Bum Genius cloth diapers

[finn's mom]

$18 per diaper is expensive, but they'll last. I have 2 dozen of them so I spent $432 on them. You'll spend that on disposables within the first 9 months. Like Debbie said too, you can make them cheaper if you can sew. Also if they're taken care of they may last through more than one baby. It doesn't cost too much to wash them and I dry them outside in the sun so I don't have the added expense of drying them in the dryer.

I love drying things outside! I will definitely consider the BumGenius and the Happy Heiny. What size(s) did you get? They lasted your son's entire diapering time? If that's the case, it seems like a no brainer to go that route. I was looking at the "one size" diapers from BumGenius. I do plan on using disposables for outings and stuff, and we sell chlorine free diapers where I work, so I figure I'll give those a try.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I love drying things outside! I will definitely consider the BumGenius and the Happy Heiny. What size(s) did you get? They lasted your son's entire diapering time? If that's the case, it seems like a no brainer to go that route. I was looking at the "one size" diapers from BumGenius. I do plan on using disposables for outings and stuff, and we sell chlorine free diapers where I work, so I figure I'll give those a try.

I have the one-sized diapers from BumGenius and medium FuzziBunz. The mediums fit Nathan when he was about 4 months old and they still fit with room to grow. I used Seventh Generation chlorine free diapers in the early months and really liked them. They're hard to find around here though so once Nathan was older I started using Huggies for the occasions I actually put him in a deposable. I'd probably still be using the chlorine free diapers if they were easier to find. My grocery store sells other 7th Gen. products, but not their diapers yet, I'm hoping they'll have them before I have another baby.

I use and love Seventh Generation wipes! I order them in bulk from Amazon. I may go with cloth wipes when we have another baby though, we'll see.

The inserts take a long time to dry so you may want to either buy or sew some extra inserts for the diapers. The diapers themselves dry pretty quickly.

Also the laundry soap you use on your diapers is important. I use http://Charlie's Soap. I've heard good things about http://Allen's Naturally too.

Also you can't use diaper rash ointment with cloth diapers so keeping disposables around incase of a rash is a good idea. Rashes aren't too common with cloth though! Nathan's really never had a diaper rash. He's gotten a little red a few times and we've put rash ointment and a disposable on him just so it didn't turn into a rash and it never has.

[finn's mom]

Thanks, Kari! I don't know what sizes we have at the store I work at, but we do sell the Seventh Generation diapers. They'll be easy for me to get. I haven't looked at wipes, yet. I'm sure if we don't have them, I can get them from somewhere else pretty easily. Or follow your steps and order them.

Good to know about diaper rash ointment, I didn't know you couldn't use it with cloth diapers. Thank you!

I use BioKleen laundry detergent, it's all natural, non toxic. I wonder if that is comparable to the ones you listed. Are the ones you listed specific for cloth diapers or are they just natural detergents?

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I use BioKleen laundry detergent, it's all natural, non toxic. I wonder if that is comparable to the ones you listed. Are the ones you listed specific for cloth diapers or are they just natural detergents?

You don't want to use a detergent with dyes and perfumes on the diapers. You also want a detergent that will wash out of the diapers well and not leave a residue behind. I did a quick search and found this on the Cotton Babies (the maker of BumGenius) site- "Because of the fruit extracts in this [bioKleen] product, it is NOT recommended for the bumGenius One-Size Diaper or the bumGenius All In One Diaper." link.

I am curious as to where you heard this.

On the official site of each brand and on the care sheet that comes with the diapers. You can use rash ointment if you put something between the cream and the diaper, I just always used a disposable to be sure none got on the cloth diapers.

From the FuzziBunz site:

Q: Can I use diaper rash ointments and creams on my baby if s/he is wearing a FuzziBunz™?
A. Diaper rash ointments cause diapers to repel and not function properly. If you mistakenly get diaper rash ointment on your diaper, wash your diapers normally and then apply some dishwashing liquid, like Dawn, to the affected area. Scrub the affected area with a toothbrush or other bristle brush. While this is a suggested method, it may not always work. Diapers affected by diaper rash ointments are not covered by our warranty.

[lizbud]

Ok, maybe it just applies to the diapers from that company. I know my
babies both had a rash now & then, but I still used cloth diapers. They
only thing I did different was change them more often. The rash cleared
up within a few days. Thanks for explaining.

[caseysmom]

I tried cloth diapers with my first....it was awful!!!!!

[Cookiebaker]

Yes, definitely don't use diaper rash cream with cloth dipes! I learned the hard way....not only does it stain the diaper, but it doesn't come off and makes that spot "water-proof" and causes the pee to roll off instead of absorb in.

[lizbud]

Also you can't use diaper rash ointment with cloth diapers so keeping disposables around incase of a rash is a good idea.

I am curious as to where you heard this.