Best Way to Start Diapering w/ Newborn

[Mi_LuBelle]

I'm due in December and am planning on using prefolds and covers for the most part, but I don't imagine that will be the easiest way to diaper (without experience) in the first few weeks after birth... sooo... I was hoping you all might have some advice for the best solution. I don't want to get myself or DH frustrated trying to figure out diapering and get into a comfy spot in those first few weeks as I'm sure we'll have enough else to do and learn.

Any advice? AOIs, pockets, disposables... ? What did you find easiest?

[chely7425]

I used fitteds and covers with my first until he fit into the one size pockets I had for him... with my second we did all PFs and covers and it really almost seemed easier to me. I would get some fitteds, some pockets and PFs just to see what you like! I totally practied the PFs on a stuffed animal...

[Michigan Mama]

my ds2 is now 5 wks old and we have use pf's and covers and have been very very happy with them. I also really like to use thirsties fitteds. while they wouldn't be absorbant enough for my older son without a doubler, the fab fitted works great for my little guy, even at night, when he'll go a few hours between changes.

i find the pf's very simple and effective at this stage though. Really. And it will only take you a few diaper changes to figure out what works well.

[veedeepee]

We used prefolds from the start (well, from about 1 week old), and found it to be easy. The trick was having the orange-edge prefolds from GMD which truly fit newborns well (the standard infant size is too long, and is super bulky when folded down). I recall that the first couple of days I found it awkward, mostly because of having to put the diaper on really low so it wouldn't be near the cord stump. Other than that, it was no problem and we got used to it very quickly.

[JessieBird]

We used infant size prefolds in a newborn size whisper wrap from day 3 till about 6 weeks. When he outgrew the covers, we folded the same prefolds into gDiaper covers (which I had received as a gift) for the next two months or so while I shopped around trying to figure out what I wanted for my main stash (one size snap AIOs which I love).

[lillacfaerie]

I find prefolds much easier to deal with than pockets, but that's just me. I would start with 30 infant prefolds and 4-6 covers. We use the bikini twist fold. Once our baby stopped pooping during the night (knock on wood) we started using fuzzi bunz, with 3 hemp doublers and micro insert. I use pockets at night because they stay drier next to her skin.
Green Mountain Diapers has great prefolds. Also try www.softclothbunz.com they have "diaper rite" diapers, that are made to fit inside thirsties covers. They also have free shipping for orders over $150.
I'm of the opinion that you should start with prefolds, and if they don't work for you, you can add pockets or fitteds. Otherwise you could end up spending way more than you need to! Good luck, and congrats!

[pumpkin]

Kissaluvs Size 0 are wonderful. We had prefolds as well, but if that was our main diaper we would have ended up in disposables. I was recovering from a c-section and DH did most of the diapers. He actually found the kissaluvs with Thirsties XS covers easier to put on than the newborn disposables we used at the hospital because they fit better.

[SubliminalDarkness]

Actually, I think prefolds and covers are fabulous with newborns.

[Mi_LuBelle]

Well... looks like I'm on the right path then

Any suggestions for covers for newborns in that case? I've got Thirsties Duo Wraps on our registry for now... any other GREAT covers?

[chely7425]

I love bummis super brites and thirsties... they have leg gussets so they hold more in, they are cute, and not super expensive

[lifeguard]

We did prefolds with covers from the beginning & honestly it is easier to fuss around with pins or snappis or different folds when they are little 'cause they lie so still. So then when you get to the more active, squirmy stage you're a pro. Plus, because they don't really move if you don't get a perfect fit it doesn't really matter.

[azzeps]

For the newborn stage, we went with proraps, because they are economical and get the job done. We used prefolds from a diaper service because we weren't sure we were totally committed to cloth. When we figured out that we liked it, we kept up with the diaper service, but ordered a bunch of different things when she started needing size medium. Have fun!

[Logan]

Im an AIO lover, but hated them for newborn stage, they always leaked. Same as pockets. Fitteds with a cover were the easiest. Im only just now (2 months) getting the hang of snappis and prefolds enough to like them. And the snappis took some serious wearing in. Before it was very hard to get a good fit. I loved my loveybums fitteds and the kissaluvs were good too. And the bummis superbrites fit best the first few weeks. The thirsties will work on a small baby, but are bulkier. But you may have a big baby anyway

[JudiAU]

Right now we are using sized fuzzi bunz with our 7w and just love them. This is my first time with cloth and it is a lot better than I thought. (We use gdipes with toddler--- ha ha another gateway cloth user). Prefolds felt way, way to foriegn to me but now I can concieve of it. We'll probably use mostly gdipes with cloth inserts once she hits medium.

I don't bother with cloth at night. I like to be able to use gobs of A*D and not change at night...

[Mama Khi]

We used Kissaluvs size 0, Mother-Ease Bamboo Sandy's XS, and prefolds with Snappis with NB size Bummis Super Whisper Wraps and Super Brites right from the beginning for day and night. (DD was 6 pounds 7 oz at birth.) And, believe me, neither DH nor I had any idea what we were doing, but they have worked out just fine. I got some ideas of how to fold the pre-folds from pictures on the internet and we just figured it out as we went along. It really wasn't hard at all. We've never had any leaks or exploding poop diapers. (Now, when we traveled when DD was 10 weeks old and used disposables, then we had leaks. I hated those disposables!) DD is now almost 14 weeks old and just over 10 pounds and she still fits into the diapers and the Super Whisper Wraps.