1. Why chose cloth?
The three main reasons parents chose cloth is: cloth is better for the environment, cloth is healthier for baby and cloth is more economical.
2. How is cloth better for the environment?
Cloth diapers don't use harsh chemicals in the manufacturing process. Cloth diapers don't drain the natural resources of pulp and paper. Cloth diapers are reusable and don't end up in landfills after one use. Cloth diapers that are no longer useful as a diaper can be turned into cleaning rags. Cloth fibres breakdown faster in landfills than disposables.
3. How are cloth diapers better for baby?
Cloth diapers don't use harsh chemcials. Many cloth diapers are made with natural fibrers which breath allowing air to get to babies skin. The chemicals used in disposable diapers are the same chemicals that have been removed from Tampons due the the link with Toxic Shock Syndrom. Research has shown the exposure to chemicals on young children can lead to reproductive difficulties later in life.
4. What is the cost difference between cloth and disposable?
One child using disposables will cost about $2,200 during that child's lifetime. With cloth you are looking at an investment of $400 to $1,100, and they can be used on multiple children. Think about it this way, if you have two children your costs are doubled. Disposables would have cost you $4,400, whereas cloth would have been $1,100. Thats a savings of $3,300! That money can be better spent elsewhere.
5. How do I wash cloth?
First of all you can wet store (in a pail with water) or dry store (pail no water) your dirty diapers. To wash them is easy. Just dump your dirty diapers, water and all, into your washing machine. You can run a rinse cycle if you wish. Then wash your diapers on warm or hot according to manufacturers direction, with a product like Tide Free. Once the diapers are clean either dry in the dryer or line dry depending on the weather. If you find your diapers are losing their absorbency, there may be a degergent built up. Simply add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
6. What about stains?
Stains will happen. The natural way to deal with them is to rub the stain with lemon juice and lay your diaper stain side up in the sun light. The sun will naturally bleach the stain. Do not use bleach. Bleach will break down the waterproof qualities in all-in-ones and break down fibers.
7. How many diapers do I need?
This will depend if your going completely with cloth or using a mixture. There is no right way, it is a personal preferrence. I recommend starting with at least 18 to 24 diapers. A new baby will have 10 diaper changes per day, and you will want enough diapers to avoid doing laundry every day. As your baby grows you will need less diapers, older babies are only changed around 5 times per day.
8. Don't babies rash more with cloth?
To answer this question I would like to tell you my experience. When my daughter was born she was put in disposables in the hospital, and she rashed immediately. I tried every type of bottom cream available. Nothing worked, her rash got worse. After switching from breast milk to soya formula (we thought she had a milk allergy) I became desperate, she cried everytime she wet herself. In frustration I put her in a prefold. The rash was gone in a matter of days. I was sold. I didn't like pins, so I made my own velcro diapers, that were passed on to my other children, family and friends and was the start of LooRoos diapers.
9. Isn't cloth more work?
A diaper change is a diaper change. When you change your baby you still need to remove the soiled diaper. The solid waste both with cloth and disposables needs to be dropped into the toilet. Then the diaper if cloth is put into a container with a lid. A disposable in the garbage. So up to here the steps are the same. The only difference is the extra load of laundry, but the benefits of cloth outway the extra step.
10. What about wipes? Should I just use water?
Yes you can always use just water when wiping babies bottom. If you want to make a wipes solution, try the receipe we give out with our cloth wipes.
• 2 tablespoosn of baby wash (use a natural wash).
• 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil
• 2 cups of water
Mix together ingredients well. Store in a wipes box or a spray bottle. If using a wipes box, swish wipe in solution before use. If using a spray bottle, spray solution on wipe before use.
