Cloth diapering how-to! It's easy people!

I recently put an email together for a mommy friend on cloth diapering.  She made the jump.  Awesome!  It will save tons of diapers from going into the landfill and it will be much better on her baby's skin. 

Cloth diapering = easy!

This website is helpful about washing http://www.diaperpin.com/howto.asp

I don't do the "wet pail".  I just do one (Austin' poop rolls right off!) as we haven't had any issues with actually having to soak. 

For folding the diapers (inside the cover) I do the "angel wings" fold as shown on this link
http://www.diaperjungle.com/folding-diapers.html

I would say if you are going to do this part-time so about 3 to 4 diapers a day you would need about 16 prefolds and 4 covers.  (that's what I have!)

So, supplies you will need! 

• 16 non-bleached, indian (or organic Bummis) prefolds http://www.momsmilkboutique.com/Prefolds_and_Flats_41_cat.html 
• 4 diaper covers (I like the Bummis Whisper wraps with snaps and Thirsties).
• 1 pail to use as diaper pail.  It can actually be a trash can with a lid.
• 1 diaper pail bag.  They are sold on the link below...
• 1 container of proper detergent to wash the diapers in.  (I use Ecos Free and Clear and has worked perfect!)
• 1 box of baking soda (to sprinkle in the diaper pail as you go along prior to washing to help control odor and also to sprinkle in with the wash AFTER the pre-rinse).

You can buy all the supplies minus the baking soda and laundry detergent from (although they do carry other brands of detergent to use for CD (cloth diapering): Mom's Milk Boutique

best mom's website ever!  :-)  Free shipping and NO TAX (unless you live in Illinois) which means you'll save almost 10% on tax alone!  

For washing:

Take diaper pail bag and toss into everything including the covers and diaper pail bag into the wash.
Do a rinse cycle of cold water.
Then put a little, tiny bit of laundry detergent (like a teaspoon) and a sprinkle of baking soda.
• Wash in hot with a full regular cycle.
Then an extra cold rinse at the end.
Toss everything into dryer (I don't toss in my covers or the diaper pail sack as I think they last longer when air drying).

And while everything is in the wash I normally just use a disposable on Austin.

While only using the cloth diapers part-time for 8 months we saved 720 diapers from going into the garbage.  That's a LOT.  Plus we saved around $300 and that's including the cost of the supplies for the clothcloth
diapering.  PLUS it's soooo much better for the babies.  Less chemicals against their skin and I've heard diapered babies potty train faster!

P.S.  I LOVE the AIO (All In One) diapers also and only have two that I use when we are out and about!  Although the "Stay Dry" diaper takes forever to dry!  I just let it air dry for two days before using.

If anyone has questions regarding cloth diapering (or anything regarding existentialism, of if you know why the sky is blue) feel free to email!