Friday, May 4, 2012

Fleece

We had been excited about cloth diapering (CD) since our good friends had their first baby almost 5 years ago. We saw how well it worked for them, and figured we'd do it when the time came for us.

Lyra brought out the CD crazy in L. He was getting samples and showing them to anyone who would listen. He wanted all colors and designs and it was sweet to see him so excited about preparing for her in that way. The wind was taken out of his sails though, and he has never quite bounced back in regards to his previous excitement about CD'ing.

We did disposables when Simon was first born, because we didn't have access to easy laundry facilities. Then we moved, and waited a bit. Once we got started though, I was hooked, and picked up quite of my own obsession (though we used disposables if we went out or traveled).

Until there was a month of unfortunate stomach issues with Simon. And I became quite accustomed to disposables. But I kept having this nagging thought in the back of my head, about why I had been convinced about CD's. So this last week, I gave it another go.

This might be TMI for most people, but if it helps someone else, then I'm happy to divulge :) CD's were great with nice, normal solids. But when they became smushy or less than solid, it was not so great. Of course I had read to scrape or spray the solids off. Unfortunately, I didn't have a sprayer, and for scraping I must have been doing something wrong, because it just was not as easy as everyone described.

Until I was introduced to fleece liners. Jeanette mentioned them to me, and I found some other posts about using them. So, I had some fleece (not flannel), and cut it up into sizes just a little wider and longer than the inserts I use. (I use shells, with prefolds for the daytime, and the pocket diapers to stuff full at night.)

And they are freaking brilliant. Even the smushy solids come off without becoming ingrained into the fabric, and it protects the shells so much better than before. I read that the fleece liner directs the moisture to the prefold, thus making the solids easier to detach from the liner. Plus, I figure if there is an extra runny one, I can soak the liner in a bucket, but throw the insert in our normal diaper bin.

I'll also buy some of the flushable liners here soon, and see how those doo...excuse the lame pun.

Anyways, I thought I had read it all to know how to do it, but sometimes it takes just a little gem to make it that much better.

Have you stumbled across anything that has made an element of life better for you this week? Hoping for a beautiful weekend for you all. <3

10 comments:

  1. You know, as I am reading this, I'm thinking, "Yeah, it does come off his liners easier..." I have used fleece liners since we began cd'ing because he always had such a sensitive little bum and I used cream to keep rashes and such away. Made my own liners as well; but they are smaller and as I was reading, I was thinking..."Heck, if I made some more, just a bit bigger, they'd cover more diaper and less poop on the diaper!" We use the BG Elementals, and they are pretty easily cleaned (with the sprayer..the scraping? Yikes.) but with a larger liner, bet even EASIER! Ahh. Well, eyes opened wider! I know I am later to the party than many, but this week, I started using borax in laundry. I'm in love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    xoxo

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    1. That's good to know about your fleece use too! Borax? We use Charlie's, which has been great, but if I ever need a change up, I'll keep that in mind! Thanks for sharing your experience...helps me a lot!

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  2. I may need to switch to fleece soon--we use the flushable liners and I absolutely adore them, but (EW) we're having some septic issues, and I have a sinking suspicion that they may be liner related.

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    1. Ohhh, septic issues are not so great. Hope it's not the liners! I will get some flushable ones too - I'm interested in seeing how I like them as well.

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  3. OOOh, Is it really sad that I'm all excited because I was able to help you?
    After our conversation the other day I've been newly inspired to try cloth on Ernest again....just as soon as the weather is improved enough to line dry. :0)

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    1. It's absolutely awesome that you were able to help - thank you so much! It's been a complete turn around here, and I have a renewed love of cloth diapering :) I hope the same happens for you, with a nice sunny addition for line drying!

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  4. I've been using cloth for two and a half years and only THIS WEEK started using flushable liners. Call it laziness, I don't know, but I'm forever complaining about smushy toddler poo and having to scrape it. I don't know what I was waiting for. THEY HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE. That sounds dramatic I know, but if I can avoid scraping or spraying poo in my life, then that can only be a good thing!
    Love reading about cloth adventures!
    xo

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    1. You are amazing! You are not lazy at all - two and half years of scraping!!! I'm excited to try the flushable liners too...I'm glad for your good review :)

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  5. I'm so glad I remembered reading this because I just started cloth yesterday and had our first poop today. Scraping off poop that is more like mashed peanut butter potatoes is not easy and I think I smeared it more than got it off. I think liners are the way to go. I'll give the fleece a go but also get some disposable liners.

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  6. I know I'm way late here but just started with CD. Went searching for liners in stores but looks as if I'll have to purchase online. A totally gross side note ... left a dirty poo diaper on top of the trash can while waiting for the wash to finish with the bag. Let's say there was nothing left to scrape off when my dog finished it. GROSS!!!! At least he left the diaper in tact :) Who needs a sprayer or scraper when you have a poop eating dog? NASTY!!!!

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