Diaper Tip #3 Make your own Natural Wipe Solution Recipe

Lots of moms choose to make their own wipes and wipe solition at home. A friend recently contacted me and asked for my wipe solution recipe, this reminded me that I had been meaning to share it with you all:

Wipe solution is very simple to make; play around with the ingredients to find your own special recipe. Here's mine, (it is great for keeping yeast diaper rashes away):

3 Cups water (use boiled or distilled to make your solution last longer)

1/4 Cup Olive Oil (very good for skin health)

1-2 drops tea tree oil (anti-fungal, it does have a strong woody scent, but we like it)

3-4 drops lavendar oil (also has anti-fungal properties and smells great)

1 small squirt of aveeno baby wash (optional, for extra cleansing)

I make this in weekly batches for my diaper service clients. This wash can be used with cloth wipes, or home made cloth or disposable wipes.

Diaper Tip #2 How to Make Cloth Wipes

My home made wipes with ribbed cotton on one side and flannel on the otherThere really isn't much to say here except... get out your sewing maching and give it a try. Here are a few helpful tips:

- Try a soft flannel, or cotton terry (I like to have something like terry on one side and flannel on the other making once side really soft and other other side a little scrubbier)

- Fleece doesn't work very well in my opinion- too slippery when wet.

- If you are going for cute colors, be sure to check your fabric for color fastness- the last thing you want is a purple-dyed baby bottom!

- Pre-wash and shrink your fabric before sewing, unlike cloth diapers, which you want to quilt up, you want wipes to lay flat.

- 7x7 or 8x8 is a nice size for the average diaper change.

* You can also make disposable wipes by cutting paper towels (look for softer, thicker brands like Viva)  in half lengthwise and folding in half again. These work well for the diaper bag and outings.

SUPERSAVER TIP! Do you find yourself with dozens more receiving blankets than you need? These are the classic 'welcome baby' gift that everyone gives and every mom ends up wondering 'what am i going to do with all of these?' Cut them up and make them into baby wipes. They're soft, preshrunk, won't bleed ink and best of all- FREE!

Cloth Diaper Tip #1

Cloth Diaper Tip for the Day

With the economy as it is many families are looking for cheaper cloth diapering methods, but want something with the simplicity of All In One Diapers. Easy enough! You can create this same level of simplicity with just a bit of post-laundry preparation with simple prefold diapers and cloth diaper wraps.

AIOs are convenient because parents or caregivers can simply grab them and go - without gathering up a cloth diaper, diaper pins, snappi fastener, diaper cover, etc…., right? With a little bit of pre-planning, and a few extra less expensive cloth diaper wraps, you can give yourself the same convenience.

All you need to do is pre-line your diaper covers with prefold diapers straight from the washer and dryer (or line), getting them ready for a quick grab, quick trip, quick diaper change, or for that babysitter or grandparent watching your baby.

Think about it…

Even if you had to purchase one cloth diaper wrap for each of your prefold diapers (which you don’t - the ratio is more like 1 to 3) is still less than the cost of stocking up your cloth diaper stash with All In Ones or Pocket Diapers.

Prefold diapers offer more absorbency right where it’s needed, and because prefolds aren’t permanently sewn between two layers (one being waterproof), it is argued they can be washed more thoroughly.

We think our Prefold Diapers at the Diaper Shop are thicker, softer and more absorbent than the prefolds you can find in your local baby superstore, not only that, but they are cut to fit your cloth diaper wrap perfectly without additional folding down in the front or back.

Prefold diapers laid inside cloth diaper wraps, you will find, are the most economical choice for cloth diapering, especially since they have more than one use; a diaper, a lap pad or burp cloth, a doubler, a pocket diaper insert, and later - when they are worn thin and ragged - you can recycle them as cleaning rags, dust rags, or tossed out in the garage scraps for drying off a freshly washed car.

Wash my own diapers... you've gotta be nuts!

Actually it's not that hard... here's how

We've been washing diapers at home for over 5 years now... the result? Healthy bottoms, faster potty training, more money in our wallets and less strain on the environment.... ditch the disposables!

Wondering how many diapers you'll need to buy to was at home?

Are You Ready for Some Cloth Diaper Math?

Diaper changes times laundry. More diapers, wash less often. Cloth baby diaper math is that simple.

(# of diaper changes per day)
x
(# of days between washing)
__________________________
(# of diapers you need)

More diapers, wash less often

If you change your newborn baby’s diaper 12 times a day, but you only wash twice a week, you need 3-4 dozen diapers. This may be more diapers than you need. If you schedule more washing into your busy life with a newborn, you will only need about 2 dozen cloth diapers.

age	changes / day	washing	# diapers you need
newborn baby	12	2 times / wk	36 - 48
newborn baby	12	every 2 days	24

Fewer diapers, wash more often

Once your baby is a bit older, you won’t be changing diapers quite as often. For a crawling baby, 8 changes a day may mean fewer washes for you.

age	changes / day	washing	# diapers you need
crawling baby	8	2 times / wk	24 - 32
crawling baby	8	every 2 days	16 + extras

Very few diapers, wash every day

You can just make cloth diaper washing part of your daily routine. When you wash every day, you need far fewer diapers.

age	changes / day	washing	# diapers you need
newborn baby	12	every day	12 + extras
first steps baby	6	every day	6 + extras

Toddlers need fewer changes

Once your baby is talking, you may hear, “Diaper! Diaper!” Your baby will let you know when it is time to change. A toddler may even tell you before it is time. It’s time for potty training! Even when your toddler tries to get to the toilet each time, you will likely continue to change diapers for a while.

age	changes / day	washing	# diapers you need
toddler	4	2 times / wk	12 - 16