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Why use cloth diapers?
Newborn Cloth Diapering
Toilet Training Tips
Origin of Bumwear Diapers
Learn More About Bumwear Diapers
Mechanics of Cloth Diapering
Wash and Care
How to Wear
Dollars and Cents of Cloth Diapering
FAQ
Customer Testimonials
Photos of Bumwear Babies
Where to Buy
Postage Cost of Diapers

Q: Is it a lot of work using cloth diapers than using disposables?
A: Yes, it's a little bit more work considering the fact that they have to washed and laundered. The work involved is not much more than washing an ordinary load of laundry. Certainly cloth diapers are not as convenient as the use-and-throw disposable diapers but considering the cost savings and positive impact on our environment (and our baby's bottoms), I'd say, yes, the little bit of extra effort is certainly worth it.

Q: Won't my baby get diaper rash ?
A: Actually, it's been proven time and again that cloth diapered babies have a significantly less incidence of diaper rash. The gel-like chemicals (Sodium Polyacrylate) in disposable diapers absorb the wetness so the parent can't really tell when the child is wet and soiled. So the child wears the soiled diapers for a longer period of time. Plus, some babies are allergic to Sodium Polyacrylate in the disposables. All these factors are the reasons by babies are MORE likely to get diaper rash in disposables rather than the cotton cloth diapers.

Q: How often do I have to change the baby ?
A: I normally change my baby after about 3 hours.

Q: Don't cloth diapers cost a lot of money ?
Because the initial outlay of cloth diapers seems like more, many parents mistakenly think that cloth diapers are more expensive to use. As the calculations in dollars and cents section shows, even compared to using one of the cheapest disposable diapers, one can still achieve a significant saving.

We really don't feel the pinch of buying disposables because its cost normally gets buried under our grocery bills.

The cost savings don't even stop there. If taken care of properly, the cloth diapers can be reused for the subsequent child whereas you have to spend the same amount again for the disposable diapers.

Q: How many cloth diapers do I need ?
A:This really depends on whether you want to cloth diaper full time or part time and how old your baby is. Very young infants go through about 10 diapers a day. A very economical way is to get 2 dozens or so prefold diapers for this stage and switched them over to the Bumwear one size diapers when they are more than 5kg.

I cloth diaper my baby full time meaning that I don't use any disposables at all. I have about 15 diapers. If you only want to diaper in the day time, our package B or C is a good one to get.

Q: Are cloth diapered babies toilet trained earlier ?
A: In general, yes ! The cloth diapered babies can recognise the wet feeling and will generally have an easier time learning to use the potty.

Q: Do male babies who use disposable diapers have a fertility problem as adults ?
A: The findings to this question are somewhat controversial, but a German study have indicated that when male infants and toddlers wear disposable diapers, the temperature of their scrotum is higher than they wear cloth diapers. The researchers claimed that the increased warmth could lead to bodily changes that may affect sperm production and even carry the risk of testicular cancer.

Q: Why should I buy these cloth diapers since these are more expensive than the ones I find in department stores?
A : Good Question! The diapers you will find in local retail stores are less expensive but much lower quality in terms of absorbency and you will find that they will leak! Not only that, they will not last nearly as long as these will! We only carry very high quality cloth diapering products and you will find that ours don't leak! They are much more absorbent and will last through multiple children if cared for lovingly. This is much more economical in the long run than buying lower quality cloth diapers just to find out you have to change them twice as often and they don't last as long.

Q: Can you really wear cloth diapers on the baby while going out and about ?
A : Yes, you can. Here's how we do it with our babies. We have 2 wetbags in our regular diaper bag. One contains 3-4 clean cloth diapers and the other one is empty. It will be used to store the soiled diapers after we change the baby. Changing the baby's diapers while outside is exactly the same whether one uses cloth or disposable diapers. Think about it for a minute :-) You still have to wipe the baby's bum and put on the clean new diaper. The only difference is that with disposable, you dump the dirty diaper into the bin but in the case of cloth diapers, you dump it into the wetbag to bring home. If you use disposable liners, you can throw away the soiled liners, leaving you with less mess to worry about when you get home.

Q: How about cloth diapering while on holidays?
A : For me, this pretty much depends on where we are holidaying. When we visit beach resorts with plenty of sun, the cloth diapers come along. I'd handwash them and dry them out in the sun. If we are staying in an apartment that has a washing machine and a dryer, the diapers follow us too since it would be a cinch getting them cleaned. But, if we are going to a holiday and staying in a hotel room and have no access to cheap laundrymat, then for the one week or so that we are on the holiday, the baby will just have to wear the dreaded disposable diapers. That was what happened when we visited Tokyo in November 2007.

Q :What can I put in the wash to get rid of any urine odor?
If an ammonia odor remains on your diapers, the most likely culprit is leftover detergent on the diapers. Try adding an extra rinse or stripping them. If there are any suds left in the washing machine after you are done washing the diapers, you need to do an extra rinse. Stripping refers to the removal of residue on diapers. To strip diapers, simply hand wash your diaper with your regular dish soap (gets the oils out). Add a bit of dish soap to the fleece, either rub the fleece vigorously together or use a medium bristle dish brush or hard bristle tooth brush to scrub the fleece. Turn it inside out and repeat on the other side. Rinse well, making sure that the water runs clear. .

Q: Why should I wash my new cloth diapers before using them ?
A: New fabrics have a special chemical finish on them that gives them that "new fabric" smell and feel. This finish is water-repellent, and must be removed by machine washing before use.

We cannot stress often enough on how important it is to wash your new diapers and inserts at least three times before using for the first time.  This will ensure the absorbency of the cotton and will make the diaper "fluff up."  If not pre-washed, the diapers will not absorb urine properly because during the manufacturing process, there is a waxy buildup on the cotton. A great way to pre-wash your diapers is just to wash them with your regular clothes for 3-4 times.

If you put any brand new cloth diaper on a baby and he/she wets it, urine will simply bead up and run right out of the diaper. The machine washing swells and fluffs the cotton fibers maximizing your absorbency. Once this is done, you will notice that your baby's pee stays in the cloth diaper and doesn't run out the sides (like at first).