Hello!

I am pregnant with my first, and my husband and I are wanting to cloth diaper. We are planning on stocking up ahead of time, and had a few questions. So here's a few questions from us. (Sorry if these have been answered in other threads, I have lurked here a few times but not in a while)

1. How many do we need? If this depends on what type we are buying, can you give me an example?

2. Have you ever used flushable liners? Do they work well?

3. If you don't use flushable liners, do you scrape the solids off with something or use a hose?

4. I have heard that you are not supposed to use as much detergent with cloth diapers. Is this true?

5. Do you use disposables when you go out/on vacation? If not, how do you deal with the cloth diapers?

Thanks so much for your help. Any help and any answers are greatly appreciated. I know that these have probably been answered elsewhere, so links to those threads are great too. I'm such a newbie, and my parents didn't cloth, but we really want to try. The only downside I have ever heard was the scraping the poop and that they leak more? But I imagine the leaking is due to the brand, and that some brands are better than others. I saw a review thread and will be heading that way for advice in that area.

Once again, thanks to anyone who responds!

There's a FAQ at the top of the board with some good stuff in there.

1. How many do we need? If this depends on what type we are buying, can you give me an example?

It does depend what type you use but you will need enough for probably 8 changes per day, at least, with a newborn, reducing to maybe 4-5 for an older baby. If you were using all-in-ones (no separate covers or anything) you would need 8-10 per day at first. If you wanted to wash every other day, you'd need 16-20 PLUS enough to use while you wash and dry them. Some nappies dry really quickly so you'd only need an extra half day's supply, but other nappies can take 2 days to air dry so you'd need another 16-20! So it really does depend. I would start by looking at when you want to start cloth nappying. If you want to wait a few weeks, you won't need quite as many as for a tiny newborn. Then look at what kind you think you'd prefer because that will influence it too - all in ones generally dry more slowly than nappies that come apart more. Then you can work out how many you need Lots of people start off washing every day (it does only take a few minutes after all) and then reduce it as baby goes through less nappies per day.

2. Have you ever used flushable liners? Do they work well?
Yes and no, not in my experience. A young breastfed baby's poo is liquid and will either soak through or find a way around it! BF baby poo is soluble anyway so there's no need to dispose of poo, just throw it in the washing machine. As baby starts on solids or if you FF the poo won't dissolve so that's when you'd maybe want liners. I much prefer fleece or suedecloth.

3. If you don't use flushable liners, do you scrape the solids off with something or use a hose?

Once baby has more solid poo, I tend to give it a quick wipe with some loo roll to remove any solid bits! Some people rinse it under a tap, under the shower or with a 'diaper sprayer' but we don't tend to have them in the UK so I haven't used one. Once baby is doing properly solid poos, they just tend to roll off fleece liners anyway, no scraping involved! Don't be put off. Once you have a baby your ideas about poo change .

4. I have heard that you are not supposed to use as much detergent with cloth diapers. Is this true?

Definitely. Too much doesn't rinse out properly and builds up in the fabric. The nappies lose absorbency and bacteria gets trapped, leading to stinky nappies and maybe rash. I use 1/7th the recommended dose (perfected after much trial and error) but I'd generally advise that you start with 1/4 the normal dose. And do extra rinses.

5. Do you use disposables when you go out/on vacation? If not, how do you deal with the cloth diapers?

Nope. I did once for 4 days and my daughter got horrible rash so I vowed never again. I just take cloth with us, but we haven't been abroad. I still would, I think. 4 days worth of Flips (a very trim hybrid nappy) takes up about the same luggage space as a pack of disposables. I have hand washed in a bath of a place we were staying but it's better to only stay places with a washing machine!

Also, They are addicting, so the first time u buy one, you'll buy a dozen! .. But they are very good, and don't let anyone change your mind!

1. How many do we need? If this depends on what type we are buying, can you give me an example?
Rachel answered. Basically the more you have the less you have to wash. I have about 60 nappies, probably rarely use half of them in rotation. I wash twice a week and line / air dry.

2. Have you ever used flushable liners? Do they work well?
I use them for nursery (day care) as it suits their set up better. At home I prefer fleece liners. They work well but I just prefer cloth.

3. If you don't use flushable liners, do you scrape the solids off with something or use a hose?
She is weaned so it just falls off the fleece into the toilet mostly. If not I use an old credit card to "help" the poo into the toilet.

4. I have heard that you are not supposed to use as much detergent with cloth diapers. Is this true?
Yes. I use a tiny amount and importantly, no fabric softener.

5. Do you use disposables when you go out/on vacation? If not, how do you deal with the cloth diapers?
Since switching to cloth 18 months ago i have never used disposables for a day trip out. I always take cloth and a wet bag to bring the dirty nappies home. However, I use diaposables for trips away longer than a day. This is mainly logistical as I would love to use cloth but we have no car. So if we go to visit family we have to take public transport and try and travel light as we need to carry everything. It's easier to say to MIL / mum etc to buy a pack of disposables than for us to pack a load of cloth into a bag. I would prefer to use cloth when away.