PF and Covers Question

[macandcheese]

DH and I are planning to CD the new baby, and I'm a little overwhelmed with my choices. We have saved up a nice amount of money for baby stuff so I don't need to be extremely frugal, but at the same time I don't want to end up with 20 dozen newborn-sized things, you know?

I was thinking of getting 2 dozen infant PFs and 2 dozen small PFs to get us through the first few weeks/months. Would that be enough?

I also like the look of Thirsties Duo covers (size 1 for the first little while), and I've been looking at Bummis SuperBrights and Whisper Wraps. However, I don't know how many covers I realistically need. If we're changing an infant ~12 times a day, do we need that many covers? Or can we reuse covers for pee diapers?

Though I would love to buy everything at once and have it done with, I'm thinking it would be smart to hold off on larger sizes until we figure out what works for us, how fast the baby is growing, etc. Does that make sense, or should I have some bigger things (Thirsties Duo size 2, larger Bummis, etc.) on hand right away?

And a wrench in the plan ... I found some Bum Genius 3.0 OS pockets on sale. They are adorable and making me re-think the PF and covers idea. Would it be wise to get maybe a dozen of these for use when the baby is a little bigger, or should I stick with PFs since I made the initial investment?

Or is this whole plan a mess already?

Tell me what to do! LOL

TIA for any advice, ladies.

[octobermom]

Do you have any idea what size your baby may be? I grow tiny ones who dont fit those thirsty covers or infant prefolds.... Till around 2 months (then suddenly skip to mediums

Deanna

[treeoflife3]

If you know you'll have little ones, get the little prefolds. in green mountain diaper speak, get the orange edge. If you know you have larger babies, skip to yellow. I would think 2 dozen is enough for sure. For covers, The duo is okay, but how they put the snaps on is kind of awkward.
You can definitely get by with less than 12 covers. I usually have four total. I can get by with two honestly if its just PUL like thirsties. You just rotate which one you use each diaper change. You'd only have to stop using one if poop gets ON it or if there were some leaks and pee got on the elastic. Otherwise, use til you do laundry. No big deal.

as for WHAT to get, I believe the best new to cloth stash consists of different options. When you go all in on one thing with no experience prior, you might end up hating cloth. Each style has its benefits and drawbacks. I say go ahead and get some 3.0's. You aren't doing cloth purely for the money saving aspect since you said you have some saved up (which, new to cloth but no money and I'd say flats, a couple covers and snappis is the best bet) to get something you want and like. Try out some stuff in the smaller sizes. As baby grows, you can buy the next sizes in things you've tried and KNOW you like... and sell what you don't That is the beauty of cloth. Try a diaper a few times... hate it even after 3-5 times? go ahead and sell it. You' recoop a decent amount.

[macandcheese]

Thanks! That is really helpful.

No idea what size babies I make—this is our first—but I was 7-2 and DH was 8-12. I have a feeling that this baby will be small-ish (or is that just wishful thinking?), so I planned accordingly. If some of the stuff doesn't work out I'll sell, trade, or stash for any future kids.

Anyway, after reading your thoughts I just put together an order of 4 dozen infant PFs and 2 dozen regular PFs from Little Lions (they're all seconds, so super cheap).

I also got two Prorap newborn covers, two Thirsties small covers, and two Thirsties Duo size 1 covers. I figure those six covers should be good for the first few weeks/months while the baby is still under 14-15 pounds.

Then for the next stage, I got two Blueberry OS covers (couldn't resist—"blueberry" is our nickname for the baby at this point), two Thirsties medium covers, and two Thirsties Duo size 2 covers.

And I picked up two Bum Genius 3.0 pockets to try out something besides PFs/Covers—the grandmothers will like these, too.

I am excited! I actually dreamed about cloth diapers all last night

[ShwarmaQueen]

Whoops! Didn't read your update. I think you'll be happy with what you got. I bought ll's too and have been happy so far!

Did you get snappies?

[macandcheese]

Originally Posted by ShwarmaQueen

Whoops! Didn't read your update. I think you'll be happy with what you got. I bought ll's too and have been happy so far!

Did you get snappies?

Yep, two Snappies to start—we'll see if DH and I manage not to lose or destroy them.

This could get dangerously addictive! Even though I think I ordered enough to get us going, I can't stop looking at cute diaper covers.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by macandcheese

Yep, two Snappies to start—we'll see if DH and I manage not to lose or destroy them.

I bought 8 and sometimes I still can't find one to use.

[is it puppies?]

Originally Posted by ShwarmaQueen

I bought 8 and sometimes I still can't find one to use.

We've only ever used 1 of the two I bought

I agree that CDing is an obsession...

[SilverFish]

i have to say, i think you'll be very happy with your purchases. i'm biased, but i LOVE thirsties and blueberry wraps, and prefolds are the way to go!

4 dozen pf is a lot though, i would only wash 2 doz to start and see how many you go through... it's much easier to recoup costs on unused, unwashed diapers. even if i had that many pfs, i like to wash every other day anyway... diapers sitting around for longer than that tend to get pretty rank.

hmm, also depends on how your baby is sized, you may also prefer velcro wraps over snaps. just a matter of taste though.

[is it puppies?]

I started with 1 doz prefolds and about 8 other random AIOs, fitteds etc and I had enough for every 1.5 days washing. I have since added another doz prefolds (in the larger- infant size) and small ones 6 or so for trifolding in covers as well as about 8 BG AIO and a few more random fitteds (mainly Goodmama because they are cute). I recently stripped everything and it took me 3 loads- about a weeks worth of dipes for my one DD.
I am currently upsizing my covers and am rebuying thirsties size 2s and trying cuddlers which I like so far.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by is it puppies?

We've only ever used 1 of the two I bought

1 or 2 usually end up in the diaper bag, another 1 or 2 in the diaper pail, a couple here and there in random spots around the house- the bathroom where he's bathed or the living room where I sometimes change him....then of course I have 1 or 2 at the diaper changing station...

[Casha'sMommy]

We started with sanppi'd prefolds and covers. We have a few second hand Kissaluvs and bumware. I love the kissaluvs and bumware but the price is not ideal so I recently ordered some Greenmountain workshorse fitteds and I am . I love love love these dipes! DH asked that we get the dipes with snaps but I think I'd be just as happy with the same dipes snappi'd.

GL and CONGRATS on the new lo.

Cate

[Nicole730]

A few more things to add...

The Thirsties Size Small cover is pretty big and probably won't fit a newborn (mine was 8lbs8oz) The Size One Duos should work though.

I prefer aplix over snaps because I get get a snugger fit.

I would get a few BG 3.0 - they are nice for out and about and overnight.

Don't buy ahead! If you're anything like a lot of us, you will want to always need to buy cloth diapers, not just want to. In addition to the whole baby might not fit certain kinds and you might prefer certain kinds.