Do you use flats?

[blackbird2]

I don't hear much about folks using flats.... are they a good choice?

For DS we had a diaper service for the first 6 months (I think).  Baby 2 is arriving in September, and I'll need to cover those first months now since there's no service here.  Flats are seeming like a good option right now because

- they dry quickly (I mostly have prefolds and a couple aios, and they definitely take longer than I'd like)

- the origami fold doesn't seen that hard

Am I missing something?  Are there drawbacks that I'm unaware of?

What are your favorite fasteners or do you just use a cover?

I'd love to hear any other pointers or comments from people experienced with flats.

TIA!

[Mamabugandco]

I promise you I'm not new to diapering-lol. I had to register again due to a forgotten password=) BUT, I can tell you about Flats!! I love them!! I have been diapering for over 14 and a half years now, and I am now back to using prefolds and flats. So simple and I love it!! Our fave fold right now is the Swaddlebees Kite Fold:)

[Juliacat]

I don't like flats, because the folding is tedious and I never have been able to get the hang of using them coverless. I wouldn't recommend them unless you don't have your own washer and dryer. If I did have to use them, I would use them Snappied under a snap-closing cover, to keep them from falling off.

[earthymama2be]

I like pad folding flats w our gro via and thirsties covers. I like that Ican make it more absorbent in the front for ds and I don't snappi or fasten it at all ( he's soooo squirmy). Have not had much luck w other folds though bc I can't get the sides to fit under our leg gussets. They do wash and dry so nicely!

[MyLittleWonders]

I love flats. I have been diapering with them for the better part of 7 1/2 years. (I also use prefolds and pockets - I used to use some AIOs, but they don't work for dd.) Most days, dd is in a flat and a cover. My favorite are Ikea (they are sold as burp cloths, but are about 28" x 28" and a thick, muslin weave), Imse Vimse, and Green Mountain Diaper unbleached birdseye. Oh, and flannel receiving blankets work well too, and are cute. I think the Ikea and Imse Vimse (IV is also a muslin weave) are the most absorbent, but the birdseye are the trimmest. (The GMD birdseye flat pinned under a Bummis Whisper Pant, or even a Flip cover is as thin, if not thinner, than a disposible.) Personally, I pin mine - Dd doesn't seem to do as well with snappis anyway (the bottom "leg" of the snappi keeps the wet diaper up against her too tightly, which leads to rash issues), and I always felt that with flats, the sides were too thin for the snappi teeth and I was concerned it would poke through to the skin. My favorite folds are the "kite" fold and the "neat" fold. 

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

I love them as a pad too. In fact, I've replaced most of the microfibre inserts out of my fleece pocket diapers and replaced them with pad-folded flats. They wash well, dry well, and don't get stinky! But I never figured out actually folding them as a diaper either. I was planning on using a lot of flats when DS was tiny, but he was having so many rash issues that that plan fell by the wayside - too bad because as it turns out it's cotton and wool that keeps him rash free! I just didn't realize it soon enough.

[MyLittleWonders]

Perdita - I think ds#2 was about a year when I finally figured out how to fold and use a flat on him. Before that, he was in prefolds and fitteds most of the time. The first couple of attempts were a bit wonky (LOL), but it didn't take long to get the hang of folding them and putting them on him. So, in my experience, it's never too late to start using them folded and pinned/snappied. 

[rachelsmama]

I love them.  They are way more versatile than anything else I've tried.  I use AIO and fitteds, and prefolds too, depending on the situation, and what's clean, but I find flats to be more useful for longer, and easier to get clean than anything else. 

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Originally Posted by MyLittleWonders 

Perdita - I think ds#2 was about a year when I finally figured out how to fold and use a flat on him. Before that, he was in prefolds and fitteds most of the time. The first couple of attempts were a bit wonky (LOL), but it didn't take long to get the hang of folding them and putting them on him. So, in my experience, it's never too late to start using them folded and pinned/snappied. 

I have very basic birdseye flats - will they hold as much as a prefold when snappied? If so, I'll try it out - just to say I can do it if nothing else LOL.
 

[possum]

We LOVE flats here. We tried a variety with #1, and our favorite was flats with wool or PUL covers - no pins or snappis.  We have both GMDs and home-made birdseye and flannels.  They are all having a second go on #2 now.  I really like how easy they are to wash and dry;  I'm kinda icked out by what must get stuck in multi-layer diapers.  We've never had build-up issues or stinkiness in our flats.  They are litterally useable from day 1 until potty training, very affordable, and IMO the most ecological choice because of ease of care.

[rachelsmama]

Originally Posted by Perdita_in_Ontario 

I have very basic birdseye flats - will they hold as much as a prefold when snappied? If so, I'll try it out - just to say I can do it if nothing else LOL.
 

One won't hold as much as a prefold, but two or three will, especially if the extra ones are folded into pads and put where they're needed most.

[colorclash]

I  flats also!  They wash really well and dry super quick!

I usually fold them down to the size of a prefold and then put them on the baby using the same methods as I would a prefold, usually the angel wing fold. I liked the idea of the origami fold, but angel wing is so much faster for us.  DH will just use them as pads.  I use the GMD large unbleached birdseye and receiving blankets, but we are growing out of the 30x30 receiving blankets.  Maybe I'll have to try the origami fold on those...

[Eresh]

I especially loved flats for nb cloth diapering.  I got the small birdseye from GMD.  Now I mostly use them for stuffing pocket diapers.  :)      I'm now buying a cloth stash to start my SIL off and since she has no dryer it's going to be mainly flats.

[blackbird2]

Just wanted to say thanks!  I really appreciate you comments and info  :)

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

I learned how to do an origami fold today.

OMG, I've spent FAR too much on fancy diapers. DS spent the day in flats and wool and was just as leak-free and comfortable as in any fancy schmancy pocket diaper or AIO. I'm thinking of selling off my stash LOL.

[MyLittleWonders]

Originally Posted by Perdita_in_Ontario 

I have very basic birdseye flats - will they hold as much as a prefold when snappied? If so, I'll try it out - just to say I can do it if nothing else LOL.
 

Originally Posted by rachelsmama 

One won't hold as much as a prefold, but two or three will, especially if the extra ones are folded into pads and put where they're needed most.

You can also use/buy premie prefolds (they are smaller and thinner than the infant ones) and use those as doublers with birdseye or floursack flats. Dd has been in those all day today (flat + premie prefold) and it is still very trim, yet very absorbent. 

Originally Posted by Perdita_in_Ontario 

I learned how to do an origami fold today.

OMG, I've spent FAR too much on fancy diapers. DS spent the day in flats and wool and was just as leak-free and comfortable as in any fancy schmancy pocket diaper or AIO. I'm thinking of selling off my stash LOL.

 Today is a all-flats day. Tomorrow will probably be an all-prefold day. I'm about ready to sell all my AIOs (I do love them, but they all leave marks on dd's legs - she's a bit chunky ). I almost sold all my fitteds too (and still need to sell the NB ones), but I think I'll keep them for using coverless during the summer (they also leave marks on her legs, but usually only when used with covers). Flats and prefolds are the easiest way to go, and the cheapest. Of course, now I just splurge on Wild Child Woolies instead! 
 

[Nicole730]

I also just learned the origami fold.  I bought some flats awhile back and was just using them as stuffers or laying them in a cover.  The origami fold is awesome!  I pin them shut.

My daughter is 13 months and doesn't even soak through a GMD organic size small flat.  I change her every 2-3 hours and it more than enough holds the one pee she does during that time.  One size small flat (origami fold) and a cover is super, duper trim!  I love it.

[HappyMamaBeth]

For those who do the pad fold and/or use them without pins or snappis--what are your favorite covers/pocket diapers to put them in??

[Nicole730]

Thirsties covers are my favorites.  I also use Bummis Super Brites.

[treeoflife3]

I LOVE flats and used them primarily and will be with the next kiddo too.  I got the mid size unbleached on gmd (they had three sizes when I bought) so the 24 I bought work from birth to potty trained.

I love how much easier they are to clean and dry and how trim they can be.

I agree that they are harder to get the hang of coverless (I never fully did unless I folded them like a prefold) but I REALLY like how customizable they are.  I'd practice folding on a doll watching tv or whatever and would make up my own folds to get the bulk of absorbency where I needed it and not where I didn't.  It did take awhile to really get profficient at the oragami fold, but in the meantime, there is always the prefold (which in fact is why they are called prefolds.. they are prefolded flats)  I also like that I can just tell babysitters to fold them into pads or I can use them to stuff pockets rather than microfiber which I can't stand with a passion.