FAQs

This page will be a work in progress. I will try to add to it as I have time. My "free time" usually goes to SEWING! The following is mostly my own personal opinion, feel free to leave yours in the comments below! If you have a specific question you'd like me to address here, let me know!


Q: How do I order?
A: You've noticed that I do not have a "shopping cart" feature on this site. I take orders via my Hyena Cart "Store" (The Apple Orchard Congo) at a couple stockings per month. Custom orders are available during specific "OPEN" periods.


Q:  How many diapers do I need to get started?
A: Everyone will tell you that depends on how often you want to do laundry. I think every other day is an average. I can usually go 3 days because I have more diapers than I need *blush*. But if you estimate 12-15 per day for a newborn and 8-10 per day for older tots - that's a good start. I think I had 40 infant prefolds and 4-5 covers in each size to start with. By toddlerhood, I had....no idea! I should count sometime. That's what you get when your baby is the diaper guinea pig! She has lots of crazy experimental diapers!
Don't forget accessories like wetbags & snappi's. (1-2 pail liners, 1-3 small wetbags, 3 snappis)

Q: What kind of diapering system is best?
A: There are so many choices, I know it is hard to research & find the best recommendations. I have never been an "all-eggs-on-one-basket" kind of girl - so I like to try lots of different systems. I think I have used them all and here is what I think. (Note - my preferences vary based on baby's age)

• Prefolds & Covers - these were my go-to choice. It is what I had the most of and I used it in most situations. I think it's the BEST for newborns because they can have VERY messy diapers... and LOTS of them. Prefolds are cheap, but super effective. They can be folded numerous way to get the best fit for different size babies. Once your infant outgrows the newborn size prefold, those prefolds can be used as inserts or doublers for bigger babies. I love using a snappi to secure a PF - but my girls are big, so I've added wing tabs to extend some of them as they outgrew the regular size rectangle. PFs take me 1.5-2 dryer cycles to dry and get very stiff line dried outside. I typically run the dryer one cycle and then hang everything up to finish. PFs SUN-out (stains) beautifully. Covers with gussets are great for newborn blowouts.....dare I say ESSENTIAL!
• Pockets/AIOs - from about 2 months through 10 months I used pockets for my daughter at night. At night I usually double stuffed it with 2 microfiber or MF + Hemp. I liked that the lining was stay-dry so I felt that helped her be more comfortable sleeping. Pockets are also pretty cute - so they are great for outings or under dresses, or in warn weather when baby can go bottomless. I do love the fact that you don't have to stuff/unstuff AIOs... but then you can't adjust the absorbency unless you use a lay in doubler, which is OK. Pockets line dry in a snap. AIOs take longer.
• Fitteds - I love fitteds (with covers)! By 11 months, my daughter was finally REALLY sleeping through the night (9-10 hrs) and pockets were no longer cutting it for that long. My OS Bamboo Fitteds are working like a charm and sometimes don't even feel totally wet through all the layers. I also love fitteds because my girls are bigger and I know a prefold wont snappi around her waist forever. A fitted has longer wing tabs that will last a chubby bubby through to potty training. They can take a long time to dry because of the layers and the elastic.
• Wool Soakers - I go through spurts of using woolies. I ALWAYS use them when baby's bum was irritated and I knew her skin needed a little air! We used woolies on my first daughter when she was older for overnights - with a heavy duty fitted. They're great paired with fleece jammies... obviously during cold weather only. 

Q: Snaps or Velcro???
A: My vote is for SNAPS! I started out with velcro covers. When my stash was switched to snaps, I honestly hated them at first. Velcro is so easy! Just rip or grip and go! Plus, you can tighten your tabs exactly where you want them. With snap tabs, you are limited to the placement of the snaps - usually at inch intervals or so..... so what do you do when baby has grown a half inch! I found that frustrating at first. By the end, I only had a few velcro dipes left (which are handy to have around for babysitters) and I don't have any problem with snaps. I am totally used to them and prefer them mainly because I know they will last. Velcro (or APLIX, as it may be called) WILL GO BAD SOME DAY! It WILL get fuzzy and clogged with lint. It can stick to other things in your laundry and snag/pill them. Eventually it will no longer stick well. Also, baby can learn how to unfasten velcro pretty easily. Snaps are not totally baby-proof. My dd could undo hers when she was older. But it is definitely harder. Snaps are pretty hard to break - I rarely hear of someone needing snaps replaced. So - for the long run, I recommend SNAPS!


Q: What is the process of converting a velcro diaper to snaps?
A: First I need to remove the velcro. You can do this yourself if you have a seam ripper. Be careful not to rip holes! If the area to apply the snaps is not a double layer of fabric, I will add a layer of PUL to reinforce the snap placement. Then I will use a pattern to place your snaps in the most common setting for the style of diaper (I'll generally replicate how the manufacturer places their snaps, if they offer a snap version of the diaper.) Out of town snap jobs are welcome. You would pay to & from shipping.
Q: What about the holes left from removing the velcro?
A: When the diapers are returned to you, you should wash and dry it before use to reseal the PUL (if applicable). The appearance of the old needle holes may fade over time.


Q: Can I send you some fabric to make a custom diaper out of?
A: YES!
In the "biz" this is called "Send Your Own Fabric" (SYOF) where a discount is given for providing a diaper cut of your own fabric or a credit is given in exchange for a large amount of SYOF fabric.
SYOF Discounts:

• You give me a diaper cut, approx 20x20" PUL - I make you a Cover, Pocket, or AIO for $1 off 
• You give me 20x20" WASHED any fabric for fitted outer - I make you a fitted for $1 off, it needs to be prewashed to make sure it won't shrink below my pattern size. (or 22x22 if not prewashed) 
• You give me 1 yard PUL - I will give you a credit of $6 for a Pocket, AIO, or Cover and I keep the rest of the fabric, or you buy additional items in that fabric at regular price. 
• You give me 1 yard of 100% cotton knit, 80/20 Cotton Velour, or something else you find of that I can use (please ask first)- I will give you a credit of $6 for a fitted diaper and I keep the rest of the fabric, In the case of providing 1 yard... you don't have to prewash it. 

SYOF FINEPRINT:
 I'd do the discount for a diaper cut of cotton woven if you wanted it for a fitted, but I really can't use 1 yard of cotton woven.  The outer of a fitted is fairly unrestricted, just bear in mind what its purpose will be - will it: add absorbency (natural fibers), be stretchy (knits), create a "hybrid" (try a fleece).  You might want to be creative and try a soft minky or anything else that looks/feels nice to you that will hold up well to diaper washing.

I know of several suppliers that sell printed PUL and hard to find cotton knits. If you want to go shopping - I can point you in the right direction. Often, those sellers are agreeable to ship directly to me to save you a step.


Q: What is the difference between suedecloth and fleece for pocket diaper INNERs?
A: I think they both do a good job of being STAY DRY - wicking the moisture through and remaining fairly dry on top.
*Suedecloth - (like BumGenius) this is what I usually use in BC Fleecy Pockets & AIOs
*Fleece - (like FuzziBunz, Happy Heiny, etc)

 SC will not pill like fleece - so stays looking nice longer. I have found all fleece to pill, even so-called "anti-pill." This does not affect function. A new fleece diaper is so squishy soft & comfy!

 "Solids" will roll off SC easier. Makes sense when you consider fleece is fuzzier, thus the fibers will allow messy stuff to stick.

Some babies are sensitive to SC - so moms prefer fleece. I hear many people who wont use BumGenius because of this. I thought this was the case with my youngest. She would get red when I 1st began using SC on her - so I switched to fleece and that didn't irritate her. NOW- she isn't bothered by it - possibly more sensitive newborn skin?
Fleece has some give to it. SC has none. So a fleece diaper will have a little more stretch in it.
I have found that fleece dipes hold stains a bit more. SC washes up very nice - stays white.


Q: Are there CLOTH DIAPERING CLASSES in the Area?:
A: I am happy to do a free demo here in my home anytime. Just e-mail me to make arrangements. The doulas at Birth Kalamazoo also host diapering classes a few times a year. Check their calendar for info.