Changing from Pullups to Cloth Diapers

Updated on August 19, 2011
M.A. asks from San Diego, CA
7 answers

I have a 4yr old that will not be night trained for some time, she's a very heavy sleeper and just simply does not wake. Even during naps, she doesn't nap now, I had to put her in a pullup because she wouldn't wake - she'd come down from her full nap soaked pretty much head to toe from sleeping in pee. Anyways - I don't know anything about cloth diapering but I think I'd be willing to switch assuming I could find something appropriate for a 4yr old. I want something that imitates underwear, not diapers. This means she can put them on and take them off herself. Is there such a thing? Any suggestions are appreciated. I'd like to save the cost of pullups since we have #3 on the way which means 2 in diapers and 1 in pullups at night!

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So What Happened?

I haven't made the decision to make the switch just yet but am so grateful that I do have options when it comes to cloth trainers that imitate underwear, not diapers. That was my primary concern because I don't want to take a step back in terms of "you're a big girl now"! The laundering doesn't scare me at all (we will be a family of 5 so laundry is a part of daily life!) and I'm sure the cost of washing them each month is not going to cost me more than I pay for disposables! PLUS I'm really not a fan of all the trash I contribute...so I'm starting to consider cloth diapers all around! We'll see. Thanks everyone for showing me that I do have options!! I never thought to google "cloth pull ups"! LOL

More Answers

M.P.

answers from Provo on

Here is what I suggest:
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=16

I would do a pocket style so you can change the absorbancy level since it sounds like she needs a lot of protection. I would also get a hemp doubler or three because they absorb three times as much as cotton or microfiber does. You would place them under the microfiber insert though to create the optimal night time protection. Here is a link to one:
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=772

It will all seem like a steep price tag, but remember that they can be used for MULTIPLE children. If you are just using them at night, then I wouldn't suggest more than three. It's recommended to wash every 2 days to avoid stinkies. But you should know that a 4 year olds urine is more potent smelling than a 1 or 2 year old so you might want to rinse them each morning in your tub.
If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask me. I love helping people out.
also you can find a group on facebook where I admin and we love to help newbies out, even if it's just at night. It can be intimidating!
http://www.facebook.com/ClothDiaperingMommies

p.s. I was a bedwetter till I was 12 (thank you bladder that didn't grow as fast as I did) and I'm sure my mom would have LOVED these if they were around. lol!! Would have saved her TONS!!

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S.M.

answers from Visalia on

I agree with MegandOllie about the nighttime training pants. And Nicki's Diapers has the best price, but if you find yourself needing larger sizes I found them here.

http://www.littlefornow.com/item_421/Custom-Size-Bedwetti...

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I was just wondering if you had thought about how much more time you'll be spending on laundry and how much your utility bills will go up from all the extra laundry you'll be washing each day due to using cloth instead of pull ups.

I think pull ups are very much the less expensive option because the electric, the water, the natural gas will all go up with the extra laundry every day. My time is worth something too and I'd much rather spend it with the kids instead of switching the washer and dryer with yet another load of bed linens and peed in clothes.

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M.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

I've heard of these but never used them: http://getantsy.com/night-diapering-with-Antsy-Pants.html

I did use cloth diapers though and I did not notice my electric, gas or water bill change when I was doing those few extra loads of laundry each week. It really was not that big of a deal. I washed laundry after my child was in bed so it was not like doing three additional loads of laundry per week was taking any time away from my child. Also, I can't find it now but I read a study once that the amt of electric, water etc you use washing cloth diapers is equivalent to a few extra flushes of the toilet each day..the same number flushes you get when your child is out of diapers and fully trained. You would save a ton of money if you cloth diapered all three of them and you could wash them all in the same approximate three loads per week because you would be washing them all together.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I just wanted to share that cloth diapering is actually easy and not really that much more of an effort than disposables.

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C.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

My 4 yr old daughter also wears pull ups at night. It doesn't bother me. one of my sons had to get a pee alarm when he was 7. There are training pants that are thicker-but not waterproof. i have never seen reusable/washable pullups-you'd have to use plastic pants. and, actually, that doesn't sound like such a bad idea.

C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

i will echo Gamma G. with three little ones you will be so busy i'm not sure that it would be worth it, but good luck if you go that route. are you planning on going cloth for all three of them? you are a brave mama! lol. i would suggest keeping all three in the same kind, whatever you decide. but it is kind of one of those things that comes with the territory of having three, and of course especially so close together. it is bound to get complicated and crazy. good luck!

S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

my daughter is 6 and barely stopped wetting the bed, with her it was an issue of making sure she went pee right before bed and rewarding her and making her feel confident that she could stop peeing the bed. i made it as positive as i could when i could.
now she remembers to pee in the toilet before bed every night and she has been out of pull ups for about 6 months with no accidents!
i have cloth diapered before and i will tell you that at night i, and most cloth diapering moms, either do extra laundry or use disposables.

i have seen disposable boxer like shorts for older kids in the diaper isle, that come in pink and blue, but they are really pricey, if you can afford it then that might be your best bet. otherwise diapers are i fine, its pretty much the same thing.

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