ABOUT CLOTH DIAPERS
What is a pocket diaper?
What is an insert?
What is a liner? Do I need a liner as well as an insert?
What are the advantages of products made with microfleece or minkee?
Are velcro/aplix or snap fasteners better?
Why do you use hemp in your products?
GETTING STARTED
I want to use cloth diapers. Where do I start?
What do I need to begin cloth diapering?
Aren't cloth diapers expensive?
How many diapers do I need?
How often should I change my baby’s diaper?
DIAPER CARE
How do I wash cloth diapers?
How do I store dirty diapers before washday?
Are there any cleaning products I shouldn't use on cloth diapers?
How do I avoid diaper stains?
How do I get rid of diaper pail odours?
My baby's diapers have an unpleasant smell, even after washing. Why?
DIAPERING DILEMMAS
Should I diaper my baby differently at night?
Can I use cloth diapers when I'm out of the house?
How do I prevent diaper rash in my baby?
ABOUT CLOTH DIAPERS
What is a pocket diaper?
A pocket diaper is an all-in-one diaper with a waterproof outer layer and a microfleece or suedecloth inner layer. A pocket is located in the back or front of the diaper where you can place an absorbent insert to draw moisture away from baby's skin. Because the insert is separate from the rest of the diaper, you can customize the absorbency to fit your child’s needs. The separate insert also makes washing and drying quicker and more effective. Examples of pocket diapers include Baby Kangas and BumGeniusWhat is an insert?
An insert is an absorbent layer of material placed inside a pocket diaper. Examples include the JamTots Hemp Inserts, JamTots One Size Hemp Stuffers, and BumGenius Microfiber Inserts or a prefold.
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What is a liner? Do I need a liner as well as an insert?
A liner is placed between the diaper and baby's skin to draw moisture away from the skin. It also helps keep solid waste from sticking to the diaper. Liners can be disposable (such as the Flushies liners) or made of materials like microfleece or suedecloth. You do not need a flushable liner when using pocket diapers or doublers with microfleece or suedecloth although many moms use them to make clean-up even easier – especially when first transitioning to cloth diapers.
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What are the advantages of products made with microfleece and suedecloth?
These fabrics wick away moisture from the skin, keeping baby feeling dry even in a wet diaper. They also help keep diapers free of stains as they easily release any solid waste when changing a dirty diaper.
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Are velcro/aplix or snap fasteners better?
Velcro/aplix or hook and loop closures are great for quick changes but toddlers can quickly figure out how to get their diapers off and the velcro can get stuck on other things in the washer or gather lint/hair in it which can be annoying.
Snap closures are not quite as fast however they are great for toddlers that houdini their way out of velcro closing diapers and covers!
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Why do you use hemp in your products?
Hemp is naturally trim and absorbent, making it perfect for cloth diapers. JamTots products are made from organic hemp/cotton fleece which is highly absorbent, yet very trim and it can be fastened with a Snappi diaper fastener.
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GETTING STARTED
I want to use cloth diapers. Where do I start?
First, choose the right diapering system for you and your baby. Take a look at our comparison chart to see the pros and cons of the different cloth diapering systems available.
Once you've chosen a diapering system, review the checklist below to see what you'll need to get started. Then view our product catalogue to start shopping! Our website has everything you need to begin cloth diapering, and features secure online payment for safe, convenient shopping 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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What do I need to begin cloth diapering?
Use the following checklist to stock your nursery:
Minimum of 18-24 diapers in each size
6-8 covers for newborn/infants, 4-6 covers for larger sizes (if using covers)
20-26 inserts, including extras for more overnight absorbency (if using pocket diapers)
5 doublers for overnight or extended use. May need more for heavy wetters, depending on diapering system.
Diaper pail
2 diaper pail liners (one for use while the other is in the wash)
1-2 Snappi diaper fasteners or 4 Dritz diaper pins (necessary only for diapering systems requiring fasteners such as prefolds or eeZi-fold diapers)
2 wet bags (one for use while the other is in the wash)
2 dozen (or more--you can never have enough as you will likely find yourself using them for everything!) cloth wipes
Disposable liners (optional but great for transitioning into cloth diapers)
Citrus circles for diaper pail (optional-great for houses that are in hotter areas)
Small squirt bottle (for changes outside the house)
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Aren't cloth diapers expensive?
The good news is that cloth diapers actually save you money in the long run. Cloth diapers can be used over and over, not only for your first baby, but for any subsequent children you may have. In the end, you could save more than $1,000 per child by using cloth diapers instead of disposables.
To make your introduction to cloth diapering easy and affordable, JamTots offers a convenient layaway plan for all purchases as well as a cloth diaper registry! Get your friends and family involved to help make your baby a cloth baby!
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How many diapers do I need?
We recommend a minimum of 18-24 diapers if you want to wash every 2 days, but you may need more, especially if you have more than one child in diapers. Newborns typically use about 10 to 12 diapers per day, infants use 8 to 10 diapers a day, and toddlers use 6 to 8 diapers per day. The actual number of diapers you will need depends on your child, how often you change and how often you will wash the diapers. Remember, you will need some diapers to use on wash day!
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How often should I change my baby’s diaper?
We recommend you change your baby's diaper every two to three hours, depending on the absorbency of the diaper you are using and how heavy a wetter your child is. Of course some people wait longer but it is better to change more often to keep your child rash free. Hemp is the most absorbent fabric; inserts or doublers made from hemp can be used to increase the time that baby can stay in a diaper (such as overnight).
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DIAPER CARE
How do I wash cloth diapers?
Put diapers, inserts, cloth wipes and diaper pail liner into the washing machine to soak in cold water. (Use the pre-soak option on your washing machine, or soak for one to two hours. Soaking overnight is a great way to save time.) Then wash in warm or hot water with no more than a Tablespoon of regular laundry detergent with two cold rinses. Do not use bleach, fabric softener, laundry soaps or natural detergents. Wash diapers every two to three days, especially during warmer weather to avoid any problems with stink or mildew.
Diapers can be hung to dry, or put in the dryer. For best results, hang covers and pocket diapers to dry, or put on a lower heat setting in the dryer as they dry really fast and hanging them to dry will extend their life. To speed up drying time, add a dry bath towel to dryer. Remember – no fabric softener!
Visit our Diaper Care section for information on caring for your individual diapering system. This information is intended as a guideline only – always follow manufacturer instructions when washing and drying cloth diapers.
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How do I store dirty diapers before washday?
Choose from either the dry or wet pail methods for storing diapers however we recommend the dry pail method:
Dry Pail: Line your diaper pail with a waterproof diaper pail liner. Put diapers into pail after dumping any solids into the toilet. Cover with a loose fitting lid, or remove the lid altogether – exposure to the air will actually decrease odors. JamTots recommends this method since it is easy and effective.
Wet Pail: Fill diaper pail with water and add baking soda. At each change, put dirty diapers into the pail to soak until wash day. (This system eliminates the need to pre-soak diapers in the washing machine.) If you choose this method, remember that a pail of water and diapers is very heavy if you need to move it into the laundry room. Warning: The pail is a drowning hazard for children and pets. If you use the system, be sure to purchase a pail with a locking lid.
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Are there any cleaning products I shouldn't use on cloth diapers?
Do not use bleach on cloth diapers as it will break down the materials in the diaper. Also, avoid fabric softener because it causes diapers to repel liquids rather than absorb them.
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How do I avoid diaper stains?
Be sure to soak diapers in cold water before laundering to loosen stains. (Hot or warm water sets stains.) You can also use microfleece or flushable liners to cut down on the amount of solid waste that touches the diaper. Many people like to use a diaper sprayer to spray off dirty diapers before putting them in the diaper pail. This also aids in reducing stains. If stains do occur, hang diapers in the sun with or without lemon juice to bleach them out naturally.
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How do I get rid of diaper pail odours?
Sprinkle your diaper pail with baking soda, and/or use a citrus circles taped to the lid. Removing the lid altogether or using a loosely fitted lid helps reduce odours by allowing air to circulate through the pail.
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My baby's diapers have an unpleasant smell, even after washing. Why?
Diaper odour can be caused by detergent build up or by leaving diapers in the diaper pail for too long. Try washing diapers with no detergent until there are no bubbles left in the rinse cycle. You can also use ¼ cup of vinegar in the first rinse, either in a fabric softener ball or in the fabric softener holder in your washing machine.
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DIAPERING DILEMMAS
Should I diaper my baby differently at night?
When it comes to overnight diapering, think absorbency. Hemp is a great fabric for overnight as it is very absorbent yet quite trim. If your baby is a heavy wetter, try adding extra inserts or doublers as needed. Every child is different and their overnight absorbency needs change along with their age.
We always recommend putting way more absorbency that you think that you will need and then trying it out for a night. In the morning you can check to see how much is left dry and then subtract a little the next night and go from there. This way you don't end up with wet pajamas and bed sheets--just a baby with a big night time diaper butt! Experiment to find the right amount of overnight absorbency for your baby.
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Can I use cloth diapers when I'm out of the house?
Cloth diapers are convenient everywhere you go. Before you head out, pack your diaper bag with diapers (with inserts or doublers already inside the diapers as required), covers (if needed for your diapering system), cloth wipes, wet bags and squirt bottle. You're ready to go! No need to use disposables when you are out and about--it really can be done easily and think of all the people that you will meet that you can show off your cloth diapers to!
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How do I prevent diaper rash in my baby?
At every diaper change, clean baby's diaper area gently and thoroughly (we recommend using cloth wipes and plain water or a diaper spray solution such as the Kissaluvs diaper potion lotion), and allow to dry completely. Give baby's bottom a good airing out whenever possible by removing the diaper and placing baby on a washable surface where accidents won't matter. The Mother of Eden mattress pads are great for this! If you need to use a diaper cream, use a fleece liner so that that the diaper won't end up repelling as thick diaper creams can build up on diapers and cause liquid to repel off of them (especially with pocket diapers).
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