Diapers 101

No pins! No bulky, stinky mess! No complicated folding! We swear – you are going to LOVE the new cloth diapers. Cloth diapers have revolutionized in the past few years. And so have many parents, who have decided they want a softer, healthier, more economical choice for their babies. These Questions and Answers will walk you through all you need to know. And if you need more info, we are here to help.

Why should I use cloth?
What are the differences between the styles of cloth diapers?
I'm just starting out - how many diapers do I need?
What about sizing?
What kind of diaper pail do I use?
How do I wash my cloth diapers?
What kind of detergent do I use?
What if I have hard water/leaking/smells/stains?
Can I use diaper creams and other baby-care products with my cloth diapers?

Why should I use cloth?

There are three main reasons to use cloth diapers on your baby. These arguments, paired with the ease of modern cloth diaper styles (see Choosing a Cloth Diaper, below), make cloth a simple and smart choice. Much of the information below comes from The Real Diaper Association.

Your baby's health. Disposable diapers contain traces of Dioxin, a cancer-causing chemical. Dioxins build up in fatty tissue over time and have been found to have an effect on reproduction, sexual development and the immune system. Disposable diapers also contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals. Disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate, chemical crystals that can absorb up to 800 times their weight in liquid by turning into a gel that keeps babies dry. It is similar to the material in tampons that has been linked to toxic-shock syndrome in women.
The environment. An estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers are consumed every year in the U.S. Over 92 percent of these end up in a landfill. No one knows how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose, but it is estimated to be about 250-500 years. An average child using disposable diapers will go through about 8,000 by age 2 ½. There's been much debate in recent years about the environmental benefit of avoiding this waste in our landfills when contrasted with the extra water a family will use to wash cloth diapers. Many have come out strongly on the side of cloth diapers for these reasons: The water used to clean cloth diapers is about the same amount of water used to flush a toilet - water that your child will use after potty training anyway. Water used to wash cloth diapers is recycled, flowing through our sewage-treatment systems and then rechargers our aquafers or goes flows back into our water systems. Compare that to billions of soiled, carcinogenic diapers sitting in our landfills for generations. In addition, one must consider the environmental cost of mass-producing paper diapers, including the raw materials and transportation, vs. the cost of producing cloth diapers, which are often made by work-at-home parents, local small-scale manufacturers and from environmentally sustainable materials like hemp, organic cotton and wool.
Cost. According to an April 2007 Consumer Reports story, parents can expect to spend up to $2,000 to diaper one child in disposables. The cost of cloth diapering can vary from as low as $300 for a basic set-up of prefolds and covers to $1000 or more for organic cotton fitted diapers and wool covers. With new one-size pocket and all-in-one styles and more economical prefolds and covers, it's possible to create a varied and convenient system for about $500 that can last through two or more children. Compare that to the $4,000 or more it would take to keep two in disposables for 2-3 years each – 1/8 of the cost!
Finally, one additional reason to put cloth on your baby – it's just so cute. Who wants to look at that sweet soft skin wrapped up in a paper diaper, when you could put soft, simple cloth and bright candy colors on there instead?

What are the differences between the styles of cloth diapers?

There are 4 main types of cloth diapers:

Pockets
- Design and materials: This is one of the most popular, modern, and adaptable styles. It has 2 components. The trim diapers are sewn from an outer layer of PUL, which is waterproof, and an inner layer of either fleece or microsuede, both of which wick away moisture in order to keep your baby's skin dry. They have an opening, usually in the back, which is stuffed with some kind of an insert - made from microfiber, hemp, or cotton - to soak up the moisture. Stuff them ahead for a one-step process at change time.
- Use: You use a new diaper and insert at every change, and after you take the diaper off you simply shake or pull out the insert before dropping both pieces into your diaper pail. They can be washed and dried easily.
- Options: Pockets close with either velcro or snaps, and can come in sizes or one-size versions that can fit most babies from birth or a few weeks old until potty training. They come in a huge range of colors, prints and patterns.
- Pros and cons: You can customize the insert depending on how much absorbancy you need, making it highly adaptable to any child. Pockets fit trimly, avoiding "bubble butt." New one-sizes make it possible to use one set of diapers for 2 or more years! They are fast-drying. These diapers can be on the higher end of the price scale, though. Inserts usually have to be removed before washing (this really is quite easy).
All-in-Ones/All-in-Twos (AIO/AI2)
- Design and Materials: Often considered the easiest cloth diaper because there's only one step, just like a disposable. These are much like pocket diapers, with an outer layer of waterproof PUL and an inner layer, usually of fleece or microsuede. However, instead of a separate insert, these have built-in soakers (a thicker part in the center to absorb moisture), essentially making them a one-piece diaper. Some new AIO hybrids also have a pocket opening in the back in case you want to add extra absorbancy, though the diapers alone are usually sufficient for most babies.
- Use: Just pull it out and put it on! They can be washed and dried easily.
- Options: AIOs close with either velcro or snaps, and can come in sizes or one-size versions that can fit most babies from birth or a few weeks old until potty training. They come in a range of colors, prints and patterns.
- Pros and cons: These are so easy that even grandparents and babysitters love them. Hybrids allow you to customize absorbancy, and most are fairly trim-fitting. They are some of the priciest diapers though, and can take longer to dry in your drier because the insert is sewn in.
Fitteds
- Design and materials: Fitted diapers are a two-step system. The diapers themselves are made from cotton, organic cotton, sherpa, hemp, velour, bamboo and many other fibers. Some are lined with fleece inside to wick moisture away and keep baby dry, and thin fleece or stay-dry liners can also be added to those that don't have this built-in. Fitted diapers attach with velcro or snaps, but are NOT waterproof alone. They require a cover or wrap, the second step. Covers are made from PUL, fleece, wool, or a cotton-PUL combination - all of which have waterproof properties. PUL and wool are also mildew-resistant, fleece and wool are breathable, and wool is naturally antibacterial!
- Use: A new diaper is used at every change, but covers can be re-used for several changes if they are not soiled. Doublers can be added inside the diaper to customize absorbancy. Most diapers and covers can be washed and dried easily; some wool products require special care.
- Options: Fitted diapers have a wide range of options, and parents who want to have only natural or organic fibers against their baby's skin have much to choose from. Style-seekers can find colored options, and purists will find tons of unbleached and simple fabrics.
- Pros and cons: These can be a bit more economical, especially since covers can be reused. Some fabrics, like wool, can save on laundry costs because its anti-bacterial properties require much less frequent washing. The range of fabrics and styles is huge. Organic is an option. The system can make bums look a bit puffier, though. Not all fitted diapers have fleece or suede inside to keep moisture off skin. Fitted diapers can take longer to dry. And some covers, like wool, require a bit of special care.
Prefolds or flats
- Design and materials: The traditional, old-school cloth diaper. A two-step system. Usually made from cotton, gauze, flannel or hemp, these are the large squares of cloth that can be folded into a diaper shape. They are then topped with a waterproof cover made from PUL, fleece, wool, or a cotton-PUL blend. They can be fastened with pins, a Snappi (much easier!) or simply held in place by a snug cover.
- Use: A new diaper is used at every change, but covers can be re-used for several changes if they are not soiled. Most diapers and covers can be washed and dried easily; some wool products require special care.
- Options: This is the basic way to diaper. Parents can find variations in fabric softness, fluffiness and thickness (Chinese vs. Indian prefolds), and some fabrics are organic or hemp, bleached or unbleached, but options are limited beyond that.
- Pros and cons: This is the most economic choice. A stack of prefolds will hold up for years (dust your house and wash your car when the babies are grown!), and covers can be reused between changes. They dry quickly and take up little space. But they do take more time to fold and fasten on the baby, and they can leak if you don't get a good fit. They aren't very flashy or stylish, and are the least like disposables in terms of ease and convenience. And of course, there will be puffy bums.

I'm just starting out - how many diapers do I need?

The answer depends on how often you want to wash, what types of diapers you'll be using, and how old your baby is. Most people want to be able to wash about every three days. You could use all of one particular style, such as pockets or AIOs for ultimate convenience and long, dry nights, or a mix which can also include prefolds or fitteds and covers for an economical system. If you want the most economically lean system possible, go for all prefolds and covers, with maybe 2 pockets for nighttime or longer outings.

The following are general guildelines. Some parents love the look of a certain type of diaper and want a whole system of just those. Others like to sample all the different styles and types before settling on their favorites. Still other like to use a wide-ranging mix from birth to potty training. We have been cloth diapering our babies for three years straight! We've tried everything we offer here at JujuBum plus tons more. If you would like our help customizing a system based on your budget and needs, or have any questions about cloth diapers, feel free to contact us.

For an infant*, we recommend:

3 dozen diapers – either all pockets /AIOs, all fitteds, all prefolds, or a mix.
One insert per pocket diaper
4 covers if using some prefolds or fitteds. 9 covers if using all prefolds or fitteds
A few doublers if using prefolds or fitteds
3 dozen cloth wipes
2 bottles of cloth wipes solution (one mini for your diaper bag)
2 Snappis if using prefolds
One pail liner
Two large wet bags and two small wet bags
Wool wash if you have a wool cover

*Older babies will use 3-4 fewer diapers a day than infants.

What about sizing?

Just a year or two ago, all cloth diapers – old-school and new-school – came in sizes. Most babies fit into either Small, Medium or Large or the equivalent. Medium generally tends to be the widest-ranging size – many babies wear this size for up to 1 ½ years. Lots of pockets and AIOs also make Extra Small and Extra Large for a more exact fit in the newborn or even premie stage and for bigger toddlers. A few types of diapers have just two sizes, a bit simpler and more economical for parents.

Recently, a new trend is all over the cloth diaper world – one-size diapers. These pockets, AIOs and even some fitteds adjust to fit babies from about 8 to 35 pounds! This means many parents can use the same diapers from birth until potty training. The major benefit is a lower cost because you're baby will require fewer diapers. On the downside, many parents find their babies don't truly start fitting well into a one-size diaper until 8 or 10 pounds. This may require a separate system to fit your baby in the early weeks. One-size diapers are also bulkier than sized diapers, because of the extra material build in to allow the diaper to stretch out for larger babies. The wear-and-tear on one-size diapers will also be heavier because they're often used for about two years straight or more – something to consider for parents who hope to buy a diapering system to last through more than one child.

In the end, the choice of whether to buy sized or one-size diapers – or a mix- is a choice based on your budget, you baby's size, the kind of fit you're looking for and how long you plan to use your diapers.

What kind of diaper pail do I use?

Along with most cloth diaper manufacturers and retailers, we recommend a dry pail method. It's the safest, the cleanest, and the easiest way to store your dirty diapers until wash time. You can buy any type of trash container - we recommend a plastic or metal step-open kind with a good seal on the lid. Inside, put a waterproof pail liner (See some under Diapering Accessories). You can add tea tree oil or disks to cut down on the smell, but honestly - cloth diaper pails really do stink way less than soiled disposable diapers. Simply fill your pail and when you get low on clean diapers, remove the bag and toss it and the diapers into your washing machine. When infants, especially breastfed ones, poop, their diapers can go right into the wash. As your child approaches toddlerhood and begins to eat solid food, poops will become more solid. At this stage many parents shake the diaper off over the toilet to release any solid waste before dropping it into the diaper can. You can also use a sprayer if you want to rinse off your diaper before tossing it in to your pail.

How do I wash my cloth diapers?

This is the part of using cloth diapers that makes many uninformed people say "No Way!" In reality, washing diapers is no more difficult than washing other types of laundry. And you don't need any fancy equipment; a regular washer and dryer will work fine. If you don't have a dryer or want to conserve energy, diapers can easily be line-dried.

Wash all your diaper products before using them for the first time. Hemp products will need to be pre-washed on their own, at least 4 times, to strip out the natural oils and allow them to reach optimum absorbency. Hemp will become even more absorbent with every wash, and by 10 washes should reach full absorbency (though you can start using them after 4). Use just a small bit of detergent for these pre-washes.

Pre-wash all microfiber products on their own as well, at least 5 times to soften and allow them to reach full absorbency.

Wash cotton diapers 4-5 times before first use. Cotton prefolds will fluff up and soften considerably after being pre-washed.

PUL covers and diapers only need to be pre-washed once before use.

Once your diapering products are pre-washed separately, all different types (except wool) can then be laundered together. Be careful to fold back velcro tabs to avoid sticking!

Wool products require a bit of special care. They should be lanolized occasionally -- every 1-3 months, or whenever they start showing signs of leaking -- and hand-washed with a wool wash when soiled, or at least every few weeks. To lanolize, follow manufacturers directions on your lanolin product. To wash, simply block your sink and fill with water and a touch of wool wash; soak for 10 minutes; empty and fill with clean water, swish around; gently squeeze out and hang to dry. Leaving a bit of wool wash in the fiber will help lanolize as well. Dark-colored wool can bleed, so do not wash colors with whites or neutrals.

Most experts recommend sending your dirty diapers through a COLD soak cycle or wash, and then through a HOT wash cycle. Some people with fancier washing machines choose to use just one Sanitary cycle of extra-long, extra-hot cleansing, although the cold soak can help prevent stains. You'll need to use a recommended detergent, and only use a quarter cup at the most, because soap build-up leads to smells and leaks. Make sure to fasten all velcro to the laundry tabs inside the diaper to prevent diapers and covers from sticking into a long string in your machine!

Almost all diapers now can be washed regularly and dried on medium or high heat. Wool is an exception. Though it needs to be laundered less frequently, wool requires delicate soap and/or wool wash, and wool products should be lanolized occasionally.

What kind of detergent do I use?

You can use most regular clothing detergents to clean your cloth diapers. There are some detergents that tend to work best on cloth diapers and are also more gentle on them, ensuring your investment lasts as long as possible. Basically, you want as simple a detergent as you can get, without a lot of additives, which don't react well with cloth diapers. We use and love Allen's. Also, because you use only about a quarter the amount of detergent on a load of diapers as you would on clothing, a box or bottle goes a long way!

DO NOT use fabric softeners or bleach, including color-safe bleach, on your diapers.
DO NOT use "baby detergents" or other scented detergents, which can leave trace oils in your diapers.
DO NOT use natural soaps on your diapers, which can also leave behind oils that will affect the microfleece and cause it to repel.

What if I have hard water/leaking/smells/stains?

If you follow the care directions and treat your diapers well, you should not have smells or stains. Sometimes, though, they happen. There are many fairly easy remedies that have to do with tweaking your wash routine. If you try the tips recommended by the specific diaper manufacturer and these guidelines below and still have trouble, contact us and we will be glad to help.

If you have hard water, you can add 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser of your washer during the final rinse.
If you have odor problems, add 2-3 drops of tea tree oil to your wash. A little bit of Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator can also help. Baking soda in the wash cycle is also great for helping to remove smells.
An ammonia smell often occurs when soap builds up in your diapers over time, and this can also contribute to leaking. If this occurs, first try "stripping" your diapers - wash them on several hot cycles in a row without detergent, until the water is free of suds.
If you wash them according to instructions, cloth diapers should not stain very easily, But, they can. The best way to combat stains is to "sun" your diapers - let them bleach naturally by drying them out in the sun. This can even work in the winter when there's not the best or brightest sun. Cool, huh?

Can I use diaper creams and other baby-care products with my cloth diapers?

Some. Creams using zinc oxide should be avoided, as they create stains that are very hard to wash out of cloth diapers. If you do need to use another medication or zinc cream, you can use disposable or homemade liners - or even a cloth wipe laid inside - to protect your diapers. As with disposable diapers, babies should be changed every 2-3 hours or more frequently to reduce the risk of diaper rash.