For the cloth diaper mamas

lolad5 · November 2015

I'm new to cloth diapering and a FTM. I started my DD on cloth (all in one pocket style) and I've been noticing just about everytime she has a wet diaper it leaks through the sides. So of course her clothes are wet and I have to put on a fresh outfit too. Is this normal because she is on the maybe smaller side? I'm guessing she is about 10 pounds. The diapers say from 8 pounds and up. Should I double up on the inserts for now until she grows a bit more into the diapers? Help me and my excessive laundry doings! TIA!

xJKxOR · November 2015

I'm a FTM using cloth too! Here's a few tips I got from other moms and trial and error:
- make sure your diapers are prepped properly (wash and dry fully at least 5 times before first use, this builds up absorbency)
- are they adjustable? I have my guy on the smallest size (height and width)
- make sure there is no fabric from the diaper showing when it is on (so you can only see the shell), even a little bit of the inner fabric showing can lead to big leaks quickly
- carefully readjust the gussets around the legs when putting them on. Make sure they fit nice around their little leg rolls
- make sure they are tight enough (cloth often fits tighter than disposables)
- pull the wings of the diaper way up, this was the key to stopping leaks with my little guy (he's 14lbs and quite chunky). See pic attached to see what it looks like with wings up vs regular. This somewhat affects the fit of onesies and pants and the wings add bulk around their tummy but I honestly don't even notice it anymore.

Hopefully this helps! It took us about a week or trial and error with fit to get the hang out it. we are now one month in and we haven't had a leak or blowout since! (I change every 2.5hrs unless he has a poop; we use disposables at night because we got so many as gifts).

amiller386 · November 2015

I had the same problem when I first started. If we use bumgenius he doesn't leak but if he is in Sunbaby he does leak. I either double line them or I put on the bigger bumgenius insert in. We haven't had a leak in a month now! Also make sure they are tight enough. We started in cloth when my son was 8lbs and he even had skinny legs so your baby's weight shouldn't be the problem.

dmbfan46835 · November 2015

I use cloth diapers that have snaps along the top and an extra row for the legs to make sure they can be tightened around the thighs. I have thirsties, bum genius, China cheapies and lil helpers. The lil helpers are A12 and amazing. I absolutely love them. They have two inserts for when baby gets bigger and needs the added absorbency, but I can use one now. And they come with bamboo and charcoal inserts. And his thighs are skinny so the added leg snap makes it so we have no leaks or blow outs. I actually put the "wings" of our diapers inside. I make sure they are tucked in so his shirt won't be near them to wick any moisture away from the diaper. With all that said, your LO may just need to grow into them a bit?

ForeverEverAfter · November 2015

You say it leaks out the sides. Are the inserts sopping wet? If they are, then you just need more absorbency (a bigger insert or a booster). If the insert isn't fully wet and its leaking, then it's fit. If the tricks from the pps don't work-it'll get better as baby grows. At 9w and 11lbs, we still have OS pockets that don't fit well. DD1 was 12w before all of her OS diapers fit (we had lots of different brands).

lolad5 · November 2015

You ladies are awesome thank you for your tips! You were a big help. She leaks out the sides by her legs. I think she just needs to grow into them a bit. I'll get more inserts too! I got these diapers on eBay in bulk so I know they aren't the best quality but they do the job. Saves us money as well. So I can't complain. I'll play around with the wings and make sure the leg holes are tight enough. I wish these ones had snaps by the legs, those sound perfect!

sugarmagn0lia · November 2015

Just to add!
My little guy is tall and skinny skinny. He was a 31 weeker and we're still catching up. He's had a couple leaks with his AI2's (they may need a couple more washes yet to be at their peak), but anything "one size" just doesn't fit him quite right. We have a couple BumGenius and a few Charlie Banana. Truth be told though, prefolds and covers are my favorite! I thought they might be a pain because of the extra step, but I don't find them any less convenient than dispoables! Rumparooz make newborn covers that say they fit up to 15 pounds, but skinny babes can potentially wear them even longer. Plus, they have a double gusset on the legs, which is an awesome feature! Going the prefold and cover method is relatively inexpensive, so it could be worth looking into until your kiddo is big enough for her AI1's

LittlemsD · November 2015

Can't say enough how much our Sloomb diapers and a wool cover have been a life saver for night time heavy wetting. DS2 could hydrate a corn field with as wet as he was in the morning and we hardly ever had a leak with those. And once I could get DS3 into them he started sleeping much longer stretches at night. They're a bit pricey but we found that they were only needed at night time so having 3 was enough.

ForeverEverAfter · November 2015

@lolad5 I'm guessing the inserts you have are microfiber-that's what most diapers come with. When you get more inserts, look into natural fibers. Cotton holds a similar amount to MF, but doesn't get compression leaks and washes easier (MF can build up smells over time). Flour sack towels from walmart are similar size and absorbency to a cotton flat and are really cheap, about $1 each. They can be folded into an insert (pad fold). Bamboo and hemp are more expensive, but most absorbent and rather trim for how much they hold. I use bamboo flats at night and pad fold them into pockets for naps.

@sugarmagn0lia I also found myself using prefolds and flats before my AIOs this time! I love those RaRz covers!! 2 babies, and no poop leaks yet with those! My OS stash is mostly pockets with flats for inserts, but I just bought some of the OS RaRZ covers so I can keep fastening the flats for at home. Always a custom fit

@LittlemsD do you use sloomb wool too, or just the fitteds? I got some great sloomb woolies from the facebook bst. Wool is great for nights, but it's so cute I needed some for days too.

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