Show some love: caring for your natural fabric diapers

 Modern cloth diapers come in an array of materials – ranging from natural fabrics like cotton (organic), hemp, bamboo and even wool; to synthetic fabrics like suede, microfiber, charcoal bamboo, and other blends. Depending on your baby’s needs, your washing schedule, budget, resources available and overall philosophy you can choose any of these fabrics to cloth diaper your babies.

I personally am leaning towards using cloth diapers made of natural fabrics because my primary reason for going the cloth way is towards being more environmentally friendly and natural fabric is all the way up there on this scale. It’s definitely not a pocket friendly option, but hey, we lost that plot a long time ago! ;)

What makes natural fabrics so special?
• They are extremely safe against baby’s skin. It is very rare that a baby will have sensitivity to these fabrics. I have not had even one day of diaper rash with natural fabrics. They do feel wet (don’t have the stay dry effect, unless added) but most babies don’t mind the wetness.
• Better at resisting bacterial growth. Completely trust them next to baby’s skin. Also, far less stink issues.
• Natural fabrics continue to gain absorbency over subsequent washes. More value for the buck.
• They are super absorbent making them some of the most trusted bullet proof solutions for nights and heavy wetters.
• They allow baby to understand when she is wet, making elimination easier, read earlier and quicker potty training. (Do we really want that when we love fluff so much, is a topic for another blog post altogether :) )
So when we say natural fabrics are environmentally friendly, it implies that they are easily biodegradable or decomposable, i.e. they will get ruined sooner or later due to break down of the fibres. Now, considering that diapers containing natural fabrics, tend to be more expensive, we should care for them so as to increase their efficiency and longevity.

Here are some tips to use and take care of your natural fabric diapers:

• Good prepping – natural fabric diapers need multiple washes before becoming fully absorbent. Use the right amount of detergent and wash in warm water. A good process that I follow and which works well for me is two washes, and one drying followed by another two washes and one drying. I do use the diaper before it’s fully prepped, but for shorter durations. I dare to use them for nights only after they have got around 6+ washes.

• Never soak the diapers for a long time – a 30 minute soak in hot/warm soapy water is sufficient. You really don’t need to soak any diaper for hours together. And definitely don’t be too generous with the detergent.

• Upon removing a diaper off baby - knock solids off immediately and rinse pee off under a cold water tap. Store correctly until laundry day. It is not advisable to let urine remain in the diaper, this can cause ammonia build up.

• Storage until laundry day – after rinsing out, hang the natural fabric diaper/ insert/ flat over the rim of the pail such that the water drips away. Or hang them on a drying rod to drip away. Make sure the room where this system is kept is airy and properly ventilated. This prevents mould, fungus and bacterial growth. If in case you are not able to do your diaper laundry within say 24-48 hours, dry out the diaper entirely by hanging on a rack. Better dry than damp, even if it is a used diaper.

• Set up a good wash routine – Pre-wash cold with little or no detergent. Wash in hot/ warm water, and that goes for the rinse too. Clock in an extra rinse if required. Spin and/or line dry.

• Ideally wash every day; especially if you live in a humid environment like Mumbai, Goa, or coastal areas.

• Resist the urge to strip diapers with harsh bleach etc. In case diapers are stinking/ repelling, I find that multiple hot washes do wonders to revive the fabric. Bleach and harsh chemicals cause breakdown of natural fibres, so avoid them unless absolutely warranted.

So there you go, with a few careful steps you can extend the life of your cloth diapers. It’s really not as complicated or difficult to follow; you just need to make a routine of it. Do share your tips and feedback on how you care for your cloth diapers. Happy diapering!

- Nayantara

About the Author
I am a first time mommy to 6 month old babyT. I am a natural mama – exclusive breastfeeding, cloth-diapering, baby wearing and hoping to use natural methods of weaning, developing etc. down the line. I was completely clueless that a world called cloth diapering exists, until babyT kicked his way into my life. And look where I am today, I think, talk and breathe only cloth diapers. I exclusively cloth diaper my son, and I’ve used almost all types of diapers and various brands, and have finally arrived at diaper heaven
with my tried and tested stash. We haven’t bought disposables since 4 months now.  But I think my biggest success is when I see my son, squirming if anyone even brings a disposable diaper near him. I think this is the biggest indicator that we are doing something right by choosing to cloth diaper.

A little bit of my background – I have 10 years of work experience in the HR function. One fine day after putting up with a lot of stress and health (read: fertility) issues, I decided to call it quits on the corporate world. Things have been much better since the heavy boulder of 9 to 9 work days has been lifted off my back. The biggest gift I got out of this was of course, babyT. I also began my independent HR practice, which doesn’t get much focus these days, but it’s there. I am married to Gaurav, who is equally passionate about bringing up our son the natural way. Together we are amazed at the little wonders that babyT shows us every day and how he teaches us the meaning of true & pure love, happiness and brings more meaning to us as a family.She blogs about her baby raising experiences and adventures at mommyingbabyt.com

Ten Reasons I'm Flat Over Flats

Ten Reasons I'm Flat Over Flats

The first disposable diaper was used in 1948. It still hasn't decomposed. Sitting in a landfill somewhere, likely smelling of the poop that very few disposable diaper users bother to deposit in the toilet before discarding, that solitary first diaper has been joined by several billions of other diapers, every single year afterwards. I read that statistic somewhere, long before I was promised. It prompted me to start researching cloth diapers in earnest even before the two blue lines on my pregnancy test had a chance to fully dry!

I've to admit, I had my doubts. Would cloth diapering involve coming in close contact with a lot of... unsavoury... stuff? News flash: Having a baby involves coming in close contact with those things anyway!

But what about the work involved? Would using cloth diapers mean washing the dipe plus the baby's clothes plus any surrounding bedsheets every time the baby did its business? As I read more about cloth diapers, I realized it was no longer 1948. The cloth diapers that are available in the market today are functionally no different from disposables - they can hold in absolutely everything! Also, they are completely adorable, with a wide variety of prints to choose from. I admit I almost turned the 'cloth diapers are cheaper' statistic on its head, given how much I spent on them when I started shopping!

It's kind of ironic that after over a year of cloth diapering, with a closet full of amazing top-range pocket, cover and all-in-one diapers, my go-to diapering solution is the same one that my grandmother or great grandmother are likely to have used. It's the humble, versatile, all-purpose flat. A flat is exactly what it sounds like - a flat piece of cloth. Folded in multiple different styles, a flat is the quintessential nappy that comes to mind when you first think of cloth diapers. Why stick with that despite everything else that I own? Here are the first ten reasons that come to mind.

1. Infant to toddler: 

Unlike the langots which you typically see in India, a flat is completely unrestricted by size. The 100x100cm muslin flats I used on my two month old are the same ones I'm using on my toddler, with plenty of room to grow. And when she's eventually potty trained? My handy flats can still be repurposed into rag cloths, or used for art projects. You never stop needing reasons to use flat pieces of cloth.

2. As cheap as it gets:

 Sure, Ikea started a new range of flats and you can buy expensive organic ones. But at its core, a flat can just as easily be fashioned out of an old veshti or sari, a soft bedsheet or even a terry towel.

3. All-weather diapering: 

When it's sweltering hot in summer, I don't like to put my daughter in anything other than a light cotton material. Voila! Exactly what flats are. As for the monsoon, flats dry faster than anything else I use. Just in case all my flats are out of commission, a new flat is easy to whip up with the materials I have at home (see point 2 above).

4. Completely natural:

 I'm a fairly crunchy mama, with a leaning towards eco-friendly solutions wherever possible. While the PUL/TPU polyester materials used in the outer coating of most cloth diapers is breathable, I still breathe easier when I'm using something completely natural like bamboo, cotton, or hemp. Flats, of course, are made with these materials.

5. Ninja creds: 

I absolutely love it when people like my mother in law appreciate how quickly I fold and wrap a flat onto my baby. There's something very cool about watching someone efficiently fold a nappy. Thanks to YouTube, I keep learning new variations too! My favourite reliable fold is the Origami, which provides 8 layers of cloth throughout the diaper.
For bigger flats, I default to Gaynor's Fold for Girls, which provides 9. When a flat becomes a little too snug, I padfold it into a cover - voila, 12 folds for heavy wetters!

6. Decent waterproofing:

 I would probably not have persevered with flats if they worked exactly the same way as they did fifty years ago. The materials flats are made with now are often far better at holding in leaks, and even poop explosions. A flat can easily hold 1-2 pees, depending on what it's made of and how it's folded.

7. Rash control: 

Since you can easily spot exactly when a flat gets wet or needs changing, it's possible to keep the diaper area clean and dry at all times. It's easy to add a staydry microfleece liner  if your baby, or you, minds the 'wet' feeling that comes with a used diaper. Liners also make on-the-go cleanups so much easier.

8. Health check: 

My daughter was underweight at birth, and I used to keep a hawk's eye on her nappy count (6+ wet nappies in 24 hours indicates a month+ old baby's getting enough milk). Flats are the easiest way to monitor pee count, without relying on guesswork or estimation.

9. Low maintenance: 

Flats are so easy to maintain. They don't require any prepping before being used, they don't need any prior stuffing like pockets do, and they take up minimal space in a wardrobe. If you're thinking of unwiedly safety pins and accidental pricks while trying to pin down a baby and get a nappy on them - don't. Thanks to modern cloth diapering, there are easy options like snappis and boingos that secure flats within seconds. It's also very easy to just pop a cover diaper on over a prefolded flat when we go out - technically, I don't really need anything else in my stash.

10. Customizable: 

Baby's sensitive to wetness? Add a staydry fleece liner to the flat. Baby's a heavy wetter? Add extra padding into the folds of your flat. One of my favourite trim diaper solutions for quick outings is a charcoal bamboo/microfiber insert, folded within a trifolded organic cotton Kaupina flat , and tucked into a cover. If you want it even thinner, try a hemp insert instead. Trim absorbence at its best!

Lean thighed baby? Chubby thighed baby? Narrow waist? Poops up his back when lying down? No matter what the diapering challenge, flats have a way to address it. Completely customizable size, material and fold styles mean you can get the diapering solution that works best for your baby at different stages, all with one single piece of cloth.

That's my story! It's why we have a museum full of pockets and all-in-ones that I stare at lovingly once in a while, while using flats day in and day out. What's your favourite cloth diapering go-to?

- Akshaya Nandakumar

About the Author 

Eight years into her journey from digital marketing newb to ninja, Akshaya has worked with the giants (Google), as well as startups (Anahat), and start-ups on their way to becoming giants (Zomato). She’s now working with the most challenging startup of them all – her baby girl – while freelancing. Every now & then, she gives up on the three hours of sleep available to her, and blogs at New Girl in Toronto.

Rain, Rain... Go Away!!

Rain, Rain… Go away!!

After almost 3 months of the gruelling Indian summer, we all wait for the monsoon to arrive and fill the skies with dark clouds waiting to burst at their seams and refresh us with their cool raindrops. But when you sit back and think, monsoons also mean dirt muck and mud everywhere, travel issues due to water logging and mini floods and worst of all; the entire city coming to a standstill due to heavy downpours. But wait; there is something even scarier – clothes not drying? No, there’s worse – Cloth diapers not drying. Oh the horror of horrors!  But before you logon to the baby store and subscribe to the disposable diaper packages, what if we gave you a simple solution to carry on cloth diapering in the monsoon and that too like a boss!

The way out is not a very complicated one, in fact it’s more of a ‘going back to basics’ than anything else. Cloth diapering is definitely not new and our grannies and mom trusted only cloth to cover our little baby bums. Surely, they didn’t leave us stark naked in the rains.  The answer, then lies in using basics like flats, pre-folds and such quick drying natural fabrics. Combine this with a touch of modern cloth diapering and we have a win-all solution.

I personally love flats because they can be worn and used in so many different ways. From various types of folds to different types of materials, flats form the backbone of any good cloth diapering system. A single flat sheet of cloth can be layered to give the desired levels of absorbency and cover, depending on your baby’s wetting pattern. Cleaning them is even easier as the many layers unravel effortlessly and then dry just as easily. Flats then, are your go to solution in the rains. Add a cover on top of your flats or lay them as a pad-fold and you can safely clock an hour in them. Care to gamble and try flats for longer hours or nights? Use multiple flats pad-folded or use a thin insert (preferably natural fibres such as hemp or organic cotton), top with a cover and you can let baby sleep in peace.

Flats are also so versatile because you can easily make them at home out of anything really – old cotton sarees, receiving blankets, T-shirts (there are techniques where you don’t even need to cut the Ts), veshtis (lungis), towels, floor sack towels, kitchen towels. I may have a slight obsession with finding the most absurd piece of cloth to use as flats; I once tore open a faded AC blanket to find the most gorgeous flannel lining inside which I swear by. Really I mean it; anything at all can be used as flats. However I find that organic cotton flats absorb best and have a quick drying time. With consistent washing they get more and more soft and absorbent, which is a boon as baby grows. They also don’t get sopping wet like synthetic fibres which means they don’t trouble baby’s bum too much. But you do have the option of adding a suede liner on top or stuffing the pad-folded flat into a suede sleeve before placing it in a cover, so that baby gets the stay dry feel. You definitely cannot go wrong with flats in the rainy season.

Pre-folds also come a close second to flats for their simplicity and ease of use. Pre-folds are one of the best diapering solutions for new-borns and continue to give great absorbency for older babies. Their design is pure genius and a classic one at that. Most pre-folds are usually made of organic or a 100% cotton fibre, which means that not only are they trim, but also super-thirsty and dry faster, gaining softness & absorbency with every wash. Again so versatile; because they can be pad folded in various ways or pinned and snappied on. Add a cover and you have a bulletproof solution for nights too. There are countless times when I feel it’s so convenient to just grab a pre-fold, stuff it into a cover and onto baby before bedtime. Someone give me a medal, I’ve even done twelve hours with two organic cotton pre-folds in a cover on my heavy wetter son!

Pre-folds also are easier to clean being made of natural fibre and mine come out considerably dry from the tumble dryer and line dry in a jiffy. I have no doubt that they’ll stand by me in the madness of the Indian monsoons. So reassuring!

But my true love is the All-in-One/Two diapers. If anyone ever asks me about night-time diapering, I have only two words for them – Fap and Marvy by Cloth Diaper Shop. I had heard a lot of these words myself in cloth diaper discussion forums and was desperate for a night time solution as a new mom. When I received Fap and Marvy in my hands, I knew why. I have not seen a softer or trimmer diaper and upon use I was so pleasantly surprised that it stood its test for a whole 10 hours, without a change (unless pooped in.) The magic of these diapers is what they are made of – bamboo cotton, which is super absorbent. On its own, each insert is a two layered one, but combined as a flap or fold-over insert/ tongue, they provide 6 layers of absorbency. The soft bamboo cotton fleece inner lining wicks moisture away and keeps baby's skin dry and comfortable. Upon washing, the layers can be unravelled so that the diaper dries faster. I will surely be relying on my Fap and Marvy this monsoon. They are the only ones I blindly trust with keeping my baby dry through the nights.


Also what I see is that most people struggle with getting wet clothes to dry in the monsoons, but it doesn’t have to be so hard. A few tips I’d like to share which helped me ensure a good laundry system in the monsoon are these:


• Add an extra spin to your washing cycle. For delicate diapers or lingerie etc. put them in a mesh pocket or a pillow cover so that these items don’t get roughed up in the tumble drying.

• Invest in a clothes drying rack and pin hanger. This really helps because the moment it stops raining, I move the entire rack near the window or place it in the balcony and move it away when it starts raining. No mad rush to remove the clothes off the line. Also a neat hack is to leave this rack under a running fan overnight, and you have dry clothes in the morning.











•  The tendency while hanging clothes to dry is to fold them exactly in half and put up a clothes pin. This only lengthens the drying time. Try and hang clothes/ diapers/ inserts such that maximum surface area is exposed to the air. This will cut your drying time by a great deal.

 

So to conclude, my plan for this monsoon is to step up my stock of organic cotton flats, cotton pre-folds and some suede sleeves to go with cover diapers. I am still going to use my suede pockets with flats & prefolds. I am also loving the new Marvy colours and eyeing ‘Blue is beautiful’. Will hit order soon on that. For now, I’m going to sit back with a nice cup of coffee and wait for the rains. You are much awaited, oh monsoon!

-Nayantara

About the Author

 I am a first time mommy to 6 month old babyT. I am a natural mama – exclusive breastfeeding, cloth-diapering, baby wearing and hoping to use natural methods of weaning, developing etc. down the line. I was completely clueless that a world called cloth diapering exists, until babyT kicked his way into my life. And look where I am today, I think, talk and breathe only cloth diapers. I exclusively cloth diaper my son, and I’ve used almost all types of diapers and various brands, and have finally arrived at diaper heaven with my tried and tested stash. We haven’t bought disposables since 4 months now.  But I think my biggest success is when I see my son, squirming if anyone even brings a disposable diaper near him. I think this is the biggest indicator that we are doing something right by choosing to cloth diaper.

A little bit of my background – I have 10 years of work experience in the HR function. One fine day after putting up with a lot of stress and health (read: fertility) issues, I decided to call it quits on the corporate world. Things have been much better since the heavy boulder of 9 to 9 work days has been lifted off my back. The biggest gift I got out of this was of course, babyT. I also began my independent HR practice, which doesn’t get much focus these days, but it’s there. I am married to Gaurav, who is equally passionate about bringing up our son the natural way. Together we are amazed at the little wonders that babyT shows us every day and how he teaches us the meaning of true & pure love, happiness and brings more meaning to us as a family.She blogs about her baby raising experiences and adventures at mommyingbabyt.com

Troubleshooting Cloth Diaper Leaks

The most obvious reason:

It may be that the inserts are full. Sometimes the inserts do fill up. Why? Sometimes your baby will pee enough to fill the inserts.

The Inserts Soaked or Heavy  

If the diaper has leaked and the inserts ARE HEAVY, it means you need more layers of absorbency and/or need to change your baby more frequently as bladders grow.

•  New cotton, bamboo, and hemp inserts may need to be washed 3-6 times before they become fully absorbent.  If you have new natural fiber diapers wash them a few more times and see if they still leak.

• If you are having leaks with just one insert in a pocket diaper add the second insert before trying other tricks. 

• Hemp and bamboo inserts or doublers may provide more absorbency than microfiber or cotton.  Hemp works really well when placed behind a microfiber insert.  Microfiber is quick to absorb, and hemp will hold more pee and is trim.  Note: Microfiber is typically used inside of a pocket and should not be placed directly next to your child’s skin.

• Fitted diapers paired with a cover provide even more absorbency and are a preferred overnight option.  Please note that fitted diapers are absorbent across the entire diaper and not just in the wet zone. 

FIT:

You can find out if you are fitting your baby snugly if you cannot put more than one finger inside the diaper. A poorly fitted diaper might also result in leaks. Diapers that are too small or too big will cause leaking. If you're using a one-size diaper, they may not begin to fit properly until your baby is roughly 8-10 lbs.  Newborns may or may not fit into a one-size diaper at birth depending on how much they weigh.  For smaller newborns, a sized or newborn specific diaper might fit for the first several weeks. 

To get a good Fit:

• Snug fit. Not too tight neither too loose
• Be sure that your diaper is fitting inside the leg rolls where the natural underwear line would be. Not around the thighs
• Boys tend to pee in the front or towards the top of the diaper.  Girls tend to pee in the middle of the diaper.You may need to adjust where the absorbent layers are or add an extra insert where they need it most. 
• For those with boys, please make sure boy bits are pointed downwards

 In case of AI2 – Marvy / FAP AIO

Just make sure everything is tucked in. If the insert(s) are peeking through the legs, then once that moisture wicks through the insert, it will naturally continue to the outside shell of the diaper via the "peeking" insert.

  

Clean Inserts Have A Faint Smell Of Ammonia Or Urine:

This is easy to fix. The detergent build up often happens when the detergent is not completely washed out from the diapers. This mainly happens if you use more than the recommended detergent or there is not enough water during the washing. The good news is that all of this is curable. In order to get rid of excess detergent build up on the Inserts (not the diaper covers/Pockets) you need to wash them in hot water (60 C) at least 3 times *without any detergent.*

 Please use the maximum water possible. If you have Front loading washing machine that doesn't put in loads of water on its own then use a wet towel to trick the machine into thinking there is more clothes.

Also, DO NOT use any kind of fabric softener during or after washing the diapers. Read the labeling on your detergent to check if there is any kind of fabric softener, if there is you should not use it. They will inhibit the absorbency of the inserts.

Are Your Inserts Absorbing Well Or Working Like They Should?

We can easily find it out.

Even if there is no smell of ammonia, just to see if your inserts are absorbing well you could try this test out.

Take some water in the palm of your hand and drop it on a fresh insert. Use your fingers to apply a bit of pressure to the water to kind of push it into the fabric. If the water beads up on top of the inserts, it means that they are not absorbing and thus explains the leaking, which moisture is escaping from the sides because the inserts are not sucking it up like they should? This again can be easily fixed. Just wash the inserts (not the diaper covers) in hot water (60 C) at least 3 times. If you have Front loading washing machine that doesn't put in loads of water on its own then use a wet towel to trick the machine into thinking there is more clothes. Try the test again. If the inserts still don't absorb readily, then you need to wash again.

Mineral/Residue Build up

Hard water minerals can get trapped in the fibers of your diapers and prevent the detergent from rinsing clean.  This can cause your diapers to leak or repel.  Additionally, if you have used fabric softener, fragrances, dyes or diaper creams with your diapers they may be clogging the fibers of your diapers. If you have soap scum or mineral buildup to the point that your diapers are repelling, it’s time to strip and bleach   

You may know have lot of questions on how to fix them. Watch our next article on stripping your diapers  ! Coming Soon!

Cloth Diapering on a vacation

Cloth Diapering On a Vacation

Sunset !!

Kabini, One of my favorite destinations. The calm serene back waters of Kabini dam , a resort on the river bank! It is one of the awesome place to relax ! All set for vacation and to cloth diaper my bub as always!

My kids enjoying the sunset

 I try my best to cloth diaper my son on our travel.  I have been able to cloth diaper fully in most of our travels. This time, I used much lesser diapers may be because he is ‘almost ‘potty trained. This is the story for last 6 months. I’m enjoying this too, as I can use CD’s till I can. (Happy Grin)

What do you need?

Usually, I take lot of pocket diapers and few AIO’s for my son when we are travelling. Pockets are stuffed with CB inserts or bamboo cotton and I will have few flats for standby, wet bags. He is a light wetter and any insert will work for him. This time, I packed FAP’s, few pockets, Training pants and pant styled diapers.

 

That's my lil monkey helping me ;)!

How many do you need?

It depends on how many days you travel, how often you plan to wash and how big is your stash? If you are planning for 3 day vacation, you may need around 15- 20 diapers assuming you will be able to wash them in between. On an average, 1 year old baby needs 8 diapers a day!  Smaller babies need even more.

I carried around 5 (training pants/pant style pockets), 2 FAP’s,  5 pockets stuffed with flats.

For the training pants, I had put a small hemp insert. The small insert that comes with fitted diapers.  They could hold more and very trim!

As I carried pant styled diapers, I took my son to the rest room as when possible,  so he didnt soil his diapers much.  I changed them every 4 hours even if isn’t wet.  I used FAP’s for the nights! He is usually dry at night.  He was unwell and I couldn’t take a chance!

Washing:

Hand washing them in a wash basin

I hand wash the diapers as when possible and line dry them. I had forgotten my detergent and I ended up using the soap which was available in the resort. I don’t have any problem with the diapers till now!! Thank God... That doesn’t mean, you use some random soap and you wouldn’t have problems with the diapers.  I didn’t have an option . At the end of the week, I counted my blessings as everything had gone wonderfully well and my cloth diapers had all come clean on vacation.

A small video clip; how I washed my diapers in the wash basin.

Poopy diapers:

He did poop once in his diapers. I managed to clean the same way which I normally do at home. I used the health faucet that is attached the toilet and clean the poop. 

Drying:

The biggest hurdle is the drying time of the diapers. In my few vacations, rain god was so merciful showered his blessings and I ended up using spoises :(.

Dried Diapers kept aside to capture a pic  :)

This time we had a towel rod which is kept near the swimming pool.   Yay!!  I could use them to dry all my diapers!!! Even otherwise, I usually carry a nylon rope and manage to tie them between some rods or pillars and use them to dry my diapers! We had a nice sunshine every day, diapers were dry quickly and we enjoyed rain every night! I could reuse a pocket, CB insert and flats! Flats (receiving blanket turned to a flat) was dry in less than hour.    

Flats were the quickest to dry

Finally, it’s OK if you decide to just use disposables while travelling. You don’t have to feel bad about it. A few days of using disposables to save your sanity is totally worth it. You might just be downright excited to get your little one back in fluff as soon as you get home but don’t stress a few days of not using cloth. Even part-time cloth diapering helps to save space in our landfills.

We’d love to hear your story if you have successfully used cloth diapers while travelling! Lots of our readers are scared of it and always ask what everyone else is doing!

Note :

If you wish to contribute your article on cloth diapering, you are welcome.  Your story can be a motivation to lot of parents who wish to switch to cloth!! It can be on night time diapering, cloth diapering on travel, cloth diapering on budget or how you switched to cloth, anything! Please send an email to clothdiapershopindia@gmail.com to send your story! You will be featured on our blog. 

Bring the Artistic Parent in you !! Paint the Cloth Diaper !!

Tips to paint your Cloth Diaper 

1. Start with a used diaper. It must have been washed at least 3-4 times.

2. Stretch the diaper and clip them using paper clips(cardboard)  or you may opt to load them with inserts to give good surface to work with.

3.Use fabric specific markers or fabric acrylic paints.

4. Draw a outer sketch in pencil. You can draw them in a paper and then trace them on to the diaper.

5. Fill in colours of your choice . Allow it to dry completely 

6.Apply one more coat of colour and allow it to dry 

7. Dry your finished diaper for at least 30 minutes on HIGH to seal the colour and reduce fading and bleeding during washing.

  

Special Tips for heat set: 

Make sure your piece has air dried for at least 12 hours.

You can tumble dry in the dryer on high for 30 minutes. Must dry alone as the marker can transfer to other items if it has not been set and washed yet. 

You can also use an iron. This will not melt the diaper if done correctly. Iron the "outside" of the PUL, not the shiny side. You can use a thin cloth in between if you are concerned but will need to use the cotton setting. If you iron has a polyester setting that is the best option. Keep the irons moving over the designed area to make sure it is getting even heat.

If you want then quicker, you can use a hair dryer, high heat keep moving over the designed area. 

Special Tips for  Colouring: 

Use light strokes with your markers, wait for each layer to dry before adding another. This will help prevent bleeding and gives you more even coverage. Use a hair dryer to help dry layers a little quicker, it can also be used to slow bleeding and prevent further colour mix if done as soon as the colour begins to run. Use 1 colour at a time close sections to prevent the colour from blending together.

  

Paint Brands :

Camlin, Fevicryl, Faber Castel, Crayola  are some well known brands available in India. Apart from that you can try tulip, Sharpie Stained, Graffiti, Marv

Get Inspired :

Painting the Cloth diaper is  getting popular.   Behold, the creative work by Some mom's  here 

Gayathri's creation for her son : A cute message for all of us!!

Sreema 's creation " A Minion " for her lil Minion

Deepa has painted Lorax on her son's Cloth Diapers 

Anjana  has inked Caption America for her son 

Action Shots :

A special Thanks to my customers Deepa, Sreema, Gayathri and Anjana for sharing thier works to inspire others. 

Article reference :Internet  and FB page Custom Inked Diapers 

Awesome FAP Giveaway Winner - Karpagam

Karapagam's lil munchink in ocean world FAP :) love your note Karpagam !

Posted by Cloth Diaper Shop - India on Friday, June 19, 2015

Awesome FAP Cloth Diaper Giveaway

Cloth Diaper Shop #clothdiaper #giveaway Our FB community is almost 1.5K & to celebrate we are doing a bigger than...

Posted by Cloth Diaper Shop - India on Monday, June 8, 2015

Video Review on CDS Bamboo Insert

 A Video Review by Aparajitha comparing it with Thirsties hemp insert. 

It is great to hear her views on CDS Bamboo Inserts  and  she loves CDS Bamboo as much as she loves her Thirsties hemp!! 

Understanding CDS Inserts Part 1

Understanding CDS Inserts 

Cloth Diaper Shop (CDS) inserts are custom made . They are wider and longer than the inserts available in the market.  Most frequently asked question what inserts to choose? This video can help to get a look and feel of the inserts and choose the best inserts which suit your lifestyle.