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Baby Diaper Service

Started 2 years ago by RainyDay1235
Latest reply from roguedelux

RainyDay1235
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Planning on using this Seattle-based service for (at least) the first 6 months while I am a SAHM. Baby due in September. I will call soon and set up service - but wanted some recommendations beforehand.

Are these full rectangle cloth diapers - where you have to pin (ugh) - or are they prefold/fitted/velcro? Did the bucket they provide work well - able to keep in baby's room - or did you use something else (I inherited a diaper genie, but not sure this will work).

Also, I see they sell a small selection of covers, but know there are tons out there. What covers work best - generic plastic? Bummis - Polar, Whisper Wrap, Cotton? BumGenius? Bumkins? FuzziBunz?

This is all very new to me - thanks!

Posted 2 years ago #
herongrrrl
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These are the full rectangle cloth diapers, yes, but you don't have to pin them. The wraps work just fine without any pins at all. There's also something called a "snappy" that I can't figure out how it works but they are supposed to do a good job holding the diaper together.

The wraps they sell work pretty well, I think they are called Prowraps? I was given a whole bunch of different kinds from other moms when I had my babies, some work better than others but I don't have any one kind I'm in love with. The main thing is to have some with good elastic and some kind of waterproof liner for overnight. By September my little one will have outgrown a few of hers, I'd be happy to pass them along for you to try if you'd like.

Posted 2 years ago #
meg
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Hi- we use the service as well. And, also without the 'snappy' thing (or pins). Just folding them works great for us.

We have found that different wraps work for her at different stages and I know that different brands work better for some babies than others. We use a combo of prowraps, whisper wraps and g-diaper wraps. I liked the pro & whisper best at first. Now I am using mostly g-diaper wraps.

We use the g-diaper inserts when we travel and we have found they work in both their wraps and regular wraps. And that cloth works great in their wraps as well. The bonus of the g-diaper wraps is that they have snap-in waterproof liners that you can change out if they get messy and not have to change the whole wrap. And the fabrics are cute! http://www.gdiapers.com/ I never flush the liners however despite what the website says.

I think that the bin they give you works just fine. You need to return the used diaps to the company in the bag they come in so I doubt a genie would work.

Cloth rocks!

Posted 2 years ago #
herongrrrl
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Oh, I missed the q about the diaper pail. Meg's right, the diaper genie will be useless, it's meant to make tidy little capsules out of disposable diapers so they don't stink up your garbage. With Baby Diaper Service you just put the diaper straight into the pail they provide, no rinsing or anything. You use the bag the diapers got delivered in to line the pail. They provide a little wafer thing that's supposed to mask the smell of the diapers, but I find it too cloying so I don't use them. As long as I keep the lid closed, I don't smell anything, even in the heat we've been having. The pail looks like a white plastic clothes hamper, and you'll probably want to keep it right next to the changing table for convenience.

Posted 2 years ago #
RainyDay1235
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Thanks ladies. That makes more sense. And I did see the snappies, but wasn't sure how they worked. I have a few garage sale covers to start with - but yes, herongrrrl - I will definitely take you up on any "newborn" ones you are not using. Please PM me anytime. I am trying really hard to only use hand-me-down, garage sale and consignment items! :)

One more question...what do you use for wipes? I assume cloth wipes are not included in the service. Biodegradable wet wipes then, or...?

Thanks!

Posted 2 years ago #
mamatimes3
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It's been a few years now, but I loved Baby Diaper Service, particularly at the beginning, when it's not tough to go through 15 or even 20 diapers in a day.
I bought all my wraps at consignment stores and garage sales. You'll quickly find out which ones work well and are worth buying more of new. The rectangular diapers actually are folded in thirds and put in the wrap. I put them in with the final seam up because it seemed like it worked the best.
I actually purchased my own cloth and washed it when the babes were 4 or 5 months, and the volume dropped off. But make sure you do some research online to make sure you have a plan for washing that really gets them clean. There are lots of ways to do it. Just be thankful you're not doing it by hand or hanging them out to dry. :)

Posted 2 years ago #
Magpie
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My daughter currently is using the baby diaper service and loves it. I used it when both my kids were babies as both had sensitive skin. She also has a baby that has very sensitive skin and it works very well. I still don't have the hang of the diaper covers (I was a whiz with pins), but the service and quality have been great. You can use cloth washrags or there are biodegradable wipes that work well. Good luck!

Posted 2 years ago #
swimcat
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That is great you are going to use cloth! I never used a service, but purchased 24 BumGenius 3.0 pocket diapers to launder myself. It's more effort, but I work full-time and just make the time to do it. For wipes, I went to Target and bought their 10 pack of wash cloths for $1.99 or $2.99. I just wet those with water and throw them in the dry pail with the diapers and wash them altogether. Cloth diapers are easy, cheaper than a service or disposables and my daughter avoids diaper rash.

I did HOURS of research before purchasing cloth diapers- I absolutely love the BG 3.0. We've never had any leaks or problems with them.

If you think you may want to purchase cloth diapers, Birth and Beyond in Madison Park offers a diaper workshop that was very helpful. The workshop was very encouraging and gave me confidence that cloth diapers are just as convenient and easy as disposables!

Posted 2 years ago #
RainyDay1235
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Yes, I will definitely be using a service, not washing by hand. I doubt my old machines could take it anyway. That's why I was curious about wipes - seems a shame to use cloth and then go and use baby wipes. I'll ask the service what they recommend too. And yes, I'll start scouring for covers at consignment shops. Issaquah just opened a great one called "smallthreads"...

Posted 2 years ago #
swimcat
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RD, if you change your mind, I've heard the old top loader washing machines are excellent for laundering diapers since they agitate the water better than front loading ones. This surprised me, but it totally makes sense!

I've heard good things about the Mercer Island consignment shop too, but I've never been there. I'm heading to Issaquah tonight so I'll try to make time to hit Small Threads. Thanks for the tip!

Posted 2 years ago #
herongrrrl
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We used BDS exclusively when my first baby was born 10 years ago and I worked full time. This time, I'm a SAHM, and we've only purchased 12 weeks of BDS before we're going to go with hand washing our own. I'm making my own prefolds, mostly with flannel that I picked up cheap when the local Hancock's had their closing sale (but buying flannel sheets at thrift stores is another way to get a lot of good flannel much cheaper than you'd ever pay for it in the fabric store). The scraps that are too small for whole diapers I'll make into wipes.

After using the prefolds for so long with my oldest, they're what I'm used to and they're easy. If you are craftily inclined all you need to do is google "cloth diaper patterns" and you'll find tons of free ones that describe how to make everything from prefolds to one-size AIOs, often out of recycled materials. You can also find lots of recipes for making your own diaper-wipe solutions if you want to use something fancier than water, but plain dry cloth usually does the job just fine by itself.

RD, I'll PM you when I have a few more outgrown covers (so far she's only outgrown one very small one).

Posted 2 years ago #
meg
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Re: wipes. I have been making our own. It is super cheap, good for the world & our 19 month old has never had diaper rash.

There are a lot of variations of recipes for spray, but I use (very roughly) 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice mixed in hot water into a 1 liter bottle. Add about 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract (not oil) and a few drops of whatever essential oil you like the smell (we use bergamot). I keep it in the fridge and it lasts forever. I have only made it 4 times in 19 months. I keep a little spray bottle of it in diaper bag and another on changing table. For the actual wipe--just cut up all those flannel receiving blankets that your invariably so many of into little wipe size pieces. I toss those in her regular laundry. Easy!

Posted 2 years ago #
rockergirl
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I love to hear that you all are using or going to use diaper service! I did along time ago when my daughter was a baby and toddler. Was great and I also did my own sometimes. I purchased items from Decent Exposures as well. Check them out - http://www.decentexposures.com/index.shtml - great nursing bra's, diapers, baby items as well as other organically grown chemical-free 100% cotton items. Good luck with your babies!

Posted 2 years ago #
missmandy
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We loved baby diaper service but unfortunatly had to cancel. They are honestly one of the friendliest companies I have ever had the pleasure of working with and I highly recommend them. Our problem was we were not home enough and it is tough using cloth when you are out and about. Also, it cost about $80/month to use the service and you can get the same amount of diapers at Costco for $45.

Posted 2 years ago #
roguedelux
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I have a 3.5 mo old, and we have been doing cloth diapers since he was born using prefolds and Thirsty diaper covers. We do not use a service, and find it to be very mindless and simple to care for them ourselves. All we do is a load of wash once every 3-4 days, hot, with OxyClean (TJs has it) and green detergent. Poo comes out no problem, and no smells after. As far as wipes, I bought a bunch of baby wash clothes, which are about $3 for 6 at Target. We also cut up old shirts. Good luck -

Posted 2 years ago #