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How to Cloth Diaper Better Using Flat Diapers (Kain Lampin)

Farhana (ClothDiaperMalaysia) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:28:44 +0000

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:

Cara Mudah & Murah untuk Cloth Diaper Bayi Baru Lahir (Newborn Babies)

Farhana (ClothDiaperMalaysia) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:20:26 +0000

Jika anda masih baru dalam dunia Cloth Diapers, mungkin anda merasakan Cloth Diaper itu mahal. Banyak Cloth Diapers yang jenamanya “established” dan telah lama di pasaran adalah jenama luar negara (Rujuk posting “Top 15 Cloth Diaper Brands” untuk mengenali jenama-jenama CD yang popular sekarang). Mungkin dilabel “mahal” kerana harga sekeping sahaja sudah mencecah RM60 ke atas (selalunya jenis Pocket Diapers). Saya setuju kita boleh dapatkan Cloth Diapers yang lebih murah harganya jika ianya bukan jenama antarabangsa atau yang kurang “dikenali” (besar kemungkinan ia Made in China, dll), tetapi saya sendiri belum berkesempatan untuk mencuba untuk menilai kualiti dan keberkesanannya. Namun begitu, saya tahu akan ibu-ibu yang cukup serasi menggunakan jenama-jenama ini, dan berpuas hati dengan pilihan mereka.

Tidak dinafikan juga ramai pengguna lebih cenderung untuk memilih Cloth Diapers jenis POCKET DIAPERS kerana ianya cukup popular dan dikenali. Namun begitu para pengunjung sekalian, eloklah saya memperkenalkan Cloth Diaper jenis PREFOLDS – sebagai salah satu jenis Cloth Diaper yang MURAH dan MUDAH untuk digunakan!

Cloth Diaper untuk Bayi Baru Lahir (Newborns)

Menggunakan Cloth Diapers ke atas bayi baru lahir memerlukan Cloth Diaper dalam kuantiti yang banyak dan juga agak melecehkan. Cloth Diapering pada peringkat awal ini juga mungkin agak sukar dan memerlukan kesabaran. Mengapa pula? (Rujuk juga posting “Berapa CDs yang Saya Perlu untuk Bayi Saya?” untuk pemahaman lebih mendalam):

- Bayi baru lahir (newborns) sangat kerap membuang air kecil dan besar. Lampin perlu ditukar lebih kurang setiap 2 jam sekali, 12 kali sehari!

- Ini bermakna, kita memerlukan stok 24-36 keping Cloth Diapers untuk newborn! (jika kita membasuh Cloth Diaper 2-3 hari sekali)

- Air besar newborn amat cair, sukar melekat pada lampin dan senang bocor di sisi dan belakang (masalah biasa jika menggunakan lampin pakai buang)

- Newborn masih bersaiz kecil (terutama bahagian peha) dan mungkin tidak sesuai untuk dipakaikan “One Size” Cloth Diapers (kebocoran jika saiz CD tidak sesuai).

Mahu tahu cara paling murah dan senang untuk Cloth Diaper bayi baru lahir? Menggunakan PREFOLDS/FLATS (kain lampin)! Ianya adalah jenis CD yang paling versatil, menjimatkan dan sesuai untuk keperluan newborn:

- Sekeping Prefold diapers harganya RM8-12 setiap satu. Di mana nak beli Prefolds? Klik link ini untuk senarai kedai: Prefolds di Malaysia.

- Harga Flat diapers (kain lampin biasa) juga amat murah dan senang didapati di mana-mana pasaraya.

- Prefolds/Flats sesuai untuk pencucian yang kerap kerana ianya kain yang tahan lasak, dan ianya cepat kering.

- Kombinasi lengkap yang boleh digunakan adalah Prefolds + Snappi + Diaper Cover. Sistem ini sesuai untuk mengelakkan kebocoran dan penggunaan kerap bagi bayi baru lahir.

- Diaper Cover menjadikan penggunaan Prefolds sebagai kalis air, dan juga tidak perlu dibasuh setiap kali digunakan kerana ianya lapisan luar. Memadai jika kita ada 4-5 keping Diaper Cover untuk digunakan. Di mana nak beli Diaper Covers? Rujuk di sini.

- Terpulang kepada bajet, sistem Prefolds+Diaper Cover kosnya hanya RM30-40. Ianya lebih murah jika menggunakan Flats (kain lampin).

- Jika tidak mahu menggunakan Diaper Covers pun tidak mengapa, prefolds/flats boleh dipakaikan dengan Snappi sahaja. Cuma bersedia dengan alas kalis air jika berlaku sebarang kebocoran!

Siapa kata Cloth Diaper tidak berpatutan harganya? Sesiapa pun boleh menggunakan CDs, dan tidak semestinya membiasakan diri dengan CD jenis Pocket Diapers sahaja. Saya setuju, ada juga Cloth Diapers jenis One Size Pocket Diapers yang berharga RM30-40 sekali dengan inserts, tetapi fikirkan semula: Tiada bezakah CD yang berharga RM30 ini dengan CD yang berharga lebih RM60? Kita juga perlu realistik, jangan hanya kerana “murah”, kita terlalu ghairah membeli. Fikirkan tentang kualiti juga!

*Untuk pengetahuan anda, kualiti Prefolds adalah sama dan standard. Harga Diaper Cover jenama Thirsties dan Bummis yang memang dikenali ramai dengan kualitinya pula berharga RM30-40 setiap satu. (Saya juga beli second hand sahaja, boleh dapat dengan harga RM20 )

Ingati semula mengapa kita mahu menggunakan Cloth Diapers untuk anak kita: Untuk menjimatkan wang? Untuk kebaikan alam sekitar? Untuk keselesaan bayi? Saya rasa penggunaan CD jenis Prefolds/Flats memang mencapai kesemua matlamat ini! Cubalah

5 Ways to Fold & Use Prefolds/ Flat Diapers

Farhana (ClothDiaperMalaysia) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:24:32 +0000

(5 Cara Melipat & Menggunakan Prefold Diapers & Kain Lampin)

Why should we love prefolds and flat diapers? Because they’re cheap, easy to use and easily customizable to your baby. Some might be turned off by the fact that these type of diapers require folding, but once you master the ways, it will be easy

Here are 5 ways to fold and utilize prefolds and flats (normal kain lampin). I think the best way to learn is with videos, so all these ways are shown on You Tube videos. No excuse for not learning !

What You Need: Prefold Diapers, Flat Diapers, Snappis, Diaper Covers.

*Do remember that Prefolds and Flats are NOT waterproof, so that is why you need Diaper Covers to make sure the diapers don’t leak or make messes*

1) Origami Fold (Flat Diapers) – I think most of us know how to fold this… It’s how our parents used to fold lampins

2) Kite Fold (Flat Diapers) – Another way to fold Flats. Used with a Prefold for added absorption.

3) Newspaper Fold (Prefold Diapers) – The easiest way to use Prefolds with a Diaper Cover.

4) Angel Wing Fold (Prefold Diapers) – This method uses a Snappi to secure the Prefold.

5) Bikini Fold (Prefold Diapers) - This method also uses a Snappi to secure the Prefold.

Hope these videos were useful! Are there any other ways you that we can fold Prefolds or Flats? What’s your favourite method that you use? Let me know

The first three You Tube videos were courtesy of Cheeky Diapers.