Prefold Secrets?

[organicmom3]

I'm seriously considering making prefolds ONE of the types of diapers I choose.....but...a friend of mine today offered me luck as she said she just couldn't ever get the hang of prefolds as they always leaked for her and she could never contain 'poopy diapers'....

I'm trying to stay optomistic and tell myself perhaps she had done something wrong? Are there secrets to prefolds? Are there some brands that are better or particular covers that should be used?????

tips anyone??

[Pepper44]

I used the newspaper fold with my DD's prefolds. The trick is to fold it so that the prefold meets right up the baby's butt, which is higher than it seems like you should fold it.

Link to the newspaper fold instructions:
http://www.thediaperhyena.com/newspaperfold.htm

And for newborn breastfed poop, get covers with leg gussets!!

We love prefolds, even my DH loves them.

[octobermom]

I love prefolds yes they took a little practice but not a lot and they became the most well used and loved diapers overall amoung our s tash. They are affordable wash up great can adjsut to fit many sizes there are a number of folds to use I liked doing and angle wing fold the best. I had probably less leaks with a good secured prefold and wrap than pretty much any other combo.

Deanna

[Mom2SammyJoe]

I use prefolds. I have had many poops leak out of the diaper, but almost never out of the cover. I figure that is what the cover is there for. I also like to fold the extra length of the diaper down in the back, toward the baby. I think this keeps the poo from going up the back.

[SeekingJoy]

We primarily use prefolds. The tricks are to:

* invest in well fitting covers. No gaps at the leg or waist. Thirsties, Bummis, proraps, the real thing that matters is that it fits your baby.

* use a snappi to keep runny newborn poo contained.

* adjust the fold (we liked the bikini twist for DD initally and later trifolded) depending on rise, poo consistency, bulk, etc.

Some brands have more nuanced sizes -- I'm thinking of GMD in particular -- but we were very happy with just two sizes: regular thickness infant size for newborn to 15 lbs and premium thickness regular sized dipes after that.

[prothyraia]

Originally Posted by SeekingJoy

We primarily use prefolds. The tricks are to:

* invest in well fitting covers. No gaps at the leg or waist. Thirsties, Bummis, proraps, the real thing that matters is that it fits your baby.

* use a snappi to keep runny newborn poo contained.

:

I've very rarely had prefolds leak on my kids. Disposables leaked almost every single poop, and pockets seem to leak a little bit every once in a while. Prefolds (newspaper fold) with bummi's covers were definitely our best performers in the anti-blowout department.

[luckygreen713]

I use pf's exclusively (ok, I have some flats too) and I love them. My secrets for success are:

1)Green Mountain Diapers pf's--they are the best, in my opinion. They're thick, absorbant, soft, and are sized to fit very, very well. I can't say enough good things about them.

2)A cover that fits properly. We use thirsties, I like the gussets. But I also have some simple, nylon pull-ons, which still work pretty darn well, as long as the diaper is nice and snug.

3)A snappi or pins to hold the diaper closed-- this really helps keep poop inside the diaper. In cases of really messy poo, the gussets in the thirsties have saved the day. Fastening the diaper also holds it in place on a mobile baby.

I started cd'ing with Fuzzi Bunz, but quickly switched to pf's with thirsties, bummi's pull-ons, and some wool, and I have never looked back. There's something about cotton diapers that's just really nice!!

[e(Lisa)beth]

I use GMD prefolds and Thirsties covers. I use the angel wing fold. My DD is 3 months, and I have had exactly one blowout. Highly recommended!

[inky leeuhhh]

the little boy i nanny for uses prefolds and covers like we do (although ill admit im looking into some pockets to use for times when she is being really wiggly)... ok sorry lost my train of thought- anyway, this boy uses the diaper service prefolds and his diapers leak way more than ours do. we use some plain old chinese prefolds and gmd prefolds, which i love. so maybe its the type of prefold she is using? or she may not be folding the prefold well or just need more absorbancy. our prefolds and covers never leak. we had way more blowouts with disposables when she was newborn. i agree that a good cover is key. we use lots of thirsties duo wraps, and also love our fishnoodles cover and our blueberry coveralls and our wool. we use the bikini twist fold, the jelly roll, and the angel wing. im able to do the angel wing fold quickest so we've been using that a lot. i prefer to snappi the diaper, but many people just trifold the prefold into the cover. good luck!

[Mama2Katie&Owen]

I just started CDing and I am loving my PFs & Bummis covers. I snappi them on DS and just trifold & tuck in the cover for DD. We do have some pockets but those are for DH because he can't seem to get the PFs on right-or quickly enough.

I will admit it took me a few days to really get the trick to using the PFs but I am glad I stuck with it. There are a few instructional videos on YouTube too.

[laurelg]

We got KL0's and prefolds to start off with, and I quickly fell in love with the prefolds. (I'm definitely keeping the pfs for the next kid - KL0's are probably being sold.)

We've been using a variety of covers and have had one blowout in 9 months. (Contrast this with my disposable-diapering friend, who has multiple blowouts per week.)

We traveled cross-country (plane) with prefolds and had absolutely zero problems.

I just picked up some gDiaper covers and am loving them so far. I can't say how well they hold up over time (though another friend has been using them for something like a year now with great success) but I love the design and fit. They seem so much more comfortable on DD, and are super cute, too. Using them with the prefolds is easy-peasy - tri-folded and put into the snap-in liner.

EDIT: Figured I should say that Snappi-ing pfs contained poo very well and made covers very reusable. When the infant pfs got too small to Snappi and I started tri-folding, poo would definitely spill onto the covers, but - as I said - we've only had one blowout onto exterior clothing.

[MadiMamacita]

we use 90% prefolds here. for newborn to six months (before solids) we did the jelly roll and never had a blowout. now we do newspaper fold since his poo is more solid (and he normally poos in the toilet anyway.)
i think the key is to get the diaper very snug and snappied. we mostly use wool or fleece.

[sunshynbaby]

I have had one leak into the cover so far after using prefolds for over a month. In my experience, Gdiapers leaked pee and poop, AIOs leaked pee, and pampers leaked poop like crazy (blowouts while we were on vacation were no fun). I use Thirsties covers with my prefolds with snappies and love it! If you have leaks, change the fold, etc. as PP have said. Also, make sure you prepare your prefolds for maximum absorbancy by washing them about five times before use.

[chely7425]

We use PFs exclusively for the newborn stage... we use the jelly roll fold and with a good fitting cover we have never had a leak. We have had a couple poop-splosions onto the cover but never onto his clothes I also agree that using a snappi is key.

[Adasmommy]

Originally Posted by MadiMamacita

we use 90% prefolds here. for newborn to six months (before solids) we did the jelly roll and never had a blowout. now we do newspaper fold since his poo is more solid (and he normally poos in the toilet anyway.)
i think the key is to get the diaper very snug and snappied. we mostly use wool or fleece.

This is good to hear because I use only wool covers and am planning on using flats with my new baby. I figure that flats can be used just like prefolds, if need be!

[organicmom3]

Thank you all so much! You have given me soooo much to consider! I'm glad I have till April! I'm going to really take my time and sift through all of this info....this site is amazing with amazing people! Thanks again!

[Ruthie's momma]

I used prefolds and Thirsties covers exclusively with DD for about 2 years (she is now out of dipes). I would say that a high quality prefold and a well fitting cover are the most important factors in successful prefold diapering. I never used a Snappi.

[Mrs-Mama]

I like the jellyroll fold. It did an excellent job of containing newborn poop. We, of course, had the occasional leak, but then the cover contained it. Oh, and there are also blow-outs with sposies