Tips and Troubleshooting
Folds, Leaks, Staining, Diaper Rash and Nighttime Diapering
Our Favorite Folds
(our favorite YouTube fold videos are at the very bottom of this page)
Favorite Fold #1a (4.6 mbs): Angel Wing Fold with Snappi
Favorite Fold #1b - working with a kinda big diaper (3.1 mbs): Angel Wing with Snappi- Lg Diaper
Favorite Fold #2a (2.9 mbs): Jelly Roll with Snappi
Favorite Fold #2a - working with a kinda big diaper (2.9 mbs): Jelly Roll with Snappi- Lg Diaper
Leak-Avoiding Tips & Troubleshooting
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-Fold. We recommend the Angel Wing or Jelly Roll; both utilizing a Snappi. They are the best “containment” folds out there by far.
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-Fit. Your baby is growing (Yay!) and is ready to move up in size. This is especially common when the baby is outgrowing the twee size diaper. Let us know asap so we can get the next size ready for you (generally takes about a little over a week).
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-Wicking. If any of the cotton from the diaper is peeking out from the cover you will experience wicking; your baby will be soaked minutes from peeing. Make sure to always check that every last bit of diaper is tucked inside the cover.
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-Do not tuck the prefold inside that inner flap on the cover. That flap is an extra water barrier where the velcro has been stitched. Tucking your diaper in here will dramatically reduce absorbency.
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-Your baby is sleeping (double Yay!). Once babies start sleeping and napping in 5+ hour stretches they are also going longer without being changed and therefore need doublers. Doublers go on top of the diaper to add absorbency. We provide these free of charge with your service- just give us a shout if you think you need them.
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-Detergent Residue on your covers. Which soap you use (and how much) can make a HUGE difference in the effectiveness of your diaper covers. Read more about this on the Bummis site; this info is applicable to any brand of cover. Also, we carry Charlie’s Soap for purchase. Using this or another cover-friendly soap can easily avoid any detergent residue issues.
Stain-Avoiding Tips
Rest assured that our wash process is of the highest quality. We’ve gone to great lengths to: use a purely coconut oil-based soap and, as a stain-fighter, we use Hydrogen Peroxide. For sanitation, our water temperature reaches hospital-grade 160 degrees. On top of that, we use several flush and rinse cycles to ensure that your diapers are (lab-tested, in fact) free of any residue that could irritate your baby’s skin. What all that means is: our chemistry is as eco and baby-friendly as it gets and the diapers are squeaky clean.
But, with minimal chemistry comes more discolorations that you might expect.
If you're encountering any discolorations, here are the 3 main stain culprits/solutions:
1. Diaper creams
It really does make a difference which diaper cream is used. The worst offenders (actually locking stains into the fibers) are those containing fish oils or petro-anything; Desitin, A+D, Balmex, Triple Paste, Butt Paste and - sad, but true - Burt's Baby Bees Ointment all fall into that category.
That said, here is a list of Cloth-Friendly Diaper Creams:
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Coconut Oil (available in most Organic/Specialty Oil sections at even conventional grocery stores.)
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Olive Oil (odd, but true)
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Angel Baby Bottom Balm
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Aveeno Diaper Cream (most easily available at CVS)
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Baby Bottom Better
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California Baby Diaper Cream
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Claymazing Powder
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Earth Friendly Baby Calendula Cream (we carry this one)
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Earth Friendly Natural Red Clover Cream (we carry this one)
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Method (available at Babies ‘r’ Us for under $5!)
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Northern Essence Diaper Salve
2. Plastic bags and/or sacks
Plastic bags, although convenient, don't allow air circulation and thereby create a sort of petri dish in which tough stains thrive. And if the plastic bags are logo'd, the ink actually leeches onto and permanently stains the diaper. A few plastic bags every now and then (think: explosion at the park) is totally work-able. But please empty the diaper out of the sack as soon as you can.
3. Incorporating fleece liners. (no real need to bother with these until about these until 3+ months old)
They prevent almost all stains and they also help keep your baby comfortable by wicking moisture away from his/her skin. These Liners are $5 for a roll of 5 liners and get washed along with your covers (not the diapers) so you can reuse them quickly. These liners also help once the baby starts solids- the poop just sides right off the fleece into the toilet. Very easy. Check em out and let us know if you'd like to try a roll:
http://www.diaperkind.com/Liners.html
Diaper Rash Tips & Troubleshooting
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•One can count on the well-rounded advice of the internet’s 2 most respected pediatricians: Dr. Sears (askdrsears.com) and Dr. Greene (drgreene.com). See what they have to say on diaper rash via these 2 links:
- http://www.askdrsears.com/html/11/T081400.asp
- http://www.drgreene.com/adam/diseases-conditions/diaper-rash
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• We have only a few things to add to their recommendations
- our wash process has been lab-tested to ensure that no residue remains on the diapers. And that the
diapers are properly pH-balanced for a baby’s skin.
- if diaper creams are ever needed, we ask that you use cloth-friendly creams from the list above.
- given that air is the key; unlike disposables - with cloth, you can let your baby go nude-y by layering
diapers underneath him/her. And if that’s inconvenient, you can secure the diaper as usual, but go
coverless!
- don’t forget to fully dry baby’s skin before diapering or applying any creams.
- and, for night time, we have liners and lined doublers available that wick moisture away from baby’s
skin.
Nighttime Diapering Tips
You won’t need to worry much about Nighttime diapering tips until your baby begins sleeping in 5 to 12 hour stretches. (yes - 12 hours!) Once those peaceful hours start stringing together, to help make those hours dry and comfortable, take a look at our Nighttime Tips.pdf.
Our Favorite Cloth Diapering YouTube Videos
Basic Fold (Dad)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDTorZ72L_A
Angel Wing Fold w/ Snappi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es3DpHmJBKM
Bikini Twist w/ Snappi (with a giant diaper)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23Q5hOAYryQ
Jellyroll Fold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9UId1SKn1c
The "Diva Fold" - which is good for Toddlers who are old enough to remove their Snappi