Cloth Diapers....newborns

[sonrisa]

Hi DDC-

So...just broke out my DD's cloth diapers (what a great walk down memory lane for us both) and realize I have no newborn or size small diapers. I have about 14 prefolds size med with many bummis covers and about 1/2 dozen bum genius (which I loved, and only used as she was older). I think the small stash I did have I must have given away to expectant mama friends. Plus, I was gifted a diaper service for the first 9 months of DD's life so it wasn't until after that that we started washing our own.

I guess I have a couple of questions for you moms. Has anyone used bum genius on newborns? If so did you like them....it seems as if I would need a lot as they do pee often. I also plan on doing EC again, so hopefully that will limit my use of diapers. I may also invest in some new diapers from thristies...their duo diapers and the thristies fab fitted. Also I have a friend here that does a newborn rental so perhaps that might work out to be the best price or order the service again, but it seems pretty spendy and I feel comfortable washing. I don't know....any newborn cloth diapering advice??

[mahiisland]

No advice, this is my #1 but I am interested in the answer. we were told to use disposables for the first 6 weeks while the baby has that sticky poo and then move to the adjustable cloth diapers that will last until toilet training. I am intending to try EC too. But I don't like the idea of filling up landfill with disposables, even for a little while, so if anyone has a better idea....

[Wildecat]

I did not use Bumgenuis OS diapers last time but I did use Bumgenuis xs AIOS and they fit like a dream until about 14 lbs or so and then we switched to smalls. This time around I bought 6 Bumgenuis OS organics and am hoping that they really do fit from 8-35 lbs so we can get a ton of use out of them. Another economical choice is orange edge prefolds from Greenmountaindiapers.... one dozen diapers are $25.00 and they really do fit a newborn.

[sept04mama]

I just use infant prefolds folded sideways for the first bit with different sorts of covers/soakers- but my babies are big and grow fast- by 3 mos. they can wear most mediums.

Mostly I wanted to respond to say that the sticky newborn poo doesn't last 6 weeks. With mine it lasted about 3-4 days at the most, then went to the runny stuff.

[Climbergirl]

We don't have any itty bitty diapers either. I am going to get 1-2 dozen orange edge from green mountain diapers (GMD). I have 3 dozen of their yellow edge, so I am good there. I plan on getting about 3 more thristies duos size 1 and I think I will be set from there. Well, I need more night time diapers too. So, I will probably get about 4 more Very Baby one size fitteds from Blue Lake diapers. And then, I will be set.

The BGOS diapers may fit a newborn, it just depends on the size of the baby and how chubby they are. That you won't know for a bit!

[bendmom]

Crashing from August I have a pack of newborn disposies for the first week. Then I have 14 FuzziBunz sz small until she's in the mediums, which usually last until potty training. Between both boys we cloth diapered for 8 years. We tried everything, prefolds, covers, fleece, wool, disposable liners, AIOs, etc. and these work the best for us. One of my biggest peeves is the poop explosion that goes up the backside and out of the diaper. So I try and use diapers that have elastic around the back!

[ema-adama]

I just ordered the smalls from green mountain diapers (they arrive next week) and I am knitting woolen covers (I can recommend a fantastic pattern through raverly).

I used motherease last time, and they were too bulky during the newborn phase and then not absorant enough. I tried Happy Heinys, Bum Genius and a South African diaper called Bio Baba. Loved Bio Baba.

I am planning to use the prefolds for the newborn through to 20-ish pounds phase. Then I can use the Bio Baba.

Sorry, long ramble. I have read that the meconium poop cleanes just fine. If I am having a problem with the navel being rubbed by the nappy, I'll use ecological sposies until the navel is healed.

[MyLittleWonders]

This will be the third CD'd from birth - the meconium washes out just fine. That said, we use mostly all prefolds/flats and wraps (Clovers wool, Imse Vimse - both PUL and wool, Nikky's, and I think I'm going to try Thirsties - the sized ones not the duos). I also like having about a dozen fitteds on hand for something different and when going out - I think they'll be mostly all Clovers and ME Sandies, but I'm also hoping to get a couple Fluffy Mail/Little Caboose when they reopen the store after the summer. I've also heard there's the possibility that the new Under the Nile fitted will be out this fall, so I may grab a couple of those.

Overall dh and I both prefer the simplicity and ease of prefolds and flats - they wash well, dry quickly and are easily adjustable. I plan on buying a mix of GMD prefolds (I think the yellow edge - I have bigger babies and don't think I want to buy more than one dozen orange edged PFs) and Bummis organic prefolds, plus the GMD flats.

[Jazzmin]

I buy a variety of dipes because it is hard to know ahead of time if the babe is a wetter and what shape they will be. Fuzzi Bunz did not work at all in the beginning, but they did for my other baby. Trial and error is usually my preferred method.

I suppose the cheapest method would be PF because they can be folded in so many different ways.

[grazy101]

Originally Posted by ema-adama

I just ordered the smalls from green mountain diapers (they arrive next week) and I am knitting woolen covers (I can recommend a fantastic pattern through raverly).

Ema-adama... can you please share the raverly link with me? I am about to dye some yarn and would love to have a few more pattern on hand. I am going to start with a few longies though since December is rather cold and soakers might not be warm enough

[*GreenMama*]

Our kids are cd'd from birth as well. I just bought some cheap fleece liners to catch the merconium poop and once that was done we stopped with the liners. We are FB lovers. I like the perfect fit as opposed to the o/s because our babied come out preemie-sized. We have about 18 xs (good for about 4-8lbs and very helpful if you've got itty babies like mine who were 5lb6oz and 5lb12oz each) and then about 24 smalls and a huge amount of mediums that last until potty training. I know the investment can be costly up front, but this will be my third child in the same diapers so it has evened out. Plus I do it not to save money but to save my kiddo's butts from the chemical reactions they get from sposies.

[rad]

I used sposies with my first 2 for the first couple weeks cause i heard it was so hard to wash out the meconium. But the last 3. I've just used cloth from the start and the meconium washes right out. Cloth saves me the guilt and money of throwing so many sposies into the trash. I prefer NB sized fitteds with Imse Vimse wool covers or knitted soaker/longies. I buy onesized fitteds for once they're out of the NB size. Muttaqin Baby are my faves for both the NB and the OS fitteds.

[owlgirl]

Just felt compelled to say that something is SERIOUSLY wrong if your baby has meconium for more than the first few (2-5) days. When your milk comes in their poo changes and is more yellow and seedy. Way easier to clean.

I am thinking of getting some disposable liners I just saw that Bummis makes and maybe using them during the mec phase b/c if mec isn't caught right away it can be like cement to clean. Oh the joys!

I am stocking up with 2 dozen newborn prefolds, 3 dozen infant pf and a bunch of thirsty, bummis covers for infant and proraps for nb period. Ordered like 12 pocket diapers off ebay in early pregnancy for the stash too, those kind with all the snaps everywhere to adjust the size. Also collected some wool covers. Think that should be a good start. Right?? All new to me, CDing that is.

[Fat Scottish Gal]

I use kissaluvs size 1 for newborn. My babies have usually been around 8.8lb, my last one was 9lb14 so they weren't really in newborn size for long! The kissaluvs size 1 last forever. Seriously.

I am hoping to make some fitted diapers too. I am not good at sewing at all, but we have a machine and, heck, it's worth a try right? I'll be upcycling old t-shirts and fabrics from around the house. I want to make some mama cloth too. Should be fun even if it's a failed experiment.

[ema-adama]

Originally Posted by grazy101

Ema-adama... can you please share the raverly link with me? I am about to dye some yarn and would love to have a few more pattern on hand. I am going to start with a few longies though since December is rather cold and soakers might not be warm enough

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanilla-3

I hope this link works for you. Let me know if it doesn't.

I obviously have not tried this on a baby, but I like the ribbed crotch to make it more 'adjustable' to baby. They look rather similar to the Disana wool covers, just not as finely knitted.

[grazy101]

Originally Posted by ema-adama

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanilla-3

I hope this link works for you. Let me know if it doesn't.

I obviously have not tried this on a baby, but I like the ribbed crotch to make it more 'adjustable' to baby. They look rather similar to the Disana wool covers, just not as finely knitted.

Thanks! The link worked fine and oh... so cute

[sonrisa]

Great Ideas...

I may check out the small prefolds and covers for newborns. I am also going to meet with a friend here that has a small SAHM business, where she rents thristies fab fitted, for a good price (better than the service), and all I would have to do is buy covers.

Owlgirl...wow go girl! You have a great selection. You may think of buying a pair of snappi's to try them out with prefolds and covers. Some like to use them others don't.

Grazy101- not a big knitter, but my Grandma is, can she get this pattern of this site. I tried to figure it out but was unable.

Also, I am still one of those moms that itches at the sight of wool, has it been uncomfortable for anyone's DC? It will be winter so I think it will keep the baby warm.

[grazy101]

Originally Posted by sonrisa

Grazy101- not a big knitter, but my Grandma is, can she get this pattern of this site. I tried to figure it out but was unable.

You will probably need to sign up for the website, and I don't believe they have a waiting list now. They did have a waiting list a while back. and the cost of the pattern is like AUD $5

[northcountrymamma]

That's a great ravelry pattern...I have made up my own patterns mostly, but might try that one out too. I'm terrible at following patterns.

We have a stash started (didn't cloth with dd until she was 1 due to no running water in our cabin, but did do some ec). I'm sure I need more, I just keep buying though and don't really have any good direction.

I have about 13 Motherease smalls that look like they won't fit for a while. 7 hemp fitteds (happy heiny's and sweet peas), 2 doz bummis prefolds, a handful of covers, and bought but haven't got them yet 4 rumparooz one sizes. Anyone used them?

I plan to do some ec at home too so I may be ok with what I already have, but I have a feeling dp will want me to have more AIO's.

Helpful to read what everyone else is using...this is constantly on my mind!

[cindyleed]

When my son was newborn, we mostly used the prefolds with a snappi and BSWW(bummis super whisper wraps). We liked that combo a lot. And prefolds are so easy as far as wash cylce goes and as soon as you get good with folds they're really not much messier then fitteds.

I'd say that the BGOS probably won't work for the newborn stage. Even if your baby is 8lbs (the min weight) they still may be really thin in the legs and hips. But either way they almost always fit by 2 months.

I usually use OS fitteds once they are a little older. I have mostly Bella Bottoms and Good Mamas. I plan on getting some of the Beta prefold/fitteds from GMD for the newborn small stage and using those along with my prefolds. I also got rid of my BSWW and am planning on getting the Thirsites Duo covers and maybe an XS or two for the new born stage. I found once I got into mediums last time that I loved the Thirsties and found them just as bullet proof as the BSWW but they offer more colors and they are thinner material/PUL.

I also use a lot of wool, but didn't start with that until my son was into mediums. So I'm really excited to have a winter baby to use some longies with!