Marta

I mostly wear thick terry cloth diapers/nappies and boosters during the day, and if going out for some time double plastic pants over them. If I need to change, then a disabled restroom/toilet is the place to go. I have my terry squares pre folded ready in my bag, and something to put the wet one in. Wearing thick diapers doesn’t bother me when out, wearing a body will compress everything slightly, and loose fitting clothes will cover the bulkiness. Nobody will notice.

Have always washed all my own terry and cloth diapers. But have used a public laundromat when my wash machine had a fault a while ago, but way too expensive. thank goodness i only had to use it twice. Did get a comment from another customer who was there both times, about how big my towels were! :-). But being a few of my pink, blue, and yellow, square terry cloth, they were really not recognizable as being diapers, and I didn't say they were, to save her, and my embarrassment, and further questions. My plastic pants got hand washed at home as normal.

Always liked the feel of my pull up plastic pants over my cloth diapers that I had to wear all the time, day and night when I was a child. Still wear therm over my cloth/terry diapers and over the disposable diapers that I sometimes wear. Prefer the pull up ones even now with enclosed elastic at the legs and waist for better protection.

Advantages of cloth is its reusable and better for the environment than adding to the ever growing mountain of disposables that take so many years to biodegrade. Disadvantages are the initial costs, laundry, and each pair of plastic pants which if worn continuously will only last perhaps 4-6months before going hard and brittle. Waterproof PUL pants last well over a year. And do you want to be out and having to carry a heavy and wet or soiled cloth diaper around with you. Key to using cloth is layering. Do you wet a lot or not, and how often, will then determine how many layers you will need. Can you change frequently during the day or need to be in a wet diaper for hours. Which is the best for your needs. Being full time in a organic terry cotton /hemp day and night for me is the normal, rarely in disposables. Cloth has the wonderful wicking effect so seem to last me longer than disposables. Daytime I either wear a 600gsm terry cloth or a hemp one, with a bamboo soaker/booster. That is usually enough for me if its not for too many hours, otherwise I go up to a 800gsm terry with 2 soakers. I use pins for a snug fit, two at the waist and two at the legs. A medium or large size of plastic pants over the top, but if out for a long time a large pair of plastic pants and a extra large pair as well, and make sure all the cloth is tucked inside. I don't use powder as it clumps up but use everyday baby cream to prevent a rash every time I change. Shapewear keeps everything in place and helps prevent sagging when wet. Night time is usually a organic a 600gsm terry cloth and also two hemp cloth ones, with two hemp soaker/boosters. Over that I wear 2 pairs of extra large plastic pants. I'm a heavy wetter day and night. Hemp and bamboo have higher absorbency than terry cloth, so hold more liquid, so will hold more wetting than terry cloth will. Bamboo is softer than hemp, but hemp is more durable and will hold more and has better stain resistance. Bamboo has a higher immediate absorption rate than hemp. Hemp retains heat better so not always so good for hot summer months, but needs fewer chemicals to make the fabric than bamboo. Both take a long time to dry, hemp taking the longest. To get full absorbency both need to be washed several times beforehand. Cloth is a much better option for side sleepers, and also has the additional benefit of wicking for heavy wetters as its distributed over time to more areas of the cloth. Putting white vinegar in the conditioning cycle of the wash helps to deodorize and make the cloth softer.

Always have been diapered in public, under clothes, as 24/7, 365 days of the year. Mainly cloth with plastic pants and appropriate clothing to hide any bulkyness, disposables don't have the wicking power of cloth and don't last me so long without having to change, Nobody notices, and changing facilities for disabilities are much better now in public places

Always. Needs must! You become adapt to sizing and fit to hide any bulges. Not always possible to bring spare diapers to formal events though. Get more looks carrying a rucksack at a formal event than people noticing whats underneath your clothes down there! :-)