Flats and Handwashing Challenge Day 3

 

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For 7 days I will be using only flat cloth diapers and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants from all over the world!

My Favourite Way To Use Flats

  Most of the time we are using a pad folded flat inside a cover or pocket. B is at the stage where he HATES to lie still for a diaper change, sometimes I have to pin him down. Also while we practice elimination communication with him, its fast and easy to take off at potty time. This makes outings a little easier too.

  when pad folding I only use my covers that have tuckable flaps (made by me). shown above is pad folded receiving blanket with a smaller square of flannel ( what was left of a yard after cutting a 30"x30" flat) pad folded and placed in the wetzone. I usually add a fleece liner on top as well.

  This is our favourite night time combo, a Bamboo fleece flat pad folded with a wool doubler underneath laid into a t-shirt tie diaper. We have a pair of hand knit wool shorties that I put over all this.

  When he allows me a few extra minutes for changing, I use the Diaper Bag fold. This fold puts 12 layers of absorbency up front, perfect for my heavy wetting boy. I like to fasten this fold with Boingos or pins and let him go coverless around the house.

  Once the flats are dry, I pad fold them all and stack them in our diaper drawer. I can then just grab them as needed and stuff in a cover or pocket , or fold them into a diaper shape just before changing.

There are still a ton of folds that I have not tried yet, but I plan to before the week is over. This chart of folds is very helpful.

Recap of Day 2

  Yesterday was much busier than Day 1.  I ended washing 3 loads of flats. 1 in the morning and 2 in the evening. Due to the humidity the flats that I had washed and hung in the morning where still damp after 8 hours. The ones I washed in the evening where all dry this morning except the bamboo fleece flat which was still a bit damp. I keep forgetting to use the rubber gloves that I  bought and added to my supply list, needless to say I have blisters forming and extremely dry and chapped hands from wringing out the flats.

 Other than that we have not had any major issues yet, and I have already learned so much in the past 2.5 days.