Learn frequently asked questions when cloth diapering, rash solutions, how to make cloth diapers, different types of cloth diapers, and much more!!!!
Learn to make your own cloth diapers: here
Cloth Diapering FAQ
Will switching to cloth diapers save me money?
As long as you don't go overboard with buying diapers (trust me, it gets addictive with all the cool colors and prints out there), and stick with cloth diapers for a year you will probably come out ahead. Expecially if you use them for more than one child. Mine were paid off within 4 months.
Try this cost caluclator to get an idea of how long it will take before the cloth diapers have paid for themselves by switching from disposables.
Something noteworthy to add here is that cloth diapers that are kept well will have excellent resale value. Many moms find that when they're done with diapering their little ones, they can sell their stash and make some of the money back. Of course it's case by case, but it is something to keep in mind.
Prefolds: are cloth diapers that are made up of layers. The middle has the most layers and is pretty absorbant. They are easy to fold into thirds, place on a cover, and simply fasten cover onto baby. Or, you can use a snappi or pins to have the prefold more fitted onto baby, (which is very helpful for keeping breastfeeding poo from leaking out).
Tutorials and video guides to using prefolds:
Folding tutorial
GMD "How to use cloth diapers"
Flat Diapers: Are made up of one large square single layer of cloth. They are usually made up of cotton. They're folded into the shape of a diaper and pinned or "snappied" closed. They can also be folded into a long rectangle and placed in a cover, or stuffed into a pocket diaper as an insert. These diapers are one of the easiest to care for because they wash clean so easily. They're also very affordablle, and since they're fairly large, they will last a long time.
Intro to Flats from Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry
Fitteds are cloth diapers that have snaps or velcro to fasten around baby. They are nice in that they are great for keeping runny poo (especially from newborns) from leaking out. If you want to use a fitted diaper under clothes or on the go, youwill need a cover. Some people let their children wear a fitted at home without a cover, but the fitted can become wet on the outside when soiled, so a cover is necessary if you want to ensure that clothing stays dry.
Fitted Diaper intro by Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry
Contured diapers are similar to prefolds, but they are shaped to fit baby. They fit very trim and are said not to need a snappi or pins. Like the prefolds, the contours highest absorbancy is in the middle. There are no snaps on the contoured diapers and you will need a cover over them.
Intro to Contours
All in Ones (AIO) are the most similar to a disposable. They are made up of one piece, sewn together. They will have an aplix or snap closure, and a water proof outer layer. Some all in ones will have an additional pocket space to add more absorbency. They can be made of natural or synthetic fibers. The cons to these diapers would be that the drying time is a bit longer, and sometimes they're not the easiest to get clean.
Intro to All-in-ones
Pocket Diapers simply put, are a cloth diaper that will be a shaped diaper with an outer waterproof material and a stay dry layer made of microfleece or suede cloth for example. There is a pocket where the absorbent material can be stuffed. In this pocket you can use premade inserts like the ones they sell with the Bumgenius one size pockets, or you can find some made of bamboo, hemp or cotton. You can also tri-fold a prefold or fold up a flat diaper and use that for closure. Pockets are usually found in "One Size" varities, but there are also sized varieties as well. They will have an aplix or snapping closure.
Intro to Pocket Diapers from Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry
All-in-twos are named such because they're made up of two pieces. They will have an outer shell which is water proof, and a way to attach an absorbant soaker to the inner part of the shell. Since these are a two piece system, they're all-in twos. This can also apply to hybrid systems like GroVia and Best Bottoms. Some believe that the shell must be reusable to be considered an all-in-two, but technically speaking, the term was coined before hybrid systems were even common.
Hybrid Diapers are diapers that will have an outer waterproof shell, and an area to snap in a soaker or lay in a disposable absorbant soaker. They usually only come in one-size varieties. they will have an aplix or snapping closure. They're referred to as hybrids because you can use a cloth or disposable soaker for these. Most of the time, the shells can be reused for multiple changes if they do not become wet or soiled. Once they've become wet, it's better to change the shell. They're an easy to use system, especially for people who don't want to cloth while out and about. All the convenience of cloth, with the disposable option! GroVia, Gdiapers and Flips would be great examples.
Additional links to more information and descriptions since the above may seem vague:
Jillians Drawers "How to Cloth" See the drop down menu, select 2. Sorting through different types of cloth diapers.
Cutie Poops & Bottoms Diaper Descriptions
Your answers to these questions will greatly determine how much and of what type of diapers you need. Give some thought to your goals before shopping.
For cloth diapering a 2 month old baby and washing diapers every 2 days, I use:
*2 Wet Pail Liners
*1 diaper pail/trash can
*1 on the go wetbag
*2 dozen prefolds
*1 Snappi
*6 covers (though I really only need 3-4 at this point)
*various pocket diapers (I use about 2 each night)
When I used to cloth diaper 2 children at the same time (who could wear the same size) and washed every 1 1/2 days, I used:
*3 dozen prefolds
*6 covers
*5 pocket diapers
*2 diaper pail liners, 1 diaper pail, 1 wetbag
*Fleece Liners (probably around 20)
This was the bare minimum for diapering both babies at the same time. More covers and pockets would have been good, as well as extra inserts for the pockets.
Truthfully, the optimal time is about 2 to 3 days. Now keep in mind a lot of factors can change this, but lets just say the average is about 2 days. It's a lot easier to clean the diapers when they have not been sitting around.
What I do with mine:
Full cold rinse on cold - This removes any excess poo and urine from the diapers a bit. It's always been a crucial step in our wash routine.
*optional* Cold wash with or without detergent.. Just keep in mind that if you DO choose to use detergent, you wouldn't use it in the next step if it's a shelf brand like Tide or Sun.
Full wash on Hot. This is another important part of our wash routine. I sometimes do the detergent on a cold wash and use the full hot wash without. It really seems to wash away any detergent left over easier.
Rinse on whatever temperature your heart desires, doesn't really matter. It varies person to person if they truly need this.
Do you need extras?
Great Washing Additive Thread
Here are a couple links with more info. on washing:
http://jilliansdrawers.com/newtocloth/washingcloth
http://www.abbyslane.com/Cloth-101_ep_42-1.html#Q4
http://www.kellyscloset.com/Cloth-Diaper-Information_ep_34-1.html#washing
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/washing-instructions.html
Another thing to keep in mind, is that some brands are very picky about how diapers are washed. Voiding a warranty is sometimes unavoidable, especially when a company doesn't want you washing in specific detergents.
Here are some detergent charts(feel free to link to others, I'd love to list as many as possible.. send me a pm, though):
http://pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm
http://jilliansdrawers.com/resources/detergentsforclothdiapers
I have a HE washer, do I need to wash my diapers a special way?
Here's a helpful link to washing with your front loading high efficiency machine:
Here's a site with a time evaluation that's worth checking out:
Prefolds and flat diapers are a great way to add bulk to your stash. They can be purchased very affordably, and they work well. Learning to use these can be a bit of a challenge at first, there are different folds, sizes and types.
Here's some more helpful links:
Newborn Diaper Discussion thread (older)
If you have a thread that was on babycenter, PLEASE PM me a link. I want it to have all of the newer brands out there. The above is an older thread. While a lot of diapers are still made, some may not be.
What about diaper creams and baby powder?
DO NOT use Butt paste/destine/etc with CD's unless you use a fleece/etc liner.
luckily most covers/pockets/etc come with snaps or velcro but just in case you want to pin here is some info.
How to pin a fitted diaper
How to pin a prefold diaper
A snappi is a T shaped diaper fastener that have teeth which grasp the fabric of the diaper. Here's a video from Diaper Shops to give you a visual.
First I try several hot washes. I check for bubbles because often, repelling and leaks are caused by too much detergent.
If that doesn't help, I'll try something like RLR or blue dawn. Dawn has been a favorite among cloth diapering moms for years. I do like it, but would not recommend using it if you have a front loader. It's hard to rinse out and isn't very user friendly. RLR is good stuff, I hear of moms having fantastic luck with it.
This thread may help you "decode" your washing arsenal:
Washing Help thread
What is a wool cover? How do I wash it?
Wool covers are made of varying types of wool, or wool blends. Some covers are knit or crocheted, some are made from upcycled wool sweaters, others made with wool interlock or another form of wool material. Wool is an excellent diaper cover material. Unlike waterproof materials like PUL, wool is completely breathable and has anti-microbial properties. It's an excellent choice of covers for heavy wetters, and believe it or not, it's fantastic in hot weather too. I did an experiment a couple years ago on my older kids. I used all wool on one kid, and all PUL on the other. The child in wool had less irritation and built up heat. The one with PUL covers had irritation likely from heat and no air circulation.
Caring for wool is very easy, and affordable. Firstly, wool only has to be washed and treated with lanolin every now and then. You will need to handwash them, but considering how easy it is it's not a big deal at all. I personally buy premade wool wash, because it's simply easier and it smells yummy. It takes all the guesswork and effort making my own, away. Not that making your own is tough, actually many mamas use plain Lansinoh lanolin, plus some baby shampoo to make their wash. I buy from this store, Ewe Need It .
Here is a wool washing tutorial that will help you out on your woolie adventures! Ewe Need It Guide to Wool Care
As long as you don't go overboard with buying diapers (trust me, it gets addictive with all the cool colors and prints out there), and stick with cloth diapers for a year you will probably come out ahead. Expecially if you use them for more than one child. Mine were paid off within 4 months.
Try this cost caluclator to get an idea of how long it will take before the cloth diapers have paid for themselves by switching from disposables.
Something noteworthy to add here is that cloth diapers that are kept well will have excellent resale value. Many moms find that when they're done with diapering their little ones, they can sell their stash and make some of the money back. Of course it's case by case, but it is something to keep in mind.
- What are prefolds, pockets, and AIOs???
Prefolds: are cloth diapers that are made up of layers. The middle has the most layers and is pretty absorbant. They are easy to fold into thirds, place on a cover, and simply fasten cover onto baby. Or, you can use a snappi or pins to have the prefold more fitted onto baby, (which is very helpful for keeping breastfeeding poo from leaking out).
Tutorials and video guides to using prefolds:
Folding tutorial
GMD "How to use cloth diapers"
Flat Diapers: Are made up of one large square single layer of cloth. They are usually made up of cotton. They're folded into the shape of a diaper and pinned or "snappied" closed. They can also be folded into a long rectangle and placed in a cover, or stuffed into a pocket diaper as an insert. These diapers are one of the easiest to care for because they wash clean so easily. They're also very affordablle, and since they're fairly large, they will last a long time.
Intro to Flats from Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry
Fitteds are cloth diapers that have snaps or velcro to fasten around baby. They are nice in that they are great for keeping runny poo (especially from newborns) from leaking out. If you want to use a fitted diaper under clothes or on the go, youwill need a cover. Some people let their children wear a fitted at home without a cover, but the fitted can become wet on the outside when soiled, so a cover is necessary if you want to ensure that clothing stays dry.
Fitted Diaper intro by Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry
Contured diapers are similar to prefolds, but they are shaped to fit baby. They fit very trim and are said not to need a snappi or pins. Like the prefolds, the contours highest absorbancy is in the middle. There are no snaps on the contoured diapers and you will need a cover over them.
Intro to Contours
All in Ones (AIO) are the most similar to a disposable. They are made up of one piece, sewn together. They will have an aplix or snap closure, and a water proof outer layer. Some all in ones will have an additional pocket space to add more absorbency. They can be made of natural or synthetic fibers. The cons to these diapers would be that the drying time is a bit longer, and sometimes they're not the easiest to get clean.
Intro to All-in-ones
Pocket Diapers simply put, are a cloth diaper that will be a shaped diaper with an outer waterproof material and a stay dry layer made of microfleece or suede cloth for example. There is a pocket where the absorbent material can be stuffed. In this pocket you can use premade inserts like the ones they sell with the Bumgenius one size pockets, or you can find some made of bamboo, hemp or cotton. You can also tri-fold a prefold or fold up a flat diaper and use that for closure. Pockets are usually found in "One Size" varities, but there are also sized varieties as well. They will have an aplix or snapping closure.
Intro to Pocket Diapers from Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry
All-in-twos are named such because they're made up of two pieces. They will have an outer shell which is water proof, and a way to attach an absorbant soaker to the inner part of the shell. Since these are a two piece system, they're all-in twos. This can also apply to hybrid systems like GroVia and Best Bottoms. Some believe that the shell must be reusable to be considered an all-in-two, but technically speaking, the term was coined before hybrid systems were even common.
Hybrid Diapers are diapers that will have an outer waterproof shell, and an area to snap in a soaker or lay in a disposable absorbant soaker. They usually only come in one-size varieties. they will have an aplix or snapping closure. They're referred to as hybrids because you can use a cloth or disposable soaker for these. Most of the time, the shells can be reused for multiple changes if they do not become wet or soiled. Once they've become wet, it's better to change the shell. They're an easy to use system, especially for people who don't want to cloth while out and about. All the convenience of cloth, with the disposable option! GroVia, Gdiapers and Flips would be great examples.
Additional links to more information and descriptions since the above may seem vague:
Jillians Drawers "How to Cloth" See the drop down menu, select 2. Sorting through different types of cloth diapers.
Cutie Poops & Bottoms Diaper Descriptions
- How much of everything do I need to buy to get started?
Your answers to these questions will greatly determine how much and of what type of diapers you need. Give some thought to your goals before shopping.
For cloth diapering a 2 month old baby and washing diapers every 2 days, I use:
*2 Wet Pail Liners
*1 diaper pail/trash can
*1 on the go wetbag
*2 dozen prefolds
*1 Snappi
*6 covers (though I really only need 3-4 at this point)
*various pocket diapers (I use about 2 each night)
When I used to cloth diaper 2 children at the same time (who could wear the same size) and washed every 1 1/2 days, I used:
*3 dozen prefolds
*6 covers
*5 pocket diapers
*2 diaper pail liners, 1 diaper pail, 1 wetbag
*Fleece Liners (probably around 20)
This was the bare minimum for diapering both babies at the same time. More covers and pockets would have been good, as well as extra inserts for the pockets.
- How often do I need to wash the diapers and covers?
Truthfully, the optimal time is about 2 to 3 days. Now keep in mind a lot of factors can change this, but lets just say the average is about 2 days. It's a lot easier to clean the diapers when they have not been sitting around.
- How do I wash Cloth Diapers?
What I do with mine:
Full cold rinse on cold - This removes any excess poo and urine from the diapers a bit. It's always been a crucial step in our wash routine.
*optional* Cold wash with or without detergent.. Just keep in mind that if you DO choose to use detergent, you wouldn't use it in the next step if it's a shelf brand like Tide or Sun.
Full wash on Hot. This is another important part of our wash routine. I sometimes do the detergent on a cold wash and use the full hot wash without. It really seems to wash away any detergent left over easier.
Rinse on whatever temperature your heart desires, doesn't really matter. It varies person to person if they truly need this.
Do you need extras?
Great Washing Additive Thread
Here are a couple links with more info. on washing:
http://jilliansdrawers.com/newtocloth/washingcloth
http://www.abbyslane.com/Cloth-101_ep_42-1.html#Q4
http://www.kellyscloset.com/Cloth-Diaper-Information_ep_34-1.html#washing
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/washing-instructions.html
- What types of Detergents are alright to use?
Another thing to keep in mind, is that some brands are very picky about how diapers are washed. Voiding a warranty is sometimes unavoidable, especially when a company doesn't want you washing in specific detergents.
Here are some detergent charts(feel free to link to others, I'd love to list as many as possible.. send me a pm, though):
http://pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm
http://jilliansdrawers.com/resources/detergentsforclothdiapers
I have a HE washer, do I need to wash my diapers a special way?
Here's a helpful link to washing with your front loading high efficiency machine:
- I can't keep up with regular laundry, how in the world would I be able to keep up with washing diapers too?!?
Here's a site with a time evaluation that's worth checking out:
- How do I cloth diaper a newborn? Do you have any special advice?
Prefolds and flat diapers are a great way to add bulk to your stash. They can be purchased very affordably, and they work well. Learning to use these can be a bit of a challenge at first, there are different folds, sizes and types.
Here's some more helpful links:
Newborn Diaper Discussion thread (older)
If you have a thread that was on babycenter, PLEASE PM me a link. I want it to have all of the newer brands out there. The above is an older thread. While a lot of diapers are still made, some may not be.
What about diaper creams and baby powder?
DO NOT use Butt paste/destine/etc with CD's unless you use a fleece/etc liner.
- The good news is that there are many cloth diaper safe creams out there. Most are made with natural ingredients, which is nice. Here's a nice link with a very helpful chart!
- HOW DO I MAKE MY OWN WIPES SOLUTION?
- There are many recipes you can follow and truth be told, water works just fine, too. Here are some helpful links to wipe solution recipes:
- Zany Zebra Wipe Solution Tutorial
- Diva Diapers Wipe Solution Complete Guide
- Can you use cloth diapers while out of the house? What about for longer trips?
- Pinstripes and Polkadots Article This may help you further.
luckily most covers/pockets/etc come with snaps or velcro but just in case you want to pin here is some info.
How to pin a fitted diaper
How to pin a prefold diaper
A snappi is a T shaped diaper fastener that have teeth which grasp the fabric of the diaper. Here's a video from Diaper Shops to give you a visual.
- What do all these abbreviations I keep seeing stand for? Such as FB, CD, BG, and PD?
- Do you have any sites you reccommend for getting reviews on cloth diapering brands?
- My diapers are starting to leak a lot and I think it may be due to detergant build up. How do I strip the diapers?
First I try several hot washes. I check for bubbles because often, repelling and leaks are caused by too much detergent.
If that doesn't help, I'll try something like RLR or blue dawn. Dawn has been a favorite among cloth diapering moms for years. I do like it, but would not recommend using it if you have a front loader. It's hard to rinse out and isn't very user friendly. RLR is good stuff, I hear of moms having fantastic luck with it.
This thread may help you "decode" your washing arsenal:
Washing Help thread
What is a wool cover? How do I wash it?
Wool covers are made of varying types of wool, or wool blends. Some covers are knit or crocheted, some are made from upcycled wool sweaters, others made with wool interlock or another form of wool material. Wool is an excellent diaper cover material. Unlike waterproof materials like PUL, wool is completely breathable and has anti-microbial properties. It's an excellent choice of covers for heavy wetters, and believe it or not, it's fantastic in hot weather too. I did an experiment a couple years ago on my older kids. I used all wool on one kid, and all PUL on the other. The child in wool had less irritation and built up heat. The one with PUL covers had irritation likely from heat and no air circulation.
Caring for wool is very easy, and affordable. Firstly, wool only has to be washed and treated with lanolin every now and then. You will need to handwash them, but considering how easy it is it's not a big deal at all. I personally buy premade wool wash, because it's simply easier and it smells yummy. It takes all the guesswork and effort making my own, away. Not that making your own is tough, actually many mamas use plain Lansinoh lanolin, plus some baby shampoo to make their wash. I buy from this store, Ewe Need It .
Here is a wool washing tutorial that will help you out on your woolie adventures! Ewe Need It Guide to Wool Care
Deciphering a RASH???
Common Diaper RashesType of Rash
Appearance
Location
Contact Rash
This rash is usually flat and tends to look like welts. Occasionally it can also look like either very, tiny red bumps like a heat rash or slightly larger bumps like hives.
Usually around the waist and leg areas. Can also appear along bum and genital area.
Ammonia Burn
This rash is flat and looks more like a carpet burn. It tends to be a round, red splotch and can be anywhere from the size of a penny to the size of an orange slice. It’s also sensitive to the touch. The outside of baby’s genitals may also appear unusually bright red.
This rash usually appears on baby’s bum.
Yeast Rash
This rash looks like bad acne. Bumps will appear large (and sometimes open) like large pores or pimples.
Usually appears first around baby's genitals and bum and then spreads.
1. Contact Rash
THE CAUSE:
If the rash appears mostly around the leg and waist area, then it's likely caused by chafing (i.e. baby’s movement is causing rubbing along the edges of the diaper.) If the rash appears mostly around the bum area, then it's likely caused by a materialallergy (i.e. an allergy to synthetic materials).
THE SOLUTION:
Material Allergy Solutions
Some babies are sensitive to synthetic materials. If you're child developed rashes while wearing disposables diapers, this is likely the reason why. If this is the case, you'll need to switch to diapers where only natural fibers touch her skin (e.g. cotton, bamboo and hemp). Many pocket diapers have a fleece or suede cloth inner lining. Fleece and suede cloth are synthetic materials derived from plastic. If your baby has a sensitivity to synthetic materials, these types of diapers will cause a rash wherever the fleece or suede cloth touches baby skin. To avoid this, consider diapers with all natural inner lining materials likePooters, Softbums, Sustainablebabyish, Swaddlebees, Green Acre Designs, Happy Heinys, and Bum Genius Elementals.
Chafing Solutions:
The solution varies on this one. Some diapers (typically fitteds and contours) are made in a way that the stitching on the edge of the diaper faces outward. For some babies, this stitching can irritate their skin. If this is the case, you should look for diapers labeled T&T which means “turned and top-stitched”. Basically this means the stitching is hidden. Most WAHMs (Work at Home Moms) will label their diapers this way, most larger manufacturers make their diapers this way but don’t label them as such.
Another solution could be to change the type of diaper. For example, diapers that snap on the side tend to allow for more adjustability in the leg area which is great for babies with chunky thighs. Consequently, some diapers that close in the front can be difficult to adjust for babies with chunky thighs and they can be tight in the leg area causing chafing when they move.
Lastly, your child could have a sensitivity to latex. This is rare (less than 8% of the population) but does happen. Some diapers have exposed elastic in the leg and waist area. The contact of that elastic with baby’s skin can cause this type of rash. In this case I recommend switching to a diaper that has enclosed elastic. Below are just a few examples.
1. Latex-free Brands: Swaddlebees, Snap EZ, Thirsties, Blueberry, Kissaluvs, Bummis, and Imse Vimse
2. Covered Elastic Brands: Smartipants, Happy Heinys, Softbums, Rocky Mountain and Pooters
2. Ammonia Burn
THE CAUSE:
The culprit is usually one of two things – detergent buildup or moisture sensitivity. Detergent buildup is easy to detect in that at diaper change, the diaper will most likely wreak of ammonia. Basically what it means is that your diaper hasn’t been getting fully cleaned each time you washed. Some detergents are harder to rinse out than others. Some fabrics (e.g. microfiber) hold on to detergent moreso than others. And some places have really hard water or really soft water which can make it difficult to clean in general – much less clean a cloth diaper.
Moisture sensitivity however is almost the opposite of detergent buildup. The diaper most likely will NOT wreak of ammonia at diaper change. In this case the baby is probably just really sensitive to moisture sitting against her skin and the simple contact with it is causing the rash.
THE SOLUTION:
First, to help clear the rash, use a good, cloth-diaper friendly ointment like Earth Mama Angel Baby or Grandma El's - applying it liberally to the irritated area.
Detergent Buildup
If it’s a detergent buildup issue , then you need to strip your diapers. Stripping diapers is the process of removing all buildup from your diapers. You may also consider changing detergents as some cause less buildup overtime than others. Good detergents to use are Country Save, Lulu's In the Fluff, Ecosprout, and Rockin' Green. They’re cloth diaper friendly, natural and free of ingredients that can irritate your baby’s skin.
Moisture Sensitivity
If it’s a moisture sensitivity issue, then you can try either changing your baby more often (i.e. every 2 to 3 hours) or using microfleece to create a moisture wicking barrier between baby and the diaper. Some pocket diapers come with a microfleece interior so the layer is already there. Other diapers (like fitteds and prefolds) for example usually have a natural fiber against baby’s skin which doesn’t wick moisture away. To fix that, buy microfleece fabric from your local fabric store. Cut the fabric to fit inside of each diaper and lay it on top to create the barrier between baby and the diaper. The fleece will wick the moisture away to keep baby dry. You can also purchase precut fleece liners online like the ones made by Bummis.
3. Yeast Rash
THE CAUSE:
The culprit is almost always baby’s diet. A diet high in citrus, dairy or gluten will kill good bacteria in baby’s poo and when it comes the bad bacteria will cause this type of rash. This also works the same if mommy is breastfeeding and eats something with citrus, dairy or gluten.
THE SOLUTION:
Change baby’s diet to restore good bacteria to her system, clear up the rash, and disinfect each cloth diaper load for the next 5 days to kill the bacteria in the diaper. For more details read Getting Rid of Yeast Diaper Rash
Appearance
Location
Contact Rash
This rash is usually flat and tends to look like welts. Occasionally it can also look like either very, tiny red bumps like a heat rash or slightly larger bumps like hives.
Usually around the waist and leg areas. Can also appear along bum and genital area.
Ammonia Burn
This rash is flat and looks more like a carpet burn. It tends to be a round, red splotch and can be anywhere from the size of a penny to the size of an orange slice. It’s also sensitive to the touch. The outside of baby’s genitals may also appear unusually bright red.
This rash usually appears on baby’s bum.
Yeast Rash
This rash looks like bad acne. Bumps will appear large (and sometimes open) like large pores or pimples.
Usually appears first around baby's genitals and bum and then spreads.
1. Contact Rash
THE CAUSE:
If the rash appears mostly around the leg and waist area, then it's likely caused by chafing (i.e. baby’s movement is causing rubbing along the edges of the diaper.) If the rash appears mostly around the bum area, then it's likely caused by a materialallergy (i.e. an allergy to synthetic materials).
THE SOLUTION:
Material Allergy Solutions
Some babies are sensitive to synthetic materials. If you're child developed rashes while wearing disposables diapers, this is likely the reason why. If this is the case, you'll need to switch to diapers where only natural fibers touch her skin (e.g. cotton, bamboo and hemp). Many pocket diapers have a fleece or suede cloth inner lining. Fleece and suede cloth are synthetic materials derived from plastic. If your baby has a sensitivity to synthetic materials, these types of diapers will cause a rash wherever the fleece or suede cloth touches baby skin. To avoid this, consider diapers with all natural inner lining materials likePooters, Softbums, Sustainablebabyish, Swaddlebees, Green Acre Designs, Happy Heinys, and Bum Genius Elementals.
Chafing Solutions:
The solution varies on this one. Some diapers (typically fitteds and contours) are made in a way that the stitching on the edge of the diaper faces outward. For some babies, this stitching can irritate their skin. If this is the case, you should look for diapers labeled T&T which means “turned and top-stitched”. Basically this means the stitching is hidden. Most WAHMs (Work at Home Moms) will label their diapers this way, most larger manufacturers make their diapers this way but don’t label them as such.
Another solution could be to change the type of diaper. For example, diapers that snap on the side tend to allow for more adjustability in the leg area which is great for babies with chunky thighs. Consequently, some diapers that close in the front can be difficult to adjust for babies with chunky thighs and they can be tight in the leg area causing chafing when they move.
Lastly, your child could have a sensitivity to latex. This is rare (less than 8% of the population) but does happen. Some diapers have exposed elastic in the leg and waist area. The contact of that elastic with baby’s skin can cause this type of rash. In this case I recommend switching to a diaper that has enclosed elastic. Below are just a few examples.
1. Latex-free Brands: Swaddlebees, Snap EZ, Thirsties, Blueberry, Kissaluvs, Bummis, and Imse Vimse
2. Covered Elastic Brands: Smartipants, Happy Heinys, Softbums, Rocky Mountain and Pooters
2. Ammonia Burn
THE CAUSE:
The culprit is usually one of two things – detergent buildup or moisture sensitivity. Detergent buildup is easy to detect in that at diaper change, the diaper will most likely wreak of ammonia. Basically what it means is that your diaper hasn’t been getting fully cleaned each time you washed. Some detergents are harder to rinse out than others. Some fabrics (e.g. microfiber) hold on to detergent moreso than others. And some places have really hard water or really soft water which can make it difficult to clean in general – much less clean a cloth diaper.
Moisture sensitivity however is almost the opposite of detergent buildup. The diaper most likely will NOT wreak of ammonia at diaper change. In this case the baby is probably just really sensitive to moisture sitting against her skin and the simple contact with it is causing the rash.
THE SOLUTION:
First, to help clear the rash, use a good, cloth-diaper friendly ointment like Earth Mama Angel Baby or Grandma El's - applying it liberally to the irritated area.
Detergent Buildup
If it’s a detergent buildup issue , then you need to strip your diapers. Stripping diapers is the process of removing all buildup from your diapers. You may also consider changing detergents as some cause less buildup overtime than others. Good detergents to use are Country Save, Lulu's In the Fluff, Ecosprout, and Rockin' Green. They’re cloth diaper friendly, natural and free of ingredients that can irritate your baby’s skin.
Moisture Sensitivity
If it’s a moisture sensitivity issue, then you can try either changing your baby more often (i.e. every 2 to 3 hours) or using microfleece to create a moisture wicking barrier between baby and the diaper. Some pocket diapers come with a microfleece interior so the layer is already there. Other diapers (like fitteds and prefolds) for example usually have a natural fiber against baby’s skin which doesn’t wick moisture away. To fix that, buy microfleece fabric from your local fabric store. Cut the fabric to fit inside of each diaper and lay it on top to create the barrier between baby and the diaper. The fleece will wick the moisture away to keep baby dry. You can also purchase precut fleece liners online like the ones made by Bummis.
3. Yeast Rash
THE CAUSE:
The culprit is almost always baby’s diet. A diet high in citrus, dairy or gluten will kill good bacteria in baby’s poo and when it comes the bad bacteria will cause this type of rash. This also works the same if mommy is breastfeeding and eats something with citrus, dairy or gluten.
THE SOLUTION:
Change baby’s diet to restore good bacteria to her system, clear up the rash, and disinfect each cloth diaper load for the next 5 days to kill the bacteria in the diaper. For more details read Getting Rid of Yeast Diaper Rash