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| I am totally new at CD but i really would like to make the switch. I received two cloth diapers yesterday (all i've ordered so far). I got one Sandy's and one One size. I have super duper chunky children and my daughter couldn't stand it last night when i tried to put her to bed..so much so that i eventually put a disposable (she's 9 months). She's a side sleeper and with the snaps on the side from the Sandy's diaper and the snaps from the cover i think it was just too much for her...plus she top leg was kinda hanging in mid air! Not so comfy! I'm really not liking the bulky look but i guess i'll have to deal with that!! i was looking into the bamboo for my babies but haven't been reading good things for the longevity of them. I was wondering if anyone uses the ricki wraps instead? i thought maybe with no snaps on the side she might like it better?? |
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Congratulations on wanting to make the switch to CDing! There can be a little bit of a learning curve sometimes, but once you get going, I think you'll really enjoy it--and many of us find it to be just as easy, or easier, than using disposables.
First, to answer your question, Rikki wraps are great wraps, too. Personally, I prefer the Airflow, for a couple of reasons. It fits a little more generously--Rikkis have an area on the front of the leg at the cross-over that I had to made sure the diaper didn't peek through. It wouldn't as long as I checked, but I didn't like having to check. I also just like knowing the settings to use on the Airflow, rather than wondering if I've gotten it too tight, and I found that if I didn't get the aplix lined up exactly, it would scratch DS's stomach. Not a big deal, but again, I just didn't like having to think about it. I used both AF and Rikki with my first, but gradually sold off the Rikkis and now have just AFs with my second.
It's completely a matter of personal preference, not performance, so I would think it definitely worth trying one out to see how you, and DD, like it. Both wraps are excellent, and both have their fans.
The bulk with CD can be a little startling at first, but it is usually more about perception than baby's comfort. That being said, especially with an older side-sleeper, you might want to make the transition more gradually. I'd probably introduce the new diapers during the day rather than at night, so she can used to how they feel, how she moves in them, etc. As you both gain comfort with them/using them, use them at night, too--because they do make awesome night diapers.
One thing that might help the diapers to feel more like what she's used to is to put a piece of fleece in there, between her skin and the diaper. She's used to a disposable turning her urine into gel, and suddenly she's going to feel it more against her skin. The fleece will keep her skin feeling dryer and might help the transition. An added bonus is that poop is easier to clean off fleece than the fabric of the diapers, and fleece doesn't really stain, so your diapers will look nicer, too. You just take cheap fleece and cut to whatever size you want, no hemming necessary, lay it in the diaper as desired.
One additional thing to note is that new diapers should be prewashed a number of times (I think ME's directions say 3-4?) to achieve better absorbancy.
HTH, and please ask away; I found this forum invaluable when I was starting out, and still am learning, 4 years into CDing.
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I don't want to repeat what the PP said, which I agree with completely, but I want to add something regarding bamboo. A lot of people question its durability, but to my knowledge there is very little evidence that it wouldn't last as long as cotton. The first batch of ME bamboo diapers had a problem, but ME replaced them all. I believe that people have been using the second batch for about a year now, and I haven't heard of any issue with them, except for one person who had bald spots, but I think she had used bleach heavily with her diapers. There is a question that just turned up on the forum this week, we'll see what ME says when the poster contacts them. But when you consider the number of people using bamboo ME, the fact that noone is complaining on the forum is proof that the diapers are holding up quite well.
Of course, we will not know for sure how long the diapers can last until they have been used for longer, but if you want to CD your daughter and are put off by the bulk, I personally would consider bamboo as a potential solution.
Good luck! |
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Thanks for the help i also contacted a family member that uses cloth and she mentioned that the wrap wore out quicker than the snaps and she felt that it was digging into his belly in the front so i think i'll probably stick with the AF but i really would love less bulk. Maybe i was looking too far back into the forum about the bamboo diapers. My youngest is 9 months and i would like them to make it through another child as well..it would be great to pass them along to my sister afterwards if they lasted. From what i've heard with the cotton they should last as long as i'm careful with them but don't want to spend extra on bamboo if it doesn't last as long!
I guess the other concern with the cloth diapers and then adding the fleece is the heat (not that it's hot right now!!! calling for -35 C tomorrow) but would all that bulk and layers get warm? |
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| okay.a question about the fleece. I was trying the fleece today and i just changed her diaper but the fleece felt really wet as did her skin??? Did i do something wrong or maybe i just caught her too soon after peeing? There's one side of he fleece that is longer than the other side..should i be using one side versus the other?? |
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As far as longevity goes, as the PP says, there's really not the track record on bamboo to know how it will last through multiple children, because it hasn't been out there long enough. If you want tried and true, cotton it is, but bamboo gives you the benefit of being a little trimmer. ME guarantee their diapers through one child, but as you know, most people get much, much more wear out of their cotton; I'm on my second and they are still in great shape. I guess it's really just something you'll have to weigh for yourself. You could get a mix of cotton and bamboo, so as not to have all your eggs in one basket.
I think that fleece could make a diaper a tiny bit hotter. It's not something I've really worried about, since it hasn't seemed to be a problem, but you could always use fleece for now and go without in the summer if you are concerned. The Airflow, especially, is designed to get a bit more circulation around the diaper, and remember that disposables don't breathe. At all, since they are encased in plastic. Although this is from a pro-cloth website, it seems to cite legitmate sources: http://www.diapernet.org/whycloth.htm
The short-story is that disposables actually lead to a higher temperature than cloth. |
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