why not consider cloth diapers? Cloth diapers are an environmentally sound option, they contain no chemicals, they are cost effective and easy to use. Should we also mention they are hip and stylish?

Baby Luv Boutique has an extensive selection of cloth diapering options from prefolds and covers right to the other end of the spectrum with All In One options that offer a similar design and rival the convenience of a disposable product. We have almost a decade of hands on cloth diapering experience and can offer practical tips and considerations to parents who are searching for answers.

Not only do we offer a large selection of premium products and excellent customer service, we host monthly Cloth Diaper Workshops in Saskatoon and offer sessions throughout the year in Humboldt as well.

If you are looking for information on things to consider when choosing between cloth diapers and disposable options, the different types and styles of cloth diapers available today, what you need to get started, care instructions and tips, then a Baby Luv Boutique Cloth Diaper Workshop may be of interest to you.

We in no way suggest you absolutely have to choose cloth diapers for your baby (although we highly recommend them), but we like to provide parents with as much relevant information as possible when researching the options available today so that they can make the best choice for their family. Cloth really is as easy to use as any disposable product so it is a valid choice to do some research on.

Thinking about all the options, it's a great time to consider cloth.

For more information on cloth diapering options or workshop details, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone or via email. We are always pleased to help our clients!

Baby Luv Boutique
Web: http://www.babyluvboutique.com
Phone: (306) 682-5746/1-866-231-5135
Email: inquire@babyluvboutique.com

Fuzzi Bunz Sale at Baby Luv Boutique

Baby Luv Boutique is having a sale on Fuzzi Bunz diapers! We have the best price in our store so come and check out the savings - they are $3.50 off the regular price!

All sales are final and are not eligible for exchange or return. A great value on one of the top brands in the market today - come and check it out while supplies last!

Global Recession - A Great Opportunity to Use Cloth Diapers

There is nothing but discussion regarding the global recession and whether or not we here in Canada will be subject to the same kind of economic crisis we see happening in the US. It is certainly a possibility that we may have to endure something similar so many people are thinking "How can I find ways to save money in these uncertain times?" If you are single you may think that you'll be able to ride out the storm on your own. If you have a family to support your thoughts may be quite different.

So how does one find ways to save money? If you have children in diapers there is an opportunity for you to make a big impact on your bottom line. Disposable diapers cost anywhere from $1,800 to $2,500 per child. A full set of cloth diapers for that same child can cost you anywhere from $300 to $1,000 depending on the type and number purchased. Even when washing and drying costs are added to this total, you will still spend less than you would purchasing disposable diapers. Here in Canada we have seen an increase in the cost of cloth diapers to take into account current exchange rates and import duties as some companies change their manufacturing locations. Even with these increases, you are still going to see an overall benefit and significant savings when using cloth diapers. They can also be used on more than one child if cared for properly, so your dollar is being stretched even further, saving you even more.

Aren't they hard to use and don't they take a lot of time? Absolutely not! Innovative designs make today's cloth diapers similar to disposables and advanced lines of fabric make them user friendly and simple to care for. We tell our clients about the benefits all the time at our monthly Cloth Diaper Workshops held in Saskatoon, SK and quarterly workshops held in Humboldt, SK. Families that try them are amazed at how easy they are to work with and at how much money they really do save.

If you are looking for ways to cut your spending and tighten your budget, then cloth diapers are definitely a great way to do that. You will also give the environment a break and do something healthy for baby as well. Go green and save some green doing it by choosing cloth diapers!