Wanting to start CD, but I'm intimidated.

[Error_kitten]

Ok so my little guy is 5 weeks old, and weve been using disposables up until now.
I have what I need to start but my attempts so far havent been to promising and I'm really intimidated by CD now... I don't know why I partially think PP stress and lack of sleep may be playing a part in this.

I have 24 Green mountain NB prefolds that I have washed and prepped all ready.
24 yellows that only 12 have been washed and dried a few times, but I think they need to be washed more.
2 SM whisper wrap covers, flushable liners and 2 Good Mama diapers
Dart is probably about 9 lbs now (according to our scale at home) and when Ive tried using CD's on him I just feel like I'm not doing it right.
I put the PF on use a snappie and then put the cover, But in order to get the cover to cover all the PF I have to put it on pretty tight an I think the cover is still a bit to big.
I have one pair of knitted wool shorts that fit him but I haven't wanted to use it yet because when I have put the PF's on him his poo has soaked right through to his cover and its a mess.

Please any advice or reassurance would be greatly appreciated.

[Juliacat]

Bummis Super Whisper Wraps are among my favorite covers, but they do run a little large, at least for us they fit best when dd was at the end of the size range, so a small may indeed be a little too big for a 9-pound baby. But I wouldn't worry about putting it on too tight--it needs to be tight in order to work, and unless the baby actually seems uncomfortable, tight is fine. Newborn baby poop does indeed soak through the diaper sometimes, so fear of wool is understandable. So is PP stress, so is lack of sleep. Even using 1 cloth diaper a day is better for your wallet and the environment than using all disposables, so it's okay to start gradually. It may also be worthwhile to buy a few newborn covers, maybe used? It sounds like you have plenty of PF's and aren't ready for wool yet.

[junipervt]

at 9 lbs the whisper wrap covers are probably just starting to fit. It's ok to overlap the tabs.

try this
-put the prefold on & snappi
-put the cover over it
-then tuck any diaper sticking out back in

it just takes practice

if you can you may want to get a few more pul covers. when I was still learning sometimes DD would go through 4 covers in a day

[Error_kitten]

My mom just purchased some PUL fabric so were going to try to make some covers ourselves.
So we'll see how that goes.


I want to do this so bad because everything else I have Tried to do hasn't worked out...
ie: Natural home birth... Ended up in emergency C section, Breast fed ONLY ended up with having to supplement partially up until this week (5 days Breast milk only so far. Yay!).
So I just want to do this so bad but I'm starting to get afraid I'm going to hate it... My Dh is really supportive of CDing, but after having used sposies for the past 5 weeks he kinda likes them, and I won't deny it I do too. Its a lot less work.

*sighs* I just need some encouragement...

[lawmama1984]

You can do it! We just made the switch this weekend. We went cold turkey, head first and I am SO beyond happy. Honestly, I find CD just as easy as disposable so far. I like the soft cloth against my son's private areas better than the less comfortable disposable diapers and the wetness wicks away from his privates and just soaks the liner in the pocket (we got fuzzibunz pocket diapers). We had a poo and it was not bad at all, and I was nervous about it originally. I used to think it was hard as well, but it really isn't bad, honestly. I just ordered some cloth wipes b/c, after reading a cloth wipe thread here, I realized this would be easier than having to find a trash can for the disposable wipe when we're done and I imagine I will love these as well! (Plus, CD are just so much cuter IMO lol)

You can do it!!!

[Michigan Mama]

There is a bit of a learning curve with cd's, especially with prefolds. But honestly, after a couple days of really sticking with it, trying different things...you'll be a pro, and you'll be able to do it with your eyes closed. Which will probably happen sometimes!

I like this fold for ebf poo...seems to help keep it in. If you feel like you need to see more examples of different folds, google it, or look on youtube. There are lots of videos out there, and pic tutorials.

I made the switch when my ds was a few months old, and while it is a little scary at first, it's soooo worth it! Don't feel guilty if you need to start slow. Just do what you need to to be sane and healthy. But be confident! You can do it!

And always come back and ask questions when you get stuck on something.

[inky leeuhhh]

nak. i know how you feel! my natural hb didnt work out, and i was pretty devastated at least the first month. it is so great that the bfing is working out for you. the cds have a learning curve as others have said, so give yourself a bit to figure it out. try and have fun with it! we use the jellyroll fold posted above, and i found that to be easy and trim once i got the hang of it. i dont even use a snappy. the bummis at this point are probably a bit big- they are great covers though, and you will probably be happier with them as your baby fills out a little more. dont stress over it for now, just add it in as you are feeling up to it and i bet youll start to get more excited about it as you figure things out.

[lifeguard]

I use prefolds with covers as well & found that once I adjusted my idea of how many covers I would go through in a day (& how often they needed to be washed) it made it much less stressful. For some reason (I really don't know where I got the idea) I thought I could just alternate 2 covers for a few days. I had been told that they only needed to be washed when they got poo on them & I thought that would be a rare occurence. Now that I just accept that I need a more covers & that they get washed frequently it's less stressful for me.

As a younger baby I kept ds in just the prefolds a lot of the time & changed them as soon as he wet. It was a real mess when he pooped & I didn't catch it but I found it made the majority of the changes easier & I always knew he was dry. Now that he is so active I don't do that as much.

[Vegan Princess]

I had/have breastfeeding troubles too and hated using cloth in the beginning. I used a cloth diaper service back then. I felt like nothing I had planned on was working out. But I used the cloth more and more over time and now that we've moved I wash my own and use bum genius and fuzzi bunz in addition to the prefolds...I think it's fun to use all the colors. Anyway, the poop always leaked out of the pf in the beginning and onto the covers...but it rarely leaked out of the covers. When I used sposies the poop almost always got out onto DD's clothes. I'd say to stick with it and maybe try a few different kinds of diapers instead of just prefolds. It will be second nature soon.

I should add...I went away with DD two weeks ago and used pampers instead of the 7th generation I use on occasion. She got the only diaper rash she's ever had. I hate putting those chemicals next to her little body!! Now I've even given up using the 7th generation when I'm out. I'd rather carry the cloth home.

Cindy

[bubbamummy]

I was intimidated too. I *JUST* made the switch and DS is 15 months I WISH WISH WISH id done it sooner, I love my CD and our next baby will be CD'd from birth, I find them just as easy as disposables and they look SO much cuter

I get a wierd satisfaction when I wash them and hang them out to dry too

[battymama]

CD can be intimidating in the beggining, but once you get in the swing of things its a lot less work. Just start out slow, try a couple of folds and see what works, you can also roll the edges in around the legs and that helps with poo containment.

the poo catcher fold is my fave http://www.bummdiddybaby.co.uk/usingyournappies.asp scroll down to find it, it kind of makes gussets around the legs and forms a pit of a pocket to hold the poo, i do an altered version of this but with a flat nappy.

[ssj77]

I know it can be really intimidating at first, especially with prefolds. But really, after a few days, it will start to seem like a piece of cake. I can certainly relate to having a disappointing birth experience and wanting something to go right. That is great that you are on day 5 of exclusively breastfeeding!

If you need to start slow with the cd, then start slow. It is totally ok. And we're all here to offer encouragement! I would try the jellyroll fold as I also think that works really well with newborns. Just remember to give yourself a break

Take care,
Sultana