www.incontinentsupport.org

Due to the cost of disposables, I'm really considering using cloth 24/7. So any "specific" advice is appreciated.

I'm bladder incon (due to a troubled surgery way back when); dribbles and floods; unpredictable. Thus, 24/7 diapers. Disposables during the day; cloth at night or when I know I'll be home during the day. Given what I'm spending on disposables , I'm seriously considering using cloth 24/7. I've read a number of posts on cloth use (including the latest on "Cloth Diapers" in the "What type of diaper do you find best" forum), have experience with cloth use (albeit nighttime and the comfort of being home), and read the primers & whitepapers. But now I need more ...

What I'd like to know is any last minute hints, tips, "buyer-bewares", and general wisdom that the 24/7 cloth folks can impart? Of course I'm concerned with changing my cloth diaper in a public bathroom; standing up? Logistics? Embarrassing lessons learned? Transporting a soggy, smelly cloth diaper? etc., etc., etc.

As you all probably know: anytime we try something new, we usually make the situation bigger than it really is. And I am definitely doing that right now ("sensitized" due to leaks, embarrassments, etc.) ... But I would like to hear the collective wisdom of this great group.

Thanks in advance!

ILuvLA.

ILuvLA,

Please read the existing thread on Cloth Diapers in the "What type of diaper do you find best" forum. The old messages have a lot of very useful information. Also do a search for the term "cloth diaper" throughout the forums. Messages with good content are scattered around.

I am not wearing cloth outside the home and so cannot advise you there, but I now wear cloth over a disposable at night and will change to all-cloth diapers for night and mornings at home. The other members here who wear cloth have given me a lot of useful advice.

This week I received, and began wearing, my first pin-on flat cloth diapers, one pre-fold and one plain flat. Previously I had pre-folds with the velcro fastener but the width that I needed was not available in cloth with velcro fasteners. The velcro waist worked, but the length from front to back was too big and I did not have enough overlap at the sides to catch leaks when sleeping on my side. I am very pleased that by pinning the new flat diapers I can adjust the width to get the best fit and by minimal folding I can create the most absorbent layer where I need it most.

Re wearing cloth in the workplace, I will note that unfastening the velcro waist on diapers that have it can be very, very noisy. Everyone in a company restroom would notice.

I ordered a LeakMaster pre-fold cloth diaper and a Purity flat cloth diaper, both gauze, from the Adult Cloth Diaper company. I am pleased with both.

At washing, I have learned that the pre-folds require considerably longer drying times. Pre-fold flannel diapers require a very long drying time (wife not happy).

--John

ILuvLA,

Wearing cloth diapers outside the house, for me, requires continual attention to my location and an up-to-date understanding of the nearest, and acceptably clean, handicapped or family restroom. This is not as difficult as it may seem, because properly pinned cloth diapers need only be changed every couple hours, giving plenty of time to find an adequate changing facility. My gym/diaper bag includes pre-moistened handy-wipes, plastic bags and twist-ties for storing soiled diapers, and two or three complete diaper changes. Although Velcro tabbed cotton diapers are noisy when being removed, pin-type diapers are not. A brick of bath soap is a good lubricant for pins, and has other uses in my bag.

Good luck.

Patrick, the brick of soap to lubricate the pins is a great tip!

--John

LA, I wear cloth diapers about 80+% of the time. It is no different than learning to just wear diapers of any kind. If you find a diaper (cloth or disposable) that you prefer over all others then you adapt to any uniqueness it has. Also, confidence in that diaper gets you to go out in it, sleep in it, wear it anywhere. We can give hints and personal experiences but you have to really feel that the product will meet all your own needs to be able to use it with total confidence. It took me a LONG time to just go with my heart and head and accept incontinence and what makes me comfortable. Good luck and ask all the questions you need to. Papa

Thanks everyone for the hints.

JD: Yes, I did look on past postings. They helped!

Papa/Patrick: Thanks for the words of wisdom!

ILuvLA

Quick update on my "switch" to more daytime use of cloth diapering and less disposables ... As can be expected, there are trials and errors to go thru, but over all I'm falling into some reasonable clothed patterns. And in these hot days, the cloth comfort is really making me a believer. I am thankful!

Two questions: I find that I can "squeeze out a leak" when I sit on a hard bottomed chair. While I don't think I have significantly wetted the cloth diaper nor had it on for a "long" time, on a few occasions I sit on a hard chair and then I get the opps moment. Of course if I am in a softer or well padded chair, I have no issues; even if my diaper has been on for a longer period of time. Any thoughts or hints?

And does anyone use a disposable booster with a cloth diaper that can offer any advice?

Thanks in advance!

LA, What is true with disposable diapers is true with cloth diapers. Once you have reached their limits it is time for a diaper change. I stopped wearing "Day time cloth diapers" and use them only as a second diaper with a night time diaper at night where bulk is a good thing. During the day I wear a night thickness cloth diaper. It takes time and 'courage' to bite the bullet and use what really works best. Once you do and realize that you can do that and it does not 'show' you find a real confidence and peace of mind. BUT...no matter how absorbent your diapers are they ALL have limits. The comfort thing can lure you into going too long, so change when you should. And yes, especially at home, we push those limits, I do too. Push too much and we pay the price. Papa

I wore cloth diapers 24/7 for a long time, but I have since gone back to using them just at night, and disposables during the day. If you are in need of a more absorbent cloth diaper I would recommend the use of a night time weight diaper during the for added absorbency, and if you still need more absorbency, you can add either disposable, or re-useable pads/liners. Many people use a cloth toddler diaper as a liner for additional absorbency. If you do that, I would recommend buy your toddler cloth diapers from eBay to save money, but if you don't want the added hassle of additional laundry of the toddler diapers then buy some disposable liners with the absorbency level you need. Both type of diaper liners/pads are effect.

Hope this helps.

Johnstone, good point - I had not thought of adding a disposable booster pad to a cloth diaper. During the day, is is practical to consider removing the used booster pad and replacing it with a new one while still wearing the cloth diaper?

I have posted that, with what I have learned from the members in this group, I think I have perfected my pinning of my cloth diapers for nighttime wear. By using four diaper pins, I now am able to fit a snug (almost tight) cloth diaper that is still in place and snug at both the waist and thighs when I wake up in the morning.

For nighttime, although I currently am wearing the cloth (daytime weight) over a premium disposable diaper with a booster pad, I will shift to nighttime weight cloth-only when we are in our new home with a new washer an dryer. I really like that, with the folding pattern some of you suggested, I am able to get a really thick fold in the front and down the crotch where I will need it most when I skip the disposable diaper. I must have 16 layers of cloth in the front where the center soaker area doubles back upon itself. By folding the sides I am able to get extra protection on the sides. My early mistake was in ordering a diaper that met the recommended measurements, but was too small for the necessary folds.

Although my disposable diaper may overflow or leak, the cloth handles it with aplomb and I have never had a wet sheet since I began using the pinned cloth diapers. This keeps both me and my wife happy.

Once we are in our new house and I shift more over to cloth, between using cloth and condom catheters the number of disposables I use will decrease significantly. That also means a significant monetary savings over the course of a year. By changing to all-cloth for nighttime and only half the mornings (when I stay home) I should save about $1,000 per year! And that is after I subtract the cost of the cloth diapers.

I am very interested in this thread as I am wondering how far it is practical for me to consider wearing cloth diapers outside the home. Of course, with my bowel incontinence I normally would do this during the limited hours of my "safe period" after my preemptive enema.

--John