Cloth diapering seems so... gross, right? Why would anyone WANT to use cloth when we have the modern convenience of disposable diapers?
As it turns out, there are many great reasons to go the more natural route:
1. Cloth is better for your baby. There is less incidence of diaper rash when babies are cloth diapered.
2. Cloth diapered children potty train earlier. On average, babies in cloth train a year earlier due to the ability to know what's going on in the diaper. The chemical crystals in disposables cause a baby to always feel "dry," even when they are not.
3. Healthier bottoms, healthier babies. Disposable diapers have been implicated in a number of undesirable outcomes, including asthma, decreased male fertility, and toxic shock syndrome.
4. Cloth diapering is better for the environment. Every diaper change with cloth means one less disposable packed into our landfills, to sit and drain into the groundwater for MILLIONS of years.
5. Cloth diapering uses less resources. Overall, from manufacture to disposal, cloth diapering is much more eco-friendly, especially if the diapers are line-dried. This does take into account the entire process, from harvesting crops for cotton diapers, cutting down trees for disposables, petroleum-based ingredients in disposables, manufacture, shipment, packaging, and delivery for both, wash cycles for cloth, re-usability, and the end of the life cycle for both. For disposables this is the landfill, where they will sit next to EVERY disposable diaper ever made. Not one of them has biodegraded yet. For cloth, this is likely use throughout multiple children, then recycling the diapers into household rags.
6. Cloth diapering is economical. With the current sharp rise in gas prices, disposable diapers are also going up. Diaper makers have already slightly increased their retail pricing, with more increases projected for the near future. Cotton is already at a high and measures are being taken worldwide to plant more crops to lower prices. This means that cloth diapering becomes even MORE economical than it already is while disposables will be going up, likely permanently.
7. Cloth is convenient. An extra couple of washloads a week don't even compare to the middle-of-the-night drugstore runs to pay even higher prices because you ran out of diapers, or the extra trips in the heat and snow, carting the baby to the store just to pick up more diapers that will be tossed after one use. With a diaper service it is even easier: you toss the soiled diapers directly into a bag and leave it on the porch for them to do the rest!
7. Cloth diapers smell better than disposables. Ask anyone who has experienced both, and they will tell you that there is an extremely unpleasant odor associated with a wet disposable diaper. It's some kind of chemical-y, rotten stink that festers in your trash can until garbage day. Cloth diapers do not stink. Baby pee has no odor, and poo is washed away before there is a chance for a stink to grow. Diaper services provide waterproof, smell-proof wet bags so there is no odor to the diapers as long as the bag is kept sealed until the service pick-up.
8. Cloth diapering is adorable, and even fun! Yes, we said it. There's nothing cuter than a baby in just a diaper, especially when that diaper is made of cotton with a fun print on the cover, instead of a plain plastic sack that droops when it is wet. There are endless possibilities for cover designs and types of cloth diapers, one of which is right for your family.
Ask yourself: which would you rather have next to your baby's delicate bottom; a plastic single-use diaper or a simple, soft, and sustainable square of cotton? Which is really more convenient?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Marie_Reilly/1055562
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6257733
Showing posts with label child diapers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child diapers. Show all posts
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Cloth Diapering 101
Newcomer cloth diaper moms have one hundred and one questions. My partner and I had about a gazillion when we went the cloth diapering way:
'How do I fold this big handkerchief thingy (flat diaper) and make it fit on the baby's bum?'
'What's this other smaller handkerchief thingy (liner) and does it go over or under? What does it do anyway?'
'How do I stick this safety pin into the diaper without sticking it into the baby (Yikes!)? Why is it called a safety pin anyway, it does not look safe to me.'
Believe me when I say we were both more clueless than a snowman in the Sahara desert.
But to keep it short and sweet (although diapers and sweet do not belong in the same sentence), today I will answer ten of the most commonly asked questions in our Cloth Diapering 101 class.
1. How Many Diapers Do I Need?
The number of diapers you need primarily depends on the age and weight of your baby. Newborns go through more diapers than toddlers. With a newborn, you will need a minimum two dozen diapers, but as few as one dozen will be sufficient for a toddler. Other factors that will come into play are whether your baby is a heavy wetter, the absorbency of your diapers, and the materials from which your diapers are made.
2. How Do I Strip My Cloth Diapers?
Stripping is one of those necessary evils of being a cloth diaper mom. Hate it or love it, you MUST do it every now and again. A detailed guide on how to strip cloth diapers is available here. When stripping, keep in mind that you should NOT add any detergent to your diapers, as this beats the purpose - you want to get traces of detergent out. When stripping, you should also know whether you have hard or soft water as this determines what you can add to your load (stain remover, baking soda, vinegar, etc.) and how effective it will be.
3. Which Are the Best Cloth Diaper Brands?
There is no 'best' just what works well for you and your baby. When choosing diaper brands, consider size, absorbency, washing, lifetime of the diaper and your budget. If you are just starting out, you can buy a few of each brand and then buy more of what works best for you. Some popular diaper brands are: Osocozy, BumGenius, Kawaii and Rumparoos.
4. How Do I Choose My Cloth Diaper Detergent?
If a detergent is indicated to be safe for your baby's clothes, it is not necessarily safe for his or her diapers. Choose a very gentle, natural cloth diaper detergent that is free of any additives. If your baby gets a rash and you suspect it is because of your detergent, change it. You should also try using less detergent when washing your cloth diapers.
5. Is it Advisable to Use Cloth Diapers through the Night?
Yes it is! You may worry that since cloth diapers wet faster, your little one may not sleep comfortably all night because of leaks. With newborns, you will need to change the diaper three or four times which is okay because it will probably correspond with his or her feeds too. For older babies who sleep through the night, add a doubler under the diaper and you and your baby get a restful, dry night. You can also choose more absorbent diaper brands (like one with a suede or fleece booster and a wool cover) to guarantee a dryer night for your baby.
6. What are the Differences between Flats and Prefolds?
The most basic diaper is the flat; it is the big white handkerchief-like thingamy your parents probably used. You fold it into a triangular shape, fit the baby's bum into the center of this triangle, gather the 'points' of the triangle at the baby's front and then pin it into place (with safety pins) at the baby's hips. A prefold is just like flat, but eliminates the folding stage because this has already been done for you and sewn in place so that it does not unfold. The primary advantage of prefolds over flats is that prefolds have more layers at the center where absorbency is needed the most to keep your baby dry.
7. What are the Differences Between All-in-Ones and All-in-Twos?
An 'all-in' diaper combines the diaper itself and the waterproof cover so that you do not have to put them on the baby separately. The diaper and the cover come sewn together and you just have to snap it or Velcro it in place on the baby's waist. All-in-ones have the inner absorbent cloth and the outer waterproof cover and that's it. All-in-twos are fashioned such that you can remove the inner absorbent cloth from the outer waterproof cover. Its advantage is that you can re-use the waterproof cover with a fresh diaper and it makes for easier laundering.
8. What are the Differences Between Inserts and Doublers?
Inserts are used with pocket diapers for extra absorbency. Pocket diapers are basically like all-in-twos but with an allowance beneath the inner absorbent layer and the outer waterproof material where you can add another layer of cloth (the insert) so your baby can go drier for longer. Doublers are thick, rectangular cloth pads that are also added for absorbency and used with the traditional flats or with prefolds. They are fixed between the diaper and the waterproof diaper cover.
9. How Do I Wash My Cloth Diapers?
Wash your diapers every two to three days. In between washes, keep your diapers in a diaper pail and add a sprinkle of baking soda into the dirty diaper pail to keep away the stunk. The standard diaper wash is: one cold wash, one hot wash with your cloth diaper detergent, and then a cold and warm rinse. You can add an extra rinse if you still see bubbles in the wash.
10. How Do I Stop/Control Diaper Rash?
If your baby has never, ever had a diaper rash, I salute you; you are officially the Best Mom in the universe. Also, would you please let me in on the secret? Now, to the rest of us ordinary moms, to limit the probability of your baby getting diaper rush, you can take these preventive steps:
Change your baby as soon as they get wet. This does not mean that you can feel or see the wetness on may start crying or fidgeting when they are wet. Check every two hours for newborns, and at least every four hours for older babies.
Use alcohol-free wipes as they may cause irritation on baby's skin. Choose baby-friendly wipes or use cloth wipes instead.
Dry baby's skin well before putting on a diaper. Humidity encourages bacteria and formation of rash/yeast infections.
Use a cream or ointment on baby's skin with every diaper change. Plain petroleum jelly or zinc oxide work well. Your cream of choice should be mild and baby-friendly.
Clean diapers very thoroughly and make sure to rinse out all detergent with every wash. Left over detergent can irritate baby's skin.
Get more information on cloth diapers and lots of reviews on Thebestclothdiapersguide.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lilian_Gray/2026610
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8916866
'How do I fold this big handkerchief thingy (flat diaper) and make it fit on the baby's bum?'
'What's this other smaller handkerchief thingy (liner) and does it go over or under? What does it do anyway?'
'How do I stick this safety pin into the diaper without sticking it into the baby (Yikes!)? Why is it called a safety pin anyway, it does not look safe to me.'
Believe me when I say we were both more clueless than a snowman in the Sahara desert.
But to keep it short and sweet (although diapers and sweet do not belong in the same sentence), today I will answer ten of the most commonly asked questions in our Cloth Diapering 101 class.
1. How Many Diapers Do I Need?
The number of diapers you need primarily depends on the age and weight of your baby. Newborns go through more diapers than toddlers. With a newborn, you will need a minimum two dozen diapers, but as few as one dozen will be sufficient for a toddler. Other factors that will come into play are whether your baby is a heavy wetter, the absorbency of your diapers, and the materials from which your diapers are made.
2. How Do I Strip My Cloth Diapers?
Stripping is one of those necessary evils of being a cloth diaper mom. Hate it or love it, you MUST do it every now and again. A detailed guide on how to strip cloth diapers is available here. When stripping, keep in mind that you should NOT add any detergent to your diapers, as this beats the purpose - you want to get traces of detergent out. When stripping, you should also know whether you have hard or soft water as this determines what you can add to your load (stain remover, baking soda, vinegar, etc.) and how effective it will be.
3. Which Are the Best Cloth Diaper Brands?
There is no 'best' just what works well for you and your baby. When choosing diaper brands, consider size, absorbency, washing, lifetime of the diaper and your budget. If you are just starting out, you can buy a few of each brand and then buy more of what works best for you. Some popular diaper brands are: Osocozy, BumGenius, Kawaii and Rumparoos.
4. How Do I Choose My Cloth Diaper Detergent?
If a detergent is indicated to be safe for your baby's clothes, it is not necessarily safe for his or her diapers. Choose a very gentle, natural cloth diaper detergent that is free of any additives. If your baby gets a rash and you suspect it is because of your detergent, change it. You should also try using less detergent when washing your cloth diapers.
5. Is it Advisable to Use Cloth Diapers through the Night?
Yes it is! You may worry that since cloth diapers wet faster, your little one may not sleep comfortably all night because of leaks. With newborns, you will need to change the diaper three or four times which is okay because it will probably correspond with his or her feeds too. For older babies who sleep through the night, add a doubler under the diaper and you and your baby get a restful, dry night. You can also choose more absorbent diaper brands (like one with a suede or fleece booster and a wool cover) to guarantee a dryer night for your baby.
6. What are the Differences between Flats and Prefolds?
The most basic diaper is the flat; it is the big white handkerchief-like thingamy your parents probably used. You fold it into a triangular shape, fit the baby's bum into the center of this triangle, gather the 'points' of the triangle at the baby's front and then pin it into place (with safety pins) at the baby's hips. A prefold is just like flat, but eliminates the folding stage because this has already been done for you and sewn in place so that it does not unfold. The primary advantage of prefolds over flats is that prefolds have more layers at the center where absorbency is needed the most to keep your baby dry.
7. What are the Differences Between All-in-Ones and All-in-Twos?
An 'all-in' diaper combines the diaper itself and the waterproof cover so that you do not have to put them on the baby separately. The diaper and the cover come sewn together and you just have to snap it or Velcro it in place on the baby's waist. All-in-ones have the inner absorbent cloth and the outer waterproof cover and that's it. All-in-twos are fashioned such that you can remove the inner absorbent cloth from the outer waterproof cover. Its advantage is that you can re-use the waterproof cover with a fresh diaper and it makes for easier laundering.
8. What are the Differences Between Inserts and Doublers?
Inserts are used with pocket diapers for extra absorbency. Pocket diapers are basically like all-in-twos but with an allowance beneath the inner absorbent layer and the outer waterproof material where you can add another layer of cloth (the insert) so your baby can go drier for longer. Doublers are thick, rectangular cloth pads that are also added for absorbency and used with the traditional flats or with prefolds. They are fixed between the diaper and the waterproof diaper cover.
9. How Do I Wash My Cloth Diapers?
Wash your diapers every two to three days. In between washes, keep your diapers in a diaper pail and add a sprinkle of baking soda into the dirty diaper pail to keep away the stunk. The standard diaper wash is: one cold wash, one hot wash with your cloth diaper detergent, and then a cold and warm rinse. You can add an extra rinse if you still see bubbles in the wash.
10. How Do I Stop/Control Diaper Rash?
If your baby has never, ever had a diaper rash, I salute you; you are officially the Best Mom in the universe. Also, would you please let me in on the secret? Now, to the rest of us ordinary moms, to limit the probability of your baby getting diaper rush, you can take these preventive steps:
Change your baby as soon as they get wet. This does not mean that you can feel or see the wetness on may start crying or fidgeting when they are wet. Check every two hours for newborns, and at least every four hours for older babies.
Use alcohol-free wipes as they may cause irritation on baby's skin. Choose baby-friendly wipes or use cloth wipes instead.
Dry baby's skin well before putting on a diaper. Humidity encourages bacteria and formation of rash/yeast infections.
Use a cream or ointment on baby's skin with every diaper change. Plain petroleum jelly or zinc oxide work well. Your cream of choice should be mild and baby-friendly.
Clean diapers very thoroughly and make sure to rinse out all detergent with every wash. Left over detergent can irritate baby's skin.
Get more information on cloth diapers and lots of reviews on Thebestclothdiapersguide.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lilian_Gray/2026610
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8916866
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Child Care Diapers
When shopping for child diapers, think about different choices, like disposable, biodegradable and cloth. Purchase child diapers with suggestions from a baby retailer supervisor on this free video on little one care. I have raised three children and know that in the case of diapers, my children cherished Luvs model diapers.
Are they the most cheap? No, they’re not. Are they the very best quality diaper out there? I believe they’re and you might too. So what might be carried out to make these diapers extra affordable for the families that are not made of money? Straightforward, just use printable Luvs coupons. The cost of diapers have not gone down in the last few years. On the contrary, they have been growing at an alarming rate. I can remember when getting a diaper for 10 cents a chunk was thought-about freeway robbery. Nowadays although, you’ll be a fortunate soul if yow will discover a diaper for 10 cents a chunk that does not collapse before you put it in your little one. So what is the price charge per diaper in this time of kid elevating? About 25 to 35 cents a piece.
Diapers are in all probability the preferred among people. These diapers are recognized for being a lot thicker than the remaining and do not are inclined to leak. Folks clearly like this as a result of they don’t want to be embarrassed by having their urine leak via their diapers into their pants. These diapers are additionally far more comfortable than the others are as properly based on most people. Obviously, these will come in several sizes, so you will get one of the best match possible. You will most likely need to try these on first, so that you just be sure you get the best size. That is why you must at least strive them on first at a retail store before you purchase online when you determine to go that route.
Are they the most cheap? No, they’re not. Are they the very best quality diaper out there? I believe they’re and you might too. So what might be carried out to make these diapers extra affordable for the families that are not made of money? Straightforward, just use printable Luvs coupons. The cost of diapers have not gone down in the last few years. On the contrary, they have been growing at an alarming rate. I can remember when getting a diaper for 10 cents a chunk was thought-about freeway robbery. Nowadays although, you’ll be a fortunate soul if yow will discover a diaper for 10 cents a chunk that does not collapse before you put it in your little one. So what is the price charge per diaper in this time of kid elevating? About 25 to 35 cents a piece.
Diapers are in all probability the preferred among people. These diapers are recognized for being a lot thicker than the remaining and do not are inclined to leak. Folks clearly like this as a result of they don’t want to be embarrassed by having their urine leak via their diapers into their pants. These diapers are additionally far more comfortable than the others are as properly based on most people. Obviously, these will come in several sizes, so you will get one of the best match possible. You will most likely need to try these on first, so that you just be sure you get the best size. That is why you must at least strive them on first at a retail store before you purchase online when you determine to go that route.
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