Starting over with Cloth Diapers

My daughter is 19 months old and we have used cloth diapers since she was about 4 weeks old. I use chinese prefolds with Bummis Super Whisper Wraps and Aristocrat Wool Soakers fastened with a snappy for over nights. I believe that this is the more economical and environmentally sound way to go. With the all-in-one diapers like Bum Genius, the outer cover takes a beating since it has to get washed every time the diaper gets changed. The good thing with prefolds is that they take less energy to get clean,less energy to dry and less money to replace (although I have not had to replace any diapers.)

Anyway, there are a few things I recommend:

1.) A diaper sprayer for the toilet where you will be rinsing diapers. I use this one: http://www.pottypail.com/order.php?pp100094 (but I didn't buy the pail, just the sprayer with hose and adapter.) I exclusively nursed my daughter until she was 6 months and breastfed poop is water soluble so you don't have to rinse the diapers until they eat solid food or regularly drink formula. So, once it changes, you will want to have the sprayer so you don't have to get down and dirty every time. I probably would have given up this cloth diaper adventure a long time ago had I not had the sprayer... it really makes that big of a difference to me. But you won't need it until baby isn't nursing exclusively.

2.) Do buy a washable diaper pail liner (or two). It is so much nicer to just take the pail liner to the washing machine, turn it inside out to empty the diapers and throw the liner in too.... then you never touch the dirty diapers. As for a diaper pail, I do NOT recommend buying anything other than a garbage can with a step-opener. I have tried a diaper champ and a diaper decor and used both of them with the diaper pail liner but they couldn't even fit 2 days worth of diapers in them and I wash diapers every other day.

One last note, cloth diapers are quite a bit larger than the trim disposables. So, be conscious of that when you buy clothes and pants. We hardly use onsies unless it is freezing cold and she needs the extra layer. I recommend the Carters onsies because they are longer and thinner than gerber and other brands. The best pants that fit over the diapers are from H&M because they run pretty large and also Gymboree's pants work well too.

Good luck. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

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I make pocket diapers and diaper covers at very affordable prices, check out my website when you get a chance:
www.carrbaby.com.

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I went to diaperaps.com. They have a sampler pack that allows you to see what they are like before you buy in bulk. I have had better success with the cloth diaper prefolds and the diaper raps. They are a little bit harder to handle, but they don't leak like the all-in-ones do and you can use the raps a several times before they need a wash.
Just a warning...I had a hard time for the first several months with leaks because I was breastfeeding and the poops are very runny. Just be aware that you may have to be prepared for this. Good luck!

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Iwould have to say it's about an even exchange. With cloth, you wash and reuse. The plastic pants have to be cleaned and dried too. Disposables...bad for the environment. I eventually went with both. The cloth can later be use for burp cloths and dust cloths.

But I didn't have a problem using cloth at all. They worked for generations before disposables came on the scene. Babies will get wet with either.

I am interested too in cloth diapering with my third, due in 6 weeks. I tried for a few weeks/months with my first and obviously didn't stick with it. (I tried prefolds, and found they were a lot more work, plus a few other factors contributed to me stopping CDing)

Check out this resource:

http://babycheapskate.blogspot.com/2005/01/cloth-diaper-r...

It's from the website Babycheapskate, and has lots of links to Cloth Diapering resources. there is also a link on there to a place you can try different diapers for 21 days for $10. I havne't tried it yet, but might once Baby #3 arrives.

http://www.jilliansdrawers.com/

Good luck, and mostly - enjoy those babies!!!

B.

If you are interested, I am hosting a free cloth diapering 101 class in August. I am not sure where you live, but there are two locations, both classes held in the evening:

Brighton Public Library (august 12)
Livonia Public Library (august 10)

The class will be about an hour to an hour and a half long, some people stay longer to have questions answered and to continue looking at the diapering options. This class is free of charge. Products will not be available to purchase on the night of the workshop, this is just an informational class.

Topics will include:
Hands-on experience about using cloth diapers including a review of all diapering options with lots of samples
Discussion of cloth diapering benefits
How to use and care for cloth diapers
Getting started with cloth for any age baby
Answers to your cloth questions

If you are at all interested, feel free to message me for the time. I just have to know if people are coming so that I can be sure that we will all fit in the room!

It should be a good evening and you will leave with all your questions answered! If you can't make it, I can still send you all the handouts. Message me if you want the handouts instead. Cloth diapering is worth it though, you can do it! There are diapers that make it easy and enjoyable!

We're using cloth diapers with our first, and I LOVE it! For starting out with the newborn size stuff, we actually have *rented* diapers. It's sort of half-way between a service and buying your own - you do the laundry yourself (every other day or so), but its only $25 a month! We got this from Nell's Natural Baby - you can find her online. You pay a bigger chunk up front, but then you get a big refund when you return them, like a deposit.

Once we're out of the rentals, we're going with mostly prefolds & covers (Thirsties has good reviews), with some pocket diapers for overnights. It was mostly a cost decision for us - prefolds and covers are cheaper.

Also, for good general information, we went to a free workshop on cloth diapers at The Little Seedling Store in Ann Arbor, they have an info session on the first Saturday of the month I think.

My husbands family set me on these diapers. They are not fully cloth but they do save the earth and save your time. Check out www.gdiapers.com I love them now. It took me a bit to get used to them but I'm learning. They are biodegrateable, and flushable. If you don't want to flush them you can put the pee one's in a compost or just throw them out. Thing is they are gone in 90 days. They are also thinner than the cloth I was using.
If you want cloth I use the dundee brand with the old vinyl cover pants. I do still ise those as a back up and sometimes at night in the liner of the g diaper. Our son pees like no one's bussiness:)
Hope this helps, good luck

Hi LH,
I used cloth diapers w/ my daughter (now 5) and have a second on the way that I plan on using cloth on. It is really not that difficult, as most people think. It mostly meant an extra load of laundry a few times a week, depending on how many diapers you buy. The all in ones are convenient, but pretty expensive to buy initially... I just had a few for convenience when I was out and about. Mostly, I used the pre-fold diapers w/ a diaper cover. I used either the Imse Vimse diapers wraps, or Bummis Whisper Wraps. I didn't do anything extravagant as far as cleaning, either...Some people like to have buckets of water to soak them in between cleanings, pre-treating, etc, but I didn't find that necessary. I just had a regular old diaper champ that you can use trash bags in (no special bags). I dunked the poopy diapers in the toilet and then put in the diaper champ until I washed them... I didn't really have any problems w/ stains.
I just found a great website that explains alot and has lots of pictures of the different types available. Haven't really looked at how the prices compare yet, but it might help take some of the confusion out of what to buy. It is: www.greenmountaindiapers.com
Good Luck! :)

My experience is with pocket diapers only, so that's all I can comment on.

I've tried Smartipants and BumGenius 3.0 one-size diapers. I went with the BG because the Smartipants had a tendencey to leak at the front and back. I've had a good experience thus far with the BG's and have been using them for a few months now on both my daughters, now 8 months and almost 2 1/2 years old. I wish I wouldn't have waited as long to try cloth as I did; I would never dream of going back now!

Hi LH
I used cloth on mine fun time till she wore undies. I also like the "chinese pre-folds" get the non bleached ones. And bummies diaper covers with snaps or velcro. The covers do have 3 sizes, there about 10.00 each, but you only need 4-6. You can let the covers air dry and use them again, or wash by hand and air dry to make them stretch. I got some good ones 2nd hand. Or make them yourself, you can get pre cut PUL kits on line even. My friend knit all of hers w/ wool.

I also used a bit of polar flease to prevent diaper rash, and it made poopy ones easier to clean. Just let the messy ones sit in the diaper folded for a bit. Then take the liner out and stretch both ends at the same time, aiming at the toilet. Works great most of the time.

Good luck, A. H

I used them as well for a short time with my daughter. I registered for them, but only received 3 so it took me a bit to get more...I am glad that happened because it gave me a chance to buy all different kinds to see what I liked and what ones fit her the best. Some have snaps, velcro, tighter elastic around the legs, some adjust to grow with your child, some have inserts (good ones for night/naps so you can add an extra insert),choice of cotton/wool/bamboo, etc, it definitely can be overwhelming.

I probably would go with an extra small size for a newborn because the adjustable size one sthat grow from 8-35 lbs were still too big. I did like the all-in-ones (no separate insert to take out) but also took longer to dry. I started them in the dryer & then hung them up to finish drying. The inserts were nice for longer periods of time...they also add bulk though so may not want to use all the time. I didn't try the separate diaper/cover ones so I can't say how those went.

http://www.treecitydiapers.com/store/ is where I did my registry & bought them. They are on the west side of Ann Arbor...you can order from the website & do everything online but it is very helpful to go there & see/feel them & talk to the moms that work there that use them all the time. They are very helpful & have lots of choices.

Hope this helps...if you need more info just ask. S.

Congratulations!

The diapers I like best are the Mother-ease One-size diapers. They are very reasonably priced, as convenient as disposables, and durable, lasting very well, and at least until potty training, even if that happens to be at 3 years old or so! Their website is www.mother-ease.com They have plastic snaps that do not come off, and there are no diaper pins to poke or velcro to scrape baby's skin. They work the best of anything I've seen. (I have 4 children and have been doing the diaper thing for 10 years (! can it really be so long?) and I am pregnant with #5, so I'll be doing it yet a while. They work great for newborns as well as the whole way through to toddler-hood, and about the time they can begin to take them off themselves (they have to get pretty strong to be able to!), they are potty-training, so it works out nicely.

Good luck, and congratulations!

I use cloth with my daughter, and found the web site "diaper pins" to be good for reviews and research.

I ended up chosing "chinese pre-folds" with "imse vimse" diaper covers and have been pleased with the results. I would also recommend a couple hemp and raw silk liners if you go with this option for increased absorbency/barrier as needed.

I've purchased from a couple sources, but most often from "babies naturale"

- j

I would second going to The Little Seedling in Ann Arbor. Molly (the owner) is WONDERFUL - they have a selection of all different types of diapers so you can actually touch them, see what you like, and once a month they put on a cloth diapering workshop which I found to be quite helpful. In the end it's really going to depend on what works for your family. Good luck! :)

I am so glad that you decided to use cloth diapers! one because they are a good way to save money but even better it helps the environment and is good for the baby! I love mine. I use cool baby. I like that you can use it for up to 30lbs. Some only work for up to a certain size...which would not help if you wanted to save money! lol. Mine are all buttons and I like that because I can adjust it to fit Madison. I seen another woman using another kind...I can't remember which kind, the diaper was made the same as mind but Velcro at the top and I think I would like that better. Sometimes the snaps can be hard to fasten when Madison is moving! lol I hope this helps! Another kind that I have heard of is g diaper (I think that is what they are called) they are very Eco friendly too!

I got started by using the try it for $10 program through jilliansdrawers.com. I loved it. They give you a variety pack of prefolds, pockets, all-in-ones and fitteds (+a cover) and you try it for 21 days. At the end, you send back what you don't like and they will refund all but $10.

For my 2nd, I found a great company here in MI called nellsnaturalbaby.com. They have a newborn rental program for $150. They rent size 0 Kissuluvs (a fitted diaper--highly recommended for newborns) for 3 months. It is much cheaper than buying enough tiny diapers to last the first few months. (One size diapers are typically too big for newborns.)

We use pockets for out of the house trips and naps. Bum Genius are my favorite pocket (but I'm always looking for new types to try). Prefolds and covers are my diaper of choice for hanging out at home. We use bamboo or hemp fitteds and wool covers for night. What you use primary depends on your budget and what you like. That's why I recommend the variety pack from jilliansdrawers.com.

Good luck!!

I would love to help you! I just had my little girl this past Jan. and when she was 3 months I switched to cloth, and LOVE it! Since then I have become a local representative for a local cloth diaper company. I am in Livonia. I will have a ton of products if you are interested in seeing each one available.

I personally use 2 differnt kinds, due to $. I spent Just $200 and it will last me from my understanding till she potty trains! I use thiristies inserts during the day, for easy convience, and bum genius all in one orgainc at night. if i had all the $ in the world i would do all bum gunius, but they are pricey.but if it was my first i would totally do all bum genius.

http://nellsnaturalbaby.3dcartstores.com/?AffId=20

you can contact me : ____@____.com
thanks! C.

Hi!

I started cloth diapering when my l.o. was about 2 months old (he's almost 7 months now). I did tons of research and was overwhelmed like you. What I ended up doing was buying 1 or 2 of several different types to try to figure out what I liked and what fit my son best. I really like prefolds because they are less expensive and once you learn to put them in the covers right, you can use the covers a few times before they need to be washed. I tried Bummis Super Whisper Wrap covers at first and they were OK, now that he's bigger I tried a larger size and it seems to fit much better. I also tried Thirsty Covers. I like them because they are less bulky and come in a ton of solid colors. I also have a Bumkins cover that has a vent in the back which keeps my son cooler on really hot days.
I also tried one-size pocket diapers. They are nice because they go on more like a disposable and they will grow with the baby so you don't have to buy new ones when they outgrow them. I tried BumGenius 3.0 which are cute and the liner tends to keep the baby dry, but they do tend to leave red marks on my baby's legs. I recently tried Happy Heinys one size and I love them. They are the only diapers (cloth or disposable) that leave absolutely no red marks on my baby.
By the way, none of the cloth diaper options I've tried have ever leaked on me (can't say the same for disposables). I use disposables when we are out and at night, mainly because I don't have enough cloth to do it full time.

Good luck!

Check out Dirty Deeds Diaper Service out of Rochester. They have a lot of great options! (www.deedsdiapers.com)

I found the Little Seedling (formerly Tree City Diapers) in Ann Arbor to be a great resource because they have so many types in their store. You can look and learn before buying. I use fitted diapers with covers and some pocket diapers for at night. If you'd like to message me, I would love to discuss it.

ps- I have 3 VERY lightly used FuzziBunz pocket diapers, small, that I am looking to sell.

helo l.h
i to am due right around that time a did you clothes with three of my four and loved it with my last one i had a service and it was great they did all the work the were out of battle creek and about 17 a week if you want more info let me know