Excited about my newly started stash! Suggestions welcome....

[Hannah32]

So hubby and I went to an awesome workshop this weekend at the Diaper Lab, which is a CD store located in the Boston metro area. We learned a lot and were both totally sold on CDing after that.

I couldn't resist shopping, so I bought some supplies.

18 Bummies cotton prefolds newborn size
6 Kissaluvs Size 0
2 Snappis

I know we need covers (they ran out of the sort we wanted), a travel wet bag and two pail liners (we have a pail), CD friendly diaper cream, cloth wipes and Planet detergent but I'd welcome any other suggestions about additional supplies we need. Stash building suggestions also welcome!

[cristeen]

Well, you don't need pail liners - I've never used one. That's just a matter of preference.

Were you planning on washing every other day? The number of dipes you have will have you washing every other day or more. I know many people instinctively grab for hte PFs to use as burp clothes, to clean up messes, leaking BM, etc. With that many dipes though, doing so will have you washing daily. I washed daily with my guy, but most mamas don't want to be worrying about it every day.

I would also suggest getting your infant size PFs now also, so you can prep them. Some babies outgrow NB size within a couple weeks, some may be in them for 2 months (and some come out too big for them). But you don't want to be diapering your LO and realize that you need bigger diapers - like NOW, and still have to buy them and prep them. Or on the other end you could wind up with a skinny guy like mine who still fits into NB dipes at 6 mo. Better safe than sorry, IMO.

ANd you also may want to think about doublers/inserts.

Honestly, I'd get everything you may need for the first 2 months now, so that you can enjoy your baby moon without worrying about it.

[Hannah32]

See that's what I was debating. I didn't want to buy too many tiny diapers because who knows how long it will be until he hits 15 pounds. I suspect he's going to be on the big side, but maybe in a long and skinny way. I'm ok with washing daily/every other day if needed. We live in a small space and it's very conviently located.

I did warn hubby that he may be dispatched to secure more diapers immediately, depending on size of the child. LOL!

[Pat899]

You don't need a pail liner. The more your diapers air out before you wash them the better. so just a laundry basket or open weave hamper works better.

You really won't need diaper cream but it is good to have on hand. A quick bath and some naked time works better than any cream.

Cloth wipes are squares of cloth. Cut up DH's old shirts. Seriously.

I don't do special diaper detergent.

As for covers. I love wool. If you want to splurge or find something super cute then wool will do it for you. Wool lasts forever. It is cover and pants or skirt all in one.

Have fun and welcome to the cute side.

[chel]

i agee on getting a dozen more prefolds in the next size up

my stash was 12 newborn orange gmd and 24 yellow. worked perfectly. i could use the yellow as backup when needed in the beginning

i'm on month 3 and still haven't missed not having a diaper pail liner. i still use a grocery bag when out and about

[averlee]

I never used a diaper pail, just chuck the diapers, spitted-up and lactated-on clothes & blankets straight into the washing machine. Also, you can use anything absorbent for a diaper. Where I grew up in rural Texas people often used dishtowels. I made 40 diapers out of old clothes & towels, just sorta vaguely rectangular shaped and baby-sized. We usually used all of them every day.

[Hannah32]

Hmmmm what do you all think of a six gallon bucket with a lid? It's a fermenting bucket that hubby "curb shopped" one day. In excellent shape, apparently someone's home beer making idea didn't pan out. Anyway, we were thinking of putting some additional holes in the lid. Would that work?

If one doesn't buy a pail liner, doesn't poo and pee get on the inside of the bucket? Or do you just fold the diaper in over itself?

Maybe I will just buy some additional prefolds to get ready. And making my own cloth wipes is probably a good idea.

[inky leeuhhh]

that would work. we just rinse the inside of the pail in the bathtub when it gets icky.

[Ola_]

When you say that they are newborn prefolds, are they preemie or infant sized? I don't believe Bummis makes actual newborn sizes (I could be wrong though!). Just wanted to point that out because if you have the actual infant size then the next "recommended" size will be different obviously.

[AKislandgirl]

I really really really like having a pail liner! LOL everyone is different but it works for us. We have two so that one goes in the wash with each load. I really wouldn't want to skip it.

I like having a handful of snappies because I end up leaving them around and then don't have one when needed. Nothing like realizing the snappi is in the car because you changed her into a fitted and now you don't have one.

[Hannah32]

Originally Posted by Ola_

When you say that they are newborn prefolds, are they preemie or infant sized? I don't believe Bummis makes actual newborn sizes (I could be wrong though!). Just wanted to point that out because if you have the actual infant size then the next "recommended" size will be different obviously.

They are infant sized. I'm pretty sure they told me the first size of Bummis goes up to 15 pounds. I know the next prefold size up in Bummis was 15-40 pounds.

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by Hannah32

They are infant sized. I'm pretty sure they told me the first size of Bummis goes up to 15 pounds. I know the next prefold size up in Bummis was 15-40 pounds.

The Bummis are infant sized. THey only come in 2 sizes. Just be prepared to have to fold them down. They're much too long for a newborn otherwise. I just folded the front down to give my little guy an extra soak pad.

ETA - he's about 18 lbs now and they still fit in length, but are a bit narrow around the hips. They only overlap by a very little bit. At this point I'm just using them at night when I don't have to worry about him squirming out of them, and the jelly roll fold still works fine.

[Ruthla]

I actually found the pail liners quite useful. I had two of them: I lined the pail with one, and when the pail was full, I'd dump the contents into the washing machine and then the liner went in after it (turned inside out so it would wash better.) The other liner went in while the first was washing. Before I sewed up some pail liners, I was using disposable garbage bags for that purpose. I can't imagine NOT lining the diaper pail, I guess you'd then have to wash it out in a sink somewhere?

[AKislandgirl]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I can't imagine NOT lining the diaper pail, I guess you'd then have to wash it out in a sink somewhere?

They really do last a long time too. My sis has had hers through multiple kids.

[diaperlab]

Starting a newborn stash

Hi Hannah -

Glad you found the workshop helpful! Everyone is different on what their needs are, preferences and of course budget. We explain all the frills because for a lot of people knowing about them can make all the difference between sticking with cloth diapering or giving up. It's up to every family to decide what are the necessities, what are the deal breakers, and what are the little luxuries!

For me, with two babies in cloth diapers at one time, 3 pail liners were a necessity! One on the pail next to the changing table in the kids room, a hanging pail in the bathroom for the poopy diapers once they were rinsed with the diaper sprayer, and one that was usually in the wash. I've never washed or rinsed out a diaper pail, and for a lot of people squeamish about cloth diapers in the first place, this is something the really want to know!

Also, if you purchased newborn prefolds from Bummis at our store, they were in fact Preemie/Newborn prefolds. Bummis prefolds come in three sizes: Preemie/Newborn (these fit JUST right in the Bummis NB covers and with a weight range of approx 4 lbs - 9 lbs) , Infant size (8 lbs - 20 lbs) and Baby/Premium Size (15 lbs - 40 lbs). It's just so hard to tell if you are going to have a small 6 lb baby who will need the preemie/nb prefolds and covers at the beginning or if you want to start with the infant size prefolds and small covers. Most people with an average sized baby of 7lbs - 8lbs at birth start with the small sized covers and infant prefolds and just fold down. But it can be bulky. It's reallly a matter of what's important to you? Fit and trimness? or Cost and the bulk doesn't matter?

Good Luck building your stash! It's such a fun time!

Salina