Advice on building my stash (LONG)

[Yaliina]

I'm due in late June with DS#2. I'm committed to CD this one from the start, but I need some advice.

I CD'd DS#1 for all of about 3 months when he was around a year, so I've done some, but not much. Based on this, I think I'll end up with mostly pockets again, but never CD'd a NB. I've never used a PF or flat, and I'm a little scared to, but I'll try PF's since everyone here seems to love them so much.

I would like some advice about how to complete my stash. I'm trying to do it as on the cheap as possible, but I can spend $ where it's necessary. And I'm also crafty & am making a lot of stuff myself (or trying).

My current NB stash includes:
- 1 NB AIO I made myself
- 1 OS bamboo pocket from ebay (don't know how good, but looks nice)
- 3 NB fitteds I made myself (I hope they'll work)
- 1 NB PUL cover I made
- 1 Gro Baby Cover w/ insert & soaker
- 1 package of Gro Baby disposable inserts
- 2 NB wool covers I crocheted (& hope will fit)
- 2 wool longies made out of recycled sweaters
- 4 wool wraps made from recycled sweaters
- 5 med-lrg size micro-terry soakers (from FBs)- may be too big for NB

I also have 1 med knit wool cover, 2 med AIO, 4 med Pockets, 1 Snug-to-Fit

I plan to buy the equivalent of GMD's Newborn Mini Kit (with 24 NB prefolds, 4 NB wraps, and wipes). Also, I'll buy the lotion potion from them.

I'll also need some lanolin (where should I get this?) and diaper laundry soap of some kind (what kind? where to buy?)

Questions are:

Should I go with the GMD kit or make my own from various online sales, etc? I have some time, so this may be possible, but everyone here seems to love GMD PF's & Bummis wraps.
Are prefolds really the best way to start w/ a newborn?
I have 10 100% wool sweaters I got at thrift for diaper stuff. How many more covers/wraps should I make of what sizes?
Should I make wool soakers? I'll probably make some leggings & more longies, too.

I also have 2 yards of PUL. Not sure what I'll do with it - more covers or AIOs/pockets? I'm still working on my pattern for these. I'm not thrilled with what I've made so far.

If I buy the GMD kit, what am I missing for a NB? Should I buy a pack of disposies for the first week or so? I kinda hate to, but I remember that nasty, tarry, sticky, meconium poo. Would the Gro Baby fit a NB and I could use the more eco disposable inserts?

TIA for all your wise advice, ladies!!!

[mntnmom]

I never used newborn covers, because my babes are pretty big. But you'll probably need a few more, or some adjustable small covers. With 4 bummis and a couple others I was washing every other day. I needed a lot of covers though, because I never figured out newborn poo and prefolds. This time I bought a bunch of fitteds on sale, hopefully they work better.
Think about liners for those meconium days. I never had much trouble, but a lot of folks like the flushable rice paper liners, or even the fleece liners, because poop doesn't stick to them so much.
As for the bigger sizes, prefolds are a good basic way to go, but wait and see what works for you before you spend a lot of money anything!

[cristeen]

It looks good to me. I got through the NB period with 1 PUL cover, with 5 + wool, I think you have plenty.

As for the sweaters, I'd make a variety of styles - soakers, shorties, longies from those sweaters, but in sizes larger than NB, you have plenty NB. I will say not to make anything larger than M at this time... my little guy looks like he'll never need anything larger than M, since he still fits in NB at 5 mos.

[Pinoikoi]

looks like you have plenty of covers but not nearly enough diapers in the newborn size.. if you go with prefolds, I would get about 30 or so since you only have a handful of aio/fitteds in this size. You also will need some pins or snappis..

I haven't used grobaby but I would think they wouldn't fit a newborn well..