Diapers Q&A - Cloth Diapering Frustrations?

Cloth Diapering Frustrations?

This is my fourth baby and I decided to try cloth diapering to save money. She's now 12 days old, and we're on day 3 of using the Bummi's cloth diapering kit I bought. I'm just a little frustrated!! First of all, I feel like I'm changing her every 1/2 an hour! As if I need even less sleep right now! The kit instructions say that you will know/can feel when your baby is wet---I'm not sure what they're talking about, unless you count knowing she's wet because it's leaking!! I think we've gone through nearly as many outfits as diapers. I think I'm doing everything as instructed--washed the diapers 3 times to prepare them (natural cotton), I'm folding and laying the pre-folds inside the whisper wrap covers just as the booklet says, making sure none is peeking out, fastening the cover as snugly as is possible (she's nearly 9 pounds now and the kit is for 8-15lbs)...but still they leak! She's also got a rash, which I thought wouldn't happen with cloth, and the cover is irritating her belly button and making it bleed. PS-the rash started when she was in disposables. I want to make this work but I'm frustrated!!

Public Comments

I don't know that much about cloth diapering. Have you tried bum genius 2.0. I have heard a lot good about them. Otherwise pampers swaddlers are great for little ones, they make a sensitive type. Try to contact the company and see if they can help you. Best of luck! I hope your little one gets better, and that you can get some must needed rest.
i never used cloth daipers but i can help you with the rash problem dont use baby wipes while she has the rash it irratates the skin how would you like it if you had a rash and they wiped your butt. Wash her with luke warm water and pat dry. find a good ointment one with vitamin a and d put it on after every daiper change it helps keep her dry and helps with the rash. you can also try wrapping her belly button so the cover doesnt hurt her anymore. Not sure how to do this but ask around some one has to know. Good luck sorry i couldnt be of more help.
use disposables at night only
Sorry you are frusterated. I don't know how in depth you are about cloth diapering, so I'll just go over what I would for someone who doesn't know about it. I've done some cloth diapering and this is what I would suggest . . . First of all, do not use any kind of rash ointment with the cloth diapers. It will cause a film on the diaper (even if it's been washed) that will cause pee to not soak into the diaper. Also use a detergent free of "chemicals" that also cause film on the diaper when it is washed. Allens naturally or Charley soap are great to use. I do not know much about Bummis cloth diapers, I am more of a pocket type of gal. I like pocket types because you can stuff more then one insert in for heavy wetters. You can also get hemp inserts and double stuff for night time use!! I like bumGenius 3.0 one size (they go from 8-35lbs so you don't have to buy a sm, med, lg, etc) or fuzzi bunz. I would look for a cloth diaper that has PUL. This means that it does not need a cover. It has a waterproof lining sewn into the diaper. Also a lovely thing I figured out after a while is to get the flushable diaper liners. This is a very very thin paper liner that goes between the diaper and the baby so that when they poo, you just pick up the liner and throw it in the toilet! Much easier then trying to knock the poo out of the diaper. A website that I love (free shipping on most diapers!) is http://www.nickisdiapers.com/ . Also, it may be easier to use disposibles with the cloth (which I'd guess that you're doing) for days when you're out and about. I hope this helps!!!
I tried cloth with one of my children till they were about 6 months, and I had the same problems your having. I know a lot of people use them for their reasons. Landfill concerns or money saving and probably several others but I will say that I will never use them again. And I respect anyone that can use them and make them work. I found these things could not be stopped no matter what if you choose cloth you just have the following happen: They just leak and make a mess in their clothes in the bed(changing bedding 5 times at night kept me and my child up more as they got older rather than less.) You go out and they leak three times in two hours all over their clothes, car seat, stroller, or someones lap. I had to take a second diaper bag to have enough clothes for the baby to change into. Not to mention if they poop and I rinse it I had to then put the soiled ones in plastic bags in order to take them home and then the bag and the car smelled for three days. You have a ton more wash. Not a big deal with a family of three but with a second or in my case fifth child I don't have time for more wash. Then when they are older and they are sitting on the floor playing they leak all over the floor ya its like having a new puppy the whole house starts to smell cause you can't get the smell out of the carpet. Then they climb on the couch and leak there. I will get probably get a ton of thumbs down for this and don't get me wrong I have TREMENDOUS RESPECT for anyone that can use cloth and not go totally crazy. I know they save money and don't fill the land fills but I could not adjust and deal with the issues that come along with it. For the diaper rash try not to use wipes till it clears up. Sometimes my kids needed a little neosporin or another antibiotic cream mixed in with the desitin or rash cream to clear the rash and help it not to be so red. I had one that was so allergic to wipes no matter what kind. I found if I carried some paper towels, the ones that you can wet and they don't fall apart. Then I could use and throw those in the diaper, like a wipe. For on the road I took a water bottle to wet them with. So if it continues to be a problem try no wipes for longer and see if it is just a sensitivity to the wipes.
Wow, I had no idea it could be so complicated. I live in El Salvador and pretty much everyone, including myself, uses cloth diapers. We use cloth and then pin it at the sides. I know when he is wet becuase the cloth is warm to the touch and damp. When he poops or pees I hand was the clothes and hang them on the line to dry. I put oitment on him only when necesary, I havnt had any problems with getting the ointment off, especially A&D ointment. Anyway, all the other stuff it a little beyond me, mostly because I have never been introduced to such fancy cloth diapers before. I hope that I have helped if not just a little.
I've rarely had trouble with my dipes leaking, even when I used those terrible Gerber prefolds from Walmart with my first two babies. You can always use a doubler if your diapers are getting soaked fast. If it's a matter of fit, you could try different covers. Maybe it's time to break out the pins and Snappi's. This link shows you how to put a prefold on pretty snuggly. I started doing this with my third baby. It took a lot of practice, I admit, but it had much better results than the way I diapered my first two babies. It's much more snug around the legs. http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173216&highlight=sticky+best+way+to+put+on+a+prefold As for the rash...Is the cover you're using breathable? I've never used Bummis and don't really know much about their covers, but if it isn't breathable maybe you could leave the cover off periodically so her skin can breathe a bit, and look into getting (or making) wool or fleece covers. Also, are you rinsing the diapers well enough? It's possible that there's too much residue on the diapers, or maybe your daughter is sensitive to something in the particular detergent you're using. Good luck and don't give up on cloth. Some moms need to try several different brands and types of diapers and covers before they find what works for their baby.