The Burrito Fold: for Boys

As I mentioned yesterday, I have a few tricks and tips to share for night time diapering, especially for boys.  Today I want to introduce “The Burrito Fold.”

When I was struggling to find a leak-proof solution for Nolan, I asked for help from other Rumparooz/Kanga Care retailers.  One mom recommended wrapping the newborn insert around the end of the main insert, similar to a burrito.  This provides either 3 or 4 layers (depending on the setting you choose) of absorption at the front where little boys need it most.  Use a hemp insert for a trimmer fit.

Step by step instructions:

1.  Use both portions of the Rumparooz 6R soaker.  For 4 layers of protection, snap the larger insert down to the small/medium setting.  If you only want/need 3 layers, then do not snap the insert down.  Use the chart below for a reference (click image to enlarge):

I used the snapped down setting.

2.  Lay the larger insert on top of the newborn/contoured insert so that it covers the bottom portion of the insert.

3.  Fold the top of the newborn/contoured insert down, so that it wraps around the end of the insert like a burrito.

4.  Stuff this portion into the pocket of your diaper first, so that it is at the front of the diaper where the boy needs extra absorbency.

You could really do this fold with any two inserts, or a combination of an insert and a doubler.  I used microfiber inserts for illustration, but it will be quite bulky at the front of your diaper.  You will likely have to adjust the waist setting to compensate. 

Try a microfiber insert with a Hemp Babies doubler wrapped around it, or a hemp 6R soaker, or any combination of microfiber, hemp, and bamboo, or organic cotton.  I think that hemp and organic cotton are the trimmest.

Mailbox Mondays: Overnight Diapers

Since the theme for March is overnights and naps, I thought I would answer this Mailbox Monday question from Hannah G.:

What is a good nighttime diaper? I've tried several different ones and each time my baby boy wakes up with his crib sheets and pj's all wet. He's a very heavy wetter!

Along the same lines is a question from Sabrina:

What do you recommend for overnight heavy wetter boys?

Great questions!  I had a lot of leaks when I first brought my son home.  Cloth diapering a boy is a little different than cloth diapering a girl…or so I have discovered!

My favorite night time diaper remains the same for both my daughter and my son.  I have just changed the way I stuff the pocket to use it for my son.  I always recommend the Rumparooz One Size diaper for overnights.  If you have a heavy wetter, us a Hemp or Bamboo 6R insert.  Nolan was fine with just microfiber inserts until about 6 months old.  Now he uses a combination of either hemp or bamboo.

Part of the benefit of the Rumparooz G2 diaper is the versatility of the insert.  You can use it six different ways, so there is surely a setting for everyone.  For nighttime diapering (and even for naps if you have a heavy wetter), use both portions of the insert.

(click image to enlarge)

Nolan doesn’t need the insert unsnapped completely, so we use the medium doubler setting.  But…I stuff the snapped down portion into the pocket opening first, so that there are actually three layers (or “portions”) of insert in the front of the diaper where a boy “aims” his wetness.

This has been sufficient to stop our night time and naptime leaks.  I prefer not to double stuff a bunch of diapers for naptime and then have to keep them set aside until use.  So I have started stuffing all of my diapers with the snap-down portion of the insert (the small/medium setting) in the front of the diaper.  I always grab a Rumparooz for nap time, and I know that he has a double layer of absorbency.

I have 4 inserts for night times – 3 hemp, and 1 bamboo.  We wash every 3-4 days, so this is enough to always have an absorbent insert ready for bed time.  You don’t have to break the bank and purchase a lot of inserts in order to use cloth diapers at night.  It is economical to just purchase a few, and rotate them until wash day.

I have several more tips to share regarding diapering boys, so be sure to check back this week!

What is your “go-to” diaper for naps or nights?  Do you have a heavy wetter?  How do you keep the jammies and sheets dry?  Leave a comment!

Just a reminder about microfiber

I was adding the Rumparooz bamboo inserts to our website this week, and it brought to mind this fact about microfiber.  I thought I would throw it as there as a reminder! 

Microfiber inserts are to be used in a pocket diaper.  Microfiber inserts are not to be used as a lay-in soaker for a cover. Microfiber is highly absorbent and will dry the skin raw if used in direct contact.

I knew not to place microfiber on my baby’s skin, but I didn’t know the reasons why.  While natural fibers such as hemp, organic cotton, and bamboo may be used directly against your baby’s skin, you should NEVER use microfiber if it will come in direct contact with your baby. 

Have a fluffy weekend.  We will be busy celebrating Elaine’s 2nd birthday.  Where does the time go?

FuzziBunz Elite

It’s here!  The all-new, improved, FuzziBunz Elite One Size Diaper.  I know what you’re thinking…I thought it too!  “FuzziBunz is already a great diaper.  What is there to improve?  How can it get any better?”

Here’s what the new Elite boasts for features:

• Now trimmer fitting, more comfortable, faster drying, and easier to adjust!

• Quick Dry Fleece: Baby feels dryer longer and fleece stays nicer longer with less visible wear.

• Easy-Replace Elastic Has Moved: The adjustable elastic's buttons are now found inside the pocket so there are no buttons next to baby’s skin.

• New Minky Inserts: Each diaper comes with two Minky Inserts (small and medium/large) adding the following benefits:

  • Less odor than microfiber

  • Less staining

  • Trimmer fitting diaper with same amount of absorbency
• Streamlined front panel and snap design provides better fit with less leaking

Doable Diapers now has the FuzziBunz Elite in stock and ready to ship.  It didn’t take me long to rip open the box and pick a color so we could give the new diaper a test drive!  Here’s a closer look at the new features of our Kumquat diaper:

The packaging and outer layer of the diaper look the same.

You can’t tell in the picture, but the minky inserts are super-soft, and definitely trimmer. 

Something is missing…no button-hole elastic and hide-away sleeves inside the diaper!

Found them!  Turn the diaper inside out to access the button-hole elastic and hide-away sleeve.  (Tummy panel or front of diaper).

(Waist and leg elastics found near the waist with diaper inside out).

Solar Power to the Rescue

Just in case you missed my post here about sunning the stains out of your diapers, I wanted to re-iterate the power of the sun.  Mr. Sunshine has natural bleaching powers, and his ultraviolet rays are a natural antiseptic.  Not only can the sun restore the brilliant white to your diaper linings and inserts, but it can also kill any remaining bacteria.

You may be skeptical…I was at first too.  So I snapped some pictures to bring you the proof of solar power!

These two inserts are stained from my son’s EBF poo.  I took the pictures as I was hanging my freshly washed diapers on the clothesline.  These are two different inserts.

Next:  hang/lay your diapers in the sun while damp.  Be sure the stained portion is “facing” the sun.

The two inserts we are testing are closest to the wet bags on the far left side of the picture.

It was supposed to rain that afternoon, so my diapers only got about five hours in the sunshine.  I should tell you that this was not the sunniest day ever.  It was fairly cloudy in the afternoon.  But your inserts will still get the benefit!  I even read once about someone “sunning” their inserts in the rain.  The result was the same as I achieved. Pictures were taken as I pulled the inserts off the clothesline.

Voila!  Brilliant white inserts, once again!  Now go and try it for yourself!

Earth Day Giveaway

In celebration of Earth Day, we are giving away an insert sampler package!  One Doable Diapers reader will win the following:

• 2 Rumparooz 6R microfiber inserts
• 2 FuzziBunz microfiber inserts (choice of small or medium/large)
• 1 Doopsy bamboo/hemp insert
• 2 gauze diaper doublers
• 1 package (contains 6) Cotton Babies stay-dry liners
• 1 Hemp Babies hemp doubler

Choosing reusable products like cloth diapers helps to create less waste, and as a result it shows good stewardship of the world with which we have been entrusted.  Thanks for choosing cloth diapers!

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Bonus Entries:

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• Blog about this giveaway (5 bonus entries).  Leave the URL of your blog post (not the homepage of your blog).
• Sign up to receive the Doable Diapers Newsletter.
• Tell us your favorite insert – brand and composition.
• Tweet about this giveaway.  Tweet must include @DoableDiapers and include a link to this post.  Tweet entries should be made by leaving a comment on this post.  You must include your name, email address, and the URL/permalink of your Tweet.  You may tweet once per day during the dates of this giveaway.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Fine Print: 
-All entries will be made using the form.  Comment entries will be deleted. 
-You must leave verification information for your entries. Incomplete entries will be disqualified. 
-Giveaway prize may only be shipped to a valid USA address. 
-Giveaway open through Saturday, April 30, at 5 pm EST. 
-Winner will be announced on the blog and contacted via email. 
-Winner has 48 hours to claim prize, or a new winner will be chosen. 
-Winner is chosen using a random number generator.

Order Matters!

If you are using more than one insert in your pocket diapers, it is important to place them in the correct order.  While both of your inserts may have the same fiber composition, you may also benefit from mixing fibers in your inserts.  This is especially beneficial when extra absorbency is needed – for example, naptime, bedtime, and long car rides.  If you are using two different fibers to stuff your pocket diapers, consider carefully the order in which you stack them! 

If one of your inserts is microfiber, you should place that closest to the lining of the diaper.  Microfiber absorbs liquid very quickly, and you want to catch all of the urine as soon as possible. 

Hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton, however, can absorb large amounts of liquid.  Place these inserts or doublers underneath the microfiber insert to hold all of the excess urine.  Though these fibers absorb more slowly, they hold more than microfiber does.

Doable Diapers carries a variety of inserts, liners, and doublers to meet your diapering needs.  Be sure to visit our selection here.  If you have any questions, concerns, or tips, please leave us a comment or send an email to info@doablediapers.com.