All but one of my cloth dipes are Kawaii One Size Pockets. The lone ranger is a BumGenius One Size Pocket diaper, and I really don't like the way it fits Kinnley. I'm not sure what it is about the fit, I just know I don't like it. Eventually, I would like to try different types and brands but I'm fine with the stash I have for now.
The Pail vs. Wet Bag argument. We live in a small house (and by small house I mean a trailer we are currently renting) so obviously anything that I can do to save us space is crucial. Having a pail for dirty cloth just isn't an option (and really, having a pail seems like more work anyways). I have 3 wet bags, 2 large and 1 small size. I hang one large wet bag off a hook over the dryer and keep a small one in the diaper bag. The other is just extra. As far as detergent goes, we're using Rock N Green Lavender Revival Hard Rock. I love Rock N Green because it has detergents specifically made for the type of water you have. We have hard water, therefore we use the Hard Rock. We haven't had any issues with the detergent, but we have also only been cloth diapering for two months. I buy my Rock N Green from Teeny Greeny, a boutique cloth/green store in Kansas City.
I was washing my dipes every other day, but now I'm trying to wash them every four days. I'd like them to last through more than one child, so obviously cutting down on how many times they are washed will help. Not drying your dipes in the dryer will also extend their life. I've been drying mine on low in our dryer, but I finally got a drying rack! I just put the rack out on my porch and let them dry! Easy, peasy. I'm hoping that sun-bleaching them will help get some of the shadow stains out that my diapers have gotten.
Wipes, wipes, wipes. Until recently we had been using disposable wipes. Boy was that a pain! At the two baby showers that I had, we received a total of 52 wash cloths! So I separated them out, wash cloths that have hems around the edge are for bath time and wash cloths that don't have them hemming are wipes! Of course, you can always buy actual cloth wipes...but this way cuts down on cost for us. My first batch of wipes solution was very simple: 1 cup bottled water, 1 tbs witch hazel, 1-2 drops tea tree oil. My issue with that solution was it is stinky. So my next batch contained the following: 1 cup bottled water, 1 tbs witch hazel, 1-2 drops tea tree oil, 1 tbs veg oil, 1 tbs baby shampoo. I read that the veggie oil helps the solution to be smoother on the baby's bottom and that the shampoo helped made it smell better. That's the solution we are currently using. Its 'ok'. We store our solution in little spray bottles and just spray it onto the dry wipes. That process may change over time, but it works for now.
I've also tried to simplify the whole cloth wipes thing by adding an extra step after I wash and dry my dipes. I stuff the insert into the dipe and then place a folded wipe into the dipe, then I fold the dipe in half and put it inside my bin. It makes it so easy to just grab a diaper when it's changing time, the wipe is already inside! I have just been storing my dipes (and extra wipes) in a bin that I keep in the living room. I also just hang the wipe solution spray bottles off the side of the bin! Everything all in one place!
As far as overnight goes, we don't have many issues or complaints. Kinnley is just over 2 months old now and has been consistently sleeping from about 10 pm until 6/7 am. The first night that she slept that long she just had a regular dipe on and she obviously woke up soaked. So from then on, at bed time, I put a cloth diaper on her that has a regular microfiber insert PLUS a bamboo insert. It's worked so far! As she gets older, this method may have to change.
A couple things I've learned...
- Always pack an extra outfit for your little one in your diaper bag. Especially if you are new to cloth. Leaks are going to happen. The time is going to get away from you and the next thing you know it's been 3 or 4 hours since your baby's last change and she is wet through her cloths. It's nice to know that you have a back up, just in case.
- Those annoying plastic sacks that you bring your groceries home in (because you once again forgot to pack your cute reusable bags), those are going to come in handy. Throw one (or two) into a side pocket of your diaper bag. One of these days you'll forget to pack your wet bag for dirty dipes and you'll be thankful for that little plastic sack!
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