Questions about Cloth Diapers and Diaper Covers

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1. What are Diaperaps® diaper covers?
2. How many diaper covers do you recommend?
3. How often can I use them without laundering?
4. What makes Diaperaps® diaper covers different from other covers?
5. What size do I need?
6. How long will my baby be in one size?
7. How do you double diaper?
8. What do I do if the diaper covers leak (even after double diapering)?
9. What should I do if my baby loves to open his/her diaper cover?
10. How do I know when my baby is ready to start potty training?
11. How many cotton diapers do I need?
12. How often should I change the diaper?
13. What kind of diaper is best?
14. How much will I save if I buy cotton diapers instead of disposables?
15. Does it really make such a difference for the environment what my one little baby wears as a diaper?

1. What are Diaperaps® diaper covers?
Diaperaps® diaper covers are a waterproof covering for cotton diapers that eliminate the need for pins, are easy to use and care for and allows air to circulate. I invented diaper covers for my second child, Jonas, while living in Hong Kong. I was a dedicated cotton diaper user back in 1980 and it was so humid in Hong Kong that he got a terrible rash every time I used plastic pants. So I designed a diaper cover with different fabrics that would allow air to circulate and thus minimize diaper rash. It worked great . When I returned home many of my friends marvelled at this thing I had made and asked me if I could make some for them. That's how it started.

When we first came out with our diaper covers in the early 1980's almost no one knew what they were --- now they are a whole product category !

2. How many diaper covers do you recommend?
We recommend 6 Diaperaps per size. The reason we recommend 6 or more is for convenience. This way you can have one on the baby, a few in the laundry, one in the diaper bag, etc., without having to think about them too much.

3. How often can I use them without laundering?
You can use your Diaperap 2-3 times before you launder them. Just wipe the inside dry and put a fresh diaper inside the cover. In general, first time parents want to wash them after every use but second time parents will use them several times before laundering.

4. What makes Diaperaps® diaper covers different from other covers?
They are light weight, soft & comfortable, durable, and the best fitting. Special fabrics which allow air to circulate and over 16 years of manufacturing expertise all combine to make Diaperaps # 1. We offer value priced covers, fast delivery and a 100% money back guarantee. Diaperaps® are our brand name and no other cover is a Diaperap®.

5. What size do I need?
Diaperaps® diaper covers are true to size. If you do not purchase the correct size you may find that you have a leakage problem. Please refer to the size chart which is located by clicking on the product. Sometimes parents wonder if they can skip the newborn size and go right to the small - if you expect a baby over 9 pounds you can, otherwise you will have leakage problems if you skip the newborn size.

6. How long will my baby be in one size?
This depends on how quickly your baby grows , but your child will probably outgrow the Diaperap® before he/she wears them out. The average time spent in one size is 3 - 4 months. They stay in the x-large and toddler sizes longer and they will grow out of the newborn size the quickest.

7. How do you double diaper?
Here's the anatomy lesson !

Little boys need extra absorbency in the front. Try placing one diaper inside another in the following way. (a)Take a diaper and lay it down. (b)Now take a second diaper, fold it into thirds lengthwise so it forms a long thick panel and lay it in the middle of your first diaper. (C) For an even thicker panel, fold the second diaper in half again and place it all in the front of the first diaper. This will put all the thickness in the front --- where little boys need it most.

Little girls need extra absorbency in the middle. So follow steps (a) and (b) above. You should find that the extra protection in the middle helps to control any leakage you have with a girl.

Double diapering is usually necessary at bedtime, as the baby gets older and starts sleeping longer.

8. What do I do if the diaper covers leak (even after double diapering)?
Sooner or later everyone experiences some leakage. That's why disposable diaper makers spend millions every year trying to improve leakage problems. Now they have put chemical pellets in the middle of the diaper to turn baby's liquid waste into a solid gel to help prevent leakage. (Cut one open and you'll see what we mean - if you are really adventurous try pouring some water on these pellets and see what happens)

But you can get as good if not better leakage control with a good diaper and Diaperaps® diaper covers -- no chemical gels and no having to throw away a diaper every 3 hours.

Leaking seems to be more prevalent with newborn babies, everything is very runny, and you haven't quite gotten the hang of this diapering. But rest assured it gets better and easier. First, you want to be sure that you are using the correct size diaper cover for the baby's weight. Also make sure that you are spreading the diaper out (into an hourglass shape) so that is is covering all of the diaper cover. If the diaper is too long, fold it back into the diaper cover.

Remember to tuck the diaper completely inside the cover , so that a wet diaper doesn't "hang out" and get the clothing wet. I know there are parents whose children have very thin legs and they recommend letting the diaper stick out of the legs just a little bit , to fill out any gaps. You can try this method as well.

Please realize that there are many different qualities of diaper on the market. If you are using a thin diaper (and unfortunately , many stores only carry the less expensive thin diapers) you need to change to a "diaper service quality" diaper. We offer an excellent range of absorbent cotton diapers.

9. What should I do if my baby loves to open his/her diaper cover?
Some babies think it is so much fun to hear the sound of velcro opening, especially when they should be sleeping and instead they stay up trying to figure out what kind of mischief they can get into. This usually starts around 6 months. Some babies will do it a couple of times and then stop (unless mom or dad start smiling at how clever they are for figuring out how to open their cover - then they will definitely keep doing it). So try and not to smile or make a big deal out of it and close the diaper cover.

If they don't stop... that's why I invented the Diaper Protector® diaper cover with patented "little fingers". These special little tabs on the velcro stop baby from opening their diaper covers but mom and dad can do it easily (I promise, it's not like those childproof caps!)

10. How do I know when my baby is ready to start potty training?
Please click on our "Potty Training Tips" for some helpful information in this regard. There is an old and very wise expression that goes like this: "fast becomes slow and slow becomes fast" . If you try and hurry your child to potty train when they are not ready, it will take them longer than if you take your time and start when they are ready.

11. How many cotton diapers do I need?
It's a question of balancing convenience (how often you'll need to wash the diapers) versus how much money you want to spend. Most parents prefer 4-6 dozen.

12. How often should I change the diaper?
Generally about every 3 hours. At night you can always double diaper so that your baby can sleep through the night comfortably. (Question 7 talks about double diapering)

13. What kind of diaper is best?
There are several choices, so it depends upon what you are looking for in a diaper and how much you want to spend. Please see our Diaper Guide which describes which diaper is best for what.

14. How much will I save if I buy cotton diapers instead of disposables?
You will save about $3,000. (Disposables start costing a lot more as you move up the sizes.)

15. Does it really make such a difference for the environment what my one little baby wears as a diaper?
Yes, you can make a world of difference Please see our why cotton diapers and your Environment

First time and single mom loves this system!
I wanted to use cloth diapers for my children. I found out I was pregnant and going to be a single mom. I did research on the web about the different systems to buy. I chose the Super Birth to Potty package and I could not be happier! My son is 4 and 1/2 months now and into the regular size diapers. Friends and Family are amazed how easy the system is to use. They have said that cloth diapers have come a long way! Thank you for the design, environmental, and economical savings!
-Melanie, Vestaburg, MI

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