Cloth 201: Diet changes can mean laundry changes

As your child grows and their diet changes, their output changes as well. For a cloth diapering parent, this sometimes means that you have to adjust your laundry routine as well.

We often hear from parents that are confused because their laundry routine that has worked well for many months suddenly is not working, and they are battling with issues like stains or smell.

If your little one has recently started trying new, solid foods after being exclusively breastfed or formula fed, the diet change could be the cause. You may need to adjust your laundry routine using one or more of the following troubleshooting tips:

• Rinse your diapers well right after use, before placing in your pail or wet bag.
• Instead of using a pre-wash cycle at the beginning of your washing routine, use a full cold wash with detergent to eliminate all the yuck before the hot wash cycle also with detergent.
• Add bumGenius Odor Remover to your routine. For best results, spray bumGenius Odor Remover after rinsing your dirty or overnight cloth diapers before placing in your pail or wet bag. bumGenius Odor Remover quickly eliminates the source of odor-causing bacteria in cloth diapers.

Cloth 201: What is a Stay Dry Liner?

We are often asked to clarify the differences between these three cloth diaper accessories: diaper doublers, stay dry liners and stay dry doublers.

Diaper Doublers (AKA Newborn Insert):

These are the smaller insert that comes with your bumGenius 4.0 cloth diapers. This smaller insert is less absorbent than a standard bumGenius insert, but is ideal for newborns because it creates a trimmer fit for those early days. Once your little one needs the standard insert, these are great to add to your pockets for nap-time or overnight when extra absorbency is needed.

Keep in mind: these DO NOT have a stay dry side, so they are only recommended for use inside a pocket diaper, not directly touching baby's bottom.

Stay Dry Liners:

These are a thin fleece liner with no absorbency. These are great for wicking moisture away from your little one's bottom if you are using a natural fiber, like cotton prefolds or bumGenius Elementals. They are especially helpful to keep moisture away from tender skin during nap-times and overnights for those who love cotton or hemp inserts. These are also useful if you have to use a diaper cream to protect your cloth diapers, as mentioned in our previous post.

Keep in mind: these have NO absorbency. They are intended to go on top of an absorbent insert to wick moisture away from delicate baby skin.

Stay Dry Doublers:

These doublers are the best of the two previous products rolled into one. They are the same size as the diaper doubler/newborn insert. They have a stay dry layer on one side and have some microfiber for absorbency. These are another great option if you use cotton prefolds or Flip organic inserts for overnight.

Keep in mind: These doublers have fleece, they DO NOT work well inside a pocket style diaper. They are best used directly against baby's skin with another absorbent insert underneath in a cover.

Cotton Babies Seeks Bloggers

"Natural parenting company seeks on-going relationship with skilled writers with experience in parenthood, sleep deprivation, dealing with toddler tantrums and the joys of potty training. Cotton Babies appreciates fresh content, great grammar and punctuation, deadlines, a humorous and authentic approach to life with a young child, long walks on the beach and great caffeinated beverages. If this is you, please read more below..."

Seriously though, we are looking for a few new writers or bloggers to join our team. We would like to have some fresh voices for some of our regular features like Real Mom Talk, Cloth 101/201 and more. Cotton Babies team members will be traveling to BlogHer 2011 in San Diego, CA next month. While there, we would like to learn more about you and to share more about this opportunity. If interested in writing for this blog and will be attending BlogHer 2011 (or are able to meet with us near the host hotel), please e-mail a writing sample or your favorite blog post to media@cottonbabies.com Please include the text of the article in the body of your e-mail and a link to your blog(s). Once we review the writing samples, we may contact you to set up a meeting to chat with you in person during BlogHer.

Cloth Diapers 201: What is Hard Water?

If you call or live chat with Cotton Babies customer service for some troubleshooting assistance, many of the questions we will ask revolve around your laundry routine. How often you wash? What detergent are you using? How much detergent do you use? How many cloth diapers do you wash in a load? Do you have a high efficiency machine or a traditional machine? Do you know if you have hard water?

What is hard water? Hard water is water that has high mineral content. This is different from region to region based on what types of minerals are in the ground where you live and what your water sources are.

Why is it important to cloth diapering? The level of hardness in your water can affect how well soaps, shampoos and detergents work. It can determine how much soap or detergent you need to use to get your dishes, hair and laundry clean.

How do I know if I have hard water? There are a couple of ways. First, there are hard water maps that will tell you generally if you have hard water or not. Another more specific way to find out is to check with your local water utility company. My water company has a place on their website where I can fill in my zip code and it will tell me the water hardness in grains per million. I have 7 grains per million, which is considered hard water. If you water company doesn't have a website, the information should be available with a simple phone call.

If I have hard water, what do I do? If you discover you have hard water and are having issues with stink, there are a couple of changes you can try. First strip your diapers so you have a fresh start. Next, try using a little more than the recommended amount of detergent in each load to make sure your cloth diapers are getting clean. If you find you have really hard water, adding Calgon water softener to your cloth diaper loads (and other laundry) may help your detergent work more effectively.

I thought I had hard water, but it's really soft! If you find out you have soft water and are having leaks, this may be due to detergent buildup. In this case, you will want to strip your diapers to start fresh and begin using slightly less than the recommended amount of detergent in each wash cycle. This will help prevent detergent buildup. Soft water may also mean you need to add an extra rinse to your laundry routine to make sure all the detergent is out.

If you have further questions, give us a call at 1-888-332-2243 or live chat with us at www.cottonbabies.com

Have you had issues with hard or soft water? How did you adjust your cloth diaper laundry routine?

Cloth Diapering 201: How To Strip Your Diapers

It doesn't take much time in cloth diapering circles before you encounter the term "stripping". What exactly is "stripping" your cloth diapers, how do you do it and how do you know when you need to perform this task? No worries, we're here to help.

Stripping in the cloth diapering community refers to the removal of detergent, diaper cream or other items that may leave residue in the fibers of your cloth diapers. One analogy is to think of kind of like stripping paint from a piece of wood furniture.

There are several reasons you may encounter along your cloth diapering journey where we would suggest stripping your cloth diapers. Here are a few of the most common:

• Using a detergent that has enzymes, scents or brighteners. These ingredients can cause build up in your diapers, which can lead to leaks. New to cloth diapering? You can read more about detergent choices in this article.
• A caregiver accidentally uses diaper cream without a fabric barrier. No, it's not the end of the world, but yes, it can be somewhat stubborn to remove.
• You're beginning to experience leaks and there is no change in your child's diet or input.
• Your child has been diagnosed with a yeast infection or other type of communicable rash.
• You're having trouble with stinky smells in your diapers, even after washing.
• You need to switch laundry detergents. Maybe you've discovered your child's skin is sensitive to a particular brand, in which case you want to remove all residue and start with a clean slate.

So now that you know the situations in which we recommend stripping your cloth diapers, how do you do it? For bumGenius, Flip and Econobum products, we recommend this method:

• Wash once in hot water with one teaspoon (for high efficiency machines) to one tablespoon (for regular washing machines) of original liquid Dawn (blue formula) and up to 1/2 cup regular, liquid chlorine bleach in the wash cycle.
• Do two additional hot water washes with no detergent to completely rinse the diapers clean. If you still see suds, keep rinsing until the diapers are rinsed clean.

If you are using other brands of cloth diapers, we recommend checking with that manufacturer for their recommendations.

The other frequently asked question is "How often do I need to strip?" There really is no rule or guideline for this. We have found that those who live in hard water situations tend to get detergent buildup faster than those with softer water. Also, if you use a detergent that has enzymes or brighteners, you may find you need to strip more frequently than if you use a detergent completely free of these ingredients. If either of these situations apply to you, you may need to strip your diapers once every 3 or 4 months. We do not recommend using bleach more than once a month, so please keep that in mind if you are stripping your diapers on a regular basis.

If you have more questions on this topic or need more personalized recommendations, e-mail us at contactus@cottonbabies.com or call us at 1-888-332-2243. We're always glad to help you.

Cloth Diapers 201: Overnight Cloth Diapering

As your little one grows, at some point, you finally reach the elusive goal... your child will actually sleep for more than 3 hours at a time. About the time you begin to revel in this blissful state, you may begin to discover the dark side of more sleep. Your little one's diapers now require more absorbency to last through the night.

One of the most common questions we receive at Cotton Babies is how to adjust absorbency to adapt to your growing child's overnight needs. The simple answer is natural fibers. Two great natural fibers that add absorbency are hemp and cotton.

Hemp is great because of its durability, absorbency, and it's natural anti-microbial properties. This means your baby will be protected naturally from bacteria, mold, mildew and fungus. We offer a variety of Hemp Babies and Baby Kicks to match your child's needs and the style of cloth diapers you use. Most of our hemp products are a blend of 55% hemp and 45% cotton for effective absorbency.

• Hemp Babies Little Weeds - these are great if you are using a pocket style one-size diaper on a small rise setting or All-in-one style in a small size. Little Weeds feature two layers of hemp to ensure that your diapers wash clean easily and dry quickly. Designed specifically for an infant, the small diaper folds in half for less bulk and four layers of absorbency.
• Hemp Babies Bigger Weeds - These high quality diapers were specifically designed to be used as an insert in a medium or large pocket diaper. Hemp Babies Bigger Weeds fold in thirds for six thirsty layers of hemp absorbency.
• Hemp Babies Diaper Doublers - These diaper doublers come in two sizes (small or large). The size and shape of the Hemp Babies Diaper Doublers make them ideal for use with a prefold, all-in-two, or hybrid style of diaper. I liked using the large Hemp Babies Diaper Doubler underneath a Flip Stay-Dry insert for my toddler daughter for overnight. They also work well placed inside a pre-fold diaper overnight.
• BabyKicks Hemparoo Joey-Bunz - These inserts are designed especially for use with Fuzzi Bunz, but work great with all other pocket diapers, like bumGenius. Intended to be trim, absorbent and easy to use since there's no folding. They come in three sizes (small, medium and large) to give you a customized fit for your little one.
• BabyKicks Hemparoo Fleece Pre-folds - These prefolds feature 2-3-2 layers of luxuriously soft 55% hemp/45% cotton fleece. These prefolds are up to any task, from being pinned, folded in thirds in a snug fitting wrap, or as a pocket diaper stuffer.

Cotton is another great, affordable option for adding absorbency overnight. Cotton prefolds can be used inside a cover like Econobum or Flip, or even as an insert inside your favorite bumGenius pocket diaper. At Cotton Babies, we carry Chinese, Indian and Econobum styles of prefolds that range in price from $1 to $2 each depending on size and style.

Two last tips for using natural fibers - natural fibers do not wick moisture away from baby's bottom and are a bit slower to absorb than synthetic diapers. Some customers find they need a stay-dry liner or layer closest to baby's bottom to keep baby dry all night. If you are layering hemp or cotton inserts with a stay-dry insert, we recommend the stay dry layer closest to baby's bottom with the natural fiber underneath to ensure best absorbency and reduce the chance of leaks.

If you need help in finding which insert would best meet your family's needs for overnight, give us a call at 1-888-332-2243. We can ask you a few questions about the cloth diapers you use, your little one, how long they sleep at night and your laundry routine. In just a few minutes, we can give you some suggestions for products that may work best for your family.

Cloth 201: Cloth Baby Wipes

As you progress along your cloth diapering journey, you may find yourself looking for other ways to 'green' your home. A next logical step for many families is to use cloth baby wipes.

The first question many customers ask is "What kind of cloth wipes should I use?" Just like cloth diapers, there are many different kinds and styles of cloth wipes, so you should be able to find a cloth wipe that works best for you and your little one.

At Cotton Babies, we carry a variety of cloth wipes. bumGenius cloth wipes are 100% unbleached cotton flannel. Kissaluvs wipes are also unbleached, but have a 'loopy' terry side to handle messes. If you prefer organic fibers, Kissluvs Organic wipes may be for you. Want to add a little color to your diaper change? Try Thirsties Fab wipes or Kissaluvs Premium Designer wipes.

The next thing to consider is how you will store your wipes. You can store your wipes dry and wet them at each change or you can store them wet.

Wet wipes should not be stored longer than 2 days. That means you should use a wet wipe within 48 hours of when you moisten it to prevent mold. For a quick and easy wipe solution, mix a squirt or two of Kissaluvs Diaper Lotion Potion concentrate with distilled water. We recommend using the Prince Lionheart wipe warmer to keep your cloth wipes moist and ready to go.

If you prefer a dry method, you can stack your dry cloth wipes and keep bumGenius Bottom Cleaner or Kissaluvs Diaper Lotion potion right beside your changing area. These sprays can be sprayed directly on a cloth wipe and are even safe enough to spray right onto baby's bottom if you choose. After using, just toss your cloth wipes right into your pail or wet bag.

While cloth wipes can be washed with your cloth diapers, be cautious when washing wipes with cloth diapers that have hook and loop closures. The natural fibers of the cloth wipes are more likely to stick in the closure tabs of these diapers.

If you use a homemade cloth wipe solution that contains oils, we do not recommend washing your wipes with the cloth diapers. The oils from the solution may clog the fibers of your cloth diapers, which can lead to leaking.

If you have further questions about using cloth wipes, give us a call at 1-888-332-2243 and we'd be glad to assist you.

Cloth Diapers 201: Help! My diapers are stained

As baby grows and changes, you may encounter substances that stain your cloth diapers from time to time. Certain foods, such a blueberries, or other substances you or your little one ingest (like medications or vitamins) can affect the color of the output.

We get lots of questions here at Cotton Babies about how to deal with stains.

Our first recommendation is to bleach your cloth diapers once a month. We recommend 1/4 cup of bleach added to the hot wash cycle if you have a high efficiency machine. You may use up to 1/2 cup of bleach if you have a traditional top-loading machine. This helps to sanitize your diapers and fight odors. Some customers like to add an additional rinse cycle when they bleach to ensure the diaper is thoroughly rinsed before it touches baby's bottom again.

If your stains don't come out with bleach, or if you prefer a more natural stain removal solution, we recommend sunning your diapers.

To sun the diapers:

After completing all your wash cycles, find a safe, sunny spot outdoors if possible.

Place diapers on a drying rack or other flat surface with the inside of the diaper facing the sun.

Let the sun work it's magic to dry and sanitize your diapers.

Some customers have success sunning indoors during the winter near a window. With modern windows that block UV rays, indoor sunning is usually less effective than outdoor.

Some stubborn stains make take more than one round in the sun to be completely removed.

Cloth Diapers 201: Help! My diapers stink!

A question we get frequently in our customer service e-mail and phone calls is how to get rid of "stink" in cloth diapers. Keep in mind that as your little one's diet changes, their output changes. Sometimes this means that a laundry routine that has been working well for you suddenly seems like it's not working.

If you experience stink issues that you haven't had before, one of our first questions is, "Have you changed something in your laundry routine?" What we have learned over the years here at Cotton Babies that not every detergent works well for every customer, which is why we offer a variety of cloth diaper safe detergents for purchase. Factors such as water hardness or skin sensitivities can mean that your best friend's go to detergent or the "it" detergent of the moment may not work well for you.

One common reason for sudden stink is a change in detergent. Unfortunately, the best way to find a detergent that works for you is trial and error. We recommend trying a small package or sample size of a detergent to make sure it works well for you and your little one before committing to the value size.

If you haven't changed your detergent, our next question is, "What is your laundry routine?" Another common issue, especially with newer high efficiency machines, is that your diapers aren't being rinsed enough to remove all the urine or all the detergent.

If you are having "stink issues" we recommend changing to the following routine:

Wash a full cold wash/cold rinse cycle with recommended amount of detergent.

Wash a full hot wash/cold rinse cycle with recommended amount of detergent.

Run a second cold rinse cycle.

If this is your routine, you have a high efficiency machine and your diapers still smell, we recommend this little tip. To 'trick' a high efficiency machine into adding more water to your laundry cycles, try adding a wet towel (or two if they are small) to the beginning of your wash routine. Let the towel go through the entire laundry routine to make sure the machine adds the most water possible to every cycle.

If you are still having odors after trying these basic troubleshooting methods, give our customer service team a call at 1-888-332-2243. We can talk you through your laundry routine and give you some tips specific to your routine and little one's needs. We want your laundering routine and cloth diapering journey to be successful. We'll be glad to help you find the products and routine to ensure your success.

Cloth Diapers 201: HELP! I need to use diaper cream!

One of the benefits of cloth diapering is that many parents discover they have less diaper rash once they switch to cloth. But sometimes life happens, be it a virus, food sensitivity, an unfortunate poopy diaper that stays on too long or other issue that can leave baby with a diaper rash. We get quite a few calls about how to safely use a diaper cream without ruining your cloth diapers or running the risk of voiding the warranty. Here are some of our favorite tips:

When using any cream or lotion product, we recommend using a barrier to protect your cloth diapers. Creams and lotion are designed to coat your baby's bottom and to repel moisture. Creams and lotions will cling to the inner fabric of your cloth diapers the same way it clings to your baby's bottom. The same ingredients that repel moisture to help baby's bottom to heal will repel moisture from the fabric of your cloth diapers, which can lead to leaking. So what is a parent to do?

Here are a few anecdotal tips and tricks from the Cotton Babies' staff:

• We recommend bumGenius Stay Dry Liners or Bummis Fleece Liners. Be sure to wash the liners separately from your cloth diaper laundry to avoid contamination.
• No local cloth diaper store and need a middle of the night solution? Try cutting up an old cotton flannel shirt or t-shirt to use as a liner in your cloth diaper.
• Don't want to worry about added laundry? Keep a Flip diaper cover and a set of Flip disposable inserts in your stash for a convenient diaper cream solution that won't add extra work to your laundry routine.
• If your pediatrician recommends using a diaper cream and you are looking for a product with natural ingredients, you may be interested in Angel Baby Bottom Balm, Grandma El's Diaper Rash Remedy & Prevention or Mother Love Diaper Rash & Thrush.

Remember, if your baby has recurring diaper rash, you should consult your pediatrician for further assistance.