Now that we are settled in to our new home, I’ve gotten back into my cloth diapering routine. Because of that, I thought it would be a good time to talk more about cloth diapers.
Today, I wanted to show you our diaper changing station and talk a little more about making diaper changes as uncomplicated as possible when it comes to using cloth.
Let’s kick it off with a bit vlogging, shall we? Go easy on us this first time of vlogging–my poor daughter couldn’t find the OFF button! (if you cannot see the video in your reader or email, click on this link: Diaper Changing Station )
Here is a photo of the changing table so you can have a longer look at it:
I mention in the video that we use mostly FuzziBunz for daytime diapering, but we used to use Mother-ease One-Size diapers along with Mother-ease Air Flow covers. These were a great starter diaper for us! I still use the Air Flows over our prefolds. (if prefolds scare you, read this) But, for some reason, I’ve left my ME’s behind. It might be because they are old…insanely old. Many are threadbare. But, if you are afraid of prefolds (and my post doesn’t convince you otherwise), then Mother-ease diapers might be for you. They are workhorse diapers that last and last. Most of my MEs have been through 6-7 children, and even being threadbare, they keep going strong. And you cannot find a better, more versatile diaper cover than the Air Flows. They cover ANY diaper.
I mentioned diaper cream as well. If you read my post on creating a nursing mama basket, you’ll remember I use a natural diaper cream from HardLotion.com. In the video, you more than likely also saw another cream called Penaten. It is German made and was sent to me by a dear friend when she heard we were battling terrible rashes following Emily’s surgeries. However, Penaten IS NOT safe for cloth diapers. I ONLY use it with disposables. Use the Simply Soothing diaper rash cream instead:
The wipes you saw were made by my daughter using the instructions I wrote about in my post on making your diaper wipes for cheap. They were made from a couple of t-shirts that had gotten stained and a pair of Micah’s old cotton sweatpants that had holes in them.
One other thing I want to mention is that ideally, baby’s clothes are in the same vicinity as well. Garin’s are not. It is a pain. The only reason I don’t remedy that is because as I said, at some point, I’ll be moving the changing table into our room where Garin’s clothes are. I’m thinking I’ll go ahead and put a few outfits near the changing table for those inevitable moments when it isn’t just the baby’s diaper that needs changing!
Next week I’ll be talking about our diaper washing and drying routine, so stay tuned!
Mama Mirage says
I love cloth diaper talk. 🙂 We use disposeables and FuzziBunz and BumGenius.
Jenn says
So the Rash Cream fro MadeOn is safe for cloth diapers? That would be wonderful!
Amy says
I don’t know if Renee makes those claims about her cream, but I have used it for quite some time and have not had any trouble with it on my diapers.
Amy says
Great video!! It was nice to see you again!! You video and post has me wondering if I need a changing station or if I can keep wingin’ it! We have used disposables up to now (cloth for the 2 y.o., who has NO interest in using the potty, will be here in a few days and we will use cloth when the baby arrives next month). So, when we change him we just grab a diaper and wipes then change him either on our bed or the couch. So, can I continue a similar approach with cloth or will it be easier with a changing station/table, especially with the new baby arriving soon?? Also, eager to read your posts next week!! Thanks for the great info!
Amy says
Hey Amy! I’ve never had much luck “winging it” with cloth. Before the changing table, I changed baby on our bed and had stackers (cheap from Dollar General) next to the bed with everything in them and the diaper pail right there as well. We do still change diaper on the fly in the living room and on my bed, but I’ll be honest, those diapers tend to accidentally get left on the floor and take a while to make it to the pail…um, yuck! 😉
Valerie says
I love it 🙂 Your station looks very similar to mine (though my changing table has drawers so the diapers, covers, liners and snappis take up the top drawer, the second drawer is for his clothes and the third drawer is changing table covers, pads, and crib sheets/mattress pads…very much a blessing!)…my question is with the poopies…do you just set the poopy dipes aside until you have Garin (or Micah) changed and then go spray it off in your bathroom? I’ve never figured out a good way to do that. My changing station is even right next to the bathroom (as the kids room where the changing table is has a connected bath that is also the hall bath). My current setup is to have my older three be my runners while changing and they take the dirties, both urine and poopy, down to the laundry room sink where they’re stored in an Sam’s Club size laundry soap container until wash time. I’ve thought seriously of getting the mini sprayer, but just haven’t done it yet because of mental logistics…afraid to spend the money and then not use it I guess.
Amy says
I set the poopy diaper on top of the diaper pail and then come back to it once I’ve got Garin playing elsewhere. If it is a FuzziBunz, I take the stuffers out right there and plop them into the wet pail, then head to the bathroom and spray out the poopy diaper and put that into the poopy pail I have next to the toilet. Someone commented here about using a kitchen sprayer instead of the mini sprayer…I’ve heard good things about that too, so if your husband is handy, maybe that is a cheaper alternative?
Amy says
Great video! Thanks for sharing. Instead of purchasing a sprayer, we had an extra kitchen hose sprayer and Caleb turned it into a diaper sprayer! Costs us maybe $2? I was so excited!
Questoin: Is that just a normal trash can you are using for a diaper pail?
Amy says
I’ve heard of doing that before! Great job! And yes, that is a regular trash can. That’s all I’ve ever used and it works just fine. 🙂
Bri says
Thank you so much for sharing your system! We are using disposables right now b/c I’m taking college classes and am barely keeping up with our regular laundry…lol. I can’t wait to get back to my cloth though, my kids have been battling diaper rash ever since the switch!
By the way, my youngest (5 month old, Henry) was starting to fuss when I started watching your video and as soon as you started talking he quit fussing. Thanks for that also!!!
Amy says
LOL! You are welcome! Next time I’ll have to get my 6 month old in on the action so he can see someone his size. 😉
Andrea says
I wish my changing table looked so organized. It used to be when I only had one in diapers but since son number 3 was born it looks like a mess. My problem is probably that I have too many different types/sizes of diapers on it. Once he potty trains and it is just my daughter in diapers I will be able to organize it more. Thanks for sharing your set up.
Amy says
Andrea,
I did have to get rid of a lot of diapers and sometimes I wonder why I keep the Motherease on there since I rarely use them. When Garin was smaller and we were using more fitteds, the shelves were much more cluttered!
Katie says
I’m definitely going to cloth diaper our next baby! I’ve already made bunches of wipes! Great video, it was neat to see how it looks in real life, since I don’t know anyone personally who cloth diapers. All my friends and family look at me like I’m crazy till I show them how cute the new modern cloth diapers are! LOL
Valerie says
So I’m not the only one that comes back to the poopy ones later! Hah that’s great! 🙂
Amy says
Glad I can make you feel better, Valerie! lol
Sherri says
Oh Amy! So neat to hear your voice! LOL!
Your changing station & routine is pretty much identical to mine… except mine is currently on the top of my dresser in my bedroom. I was lucky enough to have my hubby rig a diaper sprayer up for us from plumbing parts while he was working in the plumbing dept. at his work! He has been able to pass his little system on to several cd’ing customers too & they are always shocked that he *knows* about cd’ing…
Anywho… loved the video & would love to see more!
~Sherri
PS-
I think I have that very same skirt! 😉
Amy says
That is one of my favorite skirts! 🙂
Jimmie says
I watched the video not because I need to know about diapers but just to see YOU! Fun to hear and see you in action, Amy.
Amy says
lol Jimmie! I would do the same thing!
Christina Crabtree says
Your station is a lot like mine is. Well, I guess WAS! he he. After toddlers dumping dirty diapers all over their room TWICE, the pail went in the bathroom (which is child locked!). THEN they decided to pull all the diapers off the shelves (AND pull all the inserts out!) so those went in some wonderful hanging pockets from Ikea (We have 4 of them hanging on the wall which hold a good amount of our diapers). So now we’re wondering why we even have a change table anymore! They tend to get changed on the floor due to me being pregnant and them being 32 & 38 lbs. anyway!
With baby #3 on the way and the two boys starting potty training, we’re seriously evaluating our set up! I think we’re finally going to sell our changing table (should recoup the money too since we only bought it for $30 used anyway!) and buy a dresser. We can put a change pad on top and put drawer locks on the drawers to keep the boys out of the diapers! Plus that will give us additional storage space.
It seems at every stage of motherhood (even at this point with all babies under 4) you have to tweek what you’re doing to fit your current stage! It’s been fun though! Kids sure do keep you on your toes!
Taylor says
Thank you so much for this video. I’m a total newbie with cloth diapers! My son is 7 months old and we’re making the switch to cloth for financial reasons, and I needed to figure out the best way to set up a changing area. Found you via Google! I think I’ll have a similar setup, only in my laundry room instead. Thanks again!
Danielle B says
A solution to diaper creme and cloth diapers. use a cloth wipe in the diaper. Creme gets on wipe not on the diaper. That way you don’t have worry w/the nasty chemicals in disposables .