Cloth Diapering Advice

It looks like you have gotten some great suggestions. I know for us it took a few times to get the washing routine down. There is a ton of information online that you can find about washing cloth diapers and which detergents and diaper rash creams that are safe to use. Bananapeelsdiapers.com has some great info. And I also would suggest diaperpin.com. There are some wonderful forums to help trouble shoot when you run into problems.

You'll be surprised at how much fun you will have diapering your little one! Cloth is so cute!

We've been using cloth diapers on our son since he was born (20 months ago, but now he's potty trained!). It can be super confusing I think, but he's what we did. We bought the prefold diapers (about 3 dozen works well). We made fleece liners to go in them which helps "fling" the poop in the toilet and keeps him drier. We use a "snappi" in place of diaper pins--cheap and definitely the way to go. Finally we use thirsties diaper covers (we get 4 in a size in different colors so we can keep track of which ones are out of rotation in this wash cycle...if they are just damp they just need to air dry between diapers). They come in fun colors and they are about the cheapest covers and work great--our son is a heavy wetter so these have been a great find. When your baby gets to be about 8 months old you'll probably want to buy new prefold diapers that are larger and more absorbent. We also made wipes out of fleece (we just cut things out...no sowing)...and wet them in the sink when he's dirty and throw the dirty ones in with the diapers. We're poor grad students and have probably only spent $300 on diapers in the last 1 1/2 years--our power bills haven't really gone up much--although we do line dry when we can. I love never running out of diapers--and washing them is so easy--no sorting, just dump them in the wash--half the time they just live in the drier till we need to dry other clothes. It really hasn't been a big deal for our family. Good luck, it's really not that bad--although...we did keep a spatula next to the toilet for some jobs...so there are moments when it's a little gross. Honestly, once you get started it's pretty easy, but all the option STILL confuse me!

So in a nut shell
1. prefold
2. hold in place with a "snappi"
3. cover with a "thirsties" cover--covers can be reused unless/until they have poop on them (just throw them all in when it's wash time)
4. you can use a doubler at night or just two prefolds--we eventually moved to a disposable for night time (about 8 months)
5. Throw everything is a bucket with a tight fitting lid (we like a dog food storage container with a seal around the top).
6. But contents in the washing machine and don't use too much detergent.

wash about 2x per week--

Use a diaper service. If you're not planning on more, then the investment in diapers is a big one. Baby Diaper Service in the Seattle area had these cloth covered wraps that had a plastic type barrier on the inside were wonderful. The diaper fit inside the wrap and the wrap had large velcro fastners. These were a purchased item and I got a half dozen. No you don't have to change the wrap with each diaper change, but I did change every day and washed them with the baby's laundry. There will be times that you have a blow out with a messy bowel movement, so you'll change them and to the laundry they go. For your 9 week old daughter doubling isn't a problem right now. As she gets older, maybe for night time you'll want to double up, so you'll use two diapers. I bought diaper liners to aid in removing the bm's before putting the diapers in the hamper. They look almost like dryer sheets that are flushable. The diaper service picks up your dirty diapers every week. You don't have to soak them, just make sure they're bm free, bag them and place them on the front porch on delivery day.

Congrats on your baby girl!!! And enjoy each and every moment. They go by much too fast!!

Hi K.,

I have cloth diapered my children and own a cloth diaper shop here in Olympia, WA: Simple Cloth www.simplecloth.com

If you go with prefolds and covers, 3 dozen prefolds in each size (infant and premium) is usually recommended. I also recommend purchasing at least 6-12 newborn size prefolds, which fit very nicely at first, then make great doublers later.

The best-selling diaper covers in my shop are Thirsties. I prefer them for my own children and sell tons and tons of them to local customers who then send their friend in to get them as well. They feature an interior that wipes clean and extra gussets at the legs to help keep everything contained and in its place. Regardless of what brand of covers you choose, it is recommended to purchase 6 covers in the small size and 4-6 covers in the bigger sizes.

No fasteners are needed with wrap style covers like Thirsties, Bummis Super Whisper Wrap, etc. If you use pull-up style covers then you will need fasteners. Most people choose Snappi fasteners because there is no risk of poking baby with pins. You can see those here: http://www.howtofoldadiaper.com/Shop_Accessories.html#snappi

Having said this, however, I have to point out that going with a one-size diapering system like the bumGenius one-size diapers is actually the same cost over time. REALLY! It is usually recommended to purchase 24 one-size diapers to last from birth to 35 pounds. The bumGenius system includes one-size inserts as well as newborn inserts that work nicely as doublers later. The cost for this is just over $400. To compare, I recently had a couple come in with the grandparents-to-be and purchase all of the prefolds and covers they planned on needing (newborn, infant, premium and covers in sizes XS,S,M) and the cost was also well over $400.

My point is that you should choose the system that you truly think you'll prefer, as the cost works out to be about the same. If anything, a cloth diaper retailer makes a greater profit when someone chooses prefolds and covers over time versus a one-size system, so I really am just trying to be helpful! :)

Many people start with a mixture of prefold and one-size pocket diapers, then invest in more of one or the other when the baby grows. Yes, you can stuff pocket diapers with prefolds if you wish, but since most pockets come with nice, trim inserts, most just use those.

Washing recommendations for the different styles of diapers can be found at the Real Diaper Industry Association web site, but they're basically as follows:

-Put solids in toilet (not necessary for breastfed babies!)
- Store in dry pail (usually just tall kitchen trash can)
- Wash cold, only 1/2 detergent
-Wash hot with extra rinse, again only 1/2 detergent
-Dry low/medium or hang to dry

EASY, huh? :) There are even diaper sprayers you can purchase to make cleanup easier once baby starts solids: http://www.simplecloth.com/Simple_Cloth_Shop_Accessory.ht...

Here's the link to the diaper industry's general care and washing instructions: http://www.realdiaperindustry.org/guide-to-washing-cloth-...

Finally, if you have questions please feel free to contact me without obligation. I'm here to help!

J. Triplett
Simple Cloth
210 4th Ave W, Olympia, WA 98501
###-###-#### Wed-Sat, 12-5
www.simplecloth.com

I've been cloth-diapering for 8-1/2 years now and the advice here looks great.

For my four kids, 36 infant prefold diapers was about right to have a few left when my diaper hamper got full (and therefore reminded me to Do The Diaper Laundry!), about every day and a half. I think I usually got by with 6 covers, but the one kid who was prone to blowouts (shouldn't be a frequent problem after 9 months) I wished I'd have 12!

At nine months, though, I have already made the switch to the middle size ("regular") ... and it takes about 24 to kick into the same hamper-full, remind-me-before-I-run-out laundry system ;).

I use the 14 gallon hamper from Tidee Didee, and unfortunately use a plastic garbage bag each time 'round ... but I knew I was in it for the long haul and I hate the smell of those deoderizers even if I thought the hamper would stay unscary for oh these many years of use!

I tried some diaper covers from Target and Babies R Us, but even the 'best' (Dappi), at least in those years, caused seep through. I deeply suspect that they want to keep their money-horse, disposable diapers, going (I had a friend who only shopped at WalMart because of their diaper deals, is why this occured to me). Places where their business depends on you loving your cloth-diaper experience, you'll find more reliable stuff. Internet, yes ... or your local mom-run baby-product shop! ... or just drive to the diaper service provider.

I got all my stuff (the stuff I kept!) from Tidee Didee. I would get at least four weeks of service (because then you get the hamper free, if they still offer that, but mostly it's a great trial-run for you on 'do I really want to do this' and 'do I really like this product').

I use prefolds and diapers that I made myself. I have two suggestions. Snappi's and Gerber plastic pants. Snappi's are a unique closing method that you can buy on Amazon.com. I will never use diaper pins again! Gerber has just come out with a new kind of plastic pant diaper cover that is really nice--thinner than the old kind and works great. The legs seal up nicely and keep poop inside like 99% of the time (in my experience). I'm not sure where you can get the new plastic pants now (maybe Baby's R Us?), but I bought mine from Azure Standard (azurestandard.com). I tried a wrap once that I bought at the Goodwill, and I did NOT like it at all. It leaked around the legs.

You know, you could always try part time infant potty training. I started trying to do it full time, but I'm just to busy; however, I still manage to catch about 90% of my son's poops, which really saves washing diapers out in the toilet (with gloves!).

Good luck!

There really are a ton of options and what is right for each kid is different based on their size, shape, and "output". I would really recommend starting with a diaper service that will allow you to try multiple brands and styles before making a big financial commitment.

That being said, we've had great luck with fuzzibuns and knicker nappies. They are both pocket diapers. We also have some all in ones, but I don't like those nearly as much since I feel like they're harder to clean. We're expecting our second this summer and do have some prefolds with covers to try, but I'm not sure how optimistic I am about them. The covers were free and the prefolds were inexpensive so we're trying it. Good luck!!

Oh, I remember well the total confusion and hours spent trying to figure out the best cloth diapers. It really is easy and convenient once you get going.

Annie's previous advise was really good. We also bought 3 dozen unbleached Chinese prefolds. I cannot say enough good things about the breathable polyester Nikky diaper covers. You can buy them locally at Babyworks in NW Portland or maybe cheaper online. They have fit both of my kids really well and have held up for years. I have resold them on CraigsList when I was finished with them too. When my first child was born my friend loaned me several brands of covers to try and the Nikkys were by far my favorite. You could go to Babyworks or Mother Natures or another local store and ask a lot of questions and actually see and touch the diapers to see what feels right to you.

We also used the Snappi fastener but only needed it for a very short time when the kids were really little, then you just fold the prefold in thirds and set in on the diaper cover and velcro it around them. I bought a lot of diaper doublers but have used them very infrequently - they might be helpful if you are going to try to use them overnight, but I found they just make the diaper too bulky.

I started out doing a wet pail where you soak the dirty diapers in water until you wash them. This became too heavy and too much of a pain. Now I just throw them in the wash and run a quick cold cycle and then a cycle on hot. If your washer has a cold pre-wash setting you could do that instead and then follow with a cycle on hot water. We use the BioKleen laundry powder.

We do use 1 - 7th generation disposable a day at bedtime.

Congratulations on your new baby - cloth diapering the best!

L.

I found that the "covers" washed very well--if they could stand up to dirty diapers they could stand up to washing-no sweat.

As to choosing a diaper narrow it down to the three best and then--just choose. Sometimes to much info is to much. Once you wash the diapers the texture will change anyway.

I doubled diapered my kids at night when they were little. As my son grew, he needed to be double diapered in the day and triple diapered at night. My daughter who was much smaller never needed to be triple diapered.

Congrats on the new baby.

I have done it all! Diaper service, home machine washing, all in ones, you name it! I even scrubbed each diaper in the wash sink by hand and hung them out to dry for the whole winter last year:)

I am going to HIGHLY recommend Tidee Didee Diaper Service in Portland. For about $15-20 a week,(I got 100 diapers a week for $20 a week!)they will deliver all the pre-fold diapers you need, and then pick them up once a week, leaving a new supply of clean ones on your doorstep. You don't even have to shake the poop out or rinse them! Just drop them in the bucket! They even provide a heavy duty liner to bag them up in and a natural deodorizer disc for the bucket that really works! So easy! I cannot say enough good things about Tidee Didee. They even have unbleached diapers for a little extra. I would also recommend getting their diaper bucket, which is about $15, and is big enough for the whole weeks diapers and has a little slot to hold the deodorizer disc.

http://www.tideedidee.com/

As for the covers, each person and baby body type has preferences. Tidee Didee has a good selection of used covers for 50 cents a piece, so you can figure out what works for you. I found that having a dozen covers worked well for me. I used them two or three times in a row, and washed them every other day. Having a dozen gives you enough in stock so you won't freak out if you have to wait an extra day or two to wash them, or if you have several blowouts in a row. It is best to air dry them, and that takes time:) Hope this helped:)

K.,
Im sure you are on information overload by now so I will try to keep this short.
Covers ? Yes, lots of options out there.
I use POLAR BABIES. The smaller sizes are secured with velcro and later when you get into the bigger sizes they have velco and a snap( because baby can take them off at that point)No pins needed. Yeah! They run about $20 a cover. I keep 8 or 9 on hand at a time.
I have approx 6 doz. diapers. I will tell you honestly, I got the majority of my diapers from garage sales, second-hand stores and e-bay. Yes, I have ordered some extra heavy duty diapers from POLAR BABIES (for night)
You might have heard horror stories about smells and poop in your washer. Well I am hear to tell you that you wont have that problem.
I rinse poopy diapers in the toilet. I keep a 5 gal bucket next the toilet with a mixture of water and BAC-OUT made by(biokleen). When the bucket is full I do a load. A load approx every other day. Whatever works for you.
I am a single mom finishing nursing school. I have used cloth from day one, it has worked for me. Any ____@____.com
Congrats on your decision to use cloth.
R.

It's all about fit. Some brands fit some baby's shapes better than others. I like Bumpkins wraps the best, with prefolds. I have 3 wraps and about 50 prefolds, which can get me through about 3 days (I use disposable at night and for outings). No need for fasteners. Use doublers only if your baby is a high volume pee-er. When my boy poops in a wrap, every thing gets rinsed in my utility sink first, then I store dirties in a clear rubbermaid tub in the basement. The stink is horrible, so cover it up. Wash with a tiny tiny amount of soap and vinegar on heavy cycle. Line dry the wraps.

If you are near Corvallis, there's a store called Wee Bunz and the lady there was very helpful to me when I was first learning.

As far as cost goes, remember that you can sell everything on Craig's List when you are done. There is a strong market for used cloth diapers.

Hi K.,

Congratulations for your baby!

You already have a ton of great advice, which I'll probably want to sort through when my daughter outgrows our current hand-me-down covers.

I have a couple of ideas to add...

1. I found a waterproof pail liner at http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com and use a regular kitchen size trash can with a foot pedal. I usually end up washing diaper laundry about twice a week and haven't noticed potty smells filling my daughter's room. On laundry day, I just dump the bag into the washing machine and toss the bag in as well.

2. I LOVE using cloth wipes. I used some gift money to buy some that are terrycloth on one side and flannel on the other, but you can easily make them as well. With cloth wipes, everything can go into the diaper pail, and I don't have to sort out the disposable wipes.

3. While I don't have an answer to this one for myself yet, I have one issue with some of our covers (Bummis Whisper Wraps, I think). They are very bulky under clothes. I have had to move my daughter up in clothing sizes to accommodate the bulk of prefold + cover in the seat. Some pants, jeans especially, just wouldn't go over the covers. I have some nylon POSO covers that work just fine, and those fit under clothes much better.

4. I use Charlie's Laundry Soap (http://www.charliesoap.com/) at the recommendation of several cloth diapering sites. I don't have any complaints about it. And it's gentle enough to use for baby, so can use the same detergent for everyone.

Good luck!

Hi!
If you are in the Olympia/Lacey/Tumwater area, you might want to check out Sound Diaper Service. We've been using them for 18 months and they are a great service! Basically we get diapers delivered every week and we put out the dirty diapers for pick up every week. We also rent the wraps from them. Things have changed since the 80-70s! no more diaper pins and plastic covers. These wraps have velcro fasteners and they work great. The renter is in charge of washing the wraps. We have 6 and that works very well for us. All for about $80 a month. You might also want to check out "Cloth" its a diaper store on 4th in Olympia. Teh owner is very helpful.

Good luck!!!
S.

I'm 4 years past this stage so don't think I'm up to date on the latest but you may want to post to the following message boards on the subject. I found a lot of help when I was sorting through this subject when I asked questions on the CD specific message boards.

http://diaperswappers.com/
http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/clothdiapering-forum...
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=270287
http://www.diaperpin.com/home.asp

I bought all of mine used and that saved a fortune. A friend of mine just had twins and she made a bunch of dipes. I watched her make a few and they seemed pretty simple but I'm not a sewer so that could be misleading. She bought a big thing of microfiber clothes from Costco and was using it in the making of the diapers.

At the time my favorites were the FuzziBuns all in ones. I took them all to China and donated them to our son's orphanage when we got him 3 years ago. If you're interested in donating them when you're done with them I'd be happy to pay to mail them to an orphanage that would put them to good use.

C.-WAHM to 5 y/o virtual twins
Owner: http://www.BeHappierAtHome.com

ok so I cloth diaper my DD started at about 8 months so I have used disp. I perfer cloth I am with Julie thou I use the pocket kind it's so easy to use even dad's and grandparents can use. I wash about 1 1/2 to 2 days, the bum genuis are great you get what you pay for I have never had a leak with them and I have a bunch. If you wanted to save some money on getting the bum genius pocket.. the pocket ones are easier to clean jillain drawers on the net sell used ones I have bought used from them and honestly they looked new maybe they were washed. To wash cold rinse and a hot wash and dry I don't take out the pockets 99% of the time they come out in the rinse I take a peek to make sure then wash. after drying it takes about 2 min to stuff the diapers for next time ... good luck

Oh I love cloth diapering... my favorite subject.

As for the covers... I would try to go to a store that sells coth diapering supplies and look at the different styles. Usually you can find good deals on the web or second hand, but it's nice to handle them before you buy.
When my daughter was that little we did prefolds and moved to all pockets later. I had bummies whisper wraps (cheap but kinda stiff) and imse vimse soft cover (nice) and a bumkins (my favorite).
I never used fasteners, just put in the prefold and close the cover snugly. We had very few blowouts, but by the time she was mobile we were already using pockets, so once they wiggle around a lot you may want to use a snappi.

Yes you can use a prefold as an insert in a pocket, as a matter of fact I prefer them to the microfiber inserts. They are more absorbant and the microfiber ,IMO , needs to be stripped more often or it will stink when wet.

When looking for used covers, I would want to see them before I buy - often you can find them in second hand shops specializing in kids's stuff, craigslist or even freecycle.
In the used covers I have seen the coating was often deteriorated and the covers wicked/leaked. Stretch the fabric lightly and make sure there are no cracks in the coating.

Honestly I prefer pockets - they are slightly pricier, but worth it IMO. My latest set I have purchased from a WAHM on etsy.com and they were $10/piece if you bought a 5 pack. Not as great as the $20 name brands, but holding up well enough.

One more thing to consider about being economical: I also have an only child and as we have sized up, I have sold the diapers that she has outgrown. I made sure that they stayed in good condition and was able to recoup about 30-50% of the purchase price, depending on the brand.

Good luck!

Hi K.,

I am the owner of www.punkinbutt.com and have a shop in Tigard, OR. I am happy to go over all the cloth diapering options and also fit your baby to find the least expensive option that will work for you and your baby.

Cloth diapers are fabulous these days and you are right, the choices are overwhelming! But we can truly simplify it for you and help you understand the differences and what will work with you and your lifestyle and stay within your budget.

To briefly answer some of your questions, here are a few pieces of advice.

1. One diaper that works for one baby will not necessarily work for another baby. So it's important to get one diaper and check it for fit. If it seems to fit well, try it out and see if it leaks. If that works, you're pretty safe to get more. Sometimes people find that a cover that works great during the day doesn't work well at night. Typically, most covers will work for daytime use and parents find more issues with nighttime or naptimes. I love wool for extended wear or sleep since it is cool in the Summer and warm in the Winter, breathable and can absorb up to 30% of it's weight in moisture and begins to get a sweaty feel when the diaper is soaked and needs to be changed, but does not transfer the moisture. It also does not need to be washed daily as it inhibits the growth of bacteria.

For daytime, we can try on several types over covers and see what fits best and also go over folding techniques of prefolds to ensure you have the best coverage and protection from blowouts.

2. Fasteners. These are only needed if the cover you have is loose. A form fitting cover will hold a prefold in place, but a loose fitting cover will need fasteners. We can go over techniques for diaper pins and Snappis too.

3. Doublers. Depending on what kind of wetter your daughter is, you may or may not need doublers. Most parents just use them at night when they start sleeping longer periods or if they're a heavy wetter. Some children need a doubler for a few months, some need them the entire time and some never need them. It really is an individual issue.

4. Washing. Many covers can be reused during the day as long as they don't get poop on them and then it's best to wash them after the day's use to avoid diaper rashes from bacteria. Wool is the exception as it inhibits the growth of bacteria. You can typically go 1-2 weeks between washing depending on how long and often the cover is used. If poop gets on them, you need to wash right away. Wool won't grow bacteria, but the urine crystals will create layers on the cover and begin to grow bacteria on themselves and create odor issues. Until then, the best routine is to use a wool cover, take it off when changing the diaper and let it air dry and use a second cover. Alternate back and forth throughout the day.

5. Yes, you can use prefolds inside of pockets. When my daughter was very little, that was my preference for overnight use as they held more than the inserts that came with them. Later on, I couldn't use pockets at night since my daughter leaked in them, so I went back to using the inserts and stuck with either flat diapers or prefolds and a wool cover as my prefered nighttime diaper as they were the most reliable.

The method that seems to work for most parents that use prefolds is to get the prefolds and then use a variety of covers. Again each child is different, so a cover that works great for someone may be terrible on your daughter. It's all about fit. That's why it would be nice to have your daughter come in and get her sized for covers to make sure you have a great fit and feel.

Sincerely,
A.
www.punkinbutt.com
###-###-####

Punkin Butt
9025 SW Burnham St
Tigard, OR 97223

M-W 10am to 5pm
Th-Fr Noon to 6pm
Evenings and Weekends by Appt!

The best advice I can give you is to go to a local store that sells cloth diapering supplies, Audrey at Punkinbut.com is local and extremely helpful, they'll show you all your options hands on so you can decide what works best for you:)

Good luck Mama. I use prefolds and PUL( that's the material that's laminated with a waterproof material) Velcro covers( different brands though I like Proraps). I'd love to use Fuzzibuns( they are the kind you can stuff) but cannot afford to buy as many as I'd need for my third and last child. If I was on my first and knew I was going to have more I would definitely invest in the diaper I wanted the most as they will most likely last through all your children.

for day use we use prefolds, a "snapie" and covers. i have found thirstie covers the most economical, reliable & comfortable. imsi vimsi covers are quite nice too, but more expensive. we also use bummies, and while usually reliable, they feel plasticy and can leak through at the top around stitching. though you don;t technically need a snapie when using the covers, i like the extra level of blockage, if you will. The snapie keeps the diaper nice and snug and limits movement with the diaper, cutting down on leaks and the cover getting soiled. we have between 5 and 6 covers in rotation at a time and i actually like having a variety of brands.

for night we use pocket or all-in-one diapers with an extra prefold. we like fuzzy bunz pocket diapers w/ the insert wrapped in an extra prefold for nighttime longevity. we also like thirsties all-in-ones with a preold placed inside the pocket. these diapers are definately big, but they do the job. since they poop so often when young, we didn't start use this technique for nightime until our little fella was a bout 3 mo.

we love suing cloth and have had great success - even washing them ourselves. good luck!

Hi K.,

Congratulations on your little one and on the decision to do cloth diapers!

We've been doing them for our 1 yr old since he was born and it is quite easy and it feels great to be doing something better for the environment. It's also cheaper and I agree about feeling good never running out. Also, my son has only had 2 diaper rashes in a year - the first at 10 days and the 2nd involved swimming in the ocean and having sand in his diaper for a bit too long. Our pediatrician was really glad to see the cloth diapers and agrees they are better for his skin.

We live in a rural place with no diaper service. If you can afford it and have access, that's probably you're best bet. They provide the diapers - and it sounds like good access to cheap covers - and it's easy and actually the best for the environment (I've done a bunch of research).

If not, I concur about the prefolds (unbleached is what we have) for the cheapest route. They work really well and are fairly easy. We have supplemented our prefold supply with BumGenius which are even easier, but are more expensive (about $17 each - although they do grow with the child - from 0 to 35 pounds). Since we don't have any stores where we live, I've used cottonbabies.com - they are also a good source of info. Their unbleached prefolds are much thicker and absorbent than the diapers I've seen at places like Fred Meyer. For the prefolds, we're on the second size at one year (at first with both sizes we had to fold down the top because they were a bit big). We bought 2 dozen, but supplemented with the BG, so 3 dozen as others have recommended would probably be advisable.

As for the covers, we used the ProWrap Classics which are about $9 each and work really well. We're on the 3rd size now. We found that 6 wraps are sufficient. We only change the wrap if it gets poop on it - otherwise, it is fine just to remove the diaper and use the wrap again with a clean prefold. We never used snappis or anything else besides the wrap. They worked great and they also dry very fast - don't really even need to put them in the dryer.

If you're going to buy and wash your own diapers, we had great success drying them outside on a line. They get a little stiff, so we through them in the dryer for 5-10 minutes after they've been outside and they're soft again.

We also use the BioKleen detergent. For washing it's one regular cold wash cycle followed by a hot wash cycle with an extra rinse. Both cycles take 1/4 the normal amount of detergent each.

As for storing, we got a diaper pail and BumGenius liner bag (and an extra for when we're washing) and have 2 smaller bags to carry in the diaper bag. We just put the diapers in dry. Until he started eating solids, there was no need to do anything to the diapers before putting them in the wash. Once the solids start, you'll need to shake out the poops in the toilet. Not the prettiest job, but really not a big deal.

I think that's it. Hope this was helpful. Good luck!!

K.,

Congrats on joining the cloth diaper club! I've been a member for 2 years, since my 3rd daughter was born. I love cd'ing, and I LOVE how much less garbage we produce!

As far as what covers work, there are tons of options, and different covers work better for different people. I have friends who swear by wool, fleece, or PUL lined snap covers.

Personally, I use the PUL (waterproof) lined snap covers, mostly because I already have a ton of clothes, and didn't want to replace all the pants with wool or fleece. I do love the wool longies, shorties and skirties, and I'm thinking of learning to knit so I can add some to our collection.

My favorite brand of covers is Bummis Super Whisper Wrap, but there are others that work great too.

My best advice to you is to get on diaperswappers.com. You can get tons of help and advice on cd'ing, and there is a Buy, Sell, Trade forum that is AWESOME for getting deals on covers and diapers. The covers I've bought there cost WAY less than similar items on eBay, and the mamas I've bought from have all been great.
Plus, you can buy one or two covers of a certain type or brand, and if you find it doesn't work for you, you can sell or trade it for another type!

Lots of good advice here. I have also tried every possible combination of cover/prefold, all-in-one, one-size, diaper service, wash my own, etc. What I have found is that there isn't a 'best system' for every baby. What worked great for others and my friends didn't work for us. Example, everyone was raving about Bum Genius - we tried them and hated them.

We use pre-folds and when my son was an infant, we needed lots of covers (8+) because he was prone to blow outs. We had taken someone's advice and started with fewer covers and were frustrated. Also, over time (he's 2 1/2 now) different covers have worked better than others - sometimes Nikkys, sometimes Thirsties, the most consistent ones for us have been the Bummis Super Whisper Wraps - but again, that's my baby - not yours :-)

As for staying economical - I have 2 suggestions:

Babyworks, here in Portland, has an unbeatable return policy. Buy a wrap, try it out, if it doesn't work , take it back for a refund. I'd go and buy a variety and see what works best for your baby. The women there are also a wealth of knowledge and great at troubleshooting. www.babyworks.com

My other suggestion is Craig's List. You can find great buys on used diapering supplies or if you buy your supplies new, you can sell them when you're finished.

Bottom line: experiment until you find out what works best for your baby and remain open to trying different systems as your baby grows and his/her shape changes.

Good luck and your baby is fortunate to have such a loving mama!

Hi K.,

There are lots of differing opinions about what is essential for you, as I'm sure you've found. I personally would recommend using a cover that will last from when they're small to when they're big, called a one-size cover. I have several Mommy's Touch covers, and I really like them. It costs a little more up front, but ends up saving you LOTS over time, because you don't have to keep buying them. They should last you until potty training.

You only need to change the cover when it gets poopy or smelly from pee. I usually just let my covers air dry if they're rather wet, and then use them again. I don't usually wash them unless they get poopy, or it's been a couple of days. Of course, the number you buy depends on how often you plan to do laundry. I've found that I can't go more than 2 or 3 days without doing the diaper laundry without my diapers getting stained. That said, you should be fine with 8 to 10 covers, depending on how much your baby poops.

When my baby was tiny and not moving around much, I didn't have to fasten my prefolds inside the cover. I just folded it 3 times and set it inside. Now that he's moving around, though, I use snappis, which I'd HIGHLY recommend over diaper pins. They're super easy.

I also have some pocket diapers. You could put a prefold inside, but it'll be more bulky than a normal insert. You'll find that most places online will include a free insert with your pocket diaper, so you don't necessarily have to invest in an insert other than that. I really like the one size inserts from Blueberry. They're hemp & microfiber and absorb so well. They're a little spendy, though.

I hope that's helpful. Good luck with your decisions!