Q - How can I get more absorbency for night time?
A - There are a few things you can try:
a) You can double up on prefold, you may need a larger cover for this, depending on the size of your baby and your current covers.
b) If you have an old towel you can cut it up to lay in the diaper as a soaker liner.
c) Fleece is great for absorbency as well as being good for wicking moisture away from your baby's bottom and as such your baby might not feel the wet and wake up.
Q - What is your laundering process?
A - Dirty Deeds Diaper Service uses a small amount PC Free detergent and Natural Choices Oxy-Boost as a natural bleaching agent. Our machines go through a 4 hour washing system per load of diapers. The wash includes a pre-rinse, a wash, another rinse, a steam sanitize cycle, and two more rinses. After the wash cycles are complete we put the diapers into a dryer cycle on high heat for 1 hour 20 minutes.
Q - What happens when your diapers are no longer useable for the service?
A - When our diapers are beyond use for our clients we donate them to an orphanage in Burkina Fasa, Africa. They are always in need so we
will be sending our used cotton diapers there.
Q - How many diaper changes should I expect when my baby comes?
A
- Your child will start out at birth needing the highest frequency of diaper changes and as they mature they will phase into fewer changes.
Approximate Age Approximate number of daily changes
0 - 6 months 10 - 12
6 - 12 months 7 - 9
12 - 24+ months 6 - 8
Potty Training 2 - 4
These numbers will vary depending on your child.
Q - I'd like to use reusable wipes instead of the disposable ones out there. Is there a way to do the solution myself?
A - Yes! Here's a long answer for you along with some solution recipes.
Common Cloth Wipe Solution Recipe Ingredients:
Most
cloth wipe solution recipes contain similar main ingredients, which are used
for the same reason in each recipe. These
are the common ingredients and why they're included:
- Oil: Helps the wipe glide
across baby's skin and keeps skin soft
- Soap: Cleanses by removing
all traces of urine and feces
- EO (Essential Oil): Added
for antibacterial and/or aromatherapy purposes
- Water: The main ingredient
in each recipe, cleanses the diaper area and dilutes the other ingredients
The type
and amounts of oil, soap, EO and water that goes into a recipe is what gives
each cloth wipe solution its own distinct "personality". Have fun trying different recipes until you
find the ones that you like best!
How to Use Cloth Wipe Solutions
First of
all, please use common sense and keep all wipe solution ingredients away from
your child. You may not think that these
everyday products can be dangerous, but some infants have suffered respiratory
after aspirating baby oil.
When
mixing solutions we've found that it works best to start with water, then oil
and finally soap. By starting with water
you'll avoid making tons of bubbles, and the oil will coat your measuring tools
so the soap slips right off.
There are many different ways to store and apply cloth wipe solutions, try a
few of the following ideas to find the one that works best for your family. You may discover that one system works great
at home and another works great away from home. Most of the time, it's easiest to gently mix
the cloth wipe solution in a bottle with a cover, then pour it into the storage
container. Here are some ideas to get
you started:
- Use a spray bottle to spritz
baby's bottom or the cloth wipes. (For baby's comfort we prefer spraying
the cloth wipes)
- Use a bottle with a pull-up
spout (like on bottled-water bottles) to dribble solution onto the cloth
wipes.
- Warm solution and place in
an insulated container to provide warm wipes for baby.
- Place the solution into a
commercial baby wipes container and dip cloth wipes into the solution.
- Place cloth wipes in a
commercial baby wipes container and pour wipes solution over wipes.
- A commercial baby wipes
container can be placed in a wipes warmer to provide cozy warm wipes for
baby.
Don't
store solution or wet wipes for a long time because they can become musty and
the wet wipes may even grow mildew - ewww! Check your solution and wet wipes daily, and
mix smaller batches of solution frequently instead of large batches less often
to avoid mustiness. Try to mix fresh
solution once a week, store it in a bottled-water bottle, and you should not have
any problems with mustiness.
Cloth Wipe Solution Recipes
Almond 'n' Chamomile
Steep the
tea bags in the hot water then add the oil.
2 chamomile tea bags
2 teaspoons almond oil
2 cups hot water
Anti-Fungal
Omit
vinegar if baby has a raw rash.
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon calendula oil
A few drops lavender oil
A few drops tea tree oil
1/4 cup 100% aloe vera gel
1 cup water
Anti-Fungal Too
Similar
to the other anti-fungal recipe, but less vinegar and water.
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon calendula oil
A few drops lavender oil
A few drops tea tree oil
1/4 cup 100% aloe vera gel
1/2 cup water
Apricot Solution
A favorite, the apricot oil smells heavenly!
1 tablespoon apricot oil
1 tablespoon unscented baby wash
3 cups water
Basic Wipe Solution
This
basic recipe can be adapted by changing the type of soap or oil.
1/2 cup baby oil
1/2 cup baby wash
2 cups water
Castile Solution
Dr.
Bronner's Castile Soap comes in several yummy scents!
1 tablespoon almond, apricot, or other oil
1 tablespoon Dr Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap
2 drops tea tree oil
1 drop lavender oil
1 cup water
Chamomile 'n' Honey
Brew the
tea, add the honey, and drink any leftovers!
1 chamomile tea bag
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup boiling water
Easy Peasy
Just
three simple ingredients...
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons baby wash
1 1/2 cups water
Eight is Great
Similar
ingredients as other recipes, but in different amounts.
1/8 cup vegetable oil
1/8 cup baby wash
8 drops lavender oil
4 drops tea tree oil
2 cups water
Fruit 'n' Veggie
Dr
Bronner's soaps can often be found in organic markets.
1 teaspoon fruit or vegetable-based oil (apricot, olive, grapeseed, etc)
1 tablespoon vegetable-based soap (like Dr. Bronner's liquid castile)
1 teaspoon 100% aloe vera gel
1 cup water
Just One
Just one
"something" of each ingredient for this recipe.
1 chamomile tea bag
1 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon baby bath or shampoo
1 drop lavendar oil
1 cup hot water
Lavender 'n' Tea Tree
Lavender
and Tea Tree are popular EO choices for wipe solutions.
1/8 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon baby shampoo
4 drops tea tree oil
8 drops lavender oil
3 cups water
Variation: Use lavender baby oil and lavender baby wash for a heavenly
Lavender wash. Thanks to Nicole M. for this variation.
Lanolin & Glycerine
Lanolin
and glycerine moisturize without oil. Lansinoh can be found in many local
stores.
1 tablespoon liquid glycerine
1/4 teaspoon liquid lanolin (100% pure)
1 tablespoon baby wash
1-3 drops EO
4 cups water
Lavender Solution
Aother
favorite, the lavender is calming for you and your child.
1 tablespoon baby oil
1 tablespoon lavender scented baby wash
2-3 drops lavender oil
3 cups water
Lotion Potion
Baby
lotion adds more softening power to this solution.
1 tablespoon baby oil
1 tablespoon baby soap
1 tablespoon baby lotion
1 cup water
Variation: Replace the baby oil and lotion with 2 tablespoons Baby Magic
Creamy Baby Oil for a less oily potion. Thanks to Kimberly A. for this
variation.
Magic Baby
Baby
Magic products are usually easy to find in local stores.
1/2 cup Baby Magic oil
1/2 cup Baby Magic wash
2 cups water
No Measuring
Don't
measure for this one, just estimate amounts.
2 squirts baby oil
2 squirts baby wash
1 drop EO
1 cup water (about)
Olive 'n' Tea Tree
A great
natural wipes solution.
1/4 cup olive oil (extra virgin not necessary)
1/8 cup gentle baby bath
A few drops tea tree oil
4 cups water
Shampoo Style
Baby
shampoo works as well as baby wash.
1 tablespoon baby oil
2 teaspoons baby shampoo
2 1/2 cups water
Soapless
This
recipe relies on the EO to cleanse, instead of using soap.
1-2 drops tea tree oil
1-2 drops lavender oil
1 cup water
Use caution with this recipe as we've been told some children may develop a
rash since the essential oils aren't dissolved in a carrier oil.
If you have any questions please feel free to send us an email or get in touch by telephone. info@dirtydeedsdiaperservice.ca and (867) 445-3256.
