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This is Jack. Jack is a four-and-a-half year old boy who loves robots, Star Wars, his dog Starr, playing outside, and video games. Jack loves to run, jump, swing, climb, crash, and slide. Jack loves his little brother and his mom and dad. He is an absolute joy and his smile lights up a room.
Jack also has autism. This means that Jack sometimes has trouble communicating -- he can't keep up with conversations as well as other kids, and doesn't always answer questions the right way. He sometimes has a hard time in certain environments -- loud, busy, bright, or otherwise stimulating places or times can be very difficult for him to handle. He gets easily frustrated and can't figure out how to express himself. He doesn't always respond to his name. He doesn't really understand humor or emotions. Sometimes it means that he doesn't understand the games or feelings of other kids. Jack bounces and flaps his arms when he's excited or proud, and likes to quote his favorite shows or characters. Sometimes he gets lost in his own little world.
Jack is my oldest son. He was diagnosed with autism when he was a little over two years old. It didn't bring our world crashing down. It didn't change him. He was still the same Jack as the day before that diagnosis came -- his diagnosis was a relief and a starting point. It meant that we could help Jack grow and learn to be the best Jack he could be. But it didn't come easy after that -- we had to fight for his services, his therapy, his help. It shouldn't be like that. Autism is diagnosed in roughly 1 out of every 167 children, and yet funding for research and programs is far lower than for disorders and diseases facing far fewer children.
That's why I support the Light It Up Blue! campaign -- to bring awareness to autism and to all the families affected by it every day.
I've been cloth diapering my oldest full-time for about 18 months. My youngest is now 14 months old and he's been in cloth since day one. I think at this point I've used just about every choice possible with varying degrees of success. I thought at one point that I could purchase a whole system of one-size diapers that would work perfectly for both boys. I forgot, however, that every kid is different. My big guy is tall and lanky, and not potty-trained yet now at a bit over three years old. My youngest is now a small but solid (stocky!) guy who finds great joy in taking off velcro diapers.
I used prefolds and covers for awhile, sized appropriately for my boys. They are, unfortunately, very heavy wetters and have sensitive skin, so I needed something that was going to keep their skin drier, especially overnight. Contours had essentially the same problem. Just not the perfect fit for us.
I started using hemp and bamboo fitteds overnight. The BabyKicks one-size hemp fitteds, Bamboozle fitteds, and Kiwi Pie fitteds are some of my favorites. I really love using wool longies (like Aristocrat) over fitteds, especially at night. Very simple and bulletproof. I also use all-in-ones at night, but only Dream-Eze (for some reason their absorbency and fit is good for my boys - they're now the GroVia AIOs).
During the day, I found that pockets were easiest for us. I stuff them right out of the laundry, and then they're ready to go. My big guy is still in bumGenius pockets, and I hope those will work till he is out of diapers. The little guy has a smorgasbord of diapers. Pockets and all-in-ones are what I tend to stick with during the day, as that system just fits our lifestyle the best. For him, I love the Blueberry pockets, Rumparooz pockets, and BabyKicks Bumboo pocket diapers.
It has taken a long time to find out what works for us. I've bought and sold a TON of diapers. My message to you is to not get discouraged if one brand or style doesn't work for you. Try something else! Tell us what you liked/didn't like and we'll try to help find the PERFECT diaper system for you. Take advantage of our sampler packages and try lots of different things. There is a perfect system out there for you, and we'll help you figure it out.
By Casey
Wool is an amazing fiber. It is absorbent, insulating, and breathable. These characteristics make it an excellent choice for a diaper cover over prefolds, fitteds, contours, or even other covered diapers as an emergency back-up.
Microscopically, wool fibers consist of overlapping scales (cuticles) that make liquid repel. They are covered with a thin layer of natural oil called lanolin that further causes droplets to slide off. The difference between wool's water repulsion and many other materials that repel water is the air flow. Air still moves through wool and keeps skin feeling dry and temperature-regulated. Wool fibers, beneath the water-repellent outer layer, contain a highly porous and absorbent core. Thus wool can both repel and absorb water simultaneously.
It is worth noting that wool covers will 'compression wick' -- if the cover is saturated and baby sits/lies on it you may feel dampness. The thickness of the wool and the absorbency of the diaper, along with changing frequently will all help to avoid compression wicking. Wool cannot contain a true leak (such as over underwear) if there is too much volume. Wool is only as effective as the diaper underneath it -- but the combination of waterproofness, absorbency, and breathability make it an excellent choice for a cloth diaper cover. I find using wool overnight to be the best possible solution for keeping my boys dry and keeping their skin cool to avoid diaper rash.
Washing wool is different than washing the rest of your cloth diapers. Wool covers need to be handwashed in a wool wash containing lanolin. They should not be put through a dryer as they will felt and possibly shrink or lose stretch. The bonus of wool, however, is that it is antimicrobial and can go for up to two weeks of use (as long as no poo gets on it) between washing.
Nicki's Diapers carries several excellent wool diaper covers and wool washes. I personally love the Aristocrats soakers, and find mine to be absolutely bulletproof for nighttime use over a hemp or bamboo fitted.
By Casey
Blueberry is one of my favorite diaper brands. I just love the quality and fit of their diapers. I bought a few of the One Size Deluxe Pocket diapers for my youngest son, and I love them.
The fit is excellent on him. I would say that this probably isn't the best option for tiny newborns, as the sizing is very generous. My 25lb one year old still fits in the medium rise and the second to smallest waist snaps! I really like that this is one diaper I never feel concerned about leaving red marks on legs or belly.
Excellent absorbency. I use both microterry inserts with my heavy wetter, and I haven't had a leak yet. I do like that there's an option for bamboo or microfiber/hemp as well.
The fleece inner is great for wicking moisture away from baby and the gussets do a great job at holding in messes.
It's the middle of the night. Your baby wakes up, and you feel that dreaded cold, wet fabric clinging. A leak. Now instead of going back to sleep, you have to change a diaper in the dark and wake baby up even more...not particularly enjoyable with cloth OR disposable diapers.
So how do you get through a night and stay dry? My experience with my two heavy wetter boys will hopefully benefit you.
We ran the gamut of nighttime cloth choices.
As he got bigger, the covers just didn't seem comfortable for him, so we tried wool. Wool longies/soakers over hemp fitteds became our big nighttime solution. Wool is a GREAT cover option at night, as it won't shift and leave gaps that can leak. Breathable and comfortable, too.
When the little one came along, we did the same with him right off the bat. The Mother-ease seemed trimmer and less overwhelming on him overnight, so for a long time it was one brand on one boy and another on the other boy...very confusing.
Finally, I found one diaper that works great on both boys for overnight that isn't quite so difficult.... Dream-Eze Organic Cotton AIO. For cotton, it is amazingly absorbent and I haven't had leaks! I love these diapers.
It seems the trick to successful overnights is finding a diaper combination that:
- fits your child correctly
- has enough absorbency
- is trim enough to be comfortable.
If you're having nighttime issues, try these:
- Leaks? Add a doubler or switch to a wool soaker/longies.
- Too bulky? Switch to hemp or bamboo.
- Red bottom? Try adding a liner to wick moisture away from the skin.
If, of course, you try some things and still need some help, call Nicki's Diapers and we'll be happy to troubleshoot with you.
Many diaper companies offer the option of snaps or aplix (velcro, hook and tab) on their diapers. What's the difference?
Mostly, it comes down to personal preference. There are some pros and cons that I can highlight for you, however, that might help you make an informed buying decision.
APLIX
Pros: I have always felt that you can get a more customized fit with velcro. No "between-snaps" size. I have heard others say that the fabric doesn't wear as badly around velcro tabs as around snaps, but I haven't experienced this firsthand. It can also be easier for caregivers to use -- no remembering which set of snaps to use.
Cons: Velcro can curl over time, lose its sticky power, and some children (like my youngest) can learn to undo it more easily than snaps.
SNAPS
Pros: More durable. Snaps never lose their hold. More difficult for little hands to undo.
Cons: More likely to be "between sizes". Takes longer to do than velcro. Can be more confusing for caregivers. Sometimes causes wear on fabric.
All said and done, I use both. Velcro BG 3.0s on my big boy, and I've switched to snap Best Bottoms for my little one as he learned how to undo the other covers. They each have their merits, which do you prefer??
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