Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Using Cloth Diapers
When it comes to newborn baby's, handling the diaper situation can sometimes pose as an issue, especially for new parents beginning this life-changing experience. With countless trends popping up all over the market, Cloth Diapers seem to be a hit currently. However, there are many misconceptions on the internet, mainly with parents who "Think" they have there child under wraps while only being a parent for only a few months. Many new mothers listen to people with newborn's, but may be hesitant to truly look into the facts of what people are saying.
The dawn of Reusable Diapers has been taking over the industry, however, many are unaware of some common mistakes made when first purchasing and using these Cloth Diapers. At Diaper Reusable, nearly 100% of our team are veteran parents, and know the ups and downs, along with endless tips and tricks. We've all been there and done that, every possible bit of newborn parenting covered to a tee. That being said, we want to bring to light ten of the most occurring mistakes that parents have to deal with when using Cloth Diapers. Parents out there, hear us out and maybe learn a thing or two. It may be some of the most useful information you've heard yet!
1. Not Having Enough Cloth Diapers On Hand
The first main issue new parents have with Cloth Diapers is not having enough to begin with. Most experienced parents recommend having at least 36 Cloth Diapers in your arsenal. This gives you an on-hand diaper cache for whenever your baby wets it. Also, this leaves you with a solid amount of diapers while the used ones are being washed. If you don't have enough diapers, they will most likely get worn out before your child becomes potty-trained due to their use and wash frequency.
2. Using Improper Laundry Substances When Washing
Many parents do not know that using substances like Fabric Softeners is not a good thing with Cloth Diapers. Fabric Softeners have a variety of chemicals inside that will leave remnants within your diapers that can lead to the diaper becoming water repellent. What does that lead to? Leaking! Not something you want to have on your hands. Additionally, chemicals and fragrances within most fabric softeners can leave your baby with a diaper rash and cause irritation.
3. Not Doing Daily Washes of Diapers
If you don't conduct daily washes of your Cloth Diapers, eventually you won't have enough prepped and ready for use whenever your child needs them. If you leave your cloth diapers in the diaper pail for too long, they begin to develop an odor and will start to take longer to clean. Furthermore, Ammonia levels in clean diapers may begin to build up creating an odd smell when your baby uses the diaper. This could also lead to an irritating rash that you and your child will have to deal with.
4. Using Cold Water To Wash Your Diapers
If you want to ensure your diapers are getting as clean as they possibly can, make sure you wash them with Hot Water. If you're using a laundry machine, use the warm or hot water cycle with a tumble dry on low heat or delicate setting. If you choose to pre-rinse your diapers, feel free to use cold water, but when it comes to the primary wash cycle, always use HOT! The wash needs to be hot enough to actually disinfect the diaper as it gets laundered.
5. Needing To Change Your Baby More Frequently
As soon as your baby wets his/her diaper, you must change the cloth diaper. If this is not done, the diaper may start leaking and a diaper rash will develop on your child. Many disposable diaper companies have said that babies can wear their diaper for 4-12 hours which is an improper judgement. You should change your child every time they wet the diaper, because no one wants to sit around in wet pants for an extended period of time.
6. Buying a Full Supply of Cloth Diapers Before Giving Birth
Now we aren't saying don't have any diapers before birth, but definitely don't overload before your baby arrives. Grab a set of newborn diapers which are one size fits all, and wait to see what size your baby comes out as. If you grabbed a bulk deal of a recommended diaper brand but you grabbed a size too small, you're out some money and have a load of unusable diapers on your hands. Every baby is different, so make sure to grab a bulk amount of diapers once your baby is in your arms, not your womb.
7. Utilizing Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets primary function is to give your clothing a soft feeling with zero static. These sheets have a number of synthetic chemicals in them that make your clothes liquid repellent over time. Similar to above, this is the last thing you want with a diaper. This opens doors for leakage and rashes when the diaper is there to absorb the liquid. If you regularly use dryer sheets, they can leave excess fibers in your washing machine which can then be transferred to your diapers, so just be careful.
8. Not Using Enough Detergent on the Cloth Diapers
Some parents are known to believe that using less detergent will leave less remainder fibers in your diapers. Well, once your child gets older and eats more solids, using less detergent is definitely not the smartest thing. Diapers need detergent to get clean, so start using the recommended amount on the side of your detergent and Boom, your diapers will get back to normal and clean once again. Ensure you're rinsing every bit of detergent out, you don't want your babies skin to have a negative reaction.
9. Using Essential Oils
If you're one to add essential oils to the washing machine or using them on your child's diapers, eventually you will regret that. Essential oils leave a residue that will eventually transform your absorbent diapers into water-repellent ones. This creates a huge leaking issue and can cause a rash on your child. If you're one to use essentials oils for bacterial purposes, consider switching over to the hot water and detergent approach.
10. Expecting Cloth Diapers To Look Like Disposable Options
Unlike disposable diapers, cloth diapers do not change shape when wet as they are meant to place absorbent patches where they are needed. Disposable diapers are usually a thinner and more narrow as they have chemicals inside that expand once the diaper gets wet. The absorbent patches in cloth diapers will not bring any discomfort to your child and maintain a comforting setting.
Well, there you have it, that's our list of ten mistakes concerning Cloth Diapers and Parents. We hope that this list can help you overcome common parenting problems, and excel through the troubles of this newborn stage. Make sure you keep these instances in mind, they may come in handy in a situation you didn't know you would run into. Enjoy the cuteness and loving vibe of your child, but also make the process easier for you, the Parents!
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