***Cloth Diapering Mamas*** - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[TwilightJoy]

Originally Posted by TwilightJoy 

First time mama here, so would also love some feedback on my plan!

Newborn stage:
Thirsties covers (Newborn and Size 1)
GMD workhorse fitteds and Kissa fitteds

14 weeks on (once baby is in daycare):
Bumgenius AIOs

Any idea how many covers, fitteds, and AIOs I need to order?
TIA!

Originally Posted by nstewart 

I don't know about AIOs.  Are you doing sposies at night in the first 14 weeks, or are you doing the fitteds over night too?  I'd say at least 24 fitteds, and 4 covers for the newborn stage.  You could do 24 fitteds and some prefolds for back up if 24 won't be enough...I had 24 and it was enough but we didn't use the prefolds over night.

We are not planning on doing sposies at all.

24 fitteds? Oh goodness, I didn't realize it was that many. Thank you!

Would I need the same number of AIOs?

[pastormama]

 I had friends in DC who lived in an apartment and ended up buying a little washer that hooked to their sink to do their CD laundry.  Then they line dried or dried on a rack.  Not sure about cost, but the convenience was HUGE for them.  

[Trisha Kalous]

Originally Posted by pastormama 

 I had friends in DC who lived in an apartment and ended up buying a little washer that hooked to their sink to do their CD laundry.  Then they line dried or dried on a rack.  Not sure about cost, but the convenience was HUGE for them.  

we've been thinking about getting a dishwasher that does this... i didn't know they had washing machines like that too! I'll have to check it out, thanks! 

[Trisha Kalous]

Check this one out... looks perfect for washing cloth diapers- and no need for the big wet bags then either! :) I think we're gonna get it... the price of washing alone will pay for the washer within 4 months 

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Haier-1.0-Cubic-Foot-Portable-Washing-Machine/13346456

[TwilightJoy]

Good find, Trisha! That will be so handy to have for CDs!!!

[eepeepee]

Originally Posted by Trisha Kalous 

Check this one out... looks perfect for washing cloth diapers- and no need for the big wet bags then either! :) I think we're gonna get it... the price of washing alone will pay for the washer within 4 months 

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Haier-1.0-Cubic-Foot-Portable-Washing-Machine/13346456

Ooh, thanks!  That's pretty affordable, and looks like it wouldn't take up too much space, either.  The idea of line drying didn't even occur to me, but it makes perfect sense, especially for us lucky spring mamas...

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by Trisha Kalous 

I have been pricing out our diaper stash (a little obsessively ) and this is what I've come up with- if we decide to go with mainly flats. This is a www.greenmountaindiapers.com We might make our own wipes again- last time I bought terry cloth and flannel from the fabric store and my SIL serged them to make our own two-sided wipes. This stash will take us through til potty training, and includes back-up prefolds through about the first year, if this one is as chunky as my first!

Quantity / Item /  Price / Subtotal

1x Snappi Fastener size one - triple pack - dayglo yellow orange green  ($ 7.55) $ 7.55

5x  Cloth-eez 12 Two-Sided Baby Wipes  ($ 10.95) $ 54.75 you could cut up some flannel receiving blankets or something like that for wipes and save the $54.

2x Kissas Antibacterial Pail Liner  ($ 14.95) $ 29.90

1x Empty 4 oz spray bottle - blue  ($ 0.95) $ 0.95

1x Bummis Fabulous Wet Bag - small - green  ($ 12.25) $ 12.25

1x Duo Wrap - ocean blue - size one - Aplix  ($ 12.25) $ 12.25

1x Duo Wrap - meadow green - size one - Aplix  ($ 12.25) $ 12.25

1x Duo Wrap - honeydew yellow - size one - Aplix  ($ 12.25) $ 12.25

1x Duo Wrap - mango orange - size one - Aplix  ($ 12.25) $ 12.25

6x 6 Birdseye Flat Diapers - large - unbleached  ($ 13.50) $ 81.00 birdseye cotton is terrible for absorbancy.  You may want to consider something else.

1x Free pair Plastic Head Pins - yellow  ($ 0.00) $ 0.00

4x GMD slide-lock diaper pin - white  ($ 0.50) $ 2.00 Do you need the diaper pins when you have the snappi's?  Granted it's only $2...

2x Duo Wrap - mango orange - size two - Aplix  ($ 12.25) $ 24.50

2x  Duo Wrap - honeydew yellow - size two - Aplix  ($ 12.25) $ 24.50

1x Duo Wrap - mud - size one - Aplix  ($ 12.25) $ 12.25

1x  Duo Wrap - hoot - size two - Aplix  ($ 13.25) $ 13.25

1x  Duo Wrap - blackbird - size two - Aplix  ($ 13.25) $ 13.25

6x  Cloth-eez Prefold - Newborn Orange - Individual - Organic  ($ 2.34) $ 14.04

6x  Cloth-eez Prefold - Small Yellow - Individual - Organic  ($ 2.75) $ 16.50

6x  Cloth-eez Prefold - Medium Red - Individual - Organic  ($ 3.00) $ 18.00

January 2, 2013 - 6:48 p.m.         >>>>>>TOTAL:$ 373.69

I would consider not buying the whole stash at once.  You may want to try some different options out before committing.  What works well for one mamma/babe may not work for another (ex: skinny babes vs chubby babes, babes that pee a bit often vs those that take huge pees, those that poop a couple times a day vs. those who take a giant one every 3 or 4 or 5 days etc.)

Just thought I'd comment on a couple items for you to consider if you like.  See above in blue.

[Trisha Kalous]

Originally Posted by nstewart 

Just thought I'd comment on a couple items for you to consider if you like.  See above in blue.

Thanks for that, nstewart! I would hate to discover after I'd bought a bunch that the flats absorb like crap... do you know of a brand of flats that works better? 

My SIL serged wipes for me last time with terry cloth and flannel that I got from the fabric store, so we might go that route. With my DD, definitely needed the rougher side to get the peanut butter poops off.

I wanted to give pinning a go again, the snappis were hard on the diapers sometimes, so I want to have both options, but I'm pretty sure DH will only snappi.

Since discovering the portable washer I posted above, I've cut down the order to just 2 doz flats, 3x newborn and small prefolds and no mediums (realized I have 3 new ones  here), eliminated the wet bags, and dropped the washcloths to 3 doz. (this is why I've held off on ordering just yet... I keep changing my mind on everything! lol)

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by Trisha Kalous 

Thanks for that, nstewart! I would hate to discover after I'd bought a bunch that the flats absorb like crap... do you know of a brand of flats that works better? 

My SIL serged wipes for me last time with terry cloth and flannel that I got from the fabric store, so we might go that route. With my DD, definitely needed the rougher side to get the peanut butter poops off.

I wanted to give pinning a go again, the snappis were hard on the diapers sometimes, so I want to have both options, but I'm pretty sure DH will only snappi.

Since discovering the portable washer I posted above, I've cut down the order to just 2 doz flats, 3x newborn and small prefolds and no mediums (realized I have 3 new ones  here), eliminated the wet bags, and dropped the washcloths to 3 doz. (this is why I've held off on ordering just yet... I keep changing my mind on everything! lol)

"birds eye" cotton refers to the species of cotton.  You might want to try to find indian cotton, chinese cotton, or for maximum absorbancy a hemp/cotton blend (but they'll be a bit more $$).  I haven't shopped for flats, myself, just prefolds, but remember being steered away from birds eye by some more experienced mamas due to lower absorbany.  The birdseye is less expensive, but less absorbant so you need to change babe more often and thus need to buy more dipes. 

[Lynann]

I'd just buy the minimum amount you need for the new born stage for now. It difficult to say what will work until you get to know your baby.

DS1 did great in the cheap Gerber Premium Prefold Diapers we got for him. He pees often and not in huge amounts. He also had the chubbiest thighs I'd seen once we sorted out his feeding issues.

DS2 needed a much heavier more absorbent diaper as he holds his pee (we think he has a massive bladder like his dad) and then super soaks really quickly (so pockets weren't absorbing fast enough and we put him back in the extra heavy prefolds and no more pee leaks. He also has even chubbier thighs than even DS1 did.

I'd also suggest going for Indian Cotton prefolds, or if they turn out to be a super soaker like our DS2 then bamboo works really well.

I also found that my homemade fitteds worked great for the newborn stage as they didn't have a lot of bulk, but DS2 outgrew them quickly since he was 9lb8oz at birth, and really looked more like 2 or 3 months old by the time he was 2 weeks old.

I also have both diaper pins and snappis. I love the snappis for about the first year, and have never used the pins on the diapers. (I currently use them to keep sheets pinned around DS1's mattress as otherwise he'll take the sheets off his bed. After the first year I just fold the diapers into the cover and use like I would a pocket.

[Trisha Kalous]

Originally Posted by Lynann 

I'd also suggest going for Indian Cotton prefolds, or if they turn out to be a super soaker like our DS2 then bamboo works really well.

We had indian coton prefolds with DD and they worked well (until we couldn't get rid of stink and had awful rash issues- probably mostly due to a crappy washer in the apt we had then)

I also found that my homemade fitteds worked great for the newborn stage as they didn't have a lot of bulk, but DS2 outgrew them quickly since he was 9lb8oz at birth, and really looked more like 2 or 3 months old by the time he was 2 weeks old.

Homemade fitteds? Please tell me how! I don't sew (yet?) but have relatives who do  I have been looking at fitteds and wanting to try them but am trying to keep the cloth diaper budget as small as possible- hence why we're going for flats/prefolds

I also have both diaper pins and snappis. I love the snappis for about the first year, and have never used the pins on the diapers. (I currently use them to keep sheets pinned around DS1's mattress as otherwise he'll take the sheets off his bed. After the first year I just fold the diapers into the cover and use like I would a pocket.

Used pins a couple times with DD, but think they're less hard on fabric than the snappis were. We want to keep them in good condition for as long as we can!

Prefolds worked great (I think they would work great for pretty much any baby)- until the stink issue, which is the only thing I'm concerned about now. Hopefully with that mini washer I posted above, we can avoid (or much more easily remedy) that... Maybe we'll just get a dozen or so of each, flats and prefolds, and keep what we like best. It's a small washer so I don't think we'll be able to fit more than a dozen in there anyway! I had pocket diapers with DD too, and really didn't like them at all.

[Lynann]

I did like the pockets with DS1 for overnight when we first started using them. They were great for about the first 6 months we used them (DS1 was already a year old when we started) but then I found the microfiber was beginning to irritate him and put him back in prefolds.

DS2 did great in pockets overnight until he started using a sippy cup. At that point we noticed he would get his bladder really full then pee so fast that the microfiber couldn't absorb the pee fast enough and it would leak out of the legs. We switched him back to just prefolds all the time and haven't had a leak since.

I'll try to find you the link for the fitteds. I have the PDF on my old laptop. They are really easy to make. I used some old cotton t-shirts that were being stockpiled after DH was ready to throw them away. I always try to reuse/repurpose any fabric/clothing that is no longer fit for its original purpose. Add in a little elastic for the legs and some velcro to fasten them and its a very cheap method of diapering. I've since been given some really cute baby fabric and some flannel (which is next to impossible to come by here in South Florida) so I'm thinking of making the next size up as I love that the fitteds are not as bulky as the prefolds.

[Lynann]

This is the pattern I used. I did scale the small down a little more to make it just for a newborn, but DS2 outgrew them within weeks.

They also have a matching wool soaker that is knitted flat and I love how easy it is.

It is important to use real 100% wool for the wool soaker and I found some at $2.49 a ball at knitpicks and it only takes 1 ball to make the small size soaker. One thing I would say about wool for soakers though is to stay away from merino or blends with merino as it isn't very hard wearing for diapering needs. Merino is lovely and soft for other baby items like hats etc, but don't use it for diapers.

I'd post pictures but they are also still on the old computer and I haven't had time to transfer them. maybe once I get working on the new batch I'll post some pictures of them.

[pastormama]

Originally Posted by eepeepee 

Ooh, thanks!  That's pretty affordable, and looks like it wouldn't take up too much space, either.  The idea of line drying didn't even occur to me, but it makes perfect sense, especially for us lucky spring mamas...

Yay!  I'm glad the suggestion worked out.  I'm pretty sure that's the exact one my friends had!  They loved it.

[nstewart]

This thread is giving me diaper envy!  Now I want to consider adding a few nb size and size small fitteds to my stash.  Maybe that'd be a fun sewing project to add to the list (now to find the time...)

[Lynann]

For sewing the fitteds I cut everything first, then sewed them as I found the time (usually around DS1's naps or after he went down at night.)

[aHikaru]

just finished organizing our diapers on a "laundry cart" http://www.amazon.com/ClosetMaid-Four-Rolling-White-01-86770/dp/B000GPZBBW/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1357258623&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=closetmaid+laundry+cart... I'm ready to start prepping, as some of our diapers need 6 washes because they are hemp and I want to line dry them, so I figure I'll wash them 1-2 times every week, so they'll be prepped in about 6 weeks. I initially was excited to prep the diapers, but now I wish I didnt have to :P well, at least I have 4 months to procrastinate. 

[TwilightJoy]

For those of you who have used both GMD workhorse fitteds and Kissaluv kissa fitteds, which did you prefer?

I bought 1 of each, and the kissas are cuter, but the workhorses feel like they would be more absorbent. Would love some stories of how they compared to help me know which to buy more of.

[CoBabyMaker]

This thread is making me excited but nervous.  We've always had so much issue with stink regardless of top/front loaders, different locations, detergents, stripping, more rinses...it always comes back right away!  I am hoping switching to prefolds will help.  I hate to see my beloved OS pockets go but they just aren't working for us.  A friend is done with her prefolds and offered them to me so I'd just need to get covers.  I'm a bit nervous about prefolds because we had a hard time getting them on right but it certainly worth a try.  What is everyones favorite fold for boys that also contains poo well?

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

This thread is making me excited but nervous.  We've always had so much issue with stink regardless of top/front loaders, different locations, detergents, stripping, more rinses...it always comes back right away!  I am hoping switching to prefolds will help.  I hate to see my beloved OS pockets go but they just aren't working for us.  A friend is done with her prefolds and offered them to me so I'd just need to get covers.  I'm a bit nervous about prefolds because we had a hard time getting them on right but it certainly worth a try.  What is everyones favorite fold for boys that also contains poo well?

I always did an angel fold for DS.  The only diaper blow out I had was while we were on a long outing and DS was wearing a sposie!  Also, having the extra thickness in front is perfect for holding little boy's pee.

I think I might have done a twist fold the first bit when DS was really tiny...can't remember now! lol