What size prefolds?

[AliceMay]

Hi diapering experts - I need you advice!

We are expecting our first in May and planning to use prefolds with wool covers. No idea what size our baby will be but seeing as it's our first, and I'm pretty small, I'm not expecting a huge baby. Can we just use "infant size" (12 X 15") prefolds? I'm guessing these would be really bulky on a newborn, but maybe that doesn't matter since they aren't moving about much? 

The brand we are looking at, Baby Kangas organic hemp prefolds, doesn't offer a smaller size, plus, wouldn't it be a short time the baby would be in newborn size? And if we did decide to buy newborn size we'd still have to buy a full compliment of diapers since newborns need to be changed so often. 

Ideally I'd like to get away with just the infant size, since the organic aspect is kind of important to us (without being totally insane about it) but perhaps a solution would be to buy some cheaper (likely non-organic) cotton prefolds in newborn size?

Would appreciate any advice! Thanks!

[chel]

I was expecting a preemie, so I went with 1 dz newborn and 2dz infant. No sure of the size you stated, but I love the gmd sizes, the list both original and washed size. I liked having the newborn size as dd was under 7 lbs, but would have been fine without them. And didn't have a problem using the infant size when the newborn were dirty.

Green mountain diapers offer organics.

[LeighPF]

In terms of baby size, I work at a cloth diaper shop. I am small, by manager is big. My son was 9lb, her daughter was not even 6lb. Mother nature has a sense of humour.

The infant size fits most babies well smaller newborn until 15 lb. If you end up with a really tiny baby, they will be bulky, but then fit well when they grow bigger. Bummies and Dandilion/Eco both make organic cotton prefolds for very reasonable prices. Organic cotton is usually a higher quality cotton and is more absorbent than conventional cotton prefolds. The price difference is so small that I think organic is always worth it.

I would recommend saving money by using cotton for your newborn diapers. Particularly since you will need more diapers in that new baby period. Hemp is wonderful, mostly for the absorbency. But newborn diapering is about containment and frequent changes. Hemp prefolds are wonderful on an older baby who needs the absorbency. Baby Kicks also makes a great hemp prefold.

Prefolds make great doublers, inserts, high chair liners, and eventually cleaning rags. They have a very long life and good resale value. My newborn diapers spend half the time lent out to friends to introduce them to cloth. The first few months you are changing so many diapers that you will be glad for the smaller less bulky ones.

[AliceMay]

Thank you both for your advice! Yesterday I ordered 20 2-layer hemp/cotton infant prefolds and 4 3-layer ones. I did a lot of searching to find the most affordable option for these - I'm in Canada so I also have to think of shipping and everything, so I'm glad I got a good deal and free shipping. And now I will turn my attention to some newborn diapers, as I think, based on your recommendations, that it would be good to have some, even if I don't have 2 dz. And as you point out, I can use them for other things, and of course, if we have another baby, or could pass them on to somebody else. And though I am a relatively small person, I actually meant that I have been "measuring small", so I sort of imagine that only so much baby that can fit inside that bump! Though I agree in nature's sense of humour thing.... Oh well, no disasters to be prepared with some small prefolds! I'll check out the companies you mentioned.

Thanks again.

[LeighPF]

Bummies is Canadian (their Montreal store is pretty neat) so start by looking at them.

[KABB]

I am also planning on using prefolds and covers mostly for our newborn (due in october). I bought one dozen Swaddlebees prefolds newborn ( 12x13") and three dozen infant sized prefolds from Little-Lions (4x6x4 ply 12 x 16"). My babies have all been under 8lbs at birth but I was told that quite often the newborn prefolds don't fit or don't fit for long so I may return them for something different. 

[AliceMay]

Yes, I checked out Bummies and have made a note to buy some of their newborn prefolds. I'll probably stick with a small number though. And as somebody says, if I do find that the newborn size is good, and then all of them are dirty, I can probably just use an infant prefold, even if it is bulky...

Good thing there are these forums, right?? Because I know that nobody else wants to listening to me rattling on about what diapers, and what sizes and all that. I mean, it's obviously important stuff, but must be pretty boring to other people! ;)