Would this work?

[Naturally organic]

I'm trying to put together a diaper wish list for some friends who want to give me a baby shower. I am hoping to get diapers to last from NB to PL. Would this stash work?

2 dz NB pfs
1 dz Kissaluvs sz 0 fitted
2 Fuzzibunz, sm
2 Thirsties XS covers
2 Bummis SWW, NB
1 Bummis Superbrite NB

2 dz sm pfs
2 dz md pfs
2 Fuzzibunz md
2 Thirsties duo sz 1 covers

1 dz LG pfs
1 dz flats
1 Bummis SWW LG
1 Bummis SWW XL
2 Kissaluvs marvels OS covers

6 doublers
1 snappi
2 dz cloth wipes

10 prs cloth training pants

Also, I plan to knit some wool covers. Is this enough? Too many? I'd like to be able to fit everything in a medium-sized suitcase or duffle, but I definitely want to have enough. Thanks.

[lunita1]

Originally Posted by Naturally organic

I'm trying to put together a diaper wish list for some friends who want to give me a baby shower. I am hoping to get diapers to last from NB to PL. Would this stash work?

2 dz NB pfs
1 dz Kissaluvs sz 0 fitted
2 Fuzzibunz, sm
2 Thirsties XS covers
2 Bummis SWW, NB
1 Bummis Superbrite NB

2 dz sm pfs
2 dz md pfs
2 Fuzzibunz md
2 Thirsties duo sz 1 covers

1 dz LG pfs
1 dz flats
1 Bummis SWW LG
1 Bummis SWW XL
2 Kissaluvs marvels OS covers

6 doublers
1 snappi
2 dz cloth wipes

10 prs cloth training pants

Also, I plan to knit some wool covers. Is this enough? Too many? I'd like to be able to fit everything in a medium-sized suitcase or duffle, but I definitely want to have enough. Thanks.

Just off hand, I would discourage you from buying L or XL Bummis right away. My older kids never outgrew the medium size (and they potty trained at around their third birthdays). I'd replace those on your list with medium bummis or size 2 thirsties duos. I think the only covers on your list that would fit my average sized 6 month old baby are the marvels OS, so something else that fits that 15-16+ lb. range would be helpful (thirsties duo size two start fitting at about that point).

[Adaline'sMama]

Plenty. Thats a lot of stuff (I count about 125 items...but im bad at math), you may not fit that in a suitcase or duffel. I think you could probably cut down on the amount of pfs you have listed.

[ChetMC]

My Thoughts

I wouldn't ask for anything larger than a medium. I agree with lunita1. Our girls also fit size medium in most stuff until they trained just before age three. I was worried that DS would outgrow size medium, but he's recently started to grow taller and slim down, and I don't anticipate it happening now.

As an aside, this is why I think that one size diapers are a marketing scam. Well designed medium diapers fit a lot of babies at three or four months until they're out of diapers. Most one size diapers don't fit newborns well and you need a newborn stash anyway.

If you do end up needing large or extra large diapers you'll want to shop for what fits your child at the time. When people need those sizes they're usually looking for something to fit a specific body type, pattern of wetting, etc.

I would get more than size doublers.

I would skip the wipes and just buy (or ask for) a tonne of white wash cloths from the dollar store or Target. Terry cloth washes well, and the texture is good for getting sticky poop off. I find that the cheap stretchy kind work way better than expensive wash cloths. You want the ones that are three for a dollar.

I also found that needed a lot more covers during the newborn stage. I see all of these recommendations online saying 4 to 6 covers for a newborn. Our kids ALWAYS got poop on the cover, especially with prefolds. I don't change diapers at night once baby stops pooping at night, but I don't air out a cover and use it again after a baby has had it on for 8 to 12 hours overnight. Three poops and one night and that's four covers right there! I don't think you'd regret owning 8 to 10 newborn covers.

[octobermom]

Do you KNOw what you'll like using? if you don't I'd not get a ton of one kind even prefolds and flats and then discover you like another type better..
However going just on your list
1) cut out all diapers larger than a Medium including large prefolds
2)I'd personally pass on the kissaluvs but thats up to you
3)I'd switch the multiple sized FB for a few one size. I love one size while I agree its a myth that it will fit birth to potty I still like them I like being able to make simle rise and waist adjustments for the diffrent stages even if the overall size doesn't change much...
4) add a few more snappi

Deanna

[Chamomile Girl]

Agree with much of the above, and wanted to add that your list is way short on Small/Med size covers. You have 5 NB covers and 2 small and no med size. My kid's been in a Med size cover since about 6 months old (NB fit for all of two weeks). We get the most use out of our Mommy's Touch covers. I LOVE them...and they fit DS well at all stages of growth past NB. Thirsties Duo size 2 are also wonderful. I prefer snaps for both.

Snappis are cheap...get a bunch so you can stash them around.

[ChetMC]

Originally Posted by octobermom

2)I'd personally pass on the kissaluvs but thats up to you

Can I ask why?

I think that kissaluvs size 0 are a bit of a luxury. You can certainly do prefolds on a newborn. But kissaluvs fit nicely on tiny babies and they look good under clothes. If you're getting diapers at your shower and want to splurge a bit they aren't a bad choice.

Did you have any problems with kissaluvs on a newborn?

[Naturally organic]

Thanks for all the advice. The main problem is shortly after the baby is born my husband and I are moving overseas and as far as I know, no cloth diapers are available and we've been told that ordering from overseas is not a good idea as it is unlikely to arrive.

I need diapers for 2 years with no chance to change my mind. I've used pfs in babysitting before so that's not a problem.

The Kissaluvs size 0 are because I'm a little nervous about diapering my first right from the start and thought the Kissaluvs would make it easier. Plus, they are just so cute!

Also, I've started knitting some wool soakers. Plus I was hoping I could use the NB covers and use the Thirsties sz 1 covers if needed as well as the OS which at NB stage would give me 9 covers to use in the beginning and 7 once the babe outgrows the Thirsties XS. Plus the 2 wool soakers I hope to knit in each size for night.

The FB are for night or for going out just to have something a little easier to deal with if necessary.

I appreciate all the suggestions! I'm a little overwhelmed with the baby on the way and trying to get ready to move and everything. So, this helps a lot.

[lunita1]

What country are you moving to? You might be surprised by what's available there.

What is your laundry situation? Without a dryer, especially if you're in a humid climate (but even if you're not) flats might be a better choice than prefolds. Air-dried prefolds are like thick pieces of cardboard, and they're thick so they dry slowly.

[lifeguard]

I second chamomile's suggestion of the mommy's touch covers. I have used the same ones since birth with ds & we are pling now. They are wonderful!!! That said ds was a 8lbs 9oz at birth so I'm not sure how they would work with a tiny nb.

[mum4vr]

I agree w the PPs and would add that you can just get nb size pfs and use them as doublers-- I never had separate doublers. And def a few more snappis. Wool soakers were my favorite cover!

MD size pfs and home made covers are ALL I had w DS1 until he was near PL and I discovered some AIOs. (that was 17 years ago) Bought the AIOs just in time for him to really want to use the potty! heehee.

Just keep in mind you CAN do it with less-- it'll just be a different challenge. One mama I know had nothing, nothing, at all, and had to fold up flannel receiving blankets for her diapers (she'd been given ZERO cd at her shower bc her female fam members hoped to disuade her from CDing! she got lots of flannel rec blankets tho) and she made covers out of nylon or thin canvas shower curtains! But it worked.

Blessings

[Naturally organic]

We'll be moving to northern China around the first of the year. I lived in China a few years ago so I'm familiar with what is available. Most people start EC when babies are around 3 months old and they wear pants with holes in the crotch and just go through them, but I'm not comfortable with that. It's not humid...dry and COLD. I'm figuring on washing everyday because in winter, I know diapers could take at least 3 days to dry, but I also know that we could hang them on the radiator and they would dry a bit faster, but I don't think more than 2 pfs would fit on the radiator at a time. And, I'm assuming drying covers or AIOs or pockets on the radiator would be a bad idea. Dryers are prohibitively expensive IF you can find them.

I'm planning on getting an LTK pattern for longies, I just haven't decided which would be better...picky pants or the original longies with footies. I have her Ribby Wrap pattern and I love it.

Thanks for all the input!

[SilverFish]

flats would probably be a much better choice than prefolds without a dryer. and you might want to reconsider ECing. i part-time EC and would definitely do it more if it were socially acceptable at all to have my baby in split-crotch pants around here. i'd love to live somewhere where people wouldn't be offended by a baby squatting to pee in the grass!

[aramat]

I'm in Brazil and am having to make do with just the basics. From 0-8 mos, I had:
12 small pf
12 med pf
12 flats (very versatile)
12 fleece liners (made these)
12 doublers
1 Mommys Touch one size snap cover (LOVE!)
1 Bummies small snap cover
1 Aristocrat small wool soaker (LOVE!)
1 Happy Heinys small wool cover (great cover but snaps are too weak for stretching a fit on thighs at 25 lbs)
1 Little Beetle One Size snap wool cover (loved at first, but it's slowly falling apart now, would not buy again)

Now baby is about 25 lbs. I still use everything except the Bummis cover which she has totally outgrown. I am going to buy:
12 large pf
2 (more) Mommys Touch one size snap covers
would like one more wool soaker but saving money, will try to make instead

I've been through lots of Snappis; these new ones keep breaking on me!!

The prefolds dry overnight on a line indoors, no problem there.

[Naturally organic]

Thanks again for all the help. I'm changing my list around a bit.

I used this pattern to make a couple of recycled sweater soakers (http://www.borntolove.com/frugal-column2.html) but I'm not sure how well they'll fit as they look a little large.

I've also knitted a couple of LTK's ribby wraps and they are so cute. I want to get her hybrid soaker pattern as well.

I've also got several flannel sheets to use to make flats and prefolds. I'm not confident enough to make fitteds or prefolds though. I'm also making my own doublers and wipes. My mom just gave me a TON of old flannel sheets so I can make pretty much all the diapers, doublers and wipes I want or take them with me and make them there if I need to.

I'm not as keen on flats as they look like more work. But, I do want some as backups since they will dry faster and since they will fit a wider range.

However, I've noticed a lot of people recommend skipping GMD's red-edge medium pfs and going straight from yellow-edge small to brown-edge large. So, if I just got 1dz NB and 1 dz SM pfs and then 1 dz LG pfs (plus 1 dz flats for backup) would that be workable? I'm thinking the smalls could be used in a pinch when baby was smaller and the flats could be used all the time. I could probably use the large pfs if I HAD to when I wasn't using the NBs anymore. Or do I really need the Mediums?

Thanks so much for all the great info!

[alfabetsoup]

It's ok to dry fitteds on the radiator. I do it anyway and mine haven't exploded yet! Here's what I would get in your situation:

24 sm prefolds
12 sm or OS AIOs - I like BG organics OS or Imse Vimse sized
4 nb covers (imse vimse are my all-time faves, org cotton or soft with snaps)
4 sm covers
3 overnight fitteds
2 sm disana wool pullons (for overnight)

That will cover you until baby is 16lbs or so, maybe longer depending on his/her shape.

Then from that time till PL:
15-20 OS fitteds (I like goodmamas)
4 covers (Imse Vimse Lg fit over them perfectly, Goodmama + IV soft cover is bulletproof)
12 AIOs
3 nightime diapers
2 Lg disana wool pullups

10 trainers but that might not be necessary

Then you'd only have to carry the small stash and can have the med-large stash shipped. It's not a cheap stash but it covers everything and is very streamlined! Plus you can sell on everything or use it for a second child, all my stuff is still in great condition despite 16 months of heavy use.

[alfabetsoup]

Oh, and about 50 fleece liners and a million flushable liners. It's likely you won't be able to get a toilet sprayer so once they start eating solids it's much easier to get rid of the poop if you put liners in!

[SleeplessMommy]

I would go with this:

1 dz Kissaluvs sz 0 fitted - optional
Thirsties S covers OR Bummies - need 6 total

2 dz sm pfs (infant sized india prefolds, little-lions.com)
2 dz md pfs (regular sized india prefolds, little-lions.com) - optional
6 Fuzzibunz one size (or kissaluvs marvels)
6 fuzzibunz M
2 Thirsties duo sz 1 covers ---> or use home made wool instead?

4 snappi
2 dz cloth wipes ---> use cut up tshirts instead

10 prs cloth training pants --->wait for potty learning. you don't know what size baby will be!

optional: 6 hemp stuffers/doublers for nighttime use in the pockets.

The bolded parts are the most important IMHO - regular prefolds will take up lots of room in the luggage. I am pretty sure you can find them *somewhere* in China. The infant sized prefolds make great stuffers for pockets, if you need them. If your baby grows fast (mine did) she/he will be in the pocket dipes before you know it.

You can make training pants (in a pinch) by sewing sections of prefold into regular underwear.

[aramat]

Originally Posted by Naturally organic

I'm not as keen on flats as they look like more work. But, I do want some as backups since they will dry faster and since they will fit a wider range.

However, I've noticed a lot of people recommend skipping GMD's red-edge medium pfs and going straight from yellow-edge small to brown-edge large. So, if I just got 1dz NB and 1 dz SM pfs and then 1 dz LG pfs (plus 1 dz flats for backup) would that be workable? I'm thinking the smalls could be used in a pinch when baby was smaller and the flats could be used all the time. I could probably use the large pfs if I HAD to when I wasn't using the NBs anymore. Or do I really need the Mediums?

I do wish I had skipped the red-edges and bought brown instead.

The flats are a bit more work, but they are my back-ups when between sizes or when everything else is in the wash; I didn't use them when she was small, but I use them frequently now, and they get easier with practice and creativity.

Oh, and for potty training... When my middle daughter was 2.5, she trained in a week, and we only needed diapers for overnight. I sewed two covers out of fleece and used hand towels folded inside them (we didn't have prefolds at the time as she'd been in sposies).

[SilverFish]

i have a couple recycled wool covers and i'm making longies right now. i really like them, and they will be perfect for a cold climate.