Who else is cloth-diapering?

[nicolian]

Just curious who the others mamas who use cloth are and what you're planning on using. I would love to hear from the mamas who don't know or want to learn more about it, too! Cloth can be addictive though, so watch out.

[1love4ever]

I AM CDing!  JUST FOUND OUT I'M PREGNANT TODAY!!!  I'm using Happy Heiny's organic one size cloth diapers with fuzzibunz hemp inserts on my 1yr old right now but dont think i'll be using them on my newborn because I think they'll be too bulky and the snaps dont stay closed well for the one-size adjusting.

Any recommendations on best CDs for newborns?  I will not use a diaper with polyester fleece for staying dry is my only thing.  I use Grovia bioliners and like them a lot.  I also have some silk liners.  They do a great job at keeping baby dry.  I dont like petroleum based fabrics next to my childs skin, or the fact that it is petroleum that is harmful to the environment and non-renewable.

:D

[RosemaryS-F]

I'll be using all my old cloth again this time. It's too expensive (in many ways, not just $) to do the other way, although I am not looking forward to the laundry! DS pretty much day trained himself before age 2 and I haven't been dealing with diapers much for about a year. I was never bitten by the addictive diaper bug though!

[RosemaryS-F]

Awesome news!

I think tiny prefolds are the way to go with newborns because they can be molded exactly to the baby's body.
 

Originally Posted by 1love4ever 

I AM CDing!  JUST FOUND OUT I'M PREGNANT TODAY!!!  I'm using Happy Heiny's organic one size cloth diapers with fuzzibunz hemp inserts on my 1yr old right now but dont think i'll be using them on my newborn because I think they'll be too bulky and the snaps dont stay closed well for the one-size adjusting.

Any recommendations on best CDs for newborns?  I will not use a diaper with polyester fleece for staying dry is my only thing.  I use Grovia bioliners and like them a lot.  I also have some silk liners.  They do a great job at keeping baby dry.  I dont like petroleum based fabrics next to my childs skin, or the fact that it is petroleum that is harmful to the environment and non-renewable.

:D

[tank]

This is my first and I plan on CDing.  I don't know all the differences in the brands and I hear a lot of it is personal preference.  My plan is to put a few different types on my registry as well as some regular disposables and when the baby is born sign up for one of those trials that you can try different types out.  Any of you have any preferences or suggestions for a first timer?

[theboysmama]

I will be doing a combo of cloth and ec (elimination communication). Since we ec I prefer for my cloth not to be extremely absorbent as I change it often. I prefer fitted diapers with covers ( I use both wool adn plu) as I can choose to use them with or without the covers. My nb diapers are about 3 doz pre-folds that a friend converted into fitted diapers. Then the next size up are fitted lucy's hope chest diapers. I like them a lot and they have held up well through 2 kiddos. I also purchased 1 doz (and plan to purchase 1 doz more) pull ups from www.sassycloth.com. She will custom make these so they can be in the really small sizes. They are great bcs they easily pull up and down and bcs they velcro (or snap) on the sides. They have lasted well and my dd fit in them forever. They are very reasonably priced too.

Advice for newbies: Buy a few plu covers (get different brands and buy used) and make or buy one or 2 wool covers (use pre-folds with or without a snappy for your nb size). Then by the time you get into the mediums you will have a better idea of what type of wetter you have, how often you do laundry, if you need them to dry quickly, how easy do you want them to be able to change, etc.

[1love4ever]

For the newbies- look up cloth diapering 101 on youtube.  Its pretty informative!

[HeatherCPST]

I'm going to use cloth. I have an OK stash at this point (because we've been planning to adopt for a while) but I need to add a few more things. I'd like to get some Smartipants to try, and a WAHM brand called Prairie Tales.

[Poodge]

We use cloth for DS and will be using cloth for this little one as well. We use BumGenius AIO Organics and for the newborn phase I rented Kissluv (sp?). 

[Starlit]

I had been planning to try to use cloth for this LO... but then found out I'm expecting twins and am a bit intimidated by the idea now!  What do you guys think?  Is it doable with twins....... or just too much laundry??? (I hate laundry!)   Also, I may have to use child care and am wondering how that would work with cloth diapering- would I just use disposables for daycare and cloth while at home?  (I'm guessing most daycare centers wouldn't do cloth).  Ideally I'd like to find a pt nanny, but not sure if that is financially possible...

[Aliy]

ddcc

i would totally do it.. think of the savings...... i love prefolds for newborns and tiny babies

[lifeguard]

starlit - I had a friend with twins who cloth diapered. Remember you don't have to go 100%.

I did cloth with ds. I made prefolds & used Mommy's Touch one sized cover. I reallllly liked these diaper covers. I intended to use primarily wool but every one that I made just didn't fit right - never did figure it out & then just gave up & stuck to the pul covers. I will be making more prefolds for this baby in a smaller size 'cause mine were realllllly bulky when he was little.

[akind1]

RE: daycare: the trick is to show them how easy it is, pockets or AIO are best for daycare. they go on and off as easily as a 'sposie, only difference is in many states (maybe all?) you need to have a separate wet bag for each diap that is used. Ask around I am sure there are daycares that will accomodate.

We started CD'ing DS around 7 months (I ran out of sposies in the size he needed and would need to spend money on more diapers either way. Chose to do cloth and have not looked back since!) At first I did prefolds and covers, with some AI2 options thrown in for when we were out and about. As he got older and more wriggly, we have largely moved to pockets, though I still have prefolds and covers in the stash. they are good back up when it gets close to laundry day, or I need to put off laundry for a day.

For this baby, I am torn as to what to do first. We have a massive amount (like 30+ packs) of size 1 sposies we never used on DS. However they do not hold in newborn blowout poo very well (at ALL really) and I would end up washing poo stained clothes anyway . . . . so am thinking we may just do prefolds and covers for the new baby. I have green-edged prefolds and I think they would be small enough for a newborn, I would just need some covers. It is a dilemma . . . but we have lots of time to think about it!

[emmaegbert]

I used cloth for #1 and #2 and plan to again, though laundry won't be as easy here. I also do EC so maybe that will motivate me to really do that more! We've done what was cheap/free, and I've seen the plus sides of the different dipes I've used. I like prefolds, I like wool soakers (yes, easy to make), I loved the kissaluvs I bought for DS when he was little, but passed those on and never got them back. I loved the motherease sandy's that I got for DS when he was a little bigger, and am using them for DD as well. I got a TON of fuzzibunz loan/given by neighbors for DD and those were very convenient.  Luckily a friend who has a LO right now is planning to box up and send me a big stash of small dipes, so that is awesome! This pregnancy was a surprise, and plus we moved across the country when DD was 15, so I really wasn't hanging onto a lot of diapers. Ah well! If someone is offering baby gifts, I will register for 3m of diaper service or something, though in the past people haven't bought me much for babies and I'd be surprised if they do for #3. Though maybe the ILs would if we straight up asked... IME EC really cut down the number if diapers but didn't eliminate them completely.

[nicolian]

Originally Posted by 1love4ever 

I AM CDing!  JUST FOUND OUT I'M PREGNANT TODAY!!!  I'm using Happy Heiny's organic one size cloth diapers with fuzzibunz hemp inserts on my 1yr old right now but dont think i'll be using them on my newborn because I think they'll be too bulky and the snaps dont stay closed well for the one-size adjusting.

Any recommendations on best CDs for newborns?  I will not use a diaper with polyester fleece for staying dry is my only thing.  I use Grovia bioliners and like them a lot.  I also have some silk liners.  They do a great job at keeping baby dry.  I dont like petroleum based fabrics next to my childs skin, or the fact that it is petroleum that is harmful to the environment and non-renewable.

:D

IME, Happy Heiny's run pretty large. I loved them for my super huge son before he PL'd! As for a good, natural dipe for a newbie - you could do prefolds, prefitteds or cotton/bamboo/hemo fitteds. There are so many brands!

Originally Posted by tank 

This is my first and I plan on CDing.  I don't know all the differences in the brands and I hear a lot of it is personal preference.  My plan is to put a few different types on my registry as well as some regular disposables and when the baby is born sign up for one of those trials that you can try different types out.  Any of you have any preferences or suggestions for a first timer?

There is a lot to learn about it but it's not bad once you get started. I remember feeling so daunted and not knowing where to start. I think trying out some different types is a great idea. www.jilliansdrawers.com does a trial plan that I have heard is great. You could also buy used. Just remember to always check feedback and ask the right questions. I have gone through all different types of diapers since I began CD'ing with my oldest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeatherCPST 

I'm going to use cloth. I have an OK stash at this point (because we've been planning to adopt for a while) but I need to add a few more things. I'd like to get some Smartipants to try, and a WAHM brand called Prairie Tales.

Never heard of Prairie Tales. Link? :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poodge 

We use cloth for DS and will be using cloth for this little one as well. We use BumGenius AIO Organics and for the newborn phase I rented Kissluv (sp?). 

That's what I did with DS2. I wasn't a fan of them. But my kids are super soakers. Some people love them.

Originally Posted by Starlit 

I had been planning to try to use cloth for this LO... but then found out I'm expecting twins and am a bit intimidated by the idea now!  What do you guys think?  Is it doable with twins....... or just too much laundry??? (I hate laundry!)   Also, I may have to use child care and am wondering how that would work with cloth diapering- would I just use disposables for daycare and cloth while at home?  (I'm guessing most daycare centers wouldn't do cloth).  Ideally I'd like to find a pt nanny, but not sure if that is financially possible...

Yea, it doesn't have to be fulltime. And, you may not actually have much of an uphill battle to get a DCP to use cloth. You just have to show them how easy it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmaegbert 

I used cloth for #1 and #2 and plan to again, though laundry won't be as easy here. I also do EC so maybe that will motivate me to really do that more! We've done what was cheap/free, and I've seen the plus sides of the different dipes I've used. I like prefolds, I like wool soakers (yes, easy to make), I loved the kissaluvs I bought for DS when he was little, but passed those on and never got them back. I loved the motherease sandy's that I got for DS when he was a little bigger, and am using them for DD as well. I got a TON of fuzzibunz loan/given by neighbors for DD and those were very convenient.  Luckily a friend who has a LO right now is planning to box up and send me a big stash of small dipes, so that is awesome! This pregnancy was a surprise, and plus we moved across the country when DD was 15, so I really wasn't hanging onto a lot of diapers. Ah well! If someone is offering baby gifts, I will register for 3m of diaper service or something, though in the past people haven't bought me much for babies and I'd be surprised if they do for #3. Though maybe the ILs would if we straight up asked... IME EC really cut down the number if diapers but didn't eliminate them completely.

A friend of mine does EC and thinks I should try. I wonder if it would be too much work. lol
 

[nicolian]

Oh, and AFM - I am using mainly fitteds, some prefitteds, and some AIO's. I will have some PUL covers, but mainly wool. I LOVE wool! I'm only buying for the newbie stage, as I already have a bunch of OS dipes from my older boys.

[sarbare0704]

Cloth here for sure! We are currently using Smartipants on our 17 mo old. We have used them his whole life and I still love them!! I am excited to get some more though because I assume I will probably have two kids in dipes to some extent! Hopefully I can buy the cute girl colors this time ;) 

[~pi]

We used cloth with DS and will do it again. I don't actually find it addictive at all, but when I got pregnant with DS, both DH and I were grad students, so we deliberately chose a very basic, low cost system (prefolds, snap covers, homemade* microfleece liner strips, and homemade** wool covers.)

We still have all the prefolds and snap covers from DS, though we accidentally shrunk our wool covers when we got a new washing machine, so we*** will need to make a new set. I think we'll also get a new piece of microfleece to cut up for liners, as we have been using those as washable kleenex and rags ever since DS potty-trained, so they are getting pretty grubby.

We may consider investing in more pocket diapers this time. We had a couple we got as gifts last time, and they were so great to have. We'll probably also use disposables for the meconium weeks, and possibly also at night. They go in industrial compost here, so there is slightly less environmental guilt, and they are definitely less work than cloth.

*Homemade = a big piece of microfleece, cut into strips.

**Homemade = made out of sweaters from the used clothing store.

***We = DH, who insisted on being allowed to take home ec in addition to shop back in elementary school, and can therefore run a sewing machine far better than I can.

[klemomma]

I've been cloth diapering for 6+ years now, so of course we will continue with the new LO.

We use fitteds and wool. I might get a few PUL covers also.

I'm planning to sew my own fitteds out of cotton interlock. I want to have a diaper party, kind of like a baby shower, but no presents - everyone just comes and helps sew (plus eats some yummy food and visits / has fun!).

I'm also knitting up a whole stash of NB wool. (I learned to knit longies after DD2 was born). So much fun!

[hjdmom24]

I want to cloth diaper..my biggest concerns are startup cost and laundry. About 6 months ago I had ordered a trial pack from nomorebummers.com but ended up deciding against it because it seemed like my son was ready to potty learn (he wasn't) and I didn't think I would have more kids..I really regret that now! But provided I can start a stash soon and spread out the cost maybe I will be able to do it. I want it to be easy, cute and low cost..lol not sure that all goes together though. I really wish I could learn to sew and make my own but I don't see that happening in the near future.