SECOND HAND DIAPERS - do it with honour.

I have had the chance (in the past) to thankfully receive 2nd hand cloth diapers from friends and neighbours.  It was actually my introduction to diapers other then Kushies, as well as some different styles.  The diapers I was gifted were clean and fresh.  No stink, no ammonia.   Freshly laundered. 

Here's the thing I received them in good condition, the same way I gift second hand items: in good condition.  

I have also passed on diaper stashes (after baby #4 and #5), when I thought I do longer needed the stash.  Did I pass on my entire stash?  Nope.  I passed on the ones in good condition.   The others went to diaper heaven (aka: the rag bin). 

I never had ammonia so that wasn't the issue.  And thankfully baby and I never had to fight thrush.  So they were all healthy diapers that I washed clean, sun bleached,  ironed and folded so they would be like new to the next mom and baby.  Ever heard the term "New to me"?  Well that's not just about having something 2nd hand you didn't have before,  it should be about receiving something 2nd hand in the best condition so it feels as new as possible. 

In fact anytime I pass on items second hand, or donate items second hand I do two things.  1. launder them with care.  2. sort out what's in good condition and what isn't.  I dont just garbage bag up my junk and pass it onto someone else to deal with.  I was taught to pass on in an honourable manner. To pass on for someone else's enjoyment,  not for my convenience.   I thought all people were.  Apparently I was wrong. 

I recently have heard 3 reports of people buying 2nd hand diapers only to discover they have ammonia.   If you have had ammonia once, cleared it properly out of your diapers, then.continued to use your diapers.without issue, sure pass them on or re-sell them...but be honest about the diapers history.   If you have reoccurring ammonia issues (they stink often and / or you need to strip often), or if you just stripped for ammonia and are now done with the stash (having not gone back to using them you cant know the issue is gone), then your diapers are not fit to pass on or re-sell!  Why would anyone think passing on an issue like this is ok?  It's not ok!  Ammonia causes painful rash on babies bums so passing on that diaper is essentially hurting someone else's baby! 

Like I've said a few times, Im old to cloth diapering but new to the internet world of cloth.  I dont know much about these buy/sell/trade sites.  I haven't ordered diapers off eBay.   I almost received diapers off kijiji but it fell through.   But I do know this. 
when giving/selling : Be honest about your diapers history.  If your embarrassed of its history then send it to your rag bin.  Tell the receiving person up front:
•If baby has had a yeast problem. 
•If diapers have had ammonia (stink), if so how often, how you treated and how  long without ammonia were they last used.
• If and how often you stripped the diapers
• did you add bleach,  scents, fabric softeners to your laundry.
• Any atypical use or care. 
•Any absorbency issues
• Any question the buyer / receiving party has!
When receiving / buying second hand: You want to receive a clean healthy diaper so be prepared:
• Ask questions (see above list).
• Ask about return / refund policy and make sure it's practical
• Only purchase healthy, clean diapers
•Be wary of those stripping and bleaching often and choose a different buyer.  Cuz even if the diaper no longer has an issue, that much wear will be producing some tare. 
•make sure you can test and return. (soak in water and check for smells, inspect diaper for damage).
• Dont get diapers connected to sites that have unending ammonia / stripping habits. 

One would wish that everyone would pass on or re-sell  with honour.   But apparently that's not the case.  So be honourable when you pass on and be wise when you receive.  If your fave site for second hand has issues then suggest some rules, a history of items sold, a buyer and seller rating system and a standard return policy that is reasonable to the buyer and the seller.  Or set up your own site, perhaps a local one where all diapers go through those managing the site to make sure items are always being passed on in an honourable way. 

HOW TO FOLD A PREFOLD PART 1 -Tri-fold- using my prefold hybrids.

So if you've decided your going to start using prefolds, it is good to know a few folds.  There is no need to learn all the folds, as no single mom is likely to need all the various folds in her repitoire.  Sure someone should know them all to keep that knowledge alive.  But if your like me, and your an average mom then a few will do.  So I will create a few posts with each detailing a different fold. I will be using the prefolds I have made as having velcro and gathered legs changes a few things.  Rember I said when a mom makes changes they work for her? Well the folds I use aren't really effected by either, so they work.  If I was a mom who used the bikini twist fold, I never woulda designed these prefold hybrids or used velcro.  However I've never used it, so I am not concerned about that.  See; the diaper with the best options for you.

The Tri-Fold

                                         

The pic on the left is my flat prefold in tri_fold.  The pic on the right is my prefold hybrid (inside a diaper).

The tri-fold is used to turn a pre-fold into an insert, for extra absorbency in a diaper.  The are used in all types of dippers as a soaker layer, especially for overnight diapering.  a Tri-folded diaper is also common as the insert for a pocket diaper.  To be honest I don't see my prefolds being used as a soaker layer, they are just way thicker then needed as an insert in a regularly changed diaper (except maybe at night for a heavy wetter).  The would be great as the insert in a pocket diaper.  I'll be making 3 layer flannel inserts anyway.  So why share this?  Any cloth diaper Mom should be aware of the tri-fold because it is useful,  especially in a pinch.

 

Tri fold is simple:
1. lay diaper flat.
2. fold 1/3 over.
3. fold other 1/3 over.
Now you have an insert for a diaper.  When done with my hybrid, the tri-fold curves up into shape of baby.

Yes that was simple.  The other folds are simple as well.  Not fold in 1/3rds, but still very basic.  Next will be the Angel Fold.

OH THE INTERNET PART 3. All that I Know

When I stopped worrying about what everyone else liked, thought about what I liked, figured out what I know and what I need to know, it all became so much easier.  Really that's a life lesson in general. 

First step was answering my own question: details of my diaper of choice.  Well last time I picked Kushies basic fitted diaper.  I liked it cuz it worked as well as the others, it was cheaper, it dried faster, and I was able to get it to fit a newborn cuz it was less bulky.   So I looked up its details.  I have to say I was surprised that it was 2 layers cotton flannel and 2 absorbant layers in the core.  If it was a prefold it would be 2/4/2.  Wish all diapers were labelled like prefolds.  Anyway that made me wonder about the layers of other diapers.  Most are much thicker (6-8 layers), one had 11 layers!  Ok so if I was happy with a 2/4/2, then I should make a 2/4/2.  Why waste money or material? 

So what do I know about fabric for diapers?  Well I like cotton flannel.  It works well, is natural and isn't prone to build up or ammonia.  It washes well, doesn't pile, dries well.  I do not like fleece or microfiber inside a diaper or as a liner.  It is prone to build up and ammonia (which causes smell and diaper rash).  It is water repellent which to me only makes sense on the outside of a diaper.  Also fleece piles and can be very warm in the summer.  Now I was aware there are other fabric options so I checked them out on-line and talking to people.  I really like the idea of hemp and bamboo as well as zorb (cotton/bamboo viscose blend). 

Now I've always liked fitted diapers due to their ease of use.  But there are things I like about a prefold too.  In fact I'd choose a prefold over a fitted if they did up with Velcro like the ones my mom made for mine and my sisters dolls.  The snappi's for prefolds do make them easy to do up but I'd lose them and constantly need to buy more.  So would Daddy Moss.  We both have a bad habit of misplacing things in the oddest of places (plus side is we clean often to find misplaced stuff lol).  Prefolds dry faster then a fitted of the same thickness.  Why? Because the gathered legs bunches the fabric increasing drying time.  Also if you line dry or sun/grass bleach a diaper they sometimes feel a little stiff till you iron them which is tricky on a fitted (a 10 min fluff dry in the dryer works though if you have home laundry).  Also fitted diapers dont get as good a coverage when you sun/grass bleach.  (I'll discuss all that in another post).  Well I decided I'd make a prefold then.  It actually took about 3 days to realize that I could just make a prefold with Velcro like my old doll diapers lol. 

Now if your thinking "Man, she had this so sorted out" let me assure you that I took days going over this.  I had several moments where the allure of consumerism took me off track.  I felt stressed at times. And several moments where I forgot to trust my own knowledge and experience or just call up my mom.  I've edited that out so as not to drag you all through that :) But I do want to assure you that these feelings are normal and I went through them too. 

Now as I mentioned in the last post I had read and viewed home experiments showing how much liquid today's modern cloth diapers can hold.  And as you know I find it ridiculous.  So I researched how much the average baby's urine output is.  It's 1/2 oz per pee with about 10 oz over the course of a full day.  So yeah a few layers of an absorbent material and a diaper cover (attached like an AIO or seperate)  is enough, as it has been for all the generations before us....so long as you change it. 

So after looking at all that I know and looking for specific info I finally made a confident decision about what would make me happy with a diaper.  2/4/2 prefold of cotton flannel/ bamboo Terry  & zorb/ cotton flannel.  Also my ideal would do up with Velcro.  It would be sized in infant and later toddler (when I need them). It will have seperate wraps and cotton flannel liners.  It will cost me $70 to make a set of 29 diapers and 3 night wraps (more on this later).  I've heard I'm getting PUL wraps and cotton flannel liners at my shower so no worries there.  Also that's not a huge expense anyhow.  I feel these will be affordable to make, wash and dry.  Effective, sensible and easy to use.  And neither scrimp nor waste. 

Oh one last note.  I do prefer the idea of hemp over bamboo although they have the same advantages hemp had a few more checks in my mind....until I went to get it.  My local fabric store doesn't carry either material and to order I would have to pay more for shipping and have shipped from further away to get hemp Terry.  I can get bamboo Terry and zorb from 5 hours away.  This was an ecological as well as a financial choice.  

This process if choosing what your ideal is can be used even.if your new to diapering.  It just will take more imagination and more research.  Instead of pouring over pages of diapers first,  pour over information about fabric, laundry etc.  Think about your laundry realities.  Check out blogs where mom's talk about laundry, diaper rash etc.  Think about whats important to you financially and ecologically.  Then looking at the basic styles and options picture yourself using them. Read what others found to be advantages and disadvantages.  If they say a diaper doesn't work cuz it leaks move on.  Write down what you do and dont want.  Now go find (or make) that diaper.  Then enjoy your fluff :)