prefold users

[psshh03]

For my DD (who uses the potty now and no diapers), we exclusively used prefolds. Specifically pricier GMD prefolds (preemie, newborn, infant, and premium). Our premiums were used exclusively from the time she was 6 months until she was 23 months...and started to get pretty worn out (have lots of holes). They still work and I think I may be able to get another child's use out of them...but I thought that prefolds were indestructable?? We plan to have at least 3 more children and I wanted the diapers to last through all of them (I don't mind buying more covers).

Has anyone else had this experience? Is it because they are the only type of diaper we use?

A friend of mine uses LL prefolds and didn't have this problem but she was using a couple pockets for nighttime and out and about.

I contacted GMD and she said that they wear out and I shouldn't expect them to last for more than 1 child...but when I was doing my research everyone seemed to say that they were bulletproof.

Thanks!

[octobermom]

My indian prefolds from my first (premiums used from around 4months to 4 years) are pretty worn out there usable but deffienty show wear I'll get new ones when its time and keep hers as cleaning rags.. My Chinese prefolds however look pretty much as good as the day I bought them. I still love the softness and slight stretch that indians give over chinese and there still ultra affordable so I don't worry but if you want really durable try the chinese...

Deanna

[chase_mommy]

Mine did the same thing and I too was under the impression that they would last forever. I am pregnant now and plan on using them with this LO but I doubt if they will make it another round. Really disappointing.

[Katie T]

I am having this problem with my LL pf and posted about it and it seemed no one else was having these issues. I wanted mine to last a lot longer than there seem to be.

I have several friends who have the same diapers as I do and one is having the wearing out issues and one isn't. I really don't get it either.

[inky leeuhhh]

maybe it has to do with how many prefolds someone has in their rotation? weve been using ours for a year and they're like new, but used in a huge rotation.

[SleeplessMommy]

Washing machines vary in the amount of "abuse" they put into fibers ... and the dryer will also cause some damage. That could cause some of the differences in wear. The cotton fabric is fairly loosely spun and woven (for softness) so I would not expect it to hold up to wear like and office shirt. The office shirt, of course, would not be expected to last 4 years with every other day washing.

I used prefolds for 2 months, had no visible wear. I go with the LL Indian prefolds, not as costly as GMD. You could add a flannel layer to your existing PFs to possibly extend their useful life.

[KristyDi]

I've had a dozen GMD red edges in heavy use since DD was about 4 months old, so over a year. They are beginning to show a few signs of wear. I can see places that will eventually be holes, mostly where the snappi grabs.

[SeaMother]

3 dozen gmd organics

I just found the GMD site--I ordered friday so I'm waiting for my new fancy prefolds to arrive ---I'm excited!

I guess I'll try to be careful with the Snappis and pins...I need these to last!

Did you dryer-dry or sun dry? I am guessing both will do some damage to the diapers, I'm just trying to decide what I am going to do. I had planned on sunning them, to save energy, but maybe I will mixed-sun/shade dry as well as sun dry so they get disinfected but not totally UV radiated....guess I need to do more research.

Just my

SeaMother

[Llyra]

I diapered three kids with my prefolds, and they're pretty ratty now, with holes and worn spots, but they'd still be usable as diapers, if I still had kids in diapers, and still have a lot of years left to go as rags. But I also have a lot of them-- I think about 50 or 60. And they're from two or three different online stores, and you can definitely see the difference in how well they held up.

[MEcatlady17]

Hmm. I really think it depends on a few factors that have been mentioned- how many diapers were in rotation, washing routine, detergent, and machine used, etc. A friend of mine loaned me 18 old infant GMD prefolds that were used by 3 babies before I got them. They are worn but still very functional. I ended up buying my own since I liked using prefolds with a newborn. I am using new GMD prefolds for my DD. My newborn (orange edged) ones were bought new (just 1 dozen) washed and dried every day to every other day for 2 months. I just washed them one last time and sunned and they look awesome, will definitely be able to use for multiple babies. My 1 dozen yellow edged that we are using now have been in rotation for a month and a half. We'll get another couple months out of them probably and I think they will be in excellent condition as well. I think the next size up would get the most use and would be more worn by the end... Sized prefolds are probably going to last through more babies due to their short use, where one sized prefolds get much heavier use.

[octobermom]

some pics.. These sizes were used on my DD to some degree almost daily from 4 onths till she fully trained at around 4.5 years. The green edge is a chinese infant the white is an indian cotton standard... Yo ucan see how well the chinese held up compared to the standard..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...m/100_1866.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...m/100_1869.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...m/100_1875.jpg

Deanna

[chase_mommy]

Originally Posted by octobermom

some pics.. These sizes were used on my DD to some degree almost daily from 4 onths till she fully trained at around 4.5 years. The green edge is a chinese infant the white is an indian cotton standard... Yo ucan see how well the chinese held up compared to the standard..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...m/100_1866.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...m/100_1869.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...m/100_1875.jpg

Deanna

Yep, thats basically what my brown edge GMD did to us.

I also had some prefolds that I got with a Bummis kit that I used from birth to about 9 months and then kept half of them out and used for doublers when needed and they don't look anything like the GMD. As far as how many were in my rotation: 3 dozen, wash: rinse, hot wash/rinse and I used the dryer because I don't link crunchy prefolds, Detergent: Soap nuts and the occasional stripping with baking soda, vinegar and TTO. The Bummis prefolds got way more use than the GMD and still look basically new, although not as soft.