Cloth diapers...

[smileyface]

A lot of people seem to be using cloth diapers... I was wondering what other daycare providers' experiences have been with caring for children with cloth diapers. Are they a nuisance? Is it gross to deal with? I definitely prefer disposable, but I haven't had much contact with cloth diapers. I was just wondering if they're easy to deal with, or would you recommend sticking with caring for children in disposable diapers?

[playfelt]

Really didn't have major issues when allowing kids to come in cloth diapers. Mostly it depends on how dedicated the parents are too. Be sure to insist on a wet bag for the used diapers - the diapear companies make them and they are basically a waterproof bag either drawstring or zippered pouch. I asked for a box of disposable bags and asked them to use disposable liners. If they did that I would remove the liner to a zip bag and toss in my garbage. No zip bags no removal. Then they were just folded and put into the wet bag to be taken home contents and all. I did not rinse or flush contents in any way. Insist the diapers be sent ready to use making them just as easy as disposable in the sense the parent has inserted the liners, etc. and if using adjustable ones have them snapped or tabbed where they want them to be for correct sizing. Never had an issue with leaking. One drawback was that kids prone to diaper rash are sort of stuck with it since you can't use diaper cream in the cloth diapers. Parents must wash them properly too or they will lose absorbancy - that is on another thread about cloth diapers somewhere on here but the soap residue must be rinsed out when laundering.

Always insist on having some disposables for back up. Use them on days child goes through all cloth sent or if they are having poop issues, or diaper rash and want to use them or if you are going out to playgroup etc you can use a disposable.

[sunnydays]

I have never had any issue with cloth diapers. I actually prefer them because I get to send the stinky ones home with parents at the end of the day instead of having huge bags of stinky diaper garbage. I don't dump or remove any contents, just put them in the wet bag as is and parents take care of it at home. You actually can use diaper creams with cloth diapers and I have had many kids in cloth who I put cream on supplied by parents (parents just have to know how to strip the diapers properly to remove the cream...but that is their problem, not the provider's). The only thing to be aware of is that they do need to be changed if they pee, so if you are out at a playgroup all morning and would normally leave the kids in disposables until you get home, you might not be able to do that for a cloth diaper child as they do feel the wet a lot more. Outings are the only time I find it slightly less convenient because you have to bring a bag to put it in and carry it with you versus throwing it in a garbage can. However, all in all, I think cloth diapers are great and I am happy to see people using them :)

[treeholm]

One of my dc children uses cloth diapers, and I'm quite comfortable with them. I agree that it is nice not to have to throw away stinky diapers. I put the really poopy ones into a plastic bag before putting it in the wet bag. Works just fine.

[Mambia]

I strongly discourage using cloth diapers based on my experience. Not every parent is fully knowledgeable on caring for them properly and the dck who was using them would leak everyday to the point that disposables were requested. If you are caring for more than 2-3 kids, I personally think it is a complete nuisance to have to pack them up for parents in wet bag, etc. also the absorbency is not the same as with disposables so you will find changing more often. I think they are just unsanitary in my opinion just based on the fact that you are packing up soiled diapers in wet bag and then parent has to open them up, discard poop, launder and reuse,,,yuck! Not my cup of tea. Also most parents who use cloth also use cloth wipes which you have to wet before each use, just too time consuming when you have a group of dck to look after. Again, this is just my personal experience so take as you please but unfortunately I didn't have a positive go with cloth diapers.

[Artsand crafts]

Hi Sunnydays! How do you manage to change 5 kids every time they pee? When I was doing cloth diapers I never had more than one child at a time with cloth diapers. I used to change them about every 2hrs (and parents were ok with it). My other kids are changed about every 3hrs unless there is poop. I did not like it too much either, because I guess parents did not know how to take care of them properly and they ended up leaking at some point. Maybe the provider have to do the homework of finding out how to take care of them to instruct parents before allowing those diapers...

[kelleyg19]

I have a dcb who is in cloth diapers. I found them to really stink (even when just pee) and have asked if they could send disposal diapers instead. I was gagging every time I changed his bum and couldn't handle the smell anymore. I also found that in the last week the cloth diapers started to leak. They had no problem with doing disposal diapers while he is here (2 days a week).

[Mambia]

Yes I agree with the smell! First I thought that perhaps this one dck just had really stinky diapers but soon realized that cloth diapers give off a strong ammonia smell and I couldn't handle the smell either. Just cleaning up leaks all the time is way too time consuming. There's just way too much going on and found it disrupted my schedule and created unnecessary work. I quickly asked for disposables. Dcm wasn't very happy but then again, she's not the one having to chase after 5 kids for 9 hrs per day. I figure if the parents really want them in cloth diapers then they can change them into cloth when they get home but while they are with me, disposables only. Every daycare centre I know off does not allow cloth due to the amount of extra work required and hygiene issues.

[Momof4]

Personally, I love them. I have two families with their children in cloth diapers and it's wonderful. But I change the child, wipe them with the cloth provided by the parents, tuck the cloth into the diaper, poop and all and fold it up and put it in the bag provided to go home. You should have the diapers pre-snapped by the parent to fit the child perfectly to limit your diapering time by the way. My dcMoms make sure that prep work is done and it's a breeze for me and reduced the amount of garbage at the end of my day. Love it!

[mlle.coccinelle]

I personally use cloth diaper for my little boy and I am ALL over it.

if they have a strong ammonia smell, its because they are not being washed the proper way. Maybe they have soap residue in them or just need a goood strip down. I wash mine every 3 days and they never smell very strong. ( of course after 3 days they smell a little bit, but if you send them back everyday, it shoulnt be that strong of a smell! :) )

[treeholm]

I guess I have parents who know what to do with the cloth diapers because they always come back clean and fresh. I love not having to dispose of stinky diapers in my garbage. I do use disposable wipes though. I used cloth for my own children, so it wasn't a huge adjustment when parents asked me if I was open to using cloth. I find them just as sanitary as disposable. Instead of dealing with a poopy disposable in my garbage, I just bag up the cloth one. Same amount of dealing with anything unsanitary.

[sunnydays]

I really never had any of the issues mentioned. I did have one whose diapers leaked as she got older, but her parents added a liner and the problem was solved. I don't care whether they want me to use cloth or disposable wipes...I just wet a bunch in the morning and keep in a wipes box ready to go...takes 10 seconds tops. I change all my dck's 3-4 times per day, so the cloth diaper kids were about the same...only difference being that you cna get away with skipping a changing if you are out at the park etc with disposables and not with cloth...I just carried bags and changed tthem at the park. For me, I strongly support cloth diapers because it is better for the environment. I feel sick when I see the giant bag of dirty diapers I have to put out on the crub each week...our landfills are full of diapers!

[Sandbox Sally]

I used cloth with my kids. They're not gross or unsanitary...this mindset really bothers me.

They are easy peasy, and instead of throwing a disposible into a plastic bag, you're throwing a cloth diaper into a wet bag. No biggie. I prewet my cloth wipes, and put them in a regular wipes container. This is also not a big deal at all.

If you're the one doing the diapering, read a few how to's if you're not comfortable with them. There will not be leaks if you're diapering properly.

[Daycare123]

I use cloth myself and so do a lot of my families. A couple of my families use disposables and I have to say I prefer cloth. The cloth diaper wet bags go home each night, whereas with disposables, I find even with a diaper genie (and dumping waste in toilet) it still stinks up my bathroom!

One you get used to using cloth it is just as easy :)

[SMHD]

please see my post: "Cloth Diapers, Baby Wipes and Envirotards" FYI

[33 Daiseys]

I use cloth myself and so do a lot of my families. A couple of my families use disposables and I have to say I prefer cloth. The cloth diaper wet bags go home each night, whereas with disposables, I find even with a diaper genie (and dumping waste in toilet) it still stinks up my bathroom!

One you get used to using cloth it is just as easy :)

i get the rolls of compostable doggy poop bags, dump, bag and put it in the diaper genie. i also put a few table spoons of baking powder in the bottom of the bag every time i change out the bag.

[Peacefulbird]

I likea using cloth diapers, but, I find it at times inconvenient. I do a lot outings and I carry a bag pack with our snacks and extra change clothing, a bag with toys, a bag with swimsuits and towels. And when I have children in cloth diapers in my care I have also to carry a stinky wet bag. Even in playgroups my attention was called when somebody mentioned that the room stinks.

I'm not sure how you feel about this but, I absolutely do not like the idea carrying poop close to the children's snaks even if it is in a bag. I personally would not eat my food if it was close to a poopy diaper so, I do not do that to my children. The inconvenience is to carry around the dirty ones around especially during hot summers.

I also have experienced that one of my little ones started to develop a certain kind of skin condition around the bottom so, she was.diagnosed with developing a certain type of fongus. So, needles to say her parents disposed all the cloth diapers and we started potty training at 18 months. And the second child used disposables and we trained him early too. In many years of experience using cloth diapers this was the first time seeing this kind of skin condition.

Also the parent of the little girl mentioned that they've done their research etc. And they really support the environment matters, but he mentioned that actually it wasn't the cost. He explained that they were using their washing and dryer machine almost every day, the diapers smelled and they had to do it. So he realized that his water and electricity bills went higher. Considering that his children were trained sooner the cost of buying disposable diapers where less than buying expensive cloth diapers and the time an maintenance of those.

I never discourage parents of using cloth diapers if they have the time they can do so. But, also I have noticed that some parents bring the cloth diapers to daycare and they keep their children in disposables in their homes or when they go out ��.

[kindredspirit]

I notice this is a really old thread, but I'll still add my 2 cents :)
I used cloth on my own kids, so I have no issue with them. I had all kinds, from flats to AIOs, even some high end fitteds with wool covers. So cost effective-I saved money on #1, and diapered #2 for free (well water, and no real difference in electric bill). I require them to be ready to go (they must stuff/fold) and they go in a wet bag. I'm rural, we only do field trips on the property, so I never need to take it anywhere. I fold poop ones and stick in the bag for the parent. I prefer cloth because they go home-no extra garbage for me! I change all children as needed or after 2h, so leaks aren't an issue. I vastly prefer cloth trainers over pull ups because they actually feel wet, but hold all the pee so safer than undies.

[Paulo Gomes]

I never used cloth diapers yet. I use disposable diapers for my baby boy. I think there are fine. Pricey but good. Cloth diapers are made in way so that you can use it several times. But I am little worried how this cloth diaper holds urine and pee. A disposable diaper can be used about 6/7 hours but will a cloth diaper do good for about 6 hours?

[Van]

For my daycare I like to use disposable diapers as I find that cloth diapers leave a smell !
the Parents can use whatever they like at home but for the daycare only disposable diapers work for me and the daycare.

[kindredspirit]

Looks like this was bumped by spam. But to add my 2 cents, I love cloth diapers in my daycare! Parents send pre-stuffed pocket diapers or all-in-ones, so they go on very quickly just like a disposable. They never leak poop, and I get to send them home at the end of the day! I hate diaper garbage. I take it out daily, but its still awful. I used cloth on my own kids though, so I was able to help daycare families troubleshoot to fix any issues that came up.