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[berrymama]

Originally Posted by nstewart 

Can you mamas give me some input.

So, I was looking at the pattern that Lynann posted to make NB size fitted diapers.

I found bamboo flannel online for $7.92/yard.  Based on the "Materials" section of the pattern, I need 1.3 yards per diaper.  This works out to $10.29 worth of fabric per diaper, plus the cost of thread and elastic, plus shipping. (I won't count my time, as it's fun to sew and I like these little projects).

I found these MotherEase Sandy's Newborn Cloth Diapers for $11.98 plus shipping. 

Do you really think I need the full 1.3 yards per diaper for NB diapers?  You end up changing them so frequently anyway, and at every feeding overnight, I just can't imagine using the 8 layers of flannel that the pattern calls for for the soaker.  I used 4 layers in the training pants I made for DS, and he was 7 mos old at the time so his bladder had to have been much larger than that, and they were good to hold 1 pee, that's what I'm hoping for out of these.  It was also just regular flannel, not bamboo flannel which I understand is more absorbant.

I may have some remenants of bamboo velour to use for a few diaper bodies, but nothing to use for the soakers  and some of the diaper bodies, so I do need to buy terry or flannel or something.  I like how flat the flannel lays but input on terry is appreciated too.

Anyway, do you think I really need the 1.3 yards?  If so, any reviews on Sandy's?  I am wondering why they are $11.98 when all the other fitteds are in the $20 range...I can't see buying around $11 worth of materials per diaper and taking the time to make them when I can buy fitteds for $11.98 per diaper (even though I was kind of looking forward to the project!)

I can't really comment on if you would need the full 1.3 yds per diaper, but that does seem to work out to be a high cost per diaper. I recently bought some diaper flannel for burp cloths and it was super thin, so 8 layers doesn't seem unreasonable for a soaker.

That said...green mountain also has a fitted, made from their prefolds with a sewn in soaker that is 6 layers. AND it is only $5.50 for the newborn size. http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/workhorse.htm

That seems like an incredible deal to me (though we are set on NB size from previous kids). They are also the 2nd highest rated, sized fitted on Diaper Pin. I got 6 of their mediums for this babe and they seem really well made. http://www.diaperpin.com/diapers/cloth_diaper_review.asp?ID=2402

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by berrymama 

I can't really comment on if you would need the full 1.3 yds per diaper, but that does seem to work out to be a high cost per diaper. I recently bought some diaper flannel for burp cloths and it was super thin, so 8 layers doesn't seem unreasonable for a soaker.

That said...green mountain also has a fitted, made from their prefolds with a sewn in soaker that is 6 layers. AND it is only $5.50 for the newborn size. http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/workhorse.htm

That seems like an incredible deal to me (though we are set on NB size from previous kids). They are also the 2nd highest rated, sized fitted on Diaper Pin. I got 6 of their mediums for this babe and they seem really well made. http://www.diaperpin.com/diapers/cloth_diaper_review.asp?ID=2402

Thanks, I tried to buy their dipes (prefolds) when I was PG with DS, but shipping to Canada was an issue (they were going to charge like $50 or something to ship) but it sure doesn't hurt to check if that's changed in the last 3 years!  

[FarmerMomma]

Originally Posted by nstewart 

Can you mamas give me some input.

So, I was looking at the pattern that Lynann posted to make NB size fitted diapers.

I found bamboo flannel online for $7.92/yard.  Based on the "Materials" section of the pattern, I need 1.3 yards per diaper.  This works out to $10.29 worth of fabric per diaper, plus the cost of thread and elastic, plus shipping. (I won't count my time, as it's fun to sew and I like these little projects).

I found these MotherEase Sandy's Newborn Cloth Diapers for $11.98 plus shipping. 

Do you really think I need the full 1.3 yards per diaper for NB diapers?  You end up changing them so frequently anyway, and at every feeding overnight, I just can't imagine using the 8 layers of flannel that the pattern calls for for the soaker.  I used 4 layers in the training pants I made for DS, and he was 7 mos old at the time so his bladder had to have been much larger than that, and they were good to hold 1 pee, that's what I'm hoping for out of these.  It was also just regular flannel, not bamboo flannel which I understand is more absorbant.

I may have some remenants of bamboo velour to use for a few diaper bodies, but nothing to use for the soakers  and some of the diaper bodies, so I do need to buy terry or flannel or something.  I like how flat the flannel lays but input on terry is appreciated too.

Anyway, do you think I really need the 1.3 yards?  If so, any reviews on Sandy's?  I am wondering why they are $11.98 when all the other fitteds are in the $20 range...I can't see buying around $11 worth of materials per diaper and taking the time to make them when I can buy fitteds for $11.98 per diaper (even though I was kind of looking forward to the project!)

So my suggestion for what it's worth is to upcycle for the soaker layers. Look around the house or go to the thrift store for old towels or cotton t shirts. You can still use pretty, soft, organic or whatnot on outside and next to baby's skin, but whatever needs a new home for soaker layer.

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by nstewart 

Thanks, I tried to buy their dipes (prefolds) when I was PG with DS, but shipping to Canada was an issue (they were going to charge like $50 or something to ship) but it sure doesn't hurt to check if that's changed in the last 3 years!  

So, just in case any other Canucks are looking to get GMDs, they DO ship to Canada, but ONLY their prefolds, only in pre-packaged quantities, and the lowest shipping cost (for the smallest package) is $32.95 plus tax and duty.  http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/canada.htm

They recommend Parenting By Nature in Canada, and I've purchased some products from them (diaper covers and wet sacks) before and was happy with the service.  www.parentingbynature.ca

Farmermomma, thanks for the suggestion.  I will see if I can have any luck at Goodwill next time I'm by one.  I really don't have anything around the house to use, unless I raid the rag drawer, but I need those!!  I am even going to have to buy old towels from Goodwill for our HB as I got rid of all the nasty ones last year in my big purge and am not willing to stain up my good towels (along with a ton of old clothes which would potentially have included cotton tshirts).  So, 100% cotton t-shirts or towels sounds like the way to go.

Given the small amount that NBs pee because their bladder is so small, and given that the pattern is intended to cover 0-6 months and then 6 months plus, I am SURE that 8 layers of flannel wouldn't have been necessary and would cut down on the amount of fabric I need, but seriously $10 of fabric for a diaper just doesn't make sense!

[TwilightJoy]

N- do you want to ship to the US and then have someone in the US ship it to Canada? If you want to ship to my house you can, and then paypal me the cost to mail them to Canada...

[nstewart]

Thanks TJ, that is so sweet of you!  I think it's just expensive to ship to Canada from the US.  I had priced that out for something else as my inlaws were in the states at the time and could have shipped to me from their place, and the shipping cost quoted by the seller was what I calculated actual shipping cost to be based on the USPS website.  GMD does also state they only charge actual shipping cost, so they aren't trying to make money on the shipping, just trying to cover their costs.

Thanks so much though! 

[Lynann]

Last time I upcycled some of DH's old white undershirt t-shirts, and used probably about 5or 6 layers in each as the fabric was very thin. This time someone gave me a big box of baby fabric that had a large piece of flannel in it, and I'm using 4 layers of flannel for the inner soaker on each diaper. Newborns hold so little pee at any given time, that unless they are in the diaper for a long time (like several hours) I think 4 layers of flannel would work perfectly well. It does seem rather spendy to cost $11 per diaper just for materials. I have never had to buy fabric specifically for making diapers as I never let DH throw away clothes I know I can upcycle into something else. I would definitely try finding flannel sheets etc at Goodwill or somewhere similar (or on clearance since stores are stocking up for Spring) as that would be much cheaper than buying by the yard. If I hadn't been given this box of fabric I would have had to buy flannel by the yard as it is hot here all year long and impossible to ever find flannel sheets for sale anywhere (even full price.)

I'm all about tweaking any pattern instructions to suit my own needs. Also you could try making a mock up with whatever fabric you have around and see if fewer layers feels right for you. I certainly don't think they need a lot of bulk until they are older, and since I'll be planning on switching over to prefolds as soon as they are physically big enough for them I make my fitteds with less layers.

[nstewart]

Thanks for all of the suggestions!  I think I may have found another option...renting NB dipes.  There is a diaper store in my city that rents NB size Mother Ease Sandy's diapers for $40 per month (18 dipes, 3 covers, and some extra soakers I think) so given that I already own 24 of the small size prefolds this might be the most economical option since I likely could get away with only using them for one month (unless babe is teeny tiny), and since I would have to buy materials (at least buy fabric to upcycle, I don't have anything to use at home) to make my own.  Especially given we may only have two children.

If I have time and find some good materials kicking around I might sew a few just for fun.  I do like sewing useful items.  I am also thinking of doing wool covers given I have a huge stash of wool sweaters kicking around...Most of them have been felted, but I think as long as I lanolize them it shouldn't matter, right?  As long as they aren't too thick or heavy.

[FarmerMomma]

Felted wool works great. Nice and thick and still breathable/ movable.

[Lynann]

I love wool, especially for the NB stage. I've been working on my stash of knitted wool soaker/covers as DS2 outgrew the ones I made for him before I could knit some bigger ones. So this time I'm trying to be prepared for another large baby that grows like a weed.

Renting sounds like a great idea if you are only going to use them for a month. Do you think 18 diapers will be enough? I know I like to have at least 12 per day, especially for newly born as mine pee a lot, and like to be changed the second they do.

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by Lynann 

I love wool, especially for the NB stage. I've been working on my stash of knitted wool soaker/covers as DS2 outgrew the ones I made for him before I could knit some bigger ones. So this time I'm trying to be prepared for another large baby that grows like a weed.

Renting sounds like a great idea if you are only going to use them for a month. Do you think 18 diapers will be enough? I know I like to have at least 12 per day, especially for newly born as mine pee a lot, and like to be changed the second they do.

Yes, I was thinking about if 18 is enough or not.  I do have the smallest size prefolds which I did use when DS was a NB, I just found them incredibly bulky but they did work.  So I have 24 of those already that I can use in a pinch. 

I didn't do EC with DS when he was a NB, but am considering starting right away this time (we'll just see how it all goes) and so that could cut down on diaper use as well (or increase it, depending on how quickly we catch on to cues, etc. as I do try to change after even a tiny pee when ECing).

[OtherMother]

Hi Mamas.

I want to (mostly) CD and am so overwhelmed. Never did it with DD. I think we are using some pocket dipes w/ inserts, some all in ones, some two in ones. 

How many do I need? What cleaner-type-stuff do I need? 

I get overwhelmed by too many details. I need this to be simple! Help a mama out.

[PhilsBabyMama]

We started out with 12, but bought more pretty quickly after we started using them. I'd go with 18 at the very least so you're not doing laundry every day. I used Charlie's Soap and Soap Nuts (These are actually berries that suds up. Pretty cool and economical. I bought mine from amazon.com) and had success with both. This time I'm going to use Rockin' Green Hard Rock detergent because the area we are in has really hard water. Washing wasn't too hard. I just did a cold rinse, then a hot wash/cold rinse before either hang drying or throwing them in the dryer. (Depending on how much sun there was outside or how fast I needed the diapers.)

[CoBabyMaker]

I think between 18 and 20 was the right number for us too.  I'm still trying to find the right detergent for our hard water, sorry I can't be more help there.

[OtherMother]

Originally Posted by PhilsBabyMama 

We started out with 12, but bought more pretty quickly after we started using them. I'd go with 18 at the very least so you're not doing laundry every day. I used Charlie's Soap and Soap Nuts (These are actually berries that suds up. Pretty cool and economical. I bought mine from amazon.com) and had success with both. This time I'm going to use Rockin' Green Hard Rock detergent because the area we are in has really hard water. Washing wasn't too hard. I just did a cold rinse, then a hot wash/cold rinse before either hang drying or throwing them in the dryer. (Depending on how much sun there was outside or how fast I needed the diapers.)

Do you cold rinse in the washing machine or in the bathroom right after they're dirty? I'm familiar with soap nuts, we have a local retailer... didn't know I could just use those  :)

18 seems to be the going figure! We have about six really cool ones right now, with a bunch more I have to go through, and probably about a full set a friend is passing on later today. 

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

I think between 18 and 20 was the right number for us too.  I'm still trying to find the right detergent for our hard water, sorry I can't be more help there.

Yes, I think the right detergent depends on your water.  You can buy strips to test how hard your water is.  We have "hard water" but not "very hard" water (I think I posted the exact numbers from the city upthread) and I had luck using Rock N' Green detergent and my homemade stuff (much more economical, and both diaper and environmentally friendly).

Othermother, if you have local CD retailers I'd suggest asking them what detergent they recommend as they will have experience trying lots of different types.  There may even be a blogger in your town/city who's reviewed dipes/detergent.

I think 18 is enough, but 24 gives a good cushion especially for the smaller sizes where they go more often.  I have 24 of the smallest size prefolds, but for the NB days am renting 18 NB size fitteds as I found even the smallest size PFs a bit bulky in the first few weeks last time.  But 18 is fine because I do have those PFs as back up if I am behind on laundry.

My routine was to just toss the pee dipes into the dry bag, and sort of shake off what I could for the soiled dipes and toss them in the dry bag.  Then I would dump the bag inside out into the washer, do a warm rinse and then hot/cold wash.  I dryed my dipes in the dryer (sometimes finished them in the sun) but would hang my PUL covers and dry bags inside out to dry.  I sunned any stained dipes as needed, and once in a blue moon would do a load with a bit of bleach when I couldn't sun them (the sun isn't strong enough here in the winter to be of much help in bleaching stained dipes!) but that was ok since they're prefolds, so no PUL to get damaged from the bleach. 

[PhilsBabyMama]

Originally Posted by OtherMother 

Do you cold rinse in the washing machine or in the bathroom right after they're dirty?

I just did the cold rinse in the washing machine. Are you planning on exclusively breastfeeding? Breastfed baby poo is water soluble, so no need to rinse before tossing the diapers in the wetbag/pail. They'll get all clean in the washer. When we start solids, we rinse the diaper off before it goes into the wetbag or washing machine. (Still do a cold rinse in the washer, too.). We have a diaper sprayer (looks like the sprayer attachment on a sink, but it hooks up to your toilet.) that makes rinsing diapers off easy peasy.

[CoBabyMaker]

Woot! I just sold my pocket diapers so now I can order what I want for this baby.  As soon as I figure out what that is. 

I think I am curious about the GMDworkhorse fitteds, thirsties hemp prefolds (any one tried these?  they have good reviews on diaperpin) and just GMD prefolds. 

So I might try some of each though I am leaning toward the fitteds and hemp.  I always found it tricky to get the bulky prefolds on quite right.

[PhilsBabyMama]

Heads up, Diaper Junction (diaperjunction.com) has a sale that's good for today. If you use the code UHADME at check out you get double rewards points and a free pocket diaper on orders over $49. Shipping is free, too. I got a couple Kissaluv size 0s and inserts for the baby.

[adventuregirl]

Thanks Phil's! I got some too!