Lucy Luvs Diapers and Things

A message about hard water and stinky diapers.

2005-06-19T11:17:00.000-06:00

And a little note about soft water :)

By Cathie Butler

Why hard water affects your diapers.
OK, to figure out how hard water affects your dipes, you need to understand how detergent works. It basically attaches its self to the gunk in your diapers and then helps pull the yuckies out. This is how all soap works. Which is why it is so important to rinse fully and get out all the water you possibly can from your dipes before drying them. Hard water has lots and lots of minerals in it. Those minerals attach to the detergent just like the yuckies in your dipes, but they make it very difficult to rinse out. They basically steal your detergent from the wash and then get stuck in the fibers. So you have 2 problems here, your detergent not cleaning properly AND not rinsing all the way out. Follow so far? Kay, now how to fix the problem.

The boiling method.
This is what your Gramma used to do with her diapers and is not to be done if there are snaps, velcro, PUL, wool or fleece on your diapers. Basically just prefolds or contours. Get a big pot and boil your diapers. (No detergent or any additives, just water) It will help "melt" the detergent out of your diapers. It will also kill any bacteria you have in your dipes. You will know it's working if you get a layer of gunk on the top of the water.

The RLR method.
These are little balls of diaper miracle cure (just kidding!) It is available of those stips in the detergent isle of WalMart (I have never seen it anywhere else) They are about 1-2 bucks for a pack of 2. Buy at least 3 packs. You are going to wash your diapers once with detergent and a ball of this and then at LEAST 5 more times with no detergent and a pack of this. This hslps the minerals to dislodge from your diaper fabric. Try to do this at someones elses house. somewhere that doesn't have hard water. I do it at my parents or the laundromat. You will probably need to do this about once a month. Whenever you notice your dipes getting wiff. Also, add one of those little balls about once ever 1-2 weeks.

The Calgon method.
Some as above, seems to work a bit better for me personally.

The bleach method.
This is going to be the least well recieved, but works the best. Wash your dipes once with 1/4 of a cup of cheap bleach. About half that for the clorox stuff. Your dipes will smell like bleach when the wash is done, if it doesn't, you didn't use enough. Do another wash without adding anything to make sure you rinse it all out. Then use your diapers. You will be amazed at the fact that the pee DOES NOT SMELL. After that, as maintanance, add about one tablespoon to a wash once a week or every other week, whatever works best for yur dipes. This does not work with oxygen bleach. Just chlorine

The bac-out method.
THE most expensive way to keep your dipes stink free, but works and doesn't hurt the dipes or the environment, after using one of the above methods to strip your dipes, squirt bac out on each one on the soiled area before tossing it in the pail. Works great for poo stains too. BioKleens oxygen bleach works well on poo stains too applied directly to the stain and left to sit a bit, but doesn't rinse out well with hard water. The bac-out (same company) does.

Solutions for soft water
...Not enough minerals sometimes don't "activate" the detergent enough. In that case, don't add more detergent, add a bit of borax or baking soda.

Prevention and Care of Diaper Rash

2005-04-08T23:05:00.000-06:00

How does Lucy Prevent and Treat Diaper Rash?

Diaper rash is a reddening of the skin in the diaper area and is caused by bacteria taking advantage of the warm moist environment inside the diaper. Diaper rash occurs in disposable diapers as well as cloth. There are many causes of diaper rash, some being the chemicals, dyes or purfumes in disposable diapers and some laundry detergents, not changing baby frequently enough, or spicy and acidic foods.

Here are some suggestions to prevent and treat diaper rash:

Change baby's diaper each time he/she wets. Disposable diapers should be changed as often as cloth.

Wash your baby's bottom with warm water at every diaper change.

Pat baby's bottom dry or allow to air dry before putting on a new diaper.

Let baby spend some time each day without a diaper. When wearing a diaper, go cover-less or use a breathable diaper cover such as wool or fleece.

Avoid scented detergents or fabric softeners in your wash. Avoid any detergents that contain enzymes. Enzymes are yucky! Read this article to see why!

Wash your hands after every diaper change to prevent the spread of disease and infection.

How do I care for my wool soakers?

2005-04-08T22:39:00.000-06:00

How does Lucy wash her wool soakers?

Wool soakers should be aired between uses and washed every one to two weeks (unless soiled).

1. Hand wash in lukewarm water and baby shampoo.
2. Soak for 15 minutes.
3. Gently squeeze garments, do not rub or wring. Roll in a towel and squeeze out excess moisture.
4. Hang dry away from strong heat or sunlight.

How does Lucy lanolize her wool soakers?

Adding lanolin periodically will enhance life span and performance of the diaper cover. Lanolin should be added to your soakers every 4-6 weeks.

1. Dissolve 1/8 of a tsp. of lanolin in hot water. If you have trouble getting the lanolin to dissolve, put it in a bottle or jar and add 1-tsp. vinegar along with the hot water. Shake until dissolved and add solution to the soak water when washing the cover.
2. Soak for about 10 minutes, not allowing water to get cold (warm is OK).
3. Gently squeeze garment, roll in a towel and squeeze out excess moisture.
4. Dry as above.

How do I care for my cloth diapers?

2005-04-08T22:18:00.000-06:00

Laundering Cloth Diapers:
Easy as 1-2-3!

1. After removing the dirty diaper from your baby, shake any solids off into the toilet. Rinse or scrape off any solids remaining on the diaper. Store wet or dirty diapers in a dry pail.

2. On washday run the diapers through a hot wash/cold rinse with a second cold rinse. Use liquid detergent, and only 1/4-1/2 the recommended amount. This is all that is necessary for a thorough cleaning.

3. Dry diapers on medium to high heat, or hang to dry in the sun. Hang covers to dry. They can also be dried in the dryer on the lowest heat setting.

Tips and Tricks:

When choosing a laundry detergent you want to make sure it is a detergent and not soap. Most "natural" laundry products contain soap. Soaps are generally too mild and deposit a film on the diapers, which affects diaper absorbency.

You do not need to wash your covers after every use. If your cover is not soiled let it air dry and alternate with your other covers. If soiled, fold Velcro flaps over and place in laundry pail.

Don't use any bleach products, bleach is a strong chemical and will break down the fibers in the diapers. To remove stains, hang or lay your diapers in the sun, it works wonders!
Don't use fabric softener. It will coat the diapers making them water repellent and will cause leaks! Be aware that if you use dryer sheets in your dryer for other laundry this can coat your dryer and transfer to your diapers. If you encounter leaks, try line drying instead.

If you experience stinky diaper problems, you can add 1/2 c. of baking soda or a few drops of tea tree oil to the wash cycle.

Please do not dry covers or AIO’s on HOT or HIGH HEAT! The PUL layer is meant for warm or low heat only!

What do I need to get started?

2005-04-08T21:16:00.000-06:00

What do you need to start cloth diapering? It seems like there are so many different products out there! We have compiled a list of what and how much you need to get started!

How many cloth diapers will I need?

Most babies use 8 - 12 diapers per day, and maybe more during the newborn stage! With a supply of 24 diapers, you will need to do laundry about every other day. Grammie and I think the ideal amount of diapers is about 36. This way you have enough diapers to last 2-3 days between washing.

What other supplies will I need?

If you decide to use fitted diapers, prefolds or contour diapers, you will need diaper covers to keep baby's clothing/bedding dry. Grammie and I think 6 daytime covers are ideal. Diaper covers may be re-used if they are not soiled during use. Just let your covers air dry between uses. If you have 6 daytime covers you will always have a few available, even while doing laundry. We reccommend Grammie’s wool soakers for nightime use. 3 is the optimum number of soakers. Soakers only need to be washed every 4-6 weeks, unless soiled. Let your soakers air dry between uses.

You will also need cloth diaper wipes. Lucy Luvs cloth wipes are very easy to use! Read this article to find out how to use cloth wipes and some wipe sauce recipes. We suggest having at least 2 x the number of diapers you have. These fit in to a used wipes/margarine/Tupperware® container. Simply throw used wipes into the diaper pail and wash with your diapers.

Grammie and I suggest having at least two waterproof tote bags for the times you're away from home and need something to carry your dirty diapers. These zippered bags are machine washable and can be thrown into the diaper pail with the diapers when you get home!

Cloth Diaper Wipes

2005-04-08T16:42:00.000-06:00

When we first contemplated cloth diapers a few years ago, the thought of cloth wipes really made me gag! It just seemed like so much work! Wouldn't disposable wipes be just so much easier?? We decided to try our hand at making disposable baby wipes from paper towel rolls cut in half, with wipe sauce poured on top. It turned out to be much MORE work to have to seperate out the used wipes and throw them away. When everything was cloth we just threw it all in the diaper pail and we were done! During our cloth diaper wanderings we have come across a few recipes for wipe sauce that we will list :)

Lucy’s Recipes for Diaper Wipes:

Water! It sounds so simple, too simple! Water works best to clean those sensitive behinds. We never use anything but water on Lucy's rear.

Basic Recipe
· 2 tablespoons baby bath
· 2 tablespoons oil
· 2 cups water

Tea Tree Oil
· 2 tablespoons oil
· 2 tablespoons baby bath
· 2 cups water
· 2 drops Tea Tree oil (Tea Tree oil has anti-fungal properties

Aloe Vera
· 2 cups hot water
· 1/4 cup Aloe Vera Gel
· 2 drops Tea Tree oil
· Allow to cool.

Instructions:
For all recipes, mix all ingredients in a jar and then pour over wipes. Store extra solution in the fridge.

Diaper wipes can be stored wet in a used disposable wipes box or margarine container. Or you can store them dry in a basket and keep a thermos with warm water nearby to wet wipes as needed.
A squirt bottle works great for the diaper bag to wet wipes as required.

Not sure what to squirt your wipe sauce on? Visit Lucy Luvs Diapers and Things to purchase cloth wipeys!
Have a great wipes recipe for me to list? email me and let me know!

Cloth Diapering Dictionary

2005-04-08T15:29:00.000-06:00

For those new to cloth diapering, all the new vocabulary and acronyms can be overwhelming! We decided to gather common terms and create a dictionary for you! Knowing these basic terms will make your cloth diaper shopping a much less confusing task! If you need the defination of something not on our list, email us and let us know!

AIO ~ All-in-one Diapers - all-in-one diapers are fitted diapers that have an outer waterproof layer. Often they have fewer absorbent layers than their counterparts. These diapers are ideal for situations in which people unfamiliar to cloth diapers will be changing baby’s diaper, like the church nursery, and for people who want the ease of a one-piece diapering system.

Breathable – Air is able to circulate through the material allowing some urine to evaporate and helping to prevent rashes.

Contour diapers – Contour diapers are hourglass shaped but have no elastic in the legs.
Diapers – Diapers come in a few different styles: Flat Diapers, Prefolds, Contour or shaped diapers, fitted diapers and All in ones. Please see respective definitions for more information about each type.

Diaper Covers - Covers come in several styles. They may be contoured and fasten with snaps or Velcro. Some covers pull-up, like underwear. They can also be made from numerous materials such as: polyester, vinyl, fleece or wool. Fleece and wool are both breathable materials. Covers are needed over all diapers except AIO’s to prevent the wetness from leaking on to whoever holds baby!

DSQ ~ Diaper Service Quality – DSQ is an industry standard term for high quality prefolds. Prefolds that are not DSQ are usually not durable or absorbent enough to be used as diapers; however, they make great burp cloths!

Doublers – Doublers are pads that fit easily into a diaper, and can be added to a diaper to increase absorbency. These are great for at nighttime or anytime that you need extra absorbancy!

Fitted Diapers - Fitted diapers resemble disposable diapers. They have a contoured shape and elastic around the legs. Instead of tape, they fasten with Velcro or snaps. A waterproof diaper cover is necessary when using a fitted diaper. Fitted diapers are more expensive than pre-folds ranging from $4 to $11 each. However they are much easier to use. If you purchase those with Velcro closures, look for wide Velcro strips and fold back laundry tabs.

Flat or Square Diapers -Flat diapers refer to the single-ply square shaped diapers that our mothers and grandmothers used. The flat diapers that you find in a store, such as Target, are not effective for use as cloth diapers, but make great burp rags!

Hemp - Hemp is a course fiber made from the inner bark of the hemp plant. It is becoming increasingly popular for use in diapers because of its durability, absorbency and natural anti-microbial properties.

Pre-folds - Pre-fold diapers are rectangular shaped diapers that are thicker in the middle. The sides usually have a thickness of 4 layers. The middle section can have 6 or 8 layers. This gives pre-folds greater absorbency in the middle. You will often see prefolds defined as 4-6-4, 4-8-4 or more rarely 2-4-2. These numbers refer to the layers of cloth in each section from left to right. Pre-folds are the cheapest alternative in diapers. They can be enclosed in a Velcro or snap fastened cover or they can be pinned with diaper pins or snappi fasteners.

Pocket Diapers - Pocket diapers are the newest types of diapers to hit the cloth-diapering world. Tereson of Mother of Eden holds a patent on pocket diapers. Pocket diapers are like customizable AIO’s. They usually have an outer layer of a waterproof material and an inner layer of a stay dry material, like microfleece, or suedecloth. Pocket diapers are sewn with the back or front open to form a pocket. In the pocket you put an absorbent insert. Many pocket diapers are sold with an insert, or you can use a prefold. Pocket diapers are great for nighttime use, because you can customize the absorbent material. During the day you might use 1 insert, while at night you might use 2. Pocket diapers also close with snaps or Velcro.

PUL ~ Polyurethane Laminate – Polyurethane Laminate is a fabric in which a waterproof laminate has been applied to the back. This makes for an extremely thin, soft fabric that is also waterproof and easy to care for.

Quick-dry – Quick-dry products open up or come apart to dry quickly in the dryer. For example, a quick-dry diaper might have a snap in soaker that you can take off for washing and drying. This may cut your drying time in half.

Soakers - The term soaker is used for two different things in the diapering world. The term can refer to the middle part of the diaper. This part is made from an absorbent material such as cotton, and is anywhere from 2-6 layers thick. Soakers may be sewn into the diaper, snap onto the inside of the diaper, or lay inside the diaper. Sometimes snap in and lay in soakers are referred to as “quick-dry”. The term soaker is also used in reference to knit wool diaper covers.

Wool - Wool is a fabric made of fleece of sheep or lamb. Its water repelling properties and breathability are what make it popular for use as a diaper cover.