Still Trying to Understand Prefolds

[Lineymom]

So I think everyone seems to agree that GMD prefolds are the best. I do definitely want to go with Indian Unbleached prefolds. I know everyone seems to say that GMD has the best sizes. I am not sure if I want to fork over the extra $$$ for them (not to mention the high shipping when I can get them shipped for free from cottonbabies or LL. 36 GMD w/shipping comes to $81.85 Cottonbabies $54 and LL 2nds $46.20)
I am expecting a big baby (in Nov) so would not want the orange edge/nwb anyway. Yellow edge on GMD says 12.5X13.5 shrunk. Regular UBIPF's say 12X16 before washing. So what do they shrink too????

Things that are most important to me:
-Comfort of the baby
-$$$$$$$$$$$$
-I absolutely do not plan to pin or even snappy, so want to trifold or whatever
-Do not want extra bulk

My MIL will be making me some fleece covers, so I could get her to trim them for me. Do you all think it would be worth it?

[Mrs-Mama]

Yes, all prefolds shrink when you wash them. So, 12x16 "before washing" will definitely shrink as they "quilt up" in the first few washes. I personally got the GMDs. I got pfs from cottonbabies for my son (he was 15 months when we started) and I trifolded them and always wished that I had gotten the GMDs b/c I hated the extra bulk when folding down the extra length in front. Of course, you could get them and have them trimmed, and that would take care of the extra length problem.

I got GMD orange-edge for my dd when she was a newborn. She was 8 lbs 10 oz at birth and even still the orange edge were a little bulky at first. We changed over to GMD yellow-edge around two months and they still fit her now at 10 months (19 lbs). I've always snappied with her.

You may want to consider using a snappi or fastening in some way at first. It's actually very easy to do when they're non-mobile. With trifolding there's nothing (besides the cover) to contain the explosive liquidy poop so you would need to have many covers since you will likely not be able to re-use them in between washes.

Good luck in whatever you decide! Even if you go with the GMDs, just think of how much money you're saving over going with all pockets or something else . Prefolds are very easy to launder and keep the stinkies away, too.

[Juliacat]

GMD prefolds are wonderful, but whether they're the best depends on your individual baby's size and shape and on how you plan to use them. If you're totally unwilling to pin or Snappi, it may not make a difference. What makes the yellow-edged GMD prefolds better than the green-edged infant prefolds you can get elsewhere, is that the yellow-edged are wider, which makes a huge difference if you are trying to use a Snappi around the baby's waist. If you're just going to trifold, this is less of a deal. I wouldn't worry about trimming them at this point. If you want trim, I've heard the Bummis original covers are great for trim trifolds. A lot of people don't like trifolding on young babies because poop will get on the covers, but personally I don't think it's a big deal to get a few extra covers and wash them more often.

[Ola_]

The LL page says that their infant prefolds are 12x16 before washing and 10x13.5 fully shrunk. I also would consider a snappi for a nb especially because of the runny poo that will go everywhere - or just get a few extra covers and plan to wash them more. I would also get covers with gussets if you're trifolding to make sure the poo stays there and doesn't escape the cover.

[Lineymom]

Gosh, I am getting turned off of PFs for newborns with all this talk of needing snappies! They just look uncomforable to me.... Plus extra trouble, I just want good snug fitting covers over them.

Yes, my plan is to have extra covers. I am going to get a couple of rainforest babies AI2s 2nds that are cheaper than a lot of covers (use them with their inserts and with pfs is my plan), a bsww a bsws and a bunch of fleece and aplix for my MIL to make me several more covers.

Because the yellow edge are wider, will the green edge still trifold as well? Would it be to narrow?

Should I just invest in some fitteds or prefitted or maybe get my MIL to make prefitteds?

[fruitfulmomma]

Gosh, I am getting turned off of PFs for newborns with all this talk of needing snappies! They just look uncomforable to me.... Plus extra trouble, I just want good snug fitting covers over them.

You do not need Snappis. We have some because my husband likes them but I can't stand the things. I always just burrito fold and lay the diaper into the cover. You can also fold like you were going to use the snappi and then just secure the cover over it.

You also don't need nb prefolds, but do be aware that even on a big baby (My 2 cd'ed newborns were both over 9lbs.) the infant ones will be a bit big for the first couple of weeks.

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

Have you held a snappi in your hands? It's not bad at all...very easy! I thought it would hurt the baby at first...but not at all!
If your concerned about bulk...when i trifold...it's so bulky! When i use a snappi it's snug and fit. I have always used GMD! I love them!
Sounds like fitted or AIO or pockets will work better for you...that is if you absolutley dont want to try a snappi! Which is a whole lot more expensive!

[DevaMajka]

Originally Posted by Lineymom

Yellow edge on GMD says 12.5X13.5 shrunk. Regular UBIPF's say 12X16 before washing. So what do they shrink too????

Things that are most important to me:
-Comfort of the baby
-$$$$$$$$$$$$
-I absolutely do not plan to pin or even snappy, so want to trifold or whatever
-Do not want extra bulk

My MIL will be making me some fleece covers, so I could get her to trim them for me. Do you all think it would be worth it?

If your concern is bulk and you plan to trifold, I'd definitely go with LL regulars (4x6x4 and NOT 4x8x4). You could have your MIL trim them if you want even less bulk, or just go as is and I'd bet your dc will fit soon without folding them over. A little bulk in the front is really unlikely (IMO) to be incomfortable for baby. Also, if you trifold but spread out the front and back (so it's kinda an hourglass shape) that makes it more trim fitting. It's slightly more work that straight trifolding, but still no snappis.

My ds is 2 mos old and big- he's fitting in 14" pf's, which were 16x16 before shrinking.

I'm like you- I don't do snappis or pins, and like to trifold. And, ds's comfort is a priority (so I don't like lots of bulk).
For us, trifolding worked well in the beginning- ds pooped a little bit at a time really really often. There was never enough poo to get to the cover until about 6 weeks, and then he was going slightly less often.

[Mrs-Mama]

Originally Posted by Lineymom

Because the yellow edge are wider, will the green edge still trifold as well? Would it be to narrow?

It will not be too narrow. You don't have to fold the sides over all the way, just do fold enough so that it fits in the cover well.

Originally Posted by Mamato3wild ponnie

If your concerned about bulk...when i trifold...it's so bulky! When i use a snappi it's snug and fit.

:

[octobermom]

Gosh, I am getting turned off of PFs for newborns with all this talk of needing snappies! They just look uncomforable to me.... Plus extra trouble, I just want good snug fitting covers over them.

Yu don't "have" to use a snappi however I'll say I can personally do a prefold with a snappi about 20 times FASTER than it takes me to fit a trifolded prefold in the cover so it fits all nice and pretty. Also with the loose breastfed stools of a newborn a secured diaper just worked a lot better.

Deanna

[Pepper44]

You should just get one snappi to try! They are so easy and way worth it. Trifolding did not work well for us at all, it resulted in explosive newborn poop everywhere, all the time. It always seemed like DD's entire butt was wet and she would stick to the cover. A quickly folded and snappied prefold with a piece of fleece laid into the crotch is so much cleaner and very dry for the baby.

Since you can't really predict how your baby will poop (lots at once or a little at a time) you might want to have a snappi on hand in case you need to try something different.

I also thought trifolded prefolds were very bulky and looked uncomfortable, with a big wad between the baby's legs.

[lifeguard]

I snappi'd or pinned during the newborn stage & we still got poop on the cover every. single. time. no matter how tight I tried to make it or what type of fold I used. Whatever. You'll figure out what works best for you. Have a snappi or pins on hand to try & you might like it. Or trifold. That's the great thing about prefolds, you have so many options & can change how you do things as you go along.

[ShwarmaQueen]

:

[inky leeuhhh]

i trifolded the first six weeks of dd2's life, because thats what i did for dd1. then on a whim i bought a snappi. now i prefer the snappi. my point is, you'll figure out what works for you. its hard to plan ahead. id go ahead and get a snappi to try though. they are really easy to use once you get the hang of it. if you dont like it, youre only out a couple bucks.

[NorthernPixie]

Another vote for spending $3 to try a snappi. I hate trifolding. Even recently with solid poop, hate it. So bulky, awkward to put into the diaper, just not for us. And I used GMD prefolds and don't like the other longer varieties -- by the time they need the extra length (rise) the diaper isn't wide enough to accommodate. Beware about trimming down though, it's tough to do once the prefold has been washed. Nearly broke my serger doing it for a friend, and my sewing machine had a heck of a time too.

If you're planning to have extra covers...what you'll spend on those you could spend instead on GMD prefolds and nearly come out even. I never once had a poo leak with a snugly snappi-ed prefold and bsww cover. Not once. I shudder to think at what trifolding would have been like with my kid's breastfed poop.