Who is doing Cloth Diapers?

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I've found the CD forum to be a little inactive for my purposes so I thought I'd post here and see if any of our DDC mamas want to chat about cloth diapers.  

I'm not exactly new to CD but I used a service with DC and that was before I knew all the crazy array of options that are available out there.  I find the whole thing overwhelming!  Plus, I was gifted a great stash of pocket diapers that are way high-tech and it's making the whole thing even more confusing as far as getting a stash going.  

So, what are your thoughts mamas?  Wanna share some ideas, plans and etc?  

[justrose13]

[Neuromancer]

This is my first child, but I like the idea of using cloth.  Our wrinkle is that we don't have a washer/dryer in our apartment -- or the building.  So we've signed up for an organic cloth diaper service (prefolds with covers) and we'll see how long we can afford it. 

Here's a helpful handout from the May 2010 issue of Mothering: http://diaperkind.com/Lingo.html

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Great link NR!  

I LOVED a diaper service - it was like magic!  We just used the covers that came with the service but if I could have done that over again I would probably have bought some better covers.  

[msmiles]

I absolutely want to chat cloth diapers! I'm obsessed with cd'ing this baby! Well, maybe "obsessed" is a little strong. Actually, no its not. I could talk about it all day, and unfortunately, no one else in my life is excited as I am. 

I absolutely find it overwhelming, too. I've been lurking the forums and researching cd'ing for about three months now, and I was starting to feel like I had a pretty good grasp of it…until I received a package of all-in-ones in the mail to use for my son at bedtime. Then I realized I had so, so many questions, and it zapped some of my confidence. Ah well, cd'ing is going to be trial and error, regardless of how much I lurk the forum history and watch youtube tutorials.

I'm going to try getting the baby set up for the first couple months with a budget of around $300 using exclusively prefolds/flats and covers. Just waiting for tax return money...

[Nanette56]

Me too! One of my IRL friends is an avid cloth diaperer (is that even a word?) she gave me a great breakdown in an email of the different types, and pros and cons of each (she's tried everything) she gave the nod to GDiapers. I'm going to use the biodegradable flushable inserts at first, because I think with two, the washing etc might become overwhelming. I think I'll eventually try to switch to cloth inserts once I get the hang of it though! We don't get diaper service way out here in the country, and I don't know how the other tenants would feel if I had them pick up and drop off outside my office, but it sounded like a really good idea! What types are you ladies considering?

[nerdymom]

I CD some with DS (not currently bc washing dipes makes me so ill right now). I didn't start until he was 8 months old, and I used prefolds and snappi'd covers. I liked it, but then I tried pockets and I really, really love pockets. My biggest obstacle was price. But then I found sunbaby one size pocket diapers, for $4.30/each they are a great price. I have several friends who are using them with great success. I'm expecting my order to arrive soon. I'll have 24 diapers to start out with, and I think I'll use them around the clock in the beginning. Then when I'm not changing diapers at night any more I will switch to prefolds with fleece soakers at night.

For me the most important qualities I look for in a cloth diapering system are:

Afforability

Ease of use

Ease of care

Cuteness

Affordability. When starting to CD, set your budget first. CDing can be addictive because there are so many adorable diapers out there. But if you drop a couple grand on a diaper stash - what are you going to do when your baby has a nasty, horrible poop in one? Freak out because there is a stain and oh it was $$ and HTF and if only it weren't stained you could get $$-$$$ because it's the "it" diaper right now? It's a diaper ladies. It's for holding in baby poop. If I could afford to spend $25 on a good quality, WAHM made diaper, I would choose it in a heartbeat over my cheap $4 Chinese diapers. But I cannot. So I chose the cheaper diaper because I'm realistic about myself and the used CD market. I doubt I will want to spend the time selling my diapers when they are done. And quite frankly, I want to have a lot of kids so my diapers probably won't be worth anything when I'm done with them. Reselling is not for everyone. Don't be swayed into buying diapers you cannot afford on the promise that you can sell them afterward. All it takes is a redesign, a new hot brand, or a few bad reviews for the resale value of a cloth diaper to plumet.

Ease of use. Some people will say, well, if you can't afford Fuzzibunz or whatever brand they adore, then you should go the prefold or flat diaper route. Well, some people love their flats or prefolds. I didn't. I wanted something that I could be wham, bam, done. Prefolds are slightly more work intensive. For overnights I like a prefold with a doubler and a fleece soaker because by golly they are cheap and they WORK. Try a cloth diaper trial program, like the one from Jillian's drawers. For a small fee you can try many different types of cloth diaper and figure out which ones you like to use. Because if you don't like to use them, you are far less likely to stick with it for the long haul.

Ease of care. Cloth diaper are pretty easy to care for in general, but some diapers are more inclined to have build up issues. Cotton is by far the easiest to care for and the least likely to have build up issues. It does stain more easily though. Microfleece doesn't stain as much but is more prone to build up. Stripping a diaper is easy to do, but some people find the prospect daunting and like to stick with natural fibers.

Cuteness. I have a friend who doesn't care a fig what her diapers look like. She used prefolds and the cheapest, white covers she could find. And I say good for her. For me, I will choose a cute print over a solid almost every time. I don't have a single white diaper cover. I like bright colors. And yes it might cost me a teeny bit more, but for me it's worthwhile because they are so darn cute!! That being said, I always fulfill my other criteria first, before buying a cute diaper. If you let cuteness rule, well, bad things start to happen in your wallet!!

[jr'smom]

We started CDing with our third child.  I had to keep it "easy" since my DH is a SAHD and does most of the diapering and the laundry.  We went with mostly Bum Genius 3.0's.  They still fit DD2 now and are in good shape.  We put them away a couple months ago and switched to cloth pull--ups for potty training.  I can't remember what they're called, but they work well. 

So now the BG's are ready for this new little one.  I thought CDing was going to be harder than it was, but it was really pretty easy.  DH did a good job with it!

[StarCat]

We would like to cd part time this baby.  I did not with the first 2.  I am overwhelmed when I go to the cd boards and therefore have not done anything with this.  I did some research a few months ago and saw the flip diapers get some good reviews.  I was also looking at bum genius since my SIL used those and liked them and we tend to have similar shaped kids. Big but long and lean.  I"m actually hoping that some of my cd'ing friends get me some stuff at the shower so I can try stuff w/o spending any $$.  But most likely I will end up signing up for a trial thing toward the end of march. 

I read an article that even if you cd 1 day a week it makes a huge difference for the envioronment. DH was so NOT into cd before but he kinda has had some fun researching the newer options, esp the hybrid systems. So we are making the commitment to part time cd. and who knows where we will go from there. 

would love to hear if anyone else has any experience with the flip or g diapers or any of the hybrids.

[puddle]

I used plain ol' prefolds and white covers with DD, and will use them again for this DS.  Honestly, if you have your own washing machine, I can't imagine why you wouldn't.  It's just so easy and cheap.  Plus I think the big cloth diaper butts make little babies easier to hold and it's a nice cushion when they fall down.  It was so weird when DD started wearing underwear--hey, where'd your butt go??    My only advice is that when your DC gets older, stay the hell away from velcro/aplix.  Once they learn how to open them, you've gotta stick with snaps.

I used a super lazy/laid back form of EC and it helped cut down on the laundry, among other benefits.  Although I'm still a little intimidated by the thought of ECing a boy this time around...

[leigh2006]

I used pocket diapers with my first two (still using them with #2!), and love them.  They're easy to put on because it's so similar to a disposable diaper.  You do have to remove the inserts before you wash and re-stuff them afterwards, but for the ease and convenience, it's a small price to pay for me.  I tried using fitted diapers when #2 was born, but I had issues with them leaking and not wicking, so I gave that up pretty quickly.  I think some of it had to do with the material used and the sizing was a little off, but I couldn't afford to get more at the time so I went back to pockets.  I'm planning on using pockets again this time and maybe trying EC...

[Lauren82]

Me me me! This will be my first time using cloth. I read so many forums, articles and websites that my head was spinning. We will be using prefolds (GMD) and fitteds (mostly adorable prints) with Thirsties covers for now. I may or may not switch to a different type of dipe depending on how it goes.

[Maurer]

I am not pregnant, but I Cloth diapered my son for 3 years.  He started the potty about 4 months ago. 

I used most every type of diaper out there.  Fitted, pockets, AIO, prefolds with covers, all in 2 and probably others.

My favorite was fitteds with wool pants (longies) as a cover. The wool acts as diaper cover and pants at the same time.  For ease I would say I loved pocket pocket diapers.  They were easy to use, easy to wash, and they worked really well.  There are lots of WAHM made pocket diapers, but our favorites ended up being Fuzzi Bunz.  We also used some bum genius pocket diapers with applix for when grandpa would watch our son. 

I love cloth diapers and they were really easy to use.

I also must say that having a diaper sprayer made cloth diapering a breeze. 

[Comtessa]

We have been full-time CD'ing with DD (20 months) and plan to CD this baby too.  I've tried a bunch of systems and here's my feedback on the pros and cons:

Pocket diapers (we have BumGenius and FuzziBunz)

PROS:

fast and convenient to put on/take off - more like a disposable

easy for DH to deal with (he won't do prefolds 'cause he's terrified of diaper pins)

less bulky in the diaper bag for traveling

CONS:

I find that they leak a lot, especially at night

don't fit well, especially now that DD is older (DD is small and skinny - the leg openings are too big)

sizing is awkward - you need to keep buying multiple sizes or you need "one-size" diapers which don't always quite fit

need to be stripped often and, IMO, retain 'stink' more than natural fibers, esp. in the winter when they can't be hung in the sun to dry

expensive

DD learned by 12 months how to undo the velcro tabs on the BG diapers -- which was occasionally problematic in public! 

 Gdiapers 

PROS:

even more like a disposable than pocket diapers

flushable insert is convenient for travel, etc.

newborn sizing really does work for very small babies (one-size pocket diapers, etc., tend to be too big at first)

velcro tabs in the back mean the LO doesn't learn to undo the tabs by him/herself as quickly

CONS:

esp. with newborn breastfed poop, the poop tends to get everywhere so you have to wash the covers almost every time you use them anyway

flushable insert is kind of a pain to dispose of - it's not as easy as it sounds

they're not quite as eco-friendly as they advertise themselves to be (they use the same petroleum-based gels as sposies) -- I wouldn't compost that gunk

for me, they tended to leak when I used a cloth liner rather than the disposable insert

the two-piece covers were annoying to take apart & put back together

buying the disposable inserts was too much like buying disposable diapers for me

inserts were really hard to find around here, most of our stores don't carry them

Prefolds and covers (Thirsties and Econobum)

PROS:

A heck of a lot cheaper than any other system

Cotton fibers are easier to care for and hold 'stink' much less than synthetics

The covers leak FAR less often than anything else I've tried (esp. Thirsties - they're worth every penny)

Easy to pair with a doubler for overnight, etc.

Covers don't have to be washed every time they're used, so you need fewer covers than diapers

Diapers dry faster than pocket-diaper inserts -- i.e., less energy used -- and covers dry faster when hung up than pocket diapers

CONS:

DH won't touch the diaper pins and I don't like Snappis much (but this is a personal preference - lots of people love the Snappis)

a bit more labor-intensive during diaper changes (can be a challenge with a wiggly baby)

Cotton stains more than synthetics

My verdict?  Prefolds and covers, for sure.  If I could do it all over again, knowing what I know now, I never would have bothered with the expensive diapers at all.  I would have bought a full stash of plain cotton prefolds and a dozen Thirsties covers and considered myself well-stocked.  I would never have bothered with the Gdiapers -- they were a HUGE pain.  I still use the pocket diapers, since we have them, and they're ok, but IMO, prefolds are definitely the way to go.  With this next baby, I'm stocking up on a few newborn size prefolds and covers so I can use them when s/he is little -- DD didn't fit into any of her cloth diapers until she was a few months old, we were using sposies until then.  Oh goodness, the garbage!!!!!!  No way am I doing that again.

Oh, and if you have access to a diaper service, go for it, it's marvelous -- but don't be intimidated if you don't.  We don't have a diaper service in town, so it wasn't an option for me, but really, after you do it for a few months, washing diapers is really easy and just becomes part of your normal routine.  Very simple, honestly. 

[CookAMH]

We CD with DS (21 mo). I recently got out all the little diapers and washed them. Theys are so tiny . We use prefolds and mostly thirsties covers. I also like Mother-Ease airflow covers, and was given some fuzzi bunz pockets for older infant that we like a lot for a quick change. I have three inserts of sort that are probably bamboo, my mom bought them for me from a consignment shop. 

We used a service also with DS when he was a newborn, so I had only purchased 1 doz newborn prefolds. I got another dozen recently, and I think that'll be fine, esp considering the babe might grow out of them quickly. If we run out, we have the next size up to use even if bulky.

I'm trying to figure out the setup of clothes and diapers, should both kids' diapers and clothes go in DS's room? Baby will be with us for a little bit then in our guest room, so I might use the dresser in the guest room. But I also figure I'll use DS's changing table for clothing and diaper changes. I need to think about it a little more.

[bleumoose]

Me! :) I CD'd with both the others, although I didn't last long with DS2 before giving it up (pretty bad PPD, I just couldn't keep up :P ). And we use 'sposies at night, started with our first because he was such a heavy wetter, now it's what we're comfy with.

My biggest advice to folks starting out: if you don't do a one-size option (like Bumgenius), buy something cheap for the newborn/small sizes.  they grow so fast in the early weeks, you can waste a lot of money buying cute fancy dipes for the tiny ones. Better IMO to spend the bulk of you budget on mediums. Unless you have a very small baby or one who grows extraordinarily slowly, in which case you can always add to your stash of smalls after baby is here, once you know that.

Before investing in a diapering system, I recommend trying lots of different styles/brands of diapers to see what works for you and your family. If you don't have local people to borrow/buy from (craigslist or friends), try ebay or I think there's a forum specifically about CDing but I don't know the name..? Some companies offer sampler packages where you can try a number of different styles of diapers. That is nice if you are unable to buy individual dipes used from other sources.

So, my stash:

I have a dozen or so small (newborn?) prefolds with small covers, as well as a few small pockets and kissaluvs fitteds that I have acquired from friends giving away diapers they're done with.

For mediums, I have a hodgepodge of fitteds, prefolds, pockets, and kissaluvs.

I vastly prefer the fitteds over everything else, with pockets coming in second. I like fuzzibunz, but I know a ton of people who loooooove bumgenius, but I haven't tried those yet. Pockets are convenient, but like a PP said, they can leak and need stripped often, and for me, the hassle of stuffing them after washing is a detractor. For covers,   I like the MotherEase covers, they clean and dry well, and are easy to put on. i also like wool soakers or longies.  This time I have some stacinator wool covers someone just gave me, as well as a couple of fleece ones.

[gumshoegirl007]

We're cloth diapering for the first time and like so many of the previous posters have commented it is SO overwhelming.  I've done lots of research online and in store and with other moms and I still feel so unprepared. 

I want to get as much together for my stash as I can before the baby comes, however, what I'm deducing from what I've read that most of cloth diapering is trial and error - in terms of the baby, baby size and parental preference.  Some people will really like prefolds, while someone else will swear by g diapers.  Others will swear against g diapers, while praise grovia.  And then even within those reviews you're also scrutinizing different generations of diapers, for example, I've heard to avoid 3rd gen Bum Genius because the velcro wears out and babies like to rip the diapers open, and that you should only go with 4th gen Bum Genius because of the snaps.  I tried out the Bum Genius snaps at the store and I can't easily get the darn things closed with one hand (or, embarrassingly enough, with both hands).

I went to a cloth diapering workshop at the local diaper store and that's where I decided to start.  I was able to touch, feel and try these diapers out.  To begin with, I'm going to get some prefolds and some Kissaluvs with blueberry, bummis and wool covers.  I'm also going to try out a few GroVia AIO (I liked the texture and snaps better than Bum Genius) and the AMP one-size duo pocket (I liked these better than the Flip and Fuzzibunz).  It's a start and I'm sure I'll have to shake up my strategies once I get these on the baby's bottom!

[nerdymom]

Originally Posted by leigh2006 

I used pocket diapers with my first two (still using them with #2!), and love them.  They're easy to put on because it's so similar to a disposable diaper.  You do have to remove the inserts before you wash and re-stuff them afterwards, but for the ease and convenience, it's a small price to pay for me.  I tried using fitted diapers when #2 was born, but I had issues with them leaking and not wicking, so I gave that up pretty quickly.  I think some of it had to do with the material used and the sizing was a little off, but I couldn't afford to get more at the time so I went back to pockets.  I'm planning on using pockets again this time and maybe trying EC...

Which brand do you use? I found that with the pocket diapers I have the inserts spin right out in the initial rinse.

[TinyFrog]

We will be CD'ing.  I bought almost all new prefolds and picked up a variety of used covers from friends. I also have a couple of used fitted dipes.  I knitted a few wool soakers and plan to make a pair of longies too.  I also will try EC, especially for when we are away on the weekends to help reduce the laundry going back and forth.  I want to try out various ones to see what I like best and what works for the baby.  

[nerdymom]

Originally Posted by gumshoegirl007 

We're cloth diapering for the first time and like so many of the previous posters have commented it is SO overwhelming.  I've done lots of research online and in store and with other moms and I still feel so unprepared. 

I want to get as much together for my stash as I can before the baby comes, however, what I'm deducing from what I've read that most of cloth diapering is trial and error - in terms of the baby, baby size and parental preference.  Some people will really like prefolds, while someone else will swear by g diapers.  Others will swear against g diapers, while praise grovia.  And then even within those reviews you're also scrutinizing different generations of diapers, for example, I've heard to avoid 3rd gen Bum Genius because the velcro wears out and babies like to rip the diapers open, and that you should only go with 4th gen Bum Genius because of the snaps.  I tried out the Bum Genius snaps at the store and I can't easily get the darn things closed with one hand (or, embarrassingly enough, with both hands).

I went to a cloth diapering workshop at the local diaper store and that's where I decided to start.  I was able to touch, feel and try these diapers out.  To begin with, I'm going to get some prefolds and some Kissaluvs with blueberry, bummis and wool covers.  I'm also going to try out a few GroVia AIO (I liked the texture and snaps better than Bum Genius) and the AMP one-size duo pocket (I liked these better than the Flip and Fuzzibunz).  It's a start and I'm sure I'll have to shake up my strategies once I get these on the baby's bottom!

I know there's the desire to get the stash done before the baby comes, but honestly, you're going to have a lot of down time while nursing. Once you can NAK (nurse at keyboard), think of the fun you can have building your stash, with baby in arms, knowing what you do and do not like.