Cloth Diaper Help!

My family also cloth diapers on a budget! We used prefolds and Kushies (the cheapest fitted diapers I could find online) with my two children!. I don't remember having too many problems with my daughter (now 4) but my son (2) has always been a heavy wetter! We tried a number of things but finally decided to invest in a just a couple of "Fuzzibunz" pocket style diapers and a few nice covers to use for overnights. I do like them, and the fleece on the inside of them seems to always feel dry somehow. At one point I looked into sewing some diapers and bookmarked the website fernandfaerie.com/frugaldiapering.html (still have not gotten around to actually sewing any... so I have not actually tried them!) The site has some free patterns for fitted diapers including a "stuffable" version like the fuzzibunz. They use recycled clothing (like t-shirts and wool sweaters). I plan on trying the stuffable pattern using some cotton fleece for the inside. The site also has some cute patterns for sale. Good for you for cloth diapering and I hope you can find something that works for you and baby! You will save money no matter what!

There is a business [ home based] in Bay City called Lil' Bunz. The owner is VERY knowledgable about cloth and which work better, etc etc... She has a website www.lilbunz.com check her out. Tell her S.[LLL leader in Saginaw] sent ya :)

I wish I still had the website I found my patterns on. I don't sew but my mom does and being the grandma she is and being willing to spoil my son she sewed him all in one cloth diapers at less then $5 each. I'd say just search the web for cloth diaper patterns. But prefolds are the best at holding in moisture. My son is a heavy wetter and no matter what we tried we couldnt find something that would keep him dry enough to sleep through the night and ended up using disposables. So good luck!

Horray for you for sticking with cloth. it's the best for your babe and there are lots of options. Hemp is an incredibly absorbant material. we bought hemp liners for our prefolds, and use them at night for our toddler,. i also think it would be well worth your investment ($25 or so) to buy a dozen proper cotton diapers. you can get them online, on ebay i'm sure, and i've also gotten some from a business out east - jilliansdrawers.com. just get the basic prefolds (Indian prefolds i believe she sells) also, to help wick away the moisture, i just cut fleece into an hourglass shape, and place it in her diaper, against her skin, and it does wonders for helping her feel more dry. good luck

I completely understand about not being able to afford disposables, we also use cloth diapers. I use Bum Genius 3.0 one size diapers. And I do not have a leaking problem and my son can go the entire night without a change. They are a pocket diaper and you only have to buy the one, because they are a one size and will fit from birth until potty training. We are diapering our son for under $400 dollars. I know that seems like a lot of money, but if you just buy some here and there, they are a wonderful investment. If you are interested in buying some go to Celestesnestlings.com or call ###-###-#### or email ____@____.com she can hook you up.

I use disposables, but this is the trick that I use, which might work in cloth diapers... put a maxi pad in the diaper. Just buy the cheap ones at the dollar store and then stick it in the diaper at the "area of interest" (I have boys) and it will help absorb some of the 'output' and hopefully make her a little happier.

Good for you for sticking with cloth! I'd suggest looking into buying diaper service quality pre-folds that are used - they are still in GREAT condition and cheaper than buying new. That's what we have. http://www.mothernaturesdiapers.com/ is the diaper service in Madison, WI.

I see some good ideas below, especially the maxipad--I'd like to know if that works for you! I mostly want to encourage you! I used the plain old cheesecloth-type cloth diapers for all 4 of my kids (oldest 14, youngest 3). However, I did put a disposable on at night & naptime, to help them sleep better & decrease leaks. As far as having to change them often, that is one of the good things about cloth! Yes, it takes more time for you, but it is healthier for their skin (which is why I started with cloth with my first--she got rashes from the disposable). Also, I think it makes them easier to potty-train if they don't like that wet feeling on their bottom. Don't get her used to feeling wet by changing her less! Also, as she gets older she will naturally start holding her urine longer (& then go larger amounts), so you won't always be changing her this often.

I can't remember when I was washing diapers years ago, but i don't think I used fabric softener. If you are that might be the reason they don't absorb.

If when you change her, are the diapers really wet or just sort of damp like she peed once? You might try a paper towel to line the diaper. Maybe it will take away the feel of the wet cloth, and also be handy for the poops.

I really like Viva paper towels because they are soft and absorbant. I don't think the diapers you have could be any worse than the ones I used back in the late 50's and 60's. I do remember having to buy bigger clothes tho. With the diaper and the plastic pant protector over it, it was quite a bit of butt!!!

You might go to the second hand stores and look for "better" diapers if there are some these days. We have Savers here in Idaho and had them in Arizona too. They are great for baby clothes too.

I just had a thought - you are using plastic pants over the diaper. She isn't getting wet thru her clothes, is she? You said that she would sleep better if she wasn't cold and wet. If you have her in a double diaper at night, with a plastic panty over it, and in pj's and then a "bunny Suit" or blanket sleeper what ever they are called, there isn't any reason she should be cold and wet.

Call me if you have any questions, ok? Be glad to help with any ideas we can come up with.

M. B, Grandma to 11 Boise Idaho ###-###-####

The Gerber ones are junk. They often have a polyester "sponge" in the middle of them that doesn't actually absorb anything, they are also very thin (2,4,2 generally) Sorry I wish I could offer some more wisdom on that front.

You might try diaperswappers.com

also for free (just cost of shipping) cloth diapers that are really nice you can apply at miraclediapers.org