please critique! want to order soon :)

[stellarae]

so this is what i have in my cart right now.... im not sure what else i should get, if i should cut back somewhere... etc. ive never used cloth diapers before, so experienced mommas, let me know

2 Tiny Tush Trim One-Size Diapers
10 bumGenius! One Size Pocket Diapers

4 size 0 Kissaluvs Fitted Diaper
2 small Thirsties Pocket All In One Diaper V1

1 small Bummis Super Whisper Wrap
2 small Thirsties Diaper Cover
1 small Aristocrats Wool Soaker
1 newborn Imse Vimse Soft Cover

36 infant prefolds unbleached
24 regular prefolds unbleached (for later, fits 15-30 lbs)

2 large Bummis Tote Bags
1 small Bummis Tote Bag


this is all about $425 and id like to keep it kind of close to that. there are a couple things in there that are for later, like the larger prefolds and the small thirsties pocket diapers. does it look like a good selection and should i get any more or get rid of any of the covers, prefolds, one sizes, anything really...

thanks in advance!

[dogretro]

Personally, I would not bother buying the regular-sized prefolds this early. The size range is, imo, only relevant if you are pinning/snappi-ing the diaper. My daughter is a thin 19 lbs and in a medium cover (15-30 lbs cover) and she only wears the regular prefolds as a nighttime diaper, and they STILL have to be folded down to fit into the cover. WAY too big to wear during the day. If she is in a diaper during the day, the infant prefolds fit nicely in the medium covers (36 is a good number, that is what we have). They look really short in there, but they are not. I can still snappi an infant pf on her if I open the wings, anyway. LOVE them for overnight, useless during the day. And I have 3 dozen of them, don't come close to using that many, either. Wasted money for us *sigh*

As for the rest, tried pockets, didn't like them for ec. Have three fitteds, they're nice under wool longies. I do loooooooooooove wool, both in the winter and the summer (cuts down on sweating). My favourites are Little Beetles wrap covers ~ Im not a huge fan of soakers b/c of having to use fitteds or snappies. We have 2 large wet bags and one small bag and this has been just fine.

Really, we are not fans of anything beyond good ol' prefolds in covers (PUL or wool). We use side-snapping training pants a lot these days now, too. Boring and basic, we love it!

[pixiepunk]

i would also say to wait on the larger prefolds - you might decide you want to use something different by the time the baby outgrows the infant ones. my babies grow big fast, but even still were in the smaller infant prefolds for a couple of months, and by then i actually switched to fitteds for a while and then went straight to trainers. everybody tends to like different stuff.

[justinalinee]

Do you guys recommend buying a whole lotta cloth diapers before my little one is even here? or should I wait until I can test and see what I like??

[cotopaxi]

Originally Posted by justinalinee

Do you guys recommend buying a whole lotta cloth diapers before my little one is even here? or should I wait until I can test and see what I like??

I say test it out. You can always buy more.

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by justinalinee

Do you guys recommend buying a whole lotta cloth diapers before my little one is even here? or should I wait until I can test and see what I like??

Depends- will there be someone there to help you so you can do the ordering after baby comes? If not, then I'd order at least 24 pre-folds and two or three covers for the first three months. Then you can adjust as baby grows. If you have your mom or MIL or husband for a week or more, then that is a different story.

2 Tiny Tush Trim One-Size Diapers
10 bumGenius! One Size Pocket Diapers

4 size 0 Kissaluvs Fitted Diaper
2 small Thirsties Pocket All In One Diaper V1

1 small Bummis Super Whisper Wrap
2 small Thirsties Diaper Cover
1 small Aristocrats Wool Soaker
1 newborn Imse Vimse Soft Cover

36 infant prefolds unbleached
24 regular prefolds unbleached (for later, fits 15-30 lbs)

2 large Bummis Tote Bags
1 small Bummis Tote Bag

What are the tote bags for? I guess this is just a lot, it seems to me, but I had only 24 small unbleached prefolds and 2 small covers (BSWW) and I was fine. This time I have 24 one-size fitteds and two small Motherease covers, and two motherease medium covers for later, and then four large AIOs.

I think the 36 pre-folds and four covers would be PLENTY, even for a frequent pooper, but that's just my opinion. You certainly will not be lacking diapers!

[dogretro]

Originally Posted by EdnaMarie

What are the tote bags for? I guess this is just a lot, it seems to me, but I had only 24 small unbleached prefolds and 2 small covers (BSWW) and I was fine. This time I have 24 one-size fitteds and two small Motherease covers, and two motherease medium covers for later, and then four large AIOs.

I think the 36 pre-folds and four covers would be PLENTY, even for a frequent pooper, but that's just my opinion. You certainly will not be lacking diapers!

I think the tote bags are actually large wetbags to go into the diaper pail(s). We line one of our two pails w/ a bag & so have 2 in rotation. When dd was a newborn w/ lots of poo, we lined both pails. The small Bummis tote is a diaper-bag wetbag size.

See, this is where personal preference comes into play. I only had 2 covers when dd was born and it was NOT enough for us! Poop always got on them. Four was *okay* but I am most comfortable w/ six in whatever size I am using. Like everyone has been saying, it is tempting, but do not buy too much at once. You will change your mind 349837 times during this diapering journey, lol!

[aikigypsy]

I think the number of prefolds is just right. We had 24 infant sized prefolds and I strongly preferred the thinner ones (6 layers in the middle instead of 8) and we were soon also using the regular prefolds, also a thinner model (2x5x2) which are perfect for EC where you don't want too much absorbency.

I would add a diaper belt or two, or maybe some snappis to use with the prefolds, coverless. If you're going to use a newborn sized cover, you're probably going to want more than one.

I bought one Kissaluvs0 to try, and because I only had the one we never used it at all because we got used to using mostly one system at a time... but I tried it on DD again lately, at age 14 months, and it still fit! It wouldn't have enough absorbency for conventional diapering at this point, but it's still good for EC. I would skip it or go with a dozen, and maybe get only 2 dozen of the infant prefolds. Likewise, I found that we didn't use the Aristocrat soaker much... but I just started using it again lately (DD is almost 15 months old!) and it's great. I would buy two, so that if you decide you like it you can always have one to use -- they do need to be washed occasionally and can take a couple of days to dry (at least in this climate).

I personally am not at all attracted to the one-size diapers. I find all the snaps overwhelming. Also I don't like the idea of the stay-dry, synthetic inner layer, but I haven't tried them so take my critique with a big grain of salt. They might be handy for sitters and others who want something more disposable-like. Perhaps you could order not quite so many and try them out?

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by dogretro

I think the tote bags are actually large wetbags to go into the diaper pail(s). We line one of our two pails w/ a bag & so have 2 in rotation. When dd was a newborn w/ lots of poo, we lined both pails. The small Bummis tote is a diaper-bag wetbag size.

See, this is where personal preference comes into play. I only had 2 covers when dd was born and it was NOT enough for us! Poop always got on them. Four was *okay* but I am most comfortable w/ six in whatever size I am using. Like everyone has been saying, it is tempting, but do not buy too much at once. You will change your mind 349837 times during this diapering journey, lol!

Yes, two was cutting it close but it also was encouraging for me to potty her more often.

[lexmas]

I think the more covers the better...DS wasn't a pooper but my sisters baby is, that boy poops 8-10 times a day and they're always running out of covers even though they have tons. probably 8 and she was talking about ordering more (they're ECing part time).

You can use the infant prefolds forever, I wouldn't get the regulars unless you decide you want them later. Or, get flats, we LOVE them and can still use them on 2yo DS, then you don't need the different sizes. We needed LOTS of whatever we have though, so 3 dozen wouldn't cut it unless we were washing every day. Maybe skip the regulars and get another dozen or two of the infants?

Are you planning on using the pockets for something in particular, like outings or nighttime? They're "feel dry" so not really conducive to EC. We didn't use anything feel dry with DS, but I can see the appeal for outings and night and might use something similar next time for those occasions. If you didn't plan on using them for that, then I would get rid of them. Oh, and BG are really nice, but they do wear out quickly (the velcro and elastic) so they don't have the same "shelf life" value of being able to use them over and over for different kids.

Oh yeah, and thirsties run BIG, so I would definately go with x-small, not small. DS is 2 and could fit into a small, they're huge. We really like the Bummis Super Whisper Wraps and swaddlebees ABC wraps for PUL covers, but we prefer covers from wigglewormbottoms.com, they're really cute and they last and last!

We had 6 kissaluvs 0's and we really liked them. They're not all that absorbant but that made them great to use around the house without a cover when he got much bigger (6-8 months, maybe? But DS was tiny, he could still wear them at a year.).

FWIW, this is what we have for our next baby due in may:

For the NB stage:

About 70-80 "one wet" prefolds (gerber burp cloth prefolds, they're 2x4x2), we just really loved them with DS, and the patterns are cute (we don't really need that many, but we didn't have a washer and dryer with DS, so I needed enough diapers to last me if I wanted to go a week between washing.)
10-12 covers
16ish nb fitteds for nighttime (I just have no idea how nights are going to go and nursing and sleeping are more important to me than EC right off the bat at night.)
2 nb AIOs for outings

In smalls, we'll still use the "one wet" diapers (we can probably use those until 12-18 months and then we'll switch to our flats, and we always have flats if we need the option of more absorbancy, like maybe at night), and we have 10-12 covers.

Other than that, I might ask someone to get me a few small g-diapers, because I like them for outings (I use cloth in them mostly but I like the flushables option).

Oh, and we have 5 coolababy one size AIOs, but we rarely use them.

And I definately think 2 pail liners is good, we have 2 and then one can be in the pail while one is being washed. Maybe more wetbags for "on the go" though? I only had one with DS, but since there were times when we went through TONS of diapers if we were missing pees while out, it would have been better to have more so I wasn't trying to cram them in that tiny bag.

Okay, I think that's it for now, sorry for such the long post but I figured maybe you'd like to hear what we're doing since we've done the whole EC thing once and have figured out what we'll do this time around considering what we've learned from EC with DS!

[EdnaMarie]

Pockets are nice for night IF you have a baby that sleeps a five hour stretch and you aren't planning on night EC. I didn't get any because I am a cheapskate but I can see using them.

We used old grocery bags for diapers when out and about. Even if we forget our reusables once a month we still end up with hundreds, it seems. If they are weaker we doubled them. We didn't line the diaper pail- we just, uh, rinsed it with the hose.

[emiLy]

I totally agree with what others have said. I got regular sized prefolds when i was pregnant with my daughter and they are HUGE. Infants are fine for use inside covers, and without covers for a long time too. If you need bigger diapers at some point, I love the Gerber prefolds -- they are thinner and work really really well inside covers.

I ended up hating velcro with my daughter. Tried it again with my son thinking it would be easier/faster but again hated it. It scratched their skin. I love snaps.

I really like trim fitting covers - Little Beetle wool ones and SIMPLYcovers. I prefer having more of one kind of thing and keeping it simple rather than having 1-2 of lots of different things. Then I feel like I have preferences but feel like I "have" to use this or that in this or that situation when it's really just easy to use prefolds and a cover 24/7. At home and out and about - I don't think AIOs are any easier. They're bulky in the diaper bag and wet bags.

[hrsmom]

Originally Posted by dogretro

Like everyone has been saying, it is tempting, but do not buy too much at once. You will change your mind 349837 times during this diapering journey, lol!

At least that many times! And your baby will change, too! I had a few kinds of diapers that I got to try when she was tiny, and even though I really liked them, I never got around to buying more in that size, just did fine with what I had. (I did buy some in the next size, though.) What I'm using now for night diapers, I used to use for day-time, and vice versa! I'll probably switch back and forth a couple more times!

[pixiepunk]

re: pocket dipes, i had a few that i really liked for outings. DD2 is (thankfully) very sensitive to being wet and hates, hates, hates it. which is great, except when you're in the car for 45 minutes (we live at least 45 min from everywhere ) or in the middle of grocery shopping. she would scream bloody murder. so i used pockets during those times which kept her much more comfortable. after the first several months she was able to hold it long enough that i didn't have to worry anymore - she'd pee when we left the house and pee when we got where we were going and hold it in between, and be able to hold it for the time we were in the store or whatever. so eventually i got rid of them. but they were very handy when she was tiny and peeing more frequently.

again, so much is personal preference! so try things out and see what you like and go from there

[stellarae]

wow, thank you all so much! im definitely going to be taking all the suggestions into consideration. this is really really helpful - i was going a bit out of my mind trying to figure out what to buy!

[AlliBaba1234]

Don't know if I'm too late, but I'll just add in my $.02.

I'm an old-fashioned gal.

I have a 5-month-old. I have 36 unbleached Little Lions flat diapers. It took me a few days to learn to fold them and attach them tightly, but it was worth it. I fasten them with a snappi (or old-fashioned diaper pins (these never wear out like the snappi, and they don't press down on my son's penis- something I never thought of before and which can cause irritation) and then put a cover over them.

I love the Thirsties covers, they have the best gusset. The gussets on the Bummis are too small for us. I do like the Bummis Whisper Pant (the old-fashioned plastic shorts), but only with flats; prefolds tend to peek out the sides.

I also have 12 prefolds, mostly for ease when going out. I don't like them as much as flats because they're bulkier on the sides and take longer to dry. Plus my flats are SO easy- I just do one hot/cold wash/rinse cycle, dry for the normal time and voila, all done. Never got into AIOs or pockets because all the laundry & repelling & stripping & sizing issues seemed too complicated for me.

Another thing about flats: they're so versatile. I use them as doublers, burp cloths, toys, light blankets, as a hanky or clean-up rag, etc. ** I also like to line an old mixing bowl (no longer for food, haha) with a flat diaper for pottying when we go out. When we're in the car getting ready to go into a store, I put the flat in the bowl, hold my son over it and let him pee/poo, and that way everything is absorbed by the diaper and I just lift the diaper out as opposed to needing a container with a really super-tight lid or whatever to contain the waste until we get home. ** I also do this with prefolds, but the flats can be spread out a little wider.

Love wool wrap covers. If you're a speedy knitter you can make one Warm Heart Woolies wrap in a day.

[AislinCarys]

I recommend getting a lot of flat diapers. They are cheap, and can easily be folded ahead of time - I had a pile of them folded and ready. The good thing is that they will get you through the first few weeks or so, while you can try out some fitted nappies or all-in-ones to see what you like, they are excellent back-up, but you can also use the for so much else: burp cloths, I put them in the sling when she was bare-bottomed, I put them under her bottom on the sheepskin (easy to toss in the wash), and as sheets in our bed, on top of a bassinett-size wool underlay (so we don't need to change our sheets in the middle of the night if she wets), to wipe up misses, folded up in the potty while out in town and I don't have anywhere to empty potty, to cover her booster seat during meals, and in her lap to protect clothes and much, much more.

I love wool covers, but my Imse Vimse wool covers give DD a rash (she is fine with her organic wool hat, and otherwise I never let the wool touch her skin). If I was doing it again I might get organic wool covers (horribly expensive, I know) or just go for non-wool covers. Don't go and buy bigger sizes from the beginning, though. Ours were a huge waste of money, as DD has been wearing just the fitted non-waterproof nappies since she was about 5 months old.

[Turtle Woman]

why flats vs prefolds and how do you fold them(flats)? they seem like a lot of work for ec. i need fast. ds 3 months has grown out of all the fitteds (green mountain infant fitted) we were given. everything i have so far was handed down to me.

thinking of buying 6 fitted for nighttime as he does not want to be peed at night. snug to fit green mountain diapers or thirsties??? i change him the two times he pees each night. really like trim as possible and wool covers. have a lanacare and a disana wool i use for night. he will grow out of these soon and wonder if i should buy the next size or try aristocrats. Have an imse vimse small for day along with some bummi whisper wraps but don't like the velcro. after using the wool the bummis seem sooooo plasticy. thinking about getting the little beetle wool for day time as i am out a lot driving older kids and need covers for car and home school classes. pee every op we have but there are still times he can't wait and he gets so mad. thinking prefolds or flats with a fleece double in car (and at night) so he doesn't get so upset if he can't hold it in car.

help????

[To-Fu]

Originally Posted by cotopaxi

I say test it out. You can always buy more.

That's my vote, too.

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by Turtle Woman

why flats vs prefolds and how do you fold them(flats)? they seem like a lot of work for ec. i need fast. ds 3 months has grown out of all the fitteds (green mountain infant fitted) we were given. everything i have so far was handed down to me.

thinking of buying 6 fitted for nighttime as he does not want to be peed at night. snug to fit green mountain diapers or thirsties??? i change him the two times he pees each night. really like trim as possible and wool covers. have a lanacare and a disana wool i use for night. he will grow out of these soon and wonder if i should buy the next size or try aristocrats. Have an imse vimse small for day along with some bummi whisper wraps but don't like the velcro. after using the wool the bummis seem sooooo plasticy. thinking about getting the little beetle wool for day time as i am out a lot driving older kids and need covers for car and home school classes. pee every op we have but there are still times he can't wait and he gets so mad. thinking prefolds or flats with a fleece double in car (and at night) so he doesn't get so upset if he can't hold it in car.

help????

We EC. I used BumGenius All-in-Ones at night w/DD1, pre-folds during the day. However for this one, I use Motherease fitteds day and night, because I can kind of pull them down w/o unsnapping them, like training pants, but unsnap when I want to change her. They're everything I dreamed of. BumGenius are great, though.