Cloth Diapers?

[candelaria80]

Hello - Please forgive me if I am posting in the wrong place. -
I have a 15 week old daughter and we have used disposable diapers from birth. I have been thinking about changing to cloth for Earth friendly reasons, but haven't gotten around to doing the research.
Anyway, I was at a friend's home the other day and she uses cloth diapers and I was shocked at the amount of extra work involved in changing him. She had the diaper, a plastic cover and another cloth cover over that! Her son has sensitive skin so I understand choosing to take the extra time, but if my daughter is not having an adverse reaction to disposables is it worth it? What are the benefits to cloth besides the eco friendly aspect? I want what's best for her and if cloth is the way to go I will gladly put forth the extra effort, but I would appreciate insight from other mommies with more experience.
She is exclusively breastfed, no rash and we use "environmentally friendly" diapers.
Thanks in advance!

[DevaMajka]

There are different types of cloth diapers. Some types are more work when changing than others.
All In Ones (AIO's) are the same as disposables- grab one and put it on. They have the absorbant part and the waterproof outer all in one piece. They do take longer to dry.
Pockets are similar to AIO's when putting them on baby, but after washing/drying you have to "stuff" the absorbant part into the diaper. After that's done, it's just one piece you have to put on for changes. These are faster to dry, and seem to get cleaner better.
All in 2's (AI2) are similar, but have the absorbent part either snaps into the inside of the diaper, or lays in. It's pretty much one piece that goes on for changes.
Prefolds can be the same as AI2's if you just trifold them in a cover. You just put it under baby as one piece, and fasten the cover. Otherwise, you fasten it and have a separate step putting the cover on.

Fitteds don't have waterproof outers, and require a separate cover. So you do have more work involved with changes. But the benefit of fitteds is that you have 2 lines of defense (the diaper itself, and the cover), so are less likely to have leaks or blowouts than even with disposables.

gotta go- fussy baby. Hope that gives you a starting place for considering cloth

[Blueone]

Depending on the type of diaper you use it can be hard or easy. If you want easy prefolds might not be your first choice. But they can be trifolded and placed into a cover, then put on the baby. Or you can pin them on, then put on a cover.

Pockets, you just stuff the diaper (can be done ahead of time) and put on the baby, that's closer to disposable.

Then All In One (AIO)are just like a sposie, but you wash them.

Fitteds are like All in 2 (AI2), but they require a cover.

I use an All in 2 (AI2). That's a cover with an insert that is less work than a prefold. I use Gro Baby, but there are several others out there now that are similar like Flip or Econobunz.

As for the benefits, I just like that I never need to run out to buy more at the last minute. They look cute too! Also, depending on the amount you pay for them, they pay themselves before a year is up and you can reuse them on future children saving lots of money!

[mambera]

I use an AI2 also (Softbums). It is very slightly more work than a disposable at each change (you have to snap the insert into the cover - one snap - and I choose to separate the dirty inserts and covers bc that reduces laundry wear and tear on the covers). But the difference is not very big.

Overall I find cloth less annoying than disposables because I hate taking out smelly trash bags full of diapers and I also find it annoying to have to run to the store bc of running out of diapers. It is much easier to just dump the diapers in the wash - don't have to leave the house!

It sounds like your friend may be using a fitted cloth diaper with a waterproof cover and maybe a wool cover to prevent leaks? That's definitely not the easiest system out there, though if her son is sensitive to synthetics I could understand why she would go that route. Some people prefer natural materials next to the baby's skin but my child doesn't seem to have a bad reaction to the synthetics and I love the stay-dry aspect.

I initially started to CD for environmental reasons but now my main motivation is that the plush CDs seem so much more comfortable for the baby than the crinkly disposables. I know I wouldn't want to wear paper underwear!

[GoldmanBaby09]

We started using Gdiapers about a month ago, and I love them! My son has pretty sensitive skin, too and I hated spending $20+ a week on sposies. Some people use the flushable inserts with the G's, but I use cheapo Gerber prefolds, and they have worked perfectly for us. I already had several dozen around the house, so I only have to do wash about every other day. I have 6 covers and liners and that is enough to rotate through. The G's have a snap in liner, which is actually really nice as it usually catches all the mess and can be quickly and easily hand washed. Otherwise, I just toss all the diaper laundry in the wash and it is no big deal. I find the extra load of laundry to be no more difficult than all the other laundry I have to deal with. As for changes, if it is just pee, I just switch out the prefold for a clean one. If it is poopy, the liner usually catches all the mess and I just snap in a clean one and line with a clean prefold. Easy peasy! Even my husband has gotten used to this system and likes it.

[mambera]

I didn't like the Gdiapers (too many snaps, I found the system inconvenient and I always ended up with poo on my hands - plus I didn't like the way the insert got all scrunched up in the liner instead of lying flat). But everybody's preferences are different; you have to find what works for you.

[candelaria80]

Thanks everyone, I think I will do some research and give them a try. I agree that they will probably be more comfortable for her and they are cute.
Sounds like there are a lot of options.
Thanks again!

[ShwarmaQueen]

I've used prefolds since birth. They're cheap, easy (once you get the hang of them), easy to clean, and majorly absorbant with doublers (way more than sposies).

[Michigan Mama]

I switched to cloth when my ds1 was a few months old and have never looked back! I love them. I now have 2 in cloth and wash diapers most days. Cloth has saved me quite a lot of money, and will continue to do so, since we hope to have more kiddos. I will be able to continue using many of the diapers we have. I also started in the beginning for environmental reasons.

There are definately pros and cons to each style, so you'll have to see what kind will work for you and your family. Certain kinds are easier to put on, but those sometimes can be a little more finicky when laundering. I like prefolds and fitteds the best. We have less leaks with them than we do with pocket diapers and I prefer natural fabric next to the skin when possible.

There's a lot of info and tons of brands out there, so if you have questions, just ask! I often recommend trying a couple different styles/brands so you can see what you like and what fits your baby the best...

Good luck!

[sunshynbaby]

I have found three major benefits besides the green aspect:

1 - No blowouts. We use prefolds and covers (Thirsties) and have never had a blowout outside the cover.

2 - No diaper rash. We have never had a diaper rash using cloth.

3 - $$$! After the initial investment, cloth is so much cheaper than sposies!

[candelaria80]

Thanks again everyone, I have decided to order a few different covers to see what works for us.
One more question, for the prefolds, can I buy just the regular Gerber or organic cotton brand from the local store or should I order the ones they sell along with the covers? I have some cloth already (Gerber I think) I use them to clean spit up, but are they a lesser quality than the more expensive offered online? I want to have a good first experience so I don't want to "cheap out" if it makes a difference.
Thank you!

[Blueone]

I've heard from many moms that gerber doesn't work at all. It doesn't absorb worth anything. I've heard wonderful things about Indian prefolds, especially the ones on the Green Mountain website!

[candelaria80]

Thanks, I will order from the Green Mountain website!

[Ambystoma]

If the Green Mountain ones seem a little pricey to try, cottonbabies and littlelions are the same, just a different cut and run cheaper. Everyone seems to love the GM ones, though, because they are cut a little wider.

[ShwarmaQueen]

You can find used covers here in the trading forum or on diaperswappers. What worked best for us was buying a big variety of covers and seeing what worked best.

[GoldmanBaby09]

Originally Posted by candelaria80

One more question, for the prefolds, can I buy just the regular Gerber or organic cotton brand from the local store or should I order the ones they sell along with the covers?

I use just regular ole Gerber prefolds and we have had no problems with absorbency or leaks. I had several dozen already so I figured I could start with those and if I had issues, I could invest in diaper service quality ones (like the Green Mountain kind). Much to my delight, they have worked just fine so far. So, you could always start with what you got and see how it works for you before you spend a ton more money.

I should also add that we EC when we can and I love it! Works very well in combination with cloth diapering.

[nia82]

Little Lions seconds or clothdiaper.com seconds are really, really cheap and do the job.
For cheap covers, check out Dappi covers or Dappy nylon pants or the Bummis pull on pants. The Dappi covers worked just fine for me.
I snappied the prefolds...

Once DS was super wriggly I had a hard time with prefolds, he wouldn't hold still. I opted for Coolababy pocket diapers from ebay, and they have held up very well so far (bought in September). No issues at all, can be washed in hot water and no stink issues. I bpaud $108 for 18 diapers with 18 inserts and a wetbag. I also have 10 Nubunz, since they are made in WV instead of China, but 2 have their elastic shot and 4 have PUL that seperated. The owner is exchanging them for me, but still, all the extra work involved in mailing them off, contacting the owner etc... I wouldn't buy them again and straight go for the Coolababies. plus the coolababies are softer inside (microfleece!).