Cloth Diapers

Let’s get one thing straight. Cloth diapering is not rocket science. Even when it involves a little origami, it’s not all that complicated. At least not in the way that giving birth, surviving school breaks, or explaining the ultimate why is complicated. Some things in parenting are more difficult than others, and on the big-picture scale, cloth diapering falls somewhere between cooking macaroni and breastfeeding in a carrier. So: not that hard.

However, in the years I’ve been teaching people how to use cloth diapers, I’ve noticed there are a few mistakes that everyone tends to fall into. I don’t know why this is. Maybe the most obvious resources all tend to skip over these things. In any case, I thought it would be helpful to list them all in one place. So here you go: a few of the most common — and most easy to fix — mistakes that people make with cloth diapering.

1. Putting a microfiber insert directly against the skin. This is by far the most common mistake I see, and honestly, it doesn’t surprise me. It’s particularly common with people who start cloth diapering by using two-part systems (i.e., prefolds and covers) who then switch to one-part systems (i.e., pockets). It makes a lot of sense. You get used to only changing the inner part of the diaper and reusing the cover. And then you look at a pocket and think, Hey, this diaper has two parts. Why can’t I just change the inner part and reuse the outside? Which you could, except for one small problem: microfiber is very, very absorbent. So absorbent that it will actually pull moisture out of your baby’s skin. Which will dry out your baby’s skin. Which will cause a rash.

But don’t feel bad if you’ve done this. I totally did it myself.

2. Reusing diapers that aren’t meant to be reused. Along the same lines, a lot of people feel like they ought to be able to reuse a diaper that’s meant for only one change. This is another common problem when you’re switching from prefolds to pockets. You’ve gotten used to prefolds feeling really wet, and pockets have a microfleece layer (not to be confused with microfiber) against your baby’s skin, which feels a lot dryer. So you feel the diaper and think, Gee, this is hardly wet at all. Maybe I can just change the insert and reuse the diaper. Which technically you probably could do occasionally without causing a rash. But the part of the diaper that lies against your baby’s skin is wet, which means the entire diaper is meant to be changed.

My mom always does this for some reason. She doesn’t actually reuse the diaper, but she doesn’t put it in the wash bucket either. After she babysits, I often come home to find damp diapers spread out next to the changing table. “It was only a little bit wet,” she says, “so I wasn’t sure what you wanted to do with it.”

Well, I wanted to wash it. It’s not like I’m throwing it out. Don’t worry, I’ll use it again. When it’s clean.

3. Not adjusting the absorbency correctly. This is mostly a problem at night, although it can be a problem during the day if you’re not changing frequently enough (or if your baby is a really heavy wetter). One common problem is overstuffing a pocket so much that it ends up gapping around the legs. You think it’s leaking because it’s not absorbent enough, so you keep stuffing more in — inserts, boosters, prefolds, and maybe the kitchen sink. But it keeps leaking, because the problem isn’t the amount of absorbency — the problem is that it’s so overstuffed that you can’t tighten it properly. So instead of having elastic nice and flush against baby’s legs, you’ve got big gaps. The pee isn’t even going into the diaper at all — it’s rolling right off the microfleece onto your baby’s clothes. The solution is to use trimmer absorbent layers, such as hemp or zorb, so you can fasten the diaper correctly.

4. Not researching your wash routine adequately. I hate to put this on the list, because people are often so intimidated by the whole washing issue that they give up on cloth entirely. And the reality is that much of the time, you can get away with all sorts of “bad” washing habits and your diapers will be fine. At least for a while. But after a while, you start to have problems, and instead of googling, say, “dryer sheets + cloth diapers,” which will tell you right away what you’re doing wrong, you assume it’s too complicated and give up. One particularly common problem here is Charlie’s Soap, which causes a rash for some babies, especially if you’re using a different detergent for the rest of your laundry. It’s an easy problem to fix if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use, but it’s really common (so much so that when someone tells me their diapers are causing a rash, my first question is always, “Are you using Charlie’s Soap?”).

5. Not trying different types of diapers. There are a few brands that almost always work for everybody, but since every baby is a little different, chances are that you’ll like one brand a lot better than another. Which is why I always recommend that you not buy a lot of diapers until you’ve tried a few different types. With all the stores offering trial packages and rentals these days, there’s no reason not to experiment a little before you invest a lot of money.

Of course there are plenty of other mistakes people make, but if you avoid these, you’ll at least avoid looking like a total newbie. And if you share this list with your friends who are just getting started with cloth, you’ll look like a complete cloth pro.

You’re welcome.

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Choosing the right cloth diaper is hard enough when there are so many different types of diapers. But it’s even harder when you have to choose among several diapers that are almost exactly the same.

Babywearers face a similar problem comparing soft structured carriers, and since my post comparing them has been pretty popular, I thought it was time I offer a solution to the pocket diaper problem too.

Plus, more people are becoming familiar with FuzziBunz since the owner appeared on Shark Tank recently. I didn’t see the show, but apparently (and unsurprisingly), she talked a bit (without mentioning names, of course) about the Charlie Banana problem. You can read it all in the owner’s own words here, but in a nutshell, the founder of Charlie Banana had worked with FuzziBunz before she branched off to create Charlie Banana, and although she changed the design slightly, she also used a lot of similar features. There was nothing unethical about it, but it was a big controversy for a while, even to the point that some retailers refused to sell CBs. (Which meant nothing since Target and Walmart were — and are — perfectly happy to sell them.) But what this means for you as a cloth diapering parent is this: choosing between FuzziBunz and Charlie Banana is like choosing between the East Atlanta and the Grant Park farmer’s markets. It’s practically impossible, because they’re practically the same.

And as if things weren’t confusing enough when Charlie Banana first came out, FuzziBunz followed up the CB release with a new version of their own (the FuzziBunz Elite) which, intentionally or not, is even more similar to Charlie Banana than the old one-size Fuzzi Bunz were. But there are a few small but key differences that make a choice possible. Maybe.

Unless you’re just obsessed with diapers like me, in which case you need to get both.

Elastic 

I’m comparing the one-size diapers, which means they both adjust in size and can be used on most babies from birth to potty training. Originally, the elastic adjustments were identical: they both used a button system, similar to what many toddler pants have. FuzziBunz still uses that system:

Charlie Banana, however, has switched to a buckle system:

I think the Charlie Banana system is a little easier to adjust, especially since it’s labeled with sizes instead of numbers. (FuzziBunz has a chart that tells you what numbers correspond to what size. Confusing.) But FuzziBunz allows you to adjust both the waist and the legs, while Charlie Banana only allows you to adjust the legs. Also, Fuzzi Bunz has buttons on both sides, which means you can switch the elastic out — and each diaper comes with a spare set of elastic. Since elastic is usually the first thing to go on cloth diapers, being able to switch the elastic out easily — no sewing required! — can really extend the life of your diaper. I have a whole pile of old non-adjustable FuzziBunz that I’d be using instead of selling if I could adjust the elastic.

So: if convenience is most important to you, then Charlie Banana has a slight edge on elastic. If you want diapers that are built to last, go with FuzziBunz.

Stuffing

Both FuzziBunz and Charlie Banana are pocket diapers. This means they have three parts: an outer waterproof layer, an inner layer that wicks moisture away from your baby’s skin, and an absorbent insert that you stuff between the other two layers. Some people don’t like pockets because they’re more expensive than two-part diapers (like prefolds, where you only have to buy a few covers and a bunch of prefolds; with pockets, you need a whole new diaper for every diaper change), but they’re less convenient than all-in-ones (where you don’t have to stuff or fold or adjust anything). But pockets are my favorite type of diaper, because they offer a great combination of convenience and flexibility. Once they’re stuffed, they’re easy to put on (unlike prefolds, which need folding), but they wash and dry faster than all-in-ones, and unlike all-in-ones, you can adjust the absorbency for different needs (like adding inserts for nighttime).

There’s one small problem with pockets, though: you’re supposed to take the insert out before you wash them. That means you have to take a dirty insert out of a dirty diaper. So the ease of getting that insert out with as little touching as possible is a big factor when comparing pocket diapers.

Charlie Banana and FuzziBunz Elite have two main differences when it comes to stuffing. First, on Charlie Bananas, the opening is in front, while on FuzziBunz it’s in the back. A front opening is better when there’s poop on the diaper, because poop goes toward the back. But a back opening is better for boys with a pee-only diaper, because boy pee goes in front. (Girl pee goes in the middle, so it doesn’t matter much either way). I would give the advantage on this to Charlie Banana, because it’s less likely you’d ever have to touch poop, except for the fact that Charlie Banana also has a flap over the opening. You can see what I mean here:

What this means is that if there’s poop on your FuzziBunz, you can just shake the diaper over your pail and the insert will come out. Whereas with Charlie Banana, you have to reach past the flap to pull the insert out.

Some people like the flap because it looks more finished; others prefer the convenience of shaking the insert out. I like both. It’s a matter of taste.

Snaps

Both diapers use tab snaps, which means they wrap around in front to snap. Both have two rows of snaps, which means the waist and the leg can be adjusted separately. The only real difference in snaps is that Charlie Banana has an extra crossover snap. This is a snap in the middle of the wing that allows you to cross the tabs over each other. It’s great for a small baby (it’s the way you can fit this diaper on a newborn even though you can’t adjust the elastic in the waist), but it’s also great for wrapping the diaper around itself and securing it when it’s dirty and you’re out and you forgot your wet bag. Which of course I never do. But if I did, I’d want a crossover snap. FuzziBunz doesn’t have this feature.

Inserts

The old FuzziBunz inserts are identical to Charlie Banana inserts (except for the big Charlie Banana tag on the latter). Both are microfiber, which means they’re very absorbent and they have to be used inside the diaper (not against the baby’s skin). However, the latest version of FuzziBunz Elite includes a minky insert, which can go directly against the skin. And really, you want to put it on the skin, because it’s so soft. I only have one FuzziBunz Elite diaper, but my four year old digs through the laundry to find this insert so she can carry it around and rub it on her face. It seems like a real waste to stuff it in the pocket, but even though you could use the diaper as a cover and lay the insert on the inside, that’s not really how FuzziBunz are designed. Charlie Banana, however, is designed to be flexible that way — that’s the other reason for the pretty flap over the pocket. If you want to use the diaper as a cover and put an insert inside, the flap holds the insert in place. And Charlie Banana also offers disposable inserts which are meant to be used against the skin, making it a hybrid diaper.

I love the minky insert, although I haven’t really tested it well enough to compare its absorbency to the microfiber. So far it seems to be wearing better than a microfiber insert, but that may be just because I don’t use it very often. It’s one of my two favorite diapers, so I’m always saving it for special occasions.

Fit and Look 

I honestly can hardly tell a difference in fit between the two diapers. Both are trim and snug and look great. The biggest difference to me is the colors and the prints, which of course are just a matter of opinion. Charlie Banana has some fabulous colors (I’m a sucker for black and orange diapers), but I hate the prints (although plenty of people love them). FuzziBunz has similar colors, and they regularly offer limited-edition prints, which I almost always love. So for me, FuzziBunz has a slight advantage here.

Overall

The verdict? They’re both awesome. You need both. Lots of both. They mix and match well.

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More specifically, have you changed him into a cloth diaper lately?

Last Saturday, 61 babies had their diapers changed — into cloth diapers — all at the same time. That’s 61 babies in Atlanta. The worldwide numbers haven’t come in yet, but since there were over 300 locations, I’m guessing it was, well, a lot. Probably even more than last year, which means that one of my babies finally got to be part of a Guinness World Record.

Yes, last Saturday was the Great Cloth Diaper Change, when thousands of families all over the world took part in a mass effort to break the world record (set last year, at 5,026 participants) for the most cloth diapers changed at one time. Why, you ask? To raise awareness about cloth diapers, of course. Also to show off our diaper stashes to people who care. And to demonstrate our amazing cloth diaper folding skills to people who, well, care.

(Sadly, people who care about this kind of thing are few and far between.)

Actually, I think I was the only person trying to show off my mad origami skills. Everyone else was using pocket diapers or all-in-ones. I used a printed Swaddlebees flat and a weehuggers cover. Just to show off. I think it actually had the effect of making me look like an idiot who doesn’t have awesome diapers like everybody else, though — especially when I broke my Snappi in the middle of the change. And then shouted in surprise, “Ugh! I broke my Snappi!” And everyone turned and stared at me.

At least they all knew what I was talking about and didn’t think I was speaking some weird code in which “Snappi” means “little finger” or “bra strap” or something more embarrassing.

I should have done what a mama next to me did, which was change into this diaper:

(Yes, that’s a Spiderman diaper. She told me it only cost $5. Must. Buy. Now. Except I can only find it for $10. Still searching for the deal.)

I also offered Teddy the chance to pee in his potty in the middle of the change, which would have been awesome except that he didn’t pee. He had just gone. He did pee in the potty several times during the event, though, which was cool. Actually that was doubly cool because when can you pee your baby into a potty on the floor in the middle of a rec center and not have people freak out? Only when you’re running the DiaperFreeBaby exhibit table at a cloth diaper changing event, that’s when.

And speaking of people who care. I was also really excited that Kia Smith of Atlanta Diaper Relief was at the event. Atlanta Diaper Relief collects diapers for families who can’t afford them, and until this weekend, they had only ever distributed disposable diapers. But I met Kia when I was a guest on the Mommy Talk Show, and and I asked her then if she would ever be interested in collecting and distributing cloth diapers as well. It’s bothered me for a long time that cloth diapers are viewed as an expensive option for higher-income families, when in reality cloth diapering is much cheaper than using disposables. And for Kia’s clients, the benefit is obvious: families who receive disposable diapers will continue to need more diapers till their children are potty trained, but families who receive cloth diapers will never need help with diapers again. So I’m excited that Kia is going to help cloth become an option for more families who can’t afford the upfront cost of buying a stash. This weekend, Kia got a great start on Atlanta’s first-ever cloth diaper bank, not only from individual donations, but also because the Atlanta Birth Center donated the leftovers from their diaper consignment sale. It’s not too late to donate your old cloth diapers; you can contact Kia or me if you have some you’d like to donate.

Sometime in the next few weeks, Kia and I will get together to count and organize the diapers. And I will revel in the soft fluffy wonderfulness and try to resist the urge to rub them all over my face. Then we will figure out how to distribute them. And then I will give a workshop to the recipients to teach them how to use them. And then a few happy families (or maybe even more than a few) will never have to worry about the cost of diapers again.

Sad you missed the event? You can participate next year. It will once again be on Earth Day weekend, and we’ll have an even bigger record to break.

So you have a whole year to find a great sale on a Spiderman diaper.

Photo is Ashley and Suzanne from Atlanta Birth Center with Kia Smith of Atlanta Diaper Relief, showing off the donated diapers.

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Last year, I helped organize the Great Cloth Diaper Change event. I couldn’t participate, since I didn’t have a baby in diapers, but I had to be involved somehow. So I helped with some of the administrative stuff, including finding a location for the event. And I have to say, making those phone calls was quite an experience. The conversations went like this:

Me: I’m looking for an event space on April 29.

Event coordinator at large event space location, like the Atlanta zoo: Sure!  What kind of space are you looking for?

Me: Well, we need two rooms, one for vendor tables and one for the actual event. And the event room has to have a door and be at least 80 square feet.

Event coordinator: Our [name of room] could work for that. What’s the name of your event?

Me: It’s the Great Cloth Diaper Change. It’s an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the most cloth diapers changed at one time.

Event coordinator: What?

That’s when I would try not to laugh. Then I would start explaining that a mass diaper change does not necessarily mean a room full of poop. And that everyone would use changing pads. And that it was an international event organized by the Real Diaper Association in which thousands of people around the world would be changing diaper at exactly the same time, coordinated across multiple time zones, all of which made it sound more legitimate and less wacky.

But world records are supposed to be wacky, right? I mean, a lot of the stranger Guinness World Records make a room full of poop sound unimaginatively boring. Lots of people want to be famous, and a strange world record is a great way to do it. The odder it is, the less likely that someone else beat you to it.

Last year was the first attempt to set a record for the most cloth diapers changed at one time, so we didn’t have anything to beat. Over 5,000 participants (5,026 to be exact) isn’t bad, but I’m sure we can beat that this year. Especially if you come. Because you always wanted to be famous, right?

You can register to attend the Great Cloth Diaper Change in Atlanta here. Do it quick, so your baby won’t grow up and decide he needs to get into the record books by towing a car with his ear.

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