Cloth Diaper Fabrics

Not all diapers are like.  Cloth diapers come in prefolds, contours, fitteds, pockets, and all in ones.   Not only are diapers made from different designs, but they are also made from different materials. 

Cotton – Cotton is the most common cloth diaper fabric.  You can find it in cotton twill like in prefolds, cotton flannel like in Kushies or Bumkins AIO diapers, or cotton gauze.

PUL – PUL is short for polyurethane laminate.  Polyurethane laminate is basically a polyester fabric that is laminated with a thin layer of polyurethane to make the diaper or diaper cover waterproof.  This is a common fabric in cloth diapers.  It is found in all in ones, pocket diapers, and diaper covers.

Bamboo- Bamboo is one of the newer fabrics in the cloth diapering world.  Bamboo is absorbent and soft.  Environmentally it is a good choice because Bamboo grows quickly and can be grown free of pesticides and fertilizers.  It can be found in diapers like the Bamboozle fitted diaper.

Hemp – Hemp fabric is absorbent and strong.  It is naturally antibacterial and is also grown free from pesticides.  Hemp is found in many cloth diapers including Joey Bunz, Babykicks Hemparoo Fleece Prefolds, and Sposoeasy diapers.

Velour – Velour is a soft knit fabric that feels similar to velvet.  It is found in Imse Vimse training pants.

Microfleece – Microfleece is a lightweight and breathable fabric made from synthetic fibers.  It isn’t used as an absorbent fabric.  It is used as a breathable cloth diaper cover in Polar Bummis and as stay dry material in Fuzzi Bunz and Thirsties diapers.

Suede cloth- Suede cloth is a synthetic material that resembles the feel of suede.  It is used in diapers as a stay dry material that doesn’t pill like microfleece.  It is used in diapers like BumGenius 3.0 and BumGenius AIO diapers.

Wool – Wool is used as a breathable fabric in cloth diaper covers.  It is naturally anti-bacterial and absorbent.  Those factors make it a popular choice for nighttime.  It can be found in diaper covers like Kissaluvs Wool Lover, Imse Vimse Wool Cover, and Sugar Peas Wool Cover.

Diaper fabrics may be different, but the different combinations make cloth diapers that are absorbent, waterproof and durable.  While there is no magic fabric that is the best, there are many options available to parents looking for quality cloth diapers.  Visit Thanks Mama to view cloth diapers and accessories made from a wide variety of diaper fabrics.

Cloth Diapering on a Tiny Budget

The economy has left many families with limited or no income.  Many more families are tightening their belts trying to cut down on monthly expenses.  Disposable diaper costs can add up for a family trying to save money.  Cloth diapering is a great way to save money.

Cloth diapering will save you money whether you go with high priced all in one diapers or simple prefolds and covers.  The amount of diapers you need depends on how often you plan to wash.  If you are able to wash every day you can get by with only a dozen diapers and at least 3 covers for most infants and toddlers.

While not fancy, prefolds really do a great job.  They are the workhorse of cloth diapers.  Priced around $2-$3 for cotton prefolds they are the economical choice.  Diaper covers can range from $6 to $36.  Obviously if you are trying to save money you will look for the most economical choice.  Two popular covers are the Bummis Whisper Pant and the Prorap Diaper Cover.  The Whisper Pant is trim waterproof pant that you pull on like a pair of shorts.  You would need diaper pins or a snappi if you go with the Whisper Pant.  They are less than $6 each.  The Proraps Diaper Cover will allow you to lay the prefold in the wrap and fasten it on your baby with the hook and loop closures.  It is priced right around $7.

So what else will you need?  You will need some kind of wipes.  You can purchase cloth diaper wipes which usually cost at least a dollar per wipe.  Any kind of material can be used for wipes so if you are able to sew then you can gather up some old towels or clothes that you can cut up and sew into wipes.  If you don’t sew you can purchase a little microfleece and cut it into squares since it doesn’t unravel.  But microfleece doesn’t have the best texture for cleaning up a mess.  You will also need a place to put the dirty diapers.  You can find an all day wet bag for as low as $10 or a diaper pail liner for $20.  Some people use a container that they wash out each time the diapers are washed.  Others may use a garbage bag.  You will also need some sort of wet bag for your diaper bag.  Wet bags hold dirty diapers while you are away from home.  Wet bags can cost between $12-15 dollars.

You don’t have the break the bank to get started with cloth diapers.  The Just Get Me Started Package at Thanks Mama will get you started cloth diapering for less than $50.  If have have more wiggle room you can opt for a diaper like the popular BumGenius 3.0 and get a dozen for just over $200.  Either way you go, both options will save you money when you add up the costs of disposable diapers.

Thanks Mama Giveaway!

We will be giving away FuzzuBunz Diaper Sprayer with retail value of $44.95.
This easy to attach Diaper Sprayer will make your life a little easier.

The White Diaper Sprayer comes complete with all attachments needed to quickly and easilly attach to a standard 3/8 inch compression water valve (valve behind toilet). Each unit comes packaged with a hand sprayer that is protected by Microban; a flow control t-valve; 4 foot reinforced white NSF Approved PVC hose; built in check valve in sprayer (one way valve); step-by-step picture instructions; and a matching wall bracket including screws & plastic anchors. Each unit takes approximately 5-10 minutes to install when using a standard adjustable pliers.

Protected by Microban

Microban technology is built-in antimicrobial protection for solid products, coatings and fibers. Microban antimicrobial protection gives products an added level of protection against damaging microbes such as, bacteria, mold and mildew that can cause stains, odors and product deterioration.
Learn more about Microban by visiting their website www.microban.com

The Winner will be announced on Friday, April 30th.

To enter Thanks Mama Giveaway you need to do one or more of the following and post a comment below this blog about each action you took with a link where it was done (each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase)

1. Become a follower of this blog
2. Become a follower of Thanks Mama on Twitter
3. Tweet about Thanks Mama and include a link to any Thanks Mama product page
4. Become a fan of Thanks Mama on Facebook
5. Comment about Thanks Mama on Facebook and include a link to any Thanks Mama product page
6. Blog about Thanks Mama and include a link to any Thanks Mama product page
7. Leave a comment about Thanks Mama on Diaper Pin
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9. Write reviews on any two products at Thanks Mama
10. Want to earn extra entry? Discuss Thanks Mama on forums and post a link to any Thanks Mama Page - DOUBLE ENTRY each forum is its own double entry!

Getting a good cloth diaper fit.

Getting a good cloth diaper fit is important in leak prevention.  A diaper that is a little loose at the legs can result in a river of wetness all over your lap.  A diaper that is too small can cause redness at the legs or waist because of a tight fit.  So how does one go about finding a diaper that will fit?

All babies are shaped differently.  A ten month old baby may be 22 lbs with chubby thighs and waist while a 2 year old toddler may be 22 lbs and skinny.  Many cloth diapers list sizes according to weight, but that isn’t always the best way to get a good fit.  In general, if your baby or toddler is “typical” and not chubbier or skinner or taller or shorter than average you can probably go with the weight range and be fine. 

                        

But to get a great fit you have to look at three different measurements:  waist, thigh, and rise.  To measure your baby’s waist you need to measure the spot where your baby’s diaper hits the waist.  If you don’t have a cloth measuring tape you can measure with a string or piece of yarn and then use a measuring tape or yardstick to find how many inches the waist is. 

To find out your baby’s thigh measurement you should measure where your baby’s diaper hits his thigh.  The final measurement is the rise measurement.  This one is especially important if you have a long-waisted or short-waisted baby.  To measure this you can measure the length of a diaper that your baby currently fits in well.  You would measure the length from the top to the back of the diaper.  You can also measure the rise while the diaper is on your baby.  Just measure starting at the top of the diaper near the belly button, around the crotch, and up to the top of the diaper near your baby’s back. 

Consider all three measurements when trying to find the perfect fit.  Many different cloth diaper manufacturers do offer waist, thigh, and rise measurements to help you get a great fit.  Here is a sample of a size chart for Sposoeasy diapers.  Sposoeasy are all in one diapers with snap or aplix closures.  As you can see in the chart there is a range for the waist and thigh measurements.  This range give you an idea if your baby is just starting to fit into the size range or if he is about to outgrow it.

Size	Weight	Waist	Thigh	Rise
Extra Small	5 to 9 lbs.	13" to19"	7" to 11.5"	12"
Small	8 to 20 lbs.	14.5" to 23"	6.5" to 12.5"	15.5"
Medium	19 to 30 lbs.	16.5" to 26.5"	8" to 15.5"	16.5"
Medium/Long	22 to 35 lbs.	18" to 27"	10" to 15"	18"
Large	28 to 40 lbs.	17.5" to 29"	10" to 16.5"	19.5"

Here is another example of a size chart:

This is one is for Drybees All in One diapers.  While both size charts offer small, medium, and large sizes, you will notice that the waist, thigh and rise measurements are quite different. 

So if you have had trouble finding a good fit, try measuring your baby’s waist, thigh, and rise and check out the cloth diapers with size charts.  Not every size medium is equal so explore the size charts with your child’s measurements in hand.  It is always important to remember that you should always try on a diaper to make sure you have a good fit before you wash it and use it on your baby.  While size charts are not a guarantee of a good fit, they can provide you information to help you find the best fit for your baby.  Check out Thanks Mama for a wide variety of cloth diapers and accessories.

Adventures in Newborn Cloth Diapering

When I first started cloth diapering I heeded warnings to avoid cloth diapering my newborn.  After all, there would be so many other things to deal with at that age.  So my son’s brand new cloth diapers sat in his drawer while I waited for the pack of newborn disposable diapers to run out.  Even though I waited to use the cloth diapers, my son was tiny so he was still 6 lbs when I started using cloth diapers.  I had avoided purchasing many newborn sized cloth diapers to save money and discovered that was a mistake.  Many of the infant sized diapers were huge on him. 

When my second child was born I was determined to use cloth diapers from the start.  I purchased a bunch of Prorap diaper covers and fleece topped doublers to go inside.  I had a couple other diapers like Happy Heinys and Fuzzi Bunz to go along with the Proraps, but the Proraps had the umbilical cord notch that made using the diapers easier while my son’s cord was healing.  I remembered the warning about meconium getting on diapers, but didn’t notice any problem with staining.

When my third child was born she also was in cloth diapers from the beginning.  This time I experimented on lots of different kinds of newborn diapers.  She was my biggest baby at almost 7 lbs, but she needed newborn sized diapers a couple months.  I loved the Kissaluvs sized 0 diapers.  They fit her perfectly and had the umbilical cord notch to aid in healing.  The BumGenius all in one newborn sized diapers were also a hit.  They were so easy to use and perfect for the diaper bag.  I discovered that the meconium caused staining on diapers that did not have stay dry fleece or suedecloth, but the staining wasn’t a major issue for me.

Cloth diapering a newborn isn’t too difficult.  I wish I had cloth diapered my oldest son from the start.  I found it was essential to have newborn sized diapers during the first 4-6 weeks.  The small sized diapers were just too big and bulky to get a good fit on a little newborn.  Cloth diapering a newborn requires diaper changes about 12 times a day.  The little newborn blow-outs are best contained with diapers or covers that have elastic at the legs and back like the Prorap diaper cover, the Kissaluvs size 0 fitted diaper, the BumGenius all in one diaper, or Fuzzi Bunz diapers.  Having a diaper that fits well will save on washing extra sets of baby clothes too. 

Visit ThanksMama.com for a wide selection of cloth diapers.  They offer four different newborn diaper packages to get you started:  An extra small Fuzzi Bunz 6 pack, an Easy to Use Newborn Cloth Diaper Package, a Basic Newborn Package, and a Deluxe Newborn Package.  Newborn packages are a great way to acquaint yourself with many different types of cloth diapers to help you choose the one that works for your family the best.