Thank God for this video! I can't believe how reassuring this is for our budget! The whole cloth diapering thing was so overwhelming until I found your video!!
Love that you share such great tips on upcycling old materials too. The #1 statement I hear when sharing the love of cloth diapers is "they are expensive". Yes that is true they can be but don't have to be. I will be sharing this in our local cloth diapering group. Thanks for ALL of your time and knowledge. You inspired me to get a sewing machine and learn to sew. Thank you
No cover over the fleece. It repels moisture so I it helps keep it in the cotton part inside the diaper. You can't leave it on all day but I usually take no more than 2 hours to change my kids' diapers. If the soaker pad inside is too wet and they sit down it will seep through the fleece.
Yes, it is polyester fleece. And for the pattern I tweaked the Rita's Rump Pocket pattern (do a google search for it...) to fit my baby and my style. It's a great pattern to start with.
I put them in the washing machine with some homemade laundry soap and either machine or hang them out to dry. I have used fleece for the outside with no problems. If you use cotton for the outside they'll need to ear it with a wool soaker or a diaper cover over it because cotton won't contain the moisture.
@Calligenia I never had to use any butt cream. My baby never got diaper rashes. I would ask your pediatrician to see what they recommend. I made sure to wash him and change him frequently. For detergents you can make your own like I did, or use a baby detergent to wash. The only thing I recommend is that you NOT use fabric softener on cloth diapers because it affects their absorbancy. Hope this helps.
Mahalo! This finally put all the pieces together for me~I'm super encouraged to put some together now! Your approach was very easy to understand and not intimidating at all~I appreciate you taking the time to make this. :o)
@lishahomemaker Yes, it's made of fleece. Fleece doesn't absorb moisture so when it's up against the baby's skin on the inside it allows the moisture to seep through it down into the pocket layer where you put whatever absorbent material you plan to use. This keeps the baby's skin dry but send the wetness down into the middle layer. Hope this helps.
@FMK1984 Thanks! If the sheets are 100% cotton then technically you would be able to use them. My only concern is that sheets are generally so thin that you would need A LOT of layers in there to make it absorbent. But it definitely can't hurt. I would try it out and use like 5-8 layers to try and see how absorbent it actually is and go from there. Remember NOT to use fabric softener on any of your soakers or it will affect the absorbency. Have fun!
Awesome thank you we have a grandson and maybe another one coming and my daughter has those cloth diaper and you tutorial was so fantastic to follow thank you for your precious time regards Lyn :)
I purchased Babyland cloth diapers from Ebay for really cheap (about $3 a piece) I purchased Babyland inserts separately at around $2 a piece but they take FOREVER to dry. Thankfully I only ordered 6 inserts. I have since been using the microfiber towels I bought several years ago from Family Dollar. Folded over in thirds it fits the diapr perfectly from front to back, is 6 layers of microfiber protection, open to dry faster than the inserts and were about $1 a piece. Can't beat it really.
@dannapearsall I didn't have a problem with the yellow ones we got but for any fabric that bleeds you may want to wash it a few times (or until it stops bleeding) in hot water before putting them to use to get rid of the excess dye. Hope that helps. :o/
@sheelea05 If they are just cotton I do. But the ones that have fleece on the outer layer don't require it unless you let them go hours without changing them, which I don't. I even use them overnight with no problems. :o)
Yes.. I don't have a video on homemade detergent yet but I do have a video on how I make cold process soap. I then take that soap and grate it and mix it with washing soda and 20 mule team borax. To view the video on soapmaking do a search for How to Make Soap from Scratch. Thanks.
@LoseWeightToday No, but they are water repellant on the outer layer so unless the baby is completely soaked and you haven't changed him/her in over 2 hours then the moisture will pass through. I change my kids every 1-2 hours at the most.
@michellenn93 haha.. I know what you mean. You just have to experiment a lot at first. There are so many options, techniques and styles of diapers it's super overwhelming!! Just make sure the microfiber is never touching the babies skin. It's so absorbent that it will dry out their skin. I always try to have either a cotton knit or light wicking fleece on their skin. Hope that helps. :o)
Awesome, thank you. I think I posted the same question on your blog. Sorry.. I got excited and wasn't thinking how annoying a repeat question might be. :)
@sahinkle44 Microfiber dries super fast. They dry on the line just fine. The sun actually serves as a stain fighter on the diapers themselves. Have fun.
@31janicke I do not recommend regular Velcro for cloth diapers. You will see that in a short period of time it will lose it's stickiness and will easily start to rip open as baby becomes more mobile. In the cloth diapering world we use either Aplix or TouchTape which are hook and loop brands that are used in CD because they hold up to the wear and tear of washing and drying cloth diapers over and over again. I no longer use hook and loop. I prefer snaps so I won't be able to make a video.
@46kellen Yea... you do. I do it right over the washing machine and dump it all in together. If the baby is exclusively breastfed you can dump it in the wash poop and all. It all rinses right out. Once you are feeding them solids then I would do it in the toilet and toss them in a bin to transport all to the washer. Hope that helps. :o)
@wahineokeakua If flannel is the outer fabric on the diaper you will need a diaper cover that is waterproof or water repellant. If there is no Joann's on the island then maybe you can go to their website. They recently started selling PUL and you could always buy it with a 40% or 50% off coupon they email to customers who subscribe to their online newsletters. There are also other online sources for buying PUL that will ship to all 50 states. Hope that helps.
@sweetangelnpali No. But remember that the fleece is NOT waterproof. It is just moisture retardant. So, if you leave the diaper on the baby for say, 4 hours.. you will have a mess on your hands. I change my kids every 1-2 hours and never had a problem. Hope that helps.
I have been looking into doing cloth diapers for my now 2 year old who has suddenly become very sensitive on his bottom to the diapers that he uses. Plus he is a HEAVY wetter at night. And also looking at it for out 10 month old daughter who regular diapers don't fit all that well. She has a small waist but thick thighs. Thank you so much for this video!
I could have used this info many years ago! Back then I bought used diapers from a diaper service. They were about 10% the cost of new ones and lasted >2 years.
@mylieblue I've never tried it but the forums I have been on people say its not good to use because even though it is absorbent, it also squeezes the moisture right back out easily.. like when the kids sit down, etc. Try it and see if it works for you. :o)
hi Vanessa, love your video will definitely be doing this when we have our next child. i was wondering the nappies you showed, do you have a tutorial on how to make them. thank you for all your videos they are really helpful and have inspired me to find more ways to cut down expenses x take care x
What about using Shamwow for the super absorbent part?? You can buy it at Walmart, it's cheap and you can easily cut it up in different pieces and in the size(s) that you want... It absorbs I don't know how many times it's own weight (so that means that you would need just a thin layer of it - plus the white cotton lining you usually use with super absorbent fabrics)...
Mine don't...but I change my kids at the most every 2 hours. The fleece IS NOT waterproof but it does repel water. If the insert gets soaked enough and the baby sits down or puts weight on it it will leak. In my opinion, fleece plus a cover would be too hot for comfort.
Very interesting video. For the fleece diaper, does it require a plastic cover or rubber pants? Just learning about this new way of cloth diapering for my future grand children. Thanks.
Hello Vanessa, do you have a pattern for the cloth diapers you showed? Could you possibly show us how? I have a 2 year old sister and we are thinking about changing from disposable diapers to cloth. Thank you so much for your help and inspiring my family.
@TheCraftyGemini Ah sorry! I hadn't thought about that... It's true that it's easy to squeeze liquids out of Shamwow... I can't try it coz I don't have any kid in diaper... My only kid is almost 16... I was watching this video coz I find your videos interesting... They're full of tips and tricks and I love learning about everything... You never know when it'll be useful to somebody I know ;)
Can you make a video on how to replace the hook and loop on a cloth diaper? I have a few diapers that the hook and loop is not working like it should and I bought some Velcro at Walmart but have no idea how to begin. Thanks!
DivineSpiceLab I know your comment is a year old but i make my own pads and yes the same can be done for them. They work great (yes i'm aware i'm on my dogs page instead of my own).
@Lesha3721 Cloth diapering is a great way to go! If you decide not to make any of your own you should check out Jack Be Natural. This is a great store with great cloth diapers. They even have brands that are only 9-10 dollars each. Chack out their Facebook fan page too as there are TONS of cloth diapering moms answering questions all day long. I'm sure you would find some great information over there as well. Congrats on baby #2! :) --Rachel
I used the same microfiber towels from Sam's, but I ran into a huge issue. I bought the green ones, and even after washing a few times, the color bled onto everything!! Do you have any suggestions to keep the color from bleeding onto my diapers and other microfiber inserts?
@TheCraftyGemini Ok~quick question. If I made my own flannel cover with the microfleece soaker, would I actually need another cover of sorts? Sorry to sound so inept, but I'm looking to keep it trim yet absorbent. PUL is NO WHERE to be found on this island! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I remember thinking that same thing when I first started researching cloth diapers. Look up WETBAGS. Typically they are a zippered bag that contains the same water resistant material that a cloth diaper cover uses. They do a great job of holding in smells and moisture. I used planet wise that I bought from Sweet Bottoms Baby Boutique here online but you most certainly could make some too.
Can I use cotton material for the outer layer and inner layer and then stuff the microfiber towel in between? Would this be absorbent enough? I dont like the way PUL fabric feels and cant figure out what to use for the outer and inner layer and what to stuff the diaper with.
Katelynn Pierson You don't want a cotton outer part because it will pull the liquid all the way out to the clothes. Fleece works great for the outer part. It doesn't make it water proof, it breaths, and works great. The inner portion can be cotton, having an absorbent layer right against the baby such as cotton works great, but make sure you have 2 layers of cotton between the baby and microfiber towels.
Vanessa these are so cute, makes me want to have another baby. Lol NOT but it was fun watching a video of you that's 7 years old lol No more kids for me thank you! Lol What's wrong with the OLD STYLE diaper and rubber pants. Didn't you like very thing leaking out. Lol Don't you still have to shake the poop off in the toilet and rinse the diaper off as you flush???
I love all your videos I'm a teen mom on a buget and it would be extremely helpful if you could make a tutorial on how you make your diapers
Thank God for this video! I can't believe how reassuring this is for our budget! The whole cloth diapering thing was so overwhelming until I found your video!!
U ARE GENIUS!!!!!! Where have u been for the last year of my life. Thank goodness I found all video's before baby #3 comes.
Love that you share such great tips on upcycling old materials too. The #1 statement I hear when sharing the love of cloth diapers is "they are expensive". Yes that is true they can be but don't have to be. I will be sharing this in our local cloth diapering group. Thanks for ALL of your time and knowledge. You inspired me to get a sewing machine and learn to sew. Thank you
No cover over the fleece. It repels moisture so I it helps keep it in the cotton part inside the diaper. You can't leave it on all day but I usually take no more than 2 hours to change my kids' diapers. If the soaker pad inside is too wet and they sit down it will seep through the fleece.
Yes, it is polyester fleece. And for the pattern I tweaked the Rita's Rump Pocket pattern (do a google search for it...) to fit my baby and my style. It's a great pattern to start with.
I put them in the washing machine with some homemade laundry soap and either machine or hang them out to dry. I have used fleece for the outside with no problems. If you use cotton for the outside they'll need to ear it with a wool soaker or a diaper cover over it because cotton won't contain the moisture.
@Calligenia I never had to use any butt cream. My baby never got diaper rashes. I would ask your pediatrician to see what they recommend. I made sure to wash him and change him frequently. For detergents you can make your own like I did, or use a baby detergent to wash. The only thing I recommend is that you NOT use fabric softener on cloth diapers because it affects their absorbancy. Hope this helps.
Mahalo! This finally put all the pieces together for me~I'm super encouraged to put some together now! Your approach was very easy to understand and not intimidating at all~I appreciate you taking the time to make this. :o)
@lishahomemaker Yes, it's made of fleece. Fleece doesn't absorb moisture so when it's up against the baby's skin on the inside it allows the moisture to seep through it down into the pocket layer where you put whatever absorbent material you plan to use. This keeps the baby's skin dry but send the wetness down into the middle layer. Hope this helps.
@FMK1984 Thanks! If the sheets are 100% cotton then technically you would be able to use them. My only concern is that sheets are generally so thin that you would need A LOT of layers in there to make it absorbent. But it definitely can't hurt. I would try it out and use like 5-8 layers to try and see how absorbent it actually is and go from there. Remember NOT to use fabric softener on any of your soakers or it will affect the absorbency. Have fun!
Thanks. I'm glad to help. You should do a search for free cloth diaper tutorials. There are a lot on the internet... I don't have one up currently.
Awesome thank you we have a grandson and maybe another one coming and my daughter has those cloth diaper and you tutorial was so fantastic to follow thank you for your precious time regards Lyn :)
I purchased Babyland cloth diapers from Ebay for really cheap (about $3 a piece) I purchased Babyland inserts separately at around $2 a piece but they take FOREVER to dry. Thankfully I only ordered 6 inserts. I have since been using the microfiber towels I bought several years ago from Family Dollar. Folded over in thirds it fits the diapr perfectly from front to back, is 6 layers of microfiber protection, open to dry faster than the inserts and were about $1 a piece. Can't beat it really.
@dannapearsall I didn't have a problem with the yellow ones we got but for any fabric that bleeds you may want to wash it a few times (or until it stops bleeding) in hot water before putting them to use to get rid of the excess dye. Hope that helps. :o/
@sheelea05 If they are just cotton I do. But the ones that have fleece on the outer layer don't require it unless you let them go hours without changing them, which I don't. I even use them overnight with no problems. :o)
Yes.. I don't have a video on homemade detergent yet but I do have a video on how I make cold process soap. I then take that soap and grate it and mix it with washing soda and 20 mule team borax. To view the video on soapmaking do a search for How to Make Soap from Scratch. Thanks.
@LoseWeightToday No, but they are water repellant on the outer layer so unless the baby is completely soaked and you haven't changed him/her in over 2 hours then the moisture will pass through. I change my kids every 1-2 hours at the most.
I love your thrifty, money saving ideas!! THANKS!
@michellenn93 haha.. I know what you mean. You just have to experiment a lot at first. There are so many options, techniques and styles of diapers it's super overwhelming!! Just make sure the microfiber is never touching the babies skin. It's so absorbent that it will dry out their skin. I always try to have either a cotton knit or light wicking fleece on their skin. Hope that helps. :o)
Awesome, thank you. I think I posted the same question on your blog. Sorry.. I got excited and wasn't thinking how annoying a repeat question might be. :)
@SaffySioux No problem! I'm all about saving $. Every penny counts especially these days!
@sahinkle44 Microfiber dries super fast. They dry on the line just fine. The sun actually serves as a stain fighter on the diapers themselves. Have fun.
@31janicke I do not recommend regular Velcro for cloth diapers. You will see that in a short period of time it will lose it's stickiness and will easily start to rip open as baby becomes more mobile. In the cloth diapering world we use either Aplix or TouchTape which are hook and loop brands that are used in CD because they hold up to the wear and tear of washing and drying cloth diapers over and over again. I no longer use hook and loop. I prefer snaps so I won't be able to make a video.
@46kellen Yea... you do. I do it right over the washing machine and dump it all in together. If the baby is exclusively breastfed you can dump it in the wash poop and all. It all rinses right out. Once you are feeding them solids then I would do it in the toilet and toss them in a bin to transport all to the washer. Hope that helps. :o)
This was so helpful for me. I am getting a set of gDiapers, but want to add some pocket diapers to my stash.
@Lesha3721 Yay! Glad I could help. I have cloth diapers on my list of tutorials to do so look out for that sometime soon I hope! :o)
I love your video ,It helped me and my daughter a lot!!!
@MsMunekiita I tweaked the RRP pattern. You can do a search for it.. It's a free pattern that many CDing moms adjust to fit their baby's body.
@wahineokeakua If flannel is the outer fabric on the diaper you will need a diaper cover that is waterproof or water repellant. If there is no Joann's on the island then maybe you can go to their website. They recently started selling PUL and you could always buy it with a 40% or 50% off coupon they email to customers who subscribe to their online newsletters. There are also other online sources for buying PUL that will ship to all 50 states. Hope that helps.
@sweetangelnpali No. But remember that the fleece is NOT waterproof. It is just moisture retardant. So, if you leave the diaper on the baby for say, 4 hours.. you will have a mess on your hands. I change my kids every 1-2 hours and never had a problem. Hope that helps.
I have been looking into doing cloth diapers for my now 2 year old who has suddenly become very sensitive on his bottom to the diapers that he uses. Plus he is a HEAVY wetter at night. And also looking at it for out 10 month old daughter who regular diapers don't fit all that well. She has a small waist but thick thighs. Thank you so much for this video!
I could have used this info many years ago! Back then I bought used diapers from a diaper service. They were about 10% the cost of new ones and lasted >2 years.
Thanks! Im new to Cd'ng and need all the helo I can get! Your video was very informative!
Never tried it.. I don't know...give it a try. I bought mine at Joanns.
@bluegemini24 I used to think the same thing too... but have never had a problem with it on my kids.
@mylieblue I've never tried it but the forums I have been on people say its not good to use because even though it is absorbent, it also squeezes the moisture right back out easily.. like when the kids sit down, etc. Try it and see if it works for you. :o)
hi Vanessa, love your video will definitely be doing this when we have our next child. i was wondering the nappies you showed, do you have a tutorial on how to make them. thank you for all your videos they are really helpful and have inspired me to find more ways to cut down expenses x take care x
One of my favorites of your vids.
What about using Shamwow for the super absorbent part?? You can buy it at Walmart, it's cheap and you can easily cut it up in different pieces and in the size(s) that you want... It absorbs I don't know how many times it's own weight (so that means that you would need just a thin layer of it - plus the white cotton lining you usually use with super absorbent fabrics)...
@wahineokeakua Mahalo! No problem! Glad I could help! :o) (Haven't been to Hawaii in over 10 years but I love it! )
Mine don't...but I change my kids at the most every 2 hours. The fleece IS NOT waterproof but it does repel water. If the insert gets soaked enough and the baby sits down or puts weight on it it will leak. In my opinion, fleece plus a cover would be too hot for comfort.
@valash9492 I will add your suggestion to my list of videos to do. Thanks! :o)
@mrsed10 I use the same Blizzard or Anti-pill Fleece that I buy at Joann's for all my CDs.
I would love to know how to make the diaper. My seven year old still has wetting issues at bed time. This would save me tons on big kid diapers:)
Make sure you keep all your prefolds when your done with them you will love them for dusting and cleaning rags
Very interesting video. For the fleece diaper, does it require a plastic cover or rubber pants? Just learning about this new way of cloth diapering for my future grand children. Thanks.
Sure then it will work if you can dry them faster that way.
@sweetangelnpali No problem. Glad to help. :o)
@RebLin51 Thank you for the great tip! Glad you enjoy my tutorials. :o)
Hello Vanessa, do you have a pattern for the cloth diapers you showed? Could you possibly show us how? I have a 2 year old sister and we are thinking about changing from disposable diapers to cloth. Thank you so much for your help and inspiring my family.
Nice intro , I liked that 👌👌👌
@SARAHYHWH estoy trabajando en el patron todavia. Unos de estos dias lo terminare. :o)
@mamacronk Awesome! Thanks! I'm due in Sept, too! This is baby #2 for me.. a girl! Glad you are CDing! :o)
@Rosalizsolano Thanks! :o)
omg you are so talented i love your work You ROCK GIRL =)
@TheCraftyGemini Ah sorry! I hadn't thought about that... It's true that it's easy to squeeze liquids out of Shamwow... I can't try it coz I don't have any kid in diaper... My only kid is almost 16... I was watching this video coz I find your videos interesting... They're full of tips and tricks and I love learning about everything... You never know when it'll be useful to somebody I know ;)
@nld410 Ha! I don't know about all that.. but I do like to save money. :o)
Can you make a video on how to replace the hook and loop on a cloth diaper? I have a few diapers that the hook and loop is not working like it should and I bought some Velcro at Walmart but have no idea how to begin. Thanks!
great ideas! I am not sure however how you rinse out the poopie parts when it is ready to wash. Do you have to reach in and pull out the inner liner?
You can definitely do that but it will take forever to dry whether in the dryer or outside. :o)
great tips!!!
I am usually wearing panties over the diaper. It helps a lot to prevent diaper from pulling off :)
thank you ill be going to my local goodwill and making some
I'm curious what kind of Butt cream do you suggest for use with the pocket fleece diapers? Also, what detergents do you use to wash?
can this same idea be used as women pads? can you make a tutorial on how please..
DivineSpiceLab I know your comment is a year old but i make my own pads and yes the same can be done for them. They work great (yes i'm aware i'm on my dogs page instead of my own).
@Lesha3721 Cloth diapering is a great way to go! If you decide not to make any of your own you should check out Jack Be Natural. This is a great store with great cloth diapers. They even have brands that are only 9-10 dollars each. Chack out their Facebook fan page too as there are TONS of cloth diapering moms answering questions all day long. I'm sure you would find some great information over there as well. Congrats on baby #2! :) --Rachel
I used the same microfiber towels from Sam's, but I ran into a huge issue. I bought the green ones, and even after washing a few times, the color bled onto everything!! Do you have any suggestions to keep the color from bleeding onto my diapers and other microfiber inserts?
Can you please make a DIY cloth diaper tutorial... I'm on a budget and I would love to learn how to make cloth diapers for when my baby's born..
I have a video idea.. :-) How about a video on your beautiful hair, how you take care of it..What products you use and such..
Great Very informative.
@TheCraftyGemini
Ok~quick question. If I made my own flannel cover with the microfleece soaker, would I actually need another cover of sorts? Sorry to sound so inept, but I'm looking to keep it trim yet absorbent. PUL is NO WHERE to be found on this island! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
what do you think about using the mico fiber and sewing a layer of flannel type material over it to use as a insert/
receiving blankets are great for a small budget.
Where can you get those? I have a hobby lobby near me, and they have polar fleece. Is that the same? Do you think it would work? Thanks!
My question is when you change them do you wash the whole diaper or just change the inside "soaker pad" ?
Before I saw your vid, I actually tok my sweater to make some inserts! great minds egh? lol.
wow you make homeade soap, do you have a video on that?
Does the fleece pocket diaper need a cover? Maybe I haven't gotten to it yet...
i wanted to ask so the fleece fab you dont need a cover for ?
What kind of fleece did you use for the inner part of your pocket diaper?
either anti-pill or blizzard fleece...
Thank youuuuu!!! I have a question? How do you take care/clean of a dirty cloth diaper in public? Thank you
I remember thinking that same thing when I first started researching cloth diapers. Look up WETBAGS. Typically they are a zippered bag that contains the same water resistant material that a cloth diaper cover uses. They do a great job of holding in smells and moisture. I used planet wise that I bought from Sweet Bottoms Baby Boutique here online but you most certainly could make some too.
@emilyrebekah1 Great! I've heard great things about gDiapers but never tried them myself. Have fun! :o)
Glad to help! :o0
It's pretty overwhelming all the info that is out there! I spent my entire pregnancy learning and still didn't know half of what's out there. :o/
@kissycastaneda Thanks! :o)
hehe... yea! Way to go. :o)
Good job thanks!
What pattern did you use to make your CD's?
Do you use rubber pants over your homemade cloth diapers?
can i use t shirt material for inner or outer?
Hola me puedes enseñar como se hacen los pañales paso a paso te lo agradeceria mucho
Wow, you're great!
thanks helped alot :)
Can I use cotton material for the outer layer and inner layer and then stuff the microfiber towel in between? Would this be absorbent enough? I dont like the way PUL fabric feels and cant figure out what to use for the outer and inner layer and what to stuff the diaper with.
Katelynn Pierson You don't want a cotton outer part because it will pull the liquid all the way out to the clothes. Fleece works great for the outer part. It doesn't make it water proof, it breaths, and works great.
The inner portion can be cotton, having an absorbent layer right against the baby such as cotton works great, but make sure you have 2 layers of cotton between the baby and microfiber towels.
GENIUS.
Vanessa these are so cute, makes me want to have another baby. Lol NOT
but it was fun watching a video of you that's 7 years old lol
No more kids for me thank you! Lol
What's wrong with the OLD STYLE diaper and rubber pants. Didn't you like very thing leaking out. Lol
Don't you still have to shake the poop off in the toilet and rinse the diaper off as you flush???
You are a genius, :)
these are not waterproof right?