Compare the total cost of our Birth-2-Potty Paca with other systems.

Tips:

• Designed to be a snug fit to keep a flat in place without diaper pins or fasteners. For a roomier fit or if you think your baby needs extra absorbency, consider sizing up.
• Leg elastics should resting along the bikini line and not on thighs
  
• Snaps do not need to be even and can be adjusted depending on the diaper underneath (i.e. night time diapers may require a larger snap setting)
  
• Low-rise design so it can easily be positioned underneath an umbilical cord stump

Organic Cotton Flats (diapers)

• One-size. Measures approximately 28" x 28" inches, after accounting for shrinkage. 

Hemp Boosters

• One-size. Measures 11.75" long x 4.5" wide, after accounting for shrinkage.

Esembly Inners*

• Size 1 Inners (7-17lbs) 
• Size 2 Inners (18-35lbs)

* For best fit, we recommend pairing Size 1 Inners with a Medium Alpaca Diaper Cover and pairing Size 2 Inners with a Large Alpaca Diaper Cover.

 

Alpaca + Cotton: the simplest wash routine for cloth diapers. 

Single-layer Cotton Flats are the easiest reusable diapers to clean and the fastest to dry. And, if you use Alpaca Covers, you won't have plastic in the laundry trying to "waterproof" dirty diapers from clean water. Moreover, alpaca can be washed infrequently, dries faster than wool, and doesn't need to be "lanolized" to work!

How to Wash Alpaca

Wash every 2-3 weeks 

Alpaca has antimicrobial properties which prevents odor-causing bacteria from growing. It should not have a smell when it is dry. If it does, it's time for a wash. 

If poop gets on the cover you'll need to wash right away. Click here for tips for keeping poop off the cover and going longer between washes.

1. Detergent + Water

Fill a sink or large bowl with cool water. Add a gentle wool-safe wash. We prefer SOAK but baby shampoo will also work! Just a capful will do. It's like a tiny bubbly bath for your alpaca. 

TIP: Consider adding hair conditioner to the rinse water to keep your alpaca fibers soft and protected (not necessary if using SOAK detergent).

2. Soak 

Pre-treat any stains by applying the detergent directly to them. 

Add your alpaca to the tiny bath, pushing the water through the cover a few times. Then let it soak for about 15 minutes. Don't overdo it - soaking too long can be hard on cover.

3. Rinse, Roll, Dry

Rinse with cool water. Gently squeeze (don't wring!) out the water then roll it up in a towel (or a cotton flat) to help speed up drying. Lay flat or hang to dry.

 

How to Wash Cotton Flats + Wipes

 

1. Remove Solids

Pee diapers can just be rolled up and tossed in the laundry. Here are some tips for the other kind...

Pre-solids: If your baby hasn't started solids yet, great news! These diapers can also go directly in the wash. Seriously. Breastmilk and formula are water-soluble and will easily wash out. If something looks more "solid", just dump whatever you can in the potty first.

After solids: Once your baby starts solids, start plopping those poops into the potty. If it's not easily "plop-able", you can use toilet paper or our wooden Wipe-Away Wand to wipe anything "3D" into the toilet. Don't worry, streaks will also wash out. Alternatively, you can also use a handheld bidet / diaper sprayer to remove solids.

Spraying is especially helpful if you don't plan on washing daily. When waiting between wash loads, we recommend storing soiled flats in an open laundry basket (yes, really! It's a counter intuitive way to reduce smells, but it allows for better ventilation). Just be sure to allow cotton to air dry before storing.

2. Wash (every 1-2 days)

Machine wash warm on "heavy duty" or your longest wash cycle. Some prefer to add a warm pre-wash or quick wash cycle before the main wash. Be sure your machine is 1/2 to 3/4 full for proper agitation (this is actually true for all laundry!).

Use any commercial laundry detergent (not soap) and use the recommended amount for your load size. Avoid bleach except in cases of illness or to sanitize pre-loved items.

Washing every 1-2 days makes it easier to clean. If you want to wash less frequently, we recommend rinsing with water and letting air dry between washes, like in a mesh laundry bag! 

TIPS: Avoid optical brighteners, fabric softeners, and fragrance as these bind to fabric and may cause repelling and/or rashes. If you prefer to use fabric softener, we recommend a cloth-safe, unscented one like Unicorn Beyond Soft (or vinegar if your machine allows it).

 

3. Dry

Our Organic Cotton Flats, Hemp Boosters, and Cotton Wipes can all go in the dryer. No dryer sheets as these can leave a residue, consider wool dryer balls instead!

Also, our Cotton Flats + Cotton Wipes dry after just 10-15 minutes in the dryer but they also dry quickly on the line. Hemp boosters take a bit longer to dry.

TIP: Low heat or line drying are not only great ways to reduce your energy bill and environmental impact, it will extend the life of all your garments.

The alpaca + cotton (and hemp) work as a team to stop diaper leaks.

Alpaca is naturally water-resistant, breathable, and gentle on skin. Unlike plastic diaper covers, you don't need a "tight seal" for it to work. It relies on enough absorbency to contain any leaks then prevents wetness from transferring onto clothes or sheets. 

Cotton is a quick absorbing natural fiber but when a lot is released all at once, it can need a bit more time to wick the liquid to the dryer parts of the diaper. The alpaca cover can help distribute liquid to the thirstier cotton absorbency.

For longer stretches like naps and night, we suggest adding 1-2 hemp boosters. Hemp holds more than cotton but is slower to absorb. Place the hemp booster between the cotton layer and alpaca cover (think of hemp as "long term storage"). 

Replace the cotton (and hemp if used) at each diaper change. The alpaca cover can be reused for weeks unless soiled. We recommend letting the alpaca air out between changes (especially if it feels damp), rotating with another cover.

How does alpaca work without lanolin?
Lanolin is an oil made by sheep. This oil naturally coats sheep's wool to make it water-resistant and provides antimicrobial properties to protect the sheep from bacteria. Alpaca fiber is structured differently yet achieves these same properties without the need for oil.

Under a microscope you can see large scales on wool fiber. These scales serve to hold the lanolin in place. These scales however can make wool itchy. It's why merino is softer (smaller scales) and why "super-wash" wool doesn't work as a diaper cover (scales have been removed so it can't hold lanolin oil). Without lanolin coating, wool absorbs liquid and will start to smell much sooner.

By comparison, alpaca fiber looks almost smooth. It doesn't have large scales to hold oil. Rather, alpaca fibers trap air pockets that push water away. Alpaca also only absorbs about 10-11% of its weight in water, compared to merino which absorbs about 30%. Alpaca's special structure also helps water evaporate more quickly. And, without lanolin oil (which can cause skin irritation over time through repeat exposure), alpaca is considered hypoallergenic.

As a diaper cover, these structural differences mean alpaca covers make it easier for urine to stay in the absorbency (vs being absorbed by the cover) and simplifies washing by removing the "lanolizing" step.

How does it stay clean?

It's often said that alpaca fiber is "self-cleaning" since it can go weeks without a wash. It naturally has antimicrobial properties which makes the fiber less hospitable to odor-causing bacteria. If urine does get soaked in the fabric, just a simple air dry is usually enough to refreshen it and so it is ready to be reused. Once it does need a wash, just let it soak for 15 minutes in a gentle wool-safe wash and then hang dry. 

For more on how to care for your alpaca diaper cover visit Simple Laundry

The magic of alpaca

Thanks to the amazing properties of alpaca, you'll soon discover these covers wash easier, dry in half the time as wool covers (so you don't need as many), are softer on skin, and safe for those with wool allergies.

Basic Pad Fold + The Luna Fold

Use a basic pad fold for quick and easy cloth diapering. Great especially for older babies with "plop-able" poop or those practicing EC (elimination communication). 

The Luna Fold is our modification to the Basic Pad Fold to add extra layers up front. We recommend this fold for night time, especially for tummy sleepers. 

The Origami Fold

Not as intimidating as it sounds! Our favorite fold for younger babies, it has long wings to easily secure the diaper around your baby without pins or fasteners.

How to add absorbency

If your alpaca cover soaks through, it's time to add more cotton layers!

Did you know, our organic cotton wipes are made of the same absorbent material as our flats? Try adding 1-2 wipes (folded in half) right where you need it without adding extra bulk.

If you need more, you can use two cotton flats. Try layering one flat on top of the other before folding. Or, try combing folds! Fold one flat in the Origami Fold then lay a second flat either pad folded or with the Luna Fold on top. 

With simple cotton flats + wipes you have everything you need to customize the right level of absorbency for your baby.

Tips and Tricks

For more help getting a great leg seal and keeping poop off the alpaca cover, check out these Tips & Trick videos.

 

Tips for a Better Fit (covers)

Our covers are designed to be snug enough in the front to hold a flat in place without a Snappi or diaper pins, but also enough room in the back to cover a fitted diaper. Sometimes fabric gets caught under the baby and needs to be pulled forward towards the bellybutton 

 

How to Get a Great Leg Seal (without a Snappi or diaper pins) 

How to Keep Poop off the Cover

Alpaca can go weeks without a wash! But once your baby starts solids, you may want to try these tricks to go longer between wash cycles if the poop isn't quite yet "ploppable" and you're struggling to get a good leg seal:

While no diaper is "leak-proof", leaks can be avoided with the right adjustments. Below are solutions to the most common leaks:

Time + Layering

When switching to all natural fibers, it's typical to need a diaper change every 1-2 hours depending on your baby's age. To go longer stretches (night, nap, or long car rides), you'll need to add 1-2 hemp boosters placed between the absorbency and the cover.

Fit

If you're still getting leaks under 2 hours, you'll want to check that the absorbency is well positioned so urine isn't rolling off and going straight to the cover. This can happen when using a larger cover that isn't tight enough to hold the flat diaper in place or using a larger inner with gaps at the legs. With the inners, you can tuck the ruffles inwards, reducing the size of the leg openings. For a flat, trying different folds can help ensure more layers at the wet zone or better tucking at the legs can help. You may also want to consider adding a fastener (Snappi or diaper pins) if needed to keep the absorbency close to baby's body. 

Flooding

At certain stages (i.e. newborns and around 1 year), babies pee more frequently or start to release more urine all at once which can "flood" the wet zone before it has enough time to move liquid to the drier parts of the diaper. At these stages, you may need to change the cotton more often or add absorbency to the wet zone, even during the day. You could try adding a hemp booster between the absorbency and cover or sometimes just 2 cotton wipes (folded in half and placed closest to baby's body) will do the trick. This is temporary and you may be surprised to discover as your baby outgrows these stages you no longer need as much absorbency during the day.

Troubleshooting

While cloth diapering with all natural fibers can involve a learning curve, you are not alone! If you need additional support please contact us at support@lunapaca.com and we're happy to help!

Until baby starts eating solid food, all waste is water soluble and diapers can go straight in the wash - so easy!

After starting solids, push anything "3D" into the potty with toliet paper or our Wipe Away Wand. Don't worry about streaks - those will wash out.

Imagine, no stinky bag of poop in your house waiting all week for trash day! Just fresh laundry.

For tips on keeping poop off the cover, visit Tips on Fit

Free shipping within the United States on all orders over $150.

A flat rate shipping fee of $8.50 applies to all other orders. Upgraded shipping options are available at checkout. We currently do not ship outside the United States.

We do our best to fulfill orders within 2-5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays).

For more details please read our Shipping Policy

Do to the personal nature of reusable diapers, we are unable to accept these types of returns.

If there is anything wrong with your order please send us an email within 30 days and we'll make it right.

We offer a 1 year warranty on snaps, elastics, and stitching. This does not cover tears or piling of the fabric, stains, odors, shrinkage, or other wear and tear from regular use. Please note for full-time use, we strongly recommend a rotation of 4+ covers. Using fewer covers increases mechanical stress on snaps and may lead to fabric fatigue.

Warranty extends to the original owner only. Customers are responsible for sending the item to us and we will repair or replace it at our discretion.

We have mending kits available for purchase to further extend the life of well-love alpaca covers and for those purchased second hand.

For any issue with your items, including requesting help with leaks or fit, please email us at support@lunapaca.com

For the full details of our policy and what is covered please visit the Refund Policy