Making the Change to Cloth Diapers

If your son is 22 months, and you don't plan to have more children--then I would recommend a sized, all-in-one or pocket diaper. If you plan on having more children, you might want to invest in the "one size" AIO or pocket diapers. They adjust, most go up to 35 pounds approx.

My best friend went the budget way and ordered prefolds and used them with Bummis wraps and Proraps. Her son was potty trained by 28 months because he hated being wet and the cloth prefolds definitely feel wet!

We used a diaper service until I went back to work, but my daughter's daycare provider really struggled with the cloth diapers--she tried, and I really give her credit for that! We ended up purchasing our own one-size AIOs and pockets. So at home she's in cloth, at daycare she's in disposables. I'm a teacher, so she'll be in cloth til September--hooray!

We have a combination of Mommy's Touch AIOs and BumGenius AIO pocket diapers. Between the two, I would probably recommend the BumGenius--I like the closures much better. They both have snaps that adjust along the front so you can size them. When my daughter was less mobile, the Mommy's Touch were great--but now that she's 18 months, the BumGenius fit her body better and have a lower profile so they fit under her clothes better. I believe they were both about $18 per diaper. We have 12 of each.

Diapers.com does sell the bumGenius and if you are a first time customer, you can get 10% off I think and free shipping over $50...look for a code on the web.

I have a neighbor friend who used fuzzibunz diapers and really like those.

www.diaperpin.com does have reviews of the gazillion diapers out there!

I also HIGHLY recommend Wahmies wet bags for storing the diapers in until washing time. I purchased a few different sizes from www.thestorkwearhouse.com One large one for the diaper pail, a medium size one for day-trips, and a small one that we use in the diaper bag and when we go to the pool for our wet swim suits.

2 moms found this helpful

Love, love, love cloth diapers! I use all-in-ones, pockets, and prefolds with a cover. The prefolds with covers seem to be much bulkier, so we generally use these only at night and when we are home during the day. But I love all-in-ones. (And so do my son's grandparents who watch him during the day while I'm at work-they are much easier.) You can find these and pockets that are one size fits all. They save money b/c you don't have to buy a larger size when baby grows.

I find my diapers at www.cottonbabies.com, www.bananapeelsdiapers.com, urban-fluff.com, and monkeytoediapers.com. I have many different brands and like them all. bum genius, happy heinys, whamies, rumpsters, and urban fluff.

I initially had troubles with diaper rash. But I contacted Heather at banana peels diapers and she helped me figure out where I was going wrong. I was using too much detergent. I use only about 1/4 the amount recommended on the bottle. All the websites that sell cloth diapers have info about the brands that work the best. The Cotton Babies website actually has a list of detergents not to use; and recommendations on which ones are safe for cloth.

Good luck. Cloth diapers actually make changing diapers fun!

1 mom found this helpful

I have not used cloth diapers personally, but I have several friends who do. The cleaning issue seems to be the biggest concern for most people. My friend estimates that she saves about $300 a year by using cloth. She wrote up a whole thing about her experience. Sorry if it is a little long.

*cloth diapers do have resale value, and i've sold several of my old dipes online. there's a website called diaperswappers, that's a forum, but i've bought and sold lots of dipes, trying to figure out which kind i like and what works the best for us..

*a lot depends on the size and build of your baby. what works great for one doesn't for another. my 11 month old is VERY petite, still wears smalls, and 6-9 month clothing, so some style dipes don't work for us.

*there is an initial investment (we spent $150 ish), then pretty much nothing until the baby outgrows the size initially purchased (unless you find that adorable one you gotta have!). but there are so many cute diapers out there, and i have a very simple stash compared to many!

ok, now for the basics:

AIO (all in one) or AI2 (all in 2). no cover is needed- outside is PUL (polyurethane) and inside is all the cloth layers, various different materials. the thick part can be sewn in, snapped in, or just laid in the diaper. these range in price from $15-$50 each. they make them plain, with designs, personalized. we use these when we are out- makes it easy for a quick change, no covers to deal with.

prefolds- these are the "old fashioned" diapers. they need a cover. there are chinese prefolds, indian unbleached, and flats. they need a snappi (link at bottom) or pins (i don't use pins) to hold together, and a cover. cost $1-$10 each, again depending on if you want plain or decorative) we use these at home- this is the most cost effective way to go.

fitteds- these are all material, one piece, no cover included, and needs some sort of cover to make water proof. they are like prefolds, but they usually snap or velcro closed (and often have pretty designs). price varies.

pockets- i don't like these- it's basically a shell cover, and you stuff the inside with a prefold. too difficult in my opinion. i don't know much about these, except that i have a couple and never use them.

COVERS:

wool- there are tons of wool covers- knitted, crocheted, pull on panties like, etc. the most common is "longies", which are wool pants like this: http://www.aubreydoodlepants.com/ or shorts, or the like. wool is pretty expensive, because, well the yarn is pricy, and someone knits it up,which is labor. they are super cute though :)

fleece- same as above, but not knitted

pul covers- i have supper bummis whisper wrap, a PUL velcro close cover. there are lots of other brands, type in “cloth diaper cover” into google and you’ll find a plethora.

wipes- most WAHMS (work at home moms) stores carry cloth wipes.

BAGS

we use a wetbag, not a pail. it's a big zippered bag that has the PUL lining, and a pretty outside. it's pretty stinky when you open it up, but otherwise, there's no scent. there's also deo discs and powder that you can add to it. here's where i got mine: http://hyenacart.com/SMJAE/index.php?c=12... you can also use a pail.

ok, now considerations for newborns- most cloth users just use prefolds for newborns, because they go through so many. we didn't start cloth until 3 months, so this is just what i've heard. it's cheaper to do the prefold way until they are more established in a size. we are still in the same size that we were at 3 months. we have a friend who is 18 months, and he's in the same size he was when he was 6 months (med). so these dipes do last a long time. for our next one, we'll probably do regular disposables for the first couple weeks, then start cloth- just too much laundry to do with a brand new baby while mommy is recovering from birth.

WASHING

ah- and laundry. i have enough to go about 4 days, but i will usually do 3 days if the bag starts to reek. i do a rinse in cold water w/ vinegar, then wash on hot (i turn the water heater up for dipe laundry) and tumble dry. when it's sunny, i'll air dry the aios for the first part, then finish in the dryer so they are soft. prefolds i only do in the dryer.

ok, now links:

www.hyenacart.com - this is a forum, shops, amazing place, very supportive. lots and lots and lots of cloth stores, etc. great place to get cloth diapering support, suggestions, etc. also with natural parenting, attachment parenting, and the like.

www.diaperswappers.com- the diaper swapping place i mentioned above.

www.cottonbabies.com- where i got most of my prefolds, and lots of other accessories, like the snappi to hold the prefold together.

MY FAVS

www.lucyshopechest.com these are my favorite for AI2s, they fit ariana great, and are very reasonably priced.

www.hyenacart.com/inspired great fleece covers

www.sassyturtlethreads.com “turtle shells” diaper covers- these fit great

www.verybaby.com i like VB hybrids- trimmer in between the legs

unbleached indian prefolds from cotton babies or anywhere

bummis super whisper wrap

I hope this is helpful!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi R.,

Congratulations on considering cloth diapers. My son is 5 weeks and we've been using them all along and they're wonderful, we haven't had any issues. It feels great to do something good for the environment and the pediatrician was glad to see it too - it's supposed to be better for their skin, etc (as long as you change them when they need to be). We did have a couple of days of diaper rash early on, but the symptoms indicated it was related to my diet (too much wheat) not the diapers.

At any rate, the very best option (ecologically) is a diaper service. If you have that available, I would check it out first. They provide the diapers and pail - I think everything except the covers - and they pick up dirty diapers and drop off clean diapers as often as you choose/need them.

We don't have that option where I live (too small), so we bought our own diapers and are washing them ourselves. For our 5 week old, we wash them about every other day (a little less). It's easy to do in our washer and dryer - you do one load of cold with 1/4 detergent, then another run with hot and 1/4 detergent and an extra rinse; then you dry them and that's it.

We have 24 basic diapers, 6 wraps, and 7 of the BumGenius 3.0 all in ones. If you're doing your own diapers and have the cash up front, investing in the BumGenius 3.0 would be worth it in my opinion. They fit during the entire diapering life of your child - up to 35 lbs! It's pretty cool, but they are expensive ($17 each) and you would need 24-30ish of them I'd estimate. Otherwise, you do have to replace the diapers and the wraps as they grow as there are different sizes. The prefolds are much cheaper (about $1 each and I recommend getting unbleached) and we use Prowrap Classics which are great and cost about $9 each.

We also use cloth wipes, which I think are fabulous. I recommend 3 dozen and getting a wipe warmer that keeps them warm and moist.

We get our diapers and related products at cottonbabies.com, it's a great website for cloth diapers and related items.

I hope that helps. We are really happy to be doing cloth, it feels great and is easy.

Good luck!!

C.

1 mom found this helpful

My son is almost 10 months old and we've been using prefold cloth diapers since he was born. I agree whole heartedly with the first two responses...all the other diaper options are so expensive! And prefolds are so simple. I used Isme Visme covers when he was younger and loved them, but he's a long, skinny kid and we've switched to Thirsties, which are also great. They are also less expensive. We have never had a leak, and I mean never, even overnight (13 hours!). I just place a thick liner in the "night-time diaper." (I have experienced leaks, but only on the rare occasion that he's wearing a disposable.)

I found the website www.wildflowerdiapers.com really helpful and it's where I bought most of my first supply. We also found a diaper sprayer that hooks up to the toilet there. It's kind of expensive, and if it ever breaks, we'll just pick up the parts at the hardware store. It comes in really handy for rinsing out those stuck on poops! And, even better, at www.babyworks.com I found a thing called a "diaper duck" that wrings out the rinsed diapers so you can just toss them in the pail. (I don't presoak my diapers. It's so much easier to get them into my front load washer if they're not in water. And they get just as clean.)

1 mom found this helpful

I used cloth diapers as much as possiable. One thing I found was daycares do not like them so unless your daycare provider is okay with them I would stick with the disposable. However, I also found that it was easier to potty train my kids that were in cloth more then the disposable ones. Those that have the velcro on them for easy fastening while they are easy to use the down side is keeping the velcro in working order with the many trips through the washing machine. That was my experiance...Good luck to you. V.

Hi ya
I know the world of cloth diapering can be super confusing. You are welcome to come to my next free class on July 27 at 2 pm Source Yoga in Tacoma. I'll go over the options and help attendees with their questions.
Also, you can always call me for a personal consultation.
- H.
Wai Baby-Natural Gear for Mindful Families
www.waibaby.com
Serving the South Sound Region

Hi R. - I don't use cloth diapers, but understand why you're thinking of making the change. My question is though -since your son is 22 months now, maybe start talking about using the potty with him and then you don't have to worry about diapers at all.

I used cloth diapers and diaper service the entire time. It was wonderful. Soft, white, clean, fresh smelling, no diaper rash, and very ecological. Except when it snowed for 2 weeks and the diaper truck couldn't get down the street.

i've tried 4 different kinds of all in ones, oh, also gdiapers. they're all very close in price (around $16 to $19 each), except for gdiapers, it's hard to compare their price to all in ones because you'll be buying the disposable inserts for them after you initially purchase the covers.

here's how i'd rate them and why:

5. knickernappies- don't like them, they don't come with an insert (I bought hemp inserts and also tried microfleece- neither worked) and are VERY narrow in the crotch - MAJOR LEAKS ALL THE TIME! they're probably great for newborns because they're narrow, but hardly cover bigger bums.

4. gdiapers- kinda flimsy and very involved- having to snap in the liner holders and line up the disposable insert is a pain, i don't like that the liner snaps rub against baby's skin, my toilet kept getting clogged with anything bigger than the small size inserts no matter how long i let them soak in the toilet or broke them up in there.

3. thirsties - don't have a removable insert so they take forever to dry and the leg openings seemed a little stiff and tight (maybe not the best for baby's with fat thighs)

2. bumgenius 3.0 - these are better, they are supposed to be a "one-size fits all" with snaps on the outside that adjust the size from newborns to large babies, but due to this, there is a lot of material and bulk that even if you snap it into a smaller size I don't imagine it would work for a really tiny babe. i bought these after my baby was bigger and they're still kinda bulky. they come with two inserts (small and med-large) which is nice because you can use both to double up if you need more absorption. I use these mostly overnight and have only used the med-large insert and have never had a leak - all night long! they seem very comfortable and really soften up after a few washings.

1. fuzzibunz - MY FAVORITE!!! i love these, they are soft, absorbent, no leakage, come with an insert and are also very adjustable to get a custom fit depending on your baby's shape. the mediums fit an 18lb baby well with a lot of room to adjust as they grow, the smalls still fit on the last snaps. haven't tried these overnight, but can leave one on for about 2-3 hours at a time without worrying about leaks. they are less bulky than bumgenius and fit nicely under clothes. the insert is removable so they dry fast in the dryer. they are kinda hard to find, i got mine from a local (portland, or) website: clothkisses.com

all of these are available online or go to zoombaby or mother natures in portland.

GOOD LUCK! i'm glad you're switching to cloth, maybe buy one a time until you find the right one, don't make the mistake of buying a dozen and finding out they don't work.
i learned that the hard (and expensive) way.

If you go on Walmart.com they actually have a fairly good selection of cloth diapers ( you will have to type diapers into their search bar). I really like the "little G " diapers they come in a starter kit with 1 orange & 1 cream colorded "diaper" . You can find the same little G diapers at fred meyers & several other places but walmart is a bit cheaper. Also you can go to Diapers.com & they have a great collection of earth friendly diapers ( including cloth).
I believe most cloth diaoers come in 3 sz small, med, large.

Good Luck & I'm proud of you for taking this step in helping baby & earth.

Why change now? your son will be old enough to potty train soon! I would not waste the money on cloth diapers at this point.

Hi,

I used cloth diapers and washed them with my four children. My youngest is now 12 so it has been a few years since I bought diapers but from what I remember the birdseye ones were not that great. I ended up purchasing used diapers from a diaper service. They were great diapers - some were a little frayed and they couldn't use them but the worked perfectly for us. They were also a good price!

My 14 year old is disabled and still wears diapers - I tried to get cloth adult size diapers and used them at night for awhile but it just got to be too much laundry for me. I mail ordered them from a company called Angel Fluff Diaper Company. Their diapers were really good and the customer service was terrific. I don't know if they have smaller diapers but if anybody has larger kids that need cloth diapers I would recommend this company.

I was doing diapers for 2 kids for several years and it wasn't too bad. I can't stand the smell of the disposable diapers and the amount of garbage that they make is amazing. We have to use disposable on my disabled child and we had to move to the next size garbage can to accommodate the extra garbage.

Good luck,

C.

Hi R.. I used cloth diapers when my twins were born and LOVED them. Around 18 months, we switched to disposables because we were moving out of state and they were peeing so much that we had to change them all the time. If your son is 22 months, I'm not sure how well the cloth would contain the liquid. Maybe I just got frustrated because we had twins and it felt like we were constantly changing diapers, LOL! We had a diaper service and it was wonderful. I know there is Tidee Didee here in Portland. We used a service in CA. We loved the pro wraps for the diaper wraps. Very simple and not very expensive.

i have never used cloth diapers but i heard that they can cause diaper rash because the moisture doesnt get absorbed as well as disposables. there is a really great alternative if you are looking to make the switch for the environment or even for your baby. they are called G-diapers and they are completely biodegradable and really cute. they have a liner on the inside of the diaper that can be removed and flushed down the toilet or used as compost (if they are just wet) you can check them out for yourself http://www.gdiapers.com/?gclid=CJno36HWn5QCFSUaagodZiP3tg

Have you checked out Elimination Communication? (there is a website and some good books). I think it's a wonderful approach, and you can combine it with using cloth diapers. There is certainly no need to force potty training on him, but he may be ready to start using the potty.

Hi, we have recently begun using cloth diapers with our newborn. We use the Mommy's Touch brand, the touch tape all-in-ones and the touch tape pocket diapers - they are adjustable one-sized diapers so that we can use them for his whole diapering time. Neither the all-in-ones nor the pocket diapers require any removal of the inserts for washing - however, the pocket diapers must be re-stuffed after each wash. The all-in-ones are easiest for washing and drying, but the pocket diapers are easiest to put on a squirmy baby (because they doesn't require lining up the attached inserts - you just put them on like a disposable). Anyway, we love ours and ordered them from "The Nurtured Family" website (they are a family-owned business and they offer free shipping for all cloth diapers). Hope you find something you like!

I loved cloth diapers! My only caution is for you to check w/your day care provider...some will not do cloth diapers. If they will, then great! if not, maybe a combination, disposables out, cloth at home.

I did cloth with my first and will use the same set on my second, it takes determination because there is more work on your part, but you will save lots of money and the environment. I got a package with different size diapers and covers so they last until potty training. Good luck.

http://www.diaperaps.com/home/dp1/listitems_28/birth_to_p...

We've used cloth for almost a year and wouldn't have it any other way--so here's what we do--(It was confusing to get started...so many choices!)

1. the cloth diaper itself--they are usually about 4-6 ply--and run about $1/a piece--I recommend about 3-4 dozen...they're so handy for spit up that we reserved a dozen for non diapering uses
2. the cover--this keeps the cloth inside part from leaking everywhere--I've tried a number of different kinds and prefer thirsties covers (especially if you have a bit of a skinny kid)
3. diaper pins or a snappi--some people just fold the diaper in thirds and lay it inside the cover, but I like to use a "snappi" to hold the diaper insert in place
4. We cut up non pill fleece in the shape of a "t" that fits around the baby, it's very soft against his skin and we can "fling" the poop straight into the toilet--we also keep a spatula hidden behind the toilet for some jobs.
5. We cut up non pill fleece and use for wipes, we wet them in the sink before a dirty change
6. We put the dirty diapers in a bucket with a gallon or so of water and some solution called "Bac Out" (we use a dog food saving container because it has an airtight seal on the top). When it's time to wash we just dump the whole mess in the wash machine.

It's confusing because there are so many choices, but once you start it will all make a lot more sense.

I've used cloth, disposable and the g diapers with my daughter. I just used the chinese folds then put a pro wrap over them. But she is so skinny that next baby I will also invest in some contoured diapers. Also the initial investment is sorta spending, depending on what you buy. I see that your son is 22 months. It may not be worth the expense to do them at such a late age. Maybe try potty training instead. Just a thought

Good for you! We love cloth diapers! We didn't get into it until she was 9 months old (had to save up some $$ - they're not cheap). She's now 17 months) We use a variety of diapers, but mostly Tiny Tush. Most of them are One Size All In Ones (OS AIO). During the day we use mostly Tiny Tush AIO (pocket diapers). At night we use the Tiny Tush cloth OS with an extra insert or two and cover with a Bummis snap cover. We got all of our stuff from Audrey at PunkinButt (www.punkinbutt.com). She's a local mom (lives in Tualatin) and gives discounts to local moms. She will also help you find what works for you if you go down to her house (she works from home). We got the cloth wipees too and she has a great recipe for the wipee solution. She also has all the instructions on how to wash the cloth diapers and everything. As well as bins, bags, ect.
As far as things that didn't work for us, most things with velcro don't work that well, as the velcro inevitably works it's way closer to the skin and ends up scratching the baby. I'm a big fan of the things that snap. Though I did recently find a really nice fleece cover that doesn't leak (passed the night time diaper test) that velcros, and the velcro doesn't touch her skin! It's a Polar Fleece cover. They have a website, just google Polar Fleece diapers, and I'm sure it'll come up.
Once you get a good idea of what you need, but you can't afford it brand new, check out www.diaperswappers.com. It's a forum for buying, selling and trading used diapering products. I got a few diapers off there, though I wasn't as happy with them as I was with what I got from PunkinButt.
I'm sure you'll get tons of other feedback. I hope you find something that works for you! :)

I use Fuzzi Bunz for my son. They are awesome! They are a pocket style diaper instead of an all-in-one, and are super easy to use. And, they dry fast, which I hear is a big detriment of all-in-ones. Check them out at www.fuzzibunz.com.

We've used a combo of cloth and disposables (7th gen - for nights and trips away from the house) since our 13 month old was born. We've always had 2-3 all in ones around for very quick changes (which are especially helpful now that he's older and doesn't want to stay still for long during a change), but mainly use covers with the "prefold" (plain/flat) diapers. We've had some difficulties the past couple of months because the large diaper was too big to comfortably fit in the medium cover. Now we've started using a large cover and probably need to start using the large diaper again. I'd definitely recommend trying a few kinds to see what you like and what best fits your baby. And the folks at Babyworks have been great. Good luck!

We've been using cloth diapers for 14 months, now. We started out with FuzziBunz (pocket diapers) because a friend recommended them and have continued to use them because we've been happy with them. So, I don't really have any experience with anything else. The FuzziBunz are expensive, initially (I spent just under $200 each time I ordered a new size, which included 12 diapers with inserts, three extra inserts, and shipping), but it still has worked out to our advantage when you consider that we aren't constantly buying disposable diapers and we will be able to use these for more than one child. I bought mine from www.fuzzibunzstore.com. FuzziBunz come in three basic size (and a couple of specialty sizes, as well). They have a sizing chart to help you determine what you need. We're currently using the large, but I have a pretty chunky toddler. I expect that these should probably see us through until potty training.

I did have some challenges figuring out the best way to wash ours, but have finally found a formula that seems to work well for us. I wash them on hot and do both a prerinse and an extra rinse (cold rinses). I use Charlie's Soap (www.charliesoap.com), but add 1/2 a cup of baking soda with the powdered detergent and I also put half a cup of distilled white vinegar in the softener dispenser. With only twelve diapers, I end up washing them every day to day and a half, but it's really pretty easy. I also recommend using a flushable diaper liner--it makes cleaning up the poops so much easier! We use Kushies Flushable Biodegradable Liners.

I hope this helps!

My husband actually did some research on this not long ago. He found g diapers and we've been considering doing the switch. They're very cute. You basically buy an outer diaper and purchase inner liners that are flushable. Looks pretty cool. http://www.gdiapers.com

I started using cloth with my second child when we ran out of the disposable diapers we received as gifts.

I have really enjoyed it. The diapers can be fun with different prints, colors, etc. And the added benefit of not damaging the environment is a definite bonus.

All-in-ones are a good place to start, but they do have several negatives. They take a longer time to dry. They may not adjust to several sizes as your baby grows.

I prefer pocket diapers. They allow the absorbant interior to be removed and dried seperately. This speeds up the drying time. Also because you can remove the absorbant insert, you can more inserts or less depending on your baby's size and needs.

I first used adjustable pocket diapers. These did not fit my baby well when little. They work great now.

I added pocket fitteds to my "stash." These fit snug and worked well at stopping leaks. I also liked the patterned material and the various covers available.

Work at home moms make pocket fitteds and covers and I liked supporting another mom.

Some great resources are hyenacart.com and diapertraders.com

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

I think I bought mine, (prefolded) at sears or pennies, catalog department. i ran both my kids through these, & used papmer (or other) when we traveled. now they are my cleaning rags, my kids are 19 & 15.

the worst part is the diaper pail, i think soda in the bottom was the trick.

Or if you can afford it, Diaper service is nice.

A.

I really like fuzzibuns for my 1 year old. I don't care so much for wonderoos. They leak much more often!

Hi, I can say that there is a cloth diaper solution for every family and every budget. It's just a matter of figuring out which one works for you. I teach classes in Kirkland at the Puget Sound Birth Center. The cost is $20 per family and includes a $10 gift certificate. (I'm the owner of www.CozyBabyBoutique.com) Also, I see that you are in Tacoma. Hillary of www.WaiBaby.com teaches classes and she's in Tacoma so you wouldn't have to make the drive.

At either of the classes, we'll go over all of the different types of diapers, and the pros and cons of each as well as the cost. It's a very informative session and you can touch and feel and see samples of the different brands.

I personally used pocket diapers. While they are more expensive than prefolds (the traditional rectangular diapers), you are still saving a considerable amount over using disposables (conservatively at least $1500) and less expensive than diaper service.

I can absolutely say they are much simpler than you think and washing them is super easy - it' not like regular laundry where you (at least I do) first have to gather the laundry from all around the house, sort into darks, lights, etc. then after the wash have to fold, hang up, put in baby's dresser, hubby's dresser or my dresser. With diaper laundry - you have one pail that you have to empty, you dump it in the washer, do a cold rinse, then a hot wash and dry in the dryer, then take them out. You can "fold" them or you can leave them in a basket and prepare them as you diaper your baby.

Using cloth saves up to 1 ton of landfill waste and that's just for one child. The energy cost for using reusable diapers is minimal, certainly not as much as the water and crude oil it takes to make a disposable diaper.

You can also find more information at www.realdiapers.org and I'd be happy to answer any questions for you via email or phone at ____@____.com or ###-###-####.

Good luck!

I agree with the other moms, I would not spend the money on the all in ones. I have been using cloth diapers since my son was born 3 years ago and now we are reusing them for my daughter. We use the cloth Chinese prefolds with Nikky wraps. I tried a lot of wraps when my son was born and these were the ones that worked the best for us. I used a wet pail method to wash for a while, but then it became too heavy to carry with all that water. Now I just use a dry pail to store 3 to 4 days of dirty diapers and then just throw them in the washer on a cold wash first and then a hot wash. I tried some all in ones for my daughter and just found them harder to use and to wash.

I would recommend going to Mother Nature's on SE Clinton or BabyWorks in NW. It helps a lot to actually see the diapers.

Let me know if you have any questions. I have also had childcare providers use the cloth diapers. Most people are happy to do it if you bring the clean diapers and take them home dirty. You do have to change their diapers a bit more often, but it is totally worth it.

I use prefolds with Bummi Super Snaps for my twins I get mine through www.punkinbutt.com
This is a SAHM owned and run baby product. She includes wonderful recipes for wipes and has tons of info on how to use cloth diapers. She is available for asking what works best. She also sells Fuzzi Bunz and other covers.

Biggest thing I can tell you is not to use any fabric softener or fabric sheets that you put in the dryer. These put a coating on the diapers and keep them from being as absorbent. Good luck, your baby is mighty lucky to have a Mom think about cloth.

S.

Hi, I used cloth diapers for my five children. I loved it! An initial cost, but after that, just a few cents for water to wash them. I hung them out to dry. I used pre-folds, and had some nice cotton flannel someone gave as a gift. I used diaper covers called "Rubber Duckies" (they are NOT rubber), breathable covers which came in beautiful colors. I also had a few Wrap Ups covers, but didn't like them as well. Another good diaper cover is Alexis Featherlights.

I loved not having to constantly go to the store for diapers, or wondering if we were getting low on supply, etc. I loved not putting more into our landfills. I found cloth diapers to be easy and made life less stressful.

go to mother nature's in the southeast, on 26th & clinton - they will hook you up!

Hi R.. I didn't use cloth, but I used G-diapers with my son for the first 7 months (he started peeing way too much at that time and I had to switch to huggies just to stop the leaks and just didn't go back, but I'm seriously considering switching back at the moment...). G-diapers have a flushable insert. It's a bit involved, but no more than cloth diapers, I imagine. You can buy them at Whole Foods. A starter kit is the best way to go as you get three little pants and four liners and a bunch of diapers for $25. I liked the fact that you can flush them and I didn't have to deal with a lot of laundry. You can check them out on the Internet at www.gdiapers.com.

I loved cloth -- almost sad as we have just potty trained last month. I used a combo of All-in-Ones and pockets. And like both equally well, but did find that pocket diapers were easier to maintain, and easier to customize (especially if you have a heavy wetter).

The best resource that I've found is www.diaperswappers.com

E.