Natural E Baby

For the Health of Our Babies and the Life of Our Planet

FREE summer pajamas with orders of $100 or more

Chinese prefolds information page

Most of the information about Chinese prefolds is on the order page but if you would like to read even more information and troubleshooting tips then this is the page for you. To order go to the Chinese prefolds page.

Chinese prefolds and covers: Chinese prefolds may seem intimidating to use especially for first time cloth diaper users but they can be very easy to use. Yes they need to be folded but once folded into thirds you can lay them in a diaper cover, place your baby on top and fasten the cover. All of the front velcro closing covers work well with Chinese prefolds. The Bummis Super Whisper Wraps and the Bumkins covers even have a pocket in the front to tuck the prefold into to keep it in place. Bummis Cotton and Proraps covers only fit over Chinese prefolds because they have a higher cut in the leg making them unsuitable for the fitted diapers we sell. You can also pin or fasten prefolds with a Snappi. This will hold the prefold more securely around the baby's legs to keep in messes.

Chinese prefolds for newborns: We have three sizes for newborns: preemie, standard infant and infant. The most popular is the infant size. It consists of 4 layers on each size and 8 layers in the middle. Some parents find them to be too bulky on the tiny newborn so they opt for the standard infant size which has 6 layers in the middle. This makes them a just a bit less bulky. Preemie Chinese prefolds are very tiny making for a very trim diaper for the newborn. They do not hold much in the way of wetness so you will have to change more frequently if your baby wets heavily. Even though the infant Chinese prefolds are a bit bulky the newborn will grow into them quickly. Newborns legs are spread out so the bulk probably does not bother the baby much at all.

Preparing Chinese prefolds for use: When your Chinese prefolds arrive they will be flat and feel stiff. Once they are washed and dried they will fluff up dramatically. White prefolds require two washings, drying them in the dryer between washes. They will shrink and fluff up. They will continue to soften and become more fluffy with subsequent washings. Natural Chinese prefolds require more washes in very hot water. They have a natural waxy coating in the cotton that renders them water resistant. The hot water will eventually remove the coating making them soft and absorbent. How many washes depends on your water quality and temperature. You can even boil the diapers for 5 minutes and follow with a hot wash to make the process go faster. To test the diapers for absorbency just flick some water droplets onto a dry diaper. If it beads up on the surface instead of absorbing right in then you need to continue washing them.

How many?: For newborns we recommend three dozen Chinese prefolds. They go through ten to twelve diapers a day on average so this will allow you to do wash every two to three days. Older babies can get by with two dozen prefolds.

Washing Chinese prefolds: If your baby is strictly breastfed then just put the soiled diapers in a dry pail until wash day. Dump the diapers into the washer and do a cold rinse. Follow with a warm or hot wash and you're done. An extra rinse is a good idea but not always necessary. Once your baby starts on solids you will want to rinse the soiled diaper in the toilet either by dunking or rinsing with the Mini Shower. Wet diapers do not need rinsing. Always use a small amount of detergent when washing cloth diapers. Use 1/4 to 1/3 the recommended amount otherwise you will get a buildup of detergent which is the # 1 cause of stinky diapers. Stains on prefolds will easily fade when hanging the diapers in the sun. They disappear like magic. Never use bleach on your Chinese prefolds. This will quickly break down the fibers and ruin them.