Day 7 - Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge

I participated in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry. For seven days, I used only flat cloth diapers and hand washed and line dried them. You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.

Reflections of the past week.

Using flats and hand washing was fun.  I was determined to do it, and I did.  I love it when I accomplish a goal. 

Would I feel differently if this were my life...if I had to hand wash every day because there were no other options?  Probably.  It would be tedious.  Every time I looked at my stack of flat diapers and saw the clean stack diminishing, I would feel dread knowing I HAD to find the time to wash them asap if my baby were going to have clean diapers.  Would I do it, anyway, or would I resort to disposables?  Without a doubt, I would unequivocally keep hand washing. 

Cloth diapers are a huge part of my life, as weird as that sounds.  I started using cloth because my oldest was plagued by diaper rash caused by the chemicals in disposables.  Disposables scare me.  They contain  sodium polyacrylate.  A similar substance was removed from tampons in the 80's because it caused toxic shock syndrome.  Then there's the carcinogenic Dioxin and the toxic pollutant Tributyl-tin.  No, thank you.  I'll pass on that for my baby.  And now that I have a boy, I'm concerned about the scrotal temperature in disposable diapers.  The Archives of Disease in Childhood published research showing that using disposable diapers over time can affect the cooling mechanism that helps boys have normal sperm development.  With the increase in infertility issues with my generation and those younger, it makes a girl wonder...  The Huggies and Pampers commercials with the smiling babies don't tell you that.  Yes, I would continue to hand wash cloth.  Even if I had to do it for years, I would do it, because it is what's best for my babies. 

Did I heave a sigh of relief this morning when I put my cushy organic cotton all-in-one on Asher?  Yes, I did.  Will I rejoice when I wash the first load of cloth in my machine this week?  Yes, I will.  I appreciate all that I have and the comforts I can afford.  But later this week we are going on vacation, and I will be packing my stash of flats.  I can't think of an easier or better diaper to travel with.

To see the flat folds I used this week, visit our YouTube channel.  http://www.youtube.com/user/TheChangingTable?feature=mhee

Day 6 - Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge

I am participating in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry. For seven days, I will use only flat cloth diapers and hand wash and line dry them. You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post. This year, over 450 participants are taking the challenge from all over the world.

Today is a free topic day.

Since I'm really trying to participate in this challenge as inexpensively as possible, at night I've been using a wool soaker that I made from a thrift store sweater.  What I want to stress is that I don't sew...ever.  So if I can do this, anyone can.  I did use a machine, but you could hand sew one.  I used the Katrina pattern.  When you are using an upcycled sweater, choose a sweater that's at least 80% wool.  I used a cashmere sweater which works fine but does not felt well.  Felting is the process of shrinking your sweater before you work with it.  Just wash the sweater on hot and dry it on hot to felt.  (Really thick sweaters should not be felted.)  Polyester thread works best because it will not wick the way cotton thread can.  Wool should be lanolized to make it waterproof.

Out of one thrift store sweater, I made a pair of longies and two soakers.  I was at the thrift store on military day, so my cheap sweater was even cheaper.  One soaker cost less than $3. 

So, this challenge has cost less than $45.  I am ending the challenge with 6 Swaddlebees flats, two Bummis covers, one homemade soaker, and one snappi.  Luckily, I had all of this, so the challenge actually cost me nothing.

Limited diapering supplies is possible but not reasonable.  I do wish I had more flats.  I would like at least twelve.  And I can never keep track of snappis, so in reality, I would need about three.  I would also like at least one more PUL cover, preferably a one size cover with snaps like the Blueberry coveralls.  Asher is starting to get scrapes on the top of his thigh and his belly from the hook and loop on his covers.  

Even with adding one more cover, two more snappis, and six more diapers,  the total cost would be around $75.  With one size covers, that could take you from birth to potty training.  And the best thing is that you don't have to have a fancy washing machine...or even one at all.

Day 5 - Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge

I am participating in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry. For seven days, I will use only flat cloth diapers and hand wash and line dry them. You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post. This year, over 450 participants are taking the challenge from all over the world.

 

What I've Learned

1.  There is a small learning curve to folding flats.  After 5 days, I think I have it down.  This is Asher's morning diaper (diaper bag fold with a pad fold inside).  It still looks great after wearing it all night!

2.  I've learned how to diaper bag fold and Joe fold and practiced more with the pad fold and origami fold.

3.  Hand washing is not my first preference, but it is a viable option.  I would hand wash before putting disposables on my baby.  Flats are the easiest diaper to hand wash because they get very clean and dry quickly.

4.  Soaking a dirty flat (in a safe area) in between washings really helps get them clean. Disclaimer:  I typically don't recommend wet pails.  They can lead to excessive wear on the PUL and elastic in diapers, it's dangerous to have standing water in a home with babies and toddlers, they are messy, and they are usually unnecessary with a good washing routine (in a machine.)

5.  Flats will be my new go-to when traveling.   

The Changing Table has avoided carrying flats because prefolds work so great.  However, this challenge has opened my eyes to the benefits of flat diapers.  I'm excited to offer flats in the near future.

Day 4: Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge

I am participating in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry. For seven days, I will use only flat cloth diapers and hand wash and line dry them. You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post. This year, over 450 participants are taking the challenge from all over the world.

We were out of the house a lot yesterday, and I almost ran out of diapers.  I had two left last night when I put the baby to bed.  I used both of those and quickly washed the other four so they would be dry this morning.  That's one of the best things about flats; they dry quickly.

My thoughts on hand washing:

Hand washing really isn't too bad if you are diligent about frequent washing.  I find that it's easiest to rinse the diapers as soon as I take them off the baby.  This makes the hand washing much easier since the diapers are mostly clean when I start the hand washing.  Yesterday we had one poopy diapers that did not get as rinsed as I would have liked by dunking in the toilet.  I do have a diaper sprayer but am refraining from using it this week, so I threw it in the bathtub under the faucet.  Any residual washed right down the drain.       

I am using the same method I would in the washing machine.  I pre-rinse in warm after each diaper change and leave the diaper laying in the sink.  If I were to do this full time, I would use a small plastic bin to keep the wet ones in between washings.  I fill the sink with hot water and around 1 tsp of Clean B Detergent.  Because I'm using Clean B which is a clean rinsing, cloth diaper safe soap, I am not having any difficulty rinsing the diapers clean.  I massage the fabric with my hands and rub the fabric together (probably creating a stronger agitation than my washing machine does.)  I drain the water and rinse each diaper.  I twist each diaper, wring the water out, and hang dry.  I am washing the covers the same way.

I haven't timed myself, but I estimate it takes about 5 minutes to wash just a few diapers at a time.  I'm washing about 3 times a day.  That's only 15 minutes each day which is very reasonable. 

I'm not concerned the diapers aren't getting clean because I can see and smell that they are clean.  If you are hand washing and are concerned about bacteria residue in the diapers, you can iron your flats.  The heat will kill any bacteria that could be present.  The water in my sink is around 110 degrees.  I would feel more comfortable if it were 120 degrees, but after four days of hand washing, that is not a concern of mine.  If I were to do this full time, I would use the iron on occasion. 

I'll be honest, machine washing is easier, but there is a satisfaction that comes with personally washing your baby's diapers.  It's just one more thing I can do for him.  And I love to hang clothes outside.  I'll even dry sheets and towels on the line in the spring and summer.  It brings me a sense of peace that I do not find in other everyday chores.     
 

Day 3: Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge

I am participating in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry. For seven days, I will use only flat cloth diapers and handwash and line dry them. You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post. This year, over 450 participants are taking the challenge from all over the world.

My favorite way to use flats is the pad fold.  It is very easy to fold, gives layers and layers of absorbency, and is used just like an all-in-two system.  This is a great fold for those new to flats.

First I "boy fold" the front of the flat by folding it up several inches in the front.  This makes it fit in the cover better and also gives added absorbency in the front.  For a girl, you could make an extra fold in the middle if desired. 

Next fold it in half and in half again so that you have a square. 

Finally fold in thirds (tri-fold), and lay in a cover.

Last night I used two flats with an origami fold. I started with the flats laying on top of each other,  folded them together, snappied them on and used a homemade upcycled wool soaker.  I'll post more about the soaker later in the week.  The combination worked well without any leaks, but I was not happy with the fit.  It looked fine when I put my son to bed, but in the morning, the fold had shifted and narrowed in the front.  Fibers from the red soaker were stuck to his boy parts.  If he had soiled his diaper, I'm not sure it would have all stayed in the diaper. 

Today I've been using the diaper bag fold.  It fits him a little better and gives more absorbency in the front.  It is extremely thin in the back.  If he had a runny poop, I'm not sure that fold would keep his cover clean.  For him, I do like the fit better than the origami fold.  I may try that fold tonight using two flats.      

For now, the pad fold is by far my favorite. 

Day 2: Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge

I am participating in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry. For seven days, I will use only flat cloth diapers and handwash and line dry them. You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post. This year, over 450 participants are taking the challenge from all over the world. 

My goal this week is the prove that anyone can successfully cloth diaper.  Therefore, I am using the bare minimum in diapering supplies.  I am using 6 Swaddlebees flats for $13.95.  I could have bought Gerber flats for slightly cheaper, but Swaddlebees will be more absorbent, and I like supporting USA made cloth diaper companies versus the "big guys".  I also have 1 Hemp Babies Bigger Weeds for $7.95 to use at night, 3 Bummis Super Lite covers for $11 a piece, and 1 snappi for $3.95.  I am also using 6 cloth wipes.   

Report from Day 1:

Day one was a success!  In the beginning, I was less worried about handwashing and more worried about successfully using flats, in general.  In the past, I have not had much luck with the origami fold, so I am using a pad fold during the day and just laying the flat in the cover.  My 11-mo-old did take a four hour nap yesterday, which is unusual.  I was unprepared for this, and he did leak out of the top just a little bit.  That was primarily because the elastic on his pants ended up slightly under the top of the cover.  This could have been avoided. 

Handwashing flats is so easy.  I did not make a homemade camp washer.  I am just washing the flats in the sink with a tiny bit of Clean B soap.  We had one poopy diaper yesterday, and I held it by the two ends of the pad fold and dunked it in the toilet, keeping my hand far away from the dirty water.  I'm washing 2 or 3 flats and 1 cover at a time.  It is very manageable and does not take much time.     

Because I live in Oklahoma where the wind ALWAYS goes "sweeping down the plains" and the weather is quite warm this time of year, the flats dry very quickly outside.  I hung 2 up in the bathroom last night over the shower curtain rod, and they were dry by this morning.       

For the baby, last night I used an origami-folded flat with the Hemp Babies kite-folded inside and snappied it on.  I used one of the Bummis covers over the combination.  His bottom was a little fluffier than normal, but it was effective, and he didn't seem to mind.

My (almost) three-year-old still wears a diaper to bed, so I pad folded a flat in a Blueberry Coverall last night.  She did not realize she wasn't wearing her super soft organic cotton diaper until this morning.  She saw me hand washing the flats in the sink and thought they were her brother's "blankies."  I could diaper her from now until she no longer needs a diaper at night (or until 40 lbs) for $20.

DISCLAIMER:  Babies need consistent and frequent diaper changes.  I am only able to use 6 flats because my son is almost one, the weather is warm outside for line drying, and I am washing more than once a day.  If I had a newborn, could not wash as frequently, or dry as easily (colder weather), I believe I would need more flats.

My goal for today and the rest of this week is to make this even more economical.  Instead of using the Hemp Babies at night, I'm going to use two flats.  Instead of using one of the bummis covers, I'm going to use an upcycled wool soaker that I made from a thrift store sweater. 

Stay tuned for tomorrow's update!

Day 1: Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge

I am participating in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For the next seven days, I will use only flat cloth diapers and handwash and line dry them.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year, over 450 participants are taking the challenge from all over the world. 

I am taking this challenge to prove that anyone and everyone can use cloth diapers.  You do not need a huge budget to buy diapers.  You do not need a fancy washing machine.  You do not need extra time to cloth diaper.  If you desire to use cloth diapers, whether it be to save money, help the environment, or to protect your baby from the harmful chemicals found in disposable diapers, you can do it!  I will spend this week documenting how I'm doing it and how you can, too.

Blueberry Coveralls Giveaway

In honor of the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge May 21-May 27, The Changing Table is giving away a Blueberry Coveralls diaper cover. 

This is one of my favorite covers. 

It fits 10-40 lbs. which I really appreciate now that I have a baby and a 35 lb two-year-old that is still diapered at night.  Few diapers fit the two-year-old well since she is at the top of the weight range for most brands.  This cover is easily adjustable between both children .  I love that this cover is durable yet soft and flexible.  It can be used well with flats, prefolds, or fitteds.  The colors and prints are gorgeous, and you can choose from snap or hook and loop closure.  The winner of this giveaway will get to choose from any in stock cover. 

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