Please help me make use of what I have

[blessedwith7]

Hi,
I am new to posting but have been reading away and learning a lot from this forum. Thanks to a sister, sil, and a friend I have been given two boxes worth of cloth diapers. I'm doing my best to make do with what I have despite all the tempting selection out there. Right now I'm cd'ing my toddler and it is going fine. I do the old-fashioned way during the day: double up prefolds, pins, and pull up Gerber vinyl covers. I did get 3 Planet Wise wet bags (small for a quick outing, medium for an all day outing, and I use the large for our diaper pail). I also got 2 Bumgenius for overnight.
So here's where I need advice. I have never used cloth diapers for a newborn yet and I have a little one due in November. I have plenty of prefolds but they are all a larger size 12x16, what I use on my toddler. I also have 5 dozen+ Curity flats. These are not like the flats they sell now. They are long rectangles about 15x35, never used a flat before. I have two newborn Sears vinyl covers (the elastic is still good), 3 Bummis Newborn covers that I bought new, and I'm planning on getting 4 more new covers (probably 2 thirsties and 2 imse vimse). I mainly concerned with the newborn sizing even though they are at that stage for such a short time I want it to go smoothly. So what do you think? Can I make either the flats or prefolds work with those covers? Please advise! I have plenty of washcloths and I figured I would get either another large Planet Wise wet bag or a pail liner for the extra dirty diapers. Am I forgetting anything?

Thanks much for any help!
Theresa

[Ideesmom]

I've never used flats but wonder if you cut them in half and restitch the edge if that size would be better for a newborn. I love my Thirsties covers they are my favorite of the 3 you listed. Good luck!

[Adaline'sMama]

Im not sure how to use flats, but I wanted to give you some advice on buying covers. I would not buy any more newborn covers until after your baby is born. You never know how big he/she will be, so you dont want newborn covers that will only last a few weeks. I would suggest Thirsties One Size covers, where the snaps adjust to fit 5-20 lbs. We used these when my DD was first born, and they were awesome. Also, I was really confused with some of the abbreviations when I started looking/posting on the Diapering board. Here's a few translations for you (i'll bet there is somewhere else this is posted, so sorry if youve already seen it)

AIO: all in one
BG: Bum Genius
PF: prefold
NB: newborn
CD: cloth diaper
PUL: the waterproof liner material inside the diaper covers (poly something...i dont know)
OS: one size

[blessedwith7]

Thanks to you both for your replies! I did some looking online and was able to find some folds for the flats that will work in the newborn covers. I think I may actually like the flats. With one pin in front I should be able to get a good fit on a newborn and I don't think they will be any bulkier than a prefold. They look just too cute and we "tested" them on baby dolls. I'm really looking forward to using cloth on this little one from the beginning.

Theresa