[shantiani]

I'm putting together my registry and am working on the cloth diaper requests.... there just seem to be so many types, so many brands, and so many opinions! The sampler packs seem like a good way to go but they are pricey and I don't want to rely on anyone spending that much for a baby shower gift. So I'm trying to compile my own sampler (it should be relatively painless for people to buy like one or two each). It's working out ok, but I don't know the basics.... like 1) which types of diapers need covers? (or do all cloth diapers use covers?) and 2) what is a good ratio of diapers to covers? I assume the covers can be used more than once between washes, so probably way less of those?

And then.... I'm afraid to ask if anyone has any favorites because I'll probably get overwhelmed again, but now that I'm in the thick of research, I just have to ask.... do you have a favorite?

 

[Knitting Mama]

Well, with quantity, the question is, how often do you want to do laundry? For example, if you're cool with doing laundry every other day, 36 diapers is a good number-- whether that's prefolds, fitteds, AIOs, or whatever type you're using.

The only diapers that don't need covers are AIOs (All-In-Ones). They have waterproof material either inside the diapers as a layer, or on the outside. The most common material used for that is called PUL. Fitteds, prefolds, pockets, will all need a cover. With pockets, read the packaging/description; it could be possible that they have PUL in them and therefore are waterproof. With covers, it's a good idea to have around 8 or so if you're getting 36 diapers. You can use covers more than once, but you want enough around just in case you have a few blowouts.

There's a really great board, www.diaperswappers.com, that's all for cloth diapering mama. I'm active in the April due date club there as well. If you come over and register there, there are lots and lots of VERY experienced mamas who can help you with answers to all your questions!

edit: This is the April DDC on diaperswappers: http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/...ysprune=&f=139

 

[Peace+Hope]

my SIL recommended the site greenmountaindiapers.com to me, and i found that to be really helpful - all the info in one place, and they sell pretty much everything you need as well. they do offer a sampler kit there too...

 

[nikirj]

I might be the wrong person to ask...but it seems like the longer I do this the simpler I go. Last time around it was almost all prefolds and a mixture of really cheap highly waterproof covers and pretty wools. There is SO much out there right now, I find it really overwhelming especially if I was trying to build a stash from scratch, while 1 full stash of prefolds/pins for a NB is about as much $$ as just two or three all-in-one or system diapers. Just remember if you're doing the prefolds that you don't want the thin gerber ones; I prefer the indian unbleached and also like the diaper service quality prefolds. Pins are cheap and if you grease them (I'd store them sharp side down in a jar of baby ointment that I was gifted but wouldn't actually have used on a baby) they are easy to get through the thicker diaper types (if you don't have to push you're unlikely to stab yourself). I've used pins on two of my own kids and one sibling, and have never poked a baby.

The biggest plus for the prefolds comes at wash time, when they wash out easier and dry faster

.

 

[leavemealone]

Pocket diapers like Fuzzi Bunz or Bum Genius also don't need a cover as the outer part has PUL. Pockets are about all I have used, but I have also never cloth diapered a newborn. I started cloth when my youngest was about five months. I have some GroBaby shells and some of their disposable biosoakers that I plan to use in the early days to cut down on laundry. I bought most of mine from Kelly's Closet. I think that site indicates whether a cover is needed. Even if you don't buy from there, I found it useful to be able to see the options. I don't think it has great number of reviews, but you can find that info on other sites.

 

[Knitting Mama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peace+Hope my SIL recommended the site greenmountaindiapers.com to me, and i found that to be really helpful - all the info in one place, and they sell pretty much everything you need as well. they do offer a sampler kit there too...

I've yet to find a cheaper place to buy prefolds and covers than GMD (except maybe Craigslist!). This place is awesome. And the prefolds they get are fabulous quality, and really super absorbent after a good boil (I was taught to boil prefolds before washing/drying them a few times to up the absorbency). Oh, and sometime GMD has seconds sales, where they sell all of their prefolds that have some edging that's off, etc-- nothing that will affect the absorbency or life of the diaper, just something cosmetic. You won't believe how cheap they are then!

 

[ivymae]

I'm thinking there is at least one shop in the Seattle area that does diaper demos - it could be worth the time to find one and go and touch the different types, and ask questions as they come up. My area doesn't have a shop like this, but I found a group on DiaperSwappers that meets in my area and asked if they would be willing to let me come to a meeting and look at their diaper systems. Cloth diaper people tend to like to talk about them, so they were a wealth of information - what they liked, what wasn't worth the money, why some systems work better for some families, etc. I even ended up buying diapers from a few of those ladies.

As for us: we prefer fitted one sized diapers (Goodmama is our favorite brand, though SOS also work well) with wool soakers/longies until they get to the large/toddler sizes, and then we use fuzzi bunz, since diaper changes are quicker since they don't need covers.

 

[ripley]

You need to at least look at LolliDoo - they are made in Newman Lake Washington - don't know how far they are from you.

website is

www.lollidoo.com

they are the greenest diaper out there. don't leak, have many options are made of recycled materials and they can be recycled when you're done with them.

I'm pretty sure there is a retailler somewhere near you - check them out.

Out and the eco-diaper is likely the best option. They aren't cheap but they are made in this country and they are one size fits all.

They don't have an all in one because all in ones don't breathe the best and can cause moisture vapor to collect on baby's skin.

 

[nikirj]

I forgot you were in Seattle!!

Go here:

http://www.birthandbeyond.com/

I've heard nothing but awesome things. I've only been to their old location (a couple of years ago) but from what I've heard via MW clients, it's only gotten better! They have cloth diapering classes, even

. And a decent amount of info on their website, too.

 

[shantiani]

Awesome. Thanks everyone!

 

[Ashes]

I liked BumGenius, after trying many different kinds.

You know what I didn't even realize with my last baby? You don't have to stick to only 1 kind. You can use many different kinds... why not??

 

[laughingfox]

I love prefolds. I got a bag of a ton of different styles of diapers from a friend when P was little, and I got tired of all the "fancy" ones. I've also changed diapers for friends using fuzzi buns and all that.. give me prefolds any day.
I have never tried Indian style ones, I use Chinese.

In a rush? Just trifold them and lay them flat in a wrap cover. Just as easy (if not easier) than pockets, for less than 1/4 of the price, plus it's faster to wash and dry (which takes less resources and makes your water/utility bills lower), and you don't have to mess with the poopy pockets to get out the liners at laundry time.
Want something more leak-proof? Pin or snappi them. I love pins. I kept mine stuck in a bar of soap, and they would glide right through the diaper. I never stuck my baby either (though I did stick myself a couple of times).

I've seen a few diaper rash issues in friends' kids that was most likely related to synthetic liners and/or non-breathable waterproof layers in pockets and AIOs. The only rash my daughter ever had was when I put her in a non-breathable cover. I wouldn't switch to pockets/AIOs if you paid me to.

I use wool or fleece covers. It's really easy to make them, but there are plenty of cute breathable covers you can register for, as well.
Oh, and etsy.com has some fantastic diaper covers made from fleece and recycled wool, but it would be difficult to add etsy items to a registry..

Also, the green mountain diapers webpage has an awesome page with tons of pics on the different ways you can fasten (or not fasten) prefolds. They're so versatile.

 

[shantiani]

Quote:

Originally Posted by laughingfox Oh, and etsy.com has some fantastic diaper covers made from fleece and recycled wool, but it would be difficult to add etsy items to a registry..

I am using an Amazon Universal registry so I can add a link for anything from any website to my one central registry. I have quite a few etsy things on there already. I am a total etsy addict

 

[Jenica]

I did a ton of research when I first got pregnant. I mean hours a day for weeks reading reviews message boards etc. Here's the stuff I decided on:

Chinese Unbleached Prefold Diaper
Snappi Cloth Diaper Fasteners
Thirsties Diaper Cover
BabyKicks Joey-Bunz Premium doublers

I'm getting it all off Amazon since I have free shipping through them and their prices are pretty good too. The small prefolds are $1.89, the snappis are $5.25 for 3, the Thirsties covers are $11 each, and the BabyKicks doublers are $17 for a 3 pack. I'm getting 36 prefolds, 5 covers, and 3 doubler to use at night. I added the doublers to my list recently because they are hemp fleece and I heard that helps keep the baby dry.

I'm hoping it all works out well but I feel pretty good about it since I've heard about so many people being happy with these options.

 

[feminist~mama]

You could also ask for gift certificates to whatever diaper site you like and then make one order- and save on shipping!

 

[ivymae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ripley You need to at least look at LolliDoo - they are made in Newman Lake Washington - don't know how far they are from you. website is www.lollidoo.com they are the greenest diaper out there. don't leak, have many options are made of recycled materials and they can be recycled when you're done with them. I'm pretty sure there is a retailler somewhere near you - check them out. Out and the eco-diaper is likely the best option. They aren't cheap but they are made in this country and they are one size fits all. They don't have an all in one because all in ones don't breathe the best and can cause moisture vapor to collect on baby's skin.

It'd be quite a way from shantiani, but it's right around the corner from me! They've come to talk to our mama's group before, and are really a great company.

And re: having lots of systems, I reallllly prefer to just have one at a time. I had a bunch of different systems with DD1, and wash day was a pain (microfiber needs different care than cotton), organization and storage was a pain, and explaining what goes with what to DH or my MIL was a pain. By all means, try a couple of each sort to find out what you like, but I've found it to be much easier when you find one system you like.

 

[bubbamummy]

I use a mix of Fuzzibuns and Bum Genuis on my toddler which I LOVE. But I havent cloth diapered a newborn before.

For the new baby we have some newborn 'swaddlebees' which to me, seem very similar to the Bum Genius except I got newborn size so they are soooo tiny

I also have some kissaluvs with bummis super whisper wraps to try as well as some thirsties with covers too. So far the thirsties get my vote (even though I havent used them

) as they are SOOOOO soft.

 

[smeisnotapirate]

I don't think you need 8 covers. We usually have 4-5, and do just fine. We also did fine with 24 fitteds when DS was a newborn, though we got 36 prefolds for him as a toddler because we're getting lazier about laundry.

I still only use doublers every once in a while. I got those from a friend - never saw a need to buy them.

ETA: Thirsties are the BEST. Their leg gussets are amazing, and I love their fit for my skinny baby.

 

[GreenTeaGinger61]

Thanks Shantani for posting this

I need to get on the ball and order mine. This is our first time using cloth diapers (we never had a washer in home until the last baby was almost a year old). I'm glad that prefolds are getting good reviews as that's pretty much what we were thinking. It seems like the cheapest and easiest option. My friend uses pockets and while she kept telling me it was easy it really looked like it would drive me nuts. And I've heard the AIOs take forever to dry.

I really am aiming for simplicity. Sometimes when I go on the cloth diapering sites I want to cry! too much to process

 

[Knitting Mama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenTeaGinger61 Thanks Shantani for posting this I need to get on the ball and order mine. This is our first time using cloth diapers (we never had a washer in home until the last baby was almost a year old). I'm glad that prefolds are getting good reviews as that's pretty much what we were thinking. It seems like the cheapest and easiest option. My friend uses pockets and while she kept telling me it was easy it really looked like it would drive me nuts. And I've heard the AIOs take forever to dry. I really am aiming for simplicity. Sometimes when I go on the cloth diapering sites I want to cry! too much to process

The absolute simplest way you can go is with prefolds and covers. But the more research you do, the more you'll get sucked into the different types!

I have mostly prefolds and covers, enough for a couple of days, but I also have a whole stash of AIOs my MIL made for us (I found her some patterns and she went wacky with sewing them), as well as a few different brands of fitteds. Basically I decided that I'd do the prefolds and covers most of the time, but if I find one style or variety of AIO or fitted that I just adore, I can always get more!