PUL, or Polyurethane Laminate, is the waterproof layer of material often used in cloth diapers.  Pockets, All-in-Ones, All-in-Twos and Diaper Covers most often use this on the outer layer of the diaper as a more breathable alternative to the old Rubber and Plastic pants of the previous generation of cloth diapers.

Example of laminate inside and polyester outside (at top) of this Flip Cover

So what exactly is PUL? When you look at many diaper covers you can see that there is a “wipeable” side which is inside, and a cloth like outside, which is usually polyester or cotton.  The laminate side has been fused to the cotton or polyester side using heat or a chemical process.  Usually this process is permanent and the two layers stay together for the long haul.  However, certain chemicals and other mistreatment of this material can cause the laminate to separate from the fabric outer, in which case the diaper will begin to have leaks through those areas.  It will bubble up and appear like a peeling sunburn.

Cotton or Polyester? Pretty much any diaper you have seen uses polyester as the soft fabric side.  While cotton offers many options for cute prints, these wick more.  The bigger brands can afford to commission large quantities of proprietary prints in polyester PUL.  The reason you don’t see many prints is for that reason, they are expensive and require large orders.  Not to mention they need to be designed.  Remember, the fabric has to look good rightside up and upside down.  A lot of diaper makers who really want to have fun prints choose to use a regular cotton knit sewn over a hidden layer of PUL.  Some are successful in this (GEN-Y Covers have NEVER leaked or wicked for me) but other diapers end up with horrible wicking (moisture from the inside of the diaper migrating to the cotton, usually around the legs.)

1 Mil or 2 Mil? PUL has either a 1 mil or 2 mil thick layer of the laminate backing.  It is up for debate whether or not 1 or 2 mil is better.  1 mil certainly feels thinner, but 2 mil has an extra layer of protection.  It could be argued that 1 mil will potentially wear down quicker over time.  You could also argue that 1 mil would be more breathable since there is less waterproof laminate for air to come through.  I have not seen conclusive evidence of either.  Unless you are making your own diapers and buying PUL, most consumers don’t even realize there are different types of PUL being used.  If you are buying your own PUL, 1 mil is easier to find and less expensive.

Examples? Bummis covers are made with 2 mil PUL.  bumGenius! products use 1 mil, for a comparison.  The Bummis covers definitely feel thicker.  Understandably, some people do not wish to use 2 mil because it is harder to work with and sew.

Some of the larger brands commission their own PUL with distinctive brand specific colors (think Bum Genius) and patterns, (think Mother-Ease).  bumGenius! have stated that they do not use a chemical solvent process, and they also believe their PUL is made in an environmentally friendly way.

Many other brands and WAHM’s have been using a brand of PUL called Fabrite which I recently learned is considered the best for diaper making.  Unfortunately this brand stopped production.  Unbeknownst to consumers, diaper makers are scrambling to find a comparable alternative, of which there aren’t many.  Fabrite used a solvent process described as”The PU film and knit are coated with a solvent based adhesive that slightly liquefies the surface of the PU film and knit, then pressure is used to fuse the fabric together.”  source: Wazoodle

After speaking to others I have learned not everyone thought Fabrite was the best.  Many used to use it and later went with a heat solvent PUL.  Nifty Nappy prefers the heat solvent PUL also.

There is another term floating around regarding PUL and this is TPU.  TPU stands for Thermoplastic Polyurethane.  This is where it gets hairy.  According to Rumparooz, who uses TPU, they regard it in another category altogether.  Taken from Rumparooz’s Website:

In 2008 Kanga Care started using a biodegradable TPU waterproof material. Biodegradable TPU is solvent-free. Biodegradable TPU is a polyester fabric that has been laminated with a thermoplastic polyurethane using a heat bonding process. This process is low in toxicity and is better for the natural environment. Both the TPU laminate and the polyester fabric the laminate is applied to are biodegradable.  When composted they will biodegrade in 4-5 years.

However, the fabric distrubutors Wazoodle, who issued a highly informative breakdown of the different PUL’s, say:

TPU is the technical name for polyurethane film used to make all PUL, new and old.  A few vendors heard TPU for the first time and thought it would help them make their items sound different — just marketing tricks!

So if TPU is better for the environment why aren’t more diaper manufacturer’s using it?

It could just be that they are, and the TPU is just a fancy name for the heat solvent version of PUL that many manufacturers use.  It is all very confusing for someone who does not make diapers!

Bottom line?

It is near impossible to know exactly which PUL a diaper is using unless you ask.  Some makers are very forthcoming, others believe their proprietary PUL recipe should be kept secret.  I found both sides when looking into this post.  You will also see that some diapers source PUL from China, but other brands are still careful to use PUL made in the US.  I still believe PUL has made the cloth diapering revolution possible. I love my Pockets and couldn’t live without them.  Cloth diapers are better than disposables any day, no matter how the PUL was made, but it isn’t something you should keep your head in the sand about either.

What is I don’t want to use PUL but want to use cloth diapers? If you are concerned that PUL production is bad for the environment there are certainly other options.  Wool and fleece work just as well at keeping leaks at bay.  While it isn’t practical to expect every cloth diaper user to use these materials, if you really want organic and conscientiously produced diapers wool and fleece might be what you need.

For responsibly made wool I would recommend: Sustainable Babyish, Better for Babies (Little Beetle), and the WAHM’s out there who upcycle wool into soakers or hand knit them (Hyena Cart and Etsy will yield results).

If you prefer fleece (easier to care for overall and less expensive) I suggest Lollidoo, who use recycled plastic bottles to make their fleece!  Also, there are WAHM’s who upcycle fleece to make soakers as well.

Special thanks to the cooperative diaper companies I contacted: bumGenius!, Bummis, and Nifty Nappy, who were very helpful in answering my questions.

Images: Flip- clothdiapers.blogspot.com, PUL- www.zjgxdiaper.com

If you have been reading my blog for a while you probably know that I am a “fan” of bumGenius! products.  I have been using their 3.0′s since my son fit into them (around 12-14 pounds, leak free) and their Elementals (Organic AIO’s) since I bought a few when he was a couple of months old.  I have reviewed the 3.0 (BG 3.0 Review) and Elemental (Elemental- FMA BG Organic AIO- review) already.  I won’t say I was disappointed when they announced that the 3.0 was being discontinued since I knew the next diaper (I correctly predicted would be called 4.0) would be very similar with a few improvements.  The most obvious improvement they needed to make, improving the hook and loop closure and adding snaps, were both realized.  Bonus improvements: the ability to easily replace elastic and a higher rise.  They also added new colors, which I am not a huge fan of.  I will specifically say I am not a fan of their names.  Why must color names be so confusing?  Case in point:  I ordered 2 bumGenius! 4.0′s to review, one with hook and loop and one in snaps.  I ordered 2 of the new colors: Noodle and Bubble.  I didn’t double check what the colors were.  Bubble= lavender.  Let me ask you, when you think of a bubble, do you think of purple or blue?  Water=blue.  Bubbles=blue.  Also, the color Sweet reminds me of lavender or pink.  That is pale blue.  Noodle is the light yellow, which does make sense.  Noodles are yellow, or pale yellow, and this is an accurate description of that color.  I do not like that I need to research the colors, which not all stores have listed with a description or photo (and photos don’t help since the colors are so pale, they all look the same) before I buy.  My son has a purple diaper.  So what?  Wanna fight about it?

Now, for my review of the diaper itself and the performance, since my color rant is over.  For those curious, they are bringing back the brights (my favorites) and will be introducing prints.  No date announced yet.

Ease of Use ✫✫✫✫✫ The 4.0 doesn’t differ from the 3.0 in this regard.  I tell anyone who asks me about a good intro cloth diaper that they should try the 3.0 (now I say 4.0).  It is affordable, durable, easy to use with the hook and loop (and snaps), simple to find the right fit, and easy to take off.  You still need to affix the laundry tabs before washing, and you need to remove the insert.  You will need to restuff the diaper before baby wears it.  Is it easy?  Yes.  Is it as easy as an AIO? No.  Is it worth the extra steps?  Pretty much.  Pockets dry faster than most AIO’s and are generally cheaper.  I do wish the laundry tabs were closer to the actual tab, so that when I change the baby I could just pinch it closed rather than seek out the tab farther in.  I have to look for it.  Some diapers you don’t need to do this.

Bang for the Buck: ✫✫✫✫ The 4.0 is the same price as the 3.0 was: 17.95.  bumGenius! keeps their prices consistent among retailers.  It is hard to find a “sale” on them.  However, they are worth the investment.  My 3.0′s have lasted for almost 2 years.  I am hopeful that the improved hook and loop will last on the 4.0, and replaceable elastic will also contribute to their life span.  You will see that a few hundred dollars for a stash of 4.0′s will still be far less than the thousands of dollars you would have spent on disposables.

Performance ✫✫✫✫✫ I am going to say that I have had no leaks, no fit issues, nothing with the 4.0.  I was new to cloth when I started with the 3.0 and did experience leaks due to my repelling issues.  I have used these overnight with both inserts and I also had no leaks.  I do prefer fitteds overnight but I was happy to report dry sheets!

Fit ✫✫✫✫ I can at this time only speak to the fit on my toddler.  He is still on the middle rise snap (has been for a very long time) so he has growing room.  In the video you can see a comparison to the 3.0 in terms of the change in rise.  While it isn’t a massive jump I figure it will help increase the time babies can wear these.  He doesn’t get red marks from elastic.  The diapers aren’t terribly bulky with one insert.

Overall- I am very happy with the 4.0, as I was with the 3.0.  Like I said, these are really great for any parents first starting out.  They don’t have bells and whistles like some diapers, and they don’t want to.  You need to start somewhere and learn how to cloth diaper.  These are simple enough to do that.  Not everyone loves microfiber inserts because they can build up the stinkies.  Microfiber is a more affordable insert option, but if you want you can always upgrade to a hemp/cotton/bamboo/zorb insert at a later time.

Where to buy: Pretty much any cloth diaper store.  But, if you want, you can support my blog by buying yours at Kelly’s Closet.

I purchased (2) bumGenius! 4.0′s to review from Kelly’s Closet.

This next carnival is all about Cloth Diaper Awareness. I want everyone to post a blog entry about how they think we can promote or educate others about cloth diapers. No idea is too crazy! Remember, I am the one trying to get cloth on The Ellen Show!

TV, local outreach, classes, etc. You can write about things you have done or grand ideas that seem crazy but just might work! If some ideas are good enough or feasible maybe we can make it happen somehow!

Everyone will post their entry on or before September 7!

I will also post my entry along with a McLinky so everyone can add their posts.  The McLinky will be open for 2 days.  I will include the codes.  Everyone who participates needs to add the code to their website so that readers can go from one blog to the next.  If you have technical troubles you can link to my post with instructions for readers to visit the other entries.

Your post should have this at the very beginning:

This post is part of Cloth Diapering Bloggers’ and Dirty Diaper Laundry’s Cloth Diaper Carnival VIII: Cloth Diaper Awareness.  Please visit the other bloggers participating by following the links at the end of this post.

I look forward to hearing your creative ideas or experiences!

I have lived through 20 months of cloth diapering my son.  To say I have learned a thing or two is an understatement.  Not only have I tried and reviewed over 50 cloth diapers, I have tried all sorts of accesories.  Plus I have real world experience.  I know how to change a cloth diaper on a plane, bench, lap, and how to deal when my son is fighting me for a change.  I have sampled cloth safe diaper creams and detergents and picked my favorites.  And, I have learned how to keep my son relatively still during changes (crucial when in public and there is a nasty poop!)  I am listing what I feel a cloth diapering mom needs and stating my brand of choice where applicable.

A few easy peasy AIO diapers for the babysitter/ diaper bag. Because no matter how much you love prefolds, your babysitter might not.  My favorites are the Drybees Hybrid Pocket AIO and the AMP AIO.

Diaper Sprayer (around 6 months when your baby begins solids)

At least (2) Travel Size Wet Bags. The Wahmies Medium in the Guitar Print is my go to quick trip out, while my Planet Wise Wet/ Dry in Medium is best for a day trip.

(2) Elastic edged pail liners -or- at least 2 Hanging Wet Bags- Wahmies Pail liner is my choice, and Planet Wise Wet/Dry bag in Large for a hanging pail.

Diaper Pail- if you choose one, it should have a pedal for ease of use, especially when you have a dripping wet diaper.  I love my Diaper Dekor, which I modified to accommodate cloth diapers.

1 pack of Snappis

Cloth Friendly Diaper Detergent (I use Rockin’ Green Hard Rock)

Dryer Balls (if you want to soften your diapers or reduce static.)

Flushable Liners- I have found Bummis Bioliners are the softest.  Good to use when on the go to prevent coming home with poop in your diapers.

Drying Rack, clothesline, or gizmo for hanging diapers- I love my Ikea Octopus for hanging covers, but I just throw my inserts over the porch rail for sunning.

Awesome diaper bag big enough for your cloth diapers! I like my Petunia Picklebottom but I am still drooling over the Go Gaga Messenger bag!

Changing Pad- I have a great changing pad from Ikea!

Cloth Diaper safe Cream- My fav is Dimpleskins Bum Balm.  Silky and very effective!

Distracting/ engaging Toy for changes.  Especially good for when you are learning how to put on a prefold or a snapping diaper.

Mobile above changing table when the baby is younger and can’t reach it. It will keep their eyes engaged while you do your thing.

You can find many of these items at my affiliate, Kelly’s Closet, including the Bummis Bioliners, Planet Wise and Wahmies Wet bags, diaper sprayers, snappis, and Rockin’ Green.  Shopping my link supports DDL!  Need a coupon code?  Find them here! Happy Shopping!

What are your must have items to make cloth diapering easier?

I would!  I received a tweet from someone I follow on Twitter (SugarSnapPhoto), a fellow cloth diapering mother, who is also a photographer.  She has come up with the idea to make a coffee table book full of beautiful photos of babies in cloth diapers! Since I loved the concept I wanted to share it with all of you in hopes that you would pledge a little (or a lot!) to make this a reality.  Part of the appeal of cloth diapers to some families is the cute factor.  They save money, they save landfill space, they are better for your baby, but they are cute too.  No “designer” disposable comes close to the look of cloth.

If you would like to help get this project off the ground you can visit this innovative site: Kickstart.  If enough money is raised within the timeframe alloted the project will be a success and the book can be made.  If not, you owe nothing.  You are not charged until the goal is reached. These are pledges, not immediate donations.

If every reader of my blog donated a little bit of money (say, 8.oo) that came in one day (roughly) the goal could be reached now.  But since this is not realistic, I encourage you to share this post or her page with your friends on Facebook or other cloth circles you are involved in.  I see great potential for this, especially for the purposes of converting moms to cloth in classes and other group settings.

Image: Sugar Snap Photo

A fellow blogger (Pamela from Daytontime) emailed me a link to a blog post announcing a new campaign from Huggies that utilizes “mom bloggers” as brand ambassadors for a new diaper drive.  The Drive is called “Every Little Bottom” and aims to donate 20 million diapers to diaper banks over the next 8 months.

Yes, you read that right, 20 million. And the sad fact is: that is a drop in the bucket of the worldwide consumption of disposables.

But I am not writing about the diaper drive.  There are families who truly need diapers, and food, and other things that these big companies can provide.  Do I wish these families were using cloth diapers?  Absolutely.  Is it possible for them all?  Not really. Without access to laundry facilities it is difficult to use cloth diapers.

This is what Elita of Blacktating commented on that post:

I just don’t see any way around using disposables for low income moms. Instead of pointing the fingers at poor women who don’t have many options, why don’t we ask why parents of means aren’t using them?

The first part of the comment I slightly disagree with.  Even some low income families have washers and dryers.  Many do not.  And coin laundry can become costly, transportation to the facilities hard to come by, etc.  I get it.  I want to cloth diaper the world but I have to be realistic. And the blanket statement that cloth diapers save money so we should provide those, which will last for one or more children, doesn’t always apply.  In theory cloth diapers are the best option because they last, they work for many sizes in most cases, and the families would never need to buy diapers again.  But without access to proper facilities to wash them how useful are they? Not everyone wants to hand wash diapers (I personally do not, thank goodness for my own washer) or has the time.

The second part of her comment did resonate with me.  Even though cloth diapers are the economical choice, there is no reason the upper and middle class shouldn’t or couldn’t use them.  Just because a family has “disposable income” that doesn’t mean they should literally be buying diapers that are meant to be disposed of. Families with means have access to any cloth diaper they want and washers/ dryers.  Some even have enough to hire someone to wash their diapers for them!  Why wouldn’t you use cloth diapers if you didn’t even need to wash them yourself?

Shouln’t we be focusing more on converting those who can afford either option more than pushing cloth diapers on families who hardly have the means to wash them?

Once again, before you think I am pro disposables, I am speaking of families in the modern world who just don’t have the time to hand wash diapers, or transport their own laundry and cloth diapers to a laundromat.  I still hate the thought of all of these diapers going to a landfill, but if more families who could buy a stash without blinking did so, that is better than nothing.  I know many in the cloth community see things in black and white.  There is a grey area too that should be acknowledged.

This is why I hope Operation Fluffy succeeds.  Widespread media attention is needed to make cloth diapers visible.  The Green movement is being followed by plenty of upper and middle class families.  They pay extra for organic food, natural cleaners, sustainable clothing, hybrid cars, and solar panels for their homes.  But somehow they still use disposables!  They just don’t know there are modern cloth diapers!

And for families in need who do have laundry access, cloth diapers should be the answer. This is why The Cloth Diaper Foundation helps families get started who cannot afford to buy their own cloth diapers.  There is no easy answer to the diaper dilemma faced by needy families, but both ends are trying to meet the need.

Image Credit: Jonathan Harford via Flickr

We got back from Texas on Sunday.  It was a long day which began at 3:30 am and lasted until 5:30 pm.  2 flights and a 1.5 hour car ride home.  I am lucky that my son is a great traveler and has always been great on the plane.  We visited my husband’s grandmother.  She is having good days and bad days, but unfortunately she doesn’t have a lot of time left.  She was so happy to see my son.  Out of all of her grandchildren he is the only blonde one, hence his name “The Golden Boy.”

We packed for this trip in less than an hour but I still made sure to bring my cloth diapers.  We were staying at family’s so we had easy access to a washer.  I packed fairly light.  Usually I have 20+ diapers, this time I only took 8 diapers, but 10 total since one was an All in Two.  I tried grabbing All in Ones or diapers with inserts that agitated out.  This made laundry easier, so insert to stuff or hunt for.  In case you are interested, I took:

(2) Tots Bots Easy Fits

Drybees Hybrid AIO

Best Bottom with 3 inserts

Smartipants

Bum Genius Organic AIO

Bum Genius 3.0

Thirsties Duo

I didn’t pack detergent because I knew Kim from Rockin’ Green was based in San Antonio.  Speaking from previous experience, no ordinary detergent will do in the mineral heavy, hard water in Texas.  I had repelling issues last trip.  I wanted to buy some samples of Hard Rock for the trip and I did.  I didn’t have any issues and that was wonderful!  It was also a lot of fun to meet Kim, someone I have interacted with for a year or so on twitter.  I am seriously still in awe of what an amazing business woman she is because her company has exploded!

Other than visiting our family, some of whom came from North Carolina, and of course the others who live in Texas, we did the usual touristy stuff.  We took Fletcher to Schlitterbahn and he loved it!  We did some shopping and a lot of eating!  In fact, my OB appointment to check in on little Shrimpy was today and the P.A. said “Looks like your baby had a growth spurt.”  Yeah, we will say it the nice way and not, “Looks like you ate a crap load of tacos in Texas.”

While I was gone I had zero internet access, unless you count my iPhone.  Grandma’s house doesn’t have the internet!  I still have a lot of playing catch up to do.  I was supposed to send out the Operation Fluffy package last week but that will have to come this week.  I hope this will convince Ellen to put cloth diapers on her show.

Thanks for sticking around and waiting out my absence.  I will fix the Katydid video review as soon as I can as well!  Here are some pictures from the trip!

Grandma and Fletcher

Fletcher and his "Cuncle" Leroy

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana (July 6, 2010) – Tereson Dupuy knows about solving problems.  When the inventor of the modern cloth diaper and founder of FuzziBunz^® cloth diapers heard about a program pleading for supplies to help clean up the oil spill along the Gulf shore, the Louisiana native realized she could help.  Today, Dupuy and the company are officially announcing a nationwide drive to put the ultra-absorbent materials used in her cloth diapers and other baby materials to a different use for animal rescue and clean up.

After watching the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico devastate her family’s favorite beaches, precious wildlife and threaten the way of life for her hometown of New Orleans, Dupuy wanted to help.  “The rescue workers are in need of absorbent materials and we are in the business of manufacturing one of the most absorbent materials around, so it’s a no-brainer,” she says. “I’m so glad we can do our part to help in this attack on nature right in our backyard.”

Dupuy and FuzziBunz^® are putting out a nationwide call for old cloth diaper inserts (the absorbent material stuffed inside pocket-diapers like FuzziBunz^®), pre-fold diapers, baby blankets, burp cloths, microfiber towels or other absorbent fabrics and the company’s warehouse is serving as a central drop-off point for these items.  These specific items will be used to care for, clean and transport wildlife. The effort is called “Cloth for the Coast” and has a dedicated website:www.CommunityfortheCoast.org.

Donations of gently used cloth diapers are also being accepted.  While diapers with Velcro, snaps, or elastic cannot be used for cleaning, there is a dire need in the low income communities where the families have been most affected by the spill.  Dupuy is currently seeking assistance from Catholic Charities and United Way to identify families in need of donated diapers and is willing to work with these families on transitioning to cloth.  By switching to donated reusable diapers, such as FuzziBunz^®, these families will save thousands of dollars that would normally be spent on disposables.

“Since the oil spill, people who don’t normally ‘think green’ are giving the environment more thought. I’m glad that I am so close and do something to help make this happen,” says Dupuy.  “And I have been overwhelmed by the response from the cloth diapering community so far.  I knew they would pull together and do what they could during this environmental tragedy.  Now they can recycle diapers for people in need as well.”

Diapers and blankets gathered at the FuzziBunz^® warehouse will be organized by local volunteers and distributed to wildlife organizations in bulk.  Families around the country wishing to help can donate items by sending directly to FuzziBunz^® at:

FuzziBunz Diapers
Attn: CFC
315 Weeks St
New Iberia, LA 70560

Those looking to donate money to rescue animals or volunteer time can also visitwww.CommunityfortheCoast.org, a website also funded by the company that serves as an easy-to-use information resource.

To learn more about FuzziBunz^® and the company’s history of charitable donations, please visitwww.FuzziBunz.com and the parent company, www.MotherofEden.com.

About FuzziBunz^®

The patented FuzziBunz^® pocket diapers are a convenient and sustainable diapering solution for today’s busy parents.  The reusable diapers ensure no leaks, no rash and no waste. FuzziBunz^®diapers include three layers: 1) a waterproof outer barrier to keep wetness contained, 2) a soft microfleece inner layer that touches a baby’s skin and pulls away moisture, and 3) a unique, pocket-style opening that enables a parent to customize the absorbency using super absorbent micro-terrycloth pads.

Stay-at-home-mom, Tereson Dupuy, invented FuzziBunz^® in January 1999 in response to her infant son’s chronic diaper rash and her overall dissatisfaction with all available diapers.  Tereson stitched the first FuzziBunz^® in her home and a short time later, the FuzziBunz^® diapering movement was born. For more information about FuzziBunz^® cloth diapers and accessories and to find a list of retailers, please visit www.fuzzibunz.com.

I never in my wildest dreams expected that washing my diapers (and keeping them smell free) would be the biggest challenge for me out of everything that could be difficult.

Worrying with poop, no biggie, I have a sprayer.

Finding a diaper that works?  Turns out my son fits almost every diaper very well.

Leaks?  Nope, hardly ever.

Image: Flickr NaturesDawn

Smells…… well……… that is something that I have been battling.

I bet when most people start thinking of using cloth they are most concerned with what diapers will work best for their family, if they will have time to wash the diapers, and what will they do with the poop?  I didn’t even realize there was a special wash routine until it came time to prep my diapers.  Then I saw the vast amount of literature on washing routines.  It seemed like every person did it differently.  I was overwhelmed.

What detergent was I going to choose?

I did a lot of research and decided to use Tide Original Powder.

I had a lot of leaks in the early days and stripped at least once a month thanks to repelling issues.  However, my diapers never had a smell.  They smelled clean and fresh out of the washer.  It took 6 months before I started detecting an odor.

Crap.  I had read that sometimes microfiber takes time to begin smelling, then the battle begins.

I stripped.  I used vinegar.  I used bleach.  And then I tried other detergents.

I tried Tiny Bubbles, Crunchy Clean, soap nuts, and finally- Rockin’ Green.

All of those eliminated my need for stripping since they left no residue, but the smell continued.

In fact, I began having an intense ammonia odor.  If you don’t already know, diapers can build up ammonia salts from the urine.  Excessive buildup leads to strong odors and even burns.  My son was being burnt by our overnight diapers!

I cried the first time this happened.  I wiped him and his legs shook from the pain.  And when it came time for a bath, he stood up the entire time because it hurt for water to touch his bottom.

I honestly felt like the worst mother in the world.  We began using disposables at night and after stripping the burns stopped so we switched back.

Recently the burns came back.  I stopped cloth at night until I could kill the ammonia again.  (And let me tell you, if it comes to burning my son or using a disposable, I will use a disposable until the problem is fixed. Though rest assured, no Pampers have entered my home, just Earth’s Best)  I have tried desperately to sun my diapers but the damn sun won’t shine!  Hello Summer?  Where are you?

I finally got 2 loads out in the sun this weel and tried my Gro Via AIO first.  I smelled no ammonia!

So happily, I can say the sun really does help with ammonia and odors.  But I don’t have sun very often so I foresee many problems to come with ammonia.

I am going to switch to Rockin’ Green Hard Rock after I finish off my Classic Rock and see what happens.

The fact is, even an experienced cloth diapering parent can have issues.  I hope by disclosing my own battles and the fact that I have kept fighting them (and had to resort to disposables) will help others.  I only wish I had an answer that would fix everyone’s washing problems!