How to Convert a Smartipants Pocket Diaper into a Swim Diaper for the Summer

I am not exactly the best do-it-yourself kind of gal when it comes to anything sewing. In fact I am totally clueless. I wish I knew how to make things like cloth wipes, liners, or even diapers, but unfortunately right now, I just don’t have the time to learn. But I have a little secret to share that involves NO SEWING, CUTTING or TIME at all! I know, I know, it is hard to believe, but true. It is one of those “known” secrets amount cloth diapering mamas and I will be sharing it today!

1) Take any Smartipants pocket diaper. I prefer to use ones that may be a little more “loved” or “worn” and un-stuff it. Un-stuffing means to take the insert out of the diaper.

2) Apply the un-stuffed pocket diaper to your baby and hit the pool! 

You may be thinking…really? That’s it? Don’t you need more for a real swim diaper?

The answer is NO. Even with disposable swim diapers, they are not meant to absorb pee, they are only used to hold the solids or poop. If you have a good seal on the leg elastics, the unstuffed diaper makes the perfect swim diaper. Remember that you will have to rinse it out good, especially after use in chlorine. Over time the chlorine can wear away at the elastics. Simply rinse and wash with the rest of your diapers, and you are all set!


Personally I like to designate pockets to use as swim diapers so I don’t have to worry about switching back and forth between using them for the pool vs. regular diapers, but this is your preference. On occasion, if I forgot my swim diaper on-the-go, I will use any pocket I have in my diaper bag for a swim diaper. When a baby’s got to swim, a baby’s got to swim!


Contributed by: Julie

Wondering How to Replace Elastic? Here's a "How To"!

I'm sure we all would love our diapers to last forever, sadly they wont. There is a way to save them a bit longer though. After all the wears, washing, and drying elastic on diapers tends to stretch making the diaper non wearable because there is no support around the legs at this point, to keep messes in. So what is a mom to do in this case ?? Replace the elastic and hold on to them for a bit longer which will save money on having to buying new ones. It's very simple even if you don't sew much. (The diaper's elastic shown in pictures in not stretched, I currently don't have a stretched diaper is why I hope you can all still understand it.) Supplies:

• 1/4 or 3/4 elastic
• Scissors
• Safety Pin
• Polyester Thread
• Seam ripper
• Sewing machine or needle

You will get your seam ripper find where the elastic ends and unstitch from the first star to the last star. (Use this same technique for other brand diapers, you want to unstitch any stitches made on elastic to be able to pull the elastic out). You will do the same for the other side. After that is done, you will then use your seam ripper where the end of elastic is at and make a small cut on both sides so that you are able to take out old elastic. Once you have that down take out the "old stretched elastic" and add a new one you can use about 6" for legs and 4" for the back of the diaper.  

Now your here, use a safety pin to pull the elastic through. Once you get it to the other side, tack down the side without safety pin down. So you will sew the same lines as you unstitched. Once you got that down stretch the elastic to your liking and tack the other side with the safety pin. You can tuck the rest of the elastic where the ripped material is at or you can just cut the remaining elastic. Thats all !! You will then have a new elastic. You will repeat this same steps for the other side of the leg and or the back elastic if need be. Also if you don't have a sewing machine you can also hand-stitch all this (it will take a bit longer but it can be done.)

Contributed by: Pollyanna

Pockets vs. Covers: Which is for Me?

When I was a baby, there were only a few types of cloth diapers available, and most were not very user friendly. Your choice was either flats or prefolds with rubber pants. End of story. The modern day cloth diapers that you see now have come a long way, even over the past 10 years or so. So that might bring you to the question of which modern day cloth diaper type is for me? In this article, I hope to examine the pro’s and con’s of two of the most popular modern day cloth diaper types out there, Pockets, and Covers. 

Pockets – Pocket cloth diapers consist of a waterproof outer layer often lined with a soft stay dry material. An absorbent insert is then placed (stuffed) into the stay dry material to absorb the majority of the baby’s waste products.

 • Pockets are very simple to use. Once they have been “stuffed” they are user-friendly and ready for any daddy or daycare. Simply snap on and go. There is no adjusting the insert.
 • While pockets are very easy to use, they still require the stuffing which should be factored into the time spent prepping them.
 • Pocket cloth diapers cannot be reused. After they are wet or soiled, the entire diaper must be washed.
 • Pocket cloth diapers tend to be a little more expensive, but in most cases only slightly as compared to covers.


 Covers – Covers are as they sound, a waterproof cover that requires the placement of a separate absorbable insert on the inside before putting on baby.

• Covers can have a bit of a learning curve as the insert may need to be adjusted to fit properly for the baby.    
• Covers do not however require stuffing any inserts. Simply lay the insert in place and go.
• Covers can also be re-used if they are not soiled (poop), making them more economical because you can often get multiple uses before laundering. Simply wipe the inside of the cover down and hang dry until the next change and re-use.
 • Covers tend to be a bit less expensive than pockets and can be used with a wide variety of inserts (prefolds, flats, fitteds, etc.) 

So whatever your reasons may be for choosing to use either pockets or covers, you can be sure to find both of these types of modern day cloth diapers at Smartipants. Smartipants carries both pockets and covers in a one-size option allowing you to save money on diapers from birth to potty-training.

 So which do you prefer, pockets or covers? And why?

Contributed by: Julie

Storing Your Cloth Diapers Long Term

Your child is starting to potty train and it’s about time to decide what to do with your cloth diaper stash! Here are some tips and things to consider for storing your diapers for long term.

The first thing I want you to consider is how long will your diapers be in storage [approximately]? More than 2 years? If it’s more than 2 years, I want to suggest possibly selling your stash and saving the funds from selling it to purchase a new stash when the time comes. Elastic wears over time- especially when in storage. Imagine a rubberband laying out, over time it will become hard and brittle. This can happen to the elastic in your diapers. It is called “dry rotting”. The elastic slowly breaks down and will crack upon use after being stored. This will not always happen, but it is very likely and something you should be aware of. Another option if storing for a long time is having the elastic replaced after being in stored [assuming the elastic did break down during it’s long hibernation]. This can be a cheaper option as opposed to buying a new stash.

If you decide storing them long term is the best choice for you, here are some tips to contemplate:

1. Giving your stash a good and final wash before storage. You want to be sure to get those diapers nice and clean before storing them. Washing and stripping is a good idea. Remove any extra buildup so it doesn’t wear your diapers over time, or leave a place for bacteria to grow. Bacteria growth is the main cause for diaper stink. You don’t want bacteria sitting on those diapers for 2 years in storage; imagine the stink you’ll come back to! Wash those diapers and rinse, rinse, rinse! I HIGHLY encourage sunning the diapers before storage instead of using the dryer. The sun will disinfect and remove unwanted stains so they are pretty for you next baby. Be sure your diapers are 100% dry before storing or you will be greeted with mildewy/moldy diapers down the road.

2. Picking a storage container. Some people prefer air tight bags and others say you wanted a breathable container so your diapers don’t develop a musty smell. Whatever you choose, pack the container/bag loosely, you want airflow. I recommend adding a lavender satchel to repel insects from your precious stash. 

3. Pick a place to store. Do not store diapers in attics or garages. Too hot or cold temperatures can affect the life of your PUL and elastic. Also make sure the area you choose is cool and dry and avoid direct sunlight- UV rays will shorten the life of your elastic.


 Have you had to pack up your diapers yet? What experiences do you have to share?

Contributed by: Alex

Cloth Diapering While On Vacation

Cloth Diapering While on Vacation

I have been dying to write about cloth diapering while you are on vacation because I know this is one thing that I do get a lot of questions about.  I always cloth diaper on trips.  I am pretty much anti disposable diapers for any reason, so I had to figure out this one thing so that I could continue to travel as much as I do.  

I travel an awful lot because I live in Virginia while my family lives in either New York or Florida (which is a 12 hour drive either way).  So, I started out using pocket diapers for trips.  That didn't work out too well for me, so then I started using fitted diapers and that worked great!  Basically, you want a diaper that works for your child overnight for the car trips (but that doesn't mean to leave your child in a diaper for hours just because it is more absorbent).  So, when you are packing your bags, remember that for the car trip.

Another thing that might be useful is more than one wet bag for the trip.  I actually bring 5 with me because I don't bring my pail liner.  I bring enough diapers for three days and make sure I stay in a place with laundry facilities.  You can find those in even low end motels too, so they are really not that hard to find.

Now, for the actual time that we are there, I usually use either pocket diapers that agitate the insert out themselves (like Smarti Pants) or AIO diapers just because they are SO much easier to wash!  This makes using someone else's washer a little easier on you.

Another thing that I always make sure I do is that I save up samples for trips.  Some great samples to have are washing powder, diaper rash cream and wipe solution.  This makes it much easier to carry everything around with you.  I know that I would never want to carry around a whole large bag of cloth diaper detergent, so this makes everything much better.

A different way that some people go is that they use disposable inserts for the trip.  This makes it much easier for some, but honestly, I really don't like to use them.  But if that is easier on you, that is what you should do as that is better than using non-biodegradable disposable diapers!  Any little thing helps remember ;-)

But, whatever you choice...just know that you are helping the environment!

Contributed by Nicki

How Often Should You Wash Cloth?

Did you know Smartipants Diapers recommends washing your diapers every 3 days? 3 days should be 

the maximum you go without laundering your cloth. After 3 days your diapers can become a breeding 

ground for bacteria.

Warmer days are approaching, which means higher temps inside those diaper pails. Bacteria thrive in 

warm, moist areas.  This is especially important in humid climates. Humid climates are more at risk of 

their diapers growing mold if not laundered correctly.  Along with the bacteria and mold risk, going 

longer than 3 days between washes can increase the chances of your diapers developing a stink [a 

stink that remains after being washed, no one wants that!]. This is because of the bacteria inside your 

diapers.  

If you do happen to go longer than 3 days between a wash, or find your diapers develop a stink, I 

recommend disinfecting them. 

How to Disinfect Your Diapers

To disinfect cloth diapers, I suggest doing a few hot washes [as hot as your washer will allow- check your water heater to see if you can turn it up] with as much water as possible in the washer. Only the first 

wash will need detergent included. The rest can be plain water, or any additives recommended by the 

link below.  In my opinion the best bacteria killer is the sun. Sun dry those diapers to sanitize them.  If 

you decide to use the dryer, be sure that after the cycle is done that those diapers are completely dry. 

Do not let them sit damp as this increases your chance of mold/mildew growing.

If sunning isn’t an option or if you’re dealing with mildew/mold stains, please refer to this site for help. 

They provide many options for killing mildew and bacteria safely on cloth and removing the nasty stains 

they leave behind.

Also, please be aware that more humid climates may need to do more frequent washes. Watch your 

pail and be the judge of if 3 days is ok or if more frequent washes are needed.  Wet pails are also not 

recommended since in warm temperatures it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

Contributed by: Alex

The Benefits of Sunning Your Cloth Diapers

You may not even realize it, but the sun can be a very valuable (and free) tool for your

precious cloth diapers. Now that we are entering the spring and summer seasons here in

New England, not only am I excited for the warmer weather, but also because I can put my

cloth diapers outside.

There are many benefits to “sunning” your cloth diapers. Here are just a few:

1. They just smell good after being outside in the fresh air.
2. It is FREE to sun your diapers outside.
3. It decreases the use of your dryer, decreasing your electricity bill.
4. The sun helps to remove stains.
5. The sun also adds an antimicrobial/antibacterial property (the heat and UV rays). In a way sanitizing your diapers.

Some Warnings about Sunning:

1. You may become addicted and like being outside way too much.
2. Your neighbors may think you're “the crazy lady” hanging diapers in your
yard.
3. Bring them in before it rains, unless you like your diapers sopping wet and then
have to re-dry them.
4. Watch out for bugs!!!! I had a bad experience with a spider in one of my diapers.
5. Wind can take your diapers flying all over the yard.
6. Be careful in extreme heat/sun with your PUL and TPU diapers as high
temperatures can cause delamination.

Most of the warnings are just little things that I have experienced while sunning my

diapers. Don’t let it deter you from using the sun as it can be an all natural and powerful

agent in drying your cloth diapers.

Do you sun your cloth diapers?

What is the best way that works for you?

Contributed by: Julie