Restore my faith!

ChelK3

Hi all. I'm new here, and I'm new to the cloth diapering world in general. I have a 5 month old son who has been cloth diapered off and on. While I was pregnant I was very passionate about cloth diapering and told everyone about how much money I'd be saving and how great the whole thing would be. Despite having told everyone and registering for cloth diapers only, EVERYONE bought me disposable diapers for my baby shower. Since my main reason for wanting to cloth diaper was to save money I graciously accepted and used all the disposable diapers I received. There were times between sizes that I would cloth diaper but for the most part he's been in disposables.
So now here I am, all out of disposables and just starting my son on solids. This has to be the worst time for cloth diapering, am I right? The poop is not solid yet too thick to just throw in the wash.. He's finally sleeping through the night but now I have to wake him and change him or else his PJs are soaked by morning. I'm missing disposables right about now. Help me out? Tips, tricks, advice, encouragement, something, please!

PipSqueak0313

First questions: What diapers do you have? Size? Size of LO? Where is the diaper leaking? Is absorbent part soaked?

ChelK3

I bought nearly all my diapers used from a consignment sale at my local cloth diaper store. All are various brands of pocket diapers except one flip diaper that I bought new and one best bottom diaper with snap-in inserts that I also bought new. The ones I bought are by far my favorites, not sure if its because they are new or because they are not pocket diapers. The flip does tend to leak but to me its so much easier to just change the insert and reuse the cover so thats why I like it. The best bottom diaper leaks less but is so stiff and plasticy that it leaves red marks on DS so I Velcro it looser which causes more leaks from the top. DS is a big boy with super chunky thighs. The leg holes don't leak much, usually its from the top front or back. The absorbant part is always soaked by morning even when I use two or three inserts.

Mandmeesh

and….what is your ON solution for cloth? it sounds like you need more absorbency.  pockets are usually not the answer for ON because if you stuff too much, the legs leak from gaps

how often do you change during the day? (or are day leaks not a factor?)

we use fitteds and covers at night since about that time…6-ish months

and, poop is poop. 

ChelK3

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll look into the fitted diapers for night use. I feel really obligated to make this work since I've invested money into it and we are on a very tight budget. Today was not great.. I went to my sisters, changed him, fed him and an hour later he had soaked through his diaper, his clothes and left a big wet spot on her couch. I was so embarrassed. X_X

countrycotton

What kind of inserts are you using? You might be able to a more absorbent inset to solve the problem. I am not a fan of microfiber, I find I get fewer leaks with natural fiber; bamboo, cotton, and hemp. If you have basic sewing skills and a machine there is a excellent tortural in the FAQ's at the top of the page. Making your own can save a lot of money.

ChelK3

Lol I have no seeing skills and no machine. I have one charcoal bamboo insert for my best bottom diaper and it does seem to be more absorbant than some of my other inserts.

ChelK3

Does anyone here not use a sprayer for poppy diapers? What would be my other options? Currently I'm dunking the diaper in the toilet, swirling, flushing, then running a dripping wet diaper straight to the washing machine because I don't want a pool of toilet water sitting in my wet bag.

ChelK3

Ah, I'd never even heard of the diaper duck. Just goggled it, this may work!

YellowLily2013

1. I'll admit it, you missed the easy newborn stage. (It was great throw everything in the wetbag without thinking about poop!) BUT figuring out how to deal with solids poop really is NBD. We have a diaper sprayer and its been great (but I definitely looked for a sale no way I could justify $60!). Some people have diy sprayers for fairly cheap too.

2. I'm a natural fiber lover! Especially cotton. So if you're dealing with microfiber leaking... Switch to flats. It's your cheapest option! Or flour sack towels (FSTs) you can pick them up for $1 a piece. they can be used directly in a cover for pad folded and put in a pocket diaper.

3. ON diapers. While I'm sure fitteds are awesome. They are expensive. You can double up flats / add an insert and use a cover. For a budget ON solution. We use the flip organic insert in a Newstyle BGE, but I'm sure 2 of the inserts or the ON organic insert would do the trick as well. The true key to ON IMO is natural fibers next to the skin. They just absorb better / faster.

4. Breathe. Just because you bought a stash. You aren't stuck with it! Just like you bought some used, you can sell off what you don't like. And then use that to help fund a new stash. yay more fluff!

ChelK3

Today was much better! I found out there will be another consignment sale here in a few weeks where i can sell the ones I don't like and get some better ones, I'm excited again! Thank you for talking me down!

mrshudson618

I've never used a sprayer. I dunk and swish. 14 month in and I'm still fine with that.

Rrrrrachel

Get a dollar store spatula and store it under your sink.

Mandmeesh

mrshudson618 said:

I've never used a sprayer. I dunk and swish. 14 month in and I'm still fine with that.

this.  and when I'm done swishing I fold the diaper on itself (so the dirtiest part is on the inside) and wring out the water into the toilet.  Then I put it into the wet bag.  And then I wash my hands with soap. 

PipSqueak0313

Yep, no diaper sprayer here. I also fold and wring out the water before putting in the diaper pail. If you're really not comfortable with that, put a bucket next to the toilet to put the diaper in and then dump into the washer or pour out the water that has drained out of the diaper while it sat.....or throw into bathtub/sink to drain out.......or get a pair of rubber gloves to use while dunking and swishing and wringing out the water. I'm just spouting off random ideas for possible solutions. Take what is useful and discard the rest, or all of it.