Hmm...how should I start...well I started my cloth diapering journey in Jan.'09 and have not looked back since. I have cloth diapered 3 of my 4 children and 2 of them are still in diapers. Well I guess one technically as my 3 year old only uses one at nap time and one at bed time. I use to use pocket diapers full time but I was having so much trouble figting the ammonia smell that was lurking in my diapers. I stripped the diapers over and over with little to no success. I then began to do some research on what I could do. I was ready to give up on cloth diapers. But then I discovered flat cloth diapers and I fell in love with them.
I purchased my first set of flat cloth diapers from www.thelittlemonkeystore.com. Swaddlebees Flat diapers is where my journey began. Now I have a cloth diaper stash of flats. I have my Swaddlebees and Flour Sack Tea Towels that Iove to use as diaper, as well as receiving blankets that I use as night time diapers.
I have tried many many folds but they have all failed to work the way I thought that they should. The fold that I find works well for both my 3 year old and and my 17 month old is the kite fold. I find that the Kite fold proves to be very very trim and also very very absorbant. There are many layers which is excellent for both girls and boys.
I am enjoying using flats, even more than I thought that I would. They are super easy to wash and dry very fast. I use to use diaper pins and loved using them all the time but as my DS got older he refused to stay still for more than a couple seconds. Even though I was using pins for months I wasn't fast enough and was scared that the pin would hurt his skin. So, I switched to using a Snappi. I have also switched to using velcro closure diaper covers instead of snap closure covers. The velcro closure diaper covers are much easier to fasten with a squirmey baby. I also find that since switching to flat diapers my son no longer gets diaper rashes.
Before I started The Flats and Handwashing Challange my washing routine consisted of putting the diapers and covers into my washing machine and do a pre rinse with cold water and no detergent. Then once the diapers have been rinsed I add cloth diaper safe detergent anf set the washer on hot water and let it go through a regualr cycle and add an extra rince. Now that I am participating in the Flats and Handwashing Challange I start by taking my wash bucket and putting it in my kitchen sink. I then ad cold water and use my hands to aggitate the water for a few minutes. Then once i see that they are rinsed enough I dump out the water and then add hot water and 2 drops of Dawn dish detergent. I then use my hands again to clean and agitate the diapers. Once I have finished washing the diapers i dump out the soapy water and add clean water.It usually only takes one or two rinses to get all the soap out. I then ring the diapers out and hang them up to dry. I find that washing them by hand reassures me that that my diapers are squeaky clean.
Since I started using Flat diapers I have converted 3 people to cloth diapers and 4 more to give it a try. I use cloth diapers because I want my children to have the best. Cloth diapers are free of all the nasty chemicals that disposable diapers have. I also love all the money I have saved from not using cloth diapers and cloth wipes. With Flats a family can purchase and use cloth diapers for a little less than $40. As little as $40 diapers can get you enough diapers for your baby from newborn to potty training.
Mommy to 4 beautiful children and Navy wife,
Andrea
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