Q: How Many Diapers Should I Buy?

A: How many diapers you purchase depends on a few factors including how old your baby is, their habits and comfort, how often it’s convenient to change, how often you intend to wash, and what system you decide to use.

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The general guideline is:

                Newborns and infants use 10 to 12 diapers daily, so 24 - 30 diapers in total should do it.

                Toddlers use 6 to 8 diapers daily, so 18 to 24 diapers should be sufficient for them.

 

The Live GroVia Package (hyperlink) is a great way to go if you’re ready to commit to cloth diapering. It includes enough one-sized diapers to suit newborn babies through to training toddlers - the complete package!

Alternatively, the Experience GroVia Package (hyperlink) offers a hint of what the system could offer if you’re not ready to jump headfirst into cloth diapering or fully using the GroVia system.

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Q: Which Diapers Should I Go For?

A: Again, this is wholly up to your and your baby’s needs. Some parents find that using only one diapering system throughout and adjusting the diapers according to their needs is more cost efficient or convenient. Others prefer to mix and match depending on the situation, e.g. if your baby will be relaxing at home, just have them in prefolds, whereas if they’ll be out-and-about, bring along a couple of all-in-ones, and have them in a fitted diaper with an extra wool cover to tide them through the night.

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Q: Doublers, Inserts, Liners?

A:  

• Doublers 

  • add absorbency to all-in-ones, pockets or fitted diapers.

  • can be placed next to baby’s skin.

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•  Inserts​

  • are made of microfiber or hemp.

  • are normally placed inside pocket diapers, not meant to be placed next to baby’s skin.

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• Liners

  • are made of biodegradable or cloth.

  • keep baby’s skin dry, make diapers easier to clean, and prevent stains.

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Q: Won’t Clean-ups Be Extra Messy??

A: One of the biggest deterrents against using cloth diapers is the idea that it will be extra messy, but this is not the case. Before you start using cloth diapers, prepare a diaper pail by lining a large bin or covered laundry basket with a waterproof hanging wet bag or diaper pail liner. Have two bags or liners on hand so one is always available.

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If your baby breastfeeds exclusively, their solid waste actually doesn’t need to be removed or even rinsed. You just need to shake as much of it into the toilet as possible, then store the diaper for laundry day. Use a biodegradable diaper liner for extra protection, if necessary. Another popular investment to deal with solid waste clearing is a diaper sprayer which you can screw onto your water supply. Diapers with liquid waste can be put straight into the pail.

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If you are using a cover, you can just remove the soiled inners and reuse the unsoiled cover. If you are using an all-in-one or pocket system, take out the inserts before placing it into the pail.

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Q: How Does Laundry Work With a Cloth Diaper?

A: You would generally wash diapers every 2 or 3 days when you have about 24 or so soiled diapers. Try not to put too many in at the same time as diapers need space to spin completely clean. If they rub against each other too much, it might also cause friction which might pill the fabric.

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The wet bag or diaper pail liner can go straight into the laundry with the diapers. Run a cold or warm rinse first so that stains or smells won’t set, then run a hot wash cycle. Put in no more than half the detergent you would for your clothes. Line drying in the sun is best for freshness and stain-removal, and it will prolong the diapers’ life. If you notice your diapers becoming stiff, dry them at times when the sun is not as hot. If it’s not convenient to line dry your diapers, they are machine dryable too.

 

Dos and Don’ts of Cloth Diaper Laundry Care

 

Do:

• an extra hot rinse cycle at the end of the wash to remove detergent build-up - a common cause of bad odours.

• make sure you fasten the laundry tab first to avoid snags.

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Don’t:

• use detergents that contain whitening agents that can break down diaper fabric and make them less absorbent. They may irritate baby’s sensitive skin too.

• avoid concentrated detergents that will cause build-up in diapers.

• avoid bleach that will wear away the fibres and lessen absorbency. Bleach may also irritate the skin

• skip the fabric softener. It coats the diapers’ fibres and causes them to repel liquid.

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Q: What Else Do I Need?

A: 

• Wet bags for when you bring your baby out. Zippered and waterproof, they contain the mess until you get home.

• Cloth wipes pre-moistened with a natural baby wipe solution.

• Special residue-free biodegradable laundry detergent to keep diapers absorbent in the right place     and waterproof in the right place.

• Diaper covers for prefolds or fitted diapers.

• Snappis for prefolds, if used.