Whole Parenting Family

Cloth Diapers at Night

Yes, we have discovered a vast and powerful secret: you can successfully use cloth diapering for long nights, sans changes! SuperBoy sleeps 10-12 hours (unless teething) and has since 10 weeks (his choice, nothing magical on my part). We do not change his diaper in the middle of the night, nor does he have a rash in the AM, nor does he awaken from a wet diaper. Same for SweetPea. We started her with the night diaper around 10 weeks, and even though she does awaken still to nurse a little at night, we don’t have to change her diaper. It’s WONDERFUL!

1) Magical combo.

TWO gcloth inserts + One bumgenuis 4 one size cotton with snaps.

 

The gCloth comes in a package of 6. We purchased three of the bumgenius. Therefore, we have three “night diapers.”

2) Assemblage.

Yes, you insert the two cloths with the hemp side down stacked on top of one another into the pocket of the diaper cover. Presto. The brilliance of the one-size bumgenius is that you simply adjust the snaps to be smallest for when your little one is small and use the “small” size gCloths. Then when your little one is not so small, you adjust the snaps and use the “medium/large” gCloths. SuperBou has used this since he was about 10 weeks old and we still have the same bumgeniuses. They’re in great shape.

3) Cleaning.

a) Remove the inserts and drop them into the wash, and toss the diaper in. Any stray diaper covers that could use a wash get in as well.

b) Add regular or slightly lesser amount of laundry soap.

c) Wash hot/cold. Extra rinse. Extra wash. Then line dry. (Substitute your particular washer’s settings here.)

But what about the poo?! Yes, it sometimes happens at night, and yes, my little ones sleeps through it. Breastmilk poo pre-three months is kinda a puddle, so those diapers I would spray off into the toilet or laundry sink. Three-six months were medium consistency; same drill. Starting solids at six months, the poo is more solid, so it goes where all poo goes: into the toilet.

Hemp is incredibly absorbent. The actual inserts that come with the bumgenius may be satisfactory during the day, or if your little one is up at night so you’re changing diapers anyway, but they cannot withstand 10-12 hours of urine. And yes, the diaper will be heavy and stinky in the AM. But no, mine don’t feel wet on the part of the diaper that touches their skin.

Good luck! Finding the right night diaper is a challenge. Hopefully this works for you too.

14 Comments

  1. Cloth Options « Natural | Mama on April 1, 2011 at 4:48 am

    […] of urine, thus leaving you to remove the insert and not have to wash the whole thing (think my night diaper). However, once again, the cost and quantity necessary to function with a child whose bladder and […]



  2. […] clothes and night diapers are washed in the gentlest, most ecological laundry soap, with no fabric softeners or dryer […]



  3. […] bath of face, hands, and private parts. Change into night diaper & pajamas. Usually with AA while I finish picking up the […]



  4. […] or poopy diapers would wake me up, so it makes sense babies can be roused by these discomforts. Our night diaper solution has worked for us. Try to use the most absorbent diaper possible and hope that poop either […]



  5. jencliffdominic on June 22, 2011 at 6:35 pm

    Cloth Diapers are something I never thought I would ever use! But after about 2 months, I became really interested in them and did lots of research and found a system that works for us! I use http://www.justsimplybaby.com diapers. Their an all in one that come with 2 microfiber inserts (we only use one) and are great because they should fit all the way on up til potty training time (and can also be used for potty training too!) We have found so much great success with them and LOVE knowing how we’re not leaving such a footprint in the land fills as well as it’s better for baby! Also, there just isn’t the research out there about disposables so who knows what things it could be doing to our babies insides etc. We use coconut oil as our diaper rash prevention (use liners if need to use other kinds of butt paste stuff for a bad rash) but haven’t encountered a bad diaper rash since he was a newborn! Our nighttime diaper includes a tri-fold microfiber cloth (ones from Walmart that are used for cars, etc) and regular microfiber insert. Or we will use 2 hemp inserts that work great at night too!! I’m sure things will change as baby changes but for now we’re so happy with our little reusable diaper stash!! 🙂



    • Novice Natural Mama on June 22, 2011 at 8:42 pm

      What a great resource! And the adjustable size sounds awesome. Coconut oil is a great idea too. I’m working on a diaper rash post and I’m going to link back to your comment here! Microfiber . . . so interesting. Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom!



  6. Nursing Past Age One « Whole Parenting on July 8, 2011 at 4:47 pm

    […] with the world feeling. My husband gets up around 6am, goes to J’s room and changes his night diaper, brings Sweet Pea into our bed, and then we get some family cuddle time. After AA leaves to get […]



  7. […] Night diapers. Yes, I cannot have J’s little bottom in disposables all night long. I know I did it in Italy, but just can’t do it again! […]



  8. […] him in my diaper cream all the time to prevent any diaper rash. I’m glad we had our normal night diapers as his skin looked precariously spotchy by the end of the day. I felt like not bringing out cloth […]



  9. Cloth Wipes: easy as 1, 2, 3 « Whole Parenting on August 18, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    […] launder our night diapers every other day as we have three sets. We have a little foot-pedal trash can next to the diaper bin […]



  10. […] launder our night diapers every other day as we have three sets. We have a little foot-pedal trash can next to the diaper bin […]



  11. […] Otherwise kids can’t sleep, and AA can’t go to work. Our night diaper solution noted here {Cloth Diapers at Night}. How I iron the dress shirt perfectly, with much chagrin noted here {Least […]



  12. […] or poopy diapers would wake me up, so it makes sense babies can be roused by these discomforts. Our night diaper solution has worked for us. Try to use the most absorbent diaper possible and hope that poop either […]



  13. […] of urine, thus leaving you to remove the insert and not have to wash the whole thing (think my night diaper). However, once again, the cost and quantity necessary to function with a child whose bladder and […]