There is a belief around that using cloth diapers on your precious baby’s bum will magically clear up all of the rashes your baby may have had.  I am sure that for some, this is the case.  But lets be honest - there aren’t as many babies with sensitivities to disposable diapers as we are led to believe on the many pro-cloth message boards out there.

Sure, some babies are sensitive to disposables, and some babies only to certain kinds of disposables and their many ingredients.  I’ll be the first to say that I am not in love with all the chemicals that are in disposables, and that it makes sense to NOT want to put chemical laden garments next to your little one’s skin.  However, I think that reading that cloth diapering leads to less irritation sets a lot of new-to-cloth mamas up for disappointment.

Kitten had maybe one diaper rash for the first 8.5 months of her life - all of that time in disposable diapers.  When I switched to cloth, I had been told that she’ll have even less rashes.  I thought that this was WONDERFUL news - I wouldn’t have to use creams any more and she would stay rash-free.  Well, those people were wrong.  Kitten would get heat rashes, she would eventually get eczema (that was diagnosed as yeast, which was NOT yeast) in her diaper area, she would just look red and spotty from being so warm.

To be honest, none of the rashes she got with cloth diapers caused us any worry (except for the eczema, but once we stopped treating it, it went away).  If I was concerned that she was getting a little bit rashy, I would let her run around the house with a fitted diaper with no cover on.  Kitten isn’t very sensitive to detergents, so that wasn’t an issue for us either.  So if you’re thinking of trying cloth, don’t be afraid - I just don’t want anyone to think that they’re doing something wrong.

Here are my rash tips:

• Clean clean clean! Wipe at every diaper change.  Not all moms do this, and that’s ok, but I’ve found that the “cleaner” she is (no urine left on her skin) the happier skin she has.  I’ve also found that using a tub of water with a splash of witchhazel and a squirt of J/a/s/o/n/s 98% organic aloe vera gel is the perfect combination for a wash solution - no cleansers to stick around to irritate the skin, only soothing witchhazel and aloe, both nice things for sore bums.  We’ve tried the different WAHM solutions, and none of them give as good results as this (if you are enjoying your beans or cubes, don’t stop using them, but don’t feel pressured to buy them, is all I’m trying to say!).  I got my aloe gel at our local organic store, but you might be able to find it at a local shop with a large organic section.  I got the witchhazel at Walmart (easy enough to find, and we sometimes omit the aloe if we’re running out).
• Dry dry dry!  I found that Kitten’s bum is less prone to rash if I use a dry cloth wipe to dry her off before I put a new diaper on her.  Air drying works too, but my wiggly baby won’t lay still long enough to actually dry off.  So I speed it along with a cloth.  I use the same dry cloth all day, and switch out for a new one each morning (I figure that she’s already clean from the wet wipe, so the dry wipe isn’t getting dirty).
• Air air air! If I notice Kitten’s bum becoming a little irritated (this happens, especially at night if she’s has a poo and doesn’t wake up to tell me), I will put her in a fitted diaper and let her wander around the house.  Now that winter is coming (shudder!), we put her in a fitted diaper with fleece pants over top.  Any kind of fleece (not velour, it has to be fuzzy on both sides) will allow the diaper to breathe, but will protect your precious carpet/furniture/hardwood from accidents.  You’ll be able to feel if the diaper is damp, but the pants will keep your darling child from leaving butt prints all over the house.  I’ve also found that it’s easier to tell when she’s wet/dirty with the fleece pants, so she gets changed more often.  Both of these things (air and being changed more often) significantly reduce the severity/chances of rashes.  And guess what?  It’s the perfect time of year to buy more fleece pants!  Old Navy even has some on sale!  Might I suggest stocking up?  To be honest, we don’t go out of the house without a PUL cover, but at home, I love putting her in a fitted with fleece pants!  (a quick fleece tip:  Wash the pants with regular clothes, and if you have ecover, throw it in with the regular laundry - it will help your fleece stay water resistant!  Any fabric softener will do this, but I like ecover for it’s plant-based surficants, instead of all the chemicals in traditional fabric softener).
• Wash wash wash! If you are having stubborn rashes even with the above tips, it might be a good idea to look at your wash routine, but this should be your last step (before going to the doctor, that is!  If it’s a really stubborn rash, you will want to have it treated professionally - especially if it’s oozy and stuff).  A number of things in your wash routine could be causing the rash, so start with the most simple first.  Add an extra rinse, even if you’re already doing an extra one for a few washes.  If that doesn’t solve it, I would think it’s something that you’re adding, so I would try to take something out of your wash routine.  My elimination order would be: bleach, tea tree oil (or any other essential oil that you may be using), water softener (Calgon), vinegar, then detergent.  I would wash for a few washes without the item that you are eliminating and see if you make any progress.  If nothing changes, add the eliminated substence back (if you want/need to) and try the next thing on the list.
• Type type type! The last thing you can try is different types of cloth.  Some babies are sensitive to man-made fibers and should be in cotton/organic cotton.  Some babies don’t do well with PUL covers and should use wool or fleece.  This can be the most costly way of trying to fix a rash, so it’s the very last step.  I would also recommend trying the cheapest option (ie: instead of switching from prefolds with PUL to a pocket diaper, try getting a wool cover first, then if that doesn’t work go to a pocket/AIO).  Don’t forget, you can sell pretty much everything that doesn’t work for you, so don’t be too afraid to try something new (you may not get all of your money back, but you will recover some of the cost).

To sum up: Even though you may have heard that our baby will have less diaper rash after you switch to cloth, this might not be the case for you.  If you are having problems with rashes, try out the tips listed above to see if you can get your little tyke some relief.  I was shocked when we encountered our first diaper rash with cloth, and wondered what I was doing wrong.  I don’t want other mamas going through the same shock!  Does any one else have any rash advice?

Tags: cloth diapers, Mythbusting, rashes

The winner of last week’s draw is Nikki from Simplicity!  You are the proud new owner of 6 microfleece liners!  I’ll be in touch shortly to get all the pertinent details!

Remember to check back this Friday to see what new and exciting give-away will be happening next!

This week we’re giving away a set of 6 microfleece diaper liners!

For those of you who have never used a liner, you will LOVE these.  They go in between the baby’s bottom and her diaper.  This allows you to use (a small amount) of cream*, or to help keep your precious baby bum dry**.  It also helps with poopy diapers, as most of the poop will land on the liner.

Please indicate in the comments that you would like to be included in the draw, and Rob will draw a name (probably out of a bowl, as we can never find a hat around here) on Sunday night.  The winner will be announced on Monday!

* If the liner doesn’t cover the part of the bum that you are going to put cream on it, it’s not going to save your precious diapers.

** The liner will only prevent the wet feeling where the liner sits.  Sadly, this means that the whole diaper area won’t feel dry.  Someone should really make diaper-shaped liners, this would prevent a lot of problems!

This contest is open to people in Canada and the United States.  I’m shipping from Canada, so it may take a while to get to you if you’re on the south side of the border.  Canadians can expect them in 3-5 business days.  Please leave a working email address (ie. one that you check regularly) when you comment (where it asks for an email address) so I can email you to get all the important details.  Thanks!

As I’m sure you’ve heard, I love BumGenius diapers.  I’m not sure why I love them so much.  It could be that they’re nice and trim.  Could be that the aplix is easy to use and husband/babysitter/grandparent approved.  Could be that it will fit Kitten for a while to come.  Could be because we’ve never had a leak, even overnight (with both inserts).  I am sure, though, that if you’re unfamilar with BumGenius diapers, you might be a little confused when I talk about them.

There are three types of BumGenius diapers, the 3.0, the AIO, and the new Organics.

The 3.0 is typically the diaper that most people are referring to when they say BumGenius.  It’s a one-size pocket diaper, that has three rise sizes that are adjusted by snaps.  It has a pocket at the back, and comes with 2 microfiber inserts (one is a “newborn” size, and the other is an adjustable size).  It has PUL on the outside, and white suedecloth on the inside (this is a lot like microfleece only a lot thinner, and more fine).

BumGenius also offers an All-In-One diaper.  The AIO is a sized diaper - meaning that you have to buy different sizes as your baby grows (unlike the 3.0).  It still has a PUL outer, Suedecloth inner, and microfiber inside.  The difference is that you don’t stuff this diaper - it’s a very easy diaper to use.  The only problem is that AIO are notoriously hard to dry.  They take a long time because only one size is permeable.  Plus, you have to buy more than one size, which increases your cost.

The newest addition to the BumGenius lineup are the Organics.  It is an AI2 diaper, which means that it isn’t quite as streamlined as the AIO above.  A typical AI2 has a lay-in soaker, or a snap in soaker, but from what I can read, there’s nothing to undo or do up about the Organic.  You do have to fold the inside back up.  It’s loose so it dries faster, which is really something to be interested in.  The major difference is that this diaper is made of organic cotton, so babies who are sensitive to man-made fabrics should be able to wear this diaper no problem!  It’s also great for moms who are sensitive about what they put on their baby’s bottoms.  This is a one-size diaper, so you don’t have to buy multiple sizes (just multiple colours for fun!).  Don’t forget with organic cotton fiber, it needs to be fully prepped.  This means washing and drying several times before it reaches it’s full absorbency.  You can use it before it’s fully prepped, it just won’t absorb as much (AKA - maybe just use it for the day for the first half dozen uses).

BumGenius also has a slew of other products.  They have an Odor Eliminator, a bottom care spray (cleaner to use with cloths), diaper sprayer (to hook up to your toilet), Egyptian Cotton flat diapers, and flannel baby wipes.  You can view their whole product line-up at cottonbabies.com.  If you need replacement (or extra) inserts for your existing BG diapers, you can buy those as well!  The cottonbabies website also lists a BumGenius bamboo fitted, but the links don’t go anywhere.  I’m not sure if it’s a new product or a discontinued one, but I would love to get my hands on one of those to try out!

The only BumGenius I own is the 3.0.  Hopefully sometime this week, we’ll be able to branch out and pick up an Organics one (as well as 2 more 3.0’s).  I’ll definitely let you know what I think of the Organic diaper, how it stacks up against the 3.0.

Tags: All In One, bumGenius, One-size, Organic, Pocket, Pocket Diapers

Firstly, I just wanted to say that lately my choices during nap time have been: nap myself, shower, or blog.  Mostly, I’ve been chosing shower, with a bit of Plurk thrown in there.  So I apologize for my absence, and will try to make up for it with a “where to shop” type post.

I’m one of the few lucky ones out there with local shops that carry a variety of good cloth diapers.  I do some of my shopping locally, but to be honest, I do most of it online.  It’s not that I don’t want to support my local economies, but it’s mostly that I live in Canada, and like most things, diapers cost A LOT more here.  Like, $6 a diaper more.  If I know I can get a diaper cheaper (and new, with free shipping) online, there is very little incentive for me to shop locally.

My favourite place to buy diapers is from Leslie’s Boutique*.  It’s a great store, and the customer service is just about awesome.  Hands down, this has been the most economical place for me to buy new diapers from.  Also, I love love love her wetbags.  And?  She has a very fancy new diaper bag that I am jonesing for, but don’t have the cash to buy.  The snap in accessories are making me a tiny bit crazy.  I mean, I can get two bags - one wet one dry?  I can have a matching change mat?  She’ll make a small baggy for treats?  Dude.  I just about have a siezure when I think about all the matchy-matchy I can have.

There isn’t a lot that I have actually purchased from Leslie’s.  I have a small wipes sized wetbag, a Melon (AKA life preserver orange) Thirsties AIO (do not recommend), a Bubblegum Fuzzi Bunz (I’m not crazy about FB, but they’re ok), and a Grasshopper Bum Genius (love!).  My order was shipped reasonably quickly, although it took it’s sweet time getting here (the US to Canada postal system is complete pants and makes me crazy).  I have emailed them to ask them about custom bags, and they seem to be open to discussion (I wanted PUL sandwich sized bags), and were reasonable in their pricing.  I will absolutely be shopping here again.

*Did you know?  Leslie’s Boutique is having a sale on Thirsties stuff!  It’s on for a limited time, so be sure to go check it out!  Also:  Leslie’s is currently stocking the BumGenius Organic Cotton OS.  I don’t know whether to try it - it’s more expensive than the pocket, and I’m afraid that I won’t like it.  I also don’t know if I really NEED organic diapers or not.  Any thoughts?

I have also purchased from DiaperSwappers.com.  All the times I have bought from there, I haven’t had any problems…  Kind of.  I bought one Piddle Poddles which I swear isn’t an actual PP.  It is the same style, but the soaker is different then the other Piddle Poddles I have (which I know is actually a PP), the quality doesn’t seem to be the same.  Regardless, if it IS a PP, then it’s a second, and I paid full price for it.  I guess it doesn’t really matter now.  This is the problem with Diaperswappers - you have to really trust the other person to not screw you over.  I didn’t bother to follow up with this transaction because it didn’t seem to be worth it to me.  I know now that I won’t buy something that doesn’t have tags - so it will be either WAHM stuff with tags, or brand-name diapers with tags.  As a side note:  Make sure that you always always always get pictures, inside and out, of the diaper you are going to buy.  And check feedback.  If the seller doesn’t have diaperswapper feedback, ask for feedback from somewhere else.  When you get feedback from somewhere else, message that user and make sure it’s the person from diaperswappers.  If you chose to buy from someone with no feedback, do so at your own risk:  don’t spend more money than you’re willing to lose.

I have also purchased (accidentally!) from Spots’ Corner on Hyena Cart.  Here’s the catch:  if you press “buy this”, you HAVE to buy it.  Even if you go to the next page and decide, nope, not interested (as I did), you’re responsible for it.  This is how I got my Mutt.  While it’s a beautiful diaper, it’s not my favourite, and I do wish that I hadn’t purchased it.  My paypal money should have gone somewhere else.  Like maybe to a beautiful Fattycakes or something.  So let my experience be a warning - be sure to read what the button says before you click it on Hyena Cart.  Some stuff is “add to shopping cart”, which is no obligation, and some stuff is “buy now”, which means you own that item and must buy it.

If you’ve read any of my posts, you know that I love Piddle Poddles.  And I do.  I still want to try a Goodmama, just because they seem a little different in size (we’re having a bit of a sizing issue with the PP, because we’re in between snaps, but this will not be an issue in another few weeks when Kitten is a little bigger), but I’m really happy with the availability of the Piddle Poddles, and I have always received tremendous customer service from Robin.  The store is stocked every Friday, so you don’t have to worry about “stealth” stockings, or stalking a page.  Granted, if there is something special that you want, you will have to stalk a little to be sure to get it, but the majority of her regular One-Size Organic Bamboo Velour diapers are available for purchase (on stocking days, not just randomly).

So this is where I shop.  Does anyone have any recommendations?  Insights?  Difference in opinion?  Does anyone want to sell me a new (or barely used) Goodmama for $35 or less?  No?  Nuts.