If you are looking for cloth diaper advice, on Mondays, I answer reader submitted questions, and ask my other readers to help too.
Questions don’t have to be cloth diaper related, just email maria at change-diapers.com with “Mailbox Mondays” in the subject, or Fill out my contact form for readers, which you will always be able to find on my Contact Page.
Maria says:
Hi, Maria! I am expecting some new hybrid diaper inserts topped with microfleece, and I was wondering what I can do to prevent pilling. Also, is there anything I can do for items that have already pilled, like use a sweater shaver?
~Maria D.
Pilling is just the nature of fleece! Fortunately microfleece seems to pill a little less than fleece fleece (Anyone have a fleece pullover? LOL.) Unfortunately, I don’t know of any way to prevent the pilling. A sweater shaver should take care of it if it bothers you though! 🙂
Delora says:
Hi Maria,
With spring finally starting to appear in some parts of the country, I’d love to get your opinion on reusable swim diapers. What brands/styles work well? How long can a diaper be expected to last with heavy use? What about using just covers as swim diapers? Anything special to consider for boys vs. girls?
Thanks!
Delora
Hi Delora! I’ve used the Kushies Swim Diaper and a Bummis Swimmi, though there are a few others out there as well. I really liked the gusseting and tie closure of the Kushies, as well a the soft fabric in the middle.
We aren’t big swimmers, so I don’t have experience as to how they hold up over time, I’ll have to defer to my readers there!
I wouldn’t want to use a diaper cover (that I liked anyway!) as a swim diaper, since it’s possible that exposure to the chlorine could damage the PUL. That said, I’ve heard of quite a few people using them that way. When my delaminated Rumparooz diapers were replaced under warranty, they didn’t require that I send the delaminated diapers back. So, I hung on to them to use as swim diapers.
Cloth swim diapers work just like their disposable counterparts; they simply hold solids in, they don’t absorb urine. So, the delamination wouldn’t matter. Most swim diapers don’t have thick fabric inside (usually just mesh) so I do wonder how wet/soggy the pocket inner would get.
On that same note, since they don’t absorb urine, there really aren’t any boy/girl issues with swim diapers.
So, your turn readers!
- Have you figured out a way to keep microfleece from pilling?
- Do you have a favorite swim diaper? Have you used one heavily? How long did it last?
- Have you ever used a cover or pocket shell as a swim diaper?
Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 18, 14 and 11-year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. 
Thanks for the new follow. I am returning the follow. Will stop by often. Thanks!
Great advice! I know a lot of people who use the pockets as swim diapers, too. I want to get a new snap Monkey Doodlez swim diaper-Petunia. I think it is so cute! They aren’t out yet though and it’s definitely time for swimming here in Phoenix. Maybe I will try a different brand for now until those are in stock:)
I love the idea of Mailbox Monday! I hope I get mail soon so that I can have it, too!
Thanks!
I’ve only ever used a Smartipants shell (w/0 insert, of course) as a swim diaper and it worked great! I didn’t use them in chlorinated water, just our little splash pool and the lake. They held up just fine and I’m still using them now as regular diapers. I plan to use them again this summer, too, but again not in chlorine.
I have used the Bummis Swimmi swim diaper. Only a few times and it’s never been…pooped in. It seems to fit well though and the elastic is very strong. Before I got it I used a BumGenius 3.0 pocket diaper without an insert as a swim diaper, again only a few times. I had to snap the rise down one size smaller. I rinsed it out very well afterwards right away to keep the chlorine from wrecking the elastic.