New to DC. Q on switching and covers.

[Vvivo]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum, and have some questions about cloth diapering. I'm pregnant with my first child, due in about 3.5 weeks. Originally, I thought that I wouldn't be able to cloth diaper because I am going to go back to work and daycare won't deal with cloth diapers. But then I thought well, maybe I can switch between the two options. What do you think? Can I cloth diaper while I am on maternity leave and for evenings/weekends when I return to work? And then use disposables when I send my child to daycare? Are there any issues in switching back and forth between cloth and disposables?

Second, I was thinking about using prefolds and safety pins. This is what my own mother used with me. Do I need to buy the covers? Are covers necessary?

Thanks!

[Bokonon]

There is no reason you can't switch between disposables and cloth. Many people do it. I keep sposies in the house because DH doesn't want to deal with cloth.

Prefolds need covers. They are not waterproof. Some people use pins with prefolds, but you can also use a Snappi fastener, or just lay the prefold in a cover. I don't even own pins, and have one Snappi but almost never use it.

HTH!

[ExuberantDaffodil]

You can absolutely switch back and forth! I use cloth mainly, but my MIL who watches dd while I work on Fridays will have nothing to do with it, so disposables it is. If I had to send dd to daycare, I would definitely still use cloth while she is home.

Yes, prefolds need a cover unless you watch for first pee and change right away. In that case, you could also look into EC'ing.

There are lots of different dipes you can try out, though. Some sites offer trial programs, and if you are set on prefolds and covers, I hear Green Mountain Diapers, Little Lions, and the Econobum systems are very popular.

[Vvivo]

Thank you for your answers!!

But now I have another question...

I want to do CD for two reasons. One is environmental. But two is to save some money. I don't want to spend more money than I have to. I looked at Green Mountain Diapers and am considering their Cloth-eez prefolds. They have all different sizes. Given that you only use each size for a few months, is it really necessary to have all the different sizes? Can I start a newborn on the small size? And just fold it over more? Or will that really not work? How important is a a good fit? And if it matters, I love doing origami, so I'm all up for creative folding if that can help make a larger prefold fit a smaller baby.

[Ola_]

Originally Posted by Vvivo

I looked at Green Mountain Diapers and am considering their Cloth-eez prefolds. They have all different sizes. Given that you only use each size for a few months, is it really necessary to have all the different sizes? Can I start a newborn on the small size? And just fold it over more? Or will that really not work? How important is a a good fit?.

I think the question is - how important is it to you? Will a more bulky diaper bother you?

GMD is a wonderful place if you want the variety of sizes that they have available. Yes, you can use the small/yellow edge prefolds on a newborn though it will be bulky. Most other diaper companies just have two main sizes - infant and premium. They can be less expensive as well which sounds like you may like. Check out Little Lions for example. Another option is doing flat diapers instead of prefolds, which is basically one-size but it does involve more folding.

For covers, I'd say you'll definitely want some. You can go the inexpensive route with pull-on nylon covers. Proraps has fairly inexpensive wrap-style covers as well (which tend to be quite popular in the newborn size). Some other options would be to get a multi-size cover that adjusts (like the Thirsties Duo or one of the one-size covers) or make your own out of fleece and wool. Lots of options depending on which you prefer!

[schreiberwriter]

i love green mountain diapers flats.

If I were going to buy their prefolds for a new baby, I'd buy the newborns, yellow and browns. Might buy reds for older baby if needed. That should be good enough.

Consider that disposables only will cost $1000+, a few hundred is a significant cost savings, especially if you have another child. Those GMD prefolds will last through multiple children!

[KristyDi]

I love GMD prefolds.

I started using cloth w/ my dd around 4 months old. Soon after that I got a dozen red edges from GMD. My DD will be 2 in a couple of weeks and is wearing one of those same red edges right now. She is on the small side though. She'll out grow them before too awfully long, but we sure have gotten tons of use out of them. Several months ago I went back and got a dozen brown edges. They are still too long for dd so I just fold down about an inch in the back of the diaper.

I have and use both pins and snappis. I prefer the fit I can get with pins, but the snappi is so much faster. If you're ordering diapers anyway I suggest you get one or 2. They're cheap and people (like DH's) who are scared to use pins can use the snappi.

On covers, yes you need them. I recommend Thirsties Duo. They come in 2 sizes, both of which are adjustable so they last a while. They just came out recently and when I got my brown edges I ordered one of each size. My dd can still just barely wear the size 1 when she wears a red edge (it's trimmer) and the size 2, snapped to the medium size is perfect over the brown edges. I'll be getting more of them for the next LO that comes along.