Super Trim AIO Cloth Diapers

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FAQ and INFO

How to set up a Cloth Diaper system:

Absorbent cotton diaper. This is the part that absorbs the wetness, and comes in cotton, hemp, bamboo, or microfiber.
Waterproof cover. You'll need something to stop the wetness from getting onto clothes or bedding.
Or, use an All-in-one diaper, it has diaper and cover all in one, so you don't need a seperate cover.
Doublers. An oval shaped smaller diaper that lays in the diaper and doubles the absorbency without the bulk of a whole extra diaper. Add one or two for heavy wetters, nap or night time or to add absorbency to any diaper to stop it from leaking.
Liner. Fleece, suedecloth, silk, or wool liner lays on top of diaper next to baby's skin to keep baby feeling dry, or to make clean up of soiled diapers easier. For fleece or suedecloth liners, the solid poos just ROLL right off into the potty!
Cloth Wipes. Cloth wipes instead of disposable ones makes changing time easier, and is much nicer on baby than all the chemicals in commercial wipes.
Large Waterproof washable wet bag. 1 Large bag to store dirty diapers in until wash day, and 2-3 smaller ones to use for outings, or to keep one in the bedroom or bathroom.

Kinds of Diapers Explained:

I'll start with the most basic diapers. I will add pictures later which does help to explain things a bit.

Flat or Prefold Diaper. A flat diaper is just a very thin 1 layer gauze peice of fabric about 27" square. In our Grandma's day they would have folding parties with the expecting mother to teach her all the ways to fold this thing to get it to work on any shape size or age of baby. Pins were essential with these or they would not work. Pinning although it takes practice is not as scary as it sounds and can make a flat diaper give a custom fit to baby's body. But usually these diapers sagged didn't absorb enough and leaked, BAD! Prefold diapers are flat but have many layers of thin material. This makes them very absorbent, but still takes a bit more folding and situating than many parents want to deal with these days. They are about $2.50 ea and seem like an economical choice for many, until you add up the cost of all the velcro covers you need to go over them.
Fitted Diapers are just like a disposable with cute prints outside and curvy like shape that fits baby to a T, except for the fact that they do not have the waterproof plastic outer. This maskes fitted diapers very breathable. Gentle elastic in legs and back means no leaks and most of these fitted diapers are very absorbent. They close with either front or side closures. Snaps or velcro and are super easy to use, ideal for heavy wetters as there is 2 layers in the body, and the attached snap in doubler adds another 4 layers of fabric for a total of 6 layers! These fitted diapers are just as easy to use as a disposable because of the good fit, great absorbency, and velcro or snap closures. As long as you have a good fitted diaper, you can even use this diaper without a cover during the daytime. When you want to put clothes over the diaper or for nap or night time you will need to have a waterproof barrier of some kind. The best covers for fitteds are a simple nylon pull-on cover. Or you can use wool or fleece pants as they will not leak and will work both as a pant and cover at the same time. As long as fitteds are made with high quality materials like organic cotton, sherpa, fleece, or terry they are exceptional diapers. Flannel or other thin materials can make for a wimpy, not very absorbent, slow drying fitted diaper.
All-in-one diapers have the absorbent cotton inner and waterproof outer cover sewn together all in one diaper! This is the closest diaper to a disposable(minus all the chemicals, cost, guilt and waste!) These are by far the easiest diaper to use, and most families no matter what system they end up using will have at least 6-12 all-in-ones in each size for outings, lazy days, daddy, sitter or grandma.
All-in-Two's just as easy as an all-in-one but you can reuse the outer cover if you wish by just snapping a new contour diaper inside. Easier and less expensive than any other system. Great for all babies!
Pocket diapers are a sort of diaper cover with an outer layer of waterproof material, and an inner layer of micro-fleece with a pocket in the back to stuff the absorbent diaper into. Some parents like using these over covers because you can pre-stuff them and it makes sort of an all-in-one, ready to go diaper. You do have to fold the diaper stuff it in the pocket, and shake the wet diaper out before washing. That can get tedious if you have all pocket diapers all the time, and also costs a bit more as you cannot reuse the outer pocket part once it's wet. Pockets are about $16 each and each stuffer is $3.50-$7 ea, some use prefolds to stuff in the pocket.
Covers come in PUL or Procare, waterproofed(or PUL'd) cotton or poly prints, Fleece in 200 wt(light wetters), 300 or windpro(heavy wetters or nightime), nylon, or Wool. Each has it's own special pros and cons, and most go with a PUL type cover because the cost is lowest. They all range about $8-$25 each, and if using flat diapers you go thru about 4-5 different sizes from birth to potty training.

How Many Do I need?

Soft Bums are an AI2 diaper meaning All-in-Two. They have 2 parts, an outer waterproof shell, and an inner absorbent soaker. You need both parts to make your diaper work. AI2’s are unique in that you can reuse the shell 2-4 times, and just change the soaker when baby is wet. That means you only need to buy extra soakers to get a full diapering package, once you have enough shells. To cloth diaper a newborn who you change 15 times a day you’ll need;

12 Soft Bums shells
36 Contoured hemp or micro-fiber Soakers
12 Doublers for more absorbency

Or, If using Fitted Diaper system, you’ll need:

36 Fitted diapers
2-3 Wool covers
12 Doublers

TO WASH:

With water level at it’s highest, wash on HOT with 1/4 recommended amount of detergent. Wash a second time on HOT with NO detergent. Dry. Never use Softeners or detergents with softeners. Never use Bleach.

Which Detergent to Use

You can pretty much use your usual detergent until you find one better suited for diapers. Do stay away from "natural" detergents, because they contain oils which will cause a build up on the soakers and might make the diapers leak after a while. (by the way if this does happen you can fix it by simply washing a bunch of times on HOT with a teensy bit of dawn dish detergent to get the build-up off)

I recommend Sensiclean, or Sportswash(although these may cause detergent burn in some babies), or Allens Nautrally. Detergents with enzymes (whiteners or brighteners), or softeners may irritate baby or cause buildup. You can also use Plain Baking soda to wash diapers, it works great, no build up and this is a great thing to do once a month to keep smells at bay. Make sure you wash frequently.

Rash?

Diaper Cremes can leave a residue on your cloth diapers, but good thing for you that babies in cloth diapers have 75% lower rates of diaper rash than babies wearing paper and plastic disposable diapers. The heat gets caught in the disposable diapers, because they don't breathe. Then a rash easily can develop. Many babies always have a bad rash in disposable diapers that never goes away, usually because they are allergic to the chemicals in disposables. Also once a baby starts to get a rash in disposable diapers, it is hard to clear up due to the fact that they don't breathe. If your baby starts to get a rash first thing to do is let their bottom air out as much as possible. You can use a gentle rash creme like Burts Bees, or Weleda. Or, you can let expose thier bottom to the sunlight to help it heal. A rash is very painful, so you'll want to get it cleared up as soon as possible. If this rash does not go away in a day or so, or comes back, other things may be at play here. Babies can get a rash when they begin eating new foods. Allergies can cause a rash. Also many babies in cloth who get a rash can attribute it directly to the detergent used. Many parents use way too much detergent in a load of diapers. You only need to use 1/4 the amount of recomended detergent. And make sure it is not a harsh detergent either. ALL Free and Clear, and Sensiclean are among many that have known to cause detergent burn on babies. You can try just washing your diapers in Hot water alone, or Hot water and baking soda, or washing soda for a while until you get the rash cleared up, and you have time to find a new detergent that does not cause problems. Some babies are just very sensitive, and other babies it doesn't much matter what you use. They are all different.

How do I change a Baby in a cloth diaper?

Cloth diapers are so easy! Seriously, once you get used to using them, its just like anything else. You learn quickly how to do it, and after a full day of cloth diapering with a good quality diaper it's as easy as pie! Makes sure all the items you will need for changing are in a central convenient location. That means that if your changing table is all the way upstairs, but you spend most hours down in the living room, somthing needs to be adjusted. Many parents keep a big bag with lots of pockets, or a basket in the living room with everything they will need to change a cloth diaper; changing pad, waterproof wetbag to store the dirty diapers, wipes or washcloths, toy for distraction, etc. Change the diaper every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Many parents with a cloth diapered baby stick a finger in the front to check for wetness, and change right away. You will learn your babies cycles quickly after a week or so of this constant checking, and if you miss it and they end up sitting in it for a while, it's no big deal, just teaches you to get it quicker the next time. Many babies will fuss as soon as they get wet, this may help you to learn their cycle. Some babies are just more sensitive to wetness than others, but they will get more used to that wet feeling as time goes on. Also, you can always use a diaper with a fleece lining, or add your own fleece linings. The fleece or micro-fleece, or suedecloth, all the same things, will let the wetness pass thru to be absorbed by the diaper, but will keep baby feeling a little bit dryer on their skin. This may make them feel more comfortable with the wetness until you can change them. The fleece topping is also good for longer outings where you may be unable to change them right away.

Once you get a clean diaper on the baby check all around to make sure all the cottony bits are tucked in nicely. Also you can't have any other their clothes tucked in or touching any of the inner parts of their diaper. This will result in wicking. Wicking is when the wetness transfers over to the next absorbent material it can find, just like oil in a lamp creeps up the cotton wick to be ignited. Wicking means leaks! If you are having leaks, check to see if anything was sticking out, and also make sure you have the right sized diaper for your baby. If there are large gaps around the legs they may leak. If you have a tall baby, and cloth diapers just don't fit all that well, you'll have the best luck with a fitted diaper and seperate pull on cover. A nice fitted diaper with snaps is practically as easy as an all in one! Absorbency may be an issue with leaks as well. You need a quality diaper to start with. Cloth diapers from department stores do NOT WORK! They are cheaply made and leak terribly. Once you have a good diaper, make sure you have prewashed it at least 5-10 times with a bit of detergent to get the diapers to their full absorbency. If you still do not have enough absorbency, and the diaper every time you change it is completely soaking wet, you need to change more often, or you may have a very heavy wetter. Some babies wet very frequently, and some babies wet average, and SOME babies hold it in forever and then when they go, watch out, they open the floodgates!

Out and about with cloth diapers, How?

A successful parent using cloth diapers doesn't happen by accident, it takes planning! You pack snacks and toys along for the ride, you'll also need to pack a few things for changing a cloth diaper. Here's what I bring:

Clean diapers. I usually try to keep the easiest to use diapers for the diaper bag, like my all in ones. I also pack an extra diaper cover and a couple terry flats, at the bottom of the bag for emergencies. I've been out when diarrhea strikes, so you never know what you'll have to deal with, and better safe than sorry!
An extra change of clothes, just in case.
changing pad
diaper creme
Pre-moistened washcloths. I use washcloths, and find that its easy to prewet a couple washcloths and stick them in a bag to go. I also keep a box of wipes in the car at all times, just in case I may need them.
A wetbag for your dirty diapers. I cannot emphasize enough what a wonderful thing a washable reusable couple of wetbags can be. You simply place the dirty diaper in the wetbag, close it, and no smells, and no mess. I never worry about dumping any solids until after I get home, its very easy to do.
Fleece liners. These help baby feel dryer when out on long outings. I keep a couple in the diaper bag incase I forget to bring the diapers with the fleece already sewn in.

Facts;

Cost
comfort
environment
chemicals
convenience

MORE FACTS!

How do I get stains out? TOP

Sun is the best stain remover, all you have to do is set your wet diapers on a line in the sun for 1/2 hour or so

Will I need to pre-wash my softbums? TOP

Yes, you will need to prewash the soakers in Hot with a 1/4 cup of detergent. We recommend Sensiclean(although this has a potential to give baby detergent burn), Era, Sunlight, Clout, Tide. These are not made with any of the natural oily substances that leave residue on fleece.

Detergents to Avoid: TOP

Natural soakes contain various oils. These are not to be used as they will leave a residue on the fleece, causing it to repel liquids.

Don't use:

Dr. Bronners

7th generation

Bio-kleen

Ivory snow

Dreft

Free or ALL detergents

Never use fabric softener of any kind on any cloth diaper, ever! Liquds will be repeled and will just roll off the diaper, making leaks!

Stripping Diapers: TOP

After a while you may notice your diapers not getting as clean. They may not smell fresh, Or perhaps you get a build up on the diapers and they are not absorbing, but leaking instead. Build up may be caused by softeners, certain soaps, or sometimes in rare circumstances baking soda. You may need to strip the diapers. Stripping will get the diapers super clean, so you can start over.

Wash diapers in full load of HOT water with a bit of regular dish detergent, like Dawn. Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear, and there are no suds when you look in the washer during the load. That means you'll need to wash them in plain HOT water at least 3 times. After you have stripped your diapers you'll want to take a close look at your washing routine. Stinky diapers are often caused by using a bit too much detergent. Dirty diapers need less detergent to get clean not more. If you are adding more and more detergent and they seem to get cleaner, you are merely masking the smell with the detergent's perfumes not actually getting them cleaner. Too much detergent on diapers is common and is called "detergent buildup". Try washing your diapers in ONLY baking soda periodically for a week at a time to regularly keep your diapers smelling fresh and clean.

Why don't you have prints yet? TOP

Solid colors are totally leakproof, and prints have a tendancy to leak after a while, so are better for frequent changes. We are looking into getting prints at a later date though.

How often do I need to change the diaper? TOP

Because cloth diapers are made of natural materials, they are much different than disposables laden with chemicals to absorb wetness. Cloth diapers just can't hold as much as a disposable, and therefore need to be changed every 1 1/2 - 2 hours. During the night, you will either have to add doublers or use a fitted diaper instead.

Also, if you have a heavy wetter or very tall child, you may need to use a fitted diaper, as that will really hold it all in.

How many diapers do I need? TOP

A newborn needs to be changed 12-18 times a day, and an older baby about 8-10 times a day. Most people like to wash every 2-3 days. Use this guide to figure out how many diapers you'll need. You may start off with one or 2 days worth of diapers and then add more to your supply as time goes on so you don't have to wash as often. You won't want to go longer than 5 days between washings or you'll set in smells.

What is the rise and width of the crotch in all sizes of your AIO? TOP

LEG Sm:4-8 med: 5.5-11 lg:6-14

RISE sm: 12 med: 14.5 lg:16.5

CROTCH sm: 4.5 med:4.75 lg:5

Do they work good at preventing leaks in newborns and breastfed babies? TOP
Breastfed poos do not leak in softbums. The nature of an aio diaper however is if it’s very, very full might leak. But, if the legs are snapped to the correct setting, this should be a rare occurance.

What type of elastic do you use? TOP
I use a Polyester Braid Elastic, it is not elastin, as I've found through trials that elastic can break under stress and leave you without elastic in your diapers, poly braid elastic never breaks.

Do they fit both chubby and thin babies well?especailly in the thighs? TOP
Yes! Softbums fit chubby babies best, but can accommodate thinner babies when you adjust the leg opening a bit smaller. Very tall thin babies always work best with Softbums fitteds diapers, still a trim diaper, but the wider crotch gives better coverage, and a second layer from the cover keeps any leaks at bay.

How well do they fit newborns? TOP

Softbums fit newborns so well, it gives a new outlook to one-size fits all diapers in general. No longer will parents complain that one-size diapers just are too bulky to really work on a newborn.

Do you think they are durable enough to last through at least two kids? TOP
Yes they will last 2 kids. Primarily because the soaker and shell are different parts, and you can be gentler with your shell if you want. For one, the shell doesn’t need to be washed as often as a traditional aio if you switch out the soakers. For another, they don’t need to be dried as long in the dryer, and air drying takes only a couple of hours, and makes them last practically forever! SO even if you only air dried ½ the time it would make your shells seem like brand new in a couple of years still.

What kind of fleece you you line your snap in inserts with? TOP
The inserts are lined with only the highest quality Malden Mills microfleece, the same stuff that fuzzibunz or happy heinys uses.

Are very many babies allergic to fleece? TOP

Some are truly allergic to polyester, but most babies who break out in a rash with cloth diapers are actually reacting to certain detergents, or too much detergent and not enough washes or rinses.

What material are the snap in inserts made from?microfiber? TOP

Right now the inserts are made from Hemp with a microfleece , or organic velour top.

Are they absorbent enough for heavy wetters overnight or do they usually need an added doubler? TOP

Softbums aio’s have very thick soakers, a full 5 layers of hemps and are very absorbent, but doublers are sometimes needed. I always advise using a doubler for heavy wetters. And although parents have used them overnight without leaks, I recommend putting a cover over them for night-time.

If saturated, do they leak or wick? TOP

Due to the way that aio’s work means that if left on too long, they will leak. That is because an aio only has one layer to stop leaks. If you really need a leakproof diaper, I’d choose a Softbums fitted style instead, or put a cover over your aio in addition to a doubler. Adding a cover for outings, nap or night-time is really simple. You can even use plain pull-on covers, which minimize the bulk, as they are so whisper thin a material.

Do you do any customizations?like a flannel TOP
I have some prints available from time to time, and you can email me to see current choices. These would be a non-returnable custom item however, and would take a bit longer to ship.

How well do your one size aios fit 6-35lbs? TOP
They fit newborns perfectly, and the large size actually fits so long it is used by many parents for potty training their toddlers. I developed this pattern because of frustrations with other one-size diapers not fitting newborns until they were about 10 lbs, and not being trim enough for a toddler to wear comfortably. Softbums are so trim, your baby will cry in anything else!

How much bulkier when folded down to a smaller size? TOP

Softbums are designed to be the trimmest diaper on the market, therefore there is virtually NO BULK at all when used with a small sized soaker for younger babies!

Does it stay snapped really well? TOP

The snaps are very strong, and do not come undone. When you are putting the diaper on, if pulled too hard they will open up until you learn to put them on gentler. When baby runs around however, the snaps stay together, and even curious toddlers cannot get them open.

Can the snaps tear the diaper easily?durability? TOP

Each Softbums diaper is carefully checked before sending to be sure that each snap is on securely. The snaps are actually so good we guarantee them for life!

Will you be coming out with any more colors for both the regular aios and one size aios?like lilac for both and red-for the one size TOP
We plan on keeping the colors we have now, and if enough requests come in for certain additional colors we will certainly accommodate our customer’s needs.

Does the one size really fit as good in all size ranges as the regular small-large aios? TOP
Before Softbums, parents were not used to one-size diapers fitting well on all sized babies. But yes, actually they do fit as well, but since so many parents are used to the sized diapers we also carry those. When people get used to a one-sized diaper being able to fit all babies, we will only need to carry a One-sized.

Do the extra snaps look funny? TOP

Actually the snaps are hardly noticeable when the diaper is on baby because they almost get lost. I wanted to make them almost invisible, yet not too close to touch baby’s skin on their legs, so I put them near the sides, but not on the sides of the diaper.

Can you leave it snapped on a setting while washing or do you have to unsnap the rise snaps before you wash them? TOP

One wonderful thing about these super trim diapers is that you can easily leave them snapped to the right rise all the way thru the wash. You can even leave your soaker snapped in thru the wash and dry cycle. SO Easy!