Opinions, please! Newborn diapers!

[brietta]

I am trying to get my final plan for diapers for the new baby due in October together. This will be my first time CD'ing a baby from the get-go.

So far, I have 12 kissaluvs 0s + 6 x-small Thirsties covers that my sister is lending me. I'd like to add more to the stash. She managed with just that, but I think she must have been doing laundry really often.

I expect an 8-1/2lb baby-- give or take a bit-- based on the birth weights of my other children (in order, they were: 8lbs12oz, 10lbs, 8lbs4oz, 7lbs13oz).

I'm planning on buying half a dozen GMD fitteds. They're less expensive than kissaluvs 0s and I've heard good things about them.

I'm also considering buying a few x-small fuzzi bunz for outings since I've heard good things about those for new babies, too.

Should I buy 1-2 more covers, or will 6 be plenty?

Please give input/feedback on anything I've written about! I really want my plans well analyzed/criticized BEFORE I make a purchase.

Thanks!

[AKislandgirl]

I was really happy to have orange edge prefolds. They were awesome. They fit great and were easy to use and were cheap. All good things for the newborn stage when they go through lots of diapers and grow fast. Now that she is in bigger diapers I use them for doublers, spit up, and under her for naked baby time. Even if they aren't your favorites they will be great while the others are in the laundry.

6 covers was plenty for us.

[EmmalinesMom]

For us 6 covers was plenty. They're really easy to wash out by hand if you need one more before wash day.

I really loved prefolds with covers for the newborn stage. For fitteds, I used a lot of what you already have listed. (KLs, Thirsties)

I did like having a couple of pockets in the mix because you can stuff them with more absorbant material when the baby starts sleeping longer stretches at night, or for longer naps, etc. There are lots of good pockets out there...I loved how Green Acre Designs fit.

Have fun, and congratulations!!

[tinyblackdot]

I second or third the prefolds. They are inexpensive, and you can use them so many ways (burp rags, mamacloth, inserts, or doublers, leaning rags...).

Maybe a couple of Imse Vimse covers, or some fleece or wool. I personally didnt like the marks that most covers left on my dd, and wool is great for night.

And the fuzzy bunz would be a great addition too!

[brietta]

Question: I had inquired about using contours and snappis (I just ADORE the kissaluvs colors and would love as big a stash of those "sherbet" delights as possible!), but most responses said they wouldn't contain the newborn poo better. I guess I don't understand how they can be worse than prefolds at containing the messes...? That was when I decided to stick with fitteds so that I could benefit from the elastic around the legs-- and got some recs for GMD fitteds. Could someone help explain this to me?

(I've been a strictly pocket diaper user so far, so I really don't have a practical working knowledge of the pros/cons of fitteds vs. prefolds-- anything I know/understand is simply theoretical/heresay.)

Thanks!

[prescottchels]

Subbing...

[Llyra]

I wouldn't want fewer than 8 covers in the newborn stage, even though when my babies were older I thought 4 was plenty. Newborns poop a lot, and often it's HUGE and runny and gets on the cover. And it really sucks to be without a cover in the middle of the night when you really need one.

[Birdie B.]

I really liked the kissaluvs fitteds and Happy Heiny's fitteds. They always contained the poo (for the most part, anyway) and were pretty trim. I think 6 covers is enough - we only had 4.

[AKislandgirl]

Originally Posted by brietta

Question: I had inquired about using contours and snappis (I just ADORE the kissaluvs colors and would love as big a stash of those "sherbet" delights as possible!), but most responses said they wouldn't contain the newborn poo better. I guess I don't understand how they can be worse than prefolds at containing the messes...? That was when I decided to stick with fitteds so that I could benefit from the elastic around the legs-- and got some recs for GMD fitteds. Could someone help explain this to me?

(I've been a strictly pocket diaper user so far, so I really don't have a practical working knowledge of the pros/cons of fitteds vs. prefolds-- anything I know/understand is simply theoretical/heresay.)

Thanks!

well in my experience so far I've found that you can adjust the fit of the prefold with the fold but with a fitted or contour you get what you get. I often have blowouts with the GMD NB fitted because my girl has skinny legs. I very rarely have any problems with a jelly roll on a prefold. I have some fitteds that work great for her body type and some not so much. It will depend on your baby as to which fitted will work the best but a prefold will fit any baby. HTH

[Michigan Mama]

I agree with PP. With a prefold, your folding style can help contain the poo. With a contour, you have no protection at the sides at all without elastic. Now, that said, your cover should still protect the clothes, but it's nice when the cover stays clean, too.

I think 8 covers would be very convenient, but I think most people get by with 6 or less.

Also, how often do you think you'll wash? I would count on 12 diapers a day for the nb stage...so if you want to be able to wash every other day, you'll want at least 24 dipes. So, I would think 24, plus a couple aio or pockets for middle of the night or going out. That will make sure you're covered while the laundry is going.

I personally am a fitted lover, and plan to have mostly fitteds for my nb, come August - with a few prefolds and aio thrown in there... Good luck!

[kriket]

you could diaper twins! I use mostly prefolds, I have about 2 doz, I have 4 covers, and a few random ones that friends have sent me, like KL, thirstie AIOs which I love to stuff for overnight and DH just plain loves.

We have only ever had one poo leak and it was DH's fault! He likes to just lay the PF in the cover and he doesn't put covers on real tight. so, he got pooed on. I don't know why he doesn't use snappis, I think he may be a little overwhelmed by all the baby business and can only handle one diaper style at a time.

I would snag some smalls etc, the small thirstys work great even on smaller babies and leave ample room for stuffing. DS is almost 8 weeks and probably about 10ish lbs and I use the thirsty smalls on him.

congrats!

[brietta]

Originally Posted by Michigan Mama

Also, how often do you think you'll wash?

I actually like washing each evening (I do the cold rinse right after I put the kids to bed, then I add the detergent and do the heavy wash right before I go to bed. I do the warm rinse first thing in the morning and then promptly hang them on the line), but I'd like about 18 diapers so that I have "line-drying time," if that makes sense.

Originally Posted by Michigan Mama

I personally am a fitted lover, and plan to have mostly fitteds for my nb, come August - with a few prefolds and aio thrown in there... Good luck!

What kinds of fitteds do you use? Have you heard anything about the GMD fitteds, in particular?

[brietta]

Originally Posted by kriket

you could diaper twins!

Really? I guess I figured only having 12 diapers (+ the covers) would be just enough to get me through 1 day with 1 baby. My babies all tend to poo small amounts frequently (almost every time they nurse, honestly!) throughout the day, so that we're having to change diapers pretty often. Maybe that's why I am hoping to have a diaper stash of more like 18-24.

[tinyblackdot]

12 diapers a day for newborn? Wow! I went through atleast that with a 5 month old! I would stick to 2 dozen just to be safe.

Also have you thought about prefitteds?

[Logan]

I could not get by on a newborn with only 12 in total and manage to keep them in cloth the whole day- and thats living in the land of the sun (Australia) AND owning a dryer. That for me would be just scraping by with part-time use to cut down on the disposables a bit. It would be really making things harder on yourself, and when they are such a cheap nappy choice anyway, why do that?