Newbie Questions

sparks4stp

Hi ladies. I've been stalking your board for months and finally switched over to cloth Saturday. I have a few questions though.

1. I'm using a combo of prefolds with covers and pocket diapers. With my prefolds I have osocozy betterfit stay drys (which I'm not a huge fan of) and imagine betterfits. I know you have to change often with cloth and I'm aiming for no more than 1.5-2 hours but sometimes when he naps I don't want to wake him to change his diaper. But it seems whenever I change him the diapers are completely soaked. Like sopping wet. It usually stays contained within the cover so I guess my question is, is that normal? I have never so much have seen a cloth diaper in use so I'm not sure if it just seems super wet to me because I'm used to sposies. I just wonder if it's uncomfortable for him to be so wet in his diaper. I did prep them with 4 washes and dries before use. 

2. SInce I prepped my prefolds separate from my pockets which are fleece lined and microfiber inserts, when I go to wash dirty diapers do I need to separate them still or can they be all washed together? The Imagine prefolds were organic cotton and recommended washing 4-5 times for prep. I did them 4 times. 

3. For his age, how many inserts and what kind do you use on your pockets? I've only been using the pockets at night with one microfiber insert. He woke up this morning all wet. Even his pjs. I usually change him once overnight when he wakes up to eat. 

I should mention LO is 5 weeks today. I really have no idea how much he weighs but at 2 weeks he was 9#1oz. He's got pretty skinny legs but I think the pocket actually leaked out the back since his back was all wet. 

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions!

TJ1979

Sounds like you need more absorbency.  Especially for overnight.  Try adding a doubler, and I would go with a natural fiber.  So for example, put an applecheeks bamboo insert under your microfiber insert for overnight -- that would give you microfiber for quick absorption, and bamboo which holds more liquid.  I don't use prefolds, so I'm not a lot of help there.  But I do know you can stuff your pocket with prefolds too, if you want to try that while you are waiting for whatever you order to come in.

Aurora_Borealis

Congrats on making the switch! I'll try to answer your questions.

1. Yes, it's normal for prefolds to be wet. They are natural fibers. What size prefolds are you using, though? If they are newborn size, it's probably time to start thinking about size smalls as they are more absorbent. If you're already using smalls, a doubler is a good idea for naps and overnight. In any case, if your LO isn't experiencing redness, then the wetness is fine so long as you're changing regularly (which it sounds like you are). DD is in prefolds about half the time and has been since birth - the only time she gets a rash is when she's teething, so the wetness isn't bothering her.

2. Anything that's prepped can be washed together (unless we're talking about wool). No need to sort your diaper laundry!

3. One MF insert is not very absorbent. I'd stuff with 2 or stuff with a prefold. Also, check the fit of your pocket diaper. If there are any gaps, you're going to get leaks no matter what you stuff with.

sparks4stp

Thank you! I think my prefolds are size smalls. It's funny cause after I posted that today his diapers haven't been quite as wet at each changing. Maybe he was breaking them in? Haha

The pockets fit pretty well. No real gaps at the legs or back so I will try 2 inserts or stuffing with my prefolds and see how that goes. I'll try hemp or bamboo if that's not working. Thank you again!

YellowLily2013

I also noticed my prefolds get sopping wet... I know people say its a "natural fiber" thing... But my BG Elementals don't get sopping wet like prefolds and they are organic cotton. So I'm kind of wondering if its the "weave" of the prefolds.

Regardless, it's normal. And most babies are sensitive to it. If yours ends up being people have luck making "stay dry" liners out of microfleece (some just use polar fleece or whatever that is easy to find, but I don't think that allows for moisture to sick through it as easily as microfleece).

You can also buy hemp fleece and make your own doublers / inserts. I high recommend it as a cost saving measure.

sparks4stp

YellowLily2013 said:

I also noticed my prefolds get sopping wet... I know people say its a "natural fiber" thing... But my BG Elementals don't get sopping wet like prefolds and they are organic cotton. So I'm kind of wondering if its the "weave" of the prefolds.

Regardless, it's normal. And most babies are sensitive to it. If yours ends up being people have luck making "stay dry" liners out of microfleece (some just use polar fleece or whatever that is easy to find, but I don't think that allows for moisture to sick through it as easily as microfleece).

You can also buy hemp fleece and make your own doublers / inserts. I high recommend it as a cost saving measure.

Thank you. I do sew...a lot. Do you recommend a place to buy hemp fleece? I've looked around a little online because I assume places like Joanne's don't sell that type of stuff. Just wonder if there any recommendations

Into+the+Kitty

Naturesfabrics.com is my favorite. Diapersewingsupplies and wazoodle and kidsinthegarden are some others. Although KITG has been closed for months now, I don't know if it's permanent.

sparks4stp

Thank you!