Anyone excited about their cloth diaper stash?! - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[mamaharrison]

Originally Posted by purposefuldoula 

Thanks, mamabeakey & Dana! I'll shoot for forty!  I plan on zig zagging the edges but I might get bored before I reach forty. I'm using flannel, too.

Another question, do either of your use a wipe solution? Care to share recipes?

Yes, like mamabearkey I like to have enough to have them stashed around the house/ca/ diaper bag without that being an issue of running out. I don't use a wipe solution--I find water works best and is the cheapest and quickest ; ) 
Lots of recipes for lots of different needs, but I think it depends on your babes bottom and their preference really. So, I wouldn't get attached to any one recipe or formula. DD broke out with anything extra added to the mix. 

[stegenrae]

I did a solution with ds1: 2 c boiled water mixed with abt half a teaspoon of our baby wash and a couple drops of tea tree oil. I would pour that over a stack of wipes in a plastic bin with lid. I had gotten Mother of Eden wipes, which are half flannel and the other side microfleece. I've gotta say that fleece side cleaned sooo much better than the cotton flannel side. With ds2, I just used water as needed so I could warm them first, since he actually cared (a lot) about the temp.

[purposefuldoula]

Thank you ladies for getting back to me so quickly!!! I think I'll start with water and add to as needed. 

I grabbed two flannel receiving blankets at the thrift store tonight at was able to cut them into 42 wipes! They are bigger than my hand, too, so good size. I stripped all of the diapers I have so far and threw the wipes in on the last cycle and am waiting to fold everything. I'm pretty excited over here  Then I sewed up eight newborn sized prefolds out of a few more receiving blankets, a pillow case, and an old towel that I had around the house, which will bring my total to 20 prefolds. I'm pretty happy about that, and except for a few really small covers that I plan on making, this kiddo is almost set for diapering.  See what you mamas started!?!  After reading through this thread yesterday, and taking stock of everything, I'm hoping to diaper this kid for under 100 bucks, (plus the water bill, but what's an extra load every other day?) 

[chicajones]

Okay, soooo...I have totally nerded out on cloth diapers in the last few days. I know I still really won't know what works until baby is here and we can try things out, but after talking with lots of friends, reading a bunch online, and looking at all of the different types, here's the updated list of what's on our registry:

Newborn disposables (I'm just going to use disposables for the first month or so, till he hits 7-8lbs or I'm recovered enough to go for it)

Prefolds (18 small, 18 medium)

Extra Inserts (3 small, 3 medium)

3 small diaper covers 

3 one size diaper covers

4 AIO for small baby (fuzzibunz)

6 one size AIO (half bum genius, half fuzzibunz)

6 medium AIO for bigger baby 

3 medium diaper covers for bigger baby

Total for Small baby: 10 AIO, 6 covers, a mix of velcro/snaps

Total Large baby: 12 AIO, 6 covers, a mix of velcro/snaps

I'm hoping we can get all of these through our registry and not have any outset costs, and then if for some reason we find we need to adjust, I can always sell the ones we don't want and get different ones. It seems like I'll use the covers/prefolds more when he's little since there will be so many changes, and then use the all-in-ones more once he's a little bigger and I'm not changing quite as many. I really tried to balance the one-sizes and the small/medium fits, so we can see what works best. 

Guys, I'm such a dork. I can't even tell you how much time I've spent figuring all of this out. It's so interesting though, and since there are a lot of other things in my life I can't control right now (IE, um, when we're actually moving to the UK in the next month, who my midwife will be over there, etc), I get a little crazy over the things I can. :)

PS
Loving the spelling types, LOL!

[mamaharrison]

I registered for my CDs and hardly anything else and not one person out of a few dozen bought me a CD :( 
People tned to want to buy what they want to buy and that is typically clothing {which you don't NEED or are happy to buy yourself}, so, not to be a debbie downer, but I would not expect to get all of these through a baby registry unless your friends and family are SUPER crunchy. Fingers crossed for you though! I am not having a shower or anything for this kiddo, but I would LOVE it if everyone I knew chipped in and bought us just 1 NB fitted diaper so that I would have a NB stash instead of having to make my MEOS fitteds work on a wee one :( but oh well...

[kaliki_kila]

I am using a diaper service (no washer and dryer in my apartment), so will just be using flat diapers.

Originally Posted by mamaharrison 

I registered for my CDs and hardly anything else and not one person out of a few dozen bought me a CD :( 
People tned to want to buy what they want to buy and that is typically clothing {which you don't NEED or are happy to buy yourself}, so, not to be a debbie downer, but I would not expect to get all of these through a baby registry unless your friends and family are SUPER crunchy. Fingers crossed for you though! I am not having a shower or anything for this kiddo, but I would LOVE it if everyone I knew chipped in and bought us just 1 NB fitted diaper so that I would have a NB stash instead of having to make my MEOS fitteds work on a wee one :( but oh well...

This is what is happening with us.  We registered for a cosleeper, car seat, and some other basic things that we really need.   People are buying us fluorescent colored bouncy seats and loud musical plastic stuff.  It's not anything that we were planning on using and I'm not sure what to do with it all.

[Jackies]

This is what is happening with us.  We registered for a cosleeper, car seat, and some other basic things that we really need.   People are buying us fluorescent colored bouncy seats and loud musical plastic stuff.  It's not anything that we were planning on using and I'm not sure what to do with it all.

Take it to a consignment shop and see if you can use it to buy the stuff you actually want. I know one of our local ones says they always take stuff like bouncy seats

[chicajones]

I definitely know how people can be with getting what they get--and it truly is the thought that counts (although then I feel bad giving away all the crap stuff...not too bad though). We had one tiny shower so far and I got three FB perfect size (small) and a bum genius all-in-one, so I was really excited about that. I'm not expecting much from relatives, but if we have a church shower (which hopefully we will), a good chunk of the moms at our church CD, so that will be good. I also have a friend who might give me her small stash once her 1-month old grows out of them.

I'm totally up for going the super-cheap DIY route if we end up not getting much, but I figured I have time to be optimistic first.

I really feel bad for anyone who gives us super random plasticy stuff, because since we're moving to the UK in oct, I'm only keeping what we really need.

Maliki_kila, can you return any if the unwanted stuff and put the gift cards/store credit towards the bigger things you need?

[mamaharrison]

awesome! Glad you actuaally have a chance at getting what you need ; )

[segolilymama]

I have always used water with a couple drops of GSE mixed in - I also used a wipe warmer so that the wipes are already body temp or a tad warmer; I don;t have one anymore, stuck on on the registry thinking I might get one from Gma or something. We shall see!

As for the plastic crap - yes, return it, or sell it at a consignment store & use the cash for what you really need! It is nice that even the really mainstream stores have some nice options these days - wooden rattles, organic cotton, etc. It's too bad the better diapers aren't more readily available through these channels, b/c you are likely to end up with store credits for returns.

[lulubikes]

Earlier in this thread someone asked about washing routines - there were only a few responses... how about the rest of you?

I'm wondering what CD washing routine you experienced CD mamas have used & found most effective. There are so many different options out there. Do you rinse the poopy diapers before washing or just throw the whole thing in? Wet or dry pail? I'm leaning towards dry, wet seems like a pain & messy.

We have a front loading washer with a sanitize cycle - should we use that?

What kind of soap do you use? Do you use this with only the diapers or do you use it for the baby clothes - the rest of your laundry?

How often do you strip the diapers? How do you do it, what do you use? Some local mamas here have never heard of stripping. I'm wondering if it is because we don't have hard water here.

My sister in law suggested putting practical things on my registry (which may or may not be effective based on other's experiences) but she said what about diaper soap? I thought great idea! I need to get our registry completed this week.

Thanks!

[AlaskAnne]

Chica - like you, I have been totally "geeking out" about cloth diapers (love that descriptor).  It's kind of embarrassing how much time I have spent learning about the different options.  In my defense (to my husband usually) it is really freaking complicated if you have no experience with it or have a close friend or family member who has diapered a baby recently!

I have acquired a few things so far, and am putting some of the rest on my registry, will see what I get, then order the rest if I have too.  I am a little concerned of what some of you have mentioned about people getting you plastic crap you don't want instead of practical stuff.  I'm going to go with the Encore Baby registry which hopefully encourages people in the opposite direction but we'll see.  We're getting most of the stuff we need ourselves so there really isn't much we actually "need."  Plus we are on team green which means people can't go overboard with blue or pink.  

Prefolds (12 newborn, 24 small - asking for GMD types on my registry, we'll see....) + snappis

2 kissaluvs 0's that I picked up on clearance

roll of biodegradable liners so we don't ruin diapers in the early days

Doublers/inserts (I've been sewing these out of flannel and washcloths I picked up for cheap)

couple packages of flips disposable inserts that I picked up at a garage sale

2 small/newborn diaper covers (bummis super lite, thirsties)

4 one size diaper covers (3 flips, 1 econobum, 1 thirsties due wrap)

1 BG 4.0 AIO (free with my cottom babies order, thought I'd give it a shot)

3 or 4 wool soakers that I plan to make out of sweaters

cloth wipes (between my mom and I we've made about 3 dozen out of flannel scraps)

wipes solution - either straight water or water mixed with a little Dr. Bronner's.

I'd like to make some fitted/contoured diapers out of old tshirts and flannel but it seems like the best course of action might to be to wait until the baby is here so I know what size to make?  Thoughts?  I also have the same worry about the wool soakers - that i'll make 'em and then they won't fit right!!

So that's my plan.  I'm pretty set on the idea of using natural fibers against the baby's skin as much as possible, plus to avoid stinking issues that I hear occur with synthetics.  

Lulu - good questions on the cleaning.  I'd be curious on what others have done as well.  My plan right now, based on what I've read, is to just use our regular natural detergent that we use for our clothes (ECOS) and see how that goes before investing in expensive special detergent.  Also, we have a top loader washer and and ANCIENT dryer right now.  Definintely plan to get a nice HE combo, but may actually keep the washer just for diapers.  A. because I heard they are way more effective, and B. if we have a roommate no one will be grossed out by doing laundry in the same machine that had poopy diapers in it.  :)

[segolilymama]

Washing routines:

dry pail

solids get flushed before diapers go in (this is a ways off, obviously; I will occassionally try to get some of the liquid poo off, if it's really bad, but I just shake over toilet)

I have a top-loader now, used to have a front, so this may end of changing a bit but:

I use an eco-friendly baby detergent, no dyes, perfumes, etc

I add 10-12 drops of GSE with the soap

pre-soak on HOT

wash in HOT with cold rinse, using the extra rinse cycle

Really, that is all I have usually needed to do. About once a month, I add a cup of vinegar to the wash load. I dry them outdoors when I can, then fluff in the dryer for 5-10 minutes for softness; baby in December will get way more dryer drying than my summer babies did, lol. And of course, covers never go in the dryer.

I';ve read some CRAZY complicated wash instructions out there, but honestly this has worked just fine for us, and I'm a keep-it-simple gal whenever possible!

[cieloazul]

About washing, a couple of you have mentioned "GSE". What's that? And what's the diference between washing in a front-lader vs a top-loader? Like sego we had a top-loader last time and have a front-loader now.

Not sure if anyone's mentioned this, but not having a diaper sprayer last time I used to swish the dirty diaper around in the toilet to get the solids off then toss it in the pail. This house has a hand-held showerhead that I may do the job if it will reach the toilet...washing chunks down the tub kinda grosses me out.

[cieloazul]

Oh yeah and I'm another who uses the same soap for the whole family; diapers, baby clothes and all.

[segolilymama]

GSE is grapefruit seed extract. It is an AMAZING antimicrobial, and can be used for about 10 million things. Here is one website with some info about uses:

http://pureliquidgold.com/

Primarily, I use it because it inhibits yeast growth, kills all kinds of microbes, and keeps my diapers from getting that stinky smell.

[purposefuldoula]

Hey ladies, just wanted to update, now that we've started cd'ing over here. So far, I've only been using prefolds with snappls and thirsties covers with Judah and they are working great in this early time!  I'm probably going to be washing diapers once a day for a while, since he poops SO much! I have over 20 in my stash and am down to 5 left in less than 24 hours. Also, I'm not having to use too many wipes, since he's so small and I'm just using a clean part of the prefold that's not wet to wipe him with. I also have 5 covers and that is going to be more than enough for this stage. The prefolds that I made do not take the snappi to well so I started just folding them and placing them in the diaper. It works! 

[Jackies]

That is great news since I'm going to use prefolds with Thirsties. Once we get to 38 weeks, the diaper service will drop off a week's worth. I can't wait.

[kaliki_kila]

We are using prefolds with thirsties duo wraps. I also have some wool Babee Greens covers for nighttime. My baby has been crying a lot during diaper changes so I got the aplex covers to make it as quick as possible. What folds are you guys using for newborns? I have had good luck so far with the jelly roll fold.

[stegenrae]

We're using prefolds, snappis, and various covers over here, too. I have a couple Thirsties Duos, a couple other one size snap covers (forgot which brand, as they don't fit well atm), a Rumparooz cover, but my faves are a few wool covers: stretchy snap cover, a pair of longies, and a gown style cover. Kaliki, I'm really appreciating the jelly roll fold, too. I didn't get newborn prefolds, so have to fold down part of the dipe--I'm finding it way neater and easier to fold at the back, especially for my girl.

She's definitely not a fan of changes, though, so I need to get faster, lol. My other babies were born in Spring, and the cold wasn't such a problem, as far as wipes go...I kind of wish I had a wipe warmer now, even though I don't have a specific place in the house where we do changes.