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 Popular Articles: |
Thirsties Duo Wrap Snap |
Dear Catherine;
I have several questions! I am using a diaper service, but it just doesn't seem to be working out for me!
QUESTION ONE: When I change my babies' diapers, the diaper is completely soaked and their covers are very wet too. Usually I just wipe the covers down with a wipe, but it is such a pain, and I end up washing covers all day long! The covers are supposed to be waterproof, but my babies leak all over their clothing!
It sounds like either the diapers you are using are not absorbent enough or maybe you aren't changing often enough? Some babies are very heavy wetters and need a really absorbent diaper and/or to be changed at least every 2-3 hours. What size diaper is the service sending you? I found when my baby's diapers started leaking, I needed to move to the next size up. The service should have three sizes, infant, regular and toddler. Use the toddler size on a heavy-wetter, even if still a young baby.
Are you double diapering? You can take a diaper-service prefold, fold it length-wise in 3's, folding down the front if necessary, and lay it inside another prefold diaper. Then fasten around baby, and you will have the bulk of absorbency where it is needed most - between baby's legs.
If baby's skin is getting sore due to wetness, you can put a Bummis fleece liner or Disana 100% Raw Silk Liner inside the diaper. This pulls the wetness through, and keeps it away from baby's skin. You can buy them ready-made of 100% polyester mesh or polar fleece. Or make your own!
Bummis Reusable Fleece Liners |
Just buy some double-sided 100% polyester fleece from your local store, cut into 5" x 12" rectangles, ovals or even hour-glass shapes, and use. No sewing required! Just lay inside baby's diaper, against the skin for a dry bottom, even when baby's diapers are soaked.
QUESTION TWO: I don't see the economical advantage of cloth diapering with a diaper service. My husband doesn't want me to wash them in the washer so I have to use a service. It is $64 a month for the two of them, but that's for just 70 diapers. Do you think I need more diapers?
Using a diaper service CAN be just as expensive as disposables in some areas of the country. Gone are the days when diaper services flourished and everyone used them. They used to only charge $10 a week for 100 diapers, and picked up twice a week too! Now they are almost impossible to find, even in the bigger cities.
No, 70 diapers doesn't seem like anywhere near enough for two children. It will depend on how often you need to change, but an average baby under a year needs about 8 changes a day, or about 56 diapers. For your toddler, over a year, you may be able to only change about 6 times a day, due to less frequent wettings, for a total of 42 diapers a week. So you really need more like 100 diapers a week for the both of them...
But the savings of baby's skin from the chemicals and other associated risks of using disposables must also be added into the cost equation. Check out some of The Dangers of Disposables. There are scary articles listed on Disposables and Asthma, Disposables and Male Infertility, rosin, TBT and even a choking hazard! My favourite - Sparks flying from Huggies Diapers!
Citrus Circles Diaper Pail Deodorizing Disks |
QUESTION THREE: I hate having a stinky diaper pail that they only pick up once a week!
Are you using any sort of diaper pail deodorizer? That might help. You can ask your diaper service for them, they often give them away for free. Or Make your own! Just get an empty margarine or yogurt tub, and poke a few holes in it. Add a few shakes of baking soda, a few briquettes of charcoal or even cotton balls with a few drops of lavender. Put the tub lid back on and toss inside your diaper pail.
Or talk to your husband again about washing at home. It really isn't that hard, and could save you quite a bit of money!
QUESTION FOUR: My toddler has a rash that is not getting better (even with diaper rash cream) and now my baby is developing one too.
If you child is getting rashy, talk to your diaper service. They should have a rash consultant on staff, who can discuss this rash with you and make some changes to a number of things in their washing routine that might help. Or look into your child's diet for something he or she might be reacting to. Often teething or food allergies are the cause of diaper rashes. For more help with rashes, these diaper rash articles may help.
Hope that helps! Write again to catherine@borntolove.com if you have a diapering question you would like answered.
P.S. Here are some other articles that might interest you:
• Frugal Diaper Rash and Baby Wipe Tips
• Why Are My Cloth Diapers and/or Covers Leaking?
This article compliments of Born to Love.
Send questions, comments, and suggestions to: catherine@borntolove.com
Born to Love articles are written by Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
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Last updated - April 5, 2024
