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Kissaluvs frequently asked questions

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I'm new to cloth diapering. What supplies do I need, and how many of each?

Diapers:
2-ish dozen. See next question for a more specific answer.

Doublers, liners, etc.:
Entirely dependent on your baby!

Doublers may be helpful for very heavy wetters, naptime or nighttime. A doubler (aka, booster or liner) is essentially additional absorbent fabric laid in a diaper before putting it on baby. Having a few on hand isn't a bad idea if you aren't sure yet whether you need them.
Liners of polypropylene or poly fleece, for example, are thin, non-absorbent fabric pieces to help prevent wetness against skin or aid in removing/flushing fecal matter. They are entirely optional.

Diaper covers:
5-ish per size. We like covers that can be wiped clean a few times between wearings (e.g., smooth laminate inside) or wool, which losing the smell of urine after airing out. There are lots of fabrics and styles of diaper covers, each with fit and use advantages and disadvantages.

Cloth wipes:
Easy and inexpensive, especially since you're already washing diapers. Square shapes that fold to fit into a reusable wipes container work great (8x8"-ish). Flannel is soft, terry is great for cleaning up especially nasty messes. Baby wash clothes work fine, but many washcloths are too thick. Get at least as many wipes as you have diapers; some people don't wipe after normal wet diapers, but a really nasty diaper will use up several wipes.

Diaper pail:
Best bet will have a large top opening for easy access and air flow, a foot pedal operated lid, and a removable hard liner. The liner is optional, but makes trips to the washing machine incredibly easy, with no bags bumping your legs, for example.

Tote bag(s), optional:

How many diapers do I need?

Depends on who's answering that question! You'll get a wide range of answers depending on whom you ask. Really, it depends entirely on how often you wash, how old your baby is, and how quickly you tend to change a wet diaper.

The general rule of thumb seems to be:

Newborns - 2-3 dozen diapers, washing every 3-ish days.
Older babies - 2 dozen, washing every 3-ish days.

At our house, we wash every 2-3 days and found 18 diapers to be just fine. But we tend to be minimalists and don't mind washing.

When you're adding up diapers, it's helpful to remember:

Newborns, especially when breastfed and night-nursed, need to be changed 10-12 times daily.
Older babies generally don't need changing as often.
Count a few for leaving in the diaper bag and on the changing table while you're washing.
The more you're willing to wash, the fewer diapers you need.
Extra washing will wear diapers faster, but with Kissaluvs, you're starting with some pretty durable fabric to begin with.

If you use prefold diapers as the backbone of your system, supplement with enough fitted diapers to make babysitters and grandparents comfortable, to leave the diaper bag stocked, and for faster nighttime changes. A half dozen fitted diapers supplement a prefold system quite well.

Any suggestions to reduce the up-front cost of cloth diapering?

It's true that you'll save big money using cloth over the 2-3 or more years your little one is in diapers. It's also true that you spend that money up-front rather than over weekly grocery store visits. A few hints and tips to make things easier:

Save up, just like you do for cribs, strollers and other purchases.
Start small and wash more often. Folks new to cloth diapering are often afraid of the washing, but it's not hard (be sure to see our care instructions). Finding the perfect diaper and cover ... now that can be hard! (Of course, you're here, so you have a leg-up on that already!)
Use inexpensive prefolds as the mainstay of your diapering, supplementing or slowly replacing with fitted diapers as finances and baby's slowing growth rate allow.
Many retailers offer package deals for large quantities and/or accessories you'll need or want (e.g., covers, wipes, etc.)
Many retailers offer gift registry ... let those gift-giving friends and family know what you want and where to shop! kissaluvs.com doesn't have a registry, but we fill lots of orders from grandmas-in-waiting and cross-country friends.
Many retailers (including kissaluvs.com) accept credit cards, giving you a little breathing room before the full amount is due.
Most of the cloth diapering "good stuff" is available primarily through mail order. Watch those shipping charges, which multiply like crazy when you spread out purchases either over time (e.g., buy 2 now, 5 next week, etc.) or over stores. Multiple shipping charges can add up as fast or faster than credit card interest payments, so plan ahead.
When you buy in quantity, wash and test only 1 or a few of any given diaper, cover, etc. That way, if for some reason the product doesn't do justice by your baby (let's face it, all babies are different), you can return the unwashed, unused items for refund or credit. Be sure to check the return policies of any retailer you buy from before buying.

What do you recommend as a starter pack for cloth diapering?

Our basic package recommendations are:

With newborns:

12-18 Size 0 Kissa’s Cotton Fleece Fitted Diapers.
4-6 Marvels OS Covers or Wool Lovers
2-4 Marvels Extra Small Covers (coming soon- buy XS
4-6 Marvels AIO
1 Antibacterial Pail Liner
1 Diaper Lotion Potion Spray
25-50 Awesome Terry Wipes

For babies 3 mos. or older:

10-12 Marvels AIO
4-6 Kissa’s Size 1 or Marvels Fitteds
2 Marvels OS Covers or Wool Lovers
1 Antibacterial Pail Liner
1 Diaper Lotion Potion Spray
25-50 Awesome Terry Wipes

For Easiest Option:

18-24 Marvels AIO diapers
2 Antibacterial Pail Liners
25-30 Awesome Terry Wipes
2 Diaper Lotion Potion Spray (1 for home, 1 for diaper bag)

For Limited Budget:

12-18 Pre fold Diapers
6 Kissa’s Contours Regular or Hybrids
4-6 Marvels OS Covers
2-3 Marvels AIO diapers (for diaper bag)
1 Antibacterial Pail Liner
25-30 Awesome Terry Wipes

Kissaluvs don't leave red marks on my baby's thighs like some diapers. How do you do it?

Trade secret! Just kidding ... we use a generous amount of premium elastic (not too thick or stiff), sewn in a way to increase its life and prevent the dreaded "elastic rollover."

I put a brand-new Kissaluvs diaper on my baby and it didn't seem very absorbent, although I keep reading how nicely absorbent these are. Why am I having trouble?

Cotton fleece and all unbleached fabrics need several good hot washes/drys before reaching initial absorbency. The fabric finishing used to create that fleecy softness needs a little roughing up in the washing machine to gain its feet, as it were. After the first 4-ish washes, you should have a good starting absorbency.

After continued use and washing, you'll find absorbency picks up considerably and fairly quickly.

See the care instructions for complete laundering details.

How should I launder Kissaluvs diapers?

More easily than you can imagine, and don't let anyone tell you differently. See our care instructions for complete laundering details.

How much will the diapers shrink after I wash them?

Very little, if any. Our cotton fleece and stretch terry are heat-set and pre-shrunk at the knitter. Here's one instance when that tiny bit of poly in the base of the fabric comes in handy; with heat-setting, it really helps stabilize the fabric size. The terry loops may have a smidge of shrinkage and contribute to terry diapers running a little smaller (see fabric for more details).

Do Kissaluvs diapers require a diaper cover?

Yes. Our diapers are made of absorbent fabrics. Some folks use them around the house without covers, but for waterproof bottoms, a cover is required.

Which diaper covers fit over Kissaluvs fitted diapers?

We recommed our Marvels OS covers with all our Fitted and Contour diapers as these have been designed specifically keeping our leg ruffles in mind. If you prefer wool, we recommend our fabulous Wool Lovers covers.

A few others we have seen, tried, or heard people recommend: Thirsties, Bummis (Super Bright or Whisper Wrap), ProRap Originals.

I have an old Kissaluvs diaper that looks a little different (e.g., shorter rise, all-terry, different snaps or colors). What gives?

Kissaluvs was started in 1998 by a mom sewing diapers in her dining room. The diapers have evolved to the tried and true versions you see on our site today. A quick history:

1998 -- diapers of woven flannel with plastic snap tape, made by a sew-at-home mom
1999 -- diapers of cotton fleece or stretch terry in a variety of colors and contents; rugged plastic snaps introduced
2000 -- all production handled by professional seamstresses; all fabric upgraded and now made-to-order
2001 -- new retail outlets added; Kissaluvs Outlet Store opens
2002 -- production moved completely in-house to our own Kissaluvs production facility--woo-hoo!
2003 -- what a year! Growing, growing, growing ... and still headquartered home with two "office helpers" and "shipping assistants."
2005 -- another year of big changes! new owner, a customer and SAHM to a one yr old!
2006 -- move into an office space as home garage is no too small to continue as shipping base
2007 -- still a family business and working close to home with kids shuttled back and forth from home to office and back!
2009 -- added the Marvels line as a complete solution for moms looking for one sized options. Marvels Fitted diapers in cute prints, Marvels AIO's and PUL Diaper covers (finally!) debut. Also introduced Wool Diaper Covers and one sized Hybrid Contours
2010 -- still growing each year and keeping it real! All products made with love right here in our production facility in the US

What’s the difference between v1.0 and v2.0 Kissa’s cotton fleece diapers?

The v1.0 diapers had cotton terry fabric in the hidden soaker area while the v2.0 have a microfiber terry soaker. Microfiber terry fabric has superior absorbency so the v2.0 diapers are almost 50% more absorbent than the originals. As the soaker is hidden, you will not feel or see any difference in the diaper, except the marked increase in absorbency.

How can I tell if I have a v2.0 diaper?

The v2.0 have a different serge on the outside than v1.0 to help you visually identify them. The Size 0 diapers have a darker shade of brown, Size 1 have pastel rainbow and Size 2, the primary rainbow serging. See pics.


Size 0	Size 1	Size 2

How are Marvels Fitted different than Kissa’s Cotton Fleece diapers?

The Marvels fitted diaper are one sized, they will fit most babies from 10 -40 lbs (almost birth to potty training). The Cotton Fleece diapers are sized.

The Marvels Fitteds are my perfect night time solution. How are they so absorbent?

3 body layers is our secret. The diapers have a layer of Hemp fabric sewn in between the super soft bamboo velour and the outer printed cotton layer besides 2 layers of microfiber terry in the hidden soaker layer. Hemp is great for holding in and spreading the wetness which makes the diapers perfect for night time, longer car rides, naptimes etc.

Which should I buy - the one sized Marvels or the sized Cotton Fleece Kissa’s?

It depends! One sized diapers will help you cut costs as you can use the same diaper from almost birth to potty training. There will be times during this period when the diaper will not fit as perfectly as the baby grows- especially when they are at that in-between sizes stage. If you prefer a perfect fit each time, buy the sized Kissa’s. For newborns though, unless you know you baby will be in the larger size range, we recommend buying the Size 0 Kissa’s for a blowout-proof (and peace of mind!) diapering experience.

How are Marvels AIO’s different than any other AIO diaper?

Marvels AIO’s remove the biggest issue with all in one diapers- drying time. Most, if not all AIO’s have hidden soakers sewn inside the diapers which makes the diaper very time consuming to dry, sometimes taking two dryer cycles to fully dry. With Marvels, we designed them so the soaker swishes out in the washing machine which will- one, make the soaker really clean as it gets washed separately and two, helps dry the diaper super fast!

How are the Marvels AIO’s different than a Pocket diaper?

They are much easier to use than a pocket diaper. You don’t have to touch the dirt inserts or take them out when washing. Simply throw the diaper in the wash and the insert will agitate itself out . You will never have to hunt for an insert for the Marvels as the soaker stays attached to the diaper. No stuffing, and no classic ‘don’t know which soaker to stuff’ hubby excuse!

I love that my Marvels AIO flips inside out in the wash every time. How did you do that!

We like to say it has smart chip inside, but in truth, it’s cleverly designed! We are lazy people and ourselves wanted a diaper that is super easy to use and makes laundering a breeze.

Do Kissaluvs diapers fit chubby babies / babies with fat thighs / skinny babies? Are the sizes listed really accurate?

Weight ranges for diapers are never perfectly accurate, as all babies differ in build. Very round babies will size up sooner than thinner babies, for example. Our weight ranges are based on feedback from customers.

We receive comments all the time from people saying, "These are perfect for my thin-legged girl!" and "I'm so glad someone makes diapers for chubby thighs!" We attribute the wide ranging fit to the stretchy knit fabrics and generous elastic in Kissaluvs diapers. We also include cross-over snaps in all sizes for especially thin babies.

Probably the very best answer is to see what other customers have told us ... there's a special "Fit" section on our Feedback page, and we are compiling a Photo Gallery to show the diapers in actual use on real kiddos.

My baby is right on the size border between size 1 and 2. What do you recommend?

Many babies will fit into two sizes at once. If you can get a good fit (leg fit is critical in fitted diapers) in the larger size, we suggest erring on the large side, even if the diaper looks a little big just now. The larger size will fit much longer, maximizing its value and saving you money in the long-run. Plus, the added fabric inherent in a larger diaper adds absorbency.

The diapers don't fit like others ... the rise is lower, for example, but it works so well. Why?

The rise in Kissaluvs diapers looks deceptively low at first. They are designed to ride at the waist in the back and between the waist and hip in front. We think that makes a more natural, comfortable fit and helps ensure a good leg fit by not artificially raising the rise and allowing room for "drooping" as baby moves around in the diaper. Plus constricting the baby's stomach with a high riding diaper doesn't make sense to us.

Probably the very best answer is to see what other customers have told us ... there's a special "Fit" section on our Feedback page.

My baby is thin and most diapers tend to sag in front or at the legs. Is that a problem with Kissaluvs diapers, too?

Generally not, for two reasons. First of all, we use a generous amount of premium elastic; it's gentle, but enthusiastic. Good elastic does wonders for a good fit!

Second, the current snap design allows you to hold up more of the front of the diaper than most others. The snaps are positioned so you can skip a waist snap when attaching the diaper. Skipping a waist snap on each side means you get a wider area "held up" at the front of the diaper, preventing the sides from drooping. Click here to see what we mean.

Do the Marvels covers really fit from birth to potty training?

They fit most babies from 8-40lbs. At the smallest setting, the cover will fit babies even smaller than 8 pounds, but it will be a tad bulky. Which is usually not an issue with small babies as they don’t move around at that age.

The Marvels cover is generously sized but it’s not bulky on my 15lb baby. Will it fit up to 40lbs?

Yes. The cover is designed to reduce bulk between legs at the crotch area at the larger settings. The snaps are placed so it widens up on top where you need it, as the sizing grows. Trust us!

How are the gussets on the Marvels Covers better than other covers?

The gussets are wider which ensure a snug grip around the legs- key to keeping everything contained in. And they are elasticized with a gentle but enthusiastic elastic. No wimpy fold-over elastic stuff for us!

What Wool Lover size will best fit baby?

See chart for detailed sizing here.

How is the wool in the Wool Lovers covers different?

It is softest wool you will find in covers. Sourced from the belly of the sheep (not the top coat which yields stiffer yarn), our wool has extremely fine fiber which helps the cover repel moisture a lot better and reduces the need to lanolize.

Will the cotton fleece stay this soft over time?

The answer depends greatly on your water source and washing routine. In soft water with a mild detergent or pure soap, the fleece will stay wonderfully soft. In hard water, you may eventually end up with a sort of short-loop, fuzzy-ish terry texture--still pliable and softer than most terries, but not as soft as the day you bought the diaper.

Which diaper (cotton fleece, fleece/terry combo) is most absorbent?

One of our retailers did some comparative absorbency testing and found that the size 1 cotton fleece diaper absorbed the same as a premium chinese cotton prefold diaper; the fleece/terry combo absorbed approximately 10% more by weight.

Of course, lab testing doesn't address the real-life use/absorbency of a diaper (e.g., your baby doesn't wet the whole diaper at once and let it drip dry!).

This cotton fleece is to die for! How do you do it?

The cotton fleece is created by special mechanical and heat processes applied to top-notch terry. Allow us to assure you it's not easy to find a fabric manufacturer who does it and does it well! Some fleeces are artificially created with fabric softeners that wash out quickly (and well they should!), or are really a super-brushed thick flannel. Our finishing is built-in to the fabric itself.

What is inside Kissaluvs diapers (i.e., in the hidden soaker area)?

Heavy-weight microfiber terry. We use microfiber terry so the soaker is absorbent and not too thick.

Is your fleece the same as the fleece used on stay-dry doublers and diapering systems?

Nope. There is quite a variety of "fleece" in the fabric world ... the fleece associated with many covers and stay-dry products is a poly or "polar" fleece, which acts as a water repellent/pass-through layer and is not an absorbent material. Our fleece is cotton-based fleece, which is absorbent and soft. The term "fleece" is often used to designate a soft and fuzzy texture rather than a specific fabric. Good question, because it's really important to know the content of any fleece fabric, especially in the diapering world where the answer can make a huge difference!

What is the insert fabric in the Marvels AIO diapers?

Microfiber Terry. It provides superior moisture absorbency and its water retention properties make the diapers very absorbent.

How if the fleece inside the Marvels AIO so soft and doesn’t pill or stain like in my other diapers?

Ours is custom milled for us to eliminate issues you have with most poly fleece fabrics. It's engineered to stay soft wash after wash and repel stains better than most.

Your Marvels covers seems sturdy and softer than others. Why’s that, isn’t all PUL the same?

Nope. Our PUL (poly urethane laminate) fabric is custom made for us- right here in the US- to our specifications to last wash after wash and is knit in a special way for a softer feel.

Can I see/touch/feel Kissaluvs products in person anywhere?

Yes, depending where you live. Check out the stores and local groups listed on the Where To Buy page. Several La Leche League chapters sell Kissaluvs products or are affiliates and may have samples available. Check with your local chapter.

If you're anywhere near Houston, Texas, USA, call us directly at 713-849-5570. We're always happy to meet other Houston-area families and show off the fabrics and products we have available!

For everyone else, the next best thing is to check our Feedback and Photo Gallery pages.

I want to use my diapers for the next baby. How do I store them?

Generally, storing them in a temperature- and humidity-stable place is a good idea. Avoid places like the garage or the attic. Also be sure to run the diapers through a wash every now and then just to keep that elastic from dry rotting.

What kind of guarantees do you offer on your products?

We manufacture almost all of our products right here in our own facility and have strict quality control. We also offer some of the best warrantees in the business. Read all about them here.

Can I line dry my diapers?

Yes! The sun does wonders for diapers. We do though recommend that you dry the diapers in the dryer occasionally and always lay them flat or hang horizontally when line drying.

eed help with caring for your diapers?

There are many opinions about diaper washing, and many people
have developed additional steps and routines based on their individual needs. Our advice is to start simple and adjust only if necessary
for your baby or water-type. Click here for our wash and care instructions.