Cloth Diapering-- Are Liners Necessary?

I just use prefolds with a cover, no liners. When we are out and about I still use cloth, I just put the diaper in a small bummis tote. I haven't found a problem with the smell yet, but she usually only has wet diapers when we are out. If it is poopy, I just deal with it when I get home. I like the tote as opposed to a ziploc or other plastic bag because I can just throw it in the wash with the diapers.

Hi N.,
I have used liners (I took a prefold and cut off the outsides and used the middle as a liner. The outsides I used as wipes.)with my prefolds. The covers that worked best for me had some kind of plastic lining that helps prevent wet clothes. I just ordered some Sposies All In One diapers and REALLY like them. My sister has had GREAT success with Bum Genius diapers. >sigh< I guess I'm still trying to find my favorite brand/style of CD.
As far as being out of the house, I just pop the wet/dirty diaper in a plastic grocery bag stashed in the diaper bag. Since (for me) time is of the essence in a public restroom, and you usually have too many things to carry anyway and baby is not one to be kept waiting, I forgo the rinsing out.
When I get home I do arinse out with white vinegar and stain treat with fels-naptha and toss the dipe into the dry diaper bin until I'm ready to wash.

Good luck! It's easy to become overwhelmed with the CD. Just keep trying until you hit on the right system for you. I thank you and our future generations thank you. The earth thanks you!

E.

Although I totally agree with the concept on going back to basics where cloth diapers are concerned, when venturing out, use the disposable, they are much easier to dispose of and I would not suggest using a public sink to wash a dirty diaper, it's just not socially acceptable and unless there is a sink designated just for that purpose I doubt it ever will be. I strongly believe going back to the usage of cloth diapers will greatly help our world, there is a time and place for everything, so using the disposable diapers for just those events to me is fine.....Hope this helps! Do dirty rinsed cloth diapers smell? Honey, or course they do! I almost forgot, plastic liners are still necessary, trust me on this one, do not go with out them.....

Hi N.,

I have found that I don't need diaper liners. I just use the diapers and covers. However, I use a diaper service and their diapers are thick enough for me. I am unsure about some diapers from stores. I have used the cloth diapers out and about. When he was a lot younger, I would just wrap it up in a plastic bag. However, I did switch to disposables later on when going out. So, I find myself starddling the middle line on this issue. Also, I am having a hard time finding a daycare that will continue the cloth diaper use. So, again I find myself having to continue the use of both. I do prefer the cloth diapers. Hope this helps a bit. FYI, Disneyland has a mommy station that has a rinse area for cloth diapers. Just in case you become brave enough to take your baby. My little one went when he was 8 months old.

Hi N., I'm using cloth w/ my 1st child. She's 4-1/2 months now. I'm not even sure I knoe what you mean by a liner. ? I recently started using an extra, thick strip (that I use outside. not inside) that goes down the center, for nights only. During the day I change her often so it's not a problem. As long as you are breastfeeding only, poop doesn't smell so dirty diapers are no big deal. After that, I'll use a good quality, vinyl- type bag for the dirty ones when we go out. If it's ever a huge concern, I'd use disposables for that short time. Email me directly if you want to chat more, talk about washing them, or find out where to get good, cheap diaper covers, etc. I'm glad to hear you're planning for cloth! They are so soft on baby. My email is
____@____.com

L. Nimet

I used ziploc bags to hold the dirty diapers when we were out. If there's something flushable, then go ahead and do that before putting the dirty diaper in the bag, if you can. The ziploc prevents the smell from being bothersome. I only used disposable diapers if we were flying. For car trips, I still brought cloth and a really BIG ziploc bag.

I experimented with a lot of covers, too. Started with wraps provided by diaper service, then went to gerber vinyl, then to imse vimse organic cotton wraps - those were the best I I found.

As for liners, I used prefolds inside fuzzy bunz, which I used for nighttime. They are great at keeping moisture away from baby's bottom. I never used the liners that came with them.

Don't forget - your days in diapers will be limited with cloth, as my daughter was potty trained by 22 months!

Hello N.,
I had 3 in cloth diapers at once and I laundered my own. No you do not need a liner. If the child is breastfed their poop does not have a smell. Once their 4 months old, and they start to eat baby food then the smell comes with out. If there is any solid poop I just hold it over the toilet and it rolls off. At home I had an air tight hamper and I put little discs in it that absorb the smell. When I went out of the house I would take a ziplock with me and put the diaper in it to bring home. I didn't wash them out in the sink because that is used by children and adults to wash hands and I didn't want to make the sink gross for the next person (unseen germs). I even had my children in the church nursery with cloth diapers and the workers always took them off and put them back in the bag in my diaper bag when my child needed a diaper change.They are cheaper than cloth diapers and you go through about 80 a week. Wash them in the washing machine on hot water. Sometimes if their real poopy you may need to soak them before you wash them. Corn starch is what I powdered them with. Good luck. D.

Hi N.,

I am a first time Mom of a 17 week old (4 mo) baby girl. I have used cloth diapers from day #1. My husband saw the diaper changing as a challenge & from day 1 changed the baby better than me. (Not now, just the 1st week he took off)

Are you washing the diapers yourself? Or do you have a service? I use Dy-Dee diapers. They are great! I do not use liners being I am using a service. I do use the diaper covers. 6 is the magic #.

Depending on the size of your baby, the covers may be too big. My baby was 8 lbs, 5 oz, so no problems. I know new Mom's where the small size diaper covers were to big. Ask the cover size & reassses your baby size.

I do use the cloth out on the town- when the diaper# is 3 or under. (a 4ish hour outing) I keep them enclosed in the cover when dirty & have the clean back- up in the clean cover ready to go. Beyond that I keep covers ready to go at home & you do have to clean the covers, so you have the drying time- dy dee told me to put them in the sun & that works- gets rid of all stains & it does work. You do not have to clean the cover every changing, You just have to be ready for the blow-out, not bad, contained by the cover- the purpose of the cover, but the cover is down for the count. You then have to clean it & dry it. I use some oxyclean with a toothbrush - it works great.

They do not smell (so far - as of 4mo.). I do breastfeed & that may make a difference. I do have a girl who pooh's at least 1 time per day. She doesn't smell. Before now she pooh'd several times a day (5-6) & the diaper pail is just the lift pan pail the service gave us & we have no problem so far with any smell.

I love the cloth diapers. I would love for you to contact me with any thoughts or questions. There is more, but it is beyond what you are asking. My email is: ____@____.com

Colth diapering has worked our great for me. Please feel free to ask me any more questions!

all the best,
C.

N., great choice using cloth diapers. In many ways, they are a lot easier than paper diapers! I use BumGenius All In Ones that I purchased from www.comfybummy.com. No plastic pants required, no liners required. Also, when we are out, I just bring a small nylon bag (also available for purchase at Comfy Bummy)that is a little version of the large one I have at home. I dump the poop into the toilet (if possible) and then roll it up and stow it in the bag. It doesn't smell, and my daughter is already a year old. For home, I really recommend using the sprayer that you can attach to your toilet hose so that you can just spray the dirty diaper when you get it home (or take it off) and then put the damp diaper into the bag. Also, men love the sprayer. You can get it at www.pottypail.com. Don't wash your diapers out in the sink. If you really want to rinse them, do it in the toilet, but I recommend the way I have described above. It really is a snap. Eamil me if you want more info. J.

Hi N. -
I don't feeling liners are necessary but I know some that really like them. Particularly those moms with little ones who have runny poop (like newborns) and are not soaking their diapers (wet bucket) until washing.
When we are out in public we still use cloth diapers. If he poops, and I can shake it into the toilet then I do, if it's too messy then I deal with it at home later. We re-use a baggy for wet/soiled diapers. In there, they don't really smell thank goodness :)
Babyworks.com has a nice website and catalog (with a 10% off coupon in the catalog). They are VERY helpful with the whole diaper scene and will answer questions til' the cows come home!
Best of luck! :)
A.