Has anyone ever used . . .

[Jewels]

Cloth diapers that you fold yourself and use pins? (Sorry can't think of what these would be called!) The little girl I baby sit uses these and I was wondering if anyone has used these if you could show me the proper way to pin them!? The mom folds them for me, so I just put them on. Here is how I put them on:
I put the diaper under her, pull it up from between her legs and then pull the side tabs (?) around the front and pin with the head of the pin pointing to the outside of her body, then repeat on the other side and cover with rubber pants (that the mom provides). Am I doing this right? Is there something I should be doing different?

[Kashi]

Is it a prefold (it'll be stitched into thirds with a thicker middle part)?
Or a flat (just a large square of a single layer of fabric)?

I use prefolds on Bear 90% of the time. Usually with a Snappi, but sometimes with pins.

I don't care for flats though - never got the hang of folding them.

[Splash]

I've done prefolds and flats. Flats are HARD CORE cloth diapering. I do them occasionally because once in a while it's fun to do something completely impossible. I really doubt that's what you have, though. I've yet to meet a single person who uses flats regularly, especially making a baby sitter use them!
Is this what you're talking about? http://www.diaperware.com/picturepages/flatfolding.htm

I would ask the mom who she does it, and just do it that way for now. Eventually you'll figure out your own tricks and style.

[Jewels]

I've done prefolds and flats. Flats are HARD CORE cloth diapering. I do them occasionally because once in a while it's fun to do something completely impossible. I really doubt that's what you have, though. I've yet to meet a single person who uses flats regularly, especially making a baby sitter use them!
Is this what you're talking about? http://www.diaperware.com/picturepages/flatfolding.htm

I would ask the mom who she does it, and just do it that way for now. Eventually you'll figure out your own tricks and style.

Yes this is what she uses! She folds before hand and then rolls them up to put in her bag.
This is what it looks like when I am done
http://www.diaperware.com/picfiles/productpics/flatfolding/ff10.jpg
And I put the pins on with the head of the pin pointing towards the outer part of her body. Her mom puts the wings under the front part, and then has the pins both facing towards one side of the body. I remember my mom saying (for my little brothers who are 10yrs younger then me) that the pins should face away from the baby. So is there any "right" way or maybe a safer way to put a pin on the diaper?

[Kashi]

As long as you're using locking-head pins (read diaper pins) and not normal safety pins, it really doesn't matter. Especially with a cover on - they aren't coming undone.

[Jewels]

As long as you're using locking-head pins (read diaper pins) and not normal safety pins, it really doesn't matter. Especially with a cover on - they aren't coming undone.

Okay, Thanks :)

[Splash]

Yeah, it's a matter of preference. Mine normally face the same way, just because it's easier. As long as the pins are locked, you're probably fine.

WOW! I didn't know there were still people who used flats on a regular basis! I know one person who used them for a few months, because it was all she could afford. You can diaper a child from birth through potty training for a hundred bucks with those things!

[LuvBug03]

we used flats almost on a regular basis with DS when it was warm. They are a lot easier to achieve a better fit with because you can adjust the rise and waist without causing a lot of bulk. For a while DS needed toddler prefolds for the waist but the rise was too long and bulky when folded. I would fold the flats and work an insert into the fold for more absorbancy. Sometimes I would fold a flat into a small rectangle and use it as an insert. That was when he was really young though and didnt pee a lot at once. Once he became a heavy wetter(the summer before he potty trained) we couldnt do flats at all except just as a bathing suit alternative when playing in the back yard.
aaaaaa, I had so much fun with them... no wonder I never wanted to stop lol!

[didymama]

diaperpages.com has great info.

[AdventureMom]

Cool... I may try some flats with the next baby. I always tried using pins with the prefolds - maybe that was the problem: it's impossible! I was using so much force that I was afraid that I could jab the pin through my son... So I gave up and just used the wraps rather than pull-ups. I know some folks say to rub the pin on a bar of soap first, but - I wanted something quick and easy, plus I tried that and it didn't help so much... Is it easier to pin flats?

[LuvBug03]

You may not have had the right pins, they may have been dull. I always kept mine stuck in a bar of soap like you do straight pins in a sewing cushoin.

There is also this invention called the snappi. i really loved it. but you are as likely to draw blood with it as pins(usually you catch yourself though and not the kid).
Also I dont know if they still exist or not but back when DS was about 1 there were these things that were a snappi alternative and looked like, well its hard to describe but sort of like tiny clothespins. Anyway I dont know if they worked but they were interesting lol!

[AdventureMom]

There is also this invention called the snappi. i really loved it. but you are as likely to draw blood with it as pins(usually you catch yourself though and not the kid).
Also I dont know if they still exist or not but back when DS was about 1 there were these things that were a snappi alternative and looked like, well its hard to describe but sort of like tiny clothespins. Anyway I dont know if they worked but they were interesting lol!

We tried the Snappi - I hated it...! I just felt that it was going to rip Nolan's skin to shreds - or his privates :eek: ... He did get scratched from it once and then that was it.

Don't know about that other thing you mentioned, though I'd love to see what it looks like! I really like prefolds with a wool wrap, so we'll stick to that if there's another baby in our family. But I'd be interested in trying flats with pins on days around the house when there's no need for a cover.

[LuvBug03]

I cut off the 3rd leg to our snappis so I didnt have to worry about it getting him. If it was on tight then I never had to worry about it with him(not that I ever left him alone with it either, not after the strangling warning... which is another reason I cut the 3rd leg off. It gets caught on things and somehow a child's diaper ended up around his/her neck and was sorta choking him/her).

Ill see if I can try to google it, but probably wont have much luck.

[didymama]

wow another flats user. i just got into them. you don't have to do origami fold any more. just fold in falf long way, then again and again and lay in cover like a prefold. very quick and easy. you might tell the mom this to save her some effort. i totally understand why people use them-THEY DRY IN A SNAP! additional savings because of less dryer time.

[AdventureMom]

i totally understand why people use them-THEY DRY IN A SNAP! additional savings because of less dryer time.

That's the other reason I wanted to try them! I've heard they dry sooo much more quickly than prefolds. Since I already have a stash of prefolds, I may have to just keep them if there's another baby rather than buying flats if they're expensive. What's the cost of a couple dozen flats? Do you get the birdseye weave or what?

Thanks!!!

[Splash]

Oh I have flats and use them... for stuffing pockets, for doublers, etc. I just would not fold and pin them on a regular basis! That is a LOT of unnecessary work! Although if I lived out on a farm with no washer and dryer, and was home all day, I probably would. Easy to hand wash and line dry... nah, I'd still do pockets and MF towels.

[Splash]

Oh, I get mine at greenmountaindiapers.com. I think it's like 8 bucks for a dozen, but not completely sure. Birdseye weave, yes.

[Simplysomething]

What does that mean, birdseye weave? I saw some of those gerber ones and it said "birdseye weave" and I never noticed it before yesterday.

I was in that aisle at walmart, looking at the training pants. Is it just me, or are the gerber trainers not as thick as they were even 4 years ago? (I want to get the ones that have the vinyl outside and cloth inside. I had them with DS1. I saw someone mention them on my month board..we're NOT actively doing potty stuff now--but I want ! lol)

The packaging on the gerber diapers was different than what I'm used to seeing with the diapers that I've never seen anyone use as an actual diaper...lol. Are they different? lol


It's also likely that I've never paid attention and they are exactly the same.
Okay, the ones I saw yesterday looked like this (http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-Weave-Diapers-Prefolded/dp/B000067DY9), and not like the ones that I can't find pics of. lol

I know, I feel like I'm intruding on the cloth diaper threads, but it's very interesting.

[Jewels]

Simplysomething, that is too funny! I was just at Walmart yesterday looking at the cloth diapers too! I was just curious as to how much they are and all I could find were the flat diapers.

When I was potty training DS I just bought boy underwear (gitchies) and folded up my diaper liner and stuffed that in there to absorb any accidents :)

[Simplysomething]

Oh, that's a good idea.

So, what does birdseye weave mean? Help me, I'm ignorant. (I am, of this stuff. lol)

[AdventureMom]

I realize that for those of you who don't use cloth diapers, this must seem as foreign to use as perhaps certtain cloth feminine products that we all would be like WTH do I do with that?!? :eek:

Here's a photo I found of a prefold that is laid in a wrap (cover with velcro). You basically lay the baby down and put it on like a disposable diaper. Very easy to use - you can change one of these as quickly as a disposable:

http://www.orangestarfish.com/pics/A460inner.JPG

And here's a photo of a flat diaper that you would pin. Then you can use pull-up covers rather than a wrap cover:

http://www.punkinbutt.com/images/flat_fold_7.gif


Hope these help! I actually enjoyed cloth diapering alot. :p

ETA: I think birdseye weave is just a type of fabric...?

[racesmom]

I was going to recommend http://www.diaperpages.com/pf_folds.php too. For folding flats I like http://gumbush.com/folding.htm.

I used a Snappi sometimes on my prefitteds, but really prefer Dritz pins. Nice snug diaper, no Snappi claws, and pins are just so cute.

There's a prefold co-op going on at ChristianMomsForum.com if anyone is interested.

[didymama]

Then you can use pull-up covers rather than a wrap cover:


you can also use a wrap. you just need something water proof over.

[Jewels]

So then would the wrap with this prefold be waterproof?
http://www.orangestarfish.com/pics/A460inner.JPG

[AdventureMom]

Yes. There are different types of wraps - it looks like the one in that picture is fleece, which is wonderful. We used mostly wool which is also waterproof. But the most common is probably cotton or polyester lined on the inside with PUL ("polyurethane liner"...?). Oh, we also had some that were very thin and made of nylon like a windbreaker - those also proved waterproof... :)

ETA: The covers can be used over and over even after you change out the wet/dirty diaper. We only grabbed a clean cover if it was starting to smell like urine, got really damp, or had poop on it.

[SusanMae]

I know this is late, but I've used flats and pins. Well---I was the one wearing them...not putting them on.

My mom kept some of my diapers for YEARS. I remember using them as dust clothes as a teen.

Susan