Cloth Diaper Malaysia – Natural & Eco-Friendly Lifestyle, Why Not!?

During my one month of confinement, I chose not to use modern Cloth Diapers on my newborn baby. Why? Due to the 10 problems I encountered when using them. From that blog post of mine, I received much feedback about how I should try using flat diapers (the traditional white kain lampin) instead. So I did.

Here was my experience:

The most basic way to use flat diapers is the traditional way.

• It is simply folded up normally, then secured with a safety pin/Snappi. Or what I do is tie a knot on the baby

(Image from My Precious Diary. Click link to learn how to fold flat diapers/lampins the tradional way.)

The problem with the traditional way was:

• Kain lampin will only contain 1 pee session from the baby because it is not really absorbent (thin fabric). Since newborn baby’s peeing is unpredictable, I had to change it VERY often (quite tiresome).
• And when the lampin is wet, the ENTIRE lampin is wet. Not only where the baby pees, but also around the sides, back, front, everywhere! So basically my baby was soaked all over, and I imagine it wasn’t very comfortable to swim in VERY wet diapers.
• Obviously, flat diapers are not waterproof, so if you leave him lying around with just the lampin on, you’d have to lay the baby on a waterproof mat to avoid leaks.
• When the baby poops, runny newborn poop sticks to the surface of the flat diapers. Makes washing a chore! Had to spend some time rinsing lampin to remove the poop before I dump them in the laundry basket.

HOW I DEALT WITH THESE PROBLEMS:

1) Increase absorbency of flat diapers with additional inserts:

• Using modern cloth diaper inserts and fold it inside the lampin. I had bamboo and microfiber pocket diaper inserts to use with mine.

(Image from A Note on Cloth Diapering Journey. Click link to learn how to fold the inserts inside the lampin.)

• Also, I had some disposable inserts from Mothercare Smart Nappy system. They were on Sale, 50% off per pack that’s why I bought them before. I used these when I simply want some “added convenience” because once its soiled, you just dispose the insert. The same method as above, I fold the inserts inside the lampin (so baby’s bum only touches lampin, no plastics on baby please, hehe!)

(The Mothercare Smart Nappy system I bought. The disposable inserts are those 2 big packets on the top. Along with it, I bought the Trial Pack which consisted of a Nappy Cover and a microfibre insert).

• Using these 2 methods, I found that the lampin will not be ENTIRELY wet after the baby pees. It will only be soaked around the area where baby pees (where the inserts are placed). The sides remains dry.
• This means, I don’t have to change the lampin so often, and the lampin can last a few pee sessions.

2) Using a Diaper Cover

• I love Thirsties diaper covers! They are perfect to use with lampin/flat diapers! I used size XS and S on my newborn. A few pairs of these is enough to rotate for daily use (since diaper covers do not need to be washed after each use).

• The fitting is very snug, and it will fit the lampin entirely inside (this is key to ensure lampin does not leak).
• I don’t even have to secure lampin with Snappy/pin/tie a knot because the diaper cover secures it well on baby.
• Obviously, using a diaper cover with lampin makes it a waterproof system, so no worries about leaks when baby wears lampin!
• One thing though, with lampin+inserts, it makes the cloth diapered-baby butt a bit bulky and heavy. But hey, it looks pretty cute because it’s like a heavily padded baby butt when you hold him up !

3) Using Nappy Liners

• To make cleaning the flat diapers easier, I line them with nappy liners. So if the baby poops, the poop will be trapped ON the liner instead of the lampin.
• After that, I lightly rinse soiled lampin with water (to remove pee and poop before machine washing). No need to spend time picking off poop from the diapers!
• There will be some yellowish poop stains left behind on lampin even after washing, but with exposure to sunlight, it magically disappears!

Ta-da! The final product! Hehe. Note that the flat diapers+diaper cover system is bulky at the crotch area. So my baby is like a bit “terkangkang” and can’t really put his legs together.

Why I think using kain lampin works best for me during the first weeks?

• It’s easy to use. What I do is fold the flat diapers beforehand with the inserts inside so if I need to use them, just grab and go!
• They’re so easy to handle. I don’t have to worry about “spoiling” any of my “precious, cute, expensive” cloth diapers with cleaning, drying, staining issues for now (I have yet to use them, hehe – I think I’ll wait a while until the runny poop period subsides a bit )
• Cleaning and drying is a breeze. The flat diapers can just be dumped in washing machine (normal detergent, normal cycle, no need to think so much), and they dry very fast too!
• They are cheap. Meaning you can buy dozens to use and it wouldn’t cost you a fortune. And even if they spoil from wear and tear (which I doubt will happen very very soon becauseflat diapers are very hardy material). By the way, the lampins that I use for my baby were MY LAMPINS from when I was a baby. THAT’S proof that they really are good quality!
• PEACE OF MIND! With all the other issues of being a new mother (tired! pain! back ache! lack of sleep! hungry! etc! etc!), I feel cloth diapering using lampin/flat diapers is hassle-free and less tedious compared to using modern cloth diapers. I will reserve the pocket diapers, etc when I get more efficient with being a mom

Read more about Cloth Diapering a Newborn & Flat Diapers/Lampin:

1. My 10 Problems in Cloth Diapering a Newborn
2. Cara Mudah & Murah untuk Cloth Diaper Bayi Baru Lahir
3. 5 Ways to Fold & Use Prefolds/Flat Diapers (Lampin)