Help me choose

[Bee21]

I'm ready to switch to cloth. I am just so overwhelmed I don't know where to start.

I need to choose a diaper that's so easy to use that my sitter will use them. She will be hard to convince to switch to cloth. I'm thinking AIO's, but even then there are so many options I'm dumbfounded. Which do you suggest? What accessories (covers, liners, etc) will I need? How many should I get? Where can I get good used diapers?

I'd like to find some that will fit dd from here on out. She's about 18lbs at 6 months old.

[Michigan Mama]

Pocket diapers might be a good option for you, at least for the sitter. You have to stuff them first, but you can take them to her all ready, so it goes on and off like a disposible. In that situation I would also get the flushable liners, because it makes clean up much easier. There are tons of one-size brands out there and I've tried about 6 different ones. My faves are TinyTush elite for both fit and durability, but each mama has a different fave.

If you want cheap, you can go with prefolds and covers. It's easy enough if you trifold the prefold and just lay it in your cover (again, the liners make cleaning up easier). Covers can be re-used until soiled (rotate through your supply to air out in between). Once you are beyond the super-runny ebf stage, your covers don't get messy as often.

How many you need depends on how often you plan to wash. I would count on 10-12/day, plus a night-time solution (that might just mean 2 prefolds or extra inserts for your pocket dipes) - so, maybe 20 pockets or 24 prefolds with 4-5 covers...that would probably allow you to wash every other day. My ds is 2+ now, and we only go through like 6 dipes a day (maybe - I don't count, really) because he holds it longer in between and sleeps for big chunks of time.

If you go with prefolds and covers (I like Thirsties), you could get regular premium prefolds and those with mostly likely fit through potty training (depends on size) and you might have to size up once or twice on covers, but they are relatively inexpensive, so it's less of an investment. kwim?

hth!

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by Bee21

I'm ready to switch to cloth. I am just so overwhelmed I don't know where to start.

I need to choose a diaper that's so easy to use that my sitter will use them. She will be hard to convince to switch to cloth. I'm thinking AIO's, but even then there are so many options I'm dumbfounded. Which do you suggest? What accessories (covers, liners, etc) will I need? How many should I get? Where can I get good used diapers?

I'd like to find some that will fit dd from here on out. She's about 18lbs at 6 months old.

It is overwhelming, isn't it?

I would recommend medium FuzziBunz. The mediums will fit for a long time. These are very easy for anyone to use. You will stuff the inserts in the pocket yourself when you take them out of the dryer, so the sitter won't do anything but put them on. I leave a presnapped clean diaper in my diaper bag so that the sitter can refer to it to see what snaps to put the diaper on the baby with.

Another option is a bumGenius! one-size. They should last til potty-training. The organic velcro version is all-in-one, one piece, that fastens with velcro. It goes on just like a disposable so it will be very easy.

You will need a wet bag for the dirty diapers while you or the baby is out. The sitter doesn't have to do anything except put the dirty diapers in the bag. She doesn't have to flush or rinse anything until the baby starts having solid poops, which will just roll off the diaper into the toilet.

If you choose pockets or all in ones, you won't need any covers. You would need cloth wipes.

As for convincing her, don't make a big deal about it and try to prepare her ahead of time. Just bring your easy pockets or AIOs, change the baby in front of her, and that's it. Most people think cloth diapering involves pins and folding and that is why they don't want to do it, but when she sees your easy diapers, she will change her mind. Good luck!