Intro to obsession!

countrycotton

To start I would like to start by thanking everyone on this board, you have all helped make my journey to cloth so much easier and enjoyable. I have been lurking the bump since it found out I was pregnant, so about a year now. My LO is 19 weeks old, I was a house wife for six years before my promotion to stay at home mom. I wanted to CD from the start, but had only a little info as no one I know personally actually cloth diapers. I started my stash compleat lay blind with about 24 sunbabys. They were so big on my newborn that I ended up using sposies until about a month ago. Now I am OBSESSED! Over the past month I have bought a blueberry, tot bot, bg freestyle, bg 4.0, and a bg essiental. I really like them all but felt like something was off. I recently got two flips at a large consignment sale and it was like I had found my way in life! I mean to say I LOVE FLIPS! They are hook and loop and day has actually changed a cloth diaper, never had until we got the flips. I have since ordered six more covers and twelve stay-dry inserts. Along with my other inserts I fell I have everything I need. I do have a quick question, though not specific to flips. 1. I know a lot of people use tide to wash their diapers. I had been using a homemade detergent but found out Borox was a no no. So I bought regular tide yesterday ( I think it's regular has activ lift), is this the right tide and how much so I use for a small daily load of mostly inserts? 2. I bought some thirsty hemp inserts for overnight. Do I use it alone, with fleese on top, or under my stay-dry? Thanks for all your help! I look forward to getting to know everyone. If you want to know anything else about me let me know. I never thought I would be passionate about my kids diapers, but at least I know I'm not alone,

countrycotton

Sorry I can't figure out how to edit, I thought I would have a chance to review before posting. Please excuse my formatting it looked right on my ipad. I was trying to say DH changed a flip, first cloth change for him.

steffaneh

As far as the tide, I'm not sure...I actually use the Target brand detergent (which works great) and I had to test it out to find which level of soap worked best for us. Start small (at the first level) and then if you don't have any bubbles in the washer after it's done you can add more if you prefer (I found that filling ours up to the level 2 worked good for 12 diapers and inserts).

Now the hemp, I use hemp inserts at night along with my regular inserts. I have however use them by themselves and in a cover when I was low on diapers without fleece on top. As far as I know hemp is safe to use directly on baby's skin unless your LO has a skin allergy to hemp (which I don't see as common).

Hope this helped! Good luck!

CLLDLL

Welcome! I don't use Tide, so I can't help with how much or whether you have the right kind.

As far as the hemp inserts.  You can use any natural fiber (cotton, bamboo, hemp) next to baby's skin.  So you could use them alone.  That being said hemp absorbs more slowly than microfiber (MF)/cotton, so you might find that when your LO pees the hemp doesn't absorb quite fast enough and you get leaks.  A lot of people will put cotton or MF on top and hemp underneath in an over night diaper.  Your stay dry inserts are MF on the bottom with suede cloth on top.  So stay dry over hemp would be a good option for you I think.  

One thing to be aware of with this type of ON solution is compression leaks. As your baby gets older & starts moving around more and maybe starts side or tummy sleeping you might have leaks.  This is because the MF gets saturated and then baby lays on it and squeezes out the pee and it has no place to go but out the leg or waist hole.  If this happens, you can switch to using cotton prefolds with your hemp or even look into fitteds to go under your Flip covers. But that doesn't happen to everyone.  Just something to be aware of!

countrycotton

Thanks for the input on the hemp. I never thought of the fact it was a natural fiber so thus safe on the skin and a big thanks for the heads up on compression leak;LO just started side sleeping. As for the tide..... I just opened the box and boy oh boy is that smell strong! I have been useing homemade detergent for years on our cloths, just Borox, washing soda, zote soap, and oxi free sand clear. I guess I have gotten used to our clothes not having a smell. I'm gonna have to find something different for her diapers, I don't think I can have her cute little butt smell like that. Any one know of a good unsented option?

mrshudson618

Some of us here use homemade detergent with no problems, including Borax. Just as many people who say borax is a no no will say that tide is a no no, so if it was working for you, there is no need to switch.

That being said, I use both homemade and tide. Start using the appropriate amount for your load size, usually to the one line. Adjust from there if there is an issue.

freezorburn

Country Save and Tiny Bubbles are good options. Right now I'm using Miocare which is similar. I'm sure there are others but these are the ones I have experience with.

countrycotton

I think I'll stick with my homemade diaper detergent ( I leave out the zote). I figure I will eventually have to go to snaps when she figures out she can take the hook and loops off, and let's be honest I know I'll be buying more covers as more cuteness comes out. So IF the Borox causes problems I'll just replace as need be. Everyone has been so helpful! I can't wait to get to know everyone better, but please bare with me I am horrible with keeping people and names straight in real life, so I may be completely lost online (never done the forum thing before).

steffaneh

I'm confused...is borax bad for your velcro?? I used it for a full year with my LO's CDs and had zero problems (up until we moved and had a change in water plus LO has bad ammonia now and our washing machine is not working properly).

I would say keep using your homemade detergent however if you didn't have any problems to begin with.

girlmama83

bookitup said:

If you end up using Tide, I would use 1-2 TBS only. I use 2 for a full load every other day.

don't mean to thread jack but just wanted to ask if this recommendation is for liquid tide or powder tide?

N_Koz

powdered liquid tide can cause build up on the diapers. I use 3 tbs because 2 wasn't doing the job for me.

CLLDLL

Mapleme said:

N_Koz said:

powdered liquid tide can cause build up on the diapers. I use 3 tbs because 2 wasn't doing the job for me.

I think you mean just liquid

I think she meant the answer to the Q is powdered. Period. Liquid can cause buildup.

countrycotton

@steffaneh‌ what I read was someone saying that borax was bad for the elastic, and that over time could cause the plu to get tiny holes. I didn't read anything about it being bad for the hook and loop. I was just thinking in about a year LO will be able to undo the hook and loop and I will have to move to snaps to keep her diaper.