Convince me on prefolds

[jennmiller]

I CD'd DD#1, now 5, and at one point I used flats and proraps borrowed from a friend while I waited for another size of fitteds to arrive. DD was 2.5yo at the time and I absolutely hated those flats! I couldn't keep her even remotely dry! I was changing her every hour or so just to try to keep her dry. Really not fun! This time I've decided on Tiny Tush organic one-size dipes with wool covers for the bulk of our stash, but I'll need something else for the newborn period. Our budget has me rethinking flats and prefolds, but I can't get those images out of my head of changing a reeking, sopping wet flat diaper. Why do I seem to be the only one who didn't have good luck with these? Is the problem that I was using flats instead of prefolds? Is there a particular kind of prefold that works better? Cost is definitely an issue for me, but having something that doesn't work is pointless. If they do work, how many do I need? Also, since I only have experience with wool covers, I don't know how many PUL covers I need. I need to wash them at every change, right? Any suggestions???

[chase_mommy]

I will try to tackle these questions to the best of my ability.

We have been using prefolds and recently flats for two years now and I am not going to do it any other way this time around. Those flats should not have smelled bad after changing your DC. Makes me wonder if they had some detergent build up or something. Yes they may have an odor but not reeking. Flats are not as absorbent as prefolds. In my experience, with my toddler, the flats need an extra layer of absorbency.. a doubler, prefold, something. Also, sometimes prefolds may need a double, especially at night. I use my GMD brown edge prefolds as a doubler with toddler prefold folded and snappied for a night time diaper. She wakes up and is not soaked and she is a super soaker. Also you can use wool with prefolds. My favorite cover at this point is babyology wool, I have had zero leaks with this as long as it is well lanolized. Also keep in mind, cloth is not the same as sposies. Cloth will have a wet feeling because it does not have that nasty absorbing gel. If baby is soaking wet one of two things need to happen. 1.. the diaper need to be changed more often or 2 another layer of absorbency needs to be added. I have found that keeping DD in the correct size prefold along with a doubler has help a lot in the soaking issues. Also you can add a layer of fleece in the diaper against baby skin to give it a more dry feeling. Fleece wicks moisture away thus feeling dry. I hope this has helped you some. I am very happy with our prefold/flat/wool and occasional PUL set up!

Oh- I am very happy with Green Mountain Diaper's prefolds. Just recently bought Little Lions prefolds and flats, haven't used them enough at this point to say that I love them but they are working well for us. As far as how many you need, that all depends on how often you are going to do laundry. I, personally, like to have 2 doz. a day for a newborn.. I am sure that is over kill but I use them for spit up and my milk that sprays everywhere. As baby gets older you will need less diapers when you size up. I have been happy with 2 or 3 dozen and doing laundry every 3 days. I just recently bough toddler prefolds and bought 2 dozen. I am going on day 3 of not needing laundry done but pail is getting full. Also you could get away with 2 or 3 pul covers to rotate a day.

HTH

[Ola_]

For a 2.5 yo maybe you needed to use a couple of flats at a time, or a doubler? And like you said I'd also wonder about buildup.

As far as PUL covers for a newborn, normally 6-8 is recommended. If the cover gets soiled you'll need to wash it, otherwise you can either wipe it off or let it dry and use it again.

[Erinjvrn]

Thirsties or imse vimse for PUL covers, Id say 4 in each size. Thirsties covers run big, and my 9 lb at birth son wore an xs for a while. Imse Vimse covers feel less 'plasticy' than your typical PUL cover, so I like them best.

Green Mountain Diapers or GMD prefolds are good I think. I trifold my prefold and lay it in the cover.

YOud need something else for over night though, fuzzi bunz pockets are good.

[chase_mommy]

Originally Posted by Erinjvrn

YOud need something else for over night though, fuzzi bunz pockets are good.

I respectfully disagree. We have never used anything but prefolds or flats with DD. At night, more absorbency is needed which means more bulk but that never has hurt anything. Our night time deal now is toddler prefold, brown edge GMD diaper and wool cover. DD is not soaked in the morning (and she is a huge peer) and we have never had any leaks with our wool. I have never used an other type of diaper and we have faired really well.

[Lineymom]

I use pfs at night... no leaks. I just add a small doubler I made by cutting an old recieving blanket in 3rds.
If you really like wool covers, try fleece. I love mine. They are homemade by my dear sweet MIL. I never used the bummis and thirsties I bought and she has outgrown them. The fleece is just so comfortable on her and doesn't leak.

Back to the pfs. I would say they have to be easier than flats and mine are so absorbant! We are still using infants on my 19+lber.

If you think for sure you will only use them in the very beginning, then I would get the sized ones from diaper rite or gmd, but I love my ubipfs from cottonbabies.