Help me choose- flats or prefolds?

[cyndileepea]

I am considering cloth diapering. My 3-month-old son is my third baby and I never would have thought twice about cloth w/my daughters, who are now 7 and 10! But I am now a stay-home, homeschooling mom trying to make my DH's income stretch as far as possible. He's 14.5 pounds so he's just getting into the 15-30 pound size... this would be a prime time to invest.
Because of the finances, I can't consider all-in-ones or fitted. The choices for us are flats or prefolds, and I'm leaning toward flats. Am I crazy? It seems that most websites and articles don't even mention flats as an option. Has anyone used flats? Has anyone used both and can compare? Are they really THAT much more of a hassle than prefolds? I want to order within the next few days... please help!

[Pat899]

Flats with a thirsties cover will do well.
It is my favorite purchased combination.
But have you considered making prefolds out of recycled materials. It is practically free. If you have a little more sewing know how you can sew shorties for your little man out of old wool sweaters. Making all you dipes out of recycled materials is super cheap and very fun.

[JamieCatheryn]

I had a few flats with my first, mostly used prefolds. With this baby I'm using only prefolds. I fold everything ready for use right out of the wash, and it just goes so much quicker with prefolds that it's not even a chore. BUT if you are line drying, totally use the flats, the thick layers of prefolds are great but take a long time to air dry.

[lalemma]

I really like flats. I prefer them over prefolds, and for me they're as fast to get on as prefolds are. But this may be because I'm kind of a doofus and find prefolds a little fiddly?

But I feel that I can get a snugger/trimmer fit with a flat, and I like that with the origami fold I can get many layers in the wetzone without a bunch of bulk around the hips. So - I'm a fan.

The only thing I would say is that with prefolds, you can just dump them into a drawer when they come out of the dryer/off the line (if you're lazy and frazzled, like me) whereas with flats I do fold them into quarters before I put them away. Otherwise I don't find them any more of a hassle, and they are super-easy and fast to wash and dry, so overall I find them easier to deal with.

[Katie T]

I have both (just got flats this week) and am really liking them, they (in the beginning) take a little longer to fold but I really think as I get used to them it will get to be just as fast. I love how trim yet absorbent they are and dry so fast.

What you could do is get a dozen of both and use whatever you don't like as a doubler. I still use prefolds (2) for bedtime as I "know" they will hold all night but they are soaked in the morning. Flats will also make great kitchen towels if you don't like them/are done diapering.

My favorite covers are Blueberry one size. I recommend getting a one size cover as it goes from baby to potty trained and in the end is a cheaper option.

[inky leeuhhh]

i have never tried flats, but i love our green mountain diapers prefolds with thirsties duo wraps. the duo wraps size 2 may even last until potty training for you. for covers we also like bummis whisper wraps and blueberry coveralls. good luck and have fun!

[Mom2SammyJoe]

I agree with trying the Thirsties Duowrap. We love ours, and you could start with the bigger size and be done with buying covers. nickisdiapers.com has free shipping on covers
you could also try using a flannel receiving blanket as a flat. if you have some that work, that is fewer diapers you need to buy. they are a different material than most flats, but flannel does absorb. if nothing else, you could use them to practice folding to decide if you want to try flats.
we are a prefold family, but I see the beauty in flats.