Planning and Growing a CD Stash

[Hannah32]

Hello all,

Hubby and I are expecting our first baby this June and we're committed to the idea of cloth diapering, both from a financial POV and an environmental one.

I've mostly been looking at cottonbabies.com and examining different brands. I'm not going to buy just yet, but I like to plan our purchases beforehand.

Any suggestions as to brands I should try, number of diapers and brand mixes that were helpful for your babies would be appreciated. We're really committed to making this work for our family and our little one!

[octobermom]

From cotton babies look at
1) prefolds they carry basic chinese and maybe indian these are excellent quaility and wont disapoint
2) the bumgenius systems they carry size AIOs (very nice) one size pockets (favorites of many) the new flip system ( an economical choice) and the raved over organic one size AIOs (another highly rated favorite) and while they last the bamboo sized fitted (super soft and on great sale right now)
3) bummi and or thisties covers (both there sized and duo covers)
I'd really start here I'd also make sure at some point you consider
cloth wipes (around 3 dozen)
a diaper sprayer (not necessity especially for newborns but a great investment for latter)
at least 2 travel wet bags
a diaper pail system (many just use kitchen sized trash cans with flip top lids) and I suggest 2 pail liners
a few snappi and or pins if going with prefolds
some cloth diaper safe cream

For how many between 24-36 is a great starting number it will basically give you between 2-3 days depending on age of child. I liked to have around 12-18 prefolds
4-6 prefered covers
6-12 AIOs
4-6 night/nap type CDs and or doubler combinations
depending on age..


Deanna


Deanna

[shoefairy3]

prefolds and covers are the most cost efficient IMO. You can just about buy all the diapers and covers you will need from birth to potty training for under $200. We use wool covers b/c I can knit and I like them better than PUL covers (since wool can be pretty pricey, but it does have a great resale value)

I like to have
2dzn of each size of prefolds (except regular size , i never used those), so preeme, infants, premium and toddler. Obviously you wont need premium and toddler right away
4 - 5 covers in each size as well (sizing up as needed)

Wool sacks and wrap covers are my favorite for the itty bitty sizes and longies/shorties for the bigger sizes.

[bubbamummy]

I have a horrible addiction to buying cloth diapers right now, be careful or you can easily end up spending a ton (like I have! ) I know you can sell them after and it seems they make some good money on ebay-so im holding onto that thought to make myself feel less bad

I use Bum Genius 3.0 and LOVE them for my toddler (22months) his bottom is rarely 'clammy' and they have only leaked a handful of times and thats usually due to me being too slack on changes and him drinking a TON of liquid in a short time.

For my next babe due in April I have gone a little crazy, I have heard from multiple people that Bum Genius are pretty big on newborns..too big even. So I planned to buy a handful of some other cloth dipes in 'newborn' size for the 1st month or so...thats where ive gone nuts-there are soooo many gorgeous ones to pick from I have hunted on ebay and got some Bummis Super whisper wraps as I want to give 'pre-folds' a try. I just yesterday got some 'Thirsties fab-fitteds' and covers in newborn size and they feel WONDERFUL, so far, just from looking, these are my favourites-you do need a cover with them, but they feel SO soft and look so cute. When I showed my husband he said ' how many more do we need?????'

I also got some 'gently used' 'Swaddlebees' pocket diapers, they seem very similar to the BG from looking at them-but I got the XS size.

oh and I also ordered some XS Kissaluvs from the Sears website-they havent arrived yet, but we'll see what they are like.

[Juliacat]

Diaper service quality prefolds, Proraps, Bummis, Mother-ease, Blue Penguin.

http://juliacotton.wordpress.com

[Pinoikoi]

I like fitteds and covers with gussets for newborns, but I have tiny little babies. My favorite newborn sizes are nanipoos. they have a little dip in the front for the umbilical cord.

For medium and petite sizes we switch entirely to pocket dipes. Dp isn't good at figuring out what goes with what, so if I stuff them all ahead of time then he doesn't have any issues with them. DP is a stay at home dad but I will be home with the newborn all summer!

[Nicole730]

I like the prowrap covers, they are inexpensive and worked well for the newborn age.

[inky leeuhhh]

if i have another babe, i will be trying to do fitteds and pul covers during the nb stage i think. our baby is now almost 9 mos (yikes!) and she uses pocket diapers during the day while she is with our care provider and my dh, and fitteds with wool at night when i get home to help calm her sensitive skin after being in sythetics all day. ive found if i dont do this she will get a rash after a couple days of only being in pocket dipes, but she has really sensitive skin in general. i love our prefolds, but i just cant keep her still long enough to get them on her right now. she's crazy active! i cant suggest a nb fitted because we did prefolds at that stage, but we love our thirsties duo wraps and they have lasted wonderfully.

[cristeen]

I would suggest checking out diaperswappers. I got almost my entire stash used from there, and I was able to try out maybe 10 different brands and types of dipes to find what works for us at a fraction of the cost.

[junipervt]

If I was to start our stash of diapers all over again this is what I'd do if I was only shopping at cottonbabies & didn't want to spend a ton of $......

2 doz infant sized prefolds - $36
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_...roducts_id=277
3 Snappis - $11.85 (I remember these being cheaper?)
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_...roducts_id=100
3 nb prowraps - $26.85 (boring white but they grow out of them fast)
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_...roducts_id=284
3 small bummis super brites - $38.85 (same style but cuter than prowraps)
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_...oducts_id=1284
6 Kissaluvs size 0 - old style is on clearance - $62.16 (easy on the go diaper changes)
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_...roducts_id=283
6 Bum Genius One Size pockets - $86.90 (easy on the go or babysitter diaper changes & can be used for night)
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_...oducts_id=2272

total - $262.61 & you are set up to about 15lbs & BGOS you can use until potty learning time.

you may want another cover in each size. you'll also need wipes. these can be made for super cheap if you know anyone w/ a serger sewing machine.

for a pail I use 5gal buckets w/ lids from the hardware store - easy to dump stinkies in the washer & wipe out.

you'll also need some kind of wet bag for the diaper bag. I like nice pul lined ones w/ zippers, but my mom used to use old plastic bread bags.

[mythik]

For NB:
24-30 preemie/infant prefolds (depending on apx size of baby)
4-6 covers
6 fitteds (KLO's or any nb fitted - they are great when you are too tired to snappi a prefold or going a the Drs apt). Generally these fitteds last up to 12-15lbs which is great.

Post NB:
if a SAHM you can get by on 20 prefolds &/or fitteds w/ 3-4 covers.

If you are not a SAHM then:
24 one size pocket &/or aio diapers

or

12-15 one size pocket &/or aio diapers & 12-18 prefolds &/or fitteds for at home/wkends with another 3-4 covers.