How to prolong/ lengthen the life of your Baby Cloth Diapers/ Nappies?

The purpose of us using cloth diapers is so that we can save money.  Of course, the ideal world is for the baby to use from newborn through potty training and then, if they have other sibblings for the sibblings to use as well. Actually, this is how my mama managed to prolong our prefolds for 3 of us.


Here are some of the ways where you can think of to try to prolong the life of the cloth diapers:

• Do not use bleach, I know that there are some brands of cloth diaper tells their customer to use just a little of bleach but we think that in order to prolong the life of your cloth diaper, it is best to not use bleach.  Baking soda and vinegar is definitely a good substitute to whithen your cloth diapers.
• Do not use fabric softener!  I guess all CD moms and manufacturer say that this is a big NO NO.  The reason is because the chemicals in the fabric softener will cause the diapers to lose its absorbency.  Also, if there is microfleece inside the diaper, it will repel moisture when rinsed in fabric softener.  Most diapers now are made out of PUL outside, and causes the PUL to break down faster causing wicking to occur.
• Line dry your diapers.  I guess for those CD moms who lives in tropical countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, etc, it is ok for them since it is hot and humid all year round.  Therefore, it is perfect for them but not for countries with 4 seasons, it's just hard.  I do have customers that tells me that I live in Maine, I cannot line dry my diapers but you can still hang dry them overnight or just partially dry them in the dryer and hang dry them?  For example, my own clothes, I never do put them in the dryer but I hang them in the laundry room.  The room is so hot when the dryer is turned on, it is perfect to hang your diapers there.
• Maybe try not to use Dreft?  A lot of people think that Dreft is a detergent for baby but a lot of CD mom advise us not to use Dreft for baby cloth diapers.  Some say that Dreft is not ideal as Dreft contains scents, enzymes and brighteners.  According to most of them, Dreft contains softener, which is not good for diapers.  I think the best thing is to try out to ensure that it works for you and your cloth diapers.

Of course, there are many more things we need to do to prolong the life of your cloth diapers.  Share with us so that we can share it with other cloth diaper parents!

Cloth Diaper 101 : Are you ready? Is Cloth Diapering for you?

Occasionally, I do get questions from first time cloth diaper mom, unsure about whether cloth diapering is for them or not.  I hope this will help some of clarify some of their doubts.  Please note that this is just from my personal advise as well as close friends.

Why I choose to cloth diaper?  First of all, I grew up in them, so, I
already had a feel when I was a little girl.  Of course, 30 years ago, the
cloth diapers were nothing like what we have today.  It is not as convenient as what we have today.

So, you are considering Cloth Diapering but not sure if it is for you or not.  But before you move on further, maybe you should ask yourself why are you considering cloth diapering?  Is it because of cost, your baby's health condition, you are worried about environment or do you like your baby to have a cute diaper? 

Though, it is definitely not easy, I have to admit myself.  It could be frustrating at first.  At least for us, the first time wasn't the best.  But after trying out a few system, we found the best for us and that's how we came out with the BubuBibi Cloth Diapers.  Different things works for different people.  Different people have different preferences and likes of dislikes.  I personally think that it is best to try several types to see which one works best for you. 

1. What system to use?
   There are many different types of cloth diaper system out there. 
   
   (Yes... there are many out there!) 
   Types of Cloth Diapers:
   Fitted Diaper - A fitted diaper is shaped to fit the baby and typically uses velcro or snaps as a closure. It closely resembles disposable diapers. They are contoured and fitted with elastics around the legs and back. This type of diaper requires a cover. Since it requires a cover, some say that it is not as convenient compared to the AIO but the good thing is that it can be washed at high temperatures, separate from covers. Fitted comes in a variety of materials, such as cotton, flannel, bamboo, terry cloth, hemp, bamboo and velour. According to most, fitted diapers are one step up from the prefolds used many years ago.
   
   Pocket Diaper – A pocket diaper is a diaper with a waterproof outer layer (PUL) and an inner layer of a stay dry material such as microfleece, suedecloth or bamboo. They come with a pocket (mostly at the back but some could be at the front), for the absorbent inner layer to be stuffed in the pocket during use and then to be removed for laundering. This makes them really versatile and also less bulky than some other type of cloth diapers. Most say that they are very similar to the AIO or AI2. Good thing about the pocket diaper is that you choose what you want to “stuff” into the pocket so that you can find the right absorbency level. On the other hand, the disadvantage of using the pocket diaper is that it requires a separate stuffer and sometimes, it could be a little too bulky if too many inserts are stuffed.
   
   Pre-Fold – A rectangular of cloth that is thicker in the middle third than on the sides. The pre-folds are most commonly made from cotton. The fabric is folded in the middle so that the middle is more absorbent. The pre-fold can also be used as burp cloth. It can be folded and pinned or snappied into place or simply laid into a waterproof cover. Pre-fold are the cheapest cloth diaper options but it will require a diaper cover. The prefolds require a diaper pin or snappi to close. Some also say that the pre-fold can also be used as inserts or doublers. The advantage of using the pre-fold is that it is very economical, easy to launder and very fast to dry. The down side to it is that it requires a diaper cover or pin/ snappy to work.
   
   Diaper Liners – Diaper liners are added to a diaper next to the child’s skin. Liners are thin layers of cloth or paper that is placed inside the diaper to aid in the cleaning of solid waste. They usually come in a roll or boxes of 100 or 120. It is not used for absorbency but instead as a barrier that allows the transfer of liquids through it. A flushable liner for instance is used to keep solids off the diaper easily. They also helps prevents stains on cloth diapers. Most common fabric liners are made out of silk, micro fleece and flannel but the lately, bamboo has been a hit as well.
   
   AIO – Known as the All-In-One Cloth Diapers. This diaper contains the waterproof outer layer (PUL) and the absorbent middle layer and the stay dry inner layer in one piece. Most say that it is the closest to disposables diapers since it is a one cloth diapering system. The absorbent soaker is sewn onto the diaper.
   
   AI2 – Known as the All-In-Two Cloth Diapers. The AI2s are very similar to the AIOs with the exception that the absorbent soakers are not attached to the diapers all the way. These diapers have a snap in the soaker layer so that it can be detached. The advantage of the AI2s over the AIOs is that the AI2s dries faster since the soaker can dried and wash separately. Some AI2s work more like Pocket diapers.
   
   CPF – Known as the Chinese Pre-fold diapers. These are high quality cotton diapers but most say that it is not as soft as the Indian Pre-fold diapers. They are often choice for embroidery and are very durable. Since they are cotton, you can sometimes find them in a wide variety of colors or tie dye.
   
   IPF – Known as the Indian Pre-fold diapers. These are very similar to the Chinese Pre-fold. They are soft, absorbent cotton pre-fold diapers made in either India or Pakistan.
   
   OS – Known as the One Size cloth diapers. It is a diaper that folds or snaps down to adjust the size to fit newborns all the way to toddlers.
   
   Material Used For Cloth Diapers:
   
   Hemp – The hemp is a fast growing plant that requires few chemicals than cotton. Hemp fiber is one of the strongest and most durable natural textile fibers. Not only is it strong, but it also holds its shape having one of the lowest percent elongation of any natural fiber. As a fabric, hemp provides all the warmth and softness of other natural textiles but with a superior durability seldom found in other materials. Natural organic hemp fiber ‘breathes’ and is biodegradable. Hemp blended with other fibers easily incorporate the desirable qualities of both textiles. When combined with the natural strength of hemp, the soft elasticity of cotton or the smooth texture of silk create a whole new genre of fashion design. While growing hemp is banned in the US due to an uniformed political situation, it was once grown freely in the US for making rope and other materials. Some may wonder if hemp is legal, yes, industrial hemp products such as clothing and food stuffs are completely legal in the U.S. but the cultivation of industrial hemp is not. Hemp is absorbent, durable, natural and has an anti-microbial quality.
   
   Bamboo – Bamboo is a fabric that is pretty popular for cloth diapers. According to most research, bamboo absorbs 3-4 times better than the cotton. They are really soft like silk. Bamboo is known for their antibacterial qualities, from the time they are grown to the process of being manufactured into cloth diapers, they have the natural qualities that repels and eliminate most forms of antibacterial. Bamboo is highly water absorbent. According to research, it is able to take 3 times more water weight. It retains this ability in some extent, pulling the moisture away from the skin so that it can evaporates. Bamboo can be worn all year round. It keeps babies cool during the summer time and warm during winter time. Babies who has sensitive skin or who are allergic to fabrics made from other materials find that they will have no problems with the bamboo. Bamboo has lots of micro holes, it makes breathability superior to that of cotton.
   
   Fleece – There are many different types of fleece but the two main types of fleece used for diapers. The most common one is cotton fleece. Both cotton and hemp fleece is absorbent and is used for the main part of the diaper or for inside soaker layers. Polyester fleece is not absorbent and is used for wicking layers (microfleece) or outer waterproof layers or diaper covers (polar fleece).
   
   Microfiber/ Microfleece – Microfiber is usually made out of 75% polyester and 25% polyamide. Microfleece is usually 100% polyester. Typically used next to baby’s skin to keep the baby feeling dry and even for wet diapers. Though, some people advise not to use microfiber next because it can dry out baby’s skin. One thing good about the microfleece is that it resists staining and most importantly, it does not hold solids like other diaper fabric can.
   
   Cotton – Cotton is a soft, fluffy, staple fiber that grows in a boll around the seeds of the cotton plant. It is a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, Pakistan, India and Africa. The fiber most often is spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft, breathable textile, which is the most widely used natural-fiber cloth in clothing today.
   
   Organic Cotton - Organic cotton is generally understood as cotton, from non genetically modified plants, that is certified to be grown without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides.[1] Its production also promotes and enhances biodiversity and biological cycles. In the United States cotton plantations must also meet the requirements enforced by the National Organic Program (NOP), from the USDA, in order to be considered organic. This institution determines the allowed practices for pest control, growing, fertilizing, and handling of organic crops.
   
   Sherpa – Sherpa is a super soft fabric that is perfect for cuddly diaper and absorbent soakers or inserts. It is made by brushing the loops of the terry cloth to make them even softer. It is soft even after several washes. Most Sherpa has at least some polyester to make it more durable. Sherpa is a favorite for cloth diapers as well as wipes.
   
   Suadecloth – Suadecloth is thinner than microfleece but shares many similarities and therefore makes it perfect for diaper inner lining in some pocket diapers. The moisture goes through the fabric to the soaker pad, allowing baby’s skin to dry longer.
   
   Polar Fleece – According to Wikipedkia, polar fleece is also known as microfleece but typically referred as “fleece”. Polyester fleece that is commonly used for the outer layer of pocket diapers or as a waterproof diaper cover. One of the first forms was Polar Fleece created in 1979 by Malden Mills. Malden fleece is sought after because it is the most reliable anti-pill fleece and it is also the most water resistant. Fleeces differ widely, even from one manufacturer so some fleeces are more water resistant than others. Polar fleece is also used for blankets, outdoor gear and winter wear.
   Yes.... there are tons of different types and materials used for Cloth
   Diapers, I personally prefer the One Size, Pocket Snaps bamboo diapers, at least
   it works perfect for my 2 boys.
    
2. Accessories?
   
   Accessories??? Are these even necessary? What are they?
• Wet Bags These comes really handy especially if you go out with your cloth diapers.  Or if you don't want to use the wet or dry pail, you can just use a wet bag, zip them up till your next diaper wash. The wet bags comes in various different sizes and variety.  Some even comes with the wet/ dry bag, the wet portion to put dirty diapers and the
  dry portion for clean ones!
   
• Biodegradable Flushable Diaper Liners
  Again, this is not a must, it is perfect for mommy who hates dealing with poopy
  diapers.  All you do is to lay this flushable liner on the top and if there
  is a poopy diaper, just throw away the dirty liner but of course, if you have a
  major blow out, you will still get poopy on the cloth diaper but at least... it
  won't be as bad as nothing on it.  Also, we advise to not use rash cream or
  any cream while using cloth diapers but sometimes, you may need to, for example,
  my second son had his circumcision when he was 4 months old and we had to put
  lots of petroleum jelly to help heal, so, the liner was perfect for us.
   
• Diaper Pail Liner
  This could be an alternative to the wet or dry pail.  Sometimes, I even use
  this as a laundry bag, it's big enough for us to put tons of cloth diapers and
  his clothes.
   
• Diaper Sprayer
  We personally did not use this since I have a sink in my laundry room.  But
  for those who do not have them, then the diaper sprayer is good since it is
  attached to the toilet system where you can flush away the poopy diaper directly
  into the toilet bowl before putting the cloth diaper in a wet or dry pail or wet
  bag.
3. How to wash?
   I believe each diaper brand would have its recommendation on how to wash their
   diapers.  Like ours, especially for the first wash, since we mostly sell
   Bamboo Diapers, we really do recommend our customers to pre wash them 7-8 times
   before using the diaper.  Therefore, I strongly advise you to read the
   instruction or recommendation by the cloth diaper that you are using. 
   
   Then, you'd probably have question on which detergent to use?  Again like
   the cloth diaper, there are many different brands out there.  Though, we do
   carry 2 brands that works best with our diapers, Charlie's Soap as well as
   Rockin Green.  We have a post that tells the difference between them.
   
   Cloth Diaper Laundry Mistakes!!!
   The 2 biggest NO NO for washing cloth diapers is NO Bleach, NO Fabric
   Softener!!!
   
    
4. Where to buy?
   Of course we would love for you to purchase our diapers BubuBibi from our website (http://www.bububibi.com/) but again, like mentioned above, some people may like our diapers, some may not, so, if you do not, you can also purchase from
   http://www.ibabydepot.com/, they sell various different top cloth diaper brands out there.
   
    
5. Other considerations that a lot of time people miss:
   1. Diapering Services
      Should we use diapering services?  To be honest, I have never used one, my
      goal for cloth diapering is to save money and my kids have sensitive skin, and I
      use our BubuBibi Diapers, so, I did not opt for the diapering services since
      most of them handles the regular cotton diapers, which didn't work for me but if
      it works for you, the diapering service is a great option if you are all for "Go
      Green" and do not mind spending the extra money since you may not have time to
      do laundry.
      
       
   2. Day care that accepts Cloth Diapers
      For mom who works but love the idea of cloth diapering, make sure that you find
      a day care that would do cloth diapers.  A lot of them do not, one of my
      son's old pre school even specifically told us that they would throw away poopy
      underwear if my toddler has accidents.  Yes, so, if you plan to cloth
      diaper, make sure that you choose or talk to the day care to make sure that they
      will help you so that you can fully cloth diaper.  I do have friends that
      have to put their kids in disposables and only when the kid is at home or on the
      weekends, they get to use cloth diapers.
      
       
   3. Siblings
      If this is your first kid or if you plan to have more, cloth diapering is
      definitely a good option.  Research shows that people spend easily $2,000
      on disposables through out until the kid is potty trained, so, if you have 2 or
      more kids, you are looking at at least $4,000 above, but for me, I was able to
      reuse the cloth diapers from my 1st son to my second and now 3rd. 
      Definitely a money saving option!

Now, are you ready???

Traveling with Cloth Diaper for a week.... are we ready? How to Travel with Cloth Diapers.

Traveling with a baby and a 4 year old is going to be challenging and now adding cloth diaper?  Hmm.... we will see how it goes.  I did read a couple of website that did mention to bring disposables (just in case).  I think will just to make sure since I have NEVER traveled with solely cloth diaper.  Though, I am excited.  This is going to be a trip (7 days) away from home.


The Day Before: (The Check List)
I will be flying back tonight, plane arrives at 8.15pm, then, by the time I get home, I need to make sure that I work on shipping for my customers.  After that, I need to ensure that I pack the boys stuff:

1. Diaper Covers = 12
2. Inserts = 14
3. Diaper Liners = 1 Roll
4. 2 Large Wet Bags
5. Baby Wipes
6. Detergent to wash cloth diapers
7. Detergent to wash milk bottles
8. Milk Powder
9. 4 Milk Bottles
10. Wash Cloth - 12
11. Lotion
12. Benedryl
13. Mylicon
14. Motrin
15. Infant Tylenol
16. Thermometer
17. Albuterol
18. Laynden's Cloths
19. Laynce's Cloths
20. Laynce's underwear
21. Boy's Socks
22. Boy's Shoes
23. Hand Sanitizer

As I was typing through this list, I found out that my flight that evening back home from work got cancelled.  It was because the weather in Dallas was bad that afternoon, so, all flights after 2pm got cancelled.  I immediately purchased a ticket with Southwest airlines, taking a chance thinking that they will not cancel their flight.  As soon as I got to the airport, the flight that I just purchased was pushed back to 10.10pm.  I was thinking that if I continued with this flight, then, I will probably arrive home at 4-5am.  So, I've decided to rent a car and drive back home.  By the time I got home, it was 2am.  I realize that I didn't complete my packing, so, I started packing and taking pictures of some new inventory.  By the time all that was done, it as 5am, I had to wake up and take a shower, so, I went straight to shower.

  


  

Day 1:

Woke my baby up at 5.45am, I changed his cloth diaper and took him to the airport. 

   


      
Security line was long and for those who are traveling, I recommended to not use the fancy diaper bags.  What I did, which I've used before is my husband's old laptop bag.  He use to carry a 17" laptop and he bought a huge laptop backpack.  That became my diaper/ travel bag because I can use it as a backpack.  I've organized it so well and I do not need to put down the bag to get anything, I would just reach for the pockets and get whatever I need.  Take a look at the picture of my bag :)  It's very huge but it is perfect because I have cloth diapers, diaper inserts, diaper liners, diaper rash cream, wash cloth, baby wipes, laptop, mouse, charger, wallet, inhaler (I'm asthmatic), Advil, ipod, phone in the each pocket/ section and I have memorized where I've placed them. Anyway, we had to tell a couple of people not to follow behind our lines because we are definitely holding up the line.  Between the 4 of us (Husband, DS1, DS2 and I), we probably scanned through about 11 buckets.  After that, the flight was very easy.  Also, I made very sure that I make 9oz of milk, the most that I can get out of the bottle and bring it with me to the plane.  As soon as the plane start backing up is when I gives him the milk.  That way, during take off, if there are pressure, he will not feel it as much if he is drinking his milk.  He did SO GOOD on the plane.  He did not cry at all and was a happy baby. 

Including getting there, flying + landing, it took us 6 hours.  I was worried because I was debating if I should change him in the plane or wait till we touch down.  Since I didn't feel any leak (because I typically change him within 2-4 hours), so, I just wondering if it will leak but since I didn't feel it, I just sat down and waiting for us to get off the plane.  So, the first thing I did for to change him.  To my surprise, it did not leak AT ALL.  Yes, we did have 2 diaper insert, if not, I think we wouldn't have lasted that long.  Advise to mom, since you will be traveling on a plane, better do 2 inserts instead of 1 to last longer.  Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the biodegradable lienr on the diaper.  It really keeps the moist away and baby's bottom feels a lot more dry then without the liners.  Each roll cones in 100 sheets, so, it's really very cheap.  So, we got there at 12.30pm EST.  I took of his shirt and saw that there was no leak.  Good job baby!  Changed our diaper and then, headed to get the rental car.  Throughout the day, we changed 4 diapers, including the night diaper.  I did not use different diaper, just been using the original solid and I think it is perfect for my baby. 


 
So proud of myself, I had everything organize, diaper changer, wet bag, Cloth Diaper, shirt and pants. 

   

Check the diaper out, we wore it at 5.45am and it was 11.30 am CST, NO LEAKS!!!! 



   
Put the dirty cloth
diaper and sleeper in the wetbag and now he is a happy baby.  We were at
IAD changing him :)

We were all tired by the
time we got to the hotel, we took naps and of course, it's about 3-4 hours
later, time for another diaper change :)




   
I have been using 2 inserts because it has been working better for me, with 2 inserts, each change is approximately 3-4 hours instead of 1.5 - 2.5 hours.

Now.... washing experience, that was not the best.  I brought 14 inserts and since I've used up 2 for 1 change, I technically only have 7 change if he does not poop. He did not poop the first day, I guess he was a little stressed with the plane ride, etc.  The first day, we had 4 change + 1 at night, so, I was only left with 2 more for the next day.  I had to wash the diapers in the hotel and guess what, even though I had laundry detergent, hmm... I forgot that.  So, I had to use whatever I have to wash the diapers.  I washed them on the sink.  I used warm water to wash them.  After that, I took the hangers and started hanging them all over the room.  I did not know where the washer and dryer is in the hotel but big lesson learn is I really should use the waster and dryer instead of hand washing and drying it in the room.



   
I forgot to bring laundry detergent, that was the only bummer.







Tried to dry the Cloth Diapers, Disposable/ Flushable Liners (oh yes, I am cheap, I reuse them if there isn't poo poo) and wet bags.

Day 2:
Good morning Everyone.... my baby is up in his Purple BubuBibi Cloth Diaper.  No
leaks!!!


We checked out the next day because after I was done with the birth certification application, we walked around DC.  

Since the weather was not the greatest, the diapers did not dry well, so, guess
what I did?  I dried them in the car.  I think people passing by might
think that I am crazy but whatever it takes to get these CDs to dry out so that
little Laynden can wear.




   
Dried the cloth diapers in the car


   
We then headed to Lincoln memorial.  Wanted to take the elevator up but it was not working.  

So, we had to leave the strollers below and walked up with the boys.  Took
some cute pictures but as soon as we got down, I smell poo poo, so, we had to
change.  Thank goodness for the viscose disposable/ flushable liners, it
was so easy, it did stain a little on the diaper but compared to nothing on the
diaper, it could be a lot worst.  Check them out.




 
          
Poo poo on the diaper liner                                  
Hardly any stain on the diaper 


   
I just wrap the CD up like my regular disposable and put straight into my wet bag.
We headed to the White house, Washington monument, Flight museum. After that, we headed to VA to meet up with my online best friend.  She is a friend of my customer and 1.5 years ago, we started talking online and have been chatting daily since then.  Anyway, since we have checked out, most diapers were damped, so, I ended up putting them all over the car, hoping that they would dry out.  I think if it was a hotter day during summer, it would but it happened to be raining and a little cold, so, it did not really dry out.

We drove from DC to Williamsburg VA at 5+pm, OMG, the traffic on I-64 is just crazy.  Initially when we put her address on the GPS, it says 141 miles, so, we thought worst case, it would take up to 3 hours.  Nope... took us 4+ hours to get there because of the traffic and of course, we needed 2 extra stop, one for feeding the baby and the next for diaper change.  By the time we got there, it was almost 10pm.  I had to quickly get ready for my business stuff.  Good thing is the boys were tired and they slept well.

Day 3:

Woke up pretty late, 9+ am EST because we were all exhausted.  We ate the to go food that we bought from a famous Malaysian restaurant called Penang in
Bethesda.  We were all so full.  My highschool good friend came from Roanoke to see me.  It was so nice of her to drive down all the way.  As soon as I got up, I immediately put the diaper, insert and wet bag into the dryer to dry them out so I managed to continue to use the cloth diaper.  I am not sure why I only managed to bring 14 inserts, I guess mom haven't wash the rest and due to my flight cancellation that day, I wasn't able to wash all of them and bring them with me.  He finally poop on day 2 and I would highly recommend to travel or even use the liners at home.  I am "cheap", I reuse the liners if there is no poopy diaper.  If there is poopy diaper, I would throw them away, if not, I would just rewash them with my cloth diapers.  I think I've counted, I used them 4 times before they look pretty worn out and started using a new liner.  It keeps the moist away from the baby's bottom and since he just got
circumcised 6 weeks ago, our doctor told us to continue to put Vaseline, so, using the liner is the best to avoid any cream on the actual diaper itself.  For those of you who are new to cloth diapers, we always say, do not use rash cream, etc on the diaper.  After that, in the evening, we were inviting to her friend's birthday and graduation party.  OMG, had the best salad and potato salad.  The lady's mom in law threw her the party and even made a story book cake about her life till today.  It was very sweet of her.  Nothing much after that, we just sat and relax and chit chat for the rest of the evening.

Day 4:We had plans to bring the kids around Jamestown/
Williamsburg.  My friend made us some nice breakfast, yes, we were so full till we were not able to eat lunch.  We ended up going to Jamestown Settlement .  The kids had lots of fun and while the adults were busy running around chasing the kids.  Luckily DS2 is so good, he was in the baby carrier all the time and only got up once to get drink milk.  We ended up changing his cloth diaper in the car.  After that, we did nothing but just relaxed at home.

Day 4:
We went to Sam's club for the first time.  I am a die hard Costco fan, I get everything from Costco but hmm.... it seems that Sam's club have a lot of goodies too.  Now I need to send my dad over to compare the prices, it looks like the items sold is pretty much the same.  After that, we headed to Newport News' Asian market called E-Mart.  Well, I have to admit that we are so very lucky here in the Dallas Fort Worth area, yes, I know nothing compared to CA nor NY but still, I want to say that our smallest asian market is bigger than their biggest one, unless my friend is still new here and is not aware of bigger ones.  After that, we bought lots of vegetables for the next day, her mom wants to make a famous dish from their hometown.  I have NEVER heard or tried that, so, looking forward for it.

Day 5:
I love, love, love Wells Fargo.  I had to do a wire to my vendor after placing an emergency order, yes, I am running low on the Original Solids and in the process of changing the original solid colors to pastels.  Since Wachovia has merged with Wells fargo, I thought they could help me here but according to them, it takes them 2 hours to set up since they have not done international wire transfer.  I called my local bank, they set it up and immediately told me that all I need to do is to go to that same branch to sign the form.  Wow... impressive.  I am so happy but unfortunately, the girl that has been helping me all the time is leaving Wells Fargo.  I do wish her all the best.  So, besides that, I was out with my girlfriend and her brother, we went to the outlet mall because her brother needed to get something and then again, to the asian groceries because we left out several important ingredients for the item that we needed.  So... what did the boys do at home?  So proud of my husband, he did well with the cloth diapers.  Good job!

Day 6 & 7:We hardly go anywhere since it was raining cats and dogs.  Of course on the final day it is bright and sunny but unfortunately, my boss called me and wanted me to help him work on something even though I am on vacation.  So, I ended up working for a few hours but we still managed to go to Colonial Williamsburg .  The boys had fun but we only managed to spend an hour there before heading to the airport.  We stop by at Apple's Bee at Richmond Airport, guess what?  Hubby ordered a Honey BBQ Chicken sandwich to share with my son.  After eating almost 2/3 of the sandwich, hubby realize that they left the plastic cheese wrapper on.  We approached the server and they ended up giving us $2.00 off.  I just was a
little upset because the manager did not even come to us to apologize. 

Anyway, we made it home and I am SO HAPPY to be back home!

Lesson learnt:

1. Bring more than 2 days worth of CDs and inserts
2. Find a hotel with washer and dryer instead of hand washing them if staying in a hotel.
3. Remember to bring laundry detergent

Next trip in 2 weeks, we are heading to Phoenix Arizona to drop my husband off.  He is starting work beginning of June.  The next time, it will be more days in the hotel and traveling alone with 2 boys on the plane back home.  Ohh... not forgetting the 15 hours drive with 2 boys + cloth diaper. 

I really felt like I was worrying for nothing.  Traveling with CDs is the same as with disposables.  So, for parents who are concern with traveling with cloth diapers.... it's a piece of cake!  LOL....

Traveling and cloth diapering? Got to try it!

I started "part time" cloth diapering with my oldest son since he goes to day care and they wouldn't take cloth diaper, so, I had to do it only on the weekends and in the evenings.  Though, we have been pretty much cloth diapering my second one full time but I have never traveled with him especially with cloth diaper.  Yes, we do go out to the mall with cloth diaper but not away from home for a week.

Our trip to DC is coming up soon since we need to go to DC to get my son's birth certificate, yes, he does get dual citizen until he is 18.  After that, we will be visiting my OBFF (Online Best Friend Forever).  I've met this girl through a customer and became very good friends only by talking over msn.  Then, we got to meet each other on a family vacation back in December 2009.  We are finally able to meet up with Eve again.  Eve lives in VA and has a pair of twins a year older than little Laynden.

So, this time, I told myself that I'll try to travel with cloth diaper full time so that I can feel exactly how some mom feel....

Good luck to me!  I will definitely blog about my experience when I get back.  Find out at the end of May!

How to keep cloth diaper from poopy diaper stain?

Question a lot of first time cloth diapering mom would ask:

1) How do I get rid of the solids?
2) How do I avoid getting stains on my diaper?

3) Do I have to wash my diapers immediately?  If not, what do I do with them?

4) What is a diaper liner?  Where can I get them?

I hope this short video clip can help some of you with questions especially with poopy diaper.  I took the opportunity to take a short video clip of my 4.5 months with poopy on his cloth diaper.  Please note that I used the Flushable/ Biodegradable diaper liner, I usually use that in the mornings and afternoon.

1) How do I get rid of the solids?

1.    For semi – solid to solid diapers, remove solids into the toilet or trash.  After that, wash the diaper.  Best to wash diaper as soon as possible.  For my case in the video, it was a semi solid, so, I went ahead and washed it in the sink.

2) How do I avoid getting stains on my diaper and how do I get rid of them?

The best way really is to wash your diapers immediately.  If it is not convenient for you to do that, especially when you are out and about, then, bring the cloth diaper home, turn to a cold wash cycle and soak diapers overnight at the maximum water level. Do NOT use detergent. Use a scoop of oxygen cleaner. Use a little of baking soda will be great too, soak the diapers overnight.  Wash them the next day.

3) Do I have to wash my diapers immediately?  If not, what do I do with them?

I do not wash my diapers immediately.  The best thing is to wash out the solid, put them in a diaper pail.

4) What is a diaper liner?  Where can I get them?

The diaper liner is made out of soft viscose.  I usually put this layer on top of my cloth diaper.  It somehow to me feels like it makes my baby's butt dryer than without it.  It also helps when I have to put diaper rash cream because the diaper rash cream will somehow make the diapers less absorbent.  Lastly, love it when he has poppy diaper that I just throw out the liners and less stain.  You can get them at our store soon.

Overall, I would say that the best thing to do is to wash the diapers immediately, if not, at least rinse it with a diaper sprayer, which i don't have but thank goodness, I have a sink in my laundry room, and use some baking soda and put them in a pail.  When you are ready to wash them, just wash them together.

Tips:    Try to wash them within 2-3 days, it will be hard to remove the stain.  Happy Cloth Diapering!