Diaper Care Tips and Tricks

Proper care for cloth diapers helps prolong their life, keep the smellies down and makes your job easier! In every case you should follow your manufacturers directions on washing and drying specifics, but here are a few tips I have discovered over the last year of cloth diapering!

Hang to Dry - whenever the weather permits, hang your diapers to dry. Of course with some this may take a full day - but the results are worth it! The sun will naturally bleach out the stains and the fresh air will of course freshen them up.

Vinegar - since fabric softener is a huge NO NO with cloth diapers (and liners) you may find that line drying and regular use leaves the diapers (and liners) slightly "crunchy". I have found that every few washes a cup of vinegar helps soften the fibers and remove any detergent build up. An added benefit is that vinegar naturally kills yeast bacteria.

Pre-soaking - I don't have the time or frankly stomach to pre-soak my diapers in a pail. Instead I take advantage of my washing machine! I let the machine fully fill with the diapers, some Borax and baby detergent and then just after it starts the agitation I turn the machine off. I let the diapers sit for about 20 minutes and then start it up again. I also make sure to use the extra rinse cycle to help get them really clean. This may seem like a waste of water but it takes no more then pre-soaking them in a pail.

Low Dry - it's important to dry your diapers on a low heat. Higher heat can break down the fibres or with All-In-Ones can break down the waterproofing. Again line dryer out doors is always best.

I have used Kushies (All-in-Ones) for three main reasons - they are inexpensive, they are 100% Canadian made, and they work for me! But the tips and tricks above can be applied to any cloth diapers. These are also the same tricks I use for Mommy's Lil Monkey wipes and liners.

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Middle of the Night Tantrums

Sorry I haven't posted much - I have been dealing with the wee monkey having middle of the night tantrums. I am exhausted and getting worried since I start back to work in a week. I've tried researching the causes of night time tantrums (he's 11.5 months) and there seems to be a few possible causes.

- night terrors
- teething
- growing pains
- separation anxiety
- frustrated at not being able to do something
- unknown cause

We've ruled out night terrors because he is fully awake and has been awake for at least 10 minutes before the full blown tantrum starts. Growing pains and teething don't seem as likely either because 'tempra' and other natural methods aren't helping. Separation anxiety is probably not a cause since his routine has not changed any and the tantrums start AFTER he sees one of us.

I am going to try the distant contact method - where we let him cry it out after letting him know we are still near by. We don't pick him up or stay in his room. We simply open his door, let him know its ok, that mommy and daddy are near and that it's time to go back to bed. We repeat that a few times as we go back to our own room. Hopefully the neighbours can't hear him screaming bloody murder at 1 am!


We are offering 15% off most items in our Etsy store http://www.mommysmonkey.etsy.com/ and watch for our big birthday sale on 2/28 for one day only!! Also lots of new inventory has been added to http://www.mommyslilmonkey.com/ - and ad space is still available (see the Other Fun Places page for details)!