School of Cloth: Diapering in Special Circumstances

This week we wrap up the School of Cloth by focusing on diapering in special circumstances.  You can link up to this week’s post and read other posts here.

Have you ever been home alone or at grandma’s and realized that you just used your last disposable diaper?  Maybe you are a one car family or maybe you don’t get paid for two more days and there is no money for another bag or box of diapers.  You can make cloth diapering work with just a few common items found in every household.  Check out the link above for more resources on cloth diapering with household items.  This is great even for cloth diapering families because we all get behind on laundry sometimes.

Below you’ll find picture tutorials on using receiving blankets and t-shirts as a diapers.  This is a fantastic way to start cloth diapering or to bulk up your cloth diaper stash.  They wash and dry quickly since they unfold to thin layers.  Resources for folding flat diapers:
http://www.osocozy.com/wp/?page_id=497
http://www.wikihow.com/Fold-a-Cloth-Diaper

See the next paragraph for information on covers to keep these diapers waterproof and fasteners to keep them on.

Receiving Blanket Diaper

You’ll need 1 receiving blanket for small babies or very light wetters. Two for bigger babies and moderate to heavy wetters.

Fold one receiving blanket in half. For a longer rise, you won’t want to fold this over all the way. Just down far enough to fit your baby’s rise.

Fold again.

With the folded edges to your left and closest to you, pull the top two layers of the right open edge to your left hand side to make a triangle.

Pulling to the left.

Ta-da!

Take your other receiving blanket and fold down twice as before.

Now fold in thirds.

You just made a doubler for the wet zone!

Place the doubler in the center of the ‘kite’.

Place your ‘kite’ under baby with the long side under baby’s waist.

Pull the pointed edge up to cover baby’s crotch.

Pull in one wing.

And then the other.

Apply your snappi or pin(s).

Roll in your legs.

A nice, trim diaper. This will hold my 16 month old for about 2-2.5 hours.

Put a cover over the diaper and admire just how trim it is. Jeans would be no problem in this cloth diaper.

T-Shirt Diaper

Start with a t-shirt. This is actually a youth boys size LG. Larger shirts will definitely work just as well if not better.

If you have a preference about which side is on the outside, place the outside choice face down.

Fold the sides in like so. You’ll get ‘angel wings’ or ‘moose head’. Fold the bottom up for your needed rise.

If needed, add a doubler. I used a receiving blanket here.

This is more or less what the t-shirt diaper will look like on.

Place the sleeved portion of the folded t-shirt at child’s waist.

Pull the bottom of the folded t-shirt up to cover child’s crotch.

Fold in sleeve just a bit.

Pull it over to center of t-shirt diaper.

Fold in other sleeve.

Pull it to center.

Pin the diaper. You can use one or two pins.

Or use a snappi.

Fold in both legs.

Nice and trim.

Now fold the collar down into the diaper.

Ta-da!

Tell me that isn’t adorable.

You’ll need a cover for these to be waterproof and a Snappi or diaper pins to hold the diaper on.

Fasteners:  You can find a four pack of Prym diaper pins at Wal-Mart for $1 and they work great.  They’re normally in the baby section.  I do not recommend a safety-pin.  Diaper pins have a little cap that snaps down making it almost impossible for babies to get them off, regular safety pins do not.  Snappis, boingos, and diaper pins can be purchased at most cloth diaper retailers and even amazon. See how to apply a Snappi here and a Boingo here.

Covers: To keep your child’s clothing dry, you need a diaper cover when using non-waterproof diapers like those above.  You can use the ‘plastic’ pants from Wal-Mart and Babys ‘R Us.  They will get the job done, but they won’t last long.  When you’re just getting started, they might be the easiest to get.  We used them until I could make enough covers to last several days.  By that time, they had pretty much worn out.

There are many inexpensive, quality covers you can buy.   Our personal favorite are flips.

If you are trying to make an ’emergency’ diaper or just want a no-sew homemade stash, check out this no-sew fleece cover from Dirty Diaper Laundry. It’s simple to make and inexpensive.

Fleece Diaper Wrap

If you’re even the tiniest bit crafty, you can sew a cover.  Fleece is easy to get and inexpensive.  It is also water-resistant.  Most of our diaper covers are fleece.  Just make sure you are using 100% polyester fleece. First, check around your house for unused fleece blankets, robes, and hoodies.  Check thrift stores as well.  Anti-pill and blizzard fleece from JoAnn Fabric work well.  Most of our covers are made from the Rita’s Rump Cover pattern.  It’s a free pattern. You can get hook and loop (velcro) from most craft stores and lots of big box stores.  I really like the Babyville H&L and JoAnn carries it as well. It is really strong and lasts well.

Here are some other household items that work great for diapers.

Check your linen closet for towels that you no longer use. Maybe they’re stained, but still absorbent. They’ll work fine in diapers!

Baby washcloths work well as cloth wipes.

This stack of doublers was made from inexpensive washcloths I purchased 18/$4. I laid two together, trifolded, and sewed them together. You could also just fold them.

To make a quick doubler, or soaker pad for newborns. Take two washcloths.

Fold one in thirds.

Place in the center of the second washcloth.

Fold in the sides and you’ve got a doubler!

You can place a terry doubler directly against baby’s skin. You can wrap it in a microfiber towel (microfiber cannot go against baby’s skin), or pair with another insert and put in a pocket diaper.

Use a retired hand towel as a diaper insert. Lay flat.

Fold in thirds. One side in….

…and the other.

Then fold down to fit the rise you need. Fold the front down for boys, the middle for girls to boost your absorbency.

Ta-da!

Place inside a cover or pocket diaper. This is a flip cover.

Fits great! Not the trimmest, but it is absorbent and it will work.

These inserts were all made from ‘old’ cotton clothing. Approx. six layers thick and are trim, but boost absorbency.

Flour sack towels can be found in the kitchen section of WalMart and Target for about $1 each. Use as flat diapers or padfold to use as inserts.

Microfiber towels can be found for a $1 or less a piece at most stores. The microbfiber can’t go against baby’s skin as it is very drying, but it can be used in a pocket or wrapped inside a flat. Here it is folded with a terry doubler to be stuffed in a pocket.

Stuffing!

A flannel pocket diaper stuffed with more homemade, upcycled inserts and doublers.

A diaper made from an old t-shirt and an old micro-minky blanket.

Stay dry minky inner.

A diaper made from receiving blankets.

Simple, effective. Easy to make: http://handmadebyrita.blogspot.com/2007/10/classic-rrp-ritas-rump-pocket-pattern.html

See how inexpensive cloth diapering  can be?!? It can be easy and you can do it!  Share your stories with us. I welcome questions and am happy to help you start your cloth diapering journey.  Comment, email us, find us on Facebook.  All our contact info is in the Contact Info tab and I’d be happy to help you.  I love what cloth diapers have done for our family and I’m betting you will too.

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