Why Choose Cloth Diapers?
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More comfortable
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No harmful chemicals or gels
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Fewer diaper rashes
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Babies tend to potty train sooner
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More economical
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No landfill waste
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Can later be utilized as a burp cloth, dust rag, shoe shine cloth and to polish precious metals...
Is it really cheaper to use cloth vs. disposables?
Yes, it's true. Most people can save $1700+ by using cloth diapers, this includes using organic cotton diapers! Oftentimes, the diapers will make it through 2 children, cutting the cost even more!
Is it true that cloth diapered children potty train faster?
Yes. The child feels the wetness and is able to associate it with the full bladder feeling prior to feeling wet after he/she urinates.
It has been said that they train, on average, 6 months faster. So, they do learn quicker.
How many diapers and covers will I need to get started?
This depends on how often you intend to do laundry.
The average newborn goes through 8-12 diapers every day. The average baby 8-9 months and older uses about 6-8 diapers each day.
In order to do laundry every 1-3 days, it is recommended to have about 1-3 dozen diapers and 4-7 covers in each size.
If you use the Mommy’s Touch Diapers you can decide whether to use only those full time, or if you would like to use a variety. Remember that you will need less of the Mommy’s Touch for they can be worn longer then prefolds. Also they are one size so it takes the guess out!
Don't forget, wet diaper covers can be dried out and used more than once before washing.
Do I need to wash the diapers before first use
Yes. Organic cotton contains natural oils in it that repels water causing the urine to roll off and leak.
It is recommended that you wash and dry your new prefold diapers 4-5 times prior to first use.
The organic cotton diapers should reach their maximum absorption level by 10-12 washes.
What detergent should I use?
Any "free and clear" detergent should work well. Remember to stay away from brightners, and enzymes, they hold onto odors, and irritate skin. I like Country Save.
Please remember, do not use Dreft®, Ivory Snow®, pure soap or any fabric softeners as these products put a coating on the diapers making them water-repellant causing the diapers to leak.
Will the cotton diapers shrink?
The diapers will shrink most after the first wash and dry.
They will continue to shrink a little for a few more washes.
Shrinkage was considered when the diapers were designed.
How do I wash cloth diapers?
Dry Pail method: When the diapers are wet or soiled just put them into the diaper pail without water. (Soaking the diapers in the diaper pail isn't needed and is a drowning hazard.)
If they are especially soiled, shake the solids off into the toilet or rinse the diaper in the toilet before putting it into the pail. If baby is exclusively breastfed, it isn't necessary to rinse the diapers in the toilet, just put them into the pail until wash day. (Breastfed poo is like yogurt and washes out without any problem.) When solids are started to be introduce place a biodegradable flushable liner in the diaper. When it is time to change simply lift up the liner and throw contents in the toilet.
Washing: (Two washes should be sufficient.)
Put the diapers into the washing machine. First, machine wash cold. (Cold water helps to get out protein (poo) stains.)
Then, machine wash warm.
It is recommended to use only 1/2 the amount of detergent in each wash. The diapers will get clean and this will help prevent any detergent build-up.
You can add 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar into the last rinse cycle. (Vinegar is a natural fabric softener, mildew inhibitor and helps reduce detergent build-up.)
You can add 1/2 cup baking soda to either the first or second wash to help freshen the diapers, if needed.
An extra rinse cycle helps to get any extra detergent out of the diapers. But this step is up to you and if your baby is sensitive to detergents.
Drying: Put the diapers in the dryer and dry on medium heat. (The dryer helps to soften the diapers.)
Or, hang the diapers on the clothesline to dry in the sun. (The sun is a natural whitener and sanitizer.)
Mommy’s Touch Easy Clean Pocket Diapers
Wash once when new. Both the diaper and insert need to be changed at each diaper change. When wet, simply put the diaper and insert in the diaper pail. The insert should come out of the pocket in your washing machine, so you should not need to remove it by hand. If soiled, solid waste will fall right off the diaper into the toilet. No dunking required. Whatever remains on the fleece will dissolve in the wash. You may use a Mini Shower or similar diaper sprayer to rinse it off if you prefer. Then just put the diaper in the pail until wash day.
To wash:
• Cold soak or rinse to prevent stains from setting.
• Hot wash (125 F max) using 1/4 to 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent.
• Extra rinse if necessary to be sure all the detergent is rinsed out.
• Dry on low to medium heat or hang to dry.
Mommy’s Touch All-In-Ones
Wash Once when new. If soiled, solid waste will fall right off the diaper into the toilet. No dunking required. Whatever remains on the fleece will dissolve in the wash. You may use a Mini Shower or similar diaper sprayer to rinse it off if you prefer. If you are using an extra hemp snap in doubler, you may want to unsnap it before putting it in the dryer so it dries more quickly.
To wash:
• Cold soak or rinse to prevent stains from setting.
• Hot wash (125 F max) using 1/4 to 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent.
• Extra rinse if necessary to be sure all the detergent is rinsed out.
• Dry on low to medium heat or hang to dry.
No bleach or fabric softeners. No rash creams.
Hemp Inserts/doublers
Hemp products contain lots of natural oils, so it will take several washings before they reach maximum absorbency. Washing them 3-5 times in hot water before use is usually sufficient. After that you can follow the same washing instructions as for pocket diapers and AIOs. Hemp is very absorbent and will continue to get more absorbent with each washing. Hemp can get quite stiff if air dried. If this is a problem, you can put any hemp products in the dryer for a few minutes when they are dry/almost dry to soften them up. Wash new hemp items separately so the oils are not deposited onto other items. After the initial 3-5 washings, hemp can be washed in with your other diaper laundry.
Microfiber Inserts
Wash and dry once before use, they will fluff up and become more absorbent. After that, you may wash them following the same instructions as washing pocket diapers or AIOs. They can be dried in the dryer on low to medium heat or hung to dry.
Stripping Diapers
If your diapers begin to have a strong ammonia smell, become less absorbent, or if fleece items begin to repel liquid it may mean you have a buildup of detergent. The best thing to do is to strip your diapers. Stripping refers to the removal of residue on diapers. Wash your diapers once with approximately one tablespoon of liquid Dawn. Rinse until you don't see anymore suds. Then dry your diapers in the dryer on low to medium heat. If you are still having issues with pocket diapers repelling liquid hand wash your diaper with Dawn (gets the oils out), add a bit of dish soap to the fleece, rub the fleece together or scrub with a toothbrush or similar stiff bristle brush. Turn inside out and repeat on this side. Rinse well, making sure that the water runs clear. If you are still having problems, special cleaning agents may be used to strip diapers. Wash the diapers on hot using OxyClean or RLR. Rinse well.
What detergent should I use?
Detergent:
Avoid detergents with bleach or fabric softeners. Natural detergents and soap based products may leave a residue on cloth diapers that effects absorbency and are not recommended. “All” Free and Clear has been associated with build up problems on fleece lined diapers, so you may not want to use it on Mommy's Touch Products. Baby detergents, such as Dreft, are also not recommended for use on cloth diapers. Some babies are sensitive to detergents containing dyes, enzymes, optical brighteners and whiteners. If you find your baby is sensitive to some detergents, you may want to avoid detergents with those ingredients. Many store brands are just as good, or better, than name brand detergents because they do not contain extra ingredients that may cause irritation. Some recommended detergents are: Tide, Tide Free, Cheer, Cheer Free, Allen’s Naturally, Purex Free & Clear, and Country Save.
Other tips:
• Do not stretch elastic while it is warm from the dryer. Let the diapers cool completely before “stuffing” them with inserts or putting them on your child.
• Tumble dry on low to medium heat for the shortest amount of time necessary to get diapers dry. Pocket Diapers and microfiber inserts normally dry very quickly.
• Diaper Creams – Daily use of barrier creams are normally not necessary with cloth diapers. If your child develops a rash due to teething or a food allergy, you may want to use a fleece or disposable liner when using diaper creams. If you do get diaper cream on a diaper and it causes problems please see “Stripping” Instructions.
Is it possible to cloth diaper without a washing machine?
Laundromat washing is simple. The only thing that tends to be a "chore" is carrying the heavy pail.
If you wash twice per week, you can get a large, waterproof pail liner for the diaper pail.
When ready to wash , simply pull the draw string and go. Dump the diapers in for a cold wash and then a second warm wash and you're done. Just dry them and head home.
Is it unsanitary to have poopy water in our washer?
Actually, the water from the washer and the toilet go to the same place. Ocassionally to make you feel better you can do a Hot empty wash with some essential oils, or natural deoderizer to make your washer smelling fresh.
What if there is a strong urine smell coming from the diapers when I wash?
There should not be a strong urine smell after two washes. The following are good ways to help if there is a strong urine smell:
- You could use 1/2 cup baking soda in the wash, followed by 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar in the final rinse.
- Or, just add 1/2 cup vinegar to the final rinse cycle.
- It is recommended to only fill your washer 2/3-3/4 full so the diapers can agitate properly. (We have found that a super capacity top-loading washer will take a maximum of 24 diapers.)
How to wash and dry your diaper covers?
Eco-Fleece Covers and Organic Cotton Covers, and Mommy’s Touch:
- Machine wash warm.
- Tumble dry low or lay flat to dry.
- Avoid using chlorine bleach, or any other whitening agents or laundry additives.
Nylon covers:
- Machine wash in warm water and hang to dry. Avoid using chlorine bleach, or any other whitening agents or laundry additives.
Wool covers:
- Untreated, organic wool needs to be washed as little as possible to help retain its natural lanolin properties. When it becomes wet, just let it air dry. Small soiled areas can be rinsed under the faucet with lukewarm water and gently rubbed away. When necessary, gently wash in lukewarm water by hand with a wool lanolin-replenishing soap. Remember, do not use cold or hot water. Cold water shocks the fibers and hot water causes shrinkage. Gently squeeze the water out by hand. Then place in a towel and press out excess water. Give it a quick, brisk shake for the wool to regain its form and elasticity. You can place it over a mild heat source, like a running dryer. NEVER tumble dry. Also, placing the wool in direct sunlight may cause discoloration of the natural, organic wool.
Natural stain fighting methods
- Place damp diaper on grass in direct sunlight, or place the diaper on the grass with the morning dew. This really does work! We have found that about 1-2 hours in direct sunlight is all it takes. At times, it may be necessary to flip the diaper over to the other side to get those stains out.
- Put lemon juice on stained area. Then put in wash.
- Put some hydrogen peroxide on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes and wash as usual.
- Try white vinegar in the wash.
- Use cold water in the wash or rinse the diaper with cold water before placing into diaper pail.
How do I diaper away from home?
Away for a few hours: A small, waterproof tote bag is the best. Just put the wet diaper in the bag and stick it in the diaper bag until you get home. Then, put the diaper in the diaper pail until wash day.
Away for a few days: If you know that you'll be gone for a number of days and you don't have enough diapers to last and no washing machine available to wash the diapers, then you could get more natural disposable diapers such as Tushies gel-free , gdiapers which have cloth covers and flushables insides or Seventh Generation chlorine-free. If you have access to a washer and dryer, it's easy. If you cannot take the diaper pail with you, then you could purchase a large, waterproof tote bag and put the wet or soiled diapers in it. As needed, just wash and dry as usual.
What if my cloth diapers are leaking?
Cloth diapers should not leak. Leaky diapers can be attributed to a number of reasons. The following are the most common:
Not changing the diaper frequently enough. This is very common especially for those parents who have switched from disposable diapers to cloth diapers. Cloth diapers need to be changed about every 2 hours or as needed. Heavy wetters and newborns may require more frequent changes.
Detergent build-up or using the wrong detergent and/or fabric softener. Remember, do not use Dreft®, Ivory Snow®, pure soap, or fabric softeners. These products put a light coating on the diapers causing them to repel water. It's a good idea give the diapers an extra rinse cycle with hot water without detergent to help remove any excess detergent build-up.
How can I use cloth diapers while meconium passes?
Meconium is the black, tar-like poo that newborns will have during the first couple weeks. If you are concerned about the meconium staining the diapers you can cut an old cotton T-shirt into rectangles and place a piece on top of the diaper as a soft liner during this time. Or just use an Imse Vimse flushable liner.
What can you tell me about Mommy's Touch & Organic Caboose?
Mommy's Touch is proud to say they employ contract seamstresses for the production of their product who work from home while caring for their families. As demand increases they hope to continue this type of manufacturing allowing more and more mothers to stay home while supplementing the family income.
Organic Caboose wherever possible we offer products which support local artisans and communities. Many Organic Caboose® products are 100% grown and sewn in the USA.
All Organic Caboose® products are cruelty-free. We use no animal ingredients or synthetic preservatives. We do not test our products on animals.
Organic Caboose® respects the world in which we live. Organic living helps to protect and sustain our world by protecting our drinking water, our health, wildlife, sea life and plant life. We desire to surpass all standards and achieve a safer, healthier future through organic living. Organic...
...is the soft and pure choice for baby, naturally.
Why is Mommy's Touch such a good choice for diapering?
Reasons why Mommy’s touch is better:
Environmental: In our society today it seems as though there is a movement to make everything we use disposable so that it is more "convenient". We have disposable plates, cups, silverware, napkins, towels, bibs, gloves, washcloths, diapers, wipes, and list goes on. The downside of this is that our landfills are growing at unprecedented speed. Where as people used to purchase things that lasted and when they tired of them many times they passed them on to the poor of society, now we just throw everything away. We at Mommy's Touch feel that using cloth can not only help our environment by putting less waste in the landfills but we can also help others by passing down to those who can not afford to purchase themselves, which in turn prevents even more waste. A study in the UK by the Women's Environmental Network (WEN) in 1991 found that disposable diapers use “20 times more raw materials, 3 times more energy, 2 times more water and generate 6 times more solid waste” than do cloth diapers.
Convenience: What mother has never had to run to the store at the last minuet to purchase diapers because she was running out? With cloth diapers all a mother has to do is start her washing machine and then dryer and Viola fresh diapers ready for baby!
Comfort: If plastic underwear were so comfortable we would all wear them! Everyone that goes shopping for their baby purchases clothing that is soft and cuddly, yet when diapers are purchased most people purchase a paper plastic combo to put on the most sensitive part of their baby's body, without a though about comfort! Also with Mommy's Touch custom milled Micro fleece the baby stays feeling dry without all those chemicals and drying gels, experiencing less diaper rash. Now that is what I call comfort.
Fashion: Face it, if disposable diapers were so pretty to look at baby's clothing would not be sold with a diaper cover. If you have ever seen a toddler playing in a disposable diaper you know how ugly those diapers can look after just a little while. In contrast Mommy's Touch diapers with their stain resistant outer fabric are so cute you hate to cover them up. Most moms just choose a diaper that matches the current outfit and they are ready to go.
