Cloth Diapers for Beginners

[mountainsun]

I am pretty set on CDing the new babe - and I was wondering if anyone would like to put in their 2 cents about good sites, good deals, etc.

Right now, I am thinking to start:

36 CPF - newborn size
6 covers
some snappis
some doublers for night time??

I did a bunch of research when ds was like 10 mos - but never forged ahead with it.

I am on a pretty tight budget and am looking for economical choices, although would love to know your favorites!

Also, I want to do cloth wipes, too Any advice on that?

Amy1st - I have heard alot of recommendations for naturalbabies.com - they have a pretty good newborn package for like $85.00. They have LOTS of other great stuff, too!

Sorry, ramble.....let's talk CD!

[Twilight]

I started with CPF's too and they are great all purpose diapers. The light-green stitched ones make a trimmer fit on a small baby, but the dark-green stitched ones will last you a longer time.

For nighttime the CPF's worked fine for us for a while, and then eventually I went to pocket diapers for nighttime because I could stuff them with however much I needed, they fit better and were more versatile. But I never did find a doubler that I liked so I'm no help picking those

For a pail I just have the generic diaper pail from Safety 1st that you can get at Target. I took out the little hinged insert though - it kept breaking and wasn't doing anything. I like that this pail has a place on top to hold a deodorizer disk and it really keeps odors from seeping out, very well. I have large Bummis tote bags that I put inside and I throw those in the wash with the diapers.

I use regular Tide to wash the diapers... lately I have been doing two rinses the 2nd one with some baking soda in there) then a hot wash with Tide and cold rinse. If it's sunny outside, I can put the diapers in the sun for just a couple hours before I put them in the dryer to fluff them. The sun disinfects and even removes stains.

uhh, let's see. I have heard good things about the "minishower" for rinsing off the poopy diapers in the toilet, but I don't have one. I use a cheap rubber spatula and just scrape them off. FWIW with breastfed newborn poop you don't need to rinse off the poo - it is easy enough to just wash off in the washing machine.

I guess that's all I have and yes I love naturalbabies.com they have been wonderful to work with.

[lillake]

If you don't mind it sometimes buying used is the cheapest option. Look around cloth diapering groups, there's always mom selling off stuff that doesn't fit anymore.

For cloth wipes, I used the children's washclothes that everyone gave me at the baby shower.

[mommy2boys]

I cloth diapered my last from 4 months on to potty training and my first from 2 until potty training. It was quite an adventure and I plan on cloth diapering this time around. Last time I got caught up in a lot of the trendy diapers and ended up hating all of that part of it. This time I am going for a simple system, prefolds and wool wraps and probably some other covers as well like motherease bumpy soft cover. Then fuzzi bunz at night. prefolds definatly simple and there is just something about them, I can't explain, I just love prefolds. . If you are looking for inexpensive then definatly prefolds.

Also if you can sew you can inexpensivly make your own. Which is a lot of fun as well.

[Amys1st]

: : not really lurking but taking notes.

I will try that website right now.

[seekermage]

come over to the dark side!

yes you must come over to the dark side! Cloth diapers are very addictive, glad to see you are keeping it simple! I didnt cd from the start but the one thing I can definitely tell you is that you need to get some infant sized prefolds. I dont think the newborn ones will last very long, you can use them as inserts for pockets later on, but size wise I dont think they have a long life. You would be better off getting a few dozen infant sized ones and some of the premium ones (though those are huge and unless you dont mind the fold over bulk I would avoid them until baby is older) I would also ask over in the diapering forum, they would know a little better about the whole sizing issue. Also, if you get a little daring, you can always dye them prefolds or add some fabric to them to brighten them up! Id be more then happy to help ya if you are interested. I LOVE a bright happy stash! You need atleast one fun diaper. Good luck!

[mountainsun]

Thanks for all of the replies!

For cloth wipes, I used the children's washclothes that everyone gave me at the baby shower.

Love it, that is ingenious, IMO :LOL About the wipes, do you get 'em moist at the point of changing? I know, prob. a not-so-bright question! I have been pondering it all night!
Or do you keep some moist in a tub or something? Just water - I think I would like to make a little solution maybe with some lavendar or something.

Also, if you get a little daring, you can always dye them prefolds or add some fabric to them to brighten them up! Id be more then happy to help ya if you are interested.

Ya know, I have been itchin' for the past, like 6 months to make some baby tie-dye onsies....it would be too fun to make some baby tie dye cloth dipes! I may be getting in touch

You guys rock!

[babybugmama]

I am in the same boat. I began CD'ing dd when she was about 2mos old. I had been given so many sposie's it took that long to switch. At that time I pinned and everything :LOL I have a ton of huge prefolds so I think I'm just going to cut about 20-30 of them down to infant size. But then I still need good covers. Any reccomendations out there for good covers? I am not a hyena type, but I do want a really cute dipe to bring baby X home in.

Wipes. I bought about a yard of fabric and then hemmed them. My sewing machine at the time only did straight stitch. Now I can something a little more advanced, like zigzag. Serging would be nice, but I don't have that. I plan on making some more, the ones I have seem to have disappeared. Also I think I want them a little larger than what I have. As far as solutions. I got a container from the grocery store that was similar in size to a regular wipe box. My solution: water, a little dr. bronners lavender soap, a little olive oil, tea tree oil and lavendar oil. Smells good, wipes poops off easily, limited diaper rash.

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by seekermage

yes you must come over to the dark side! Good luck!

I am already on the dark side with these sposies I spent 36 mos buying!! I feel that I was suduced by the dark side of the force and I am trying to come back- so Luke save me from the evil galtic empire of those sposies!!

[coco4cloth]

Oh don't get me started about cloth diapers :LOL My dh thinks I planned this pregnancy so I could buy more diapers With my dd, I had soooo many diapers. I already have a few newborn diapers. I love window shopping. I have a few newborn diapers from here http://www.muttaqinbaby.com/store/
I plan on doing fitteds,prefolds, pul covers, and wool to begin with. You can get prefolds really cheap here plus free shipping. http://www.babiesinthesun.com/
I plan on having some preemie prefolds for the first couple of weeks! I watch the trading post to for diapers. I have gotten 3 wool soakers off of there for really cheap. You are going to be sorry you ever got me started talking about cloth


I have a ton of wipes that I have bought from wahms. Nothing feels better then velour wipes!
Oh and tie dying prefolds is a lot of fun!

[MyLittleWonders]

We've cd'd ds#1 for the last night only at night (he still "leaks" as he puts it at night) - he wears pockets from Green Acre Designs and/or flats snappi'd on covered in an Aristocrat. Ds#2 has been cd'd since birth (though not until the day we left the hospital). This babe will be in cloth the first thing he or she makes his/her appearance and gets bathed. My absolute favorite are prefolds ... chinese or indian. I love to get things from DiaperWare because she has such a great selection.

If by newborn prefolds you mean premies, I too would recommend only get a couple dozen of them (they make great washclothes, doublers, spit-up wipers from the couch, ect), and get 2-3 dozen of the infant prefolds. Also, you may want more than 6 covers to begin with - though I wouldn't get only newborn size (well, if your babe is like mine - ds#2 was almost 10 lbs at birth and barely fit the newborn proraps). Newborn poopies often explode, so you'll probably need to change covers more frequently than you would, with say, a 6 month old or older. Proraps usually have 2nds for sale; if you ask in the diapering forum, someone probably has the 800 number for them. I love a prefold and wool a night (we've been using that system since the day he came home and it still holds strong, even with all night nursings). My favorite wool covers are the Sugarpeas wool flannel. A bit more money, but well worth it!

You have enough posts and time here, you should venture down to the diapers trading post ... there are usually nb/small stuff popping up frequently and you can get some good deals.

Fitteds are always fun too, but until you know what's going to fit and everything, I'd probably start with a good supply of prefolds, some pins and/or snappi's, and some good covers (proraps, bummis, a couple wool covers for night). Then, you can look at fitteds, pockets, and all-in-ones as you get some more money or a better idea of your babe's build.

[Gray's Mommy]

We didn't cloth diaper our first , but will this one! There was a diaper service going out of business in Dallas & they sold all their diapers dirt cheap. I bought way too many CPF's & just need to get the covers now. That is where I am having such a problem. There are so many to choice from-I had no idea where to start.
Thanks for all the great information in the previous posts...I will be checking everything out

mary

[Simplicity]

I'm so taking notes also!

[akmeg]

Aren't cloth diapers sooooo fun! But I didn't really spend hardly anything diapering my dd, I made most of them or bought them used or for cheap! We use prefolds and some wool that I knitted and an aristocrat for night, and fitteds that I had made out of receiving blankets.

For this baby, I plan some new prefolds (maybe indian, I'd like to try those), and I'm going to make some fitteds and knit some wool. I also want to buy a few nb fitteds with snaps since I usually use pins. And I'd like some wool wraps!

Last night I actually dug out some flannel I'd bought for baby dipes awhile ago and cut it up to start a few nb fitteds! My dh kinda laughed at me! He said, "oh, is the diaper making machine starting up again?" I guess I'm kind of excited to make cute, soft little dipes!

[chiromama]

Well, i guess it's time for me to listen in on this conversation also.

[StacyL]

Well, you can all get your stuff from a fellow June 2006 mama, beansmom (Marcy). She gives a discount to MDC mamas too.

She has a great store at

www.diaperco.com

[MyLittleWonders]

Originally Posted by StacyL

Well, you can all get your stuff from a fellow June 2006 mama, beansmom (Marcy). She gives a discount to MDC mamas too.

She has a great store at

www.diaperco.com

Very cool information!!!

[Beansmom]

I started out with infant CPFs and Proraps/BSWWs with DD #1, but this time around I am going with mostly Kissaluvs sz 0 with BSWWs, Bumpy covers and some wool and fleece covers too. I can't wait to diaper a newborn again. I just hope dd PLs by then.

[mountainsun]

I just hope dd PLs by then

I am hoping for that. too! It's crazy because the past week or so he will have nothing to do with his potty Where before that it seemed like he was well on his way.............I guess he will learn when he is ready!

Diaperco looks great - thanks!

[KnittingKara]

So, um, say you met someone who had no experience with cloth diapers. Like, um, I have this "friend" (who may or may not be myself)

Say "this person" was really interested in using cloth this time around, but had *no clue* where to start, what cloth diapering entails, what the purpose of a "soaker" is (though she can guess ) but she was willing to learn and had, oh, say around 8 more months to learn.

Say this person's husband was reaaaaaaaaaalllly skeptical about using cloth because "disposables worked just fine for the first one" and thinks it is a scheme to buy more cute baby things by me, erhm, I mean my friend.

My friend didn't use cloth the first time around because she gets overwhelmed easily and thought it would be too complicated with a new baby to learn a brand new skill like cloth diapering, not to mention she didn't have her own washer and dryer at the time (does now, tho) Is it really as easy as everyone says?

Could I, erhm, my friend ... could she be taught? And where would you suggest she go first for her cd education? Remember, she's totally new at this, so be gentle and don't use initials unless you spell out for her what they stand for

Thanks!