You know that video that makes you go “aww…” and “cool!” and makes your heart swell just a little and compels you to hit share? We hope this one gets you that way. Cause it sure got us that way. Which is why we’re hitting share right here. Because with so many changes a day, diapering should be a beautiful ritual.
What kinds of videos would you like to see from gDiapers? Leave a comment. We’re always open to suggestion. Plus, making videos is pretty dang fun.
There’s so much to see! Through the years we’ve compiled some informative, adorable, and (we think) inspiring videos. These are some of our customer favorites. Or hop over to this week at g to get the video-vantage from inside gHQ.
embrace the change
watch gDiapers break down
fit tips
flushing tips
tiny gPants for newborn babies
all about gCloth
kim introduces gCloth liners
And if you made it this far, well. There’s this. From back in the day.
What kinds of videos would you like to see from gDiapers? Leave a comment. We’re always open to suggestion. Plus, making videos is super duper fun.
photo by jessica lambright
So if you’re here, it’s either because you went the choose your own adventure route from our troubleshooting post, or because you used that handy dandy search feature off to the right. Either way, it sounds like you’re having some frustration with leaks while using cloth inserts.
First, let’s look at fit. There are some similarities with leak issues for using either gRefills or gCloth. Rather than insert them all here, feel free to peruse these pro-active tips for ensuring a good fit.
On to the task at hand: tackling leaks with cloth inserts. Are you using gCloth or a different cloth insert? The reason we ask, is because gCloth are specifically designed to fit inside the little gPants. They’re trim and don’t require any folding. We’ve heard from other parents who have used other brands of cloth inserts with success, and we think that’s great! Bottom line is we want you to have a functioning cloth diaper that’s easy on everybody. But! If you’re using a bulky cloth insert that requires a lot of folding, chances are it’s not going to fit inside the little gPants very well. It will add a lot of fill to the inside of the snap-in pouch and lift the trim of the pouch off of baby’s skin, breaking that oh-so-important seal. That’s one way leaks can happen. So. Please make sure that the cloth insert you’re using fits inside the snap-in pouch and does not compromise the seal.
Moving on. Let’s make sure your cloth inserts (we’ll assume they’re gCloth at this point) are at peak absorbency. If you begin to see a performance decrease in your gCloth or if you find your gCloth doesn’t smell so fresh, even after washing it’s time to strip them. Stripping cloth simply means you wash them in a way that removes build-up from detergent and/or diaper cream. It gets them back to absorbing the way they should, and helps tackle any ammonia smell. Check out our blog post on stripping gCloth inserts.
gCloth inserts (or other cloth inserts) will not be quite as absorbent as our gRefills. It’s just the nature of cloth. Since babies are all different and require different diapering needs, you might need to adjust the frequency of diaper changes to accommodate the different level of absorbency. It would be on par to need to change a cloth diaper every 1-2 hours, and a gRefill every 2-3 hours. Some tips we’ve gotten from our gMums is to:
1. Use one gRefill and one gCloth for naps and overnight (use the gCloth beneath the gRefill)
2. One of our gMums coined the phrase “hemp sandwich”. She would use 2 gCloth inserts with the hemp sides facing each other and has great success with this method
3. Keep gRefills on hand for longer trips out of the house
Hopefully that will help you figure out those pesky leaks. If not, as always, give us a ring. Or check in with the super savvy cloth-diapering parents on our facebook page. Collective knowledge is pretty rad.
photo courtesy of Brandi Bolinger
Let’s just start with this: there is no diaper on earth that is 100% leak-proof. Occasionally we’ll get a call in to diaper therapy here at gHQ with the question “Can you guarantee gDiapers won’t leak?”. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher. “Well, no,” we answer. Every baby is different. And among all the different babies, every parent’s changing habits are different. And then among all those different things, there are the details of size and fit. But the good news is that’s where we can help.
Our sizes, like all diaper brands and their respective sizes, are guidelines. Back to the babies-are-all-different thing, and it’s true that some little pumpkins may find a better fit outside the size chart. But we can always help figure that out with you. Just give us a call, send an email, reach out on facebook or twitter, or think it REALLY loud and we’ll do our best to hear and respond.
Alrighty. A little pro-active protection against leaks. How big is baby? Check out this groovy size chart:
So, pro-active step #1: make sure baby is in the right size.
On to pro-active step #2: make sure the trim of the snap-in pouch is all the way up in the crease of baby’s legs, in that highest yummy chubby fold. It should sit on baby’s body the same way underwear fits on yours. The pouch’s job is to form a comfortable seal around baby’s body, keeping the mess contained. If the trim is gaping in the legs, well, it could get messy.
Pro-active step #3: secure the velcro tabs gently around the back, taking care to not over-tighten. When on correctly you should be able to easily slide a finger under the waistband of the little gPants. If it’s on too tightly, it could lift the snap-in pouch off the skin, breaking that seal.
Pro-active step #4 (boys only): make sure the penis is pointed down. Not much more to say about this one.
Pro-active step #5 (and then we think we’ll call this good – more than 5 suggestions and you might begin to think that diapering is hard, and truly, it’s a piece of cake): change baby often. Biodegradable gRefills are going to be more absorbent than cloth (whether our gCloth or any other brand). 2-3 hours is a good rule of thumb, with a bit more frequent for cloth.
Leaks will probably happen once in a blue moon. But that’s it. If there’s a leak, and you look up in the sky and, uh oh, no blue moon, then you might want to re-visit these pro-active tips. Or, troubleshoot with us. And how handy is this, we’ve blogged about troubleshooting, too. Hooray!
photo by Makenzie Rea State
You know what’s not cool? Handing over our garbage to the next generation. You know what is cool? Using yesteryear’s gDiapers on subsequent children.
No matter what you choose to use inside little gPants, you still have the luxury of getting to use little gPants over and over and over again. We’ve had parents use the same little gPants on their 3rd and even 4th babies! True story. Yes, they may no longer look fresh as a daisy. They are still clothing and clothing, as we’re aware, will wear out the more it is used and washed. But we all know that there is a time and place for those well-loved hand-me-downs.
Sometimes customers will ask us why we don’t use snaps on our little gPants. Several reasons. But a big one is that snaps are not an easy fix. If a snap breaks and needs replacing, it’s kind of a big deal for a lot of folks (not all of us are savvy with a sewing machine or snap punch). But velcro is simple. It may wear out with time, but we’re happy to offer free replacement hook (that’s the scratchy side of the velcro, the piece that can wear out). We’ll even send along simple instructions. It can be stitched on by hand or by machine, whichever is easiest for you. That way you can keep on using those little gPants. And keep on growing.
Need replacement velcro for little gPants? email us. info@gdiapers.com.
