Tips on Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers are eco-friendly, and using them can help keep your baby from coming into contact with unnecessary chemicals. They're also reusable and can save you lots of money over time. Follow a few tips regarding washing, folding and storing these diapers, and you can have a trouble-free cloth-diaper experience.
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Washing Instructions
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Dirty diapers should be stored in an airtight bucket until it's time to do laundry. Simply put them in the washing machine with 1/2 cup vinegar and run them through a cycle with cold water, then run them through a second cycle with warm water. Add half a scoop of laundry detergent and 1 tbsp. baking soda. For an added fresh scent, add essential oils such as tea tree and lavender to the washing machine during the second wash. Dry the diapers in the dryer on high heat or hang them to dry.
Dirty Diaper Storage
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There are two methods of dirty-diaper storage: wet and dry. For the wet method, fill the container halfway with water and add the dirty diapers without cleaning them at all. For the dry method, rinse the diapers immediately in the toilet and store them in an empty container. Avoid odor by adding 1 tbsp. baking soda to the storage containers.
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Folding
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Cloth diapers are rectangular sheets of cloth and require folding before they can be worn by your child. With the diaper on a table lengthwise, fold the left side two-thirds of the way into the center. Fold the right side two-thirds into the center, overlapping the left side. Unfold the top and bottom slightly, keeping the middle folded. This will form the shape of a disposable diaper and allow you to easily place the diaper around your child's bottom, using pins or other fasteners to keep it in place.
Wipes
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Many parents who are health-conscious (and environmentally conscious) enough to use cloth diapers also choose to use homemade wipes. Cut a flannel cloth into small pieces to be used as wipes. Create a mixture of 1 cup purified water, 1 tsp. baby shampoo and 1 tbsp. essential oil. The mixture can then be kept in a spray bottle and used along with the flannel cloth to clean your baby's bottom. These wipes can be stored and washed in the same way as cloth diapers.
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References
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