Cloth Diapers
Copyright 2001 by
Michelle Jones
When I gave birth to our first child, my husband and I were flat broke. It's that simple. Not only did we use cloth diapers, but I made my own diaper wipes as well. We saved a small fortune by doing these two things, and it's not as hard as you might think.
The best cloth diapers to use are the ones that are pre-folded; they have thick padding in the middle and work great. You'll need about 4-dozen, though you could get by on less. The plastic pants are nice to use, but try not to use them all the time. They keep the moisture in a little too well, and can lead to diaper rash. It's important to change the cloth diapers often; they are not as absorbent as those expensive disposable ones.
Diaper liners are available in the store as well, but I found these to be a waste of money. I purchased one package and never even used half of them. If you're using the pre-folded cloth diapers, they will be thick enough to keep everything in. But if you are using the thinner, unfolded variety, you might want to invest in the liners and give them a try. Sometimes, if anticipating a possible leak, I would use a single thin diaper, folded up inside of the pre-folded one.
Use a large plastic container, with an airtight lid, to store the soiled diapers until you are ready to wash them. Washing them every other day should be plenty enough; depending on how many diapers your baby goes through. Rinse the dirtier ones in the toilet before placing them in the container. Do this by holding one end of the diaper above the water line, swishing the cloth around until the soil is released into the water. You may have to flush the toilet once and repeat this step, just be sure not to let go of the diaper.
When you are ready to wash your container of diapers, wash them in hot water with your choice of detergent. Tide is great, but if your baby has sensitive skin you might try switching to a milder detergent. Add a little bleach to the water as well, soaking the diapers for a while if they are badly soiled. Don't soak them in the bleach water too long though, or this will break down the fibers in the cloth and cause them to tear.
This was my favorite part. Every time I made a batch of home made diaper wipes I was just a little more proud of myself for being so frugal. They do not take long to make, and at a cost of 50 cents a box, you'll be able to take a small vacation with all the money you'll save, or at least a nice dinner out and a movie too. Here's the recipe:
Each roll of paper towels will make two boxes of wipes. You also have two options for the style of diaper wipes to make. You can either cut the roll of paper towels in half; leaving them in a roll, or you can tear apart the towels and fold them to fit into the box. The later was my preferred choice. After you place your towels into the empty box, mix the remaining ingredients in a measuring cup. Slowly pour the liquid over the towels, making sure to cover them evenly.
If you have chosen the folded method, place half of the towels in the box and pour in half of the liquid. Then add remaining towels and remaining liquid on top of them. If you have chosen the rolled method, be sure to remove the cardboard from the middle. After the towels have set for a short while, they will absorb the liquid evenly and will keep for several weeks.
More than anything else enjoy that precious little baby; they grow up so fast. Sing songs and nursery rhymes while changing those diapers; make the most of every moment you have together. Babies are a precious gift from God, and every new day is another blessing.