Diapers are the main things that you must have if you have a baby at home. It is to keep all of their waste in one place and prevent it from messing up their bed. Also, there are a lot of parents who alternate store-bought diapers with cloth diapers. The great thing about cloth diapers is it prevents diaper rash around your baby’s hips and thighs. But how to tie a cloth diaper that won’t leak? There are many ways for you to tie a cloth diaper if you want to have a snuggle fit. Although there are ready-made cloth diapers in-store, it is still good to have the ones that you can tie yourself.
What Type of Cloth to Use for Cloth Diapers?
One thing that a parent must know is the type of cloth to use for cloth diapers. Before learning how to tie a cloth diaper, you should choose which is the best type of cloth to use. Some babies are allergic to a particular kind of material, and this can lead to skin irritation or rashes. Here are the different types of cloth material you can use as a cloth diaper:
- Bamboo – Bamboo is a soft and fast-absorbent material that resists bacteria growth. But the process of converting bamboo fibers into a soft cloth can cause environmental harm. Before purchasing this type of cloth, you need to double-check the chemicals that are in the cloth.
- Cotton – Cotton is a fiber that makes all types of clothes soft. It went through many processes to make sure that every string they have will be pesticide-free and use GMOs (genetically modified organisms) to make sure that they have high-quality cotton.
- Organic cotton – The difference between the ordinary cotton and organic cotton is the way they are cultured and processed to turn into pieces of fabrics. Organic cotton needs to go through up to 100 washes to remove existing pests and dirt with the use of chemicals.
- Hemp – Hemp is a little bit similar to bamboo because of its capability to resist bacteria growth. Also, it holds water longer compared to cotton, but the absorption takes some time before it fully absorbs it. Usually, cotton and help are combined to create an ideal cloth diaper.
- Modal – Modal is from wood pulp that is also similar to bamboo. Its soft and silky finish is safe on your baby’s skin. Also, it resists mineral build-up, making it a good use as a cloth diaper.
- Polyester – Polyester is a material that absorbs water quickly. It is known for its durability and allows you to wash multiple times a week. But the downside of this material is it wears off over time, and you need to have a soft fabric before wearing them on your baby.
- Fleece – Fleece is a soft and comfortable fabric that is ideal for cloth diapers. It absorbs and locks in water to prevent the diaper from leaking. Thin fleeces are in interiors of a diaper, while thick fleeces are for diaper covers to make it breathable.
How to Tie a Cloth Diaper With a Snuggle Fit?
There are two ways that you can learn how to tie a cloth diaper that fits perfectly. You get to choose whether you want to tie it with or without a pin. Here are the easy steps that you can do for both techniques:
With Pin (regular size of cloth)
- Make a triangle fold where the tip is facing downwards.
- Place your baby on the cloth and make sure that the longest line is behind him/her.
- Lift your baby’s legs and bring the lower part of the cloth up between his/her legs covering the genitals.
- Pull the left and right sides of the triangle to the center and secure it with baby-safety pins.
Without Pins (use a larger cloth)
- Make a triangular fold, and on the longer side of the triangle, fold it twice.
- Place your baby on the cloth and make sure that the longest line is behind him/her.
- Lift your baby’s legs and bring the lower part of the cloth up between his/her legs covering the genitals.
- Pull the left side of the cloth and bring it between their legs, and it should have extra cloth on the right side.
- Pull the right side of the cloth and bring it between their legs, and it should have extra cloth on the left side.
- Tight both ends in front to secure the cloth diaper
Benefits of a Cloth Diaper
Converting from commercial diapers to cloth diapers have a lot of benefits for you and your baby. Practicing how to tie a cloth diaper can be a bit tricky if it is your first time, but it will pay off in the long run, here are the benefits of using a cloth diaper:
- Safe on your baby’s skin – Fewer chemicals used that causes skin irritation
- Prevents rashes – No more tight garter holdings
- Saves money – No need for consistent diaper restocking
- Reduces waste – Reusing of cloth diapers reduces environmental waste
- Earlier potty training – Easier to transition from diaper to potty training
- More comfortable – Soft fabric is more breathable and comfortable
- Multiple-use of cloth diapers – Aside from using it as a diaper, you can use the cloth as a blanket, bib, and many more.
Conclusion
It is fun to practice on how to tie a cloth diaper that prevents leaks. Your first time will not be perfect, but it can get better in the long run. There are a lot of ways that you can do to tie the cloth, without any pins, and turn it into a diaper. All you got to do is find the right way that you think that will hold and make sure that your baby is comfortable. Get more tips on cloth diapers.