*Newsflash: Catch me on TV2’s Hello On 2 talk show to hear me chat about CLOTH DIAPERING!

It will be on air LIVE on Wednesday (6th July 2011) between 7.30-8.30 am! Invite all your friends to tune in too! *

Hi everyone! I have been getting a lot of feedback from many parents who suggested that I should compile/write a set of posts about Cloth Diapering for Beginners.

If you are new to cloth diapering, or doing your research, or thinking about using cloth diapers, please use this as your main reference! Please forward this page to your friends to introduce them to cloth diapering, or if anyone you know requests information about them. Let’s promote cloth diapers to all!

What I would do is break down Cloth Diapering into topics for easy understanding and browsing. Below, I list down the “Cloth Diaper For Beginners” topics as an Index/Table of Contents, and you may click on the links to get to the specific topic, at this website. Some of the posts are written in the past, and I am just compiling them here for easy reference. Over time, I will add in more topics too. See how easy I make this out for you!

*Note: I will update this page from time to time to add new details, topics, articles, etc – So please keep this page bookmarked and visit often to find out what’s new! All articles below are written by me, and are subject to copyright.

Cloth Diaper for Beginners

(Click on the Highlighted Links to read more about each topic)

REASONS TO CLOTH DIAPER

• Poll: Parents Answer “Why They Choose to Cloth Diaper“
• 9 Disadvantages of Disposable Diapers
• Health: Adakah Produk Pakai Buang Bahaya?
• The Environment: Our Country’s Waste/Garbage Problem
• Saves Money
  
• Easy & Convenient
  
• They’re Cuter & Stylish! 5 Ways To Rock & Style Your Cloth Diapers

CLOTH DIAPERING: FACTORS TO CONSIDER

• Poll: Parents Answer “Factors They Consider When Buying Cloth Diapers“
• 10 Things to Consider Before You Cloth Diaper
• Is Cloth Diapering Difficult?
• How Many Cloth Diapers Do I Need?

WHAT DO I NEED TO CLOTH DIAPER MY BABY?

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CLOTH DIAPERS AVAILABLE?

• Poll: Parents answer “What is their Favorite Type of Cloth Diaper”
• The 4 Basic Types of Cloth Diapers – Prefolds/Flats (Kain Lampin); Pocket Diapers; Fitted Diapers; All-In-One (AIO) Diapers; All-In-Two (AI2) Diapers.
• Types of Fabric: Kenali 6 Jenis Material & Fabrik Cloth Diaper
• Cloth Diaper Accessories/ Extras: 9 Jenis Aksesori & Peralatan Untuk Cloth Diaper
• Diaper Covers: Let’s Talk About Diaper Covers
• Wetbags: Review – Angel Mel Collections Wetbags
• Cloth Wipes: Using Cloth Wipes; Review – Angel-Mel Collections Bamboo Cloth Wipes
• Diaper Liners: Review: Washable Diaper Liners

WHAT TYPE/BRAND OF CLOTH DIAPERS TO BUY?

WHERE TO BUY CLOTH DIAPERS?

• Read our Cloth Diaper Reviews: BambooLite Diapers; Moo Moo Kow Diapers; Envibum Diapers; Bouncy Baby Diapers; JOLI Diapers; Knickernappies Diapers, Moms & Tots Cloth Diaper;
• Browse our Featured Shops/Cloth Diapers: Nice Cloth Diaper; Moms & Tots Store; Moo Moo Kow Diapers; Baby-Mel.comBottombumpers AIO Diapers); Sentuhan Bayu Envibum Diapers); BambooLite; My Baby Pit Stop; LampinKain.com; My Cheeky Boo
• Browse Malaysian Cloth Diaper Shops
• Join our GIVEAWAYS to win FREE Cloth Diapers!

HOW MUCH SHOULD I SPEND FOR CLOTH DIAPERS?

• 8 Ways to Save Money Buying Cloth Diapers
• Join our GIVEAWAYS to win FREE Cloth Diapers!

HOW TO CLOTH DIAPER YOUR BABY

• Cloth Diapering a Newborn: Examples with Many Brands; Cara Mudah & Murah Untuk Cloth Diaper Bayi Baru Lahir (Newborn); My 10 Problems in Cloth Diapering A Newborn
• Using Prefold/Flat (Kain Lampin) Diapers: 5 Ways to Use/Fold Prefold/Flat (Lampin) Diapers; How to Use Flats (Lampin) Better; How To Use Prefold Diapers
• Easy Cloth Diapering: 8 Tips For Changing Your Baby’s Cloth Diaper
• Asas-Asas Cloth Diaper (Tutorial Video)
• Cloth Diapering While Traveling: Cloth Diapering On The Go (Video Tutorial);  Using Hybrid Diapers; My Experience Traveling with Diapers
• Style Your Diapers! 5 Great Ways to Rock & Style your Baby’s Cloth Diapers

HOW TO CARE FOR CLOTH DIAPERS

• 12 Tips on Cleaning, Washing & Drying Cloth Diapers
• Washing Cloth Diapers: Cara Saya Membasuh Cloth Diapers; Washing Cloth Diapers With Baby’s Clothes/Yours; Cloth Diaper Friendly Detergents; Prewashing; Stripwashing; How to Store Dirty Diapers
• Cloth Diaper Care: Tips & Cara Agar Cloth Diapers Tahan Lama
• Cloth Diaper Storage: Cara Saya Menyimpan Cloth Diapers; 5 Ways to Store your Cloth Diapers

PROBLEMS IN CLOTH DIAPERING

• Is Cloth Diapering Difficult?
• Leaking: 10 Reasons Why Cloth Diapers Leak
• Diaper Rash: Ruam Lampin (Diaper Rash) & Penggunaan Cloth Diapers
• Cloth Diapering Newborns: My 10 Problems in Cloth Diapering A Newborn
• Cloth Diapering on a Budget: Cloth Diapers Are Expensive; I Don’t Have Enough Cloth Diapers to Start With
• Wash & Care: Washing Cloth Diapers Are Difficult; I’m Too Busy to Use Cloth Diapers
• Getting Daycare/Babysitter/Caregiver to Use Cloth Diapers

MALAYSIAN CLOTH DIAPER COMMUNITY & RESOURCES

• Read Interviews with Moms who Cloth Diaper: Hanz, Sheena, Nik Ha, Lily
• Cloth Diaper in the Guinness World Record!!!
• Cloth Diaper Malaysia in The News: Wanita Hari Ini tv show on TV3 (video link coming soon); The Star Newspaper; Harian Metro newspaper
• Become a Fan of Cloth Diaper Malaysia on Facebook!
• Browse Malaysian Cloth Diaper Mom Blogs
• Hang out at Malaysian Cloth Diapering Parents Group (MCDP) on Facebook

If you have any comments/suggestions/questions/feedback about how I can improve, please contact me at or get in touch with me at our Cloth Diaper Malaysia’s Facebook Page! Or simply leave a comment below

(Image Source)

Are you wondering how your baby or toddler should be dressed when he’s in cloth diapers? Cloth diapers are stylish in itself, but there also many ways for baby to be the ultimate fashion icon!

Here are several ways to show how Cloth Diapers can be fashionable, versatile, fun and super-duper cute to be worn! Why would anyone miss out on using cloth diapers and choose those dreadful disposable diapers when they are just waaaay better??! Don’t you agree?

Simply Show Them Off!

My little boy in back-to-basics cloth diapers 

Why would you hide those cute colours and prints of your baby’s cloth diapers under their pants/rompers/shorts when you can show them off to the world! The colourful and brighter the better! It’sideal for the hot weather, and it also enables free movement on your baby too. (Shirt/blouse is optional, hehe) It’s great promotion for cloth diapers too, other parents might just ask you more about them…

Pair Them with Leg Warmers/Socks!

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Again, why cover them, when you can expose them! Use of baby leg warmers/socks allows you to keep baby’s legs and knees warm and covered, while still showing of those cute cloth diapers! The best part is, you can have several colours of leg warmers too, to match your baby’s diapers I know there are several brands out there: BabyLegs, Huggalugs, Nissen, Combini, etc… you can choose from many others online!

Wear Them With Regular Clothes

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Some might feel that cloth diapers are bulky to be worn under baby clothes. For myself, I have worn them under my baby’s every day clothes like rompers, pants, jeans and shorts with ease – no problems at all! However, ensure that they are comfortable on baby, make sure that you wear a slightly larger size of romper/pants to accommodate the cloth diapers underneath. Also, it’s better to wear daytime diapers which are trim and not as bulky as night time or diapers for heavy wetters. Personally for me, the best diapers to wear under pants/jeans for outings are Itti Bitti Snap In Ones (SIOs) because they are slim-fitting and trim

Wear Them With Woolies!

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If you are wearing fitted or prefold type of cloth diapers, apart from putting on a diaper cover to make it water/leak-proof, you can also put on a pair of wool shorts (also known as “shorties”) or pants (”longies”). An amazing trait of wool is that it can make the fitted diaper waterproof, and makes it great for naps and night time use – it’s totally breatheable! Not to mention, “woolies” come in many designs, embroided, patched, striped, etc etc… It’s just like wearing a pair of trendy pants!

They’ll Look CUTE Under Skirts!

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Erm…. I do not have a baby girl, but if I DO, I would definitely put her on cloth diapers with a teeny-weeny mini skirt on top! I simply cannot resist seeing some cute pair of cloth diapers peeking under a little girls skirt!

So there you have it, 5 ways you can dress up (or down) those cute cloth diapers! What’s YOUR favourite way of wearing them on baby?

Now this is a useful baby gadget or toy which will help make changing a wriggly and active baby much easier alright!

I know I have been away for soooo long and this poor website has been soooo neglected (more on that in another post). However, keep the Cloth Diaper passion and spirit burning, with or without Cloth Diaper Malaysia ok!!

Meanwhile, I present to you some tips you can use to make cloth diaper changing a breeze for you and your active baby. These mostly come from my own experience of  patiently struggling to change my active 10 month old’s cloth diapers. These tips will come in handy when your baby is constantly resisting wriggling  (can’t sit still – instead moves bout like a caterpillar) during diaper changes, and also when he starts to turn himself on his back. Boy, what an act diaper changing time can be!

Remember, the safest way to change an active baby’s diaper is on a flat surface and away from elevated surfaces which might risk baby falling off and hurting himself. Do NOT leave baby alone on a higher surface, like the changing table or bed even for a second because they can be very quick, and accidents can occur! The floor is your best bet!

8 TIPS FOR CLOTH DIAPER CHANGING

• Make sure you have all diaper changing essential ready – The key is to be quick, so ensure things like wipes, clean diapers, diaper cream, etc are already right next to you. The last thing you want is to go around looking for something with your your baby lying impatiently butt naked (literally).
• Choose easy to put on cloth diapers – Generally, Velcro type cloth diapers are faster to put on compared to Snap ones, so use them instead. Cloth Diapers with side snaps however are very good because you can fasten the snaps in advance and easily pull up the diapers like a pair of pants/pull up pants. You can even change him while he’s standing!
• 
• Change at the same spot – Babies love routine and familiarity. Therefore, try to change your baby at the same place each time so he knows what to expect and he’s comfortable in that place. Pick a calm and quiet area too so he will not be agitated. You can even decorate the area with colourful wall stickers, hang a mobile and also keep your diaper changing essentials there.
• Distract with a toy – Always keep baby’s favourite toy next to the diaper changing area, so he can be keep himself busy while you quickly change his diaper. It can also be any interesting item that will capture his attention like keys, a box, a bottle, or whatever. For me, my baby’s favourite “toy” seems to be the bright red coloured diaper cream tube. Hey, whatever works!
• Talk/sing to him – It’s always good to talk to your baby and explain to him what you are doing during the whole process. Capture his attention with animated voice, interesting gestures and body language. Invent a simple rhyme or tune you can sing each time for diaper changes, this works too!



• Play Peek-A-Boo – This is a great way to make diaper changes more fun. While he’s lying down on his back, slowly bring your baby’s legs together up in the air in front of him and say out “Up, Up, Up!” Try to hide your face behind baby’s legs. Then ask “Where’s Mummy…??” And open his legs wide to expose your smiling face by saying “PEEK-A-BOO!”
• Make use of your feet! – It’s easiest to change diapers on a flat surface. To stop baby from moving about/crawling away/flipping sides, make a “barrier” with your feet to try to prevent movement. Sit with your legs extended in a “V” shape with baby in between your legs. If need be, you can also quickly use your feet to “clamp” your baby down while you quickly change him.
• Prepare for emergencies! - During diaper changes, your baby might decide it’s the best time  to pee or even poop! To avoid messy situations, change baby on a waterproof mat/surface, and always have some napkins/wipe cloths around to quickly “cover up” the problem (especially for baby boys), or to wipe any messes. A better idea is to cover baby’s genitals with the cloth when it is exposed to avoid such emergencies.

The key is to make diaper changing quick, efficient and still fun. Try to ensure a positive experience each time, and avoid crying or making him uncomfortable. This will make diaper changing a pleasant experience for both you and baby. Good luck!

P.S: What do you think about these ideas? Do you have any other diaper changing tips, or even funny stories? Please share in the comments section!

Cloth Diapers itu suatu pelaburan. Jadi bagaimana cara untuk membuatnya tahan lama? [sumber]

Katanya menggunakan Cloth Diapers itu menjimatkan. Katanya juga Cloth Diapers (terutama jenis “One-Size”) boleh digunakan dari bayi baru lahir sehinggalah 3 tahun. Kemudian, boleh pula digunakan untuk anak-anak kita yang seterusnya.

Adakah ini benar?

Sebenarnya kita perlu ikutkan logik juga. Contohnya, jika kita hanya mempunyai beberapa helai Cloth Diapers, tidak menjaganya dengan betul, dan juga jenama yang dibeli tidak begitu berkualiti, jangan terlalu berharap agar ianya tahan sebegitu lama.

Di sini saya akan mengutarakan tips untuk mengekalkan kualiti dan jangka hayat Cloth Diapers anda.

Bagaimanakah cara untuk membolehkan Cloth Diapers tahan lebih lama?

LAKUKAN LAH YANG BERIKUT:

1. Paling utama, beli lah Cloth Diapers yang berkualiti atau yang diketahui umum sebagai jenama yang tahan lama (tanyakan lah pendapat ibu-ibu lain yang ber-Cloth Diaper untuk mendapatkan tips).
2. Pastikan stok Cloth Diaper mencukupi, dan lebih bagus jika mempunyai Cloth Diapers dalam jumlah yang banyak. Ini kerana apabila Cloth Diapers yang sama dipakai dan dibasuh berulang kali, ia akan menyebabkan ianya cepat lusuh dari “wear and tear”. Diibaratkan seperti pakaian kita lah, kalau ada 5 helai sahaja dan kita pakai dan cuci hari-hari, mesti tak sampai berapa bulan sudah lusuh atau mungkin koyak, bukan?
3. Pilih Cloth Diapers jenis “Snaps” atau butang berbanding Velcro untuk mengelakkan Velcro nya cepat “haus”. Secara umum, Cloth Diapers snaps akan kelihatan “baru” lebih lama berbanding Velcro.
4. Jaga lah Cloth Diapers dengan teliti. Pastikan cara pembasuhan dan penggunaan harian mengikut kaedah yang disarankan jenama Cloth Diapers tersebut. Kaedah penjagaan meungkin berbeza bergantung kepada material yang digunakan.
5. Gunakan cecair/serbuk pencuci yang sesuai untuk Cloth Diapers! Jangan gunakan pencuci yang ada peluntur, enzim, fosfat, pengawet atau pelembut/pewangi di dalamnya. Bahan-bahan ini boleh menyebabkan Cloth Diapers bocor dan mudah rosak.

6. 

7. Jika anda ingin menggunakan Cloth Diapers untuk anak-anak yang seterusnya, belilah Cloth Diapers yang bersaiz (sized diapers) berbanding “One-Size”. Ini kerana Cloth Diapers bersaiz kurang kerap digunakan dan kualitinya akan tahan lebih lama jika disimpan. Bayangkan, Cloth Diapers “One-size” dipakaikan semenjak bayi baru lahir sehingga 2 tahun, betul kah ia boleh digunakan dengan sempurna untuk adiknya pula?
8. Sesekali, lakukan “strip washing” untuk menghilangkan bau-bauan dan juga kulat (mold/fungi) yang mungkin tumbuh di Cloth Diapers. Keadaan ini boleh menyebabkan Cloth Diapers rosak.
9. Keringkan Cloth Diapers dengan menyidai di bawah cahaya matahari (gantung/sidai kan dengan cermat) berbanding menggunakan opsyen “Spin Drying” dalam mesin basuh atau menggunakan mesin Dryer.
10. Untuk All-In-Two (AI2) diapers dan juga diaper covers, bahagian luarnya (diaper cover) tidak perlu dibasuh dengan kerap, dan elok dibasuh tangan kerana ianya tidak begitu kotor. Ini boleh mengekalkan kualiti lapisan PUL pada diaper cover tersebut.
11. Beli Cloth Diapers yang diperbuat dari material sintetik seperti microfiber kerana ianya lebih tahan lasak berbanding material semula jadi/organik seperti bamboo dan kapas (cotton).
12. Gunakan “laundry bag/net” jika membasuh menggunakan mesin basuh dan menggunakan opsyen “Spin Dry”.
13. Jika menggunakan Cloth Diapers jenis Velcro, sematkan Velcro pada “laundry tab” sebelum membasuh untuk mengelakkannya tertarik/terlekat pada Cloth Diapers yang lain.

Jemurlah Cloth Diapers di bawah matahari – jimat masa, elektrik dan juga sesuai untuk mengekalkan kualiti nya! [sumber]

JANGAN PULA LAKUKAN YANG BERIKUT!

1. Jangan perah Cloth Diapers terlalu kuat untuk mengelakkan getah (elastic) cepat lusuh.
2. Jangan gunakan sebarang berus yang kasar untuk menggosok/menyental Cloth Diapers.
3. Jangan gunakan pencuci yang ada peluntur, enzim, fosfat, pengawet atau pelembut/pewangi di dalamnya. Bahan-bahan ini boleh menyebabkan Cloth Diapers bocor dan mudah rosak.
4. Jangan basuh Cloth Diapers dengan air yang terlalu panas kerana ini boleh merosakkan PUL (waterproof layer). Jika perlu, gunakan air suam sahaja.
5. Jangan gunakan krim lampin (diaper/nappy cream) bersama Cloth Diapers kerana ia mungkin menyababkan kebocoran (gunakan lah krim yang sesuai untuk Cloth Diapers atau pun lapik Cloth Diapers dengan nappy liner jika menggunakan krim tersebut).

Cloth Diapers itu suatu pelaburan (investment), bukan? Setelah menelaah, melakukan kaji selidik, dan melakukan proses pembelian, sudah tentu kita mahukan yang terbaik dari wang yang kita laburkan pada Cloth Diapers, betul tak?

Namun begitu, kita juga perlu realistik dan tidak boleh beranggapan bahawa Cloth Diapers yang kita beli itu boleh tahan sampai beberapa tahun… Saya berharap tips yang saya utarakan ini boleh dijadikan rujukan untuk anda untuk ber-Cloth Diaper dengan bijak dan pintar!

PERSOALAN: Berapa lama sudah anda menggunakan Cloth Diapers anda, dan adakah kualitinya tetap sama seperti baru? Bagaimana cara anda menjaga kualiti Cloth Diapers anda?

Seeing my boy’s cute butt snug in a cloth diaper is reason enough for me to continue cloth diapering

Isn’t using cloth diapers troublesome and inconvenient? Don’t cloth diapers take up a lot of time to handle and aren’t they a chore to wash? What about the POOP???! Eeew… What the heck should I do with the POOP!!??

These might be some questions running through many mother’s heads when they first heard about cloth diapering. Today, we are so used to everyone around us using disposable diapers. It is not so common to know mothers who cloth diaper. Also, many of us even started off with disposable diapers before learning about cloth diapers. The transition from the convenience of disposable products to the more “challenging” reusable cloth diapers might put off mothers to use them, or some even give up after some time. However, I’m here to assure you that with more awareness about how easy it is to use cloth diapers these days (plus they’re cuter too!), how they are affordable and money saving in the long run, how much better they are for your baby’s health and also to the environment, more mothers are choosing to use cloth diaper entirely. Hooray to that!

However, (as much as I would like to say cloth diapering is easy-peasy) using cloth diapers in the very beginning might not be so easy, and they might require some modifications to your daily routine or lifestyle, and some preparations or things to look forward to. Here are some things that you have to take into account, based on my personal experience.

[source]

CLOTH DIAPERING IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE…

(at least not until you know how to deal with the problems )

1. More laundry: Since cloth diapers are reusable, you will need to be prepared to wash them at least every 2 days. Washing cloth diapers is simple though, just wash them in the washing machine with the rest of baby’s laundry (make sure you use the right detergent!) Yes, you might have to handle more teeny weeny baby things to hang dry, sort and fold later on, but it’s thereapeutic for me to do so . To learn about how I wash my cloth diapers, go here.
2. More encounters with baby’s “organic matter”: If you were used to simply scrunching up a soiled disposable diaper and dumping them in the dustbin, the thought that you have to deal with your baby’s pee and poop if you use cloth diapers might be scary. However, if you line cloth diapers with nappy liners (either disposables/reusable), they make it much much easier for washing up later. And trust me, sometimes it’s important to monitor what sort of stuff comes out of your baby as a health check
3. Cloth Diapers need extra loving care: You’ve invested in your cloth diaper stash and they’re not (exactly) so cheap. What do you have to do next? Just like how you buy yourselves expensive shoes and handbags, they require special care too, especially if you’re planning to use them for a long time. With cloth diapering, not only do you need to prep wash them before using, you also need to ensure they are properly washed (and with the right detergent), and once in a while you might need to strip wash them too. Check out more cloth diaper care tips here.
4. Your cloth diapers might leak: “Oh no…..! I thought these diapers are supposed to keep messes in and there’ll be no leakage!! But why is my bed/sofa/lap wet now??!!” Relax… You might encounter this problem occasionally, and it’s perfectly normal. There are various reasons why they might leak, and for a complete post on this go here. Oh, but for your information, if you use  cloth diapers (especially on newborns with expolosive, runny poop), poop blow outs RARELY happen!
5. Difficulties in converting other caregivers to use them: In the beginning, the husband, grandparents, babysitters or daycare people might not encourage or approve too much of using cloth diapers. So what? It’s YOUR baby, and you know you’re doing so for the best, so don’t let others influence your decision. Be firm, patient, and lead by example, and soon they’ll understand why cloth diapers are really better than disposables!

These are some problems that you might encounter when you (begin to) cloth diaper. However, with a little practice and patience, your cloth diapering journey will be much smoother along the way. Don’t believe me? I had problems too myself when I started (My 10 Problems in Cloth Diapering a Newborn), and look at me now – a happy Cloth Diaper Mom (with a happy Cloth Diapered Baby too ) Good luck in your cloth diapering adventure!

NEED YOUR FEEDBACK: What were your problems when you started cloth diapering? Do you still have the same problems today?

“Mak… mana Cloth Diaper feverettt saya yang polka dot tu, belum siap basuh lagi kerrr!!??” [sumber]

Hello semua! Entri ini adalah khas untuk rakan saya yang bertanyakan:

“Macam mana cara you basuh Cloth Diapers? Guna cara Wet Pail atau Dry Pail? Guna cycle apa untuk mesin basuh? Kena kumpul berapa hari dulu baru basuh?”

Eh, banyak betul soalan. Sabar, sabar… satu satu ye cik Kak… Saya rasa saya akan jawab dengan mengutarakan Bagaimana cara SAYA membasuh Cloth Diapers saya.

*Nota: Ini adalah cara tersendiri saya. Anda tidak perlu ikut 100% macam ini, atau pun rasa bersalah/celaru/dll jika cara saya berlainan dari cara anda. Buat pengetahuan anda juga, rutin pembasuhan saya berubah-ubah mengikut mood dan tahap kerajinan pada ketika itu (hehe). Namun begitu, cara yang saya senarikan di bawah ini dilakukan apabila saya TERAMAT RAJIN dan ADA MOOD. Kiranya, macam rutin paling lengkap lah ni. Namun begitu, matlamat saya dengan semua Cloth Diapers saya adalah: Supaya Cloth Diapers saya tahan lama! Sudah beli elok-elok mesti lah jaga pun kena elok-elok, betul tak?

RUTIN PEMBASUHAN CLOTH DIAPERS SAYA

Buat pengetahuan anda, rutin saya menggunakan mesin basuh. Maaf saya kurang berkemampuan untuk cuci tangan… Saya membasuh menggunakan air sejuk, dan setiap 2-3 hari sekali. Saya mengamalkan cara “Dry Pail”.

A) Selepas Menukar Cloth Diaper:

1. Terus bawa Cloth Diaper yang kotor ke bilik air. Buangkan diaper liner (jika guna jenis pakai buang) di dalam tong sampah.
2. Jika menggunakan Pocket Diapers, asingkan insert dari cover.
   
3. 
4. Kemudian saya bilas dengan air. Selok-eloknya terus bilas untuk mengelakkan kesan dan bau pada Cloth Diaper. Boleh guna toilet sprayer/shower/air di sinki atau berus sedikit. (Senang sahaja, sebab kan dah pakai diaper liner?)
   
5. Kalau ada poo-poo, cuba sebanyak mungkin untuk mengeluarkan apa-apa kesan dari Cloth Diaper, renyah-renyahkan sampai hilang warna dari air bilasan.
   
6. Kalau tiada poo-poo (hanya air kecil), bilas dan renyah-renyah ala kadar sahaja.
   
7. Perahkan air sebanyak mungkin dari Cloth Diaper.
   
8. 
   
9. Masukkan sahaja Cloth Diaper yang diperah dalam diaper pail atau baldi yang bertutup.

B) Hari Pencucian (Laundry Day!)

1. Saya cuci Cloth Diapers 2-3 hari sekali (kerana stok Cloth Diapers mencukupi. Kalau tidak, mungkin perlu dibasuh lebih kerap, setiap hari atau selang sehari).
2. [sumber]
3. Asingkan cover dan insert dalam 2 laundry bag/net yang berbeza. Saya gunakan laundry net yang besar saiznya untuk membolehkan pergerakan yang bebas
4. Pastikan Cloth Diaper jenis Velcro sudah disematkan pada laundry tab untuk mengelakkan tertarik semasa pembasuhan.
5. Masukkan Cloth Diapers dalam mesin basuh dan gunakan cycle “Quick Rinse & Spin” untuk membilas. Sila ikut setting pada mesin basuh anda sendiri. Tidak perlu serbuk pencuci.
   
6. Setelah selesai, masukkan serbuk/cecair pencuci yang sesuai untuk Cloth Diapers. Saya gunakan Pureen HAD. Jangan letak terlalu banyak.
7. [sumber]
8. Set-kan pula pada cycle pembasuhan yang lazim (”Wash, Rinse & Spin”). Boleh juga masukkan sekali baju bayi anda yang hendak dibasuh.
9. Selepas habis cycle, set-kan semula pada cycle “Quick Rinse & Spin” untuk bilasan akhir. Ini untuk memastikan Cloth Diapers betul-betul bersih daripada kesan serbuk pencuci (Boleh mengakibatkan “detergent build-up” pada Cloth Diapers).
   
10. Selepas selesai, jemur Cloth Diapers di bawah cahaya matahari. Halakan apa-apa kesan yang masih tertinggal ke atas untuk menghilangkan kesan.
    
11. Itu sahaja, tak susah kan?
    

[sumber]

Saya berharap ini boleh menjadi suatu “guideline” untuk pengguna Cloth Diapers yang lain. Boleh rujuk juga posting ini: 12 Tips Membasuh & Menjaga Cloth Diapers.

SOALAN: Bagaimana pula rutin atau cara anda membasuh Cloth Diapers anda? Ada apa-apa perbezaan ataupun ada yang sama seperti cara saya ini?

I think we’ve experienced at least a leak or two when we Cloth Diaper our baby or toddler. It’s not so pleasant is it, to see that your baby wet the bedsheets, carpets, mattress, etc OR even worse if it leaks on your lap or yourself! It certainly is not fun either if you just began to Cloth Diaper, but then it leaks, and you feel like you have wasted your time and money on them!

Don’t worry, and don’t give up on Cloth Diapering just yet! Also, before you throw those leaky Cloth Diapers out the window, (or sell them off on Diapers Asia ), check this list below to find out WHY CLOTH DIAPERS LEAK!

WHY DO MY CLOTH DIAPERS LEAK??! Here are 10 Reasons Why:

1. Insufficient prewashing: Most Cloth Diapers and their inserts, depending on material, will require 3-4 washes (some even up to 8 washes) to reach their full absorbency. For newbies: Did you actually PREWASH them before using them the first time?
2. (For Pocket Diapers) Inserts not properly inserted: Make sure when you stuff your Pocket Diapers, the inserts lies nicely flat inside the pocket and along the entire length of the diaper – not folded on the sides or twisted.
3. Your baby pees too rapidly: The Cloth Diaper material might not absorb the pee fast enough (instead, the pee trickles on the sides or back). Consider changing to a different type of Cloth Diaper, or use another type of material.
4. Your baby’s gender and sleeping pattern: For boys, try to increase absorbency on the front, and for girls on the back. Also, if baby sleep on tummy increase the absorbency on the front side and vice versa.
5. Poor Fitting: Even though many Cloth Diapers are “One Sized”, however you adjust them, they might still be too large for a tiny newborn OR too small for a large toddler. Consider getting SIZED diapers instead of “One Size” for a much better fitting around the legs and back.

6. 

   Insufficient absorbency: If you are using Cloth Diapers for longer periods or during the night, consider adding extra inserts/doublers/soakers/boosters with them for additional absorbency. Consider changing the diapers more frequently too. This can prevent leaks when the diaper gets too “full”.

7. Are you wearing your Cloth Diapers correctly? If you use diaper covers, make sure it wraps the baby snugly and all diaper material is tucked inside. Also, ensure that you fasten the snaps/velcro on the waist at the right setting to get the right fit and also correctly.
8. Wrong use of detergent: Have you been using detergent or cleaning materials which has any enzymes, softener, bleach, additives in them? These substances can greatly reduce the absorbency by coating the material, or even spoil the waterproof qualities of your Cloth Diapers!
9. Detergent build up: After some time of usage, Cloth Diapers might have detergent trapped in them. This will cause your diapers to repel water (water just stays on the surface instead of being absorbed). You need to strip wash your diapers to remove detergent build up.
10. Faulty/Low Quality Cloth Diapers: If you have really exhausted all the reasons above, contact the seller for help and advice. You might be unfortunate enough to discover that your diapers are actually defective! On another note, keep in mind the principle of “You get what you pay for…” Very very cheap Cloth Diapers might not work so well, or might easily deteriorate over time.

Easily said, any Cloth Diaper WILL leak once it is full. And they will also leak if the fitting or sizing is not right. Now that you know these reasons, perhaps your Cloth Diapering journey will be a more pleasant and successful affair!

QUESTION: How do you ensure your Cloth Diapers do not leak? Share with us in the comments below!

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)

]]> http://clothdiapermalaysia.com/2010/03/how-to-cloth-diaper-better-using-flat-diapers-kain-lampin/feed/ 10 http://clothdiapermalaysia.com/2010/02/my-10-problems-in-cloth-diapering-a-newborn/ http://clothdiapermalaysia.com/2010/02/my-10-problems-in-cloth-diapering-a-newborn/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:28:53 +0000 Farhana (ClothDiaperMalaysia) http://clothdiapermalaysia.com/?p=524

*This post is part of the Cloth Diaper Carnival VII:  Newborn Cloth Diapering at Dirty Diaper Laundry*

So sorry about the very long absence… But it was not for a better reason – I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Rafee 1 week ago! So imagine the hectic-ness I have to undergo for this while, I hope Cloth Diaper Malaysia readers would understand

Just so you know, one of the many reasons I started Cloth Diaper Malaysia, apart from wanting to promote and encourage Cloth Diapering to Malaysians, was to also prepare myself with the knowledge to Cloth Diaper my newborn baby. I researched, read and wrote articles related to Cloth Diapers for myself, and also to share with the others about Cloth Diapering.

UNFORTUNATELY, I learnt that theory and practical were two VERY different things. Despite the preparations I made, my Cloth Diapering journey with my newborn wasn’t so smooth sailing and easy.

Here were some of the problems about Cloth Diapering a newborn that I have encountered, which were oh-so frustrating!

1) None of my bought cloth diapers seem to fit my small newborn!

Apparently I was too cautious, not wanting to buy Extra Small sizes because I thought “they wouldn’t last too long.”

2) My prefolds and diaper cover plan to cloth diaper my newborn was a failure.

How silly of me, I have a stash of prefold diapers that were Regulars (again, I thought buying Infant size would be a waste) which did not fit my newborn at all, NOR did they even fit in ANY of the XS or S sized diaper covers that I had.

3) Leaking problems!

Again, this was a sizing issue, even with a small sized Fitted Diaper. I was breastfeeding one time, and my boy leaked all over my lap, grr!!
4) My little boy LOVES pooping on freshly changed diapers.

Happened so many times after I put on a clean diaper, to find out that minutes later he “felt” like the diapers were just too nice not to poop on immediately!

5) My social support system wasn’t really so “supportive”.

My husband was joking with me that I put so much effort in wanting to Cloth Diaper, but apparently so many things tend to go wrong! And I don’t think my mother in law was into the idea of Cloth Diapers too much either!

6) The cloth diapers were so bulky!

On a tiny newborn, almost everything I put on makes my baby an awkward sumo wrestler on his crotch (which didn’t look too comfortable). I was critcized again about this by my social support system, heh.

7) Could I even be bothered with laundry right now??

Cloth Diapering requires ULTIMATE care, but seriously, with a million other things to do with the baby the first month, should I really put so much effort in it?

8 ) I couldn’t figure out how to Snappi lampins (or prefold for that matter) properly.

In the end I gave up. Needs more practice. Sigh.

9) My “one sized” pocket diapers were not really “one sized fits all”.

It certainly did not fit on too well on my newborn. Even at the smallest setting, it was still huge and left gaps at the legs.

10) My apartment laundry area had no direct contact with the sun.

So the stains on the diapers couldn’t benefit from the sunlight. Also, they take ages to dry. Sigh….

So I guess my cloth diaper start was bumpy indeed. Will it stop me from trying? Of course not! After all is sorted, I’m ditching those darn disposable diapers! But now with breastfeeding, identifying baby’s needs and wants, trying to get enough rest, being a zombie during the day…. It’s going to be tough indeed!

But never mind, the good news is, my little baby is born healthy and happy!

(Thanks Adriana for making the birth announcement! )

*UPDATE! One month after I got used to the craziness of becoming a new parent, my Cloth Diapering journey was more successful… Read about how I did in this post: My Newborn Prefold Experience. Yay!!!

Tahukah anda dengan jenis-jenis material atau fabrik yang digunakan untuk cloth diaper? Bukan semua jenis cloth diapers itu sama. Jika anda tertanya-tanya mengapa ada jenis cloth diapers mahal harganya, dan ada pula yang murah, kita boleh menilai dengan mengetahui jenis material yang digunakan untuk menghasilkan cloth diaper tersebut.

Sebelum membeli sesuatu jenama atau jenis cloth diapers, tanyakan dan pastikan dahulu dengan penjual tentang material cloth diaper. Ini adalah penting kerana beraneka jenis material mungkin memerlukan cara penjagaan dan pembasuhan yang BERLAINAN. Sepatutnya juga, para penjual cloth diaper perlu memberi jawapan kepada soalan-soalan ini kepada pembeli:

• Apakah material yang digunakan untuk cloth diaper (lapisan dalam/luar/material asas?)
• Apakah material inserts yang digunakan?
• Bagaimanakah cara untuk basuh pertama kali sebelum digunakan (prewash)?
• Apakah teknik penjagaan/pembasuhan yang khusus untuk cloth diaper jenis ini?

Kita mungkin pernah dengar tentang microfiber, cotton, bamboo, fleece dan sebagainya semasa pencarian cloth diapers. Mari kita menjengah lebih mendalam mengenai jenis-jenis material dan fabrik yang lazim digunakan, bersama dengan kelebihan dan kekurangan masing-masing:

1) PUL (POLYURETHANE LAMINATE)

• Diperbuat dari kombinasi kapas, polyester atau kapas/ campuran poly. Bahan ini digunakan sebagai lapisan luar kalis air cloth diaper seperti untuk pocket diapers, AIO/AI2 dan juga diaper cover.
• Kelebihan: “Breathable” (bukan seperti lapisan plastik yang tiada pengudaraan).

2) FLEECE/MICROFLEECE

• Material sintetik ini (100% polyester) amat biasa digunakan sebagai lapisan dalam pocket diaper, AIO/AI2 dan diaper cover. Diaper liners juga ada diperbuat daripada fleece (untuk diletakkan di atas cloth diaper sebagai lapisan “stay dry” dan untuk menyenangkan pembuangan air besar bayi dari CD).
• Fleece ada pelbagai kualiti. Kualiti paling bagus adalah “Polar Fleece”.
• Kelebihan: Amat lembut untuk digunakan atas kulit bayi, berkebolehan untuk menarik air ke lapisan bawah secara efektif dan menjadikan kulit bayi kekal kering semasa memakai cloth diaper (wicking properties), “breathable”, senang dicuci, cepat kering, “stain-resistant”.

3) MICROFIBER

• Material ini lazim digunakan sebagai inserts, dan ianya adalah kombinasi polyester dan polyamide (bahan sintetik). Fabrik ini seperti fabrik yang digunakan untuk membuat tuala mandi.
• Kelebihan: Agak murah, senang didapati, mempunyai daya serapan yang bagus, berupaya menyerap cecair dari permukaan kulit dengan pantas berbanding material lain (wicking properties).
• Kekurangan: Tidak boleh digunakan terus ke atas kulit bayi kerana akan menyebabkan masalah kekeringan (kerana ianya menyerap cecair dengan pantas), material sintetik ini tidak terbiodegradasi (non-biodegradable).

4) BAMBOO

• Bahan diperbuat dari tanaman bamboo ini semakin popular untuk pembuatan cloth diapers. Ianya digunakan sebagai material asas cloth diaper seperti fitted diaper, lapisan dalam pocket diaper dan juga sebagai insert.
• Kelebihan: Fabrik yang “breathable” (sejuk untuk pemakaian di cuaca panas), lembut, berupaya menyerap lebih cecair berbanding microfiber (lebih sesuai untuk penggunaan waktu malam), mempunyai sifat anti-bakteria semulajadi, bahan yang semulajadi,  mesra alam sekitar dan “sustainable” (bamboo tidak menggunakan pestisid, senang & cepat ditanam).
• Kekurangan: Memerlukan “prewash” yang lebih kerap (lebih 6 kali) sebelum digunakan untuk memastikan daya serap yang tinggi, sewaktu prewash juga tidak boleh dibasuh dengan fabrik lain, harga yang lebih mahal.

5) HEMP

• Diperbuat daripada kayu tanaman hemp. Lazim digunakan sebagai bahan asas untuk fitted diaper, lapisan atas pocket diaper dan sebagai insert.
• Kelebihan: Tahan lasak, berkebolehan untuk menjadi lebih lembut selepas penggunaan berterusan, daya serap yang lebih tinggi berbanding microfiber (lebih sesuai untuk penggunaan waktu malam), bahan yang semulajadi (lebih environmental), mempunyai sifat anti-bakteria semulajadi, sesuai untuk pemakaian di cuaca sejuk ataupun panas.
• Kekurangan: Memerlukan “prewash” yang lebih kerap untuk membuang “natural oils” yang ada di dalamnya, agak lambat untuk dikeringkan, lebih sukar didapati di Malaysia, harga yang jauh lebih mahal.

6) WOOL

• Material semulajadi daripada kulit biri-biri ini amat sesuai sebagai bahan diaper covers atau soakers (shorties/longies). Bahan ini juga selalu digunakan untuk membuat baju sejuk (sweater).
• Kelebihan: Fabrik yang amat “breathable” (sesuai untuk bayi semasa cuaca panas dan juga sejuk), boleh digunakan berulang kali tanpa dibasuh, lanolin dalam wool mempunyai “repelling properties” (boleh memansuhkan air dari kulit bayi dengan cekap).
• Kekurangan: Memerlukan penjagaan yang khusus, perlu di-lanolize semula untuk mengembalikan daya serap dan “repelling properties”, agak sukar didapati di Malaysia (biasanya perlu dibeli dari luar negara), harga yang mahal.

Sekarang anda sudah lebih mahir tentang fabrik-fabrik cloth diaper bukan? Jangan lupa gunakan info-info ini semasa proses pembelian cloth diapers anda kelak!