disposable diaper help

[musiclady]

We've decided to go the Pampers/Luvs/Huggies route. I'm absolutely overwhelmed with CD, and feel like I'm going to have enough on my plate that I don't think I can handle CD.

So, the question is (for those who use 'sposies):

How do you know what kind to get? I'd like to start my diaper stash. How do I know what kind? I heard that some brands don't fit as well as others, but I have no idea where to start. First time mama out here....

[stanleymama]

I like pampers swaddlers for newborns, and then huggies or white cloud. Now if you want a better, healthier disposable, I have friends who have used 7th generation. I have not used them, but have heard good things about them. I cd most of the time but keep like to keep sposies on hand.

[happyhippimama]

When we had sposies, i loved the swaddlers. I think they are pampers. They were so soft. Those were by for the best, IMO

[Girlo]

I also love the Pampers. From the Swaddlers on up. I tried all the other brands - Huggies, Kirkland, White Cloud, Luvs, etc. - and the Pampers were the only ones *for me* didn't leak. Very important to me! Yeah...some of the others were cheaper, but you can also get the Pampers for a good deal when you buy by the case and use coupons.

I also tried the more natural dipes - 7th Gen, etc. - and it was like wrapping my baby's bum in a paper bag. They worked just as well as the mainstream brands, but weren't as soft....if that makes sense.

[myfairbabies]

I've been a nanny for years (always babies) and my fave by far is pampers. They fit the best for the vast majority of babies. I did like the huggies overnights for nighttime for really heavy wetters, but not all babies needed them and if they did it was after a year. I've heard some good and some bad things about 7th gen so I wouldn't go buy a ton of those (if you want to use them) until the baby is here and you see how they fit. I literally only know one person that liked huggies better and she had a chunky little baby (though my sister has the fattest babies I know and she liked pampers). Don't get too many of one size though, you never know how big or how fast the baby will be and grow.

[lexbeach]

The seventh generation brand has much improved in softness and stretchiness over the past couple years. They're essentially identical to mainstream sposies, but without chlorine, perfume or character designs. Nature Babycare is another "natural" brand (that is way more biodegradable than most sposies) that is quite soft on the inside--they really feel like cotton.

I would definitely consider using one of the more natural brands if I were you.

And most people find cloth diapering to be way more fun than it is work. You could even buy a whole stash of fancy all-in-one diapers (like the bumgenius 3.0 all-in-ones) in each size, and still save money over buying disposables. The only difference in use is that instead of putting the used diapers in the trash, you put them in the wash. Really not that hard.

HTH!

Lex

[dogmom327]

The Pamper's swaddlers are nice but good golly do they stink (chemicals). I actually really like 7th generation. We've had no issues with them at all.

[phrogger]

I wouldn't get too many diapers now, but rather even think of getting yourself gift cards so you are stocking up (money wise), but you aren't stuck if the diapers don't work for you.

[loon13]

If you go to the websites for the sposie brands and sign up, they will send you coupons via mail and email. I know Pampers will also occasionally send out actually diaper samples in the mail.

Regarding Pampers Swaddlers, they gave my ds a rash, but were totally fine for dd2. Two newborn babes, on the same breastmilk. However, I do find they fit best for newborns. I used Huggies newborn after that and found they ran bigger than the Pampers, but the babes were growing anyway.

After the newborn stage, I would try one package of each brand you want to try and then go from there.

Any brand you don't like, call the company and let them know. They will usually send you coupons and such. But then you can trade coupons with other mamas for the brand you do want.


Personally, we like Luvs. With two in diapers, they are by far most cost effective for me. Oh and if you're going the sposies route, diapers.com is awesome! They even have the natural brand diapers there AND cloth diapers.

[annettemarie]

Moving to diapering, in keeping with the DDC Guidelines.

[ChetMC]

Originally Posted by phrogger

I wouldn't get too many diapers now, but rather even think of getting yourself gift cards so you are stocking up (money wise), but you aren't stuck if the diapers don't work for you.

This is excellent advice. Some babies are sensitive to certain brands. Some diapers fit chubby babies better, others fit leaner babies better. If your baby isn't a heavy wetter you can probably get away with some of the cheaper brands. You also don't know how fast your baby will grow. My niece was born too big for newborn diapers, and our kids have never needed anything bigger than a size 4.

[kirstenb]

We never cared for Pampers when we used sposies. Huggies worked a lot better for us. I also suggest trying a bit of everything- DS had reactions to a few different dipes.

[musiclady]

Originally Posted by phrogger

I wouldn't get too many diapers now, but rather even think of getting yourself gift cards so you are stocking up (money wise), but you aren't stuck if the diapers don't work for you.

That's a good idea. I hadn't thought of that.

And I'm going to check out the diapers.com too.

Thanks!

[Mrs.Oz]

I would wait to buy sposies until after the babe is born. Neither of my babes have worn newborn-size sposies, even when in the hospital. Both went straight to size 1. I used sposies on DS until he was about 2 months old, and his thighs chunked up so fast, he barely was in size 2s or 3s and has been in size 4 since then, on the occasions that I use them. As a result, I still have lots of size 2s leftover from him because I stocked up, and now with this babe I have a pack of newborns that my mom bought that DD can't wear.

As far as brands go, I like Pampers Swaddlers, but once DS was past size 2 I started using the Target brand sposies ($14 for a huge box). They recently started making them with stretchy tabs, which is nice, and I didn't notice much difference with regards to leaks/absorbency between them and the Pampers brand. That, and they're not scented. The only dipes I would NOT use are Pampers Baby Dry. I ended up with a pack of them somehow and they gave DS a terrible rash. The rash was the same size and shape of the stay-dry part of the diaper, so I know it was the chemicals or something in them.

[musiclady]

wow! bumgenius CD are $18 a piece? Goodness!!

They really do look ultra cool!
http://www.bumgenius.com/products.php

[3pink1blue]

dont buy a stash. seriously. your baby will outgrow them at an astonishing rate. I don't start buying large quantities till they're in size 3, because they seem to stay there awhile.

as far as what brand... again you will need to wait till baby is here to know. DS leaks out of EVERYTHING except Luvs. DD1 needed Huggies only. DD2 could wear anything, and Target brand fits DD3 best.

And we ruined lots of outfits with bright yellow baby poo while using up all the size 2 Huggies my aunt bought us. Hated to waste them, wanted to use them up before buying a different brand.

if you're doing disposable wipes, the softest ones that seem to clean best are Huggies, any style. Pampers are kind of papery and the store brands I've tried were either papery or not wet enough.

HTH!

[Llyra]

When I use disposables (I occasionally fall off the cloth wagon for short periods), I prefer to buy whatever's cheapest, so I mostly wind up with store-brand. I did find that the store-brand at BJs is really good. We also like Luvs. I've never seen much difference in fit or absorbency between brands, and none of my kids have been sensitive to them, so we go for cheap. I absolutely can't STAND Pampers, though, whether the cheaper ones or the Swaddlers/Cruisers line. They're scented and I just can't stand the smell of them. I think that's why I like the cheapie ones-- they're less likely to be scented.

We had some Tushies once, and I liked them a lot. I did have to change a little more frequently, because they're a little less absorbent, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

And I agree-- don't buy too much. My twins, for instance, completely skipped size 4. And DD1 grew out of newborn sposies when she was like six days old.

[LaLaLaLa]

With my two kids, it never mattered what brand of diapers we used, so we went with the cheapest of the cheap, mostly the Wal-Mart brand (Parents Choice?). We've also bought generic diapers from Target, various grocery stores and convenience stores. I guess my kids just aren't leaky pee-ers.

I'd agree with the recommendation not to buy a bunch of diapers in advance--a friend of mine had a case of Huggies that she ended up giving to me when her DD had a terrible allergic reaction to them. Yay for me, not so much for her. It's good to get an idea of what works best for you before stocking up.

[artgoddess]

Originally Posted by musiclady

We've decided to go the Pampers/Luvs/Huggies route. I'm absolutely overwhelmed with CD, and feel like I'm going to have enough on my plate that I don't think I can handle CD.

So, the question is (for those who use 'sposies):

How do you know what kind to get? I'd like to start my diaper stash. How do I know what kind? I heard that some brands don't fit as well as others, but I have no idea where to start. First time mama out here....

Don't stash sposies, babies grow so quickly you may not even go through the whole package of newborn diapers before you are ready to move on to the next size up.

[myfairbabies]

Oh, and if you have a baby shower you are almost guaranteed to get lots of diapers. With wipes, I hate the "sensitive" ones. They are so thin and flimsy you have to use a ton if you don't want to touch the poop because you have to double it over at least once. I like the cheapo costco wipes, or huggies.