The exciting life of a missionary...my project this week has been researching cloth diapers and covers to make a decision on what will best suit our needs at Bykota House... Would you care to join in my thought process? BACKGROUND: We were donated (gently used and some not so gently used and some brand new) diapers in October of 2012 and they have been in full use ever since. They are washed every other day and air dried. They are washed in a gentle homemade laundry detergent. (although that recipe does include bar soap which I am considering removing for the diapers...) This was a tremendous blessing and immediately began saving the ministry $150 per month. Also, in that time we have had only ONE diaper rash in all the children using them. This is a much better record than with disposables. Also we havent had neighborhood dogs tearing into the trash to drag diapers all over the neighborhoods and Bykota House hasnt made Phnom Penhs dump any larger with diaper contributions! It has been a win-win-win situation! FACTS that I have learned after actually using them on 8 children for the past two years so I speak from experience: 1. Microfiber and fleece hold odors in and soon become stinky. I dont like or want that. Some of this may be the lack of hot water washing... 2. The thick inserts that pocket diapers use can take up to 2 days to dry in the rainy season on the courtyard that we use. The pocket diapers themselves dry rather quickly but the inserts will smell sour by the time they are dry. Thicker prefolds can take this long to dry also during our rainy season. However, I have a few flats...just big squares of 100% cotton and even though it is rainy season, they can be dry in less than 3 hours on the line! 3. I was given 12 bamboo prefolds. Four are in shreds after only 2 1/2 months. Since all 12 werent affected, I believe it wasnt the detergent. I think it was the agitation of the spin cycle. And once a tear started...they were done for. I am so not the big fan of bamboo. 4. Microfiber and fleece can also be hot on children over here. I dont like that for their comfort sake. 5. also, it might be my imagination, but I think the microfiber is drying out two of our girls skin. We keep it moisturized but drying can crack the skin and before you know it, we can have a bed sore beginning. So far none have happened. 6. Also, I was thinking these diapers would last much longer. However, then I read in three different places on the internet that the life expectancy should only be about 2 years and there is no way to know how long the diapers were used before I got them. So it should be expected that I am now, after almost two years, needing to replace the whole stash that we have been using. 7. Puhleeze dont tell me about stripping diapers. The amount of energy and time it takes to boil the water makes it something that I dont want to do for this many children. 8. I am fine with diaper pins. But I dont think the special needs children are. The pins lay right over their skinny little hip bones and for those that can roll over...it can cause a bruise and be painful. Not to mention stuck fingers... So, I want to remove all diapers pins from Bykota House. I have some diapers being gathered in the States to be brought over to us to refresh our supply and these donations still have some life left in them. And I have a friend who is a wonder at finding suppliers looking into Asian Wholesale suppliers on this side of the ocean. We have always been faithfully determined to use anything that the Lord provides. But I also have some sponsors who are thinking about gathering new items that are specifically what I request. To get enough of what we need might take up to a year with these coming in suitcases with extra room. The Lord may do something different...no matter what the need to cover the bums will be met. So I am very grateful for those who are gathering diapers of any type to send immediately. After spending all this time and actually TWO YEARS of dealing with this in the reality of Cambodia, I believe that I have narrowed it down to this: 1. A supply of two dozen flat diapers per child. 2. These flat diapers can be washed every other day and air dried easy peasy. 3. Use an adjustable, wipable cover over these diapers. I am leaning towards: Kawaii with snaps (not velcro)...theluvyourbaby/package-deal-happy-leak-free-os-diaper-cover-pack-of-12/ At $4.41 each and having good recommendations by users I know personally...I dont think we can do any better. 4. A supply of SIX covers per child. 5. A couple of snappies per child for those times that covers arent necessary. So cloth diaper users, what do you think about this proposed plan and supply? Is it enough, workable???? I have thought of everything? If you arent a cloth diaper user and arent interested but because you care about us and have read through to the end, I am sorry. But caring for the children has a very broad meaning and involves all aspects! It certainly isnt exotic or glamorous.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 22:59:00 +0000
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