Someone please help. I'm about to say forget it.

[blessedmama59]

Okay, so we want to change to cloth diapers. We finally made the decision, and I figured after a little research I would order some and it would be over. WRONG. I want to buy used and I want to do it simply (I'm thinking one-size covers w/pre-folds or AIO). I would like to spend only $60-$80 at the most and I don't need all of the fancy colors, designs, etc. I just want to get started! We're running out of sposies and I don't want to have to buy anymore! The more I read, the more I tend to get confused/overwhelmed and the more I want to say forget it. This shouldn't be this stressful..it's only diapers lol I have enough to worry about already (house, the heat, DD cutting 6 teeth at once!). I have looked at diaperswappers.com as well as myuseddiapers.com, but I don't really have the time to browse there all day trying to figure out all of the abbreviations and reading about a bazillion different diapers. I also don't have a paypal account or a computer for that matter (I use my phone for the net). I don't know anyone who CDs, so the only people I know to ask her help are you ladies. Please offer your suggestions, advice, opinions. I know it is best for my baby girl, but I don't have much time to offer and am about to give up. TIA.

[chely7425]

On a budget I would look at Little Lions PFs, you can get them new for really cheap. Prowraps are also an inexpensive cover choice, but they are sized.

[AngelBee]

For that kind of budget I would consider not doing AIO's. I think you could get more bang for your buck even doing prefolds trifolded in a cover such as prowraps, mother ease covers, or thirsties.

It can be hard at first, but the health benefits and money saved will be worth it.

[kereplussome]

I agree on a budget some quality prefolds and covers are the best choice. Something like thirsties duo wraps will probably work great and you will only need to buy two different sizes-small and large. Sometimes, I have found that only planning on buying one set of diapers for the entire diapering time can create problems in that the diapers lose some of their absorbency and start gathering smells, so really since I my daughter is well into her second year, I am liking using the thirsties/prefolds better than the AIOs anyway.

[blessedmama59]

Thanks so much for the replies. I believe I will go with Thirsties or Mother-ease with prefolds. Any suggestions as to which is better? How many covers do you suggest having for a toddler?

[AngelBee]

Originally Posted by blessedmama59

Thanks so much for the replies. I believe I will go with Thirsties or Mother-ease with prefolds. Any suggestions as to which is better? How many covers do you suggest having for a toddler?

Honestly...I like both. I prefer the snap Mother ease to the velcro ones. But both work really well. Thirsties are great too.

As far as how many.....I am not sure. If you are trifolding the prefold and laying it inside, you may need a couple more compared to if you use pins or a snappi.

[Pepper44]

I love mother-ease side snapping covers. They never leaked for us! in comparison, the Thirsties cover I had fell apart after 6 months of use, and the Mother-ease covers are on kid #2 with no issues.

We also love the Sandy's Mother-ease diapers. The size small goes from 8-20 pounds and the size large fits forever. My 4 year old DD can still fit in the size large, though she's not in diapers anymore. She tried one on the other day being silly. The fitted diapers are a little expensive, but you can use them for years with multiple children.

We also use prefolds with a snappi. They are definitely cheaper and the premium size prefolds fit for a long time--from like 3 months through potty training for DD1.

[jeminijad]

Motherease Airflows are not good covers for trifolding- way too roomy. That is not to say someone won't pop on and say they did it, but these are poofy covers that the PF is not held against the baby.

Try Rikki Wraps from Motherease for trifolding, or just pin/snappi.

I also will say Thirsties, while they will work, a a little roomy for trifolding. Bummis and Rikki Wraps work great for us for that.

[blessedmama59]

Thank you ladies. I am not quite sure what is meant by trifolding. I plan on ordering around two dozen prefolds (I have a couple already but they're kinda small) and 4-5 covers. I hope that is enough? I don't mind doing laundry every or every other day. I am also thinking about splurging just a bit to get something we can use for nighttime and for travel. Any suggestions?

[mumkimum]

link for different prefold diapering folds - you'll see the trifolded diaper (without fasteners) below.

If you want to do a 'smart splurge' - I'd find an affordable fitted, cricketts or one of loveybums budget fitteds maybe, as something extra and easy for nighttime or going out - you can use it with the covers you've already got. (if you want more trifolding cover recs - imse vimse work well, as do bumkins, for the same reasons - they aren't quite as poofy as other covers and fit closer to the body. I've liked both.)

[akind1]

4-5 covers and a dozen pre-folds might get you through 1 day (with a newborn)

DS is 8 months olds and we go through 2-3 covers and 6-8 prefolds a day. the number of covers depends on poops, no way I fold does all the poop stay on the diap. some gets on the cover.

To do laundry every other day, I would double what you have.

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by AngelBee

For that kind of budget I would consider not doing AIO's. I think you could get more bang for your buck even doing prefolds trifolded in a cover such as prowraps, mother ease covers, or thirsties.

It can be hard at first, but the health benefits and money saved will be worth it.

I agree.

I bought AIOs on Amazon (chinese organic cotton prefolds) and used whisper wrap covers. Under $60 and worked a charm.

[blessedmama59]

DD is almost 15 mths and a heavy wetter, so I would imagine I'd be changing her 8-10 times a day..depending on the absorbancy of the diaper. I really think we would be good with two dozen and supplement with the prefolds I already have (8 of them, I think). I was actually thinking of checking Amazon for used diapers to see what kinda deals I could find there. I just looked at Econobums, anyone use those?? Seems like a great deal and a good package to start with. I was thinking order the kit which is 12 pfs and 3 covers then maybe order an extra dozen of pfs for cheap and one or two Thirsties or Mother-ease to use for nighttime/travel. I think I could probably keep it under $100 (over my prev budget but I had wiggle room) and have basically everything I need. What about a snappi, is that absolutely neccessary? Special detergent?

[JTA Mom]

Best prices for prefolds, I've found, is here:
http://www.clothdiaper.com/

I have their regulars, and their 'seconds'. Other than the seconds coming to me 'dirtier' (aka more dust and some markings that all washed out), I can't tell the difference between them.

2-3 dozen premiums will work really well for a toddler. You could also order a couple dozen flats, then just fold them into a pad and use those in a cover instead of trifolding a prefold. Or, if like me, you have tons of receiving blankets--you have cute flats already!

For the best selection of covers, plus shipping is free for them:
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=3

The dappi nylon pants, btw, are the BEST. Cheap but also leak proof. I like wrap covers, but the pull on pants, if you need something bulletproof, are awesome. Plus, for the cost, you can have many more covers.

I think I could probably keep it under $100 (over my prev budget but I had wiggle room) and have basically everything I need. What about a snappi, is that absolutely neccessary? Special detergent?

Snappi isn't absolutely necessary, but it is very, very nice. I could never get away with trifolding for ds. For one, his poos would still get on the cover (we were forever at the peanut butter consistency phase). Also, he's skinny, so over time, the diaper would slowly migrate downwards, creating leg gaps. A snappi made for a much better fit. You can easily get by with just 2 (one just in case you lose the other).

The beautiful thing with prefolds--no special detergent needed. None at all. Ahhhhhh, relief!

ETA: Okay, I searched around for you for the best prices.
http://www.little-lions.com

3 dozen seconds premium prefolds--$48
3 Econobum covers with 3 econobums prefolds--$29.85
3 Snappi's--$11.25 (one for home, one for diaper bag, one extra just in case)
1 package of medium Dappis (comes 2 to a pack--4.50

Total: 93.60. Free shipping on orders over $90. you get 39 prefolds, 5 covers and 3 snappis with that order.

If your daughter is a really heavy wetter, I'd either use a folded up washcloth in the soak zone, or get a big bag of microfiber 'scraps' from walmart in the auto section and use those. Put them on the outside of the prefold and you are good to go!

Ami

[blessedmama59]

Originally Posted by JTA Mom

Best prices for prefolds, I've found, is here:
http://www.clothdiaper.com/

I have their regulars, and their 'seconds'. Other than the seconds coming to me 'dirtier' (aka more dust and some markings that all washed out), I can't tell the difference between them.

2-3 dozen premiums will work really well for a toddler. You could also order a couple dozen flats, then just fold them into a pad and use those in a cover instead of trifolding a prefold. Or, if like me, you have tons of receiving blankets--you have cute flats already!

For the best selection of covers, plus shipping is free for them:
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=3

The dappi nylon pants, btw, are the BEST. Cheap but also leak proof. I like wrap covers, but the pull on pants, if you need something bulletproof, are awesome. Plus, for the cost, you can have many more covers.




Snappi isn't absolutely necessary, but it is very, very nice. I could never get away with trifolding for ds. For one, his poos would still get on the cover (we were forever at the peanut butter consistency phase). Also, he's skinny, so over time, the diaper would slowly migrate downwards, creating leg gaps. A snappi made for a much better fit. You can easily get by with just 2 (one just in case you lose the other).

The beautiful thing with prefolds--no special detergent needed. None at all. Ahhhhhh, relief!

ETA: Okay, I searched around for you for the best prices.
http://www.little-lions.com

3 dozen seconds premium prefolds--$48
3 Econobum covers with 3 econobums prefolds--$29.85
3 Snappi's--$11.25 (one for home, one for diaper bag, one extra just in case)
1 package of medium Dappis (comes 2 to a pack--4.50

Total: 93.60. Free shipping on orders over $90. you get 39 prefolds, 5 covers and 3 snappis with that order.

If your daughter is a really heavy wetter, I'd either use a folded up washcloth in the soak zone, or get a big bag of microfiber 'scraps' from walmart in the auto section and use those. Put them on the outside of the prefold and you are good to go!

Ami

Thank you SO SO much! I am looking at clothdiaper.com now. I ordered the Econobum package (3 covers and 12 pfs) yesterday as well as one snappi. I looked around on cottonbabies.com and filled a cart, but have yet to check out bc I want to continue looking for better prices. I would love to order from littlelions, but the website said they are on vaca and won't be shipping orders until the 12th I def have a ton of receiving blankets, burp cloths, etc that I know I can use for extra! I am a little worried about what size pfs to get. DD is around 27lbs and most large I've seen only go up to 30lbs and toddler size is 30+.

[JTA Mom]

Originally Posted by blessedmama59

Thank you SO SO much! I am looking at clothdiaper.com now. I ordered the Econobum package (3 covers and 12 pfs) yesterday as well as one snappi. I looked around on cottonbabies.com and filled a cart, but have yet to check out bc I want to continue looking for better prices. I would love to order from littlelions, but the website said they are on vaca and won't be shipping orders until the 12th I def have a ton of receiving blankets, burp cloths, etc that I know I can use for extra! I am a little worried about what size pfs to get. DD is around 27lbs and most large I've seen only go up to 30lbs and toddler size is 30+.

I didn't see that about little lions. That's what I get for searching so late at night. Although, that's only 8 days--not much time wise.

With diapers, it's less about the weight than it is about measurements like waist, etc. For example, ds is 28 lbs, has a 20 in waist and 11 in scrawny legs. Due to his skinny build, he fits into premiums fine, width wise. I do have to fold down a bit, since he's also not very tall for his age. Toddler prefolds are just a little bit wider and much longer. Snappying might be an issue if your daughter is 'wider' than about 21 ish inches. I say this because ds had a 22 in waist at 6 mos (yep, super chunk, then super skinny!) and premiums barely fit him then. Pins or trifolding still work fine though.

However, there is a trick to making any prefold fit, if you need it to be wider. Just turn it on it's side. Since you have a girl, this is also good because most of the absorbency will be where it needs to be. With a boy, just add a doubler higher up. So, technically, premiums should be fine.

If you have lots of receiving blankets, I'd use those as flats. Flats seem really intimidating, but they are incredibly easy. Best thing is that they are super versatile too. One fold, like the origami, is nice on small babies. The kite fold is better for toddlers since it's bigger. Again, you'd need to add a doubler (washcloth) OR put two blankets on top of each other, then fold, but it truly is a 'one size' diaper.

If you can sew a little bit, here's a way to turn a receiving blanket into a contour diaper:
http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/...d.php?t=742836

Comprehensive list of flat folds:
http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/....php?t=1000513

Ami

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by blessedmama59

Thank you ladies. I am not quite sure what is meant by trifolding. I plan on ordering around two dozen prefolds (I have a couple already but they're kinda small) and 4-5 covers. I hope that is enough? I don't mind doing laundry every or every other day. I am also thinking about splurging just a bit to get something we can use for nighttime and for travel. Any suggestions?

That was plenty for me as I did laundry every other day and I did enjoy my AIOs for nighttime, but I had only four.

For travel, do you mean the car, like hour-long trips? Or week-long trips? If you have a washer, your regulars should do.