Prefolds and Covers

[DoulaAlicia]

Hello! I'm wondering if you wonderful ladies can help.

I have a newborn coming in March. I've used cloth for my last two children but always fitteds and pockets.

This time for the first few months I plan to use prefolds/covers and have some questions since I've never used them.

First: Which prefolds? Inidan or Chinese? This is my last chid. I've heard Chinese are stronger/hold up longer. But I need these to last about 4-5 months and be soft! And any brand recommendations or are all as good as the next?

Second: Which cover? From my research is seems like alot of people like "Thirsties". And their Duo cover is very appealing to me since I won't need the dipe past 18 lbs anyway. So I just need to buy 1 set of covers to last me the whole 4-5 months and will not need to buy XS and S to get me through (like I would with a BSWW). BUTTTT, I've heard Thirsties do much better on skinny babies. Mine are ALL chunky. I've had three boys and have another boy due and I doubt he will be skinny. Advice?

AIO: I was thinking maybe a couple AIO's for the first few months - an AIO that has layers that dry easier - like partially sewn in but open up to dry in dryer. My BG's took forever to dry and got smelly over time. Any recommendations?

Thanks!!

[sunshynbaby]

I have both Indian and Chinese and don't see a difference. I love Thirsties covers (they are the only ones I will use - no blowouts!), but DS is chunky and he outgrew size one in the duo wraps when he hit twelve pounds. If you want to CD after that point, you might need size two.

[DoulaAlicia]

We are definitely still CD'ing. I just have a ton of pockets from prior kids leftover so don't need to continue using prefolds as soon as my little man hits the max weight. My HH pockets are one-size so they should be fine. I just assume they will be too big on a newborn.

[PatchChild]

We used mostly Chinese prefolds but have a couple of Indian ones as well. The Indian ones are softer, but not so much that I'd be stressed about it. They both get softer the more you wash them.

For covers, I really liked Bummies, they held up to everything and we never had a blow out poop.

[lifeguard]

I made my own prefolds so no comment there.

We use Mommy's Touch One size covers. Ds is a chunky guy & they've worked fabulously.

[inky leeuhhh]

the thirsties duo wraps are fine on my chunky 7 month old.

[Sheryl1678]

I also love the Bummis covers. I love them. If your baby is chunky enough maybe you can skip right over the NB size and go straight to a small which should last you awhile.

[thefreckledmama]

I have indian prefolds, and love them. The one's I'm currently using have been in use for over 18 months, and the only ones that show any wear, are the ones my MIL bleached-and when I say bleached, I mean like 2 cups in a medium load on a long wash. They're a little frayed. All the other ones are as good as new still, being washed 2-3 times a week minimum.

I used the BSWW for a while, and REALLY liked them. The only downside was that even if they aired out between uses, they still smelled, because of the fabric lining on the inside holding odors. Recently I bought a few Thirsties-OMG, I LOVE these! The inside is slick and can be wiped out between uses, and totally does NOT hold onto odors. I wish I would have had these all along. I do notice they run large, but not in a bad way.

As long as you take care of your dipes and covers, especially for the short time you plan on using them, you will be able to recoup most of what you spent if you resale them when you're done.

[Michigan Mama]

i also have both indian and chinese pfs and don't notice that much difference.

I use the Thirsties Duo also and love them! DS2 outgrew the size one at around 15 lbs, even though they say it goes to 18. He also outgrew the infant pfs around that time, so that might work out perfectly for you!

[coldandsleepy]

My son is pretty chunky. He's about 24.5 or 25 inches long and weighs 16 lbs (at 8 weeks old, oy).

We do Thirsties covers and unbleached indian prefolds. For us, the size 1 Duo Wraps didn't last until anywhere NEAR 18 lbs. He outgrew them at the same time he outgrew the XS Thirsties covers-- around 13 lbs.

The size 2 wraps were huge on him at that point, BUT we could adjust them down far enough to fit. (Yay for crossover aplix!) If I had to go back in time and do it all over again, I would have skipped the size 1 Duo Wraps entirely.

I love the Thirsties covers overall though.