I wish....

[dealic]

..... There was a way for me to try out cloth diapers before I have a baby.

I am not even pregnant or TTC yet but I research it a lot (anxiously waiting). DH and I are both pro cloth and he surprised me by being willing to use prefolds, even with the extra work that would entail for him.

But I have never used a cloth diaper of any sort. Never seen one in real life. I have changed a great many diapers in my life, of all sizes, so I know I can do that. But I wish this was something I could experience first. No one I know uses them. I know no local stores that sell them. So its like jumping in blind.

In addition, when and if we do get pregnant, I can't purchase the diapers I want in Canada (GMD or other sized prefolds) for any reasonable price so I would want to buy them, ship them to his family in the states, and pick them up on a visit while pregnant. So I would have to buy a whole system up front, as I couldn't easily add extras later. It seems crazy to do for something I haven't ever tried and might hate. Maybe I can't handle going that far, maybe we should get fitteds. But who knows.

I don't really have anything useful to say. Its just something that has been on my mind. I was changing my newborn nephew's diaper a month ago and thinking how much he cried and hated it and how fast we tried to do it to pick him up again. Then thinking about how much longer it would take to use a prefold, snappi and cover. Imagining his cries while I tried to learn how to do it so it. I know it would get easier but the thought of learning on my precious newborn baby while s/he sobbed was disturbing.

[Katie T]

That would be nice, but if you are excited about it I think you will be fine. If you are fine with prefolds they are one of the cheapest systems out there. Once you have mastered putting them on they take no time at all for a diaper change. You could always practice on a doll/stuffed animal.

I would go for it and get the system and play around with is so you are comfortable with it when baby come.

[dealic]

That's a great point. I will have all those months to practice after I buy it and before I give birth. I am very excited about it and motivated. I have personally LOVED switching to cloth pads, and have used them continuously for 4 years since I discovered them. I want to give the same comfort to my baby.

I like that prefolds are cheap but also because they seem more versatile so its more likely I can make them work for the various shapes and sizes my baby may be. But the cheap is a big factor, as the cheaper we can be the more likely I will be able to SAH after my year of maternity leave is over.

[Katie T]

I love prefolds! Thats what I started with and used them for a yr and as a reward got a stash of pocket diapers. I have been back to prefolds for 1 1/2yrs because you just can't beat them in any way imo.

I find you are right that they are fit any size baby, last a really long time ect. I would get some infant and then regular size and that and cover and wipes will be all you need. I love the one size covers as they fit from newborn to potty trained so you don't have to spend money on other sizes. We use blueberry, they are my favorite but I haven't tried the thirstys but know tons of people love them as well.

If you have any questions along the way this is a great place to find answers.

[dealic]

Do those one size covers really work? I just can't wrap my head around that concept.

[Katie T]

Yes as a newborn there legs may be to skinny, but we just didn't use a cover when his legs were that little, we used a waterproof mat under him/on my lap. Doing it again I would get a couple newborn or thirstys size 1 which go from newborn to maybe 6 months ( I don't know for sure but it will say on the site). I didn't know the world of cloth diapers that was out there (I used gerber pf, pins and plastic pants the first yr) for my DD2 we were using the pockets and I used the Bum Genius from about 10 days (when her stump fell off) and never had a issue.

I have never personally used the blueberry from newborn (sorry I totally didn't think of that) but if you ask around here others could tell you if it work.

But they were on the smallest setting when we started and she is now on the middle setting now. At night when she is doubled up it is open to the largest setting.

[dealic]

Thank you. I want a few dedicated newborn ones anyways, but I think those one size covers are high on my list for the rest of the time. Its another thing where I see the claims but wasn't sure it held up in reality. I am glad it does.

[lifeguard]

We used one-size covers (Mommy's Touch) from newborn until now (& beyond) with no problems.

There are some great cloth diaper resources in Canada - where are you located?

[octobermom]

It will depend on your babies build, mines now 6 weeks 7,5lbs and her one size covers and stuff are still gigantically huge and gap crazy in both legs and waist. I like the idea of one size but as a whole far prefer sized.

Deanna