When we started on cloth diapers, I only had 3 pieces on rotation. I reasoned we'll just have to try it first. Akala ko ata nun, joke lang ang pagiging waterproof nila. Hehehe! But when we tried and discovered it really is waterproof, plus so easy to use, we were so happy!
I had to wash every after use, but since it was made of bamboo, it takes a little while for it to dry. Three cloth diapers aren't enough and we had to use disposables every night, still. When my next batch of orders came, I realized we could slowly do away with disposables na. So we decided not to buy any more, iwas temptation narin. I didn't have a formula on how many I would need to go full time, although I have read that I need at least 20 for me to be able to wash every other day. When I reached 15 pockets, I already got the hang of it. My formula then was, "add according to the needs of Nathan."
Anyway, back to the purpose of this blog post, here are some things I think is necessary when you start on cloth diapers:
- Enough cloth diapers - How many, you ask? For me, choose a cloth diaper system and then try a few pieces first. Remember that we have a lot of cloth diaper systems now, we are so far from the traditional cloth + pins diaper already. We now have hybrids, AI2, AIO, covers, pockets, pre-folds, etc. (I promise to do a separate blog post on this soon). I decided to stay with pockets because I find it easier to use and a lot cheaper since I can buy china and local ones.
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| Not our stash of cloth diapers. Wish ko lang! :) |
- Get a Cloth Diaper Safe Laundry Detergent - For cloth diapers to work best, they need extra love and attention. Haha! Choose a detergent that has no enzymes. Meaning, stay away from those that says "bleaching", "with softeners" etc. Locally available cloth diaper detergents are Cycles and Smart Steps. We use Cycles. There's also Charlie's Soap (we have this in our store!) Why do you need cloth diaper safe detergents? It's because ordinary detergents that offer 'softening', whitening etc, leaves a film on your cloth diaper. Frequently using these detergents may cause build-up on your CD's and may cause leaking problems in the future. But don't worry, you just need to strip CD's when this happens. (Note to self: separate blog post on stripping)
- A Laundry Pail - if you plan on washing cloth diapers every other day, of course you'll need something to store it to. We use an ordinary trash bin (Don't forget to put proper label on the cover so people will not mistake it for a real trash can, speaking from experience of course.) I chose the one you can step on. Ours is something like this:
I say these are the 'basic' things you need in order to get started. Once you get the hang of it, I'm sure you'll discover a lot more things. Some use cloth wipes, a DIY fleece liner, DIY inserts, etc. But for now, with these three, I think you're going to be just fine.
Remember, baby steps. Whether you're doing Cloth diapers full time or you're just starting out, the great thing is that you're able to help the environment already! And making the conscious decision to try it out is awesome already, so don't put so much pressure on yourself. I repeat, you're going to be just fine. :)
Are you a cloth-nappying Mom already? What tips can you share for newbies? Post away! :)
