Hudson Valley Parent

HVParent.com Q Hudson Valley Parent 23 proteins in the diapers and floats waste away. 2. Wash in hot water- You generally don't need much soap to get them clean, as long as the water runs clear by the time it's done. 3. Dry according to directions- Most cloth diapers should be fine in the dryer. If you like to air dry, do 5-10 minutes tumble dry to get them nice and soft before hanging them up. Health As Bruschi says, "keeping your baby dry and comfortable is the goal," and cloth diapers do a better job. They come in a variety of soft, comfortable materials. Some cloth diapers even have fleece to keep babies cooler. Donna explains that "disposable diapers can be irritating and the pellets in them can be toxic." The materials in cloth diapers are safer and more natural. Laundering All that savings does come with a little bit of extra work. You'll need to wash 2-3 times per week. If you find you barely have time to get the laundry done as it is, there are pick-up and delivery services that will do the diapers for you. Even with the cost of the service, parents say, you'll still see savings. If you want to do them at home, Carrie says, "You have to find your own wash routine that works for you." For her, it is a load every Wednesday and Saturday. She has two "wet bags" that she rotates between. Donna Bruschi of New Baby New Paltz was kind enough to walk me through the washing and drying process and give us some do's and don'ts: 1. Rinse in cold water and drain- A cold water rinse releases Q: Do the diapers stain? A: Sometimes there can be staining on the inside of the diaper, but don't bleach it! If you leave it out in a sunny spot the lining will look bright white again after a few days. Q: How do I choose a brand? A: There are so many different varieties of reusable diapers that it depends on your preferences and your baby. You can try different ones at New Baby New Paltz. Some will fit better than others so it's important to try a few different kinds first before buying a whole set. Q: What is the biggest challenge when using cloth diapers? A: "Parents try the diapers and don't have anyone to ask questions of, so when they have issues with fit, laundering, or anything else, sometimes they'll just give up instead of seeking help. Give it time and look for answers first before you call it quits." *Keep an Eye out-for the Great Cloth Diaper change coming in April in honor of Earth Day! Donna Brushi, of New Baby New Paltz, is a mother of three. She has changed upwards of 25,000 cloth diapers. Photo provided Q + A With Donna Brushi There is no plastic, either, which can be ripped apart and swallowed. Though the cloth diapers are absorbent, there are no chemicals in them to make them super- absorbent. That way the child can feel it when they go. This is an important part of the learning process that isn't present with disposable diapers. Don't be afraid that cloth diapers don't work as well. Carrie's first son Tommy had problems with nighttime leaks whenever he wore disposables. She had to get a wool diaper cover to stop the leaks. After she made the switch to cloth, there was no more leakage. In Carrie's experience, "nighttime leaks don't happen with good cloth." Laura Lamica is the editorial assistant at Hudson Valley Parent. She lives in New Windsor with her family.

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