Kissaluvs Cloth Diaper Information

• Kissaluvs Cloth Diaper Guarantee
• Kissaluvs Cloth Diaper Wash and Care Instruction
• Kissaluvs Cloth Diaper FAQs
• Kissaluvs Cloth Diapering Tips and Tricks
• Kissaluvs Cloth Diaper Size Chart

Kissaluvs Cloth Diaper Guarantee

We aim to please!

Kissaluvs uses quality materials, professional assembly and construction, and innovative designs to help make life simpler and better for families. We also offer some of the best guarantees in the business.

Lifetime Snap Guarantee

If at any time during the useful life of a Kissaluvs diaper, a snap breaks or won't work properly, contact us for repair or replacement. The fine print:

• You don't need an original receipt, nor do you need to be the original owner
• All snap diapers with original Kissaluvs labels are covered ... even clearance or "seconds" diapers bought from the Outlet Store
• We do not reimburse return postage
• If possible, we will always opt to repair. After all, part of the reason we're in this business is the whole "reduce/reuse/recycle" concept. If we can't reliably repair the problem, we will replace the item.
• Diapers, like any other oft-washed items, don't last forever. If a diaper is showing its age and/or hard use, we may not be able to repair it.
• Decisions and judgment calls about "useful life" and potential repair fall squarely on our shoulders. The good news is that we're honest and sincere folks. (You can read about us on the About Us page.)

Workmanship Guarantee

We absolutely stand behind the quality of all first-quality Kissaluvs products, and will gladly repair or replace defective items within 30 days of purchase. The fine print:

• The guarantee covers new, first-quality products bought from kissaluvs.com or an authorized retailer
• We will gladly add bonus items to make up for first-class postage and inconvenience
• Items damaged by improper use or care are not covered
• Clearance and "seconds" items from the Outlet Store are not covered

Address for Shipment:

Kissaluvs
Customer Service
12302 Sienna Rosa Ln
Houston TX 77041

Be Sure to Include:

• your name
• return address
• phone number and email address (if applicable)
• a brief description of the problem
• where and approximately when you bought the item

Kissaluvs Cloth Diaper Care Instructions

Before Use

• Wash/dry diapers on hot/high 3-4 times to reach initial absorbency.
• Wash only about a dozen or so at a time for the initial pre-washes.
• Wash and dry bright or dark fabrics on hot/high several times before mixing with lighter colored diapers.
• Depending on your water source and temperature, you may need fewer or additional washings, so always test colorfastness before mixing wet diapers of varying colors (e.g., toss in a white rag during a hot wash and dry cycle or two).
• The fleece fabric in Kissa's Fitted diapers will lint a bit in early washes.

Regular Washing Routine

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.

• Toss wet or dirty diapers into a dry pail; wash every 2-3 days.
• An optional cold-water pre-rinse helps prevent stains and odor.
• Use hot water and detergent (see recommended detergent list below).
• Veggie-based soap helps keep fabric soft, although its effectiveness depends on the hardness of your water. In any water, soap can coat fabric, so consider alternating soap and detergent to avoid
• decreased absorbency over time.
• No chlorine bleach. Nasty stuff, bleach.
• No fabric softeners, which coat fabric and reduce absorbency.
  

Some babies require fragrance-free or enzyme-free detergents; most don't.

Drying diapers in a dryer, even on high heat, is perfectly okay, although an occasional sunning of clean, wet diapers will go a long way to freshen them and reduce or eliminate staining.

If you choose to sun the diapers or line dry rather than use a dryer, we strongly suggest either laying the diapers flat to dry, or hanging them horizontally rather than by the waist or front section.
Hanging wet diapers by the waist allows the heavy, wet weight to pull on leg elastic, which may reduce its useful life.

Recommended Laundry Detergents

A list of our recommended detergents* which we found to be enzyme/dye/softener/bleach free are:

• Allen's Naturally Powder/Liquid
• Country Save Powder/Liquid
• Planet Ultra Powder/Liquid
• Planet 2X Ultra
• Mountain Gree Free & Clear
• Mountain Green Free & Clear Baby
• Tide Free (Use this one with caution. Contains enzymes, may cause rash and redness for very sensitive babies.
• Manufacturers may change their formulation without warning or notification. Kissaluvs makes no guarantees to the effectiveness or results from the use of these detergents.

Notes

How many diapers to wash at a time depends on your washer, your washing routine, your philosophy, and your diapers. As a general rule of thumb, wash no more than 18 fitted diapers or 24 prefolds at a time. You may be able to do more or less, so do a little experimenting to find what works best for you and your washer. Like towels and tee-shirts, diapers become more absorbent over time. This is especially true for cotton fleece and unbleached fabrics, which requires some initial "roughing up" in the washing machine. Most detergents suggest using an obscene amount of detergent. Use enough to clean, but not so much that it leaves residue. If you see suds during a second rinse or a wash with no detergent, you're using too much detergent. Detergent residue attracts and retains soil and odor.

Kissaluvs Cloth Diaper FAQs

Cloth Diapering

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:
Waterproof bags for transporting wet/dirty diapers while away from home come in quite handy. Small ones for the diaper bag, larger ones for extended trips. Bummis makes especially nice tote bags. Recycled plastic grocery bags or ziploc bags will do the trick, just not as nicely.

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.
  

Questions about Kissaluvs Cloth Diapers

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 neither endorse nor sell particular covers, so ask around. We hear about a wide variety of covers from our customers, the most popular of which seem to be from Stacinator, Mother-Ease, and Bummis. Almost any pull-on should work, as well. A few others we have seen, tried, or heard people recommend: Polar Babies Happy Pants (all styles) and original (contours), Fuzbaby Easy-Wool, Bumkins (contours), Bumpy and ProRap Original (size 0 fitted, contours).

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
• late 1999 -- most production moved to professional seamstresses
• 2000 -- founder sold company to current owner, a fellow mom and customer; 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".

Diapers - Fit

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. 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.

Diapers - Fabrics

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!).
The only difference between the fleece and combo diapers is the outside layer. On the combo diapers, the outside layer is knit terry, which is heavier than the cotton fleece. The soaker layers are exactly the same.

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.

I'm not sure whether to choose fleece/terry or cotton fleece ... what are the differences?
First peruse the details on the Diapering Fabrics page, including the fabric comparison chart.
The major differences between the two types of diapers are:
* absorbency - fleece/terry combo is about 10% more absorbent overall
* stretchiness/fit - the terry is not quite as stretchy and runs a tad smaller after washing
* aesthetic - the terry is a long loop terry. Some folks love, love, love it ... others think it resembles a towel, and just don't care for it.

What is inside Kissaluvs diapers (i.e., in the hidden soaker area)?
Heavy-weight knit terry. We use knit terry so the soaker area doesn't get hard over time.

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!

Kissaluvs Cloth Diapering Tips & Tricks

General Cloth Diapering Tips

• Don't worry too much about "the right way" to put on a diaper. If a diaper stays on, holds poop inside, sops up urine, and is comfortable on baby, it's doing its job.
• Our tags go on the outside, in the back to keep wet clammy tags away from delicate skin.
• Review the washing instructions and remember that many "tips" that work for one person (e.g., adding vinegar, using a particular detergent) will have awful results for someone with different water chemistry. Occasional sunning and line-drying, however, are always helpful!

Contour Diapers

Contour Diapers - Fit & Sizing

Thin babies, or those in the low end of the size range

• Fold down front flap or tuck under attached doubler to shorten the rise.
• If wings overlap, use only one pin to hold snug (if pinning).
• If pinning, pin higher or lower on front of diaper ... the lower you pin the wings, the more snug the legs and the less likely you will see the diaper drooping after lots of "toddling" around!
• Don't be afraid to use the stretch of the fabric to get a nice snug fit when you're pinning. Snug is good. Remember that you have a finger or two inside the diaper while you're pinning, but your finger(s) won't be there after you're done.

Kissaluvs Contour Cloth Diaper

Contour Diapers - Other Uses

• As a nighttime "super doubler" either inside a fitted diaper, or maybe better, outside the diaper (between the diaper and the cover)
• As a pocket diaper stuffer
• As a post-partum pad for mom

Fitted Diapers

Fitted Diapers - General Tips

For a compact, travel-friendly package ... roll front of diaper toward back, then snap wings together using the overlap snap.
This technique works great for rolling up messy diapers on the road, too. Lay wet or soiled wipes inside the diaper, and roll the whole mess inside. Just remember to unsnap and unroll as you toss a wet or dirty diaper into the pail or washing machine! 

Roll Fitted Diapers for Travel

Ruffle Roll Technique

Fit & Sizing

Thin legs, putting a small baby into large diaper, or using diaper under a smaller/narrower cover
Try tucking the leg ruffle inward, under the diaper. The tucked ruffle will use up excess rise area, help stop messes from escaping, and make the diaper less wide through the crotch and leg areas.
Thin babies, or those in the low end of the size range

• Use overlap snap on wings. Snap the wing with 3 snaps first, then let the other wing (the one with 2 snaps) overlap and snap onto it.
• Attach wing snaps over 3 front/male snaps rather than consecutively.
• After snapping diaper onto baby, pull up the outer flaps of the front of the diaper (the part that is now under the wings), at baby's hips. The waist elastic and already-snapped diaper will help hold the front of the diaper up, avoiding droopy leg openings. (see photo)
• Don't be afraid to use the stretch of the fabric to get a snug fit. Remember that you have a finger or two inside the diaper while snapping, but your finger(s) won't be there after you're done.

  
Fitted Diapers on Thin Babies

Diapering a newborn

• To snug up the legs on a small or thin baby, snap the waist snaps snugly, make sure the back waist elastic is high, then pull up on the outer corners of the front (underneath the wings). This snugs up the leg openings really well in front and back.
• Awesome terry wipes work great as a small doubler, if needed. Just fold an 8x8" wipe into half or thirds and lay inside diaper as needed. No extra money spent, no extra storage space required.
• Newborn poop tends to be thin and runny, especially with breasfed babies. Using prefolds or contours (no leg elastic), you may want to have 6-8 covers on hand. With fitted diapers like our size 0, you will likely need only 4-6 since the diaper should be handling "containment" quite nicely and you won't need to wash covers as often.

Cloth Diapering a Newborn

Kissaluvs Cloth Diaper Size Chart

Kissaluvs Contour Cloth Diapers

Size NB/Small

• Fits approximately 5-20 lbs
• Natural stitching
• Attached Booster Doubler, for 4 layers through the "wet zone"
• Approximately 12.5" long (11.5" tucked/folded)
• Approximately 4.5" at narrowest width

• Fits approximately 15-30 lbs
• Purple exterior stitching
• Attached Super Soaker Doubler, for 5 thick layers through the "wet zone"
• Approximately 15" long (13.5" tucked/folded)
• Approximately 5.25" at narrowest width

Kissaluvs Cotton Fleece Fitted Cloth Diapers

Kissaluvs Organic Cotton/Hemp Fitted Diapers

• Fits approximately 5-15 lbs
• Natural stitching

• Fits approximately 15-40 lbs
• Natural stitching

Kissaluvs Wool Lover Diaper Cover

*weight is an approximation as all babies are shaped differently