If all of this feels familiar to you then you just may be headed for a miracle…. Miracle Diapers that is. Miracle Diapers is a cloth diaper charity that sends families cloth diapers to use on their babies or toddlers. There are no income minimums or maximums so even if you don’t fit typical low-income guidelines don’t hesitate to apply. You simply give them your financial information and describe your personal situation to them. Then they determine which families can participate in the program.

Cloth diaper recipients are asked to pay for postage, sign and agreement and return the diapers when they are done. At that point, if you need to size up, Miracle Diapers will re-evaluate your situation and then send you the next size diapers. You can even get instructions on how to cloth diaper with your package.

Truly an amazing program. Miracle Diapers accepts all kinds of donations. Even cloth diapers that are in need of repair can be donated. If you want to cloth diaper or maybe need to for financial reasons but are having a difficult time with the initial investment, visit Miracle Diapers and fill out their easy online application. Applications are accepted every other month so don’t wait, visit the application page to see if you can apply this month.

If you’d like to donate new or used cloth diapers, Miracle Diapers would be glad to accept your donation and you’ll be helping them to ‘cloth diaper the world, one baby at a time.’

I have experienced this first hand and have to say that I do believe that young children who are already sensitive can be highly affected by the use of disposable diapers. My son suffered from RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) as a newborn and has had asthma-like symptoms since. His symptoms sometimes require breathing treatments. Recently we had to put him in disposables because he developed a reaction to synthetic fabric. (We were using Fuzzi Bunz which have polyester fleece lining.) The wait for cotton diapers took longer than anticipated and after just a few days of being in disposables he began to have labored breathing which did not subside. Keeping him in the Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers was probably a lesser evil then using the disposable diapers.

Parents with children who have existing breathing problems have a good reason to switch to cloth diapers. There is not a good reason to keep using products that have a large possibility of increasing health risks. Read the complete article about disposable diapers being linked to asthma and find out which disposable diapers did not release the bronchial irritants.

I did splurge and get a few colored diapers since only the outside is dyed with non-toxic dyes and the inside is unbleached and untouched by dyes. There is also a snap-in organic velour doubler which was an important feature for me because I really wanted the cotton to be able to rinse well. When the doublers are sewn in the cloth doesn’t seem to be able to rinse as well which can lead to build up.

Loveybums have a lot of snaps which is great for a perfect fit. The diapers fit really well and have a lower rise which is good for movement in active little toddlers. The sizing seems to be really accurate in regards to weight which can be a rare truth in some cloth diaper brands. They also dry on the line quickly which is another plus of getting the snap in doubler.

I wash my organic cotton Loveybums on the gentle cycle. The manufacturers website doesn’t recommend to, they actually don’t recommend what wash setting to wash them on except for mentioning the water temp which is warm. I have chosen to wash them on gentle because organic cotton tends to be a bit more sensitive to washing and a gentle cycle can help prolong the life of your diapers. Line drying can help extend the life of the cloth diapers also but if you can’t line dry then I recommend drying on low.

The only place to get new Loveybums online is at Loveybums.com or you can buy them used on sites like DiaperSwappers, the MDC Trading Post, or another used cloth diaper site. I was lucky enough to find mine at a local store called Fresh & Green. They only sell Loveybums in their store but they do offer through the online store another great organic fitted cloth diaper made by ecobaby .

Now’s your chance to make the switch to cloth diapers for free. If you don’t happen to win, then you should make sure you read diaper reviews before making your cloth diaper purchase. Make sure to check our site for stores offering cloth diaper discounts and sales.

When I cloth diapered my first daughter, I used prefolds and there were times when I just tossed the prefold in the garbage. Now that I use Fuzzi Bunz, I wouldn’t dare do such a thing. I know, I know, throwing poop in the garbage is gross and nobody should do it. Not even those who use disposables. We should always flush poop! (I only did it maybe twice.) I guess what I really feel is a little bit of an inconvenience when away from home is cloth wipes. When at home I always use cloth wipes along with cloth diapers but I keep dry wipes and a spray bottle with a diaper wipe solution on hand at my diaper changing area. I just spray the wipe when needed. So, when I’m leaving the house and already have what seems like a hundred things to gather up, including my two children, the cloth wipes seem to be such a hassle. And no matter what type of solution I use they always stink in just a short period of time. I have to admit, I do use disposable wipes often when I’m away from home….but come on, we have to give ourselves a break. The amount I’m using is really insignificant when considering the amount I would use if I never used cloth. I really can’t even remember the last time I bought a package of diaper wipes.

So just as encouragement to moms who think cloth diapering is too much, you can give yourself a break and do it part-time at home and use disposables when you are away. You will still save money, reduce waste and give your baby the softness of cloth.

How Did This Happen?
Stripping cloth diapers is really regular maintenance. Because cloth diapers are absorbant, they are bound to absorb detergent in their many layers. When cloth diapers get a build-up of detergent residue in their layers, a strong odor is created when the diapers become soiled. There are a few ways cloth diapers can get detergent build-up: If the water you wash your diapers in is hard, the detergent may not rinse out thoroughly which will cause a build-up of detergent. Using too much detergent in the wash can also cause the diapers to have a detergent build-up. Stay away from pure castile soaps like Dr. Bronner’s because these will leave a residue on your diapers.

Not using enough detergent can also be a problem. So either way you look at it, you are probably going to need to strip your cloth diapers. One way to keep your cloth diapers from getting a detergent build-up too quickly is to use a second rinse after the wash is completed. If you live in an area with hard water, try using a 1/4 cup vinegar in the rinse; this helps soften the water, allowing more detergent to rinse out of the diapers. You can get a downy ball in the laundry aisle at the grocery store and add vinegar to that, throw it in the wash and it will dispense at just the right time.

How to Strip Cloth Diapers
Stripping cloth diapers is a rather simple process and there is more than one way to do it. There are products available to help with stripping diapers but they aren’t always necessary. I have stripped cloth diapers before using my washing machine, cold water and several rinse cycles. But, here are the stripping methods that I have found to be most effective and safe for just about any cloth diaper.

Method #1: Simple, Routine Stripping
On a regular basis I do some maintenance stripping. All you need to do is set your washing machine on a heavy duty cycle with a hot wash and don’t add any detergent. Add your clean cloth diapers. When the washer is done filling and it begins to agitate, open the lid and check for any suds in the water. Even if you see a layer of film you will want to repeat the wash cycle again until you no longer see any detergent in the water during agitation.

Once you no longer see detergent in the water your diapers have been stripped. See, that was easy. Now that your diapers are shiny clean, make sure you are washing your cloth diapers correctly.

Method #2: RLR Treatment
RLR Laundry Treatment is a water softener and is available in most major grocery stores and online. It is totally safe, free of phosphates, bleach and other harsh chemicals. What it does is remove mineral deposits and detergent build up. When you use RLR Laundry Treatment, wash your clean cloth diapers on a hot wash with one package of RLR added to the wash. You will most likely see a lot of foamy white suds. Continue washing and rinsing on the hot cycle until you don’t see anymore filmy soap in the washer. It is best to use a heavy duty cycle because you get a stronger agitation which can help release more detergent build up into the water.

Method #3: Stripping Fleece Pocket Diapers
Synthetic materials like fleece often don’t rinse out very well. This can cause pocket diapers to have an odor and the build up can cause them to repel which will result in leakage. Using diaper creams without using a liner against the fleece can also cause repelling issues. In this case, there is a little bit more labor involved.

If you find that your pocket diapers need stripping you need to do it by hand. First soak the pocket diapers in hot water with some dawn dish soap for about 30 minutes. Then take a soft scrub brush and scrub the entire layer of fleece both inside and out. Then wash the pocket covers in the washer until you don’t see any soapy residue left in the water.

How to Avoid Detergent Build Up in Cloth Diapers
Avoiding detergent build up in cloth diapers is just about impossible. If you use and wash your diapers enough, they are bound to absorb detergent and need stripping. But, you can prolong the time between stripping diapers by giving your cloth diapers an extra rinse after the complete wash cycle has finished.

Choosing the right detergent can also make a difference but users of cloth diapers and manufacturer’s opinions vary widely on the best detergents to use.

Add 1/4 cup vinegar into the rinse if you have hard water. This will help the detergent rinse out better and it acts as a softener.

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Use only half the recommended amount of detergent in the wash to prevent build-up.

Wash no more than 20 diapers at a time.

Hang cloth diapers on a line outside and let the sun bleach out any stains.

How to Wash Cloth Diapers

Easy as 123
Washing cloth diapers is really easy and very similar to the rest of the laundry you’re used to washing but there are a few different things you should know when washing your cloth diapers. The first thing to know is that if your diapers have special directions from the manufacturer you should always follow those. For the most part, any special directions usually consist of not soaking the outer diaper cover or pocket that is made of PUL (polyurethane liningor laminate) and a manufacturer may recommend a certain detergent that they think works best. For instance Fuzzi Bunz recommends Allen’s Naturally or Charlie’s Soap.

Step 1
The first step in washing cloth diapers in how you keep them in between baby wearing them and washing them. Our mothers used wet pails, which is also known as a soak method. Soaking diaper covers made with PUL can cause the lining to seperate and you won’t get the life out of them that you should. The times of wet pails have passed…not only are wet pails dangerous to have around small children since they are a drowning hazard but they are also messier than a dry pail. A dry pail is simply a diaper pail that holds your cloth diapers after they have been used. Before putting a soiled diaper in a diaper pail any solids should be knocked off into the toilet.

A convenient way to use a dry pail is to line it with a bag. Reusable ones are available from most cloth diaper retailers. These resusable liners are made with PUL and keep you from having to wash out the diaper pail. The liner can be thrown in the wash with the diapers.

Step 2
The second step in how to wash cloth diapers is the detergent you choose to wash with. There are four types of products that shouldn’t be used to wash cloth diapers: pure soap, like Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap and detergents that contain citrus oils, enzymes or fabric softeners. Most detergents that can be purchased at a natural foods store have citrus oils and enzymes in them. These oils can build up in the cloth diaper and do two things; since water and oil don’t mix, your diapers won’t be as clean as they should be in future washes and oil also repels urine which will cause leakage at the most inopportune time for you. Enzymes break the material down, fabric softeners will also leave a residue on the cloth diapers and repel urine. Pure soaps shouldn’t be used because they will build up in the absorbant layers of the cloth diaper and cause unwanted odors. If this happens then the diapers will have to be stripped.

So, you can see that cloth diapering is really easy so far…change the diaper, knock solids off into the toilet, and place in the dry pail.

Step 3
Now that you are ready to wash them you’ll want to decide if the load is really soiled or not. If the load is really soiled then an initial rinse should be done before the actual wash. This is done because diapers shouldn’t be washed in dirty water. If they aren’t very soiled than you can start with a wash.

Typically, you’ll want to use half the amount of detergent with cloth diapers than you would with a regular laundry load. Wash diapers on a hot setting with a cold rinse. After the wash is complete, you may want to run a second rinse to ensure your diapers won’t get any build-up in them. Cloth diapers can be dried in the dryer or hung out on the line to dry. Since you never want to use bleach on your cloth diapers (it breaks down the fibers) the sun will naturally bleach out any stains. If you are using the dryer, it is best to dry diapers on a low setting.

More Tips for Washing Cloth Diapers

If you think cloth diapers aren’t for you but you don’t want to use disposables, try gDiapers! Earth-Friendly Diapers. Flush Your Diapers. Keep Them Out Of Landfills. Great For Baby & Earth.

There are a few different wipes available to use. Of course there is organic cloth which is typically more expensive to use but for the rest of us there is basically terry cloth, fleece, flannel and hemp/cotton to choose from. The terry cloth and fleece all “grab” really well and are good for messy diapers. Flannel and hemp/cotton cloth wipes can sometimes be the softest, although there are some very soft terry and fleece wipes out there. 2 ply flannel is thicker and softer than a 1 ply flannel wipe. Hemp/cotton wipes are wonderful because hemp has natural antibacterial properties and is commonly used for diaper inserts with cloth diapering systems. Some stores offer 2 ply wipes that have flannel on one side and a different type of material on the other. Some examples of combinations are: flannel-backed terry cloth and flannel-backed fleece. The purpose of doubling two different fabrics is so you have the cleaning characters of each texture.

Find flannel cloth diaper wipes for baby at the Marketplace inside Lite Green Living.

Washing the cloth wipes is easy. If using cloth diapers just wash with diapers. If using a combo of disposables/cloth wipes, keep a small garbage can with a lid (small simplehumans are perfect, they have a removable pail for easy washing) at your changing station and do a small load when needed. The recommended amount of cloth wipes is 20-24.

gDiapers! Earth-Friendly Diapers. Happy Baby. Happy Planet.