Cloth Diapers - Page 4 « Back to Group Discussions

[ericaf]

CCoello: I just purchased a dozen of the small prefold diapers from greenmountaindiapers.com, and I plan on buying another dozen or two (they're so inexpensive. $24 a dozen). The more I read, the more it seemed like so many people still loved their prefolds with a snappi, so I figured being new to CD'ing... I would try those anddd the inserts that came with the Flip diapers. And I also keep reading how trim they were with a prefold/snappi and a cover. I also did put on my registry a couple of hemp inserts, hemp fitteds, and a wool cover. I too plan on having a small stash of pockets (FuzziBunz and Rumparooz) and AIO's (BG Elementals) for the inlaws/babysitters/newbies/day trips etc. I'm assuming for myself, I'm mostly gonna go the prefold/snappi/cover route! With an additional soaker/liner at night or whatever is needed! Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much to read about, it was overwhelming! That Green Mountain website was actually super helpful for me in that way because it basically spelled everything out for me!

[sallyrae17]

I haven't looked through all of the messages on here, but I just wanted to recommend diaperswappers.com. You can find some pretty great deals on wraps and cloth diapers. I bought all of my stuff there last time and saved a ton of money! A lot of mamas sell new stuff, too, so it's not just used (if that bothers you at all).

[KristyDi]

Anybody have any experience with flats?

I was just browsing Green Mtn Diapers and saw the flat diapers.  I didn't even consider them last time because they looked so scary to someone new to cloth.  I went with prefolds and covers for DD, but didn't start until she was 4 or 5 months old.  So I need stuff for a smaller baby.

The flats can fit multiple sizes so they're more economical and they don't really scare me anymore.  They're supposed to be very easy to wash. I don't mind pinning.  I actually kind of prefer it because I feel like it lets me get a better fit for less leaks.

I like the idea of a diaper that can fit from newborn on and is easy to wash and cheap.  

[thursday2]

Originally Posted by CCoello 

We are planning on getting a few AIOs for the babysitters... both our mothers used prefolds & covers on their babies (the days of the ubiquitous diaper service) so we hope they will be okay with the prefolds for our babies.

We bought a dozen flats, and honestly have rarely used them.  They're a bit of a pain to fold, especially if you don't do it in advance and have a squirmy kid you're trying to entertain in the process.  One kind we bought (organic unbleached I think? Can't remember, sorry) curls up at the edges as well, which is really annoying.

I will say that having some on hand IS helpful for other uses.  For diapering, they're a great loose fit for diaper rash bums or to use in a pinch when we forgot to put on laundry.  We also use them as stuffing for night-time diapers and potty-training pull ups, as big bibs for messy dinners, as something to sit on during naked time, etc.  So I do recommend having 6 or so on hand, but IMO don't expect to use them as a stand alone diaper much.

[sallyrae17]

Originally Posted by KristyDi 

Anybody have any experience with flats?

I was just browsing Green Mtn Diapers and saw the flat diapers.  I didn't even consider them last time because they looked so scary to someone new to cloth.  I went with prefolds and covers for DD, but didn't start until she was 4 or 5 months old.  So I need stuff for a smaller baby.

The flats can fit multiple sizes so they're more economical and they don't really scare me anymore.  They're supposed to be very easy to wash. I don't mind pinning.  I actually kind of prefer it because I feel like it lets me get a better fit for less leaks.

I like the idea of a diaper that can fit from newborn on and is easy to wash and cheap.  

I don't have experience with flats, but I just wanted you to know that I used prefolds with my son from 2 weeks and on. I just bought a bunch of the newborn sized prefolds (he was 6 1/2 pounds)  and those fit him for a long time. I used a Snappi and it was super easy. I'm going with all prefolds again this time around - I love them! I find that they are a super trim fit and you don't have to do as much folding/wrapping as you would with flats.

[ilovetchotchkes]

Originally Posted by sallyrae17 

I don't have experience with flats, but I just wanted you to know that I used prefolds with my son from 2 weeks and on. I just bought a bunch of the newborn sized prefolds (he was 6 1/2 pounds)  and those fit him for a long time. I used a Snappi and it was super easy. I'm going with all prefolds again this time around - I love them! I find that they are a super trim fit and you don't have to do as much folding/wrapping as you would with flats.

There's gotta be a youtube tutorial.

I was terrified of prefolds but it was like, trial by fire because my MIL had bought us a diaper service for a year!!!! 

[KristyDi]

Originally Posted by sallyrae17 

I don't have experience with flats, but I just wanted you to know that I used prefolds with my son from 2 weeks and on. I just bought a bunch of the newborn sized prefolds (he was 6 1/2 pounds)  and those fit him for a long time. I used a Snappi and it was super easy. I'm going with all prefolds again this time around - I love them! I find that they are a super trim fit and you don't have to do as much folding/wrapping as you would with flats.

I primarily used prefolds w/ DD and liked them better than the few fitteds and pockets I had.  But she had skinny legs that I never seemed to be able to get a good fit around the legs with the Snappi.  Once she was out of the runny EBF poop stage the Snappi was fine.  But with he runny poop, using the pins allowed me to make the legs snug easier and I had less leaks.

How many is a bunch and how long is a long time?

[sallyrae17]

I had 36 diapers and he was in them until he was probably three months or so. I had probably six covers, but will have more this time around since I saved the old ones and bought some more. Then I switched to the small sized covers and prefolds. I also had some fitteds and did not like them at all. My son has/had scrawny legs and no butt/skinny waist. I still can't get a pair of pants to stay on him. Suspenders are probably in his immediate future. Anyway, If you do the roll method, where you roll up the sides of the prefold and then snappi it, that will make it tight enough (it's called a jelly roll). I never used the trifold method. I always rolled, or if the diaper was way too big and we were in an in-between stage, I'd do the twist fold. The twist fold is where you actually twist the entire diaper and then snappi it.

At the bottom of this page, they show the jelly roll. http://www.diaperco.com/store/pg/82-Folding-Instructions.html

[LilyTiger]

ecobabybuys.com is having a sale on baby kicks one-size cloth diapers today.  I'm picking up a few and some hemp wipes.  Good deal, since it's like $12.30 a diaper compared to the usual price of $20.  Just a heads up!

[NewMumJoy]

So I've now got my little starter stash of cloth diapers - about 36 new & used prefolds of various sizes, 4 Bummis PUL covers, and a 6 pack of one-sized Charlie Bananas that came w/12 inserts.... now I'm ready to do some pre-washing!  Any tips on washing/prepping new diapers?  I've been searching online a bit and am quite confused on what's the best detergent to use (or to avoid).  Obviously staying away from perfumes and would love to go with the more "all natural" brands, but I've also read bad reviews about some of the "free & clear" liquids??  (We have an HE washer but I'm willing to use powders as well, if they are proven to work.....)

[LilyTiger]

NewMum, our stashes sound really similar!  I just bought a bunch of used covers and prefolds off an acquaintance and will have about 24 prefolds, a variety of covers, 5 fitteds, and 6 PUL pocket dipes (kind of like kawaiis).  I still haven't washed the new pocket dipes or the prefolds yet, mostly because I'm lazy but partly because I get confused about washing the microfiber inserts vs. the cotton prefolds.  My understanding for all the new prefolds is that they have to be washed like 4 or 5 times to get to maximum absorbency.  I'm probably just using Method's free and clear formula for the initial washes.  I've heard conflicting things too about the various cloth diaper detergents.  And with most detergents, at some point you'll have to strip the diapers, which is a whole 'nother process. 

At any rate, I've been looking into making my own detergent just for ease of mind.  My friend Elisa has a great recipe for cloth diaper detergent on her blog, which I like because it's cheap, easy, and about as natural as you can get without making your own soap out of lard or something.  Here's the link:

http://www.elisaloves.com/2011/09/homemade-cloth-diaper-laundry-detergent.html

I'll probably make a big batch of this before the baby comes.  I also have to print out a big poster for the laundry room on how to clean cloth diapers because DH has, hilariously, nominated himself as the baby laundry guy.  We'll see how this goes. 

[NewMumJoy]

LilyTiger - Thanks for the link!  That looks like a good sensible formula.... definitely worth a try!!

How nice of your DH to volunteer for laundering duty!!!!

[Sol_y_Paz]

What do you use as far as a diaper pail or trash can?  Any special tips or tricks to keep the smell down?  Do you recommend baking soda at the bottom of the pail?   We are using a big wetbag, do we have to put anything special in it?  

[Justmee]

Originally Posted by Sol_y_Paz 

What do you use as far as a diaper pail or trash can?  Any special tips or tricks to keep the smell down?  Do you recommend baking soda at the bottom of the pail?   We are using a big wetbag, do we have to put anything special in it?  

I always used a big bucket (dh works in an industrial kitchen, I think at one point it held 20 pounds of mayonaise or something. I have a cheap cloth laundry bag (actually 2 of them) I line the bucket with. Never used baking soda or anything, but we have a service porch right off our washing machine so I just kept the diapers outside where the smell didn't bother anyone.

[midstreammama]

I used something like this for the diapers and lined it with a large wet bag.

http://www.Sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=478&view=0&picture=1&tab=Specifications&ProductCategory=209&section=3

I liked that the lid was snug enough that it kept the smell out. Although, I cant say I ever had a huge problem with smell. I washed every other day. I think I might have used some tea tree oil or lavender when I washed dispers so it got on the wet bag and helped but I never did do baking soda or other deodorizers in the pail.

[NewMumJoy]

.... So the diapers are not soaking in anything until they are washed?  I think I recall that my SIL had them soaking in a bucket or something... but then at a later visit the diapers were just left as-is in a covered pail... but they reeked of ammonia!

[LeAnn A Doula]

I'm planning to use this. I like that you can just hang from a door knob and it contains the smell/is antibacterial. I remember the plastic diaper pail my mom used, yuck! I was always so grossed out by it when I was little. I plan to wash every other day as well, so they won't be sitting for long.

[LilyTiger]

We're using one of these since you can just unzip the bottom, empty the diapers in, and then throw the whole bag into the washer after.

http://www.amazon.com/FuzziBunz-Hanging-Diaper-Pail-White/dp/B002OL1TBW/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products

[Veritas Vitae]

My sister is in town (yay!) and changing my 4mo niece's diaper has made me realize a couple things (1) as a first time mom, I want an easy diapering system with one kind of diapers, covers, etc so I don't have to try and mix and match which diapers go with what and (2) I do not like pocket diapers...not only do you have to change the whole diaper out for each change, the pee often leaks out the leg holes and gets on the clothes...essentially tripling the amount of laundry I'd need to do.  So since I got flats and prefolds at my shower, but no covers (and I had registered for pockets as well as some covers) I decided to just do some Thirsties covers. 

[Tizzy]

I've thoroughly enjoyed our Bummis covers with prefolds for all three babies and plan to use them for this one as well.  I prefer the super whisper wraps over the super brites to begin with because the super  brites just seem a little more flimsy.  Plus they're easy to come across 2nd hand which makes them pretty cheap ($5-6/ea).   I always tell everyone to have at least 6-8 covers because that baby poo WILL leak onto the cover, but not the clothes, so it's nice that they are easy to wash with the diapers themselves.

VV - I also agree with the mix and match issue, I like to keep our stash as simple as possible because neither DH or I have the patience to sort what goes with what :)   I've also kept it simple by not stuffing the Alva diapers, we just lay the insert inside the cover and it's good to go.