CD help

[SamiPolizzi]

My DS is 4.5mo and we've been using disposables so far. I would love to CD, but I'm a single mother and I can barely keep up with laundry and other house work as it is. I know absolutely NOTHING about cloth diapering. I was hoping someone here could just tell me the basics and maybe convince me to make the switch.

[katie9143]

if i were you i would try some pockets. they are easy to use, act like an aio when all stuffed and are simple to wash as well. this is a great time to think about switching - i think about 5-6 mos old was when my dd stopped being in that phase where she used a ton of diapers, you know that nb stage.

i would suggest something that is one size, which will probably fit your baby til they potty learn. bumgenius 3.0 pockets are nice, you stuff them and then fasten them on with velcro just like a sposie. other one sized pockets i like are haute pockets and fuzzi bunz. i always like to have some with snaps and some with velcro, velcro for ease, but snaps for those diaper only times that you want to make sure your little one doesnt get into it (if you know what i mean). if you had 18-24 that would probably be enough to just do an extra wash every other day (or more depending on your baby). its easier than reg laundry, no sorting or running around collecting it all up. just switch on the washer, add soap and dump the whole bucket in - then in the dryer - and then just stuff them back up, takes maybe 10 mins to stuff a couple dozen and will save you so much money in the long run.

gl

[SamiPolizzi]

Thanks!

When I say I know nothing, I mean literally nothing. So... what do you mean when you say "stuff them"? What goes in them?


(For the record, I feel really stupid right now.)

[Gabes Mommy]

You're fine, we all started out with no knowlege. With pocket diapers, you have two pieces - the diaper shell and an insert. The diaper shell has an outside waterproof cover and an inside lining. The lining will have a pocket in it to put the diaper insert in. The insert is the absorbent part. So when you stuff them, it's just putting the insert in the diaper pocket.

I've found that pocket diapers are the closest to disposables, and the easiest for me to use. We put the inserts in the diapers ahead of time, so I can just grab a diaper to use. They are a little more expensive, but you can usually find discounts or deals. However, you won't need to buy disposables anymore, so after a few months you should break even.

Laundry doesn't take too much time as long as you keep it up. We wash every other day or so, and it takes about 1/2 hour.

[Sleepyheaded_Mama]

I'm a single mama, four year old is special needs, and expecting #4 in November -- and call me crazy, I've decided to cloth diaper this little one.

I'm still learning as well and so far I've decided to use prefolds and Mother-ease One Size Fitted diapers with Thirsties DUO Wrap covers. The MEOS aren't exactly what I consider cheap ($5 each used is not "cheap" to me at all), so I am really praying they work out for us. Failing that, I must have amazing dexterity because I can Snappi a prefold like a bad @ss already, lol, didn't realize how adept I was until I let my mom, sister and friend try practicing with them -- they were all thumbs, lol.

We can do it mama! Just commit to a little bit of extra laundry, yes it's vital laundry but also EASY laundry, no fabric softener, no folding, ironing, etc. so I think I can manage. I have faith!

[TsuaSai]

Okay I am also very new to CD and don't know a thing. DD is 15 months old but I really wanna make the change. I am thinking I want to do the pocket diapers. But I am lost on brand? Can I use anything as a diaper pail or what are good things to use, does it need to be covered? I just started doing research tonight. I am a SAHM so I have time and it would really help us as I still think we will be in diapers long enough to get a good savings out of it.

Also do you think 15m I should just not do it? She has used the potty once but I still don't think we are anywhere close to knowing when to use the potty. She also always wakes up with a dry diaper so I just stick her on the potty first thing. Sorry to thread jack but I feel like were almost in the same boat.

[TsuaSai]

Okay this might also sound stupid. But if I get kind with the insert is is possible to use the outter part more than once and just replace the insert? Or do I need a new one of each for each time. I was looking at this set of six bumGenius but I don't know I would need more or just extra inserts. I am feeling so lost.

[octobermom]

Originally Posted by TsuaSai

Okay this might also sound stupid. But if I get kind with the insert is is possible to use the outter part more than once and just replace the insert? Or do I need a new one of each for each time. I was looking at this set of six bumGenius but I don't know I would need more or just extra inserts. I am feeling so lost.

Pockets are a use once and wash diaper if your in a pickle and someplace where you find yourself unable to put on a clean diaper then you could put in a fresh insert and gain more time but as a rule the inside will still have been peed on even if it wicks away. If you wash daily and possibly combine with the occasional disposable a dozen pockets would be doable I'd aim for like 15-20 honestly for a decent stash washing every 2-3 days.
Another very simole metod to consider is basic wraps and prefolds this is actually our prefered system. A dozen prefolds will rund around $15=$20 depending on size and wrap style covers around $8-$14 on average the covers can be reused just lay in a new diaper unless the cover gets messy. (we used to rotate 2 allowing the other to air out between changes). To use we simpily trifolded a prefold layed in the wrap and fastened on our child I also mastered pining and actually liked to do it but the other method was simple fast and DH handled it fine.
Here are a few pictures that demenostrate our prefered method the prefold shown is an unbleached standard (forget from where) and the cover is a cotton Nicky.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...g/7aa2aac1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...g/282a4f0b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...g/c036b21d.jpg

Deanna

[Ifluffedthree]

My first reply will be, if your choosing to use pockets or a product that is synthetic you should test run a couple out prior to investing in a stash of them to insure you do not have a synthetic allergy. As a single parent I would imagine that with one income you are probably careful about your outgoing expenses.

My second reply coming into this would be that I would choose prefolds again, mixed with a few misc. selections for ease of use such as fitteds or I suppose some pockets. I always encourage natural fibers next to natural skin -- just my gig.
That said.

As a single mother with a house and a full time job with one at home in diapers I still think that the simplicity of prefold diapers was a huge blessing in the long run. They are a little learning curve to get a routine down for application but in the end the time savings and investment were huge. There was little to no maintnance washing - easy dry time -- no prepping or stuffing involved. For someone very limited on outside help these little things add up A LOT. Prefolds wash clean -- simple. Skips the whole involved stripping process and all the stresses that come along with the pockets or fitteds. In the end, for a busy single mom this is a huge time suck especially if your working out of home too.

If I had to do it again -- I would have a mix of prefolds and fitted diapers.

Good Luck!

[Sleepyheaded_Mama]

Originally Posted by Ifluffedthree

As a single mother with a house and a full time job with one at home in diapers I still think that the simplicity of prefold diapers was a huge blessing in the long run. They are a little learning curve to get a routine down for application but in the end the time savings and investment were huge. There was little to no maintnance washing - easy dry time -- no prepping or stuffing involved. For someone very limited on outside help these little things add up A LOT. Prefolds wash clean -- simple. Skips the whole involved stripping process and all the stresses that come along with the pockets or fitteds. In the end, for a busy single mom this is a huge time suck especially if your working out of home too.

If I had to do it again -- I would have a mix of prefolds and fitted diapers.

Ahh the voice of experience!! Good to know I'm on the right course, sometimes I'm blessed with intuition, sometimes not so much, lol, but just maybe I've got the diaper-thing right, at least. :

[octobermom]

As a single mother with a house and a full time job with one at home in diapers I still think that the simplicity of prefold diapers was a huge blessing in the long run. They are a little learning curve to get a routine down for application but in the end the time savings and investment were huge. There was little to no maintnance washing - easy dry time -- no prepping or stuffing involved. For someone very limited on outside help these little things add up A LOT. Prefolds wash clean -- simple. Skips the whole involved stripping process and all the stresses that come along with the pockets or fitteds. In the end, for a busy single mom this is a huge time suck especially if your working out of home too.

I'm not a single mom I don't work out f the home but I still agree with everything said here. The no nonsense simplicity of prefolds were very favorable to us.

Deanna

[MommaG]

I suggest buying unbleached indian prefolds, Thirsties Duo Wrap (they have 2 sizes), and then buy some pockets. Right now you can buy a new diaper called Nubunz on ebay. You can get 2 for $17.25. They are very similar to bumgenious. They are one size diapers. So they hold 8-38lbs. I would buy a few try to try out at first before buying a huge stash. That way you can find out what you like and to make sure your child isn't allergic to anything. You can't wash with regular detergent either. It has to be something with no brighteners and so forth. I use Planet detergent. There's a bunch of different kinds out there. I'll come back to post the link. When cloth diapering you need a diaper pail with a pail liner. I use a step lid trash can. I was going to write more but I have to change my babies diaper.