New to CDing - Best for Newborn/Infant?

[lisko15]

Hi! I'm currently expecting in June. I'm relatively new to CD-ing, as my last experience with it was when my Mom used normal flats with pins and rubber pants with my youngest brother when I was 13, 21 years ago!

I know I can't commit to 100% CD, but I'd like to do at least half. Especially during the newborn/infant stage when they can go through so many diapers a day. I'd like to plan on doing it at least when we are home (and I'll be WAHM, so that will be often), and depending how I feel about them, sometimes when out and about and I'll be with him.

So... since I'm new to all the lingo and special dipes and covers... what would you suggest a CD mama newbie get for the newborn/infant stage? (I'm talking through like 6 months.) Any input would be great - favorites, easiest, best for cleaning. I fully remember the dunk/flush method my Mom used with my brother... so I'm not too queasy about that!

My DD was big (9 lbs 8 oz), so I wouldn't plan to need very many newborn sized or tiny covers.

I really appreciate any input... I've read some posts here and posts in the DDCs, but I end up very lost - there are SO MANY choices!!!!

[My3guys]

My guys were all long and skinny so very hard to fit. I used prefolds and covers for that stage and it worked very well. If your babies tend to be bigger (and it would be hard to be smaller than mine) then maybe you don't need to go the prefold route. In terms of covers, I like wool (Aristocrats are awesome), Thirsties and Imse Vimse.

I would suggest the bumGenius3.0. It is kind of a fool-proof diaper and you can stuff it with as much absorbency as you need. What I like about it is that it is very uncomplicated which will help in those early days when family comes to help you out and you don't need to teach diapering to anyone. This is fairly close to a disposable in that regard in terms of just putting it on and taking it off.

There are a million other options. The ones I like the most are Mother-ease (they just don't leak) and Imse Vimse. Thirsties has a new diaper out, the Duo-Diaper that I have heard lots of great things about but have no first hand knowledge. I love all their other products...very well made.

So there. Have I helped or just confused you more? There really is almost too much information and too many options. However, I would not want to go back to the limited choices they had in my grandma's days.

Good luck!

[osker]

Due in August. Also completely lost when it comes to CD but interested!

just wanted to say hi and thanks for asking good questions!

[cristeen]

Honestly, I went on to diaperswappers and bought used dipes in lots of several. I went for fitteds of natural fibers (mostly snaps), and within those guidelines went for price. I wound up with lots of different stuff, which was great for figuring out what we like and what works for my little guy, and paid a fraction of new for them. I wound up with some stuff that doesn't work for us, but lots of stuff that does. If you're not that picky, then it's a great way to find what you like. And once you know, you can sell the dipes that don't work for you and get more of what you like.

[westcoastlady]

FYI... if you are exclusively breastfeeding, you don't need to rinse the poop out. It's really watery anyways and just comes out in the wash. Just dump all the diapers into the washer and run an extra rinse cycle. It sounds gross to not rinse them right away, but they really don't need it.

I also just cobbled together a diaper stash. For me I used some pockets (Fuzzibunz & bum genius) I mostly used these for going out. The rest of the time I used Bummis covers with flats that I folded into diapers (I actually used the millions of recieving blankets that I recieved... they made great diapers but were totally useless as blankets.) They worked really great and washed & dried easily because they unfolded to one layer thick.

I started CDing later (about 3 mo) because I live in an apartment and have to go down the hall to do the wash. I wasn't going to CD at all but then I realized how doable it was and I got sick of throwing away bag after bag of disposables. Realistically there are many, many great diaper systems out there... very overwhelming. Most of them are wonderful... you just have to figure out which one would work for you.

If I were to do it all over again... I would get a sample pack (you know, one with five or six different kinds and styles of diapers) to start with and use that, with disposables until I had figured out which kind I wanted to invest in. Personally I wouldn't invest too much $$ in 'newborn' diapers as they grow so fast. By three months my little guy was big enough for the 1-size diapers and mediums and they still fit him today (almost 1 year).

[lucy_v]

Lis -- Thanks for the post... I'm also curious about everyone's advice. I'm due in less than a month and still very confused about CDing! I have no one IRL who uses cloth, so I've been trying to learn everything online. Have you seen the Green Mountain Diapers site? http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/
The "New to cloth," FAQ, and "How to info" pages have a lot of helpful info. They also suggest what you might want to buy based on your CD plans, and they have a newborn kit.

[fawnanddoe]

The most economical way to go would be newborn prefolds, especially since they do grow so fast, and pee and poop so often when they are newborns!

I second the diaperswappers, or if you have a local store, or even Etsy.

[Oceanone]

My 3 wk old was born at just over 10 pounds. She fit straight into the ME one size, also fits their small Sandies. At least a dozen infant prefolds and some snappis for backup is useful too. We use ME airflow and Bummis covers mostly, and a Bumpy wool. It's working great for us. No poop explosions outside of the diaper (a refreshing change from throw-out diapers). Also the good news there is not much dunk and flush required for newborns. Just throw them in a dry pail and they wash right up. Good luck!

[lisko15]

Thank you for the responses! They have certainly helped point me in the right direction to do some more research. I've looked at quite a few CD sites, read up on FAQs and looked at some "kits". I just had no idea how clever some of the CD systems were this time around... and so cute!

I think initially I will go with PF with either Bummis or Thirstees covers. I may get a selection of fitteds as well, DH will probably like them. I'm definitely buying some Snappis!

I'm not sure about the AIO. They seem so expensive. Maybe one just to "try" as baby gets bigger and won't outgrow it so quickly.

Thanks also for the tip about not needing to rinse the BF poo. I will be exclusively BF-ing, so that's nice to know. DH did ask that, when I told him about my hope to use cloth part-time, "what do you do with the poop?"

I do have a few more questions that I've recently thought up:

With a boy, how do you keep from getting pee'd on when changing a CD? With a sposie you just keep the area covered right away. But with a CD it would soak right through. What does everyone else do?

What are the wool covers/longies for? At nighttime to keep leaks in? Aren't they hot? Just curious... having a June/July baby here and it could be quite warm!

It was interesting to see they have disposable liners and stay dry liners. I did always use diaper cream on DD (she had very sensitive skin)... but she was in sposies. I read a couple posts here on MDC where babies were having trouble with a rash because of the CD, and it not wicking away moisture. Anyone have problems with that? I have to admit I'm a little worried about that...

[evjolin]

hi--i'm due in july and posted a similar post awhile back....the ones i decided to go with based on lots of good opinions are these: http://www.rumparooz.com/catalog.php?category=96 The lil joeys are AIOS, which is what I was specifically looking for as DH thinks I am 100% on crack to want to CD. I keep assuring him it will be easy and fine and he will get used to it in no time.

I also have some prefolds on hand and some fabulous fitteds on hand for when baby gets bigger. I like these 2 sites: http://www.comfybummy.com/ this one has really helpful instructional videos. this one has expensive but really cool fitted diapers: http://shop.thegoodmama.com/ (she JUST came out yesterday with NB diapers, but i decided to go with the rumparooz lil joeys anyway).

Lastly, 2 other resources that have helped me: http://www.diaperjungle.com/

http://www.diaperpin.com/home.asp

Good luck!!! It can be super overwhelming, but there are many resoucres, esp. this group, that are so super helpful and encouraging.

[Pinoikoi]

For newborns, if you go with prefolds, try getting covers with gussets.. newborn poo is runny.. personally I prefer fitteds for newborn/small size and then switch to pocket diapers for medium/petite (we never really needed larges for any of my kids).. because by then they are on solid foods, and the poo is less runny.. and dp finds pocket diapers to be easiest (he is a sahd for the most part).

My first few stashes were hodgepodge, but not so much anymore.

[jr'smom]

Bum Genius 3.0 (pocket one-size) are a no brainer! They could easily fit your needs. They fit great on my newborn and still fit her at 12months+. They've held up really well too and we do CD almost exclusively. If you want no fuss, they fit the bill!

[cristeen]

With a boy, how do you keep from getting pee'd on when changing a CD? With a sposie you just keep the area covered right away. But with a CD it would soak right through. What does everyone else do?

I just flip the front of the dipe across his crotch. But, in almost 5 months, he's only nailed me once. It's just not really a concern for me.

What are the wool covers/longies for? At nighttime to keep leaks in? Aren't they hot? Just curious... having a June/July baby here and it could be quite warm!

Wool is just another option for diaper cover... your options are basically wool, poly fleece or PUL. The only natural one in there is the wool. Wool breathes, so it prevents overheating, unlike plastic. For a summer baby, you probably wouldn't want longies (pants), but soakers or shorts would still work just fine.


It was interesting to see they have disposable liners and stay dry liners. I did always use diaper cream on DD (she had very sensitive skin)... but she was in sposies. I read a couple posts here on MDC where babies were having trouble with a rash because of the CD, and it not wicking away moisture. Anyone have problems with that? I have to admit I'm a little worried about that...

The only time I've had problem with a "rash" is when I leave him sitting in a wet dipe for a while (like overnight). We combat this by giving him nekkie-butt time every day for a little while, and if it gets really red (usually in the crease between his thigh and groin), a little powder helps to dry it out (not talc - we use a natural clay-based powder). For many kids, the persistent rash in sposies is in fact a reaction to the chemicals.

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by cristeen

For many kids, the persistent rash in sposies is in fact a reaction to the chemicals.

This is the MAIN reason why we cloth diaper.. my bio kids had HORRIBLE reactions to sposies..

[Cameron's Mommy]

I would use prefolds for the first month because your babe is going to grow so fast and you don't want to invest in expensive dipes until they slow down a bit.. but after that I would start researching all the different kinds that are out there. if you can find a shop and go look at them even better,.. I personally love fitteds Clover brand or loveybums sherpas are my fav. but there are so many kinds. what I did was buy them slowly, ordered one at a time online, then if you like them you can order more. but wool covers and fitteds are in my opinion the best! happy cloth diapering!

[AfricanQueen99]

Originally Posted by cristeen

and if it gets really red (usually in the crease between his thigh and groin), a little powder helps to dry it out (not talc - we use a natural clay-based powder).

What do you use? A link would be greatly appreciated.

[Xavismom]

With a boy, how do you keep from getting pee'd on when changing a CD? With a sposie you just keep the area covered right away. But with a CD it would soak right through. What does everyone else do?

I have a little stash of cloth breastpads I keep on the changing table. They are pretty thick and heavy, and I just place it over him. His chunky little thighs hold it in place pretty well! I also keep a PF dipe layed out flat on the changing table, so he is laying on it just in case too. That also cuts down having to wash the cover on the changing mat, if he has a messy poo, I can just put down a new clean PF.

DS has never had a rash. We just wipe him down really well, and blow on him for a few seconds before fastening the clean dipe. We use LuSa Babyjuice for the wipe solution.

[Xavismom]

hi--i'm due in july and posted a similar post awhile back....the ones i decided to go with based on lots of good opinions are these: http://www.rumparooz.com/catalog.php?category=96 The lil joeys are AIOS, which is what I was specifically looking for as DH thinks I am 100% on crack to want to CD. I keep assuring him it will be easy and fine and he will get used to it in no time.

I love Rumparooz I didnt try the lil joeys, I just bought the OS. They fit my newborn DS great. If your interested in seeing how they fit on a NB, let me know and I'll put up a pic.

And DH has no problem with these dipes at all The OS are the pockets, he says they are easier to deal with than the sposies we used for the first few meconium poops.

[hildare]

we still use the kissiluvs fitted at 3 1/2 months. i really like these.. we had both size 0 (has the fold down option for the umbilical cord) and 1's.. of these, i found the hemp/organic ones are the best. they work with all covers, we use thirsties, which are awesome.

dd is/was pretty big, and fit into the BG's early on, too, so depends on the baby's size, but the BG one size can last all the kid's diapering life, while the fitted, sized ones will have to be packed away pretty soon.
I also really like fuzzi buns, but dd couldn't wear those right away and they are sized as well.

[seaheroine]

Love love love Mother-Ease Sandys!

I used Kissaluvs with both my NBs but put my newest DD (4wks) in small sandys...they fit great and are SO absorbent! DD1 was in their larges for a year and just now "outgrew" their absorbency at 2. They are the best diapers I think. We use Thirsties covers.