Cloth diapering anyone?

[nydiagonz]

I am a first timer with the cloth diapering thing and don't have any family or friends who do it or have done it within the past 20 years... so I could use a little help!

I have been looking at the different options online and I don't know what would "fit us" best. We don't have a lot of money, but if I act now, I can ask people to help out with the diapering thing for a baby shower gift. So here are my questions:

There is a diaper service in my area that offers prefolds and would run me about $70 a month (yikes!). That is a lot per month, but is it worth it??

I like the idea of the fitted dipes but they seem to cost quite a bit and I would have to keep up with sizes... so wouldn't it end up being almost as expensive as the service??

I will be going back to work after a few months and taking baby with me, so I will be changing dipes at work and not be home all the time. Does this make the service a better option? Any suggestions are needed and welcome. I've got to figure this out, because time is running out...

[Darcy37]

Motherease one size fitted diapers and motherease covers would be the cheapest way to go.

[Snowdrift]

I have no words of wisdom, but am also taking the CD plunge for the first time. I'm buyin just aobut everything off the TP and saving a ton of money. I also have no idea what will work best for us, so I am planning on a couple of fun interesting fitteds and AIO's that are good deals (like two or three of these--got a nice one last week when a mama was selling something else I needed so I just also got the one fitted), a smattering of Kissaluvs, a bunch of prefolds (that I may get togehter with my aunt and tie-dye in the spring).

I've gotten some cheap pull on covers, a cover of wrap covers and a couple of wool wraps.

I'm hoping to also get some Kissaluv contours.

We're probably going to end up keeping the whole thing around $300 and that should last us for about the first year. We're hoping for more kids too, and we'll reuse. I figure even if only have three kids, that $100 plus repairs and utility costs per kid for the first year.

Not bad at all.

I'm a horrible housekeeper and am afraid of laundry crises so I did investigate diaper services but they made the decision for me; they don't deliver to our area and are too expensive.

I've heard not such great thigns about motherease, but as I say, i have no personal experience.

[lacysmommy]

I made my own fitted diapers and purchased covers. It ended up costing about $1-2 per diaper, until I invested in a serger and a snap press that is! (I had my friend do my snaps on my nb's and smalls originally) I was a beginning seamstress, and had only done one or two projects previously, but found making diapers to be quite easy and fun. I made them based off the Very Baby AIO pattern, found at www.diapershop.com. I made them out of flannel that I found on sale for less than $2 a yard. You don't need a serger to make the VB AIO's, but it makes sewing up doublers go really fast (although you can use a zigzag stitch to accomplish the same thing). I think they offer a snap service on diapershop, where you mail your diapers to someone with a snap press and they put snaps on for you. Or you can use aplix or touchtape, which is more expensive (although I don't know the cost of the snap service and shipping, if it would end up being more than the cost of the aplix). I personally prefer snaps to anything else, as the hook can get gummed up from lint and such, and it stops working as well after a few months. That was my solution to not having much money and wanting to CD (DH was unemployed when I got pregnant at first, then he got a great job and I got the snap press and serger!).

[NYCVeg]

We're also trying out CDing for the first time (although we're probably going to use a combo of CDs and disposables until we move into a place where we actually have a washer/dryer). We're putting diapers on our registry, in the hopes that we can avoid some of the initial cash output. But, because we don't know for sure what we'll want to use we're registering for small numbers of lots of different kinds/brands--3-4 each of two brands of pocket dipes, 3-4 each of two brands of fitteds, a bunch of inserts, a few covers and a few AIOs. I don't know how much of this we'll get--I'm sure most of our parent's friends, who will be buying off the registry, will balk at the idea of cloth dipes--but hopefully enough to get started. I've also been building up a small stash of EUC dipes from the trading post--I figure if I buy/trade for a few a month, of different types, over the next 4 or 5 months, I can build up a good collection w/o a big expenditure of money all at once.

If you plan on using prefolds, they are much, much cheaper overall. And you can also buy big batches of pre-folds pretty inexpensively from Ebay or the trading post.

[momatheart]

My SIL switched to cloth when her DS was 3 mo. She's my CD guide and she pointed out that you're gonna be changing a newborn far more often, so newborn-weight prefolds and wraps will be the best thing for us, since we have a washer/dryer and I'm going to stay at home. Luckily a friend offered me her stash of newborn wraps and dipes, so that should get us started. We're going to register for Fuzzi Buns in bigger sizes though, and I need to start watching the Trading Post, too.

Good luck to you. I'm excited to CD!!!

[Mamatoto2]

We did Kissaluvs size 0 fitteds with Proraps covers for the NB stage. You can get Kissaluvs for less through their outlet (you may have to check back a few times to see if they're in stock). We got by with a dozen of them with DD, which would probably run around $90, I think (I may be off a bit) and she wore them for about 12 weeks (7lb, 3oz at birth). The Proraps covers you can get factory direct as seconds (see the diapering board for the ph #). We had 2-3 NB size and then several each of the small and meds. You can also get waterproof drawstring diaper bags/pail liner things from the Proraps outlet. I found that one of these in a Cosco brand flip-up (with foot pedal) pail (available at TRU last I checked) was the perfect diaper pail for a work-type setting (or in my case, for DD's daycare). While Kissaluvs are pricey, they have a relatively high resale value on ebay or you can save them for future babies and not have to pay anything the next go-around.

As for large sizes, I found that DD spend the bulk of her time in mediums. We do Fuzzibunz during the day, and she still fits a size medium at age almost 3 (she can wear a large too, but she'd be just fine if we had all meds). We do hemp fitteds with a doubler at night, and I went primarily with SOS....they have the advantage of never needing to change sizes, but as a consequence, they show the wear they have gotten-the leg elastic is shot on some and they are worn in places. Probably won't last long through other kids.

You can get good deals on the TP or ebay if you plan in advance. People on the diapering board are also good at posting about sales/specials that online stores may be having. You can also use the MDC swaps as a good way to trade the "Stuff" you have around the house for the diapering items that you need.

I personally think that using a service at the cost of $70/month for prefolds and covers is not worth it. You'll likely be doing more laundry anyway as clothing/bedding gets soiled from BF poop blow-outs that PFs have a harder time containing, and you're still looking at almost $1000/year. I'm sure that's more than I've spent on my entire, rather extensive and pretty luxe stash, and my DD has used them for THREE years, and I'm gearing up to use them again for #2.

I HTH, if you have any other ?s please ask. I'm not terribly up-to-date on the hottest diapers du jour, but I am a pretty die-hard bargain shopper and did a lot of research to get the most bang for the buck for my diaper needs (as an aside, we tried the intro package through Motherease, and I personally didn't care for the dipes/covers...I ended up ebaying it after one wearing, but that was just my experience. Different strokes fo different folks).

[Ksenia]

There is a diaper service in my area that offers prefolds and would run me about $70 a month (yikes!). That is a lot per month, but is it worth it??It wouldn't be worth it for me becauses I found that doing laundry every other day wasn't really a problem for us. We use environmentally friendly laundry powder for all of our laundry and just throw the diapers in with our other whites so we do not do any complicated diaper washing rituals and diapers don't end up adding that much laundry. Ds never once had a rash and his diapers were clean. Keep in mind that some babies with sensitive skin don't tolerate diaper service diapers well due to the chemicals that they have to use to keep communal diapers sanitary.I like the idea of the fitted dipes but they seem to cost quite a bit and I would have to keep up with sizes... so wouldn't it end up being almost as expensive as the service??IMO, for standard cloth diapering it's not worth buying expensive diapers in size newborn small:

tiny babies pee and poop a lot so if you want to keep them clean and dry you need a big stack of diapers and
tiny babies grow quickly and most babies don't stay in size newborn/small for long so you don't get much use out of fancy diapers.

IMO, save your bucks for sizes medium and large diapers. For small diapers use prefolds (http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/diapers.htm) - they are cheap and work really well. Buying or getting them used is even better as they will be super-soft and absorb better. Prefolds are also easier to launder than fitteds and all-in-ones. You don't have to pin them, just fold them in thirds (http://www.bareware.net/diaperfolding.shtml) and use a waterproof diaper wrap (http://www.bareware.net/diapercovers.shtml) to hold them on. You only need three or four diaper wraps because you can re-use them between diaper changes unless they get poopy. The prefold/diaper wrap option is really economical and easy.I will be going back to work after a few months and taking baby with me, so I will be changing dipes at work and not be home all the time.Your diapering preferences and needs might be different in a couple of months, so you might want to start with a strategy for size small diapers and consider other options for later.

[Brinda]

I am starting out with prefolds, and have a few kissaluvs to try out. I'm going to buy just a few of one or another to try them each out.

[strawberryprincess]

When i was trying to decide what kind of CDs to get, i bought a few "sample packs" from a few sites...several different types of wraps, AIOs, pocket diapers, etc. we also didn't start using them til she was 2-3 mo. old.

we use prefolds with Bummis wraps, which we LOVE. dd is still in the medium size (almost two years now--they were a little big at first, but now they still fit great) so we've gotten a lot of bang for our buck with these. however, they are showing their age, and we will need to replace them for new baby.
But for newborns, i think i'll buy some more Bumkins. these are great for breastfeed baby poop, it's so runny and they are waterproof, so the wraps wash out easiely. the Bummis do not wash out as easily, and tend to stain (although the stains eventually wash out after repeated washings)

as far as diapering service goes, if you are using CD specifically to help save money, then don't use a service. i've read that it costs almost as much as disposables. Also, for on-the-go (or while baby is at work with you) there are waterproof bags that are really nice for dirty diapers, and are reusable, as opposed to plastic bags (bummis makes some, they are nice with draw strings, but i'm sure a person handy with a sewing machine could easily make them)

good luck deciding! there are so many choices out there, i know it's not an easy decision. :thumb

[Heidi Jo]

Wow what a great thread to come across. I am new to cd. We lived without our own washer dryer with my first and it would have been very expensive washing CDs. I found a cool pattern at mama bird and am making some AIOs. I just wish I had a snap press or really that I knew someone who had one. I hope that the ones I am making will work. I don't want to have done all that work for naught. I do still think I should buy some as well, so I registered for some kooshies.

I think this will be a big baby, over 9 lbs for sure. So only making size small and then I will make med. if I like my own handiwork. Keep your fingers crossed that I did these right, and they will work for my little one. I have noticed that ebay dipes still go for quite a bit of money. I'm REALLY cheap. LOL

What is the trading post you are talking about?

[JuicyPakwan]

I have cloth diapered all 3 of my kids and also think prefolds are the cheapest with a good cover. I am however this time making some fitteds to use with wool covers (never used wool before I am excited to try) and keeping the prefolds for backup. They last forever(I have 3 doz of each nb/regular/premium) I will be using the same prefolds I used on dc1. I made some AIO's(LG) for my last kid they where really handy on the go so I may make a few for newborn and medium for trips.

If you don't sew and are buying and choose fitted or AIO's I second saving your money for med/lg as they don't go through nearly so many.

The only thing I have really splurged on this time is a toilet sprayer I only got to use it once or twice before my youngest potty trained so I'm looking forward to that.

[nitareality]

I'm buying a few of my CD supplies for my may baby, but most of our items will be sewn by me. I'm making a combination of prefolds from old shirts and fitteds from purchased flannel and hemp. I'm also making covers...wool soakers and pants from recycled sweaters and purchased wool jersey, then fleece wraps. The fleece wraps have been my recent favorite to make. All of my purchased diapers have come from the TP. I tend to collect diapers :o so CD's are kind of a hobby for me :lol , but I just can't justify spending a ton of $$ on diapers the baby will grow out of quickly, I'll save that for when she hits size large.

[dshields]

strawberryprincess, or any others who use prefolds with a wrap, how many wraps do you have for each size? We plan on using bummis with prefolds after an initial 2 month gift of diaper service and I need to pick up the wraps. We have 6 for the nb stage to use with ds dipes, will we need more than this? What about subsequent stages? Could a liner help with staining? TIA!

[Unreal]

when I decided to cd ds2, my family bought me a diapering package from http://www.babiesinthesun.com (but the website is under construction right now!! :( )

It came with 2doz infant prefolds and 2doz premium prefolds. It also had prowraps in all the sizes. I think there were 3NB covers (which we really didn't use much--in the time that ds fit into them, we really stuck around the house a lot), 4 small, 4 med, and 4 large covers. I could be off on the amounts....I have yet to go through and see what we have for Maybaby hehehe
Oh and the package came with snappi's too :)

Anyhow--we actually ended up using washclothes for diapers for about 2 weeks. The infant prefolds were just too big. We ended up snappi-ing a washcloth on him instead.

Eventually we switched to trifolding the prefolds in the covers--much quicker, but the cover is more likely to get poop and stuff on it.

And...when ds was 3 months old I started buying more dipes and covers--I bought a few fitted dipes (sugarpeas, SOS, and momufactured) and got a bunch of covers off of the TP--fleece and wool--to try and see what worked for us and what didn't.
Eventually I tried pockets and AIO's too--getting one at a time when the funds were there.

BTW, you can make wool butt sweater and longies really quickly, easily, and cheap from wool sweaters from the thrift store. Well..I thought the longies were really easy. The butt sweaters..ehh...mine always came out looking REALLY funny :lol

I guess my point is, if you are on a budget, I would say get some prefolds (ours are Chinese, not gerber--Gerber works if that is what you've got--but they don't last as long and they don't absorb as much) and something like prowraps.
That will get you through just about everything
and you can always add on later :D

And if you aren't on a budget--I would still just plan on getting one or two of a bunch of different types of dipes and covers. You'll definitely find that some diapers don't fit your baby well, while others seem like they were made for them ;)

[zonapellucida]

I am using little lambs one size aio's plus I have a HUGE supply of prefolds and covers. I buy off ebay, thrift stores, clearance ect. Honeslty it is trial and error to figure out what works best for you. I have two in Cd's right now and love Bemkin cobers and motherease covers. As for the fitted diapers wiht snaps or velcor, they ARE expensive so I believe prefols are the more economical way to go. Of course if you saw my stash you will KNOW CD buying becomes an obsession.........

[nydiagonz]

I registered for a starter kit and I picked out some additional stuff too. Granted, this is a registry, so I may not get it all and I would buy whatever I don't get. Does this sound about right for a newborn stash?

Starter kit:
30 Newborn (2x5x2) prefold diapers and fits 5-10 lbs.
2 Newborn Prorap diaper covers (belly-button cutout) fits 6-10 lbs.
1 Newborn Bummis Super Whisper Wrap fits 7-10 lbs.
1 Newborn print Bumkins diaper cover (lots of prints to choose from-click on Bumkins for choices) fits 6-10 lbs.
1 Newborn Imse Vimse Bumpy Soft diaper cover fits 6.5-13 lbs. (runs big)
1 Small All Together Unbleached Fitted diaper fits 7-13 lbs.
1 Newborn All Together Deluxe All In One diaper fits 7-10 lbs.
1 Small Fuzzi Bunz Stay Dry Pocket Diaper (click here for color choices)
1 Small 8oz Nicki's Diapers micro insert (to be used in the Fuzzi Bunz Pocket diaper)

Extras:
4 newborn size covers
A few small All-in-ones (Bumkins)
A few medium All-in-ones (Bumkins)
5 small Kissaluvs Contours
10 medium Kissaluvs Contours
Some diaper inserts
Extra snappis
wiping solution and cloth wipes

Thanks for the help!!

[Darcy37]

This will be my first time CD'ing a newborn I bought 10 kissaluves0 10 spb nb 11 khw nb
2 BBSS longies nb/2 nb soakers/1 bumkin cover/3 prowrap nb covers/8 Vb small AIO"s I had angie at sugarplumbaby make me 23 hemp microfleece doublers nb size to keep the fitteds new so I can resale them on TP after we are done this is my last baby.

[busybusymomma]

I used fitted diapers and wool soakers mostly with my first two but this time I'm going to use prefolds, wool soakers and the occasional MotherEase cover. I need to go a little more economical this time... plus I'm planning to EC at least part-time. :)

Nydia- 2-3 dozen diapers is your best bet IMO. Closer to 3 dozen is best if you plan to line dry at all. :)

[Attached Mama]

Here is what worked and didn't work for us:

Prefolds with a velcro cover - bought the gerber ones and didn't use them - *way* too thin. Def recommend diaper company ones.

Covers:
litewraps - used them for preemie and newborn but the smalls were *way* bigger than the newborn and I returned them. great price at $7.50 each
Bummis - have a few but they are very bulky
Bumkins - disliked their covers because they can't go in the dryer even tho their AIO's can. disliked them as they have a vent in the back for breathability with a flap over the vent and DD always leaked there - returned them.
Nijjy's - good cover
Nikky's - our favorite because it is high cut on the leg so it doesn't bind on chubby baby thighs and gives her much more freedom of movement. Also they have a big leg gusset so they never leak on her.

AIO's - we have a few bumpkins and like them.

Fitteds - been using under the nile organic fitteds with a fleece doubler and dappi nylon pants at night. They are great 'cause they are super absorbant (only change 1x during the night) but don't recommend them 'cause they take 3x thru the dryer to dry becasue they are so thick.

Anyone use fuzzi bunz for nighttime? I'm thinking of trying them. Where do you buy them?

[LuckyMommaToo]

DS has been in CDs since day one, and still is! So we'll do it again. FWIW, my experience is that you need at LEAST 24 diapers for a newborn. They poop constantly. And I was still doing laundry every day or day and a half. I lent my Kissaluv 0s out, which I have to admit that I kind of regret. I'll get them back, I hope, and I also hope they don't have too much wear and tear.

I'm slowly building up other fitteds through the TP. We also use CPFs, although only with Snappis. No blow-outs if you Snappi! We really love fitteds, though. So fast, even in the dark.

Also, be careful -- styles like Fuzzibunz have never worked for DS. He's way too heavy a wetter. So don't invest too much in one thing before you try them for a couple weeks.

I think I'd like to get some more Nikky wraps. They're breathable, but not wool (too easily stained, IMO, for newborns). Great for summer!

Have fun building your stashes!
-Erin

[Rowenta]

I have a plethura of info on this (look at my sig). There are lots of ways to go, but the cheapest (by far) is using prefolds and a good wrap cover. Prowraps you can get seconds which makes them much cheaper too. Get like 3 dozen prefolds and 4-5 covers for each size and you are set.

now, if you want to add convience. Motherease are good, and i like thier All in Ones alot!
All in ones are the diaper and cover *all in one*. It will be more like changing with a disposable except you dont' throw them away, you wash them. There are alot of brands out there and many worth a try.
Next are fitted diapers. These look just like a disposable in that they usually have a closure (velcro or snaps, snaps are best they don't hook on stuff), but you still need a cover with them. Alot of people like them better because they tend to stay in place better than a prefold, but there IS a cost difference too.
the trick with cloth , when you first start out, is getting a GOOD cover so you dont' have leaks. I started cloth with #2 and they leaked all over and just were not worth it, i didnt' try going back to them until #3 was 2 years old. I finally found some stuff online and had a BALL getting all the nice stuff. Now that I am a few kids later, I am just going with prefolds and some Prowraps with this one. I will get a few AIO (all in ones) for the hubby and probably add some cute butted things in too for fun.
If you sew, you can also make your own fitted and this will save you a TON. There are alot of diaper fabric co-ops out there that you can get good quality materials from.
I made a bunch of mine with the previous ones, but since i am on bedrest with this one I won't have time to make them and I have nothing smaller than size large in my stash. So, this time I am buying!

good luck, kristi

[Rowenta]

Snaps, i keep reading everyone asking about snaps and not being able to invest in a snap press, I use the Snap Source snaps, and they have always worked GREAT!! the Snap Source tool is cheap (under $20 , but can't remember) and just buy a bulk of like 100 assorted snaps to get started!
they work great and it is a cheaper way to use snaps!
kristi

[mamacatsbaby]

Great thread, excellent info! :D

:lurk:

[Mamabeakley]

I have been really content with Nikky/Niji covers and no-fold (contoured, but not fitted) diapers. For me, the no-folds make me feel like diapering is easy as compared to folding pre-folds in thirds, though many folks don't mind the folding. And - I just don't have the time OR money to get fancy. One kind of covers (in multiple sizes) and one kind of diapers (in a couple of different brands/sizes) has been just fine for us. We were given our stuff as a hand-me-down to begin with and have supplemented as needed.

What we needed mostly were more covers. I had 10 small and 10 mediums. We've gotten by with 6 - 8 large and extra larges because by those ages DS was peeing less often - but I really needed those 10 smalls and mediums. DS pooped EVERY time he peed for the first 6 weeks or so, so they got dirty fast.

I also got bigger, thicker no-folds when DS was about 9 - 12 mos. and started holding his pee longer and therefore having bigger soakies.

Looking forward to getting my newborn & small covers back from my SIL and seeing if they're still useable (yikes! I hope so. We have NO money right now due to having bought a house.)

[tiffanyrk1786]

BumGenius! Its a one size pocket diaper that fits well and works well and is trim.. Its amazing! LOL.. Its a hefty investment but well worth the money in the long run.. :) Go to cottonbabies.com..