Cloth Diapers from Newborn or Later?

I used cloth diapers from the very 1st day we were home. I also washed them my self which was no big deal. I had pre-folded ones which were great as they got bigger. To start with I had diapers which I folded to fit them. Remember you need more cloth in front for a boy and in back for a girl. They also have liners which can be put inside the diaper and then thrown away. There were alot of diapers at first but I never felt like it was too many to do at one time. I only used disposable ones with my 2nd child when we went on outings away from home and then that was when he was older and we didn't go through so many diapers. Good luck. My vote would be for you to use cloth right from the start.

I used cloth diapers for my son and had no problem with it. The diapers they make today are prefolded. How hard is it to throw them in the washer while you watch TV, cook, play with the kids, etc. It is easier to potty train with cloth diapers because a pull up is nothing but a pamper shaped like a pair of underwear. When a child wets a diaper, it is uncomfortable and heavy. They don't really like it. At least my son didn't. He wet one time, did not like it and found him a pair of shorts to put on himself. A disposable diaper or absorbs the wetness. Do you know what it feels like to have a little turd in a cloth diaper? (yuk). If you can afford it you can have your cloth diapers delivered. Basically, its a personal choice. Now I must mention if you use cloth diapers you do have to change them often so they will not get diaper rash. But again, how hard is it to check them. You can use the disposable diapers when you go out. I luck up because the daycare allowed us to use cloth diapers. They also washed the diapers that was used at the school. Good luck on your decision

I haven't used cloth diapers before but that sounds like a good plan.
A.

My 2 cents is:

I used disposables the first week, because I was hesitant to try to wash the meconium poop. But after the first week, that stuff was over and into the cloth he went. My babies are 8-9 lbs to start so size wasn't the issue it might be for others.

As for being too wiped out to deal with them at first... It was WAAAY easier to just do a load of laundry at my own speed when I saw the stack getting low than to try to pack up a newborn and go to the store. It takes less energy to walk to the laundry room than it does to just get through the parking lot at the supermarket fighting with an infant carrier and a diaper bag. Really.

Also: a big vote for the one-size-fits-all style dipes.

we LOVED our kissaluvs size zero's for the newborn stage - you can get them used and often inexpensive and in good condition on diaperswappers. since we were changing so often, lots of times at the beginning we didn't bother with a cover...until he really started soaking through :) we did use disposables until the meconium was over with.

i had some prefolds and wool covers (they aren't as hot as you'd think - they breathe) and used them as backup, but I honestly never got the hang of the snappi and would just lay them in the wrap cover. obviously not a good strategy once they're mobile, but by that point we'd moved to pockets and AIOs. the laundry isn't that big of a deal, really. i also wrote up diaper laundry instructions and posted them in the laundry room so when people came over to visit and asked if they could help with household stuff, it was something I could let others do :)

there is a great cloth diapering bulletin board community on pregnancy.org, highly recommend it!

I used to nanny for a family that cloth diapered. It was not as much extra work as you would think. Of course, they used a cloth diaper delivery service. So the dirty's were picked up and clean ones delivered. I did not cloth diaper my little one but plan to with my next baby.

Have you heard of "Elimination Communication?" That's the diaper-free concept of parenting. I also know a family that practices that. Google it. It's very interesting.

Here are some links you may find helpful.
http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/infantpottytraining.html

Diaper Free Babies
http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/links/no-diapers.html

Hi there,

It's always wonderful to hear about another family switching to cloth diapers! We did the same thing you're thinking about -- we used disposables for a short time when our daughter was a newborn - we waited until the meconium was gone because it can really stain cloth diapers. As you probably know, there are some disposables made with no chlorine or harsh chemicals, if you are concerned about that. I believe that Seventh Generation makes some, as well as a Tushies brand.

Congratulations on your newest arrival!

-K.

if added laundry is concern, you could look into a diaper service...at least at the beginning. they bring you plenty of clean/ sanitized diapers, and pick them up and launder them and deliver them back to you. and think they are still cheaper then disposables.

Hey C.. I used cloth diapers on my son and it was wonderful. He had 1 mild rash in all that time ( almost 2 years ) and that seemed to come from when he would wear disposable diapers more than usual. I used cloth at home, and when we went somwhere, I used disposable, just for convenience sake. It is a little more work, but I would do it again if I had another baby. Consider this, would you rather have cotton next to your bottom, or bunched up fibers? Just a little info. As he gets older, you'll find the disposables are better at holding more. Then you'll have to decide if cloth is working for you or not. Good luck!!

I've been slowly integrating cloth for our almost 4 week old. He was just so tiny at the beginning and it was difficult to get a dipe to have a good fit--of course it's my first time so experience is probably not on my side. I do have to say that we are enjoying using the flushable biodegradable inserts--they make laundry and clean-up easier.
One of my girlfriends said she started with about 30 dipes for her newborn and that's what I have but even with two of us doing the work it's hard to keep up with the laundry and have enough dipes ready for the baby. I think it's starting to even out (knock on wood) though.

I would use BumGenius 3.0 diapers because you can adjust the size to fit a newborn or a 35 pound baby. I would also have disposables handy just incase you get overwhelmed with washing diapers.

awesome question and one I have been wondering about too. I am going to cd my baby due in July and I had thought about using disp. at first. But I am going to give it a shot with cloth (just have a few on hand at first before making a major investment) the prefolds can be fitted to any size I hear and then there are the adjustable diapers that will grow with the baby...that's what I'm going to try in the beginning. If cloth is too much for me at first I will do disp.s
this topic is one I feel I can't get enough info on; I am so clueless...I think it's a learn as you go thing.
you are right I have also read that cloth will help the little ones potty train earlier because they can feel the wetness on their skin more easily.

Hello C.,
As a British mother of three grown up kids I can tell you from experience that babies who have worn nothing but cloth diapers ( we call them nappies)are potty trained by the age of 18-20 mths.Think about it,the older they get,the more 'normal 'foods they start to eat ,the more uncomfortable it is for them,so nature kicks in and they get the whole toilet idea very quick.Rarely did mine get any kind of rashes because I got in to the habit of leaving them go bare for a little while after most changes.
I was amazed to find when I came to this country that little ones as old as three where still in some kind of disposable diaper or trainer.I think its a case of them being so comfortable that they have no real incentive to try and learn the potty.
AS for laundry,well all you do is buy a bucket with a lid,drop them in there to soak over night and just wash!
Use the disposables for the first week or so if only to give you a chance to get some well deserved rest,to get into a routine and get your little five year old used to the new addition.
Best of luck to you

I used them when at home but if I had appointments or would be gone most of the day I used disposable my daughter was 3lbs 9 2/3 oz so we used preemie disposables till she fit into a regular diper otherwise it was to bulky seamed like the diper weighed as much as she did.but after a year with cloth I went to disposable a lot less work and she has special needs that take extra time that was importen to me.

Congrats to all of you moms out there thinking about washing cloth diapers. :-) Ten years ago, everyone thought I was crazy for doing it, but then, that's a personality trait often pinned on me! ;-)

I'll just toss my stuff into the diaper pail here.....I'm so glad I did it. I don't think, however, that I could have washed my own if I didn't have a large capacity washer. At first, I had a tiny one, and it did seem like I was doing laundry all the time, diapers or not.

I dried mine on the clothesline and enjoyed not only the fresh, clean smell, but the disinfectant and whitening properties of the sunshine. I tend to think fabric softeners could cause cancer, so I never used them, but I know many think not and enjoy the softness they bring.

I used a lot of bleach, which deteriorated the few diapers I had with velcro tabs. The velcro, fitted ones were nice during the newborn stages, though - especially since others used the fear of diaper pins as an excuse not to change them!

I remember always having spare plastic grocery bags in the diaper bag for the wet/dirty diapers, and I don't remember there being too much of an "ick" factor. I breastfed, so I'm sure that helped keep the smell down.

And it did, I believe, really help with their desire to use the potty.

Congrats on your pregnancy! Have a great summer getting your daughter ready both for the new baby and for kindergarten, and thanks for lightening our carbon imprint!

Hi C.!

I have to say that I have used Bum Genius diapers and absolutely love them! I just sold some of my used ones on diaperswappers.com and have ordered some of the bg 3.0's because they are a one size diaper. If they are anything like the 2.0's I am certain I will be pleased with them as well.

Congrats on baby #2.

J.