When I am asked about why I cloth diaper, it is hard to give a simple answer. The environment, the protection from harsh chemicals on the little bum, the sheer cost savings, the list truly goes on. The bottom line: I am addicted and in love with cloth diapers. It is like another language trying to learn about them and get the scoop from blogs. Women use initials for everything and I have yet to figure it all out! But I will share my experience so far. I think I am going to go broke on maternity leave buying diapers. They are just so cute.
I always knew I wanted to do cloth diapers before getting pregnant. Most of the children I babysat for as a young teen wore cloth (and those were the days of using pins..yikes). My mom used cloth when I was little, and to be honest the thought to use disposables never crossed my mind.
I was lucky and my sister in law, Erin, had a baby first and did a lot of research (Thanks Erin!) and I was able to utilize all of her hard work to learn about what she liked and disliked during her trials. I must have called/emailed her a dozen times wondering what to buy, how much, when, etc? It has been fun to share the excitement and experiment together. Thanks to Erin and Matt, I received my first 2 dozen Chinese prefolds and Thirstie Covers.
Best advice I have is to become a fan of http://www.diapershops.com/ on facebook. They have amazing deals all the time. http://www.kellyscloset.com/ is part of them and one of my favorite purchase sites, they ship fast and you collect points for purchases for little extra deals!
I started using cloth 2-3 weeks after Greta came home, once the jitters of bringing her home and getting up at night were calmed (not saying I am not still jittery...). I started with chinese prefolds (my go-to diapers) and thirsties covers- which I find the best cover (using snappis to fold diaper- so happy to learn there are no more pins). I loved this early on, but Greta has grown to have sensitive skin and these don’t keep moisture away from her skin. Big time booo….
I then found BumGenius Insert Socks for 2.99 a piece which is the same material as the Bum Genius diapers and is like an envelope to put the prefold in, and keeps my little baby’s bottom dry! Great find! Still very economical choice for cloth diapering, even with the use of the insert sock.
I also purchased a dozen Diaper Rite prefolds as they were advertised to fold and fit into certain covers without having extra material, so eh, what they hey, let’s give them a try! I am just starting to use them now, so will let you know what I think in a few weeks.
I bought a sample pack before she was born for about $58 which allowed me to test different brands before deciding which to purchase. I thought this was totally worth it. Let’s be honest, the cost for Cloth Diapering is up front, so I thought it was helpful to try before purchasing in larger quantities. (Those who know me, know that I despise making a decision before “seeing what else is out there”).
This is where I learned about kissaluvs (SOOO CUTE). I used (size 0) for newborns for about 6-8 weeks. I splurged and bought a dozen (loved them). They had a fold down snap for the umbilical cord and were darn cute. I would have been able to use this quite a bit longer but Greta had chubby thighs and they were too tight. These also did not wick away moisture. I would have loved them and used them longer if her thighs were smaller! Very easy (snapped on side) I used these with a thirstie cover. (these had dad seal of approval).
I found some cute Blueberry Minky (I have 3) on crazy sale before Greta was born: LOVE them for overnight! (remember I found these on clearance or I wouldn't own them, they are expensive..but I find really worth it). I want to buy more . These are my go to overnight diaper. Greta is only 5 months old so I have had NO issues with leaking through diapers at this point. She can wear this diaper without a middle of the night change with no issues. We will see if these hold true to my liking as she gets older and needs more absorbency!
Stash of diapers I currently use:
Bum Genius One-Size and AIO. This is terminology that I am still trying to learn! The one-size diapers have an insert to stuff and I think are bulky in an infant. I love the AIO (s, m or l etc.), because the fit is nice and snug. These are Chris's favorite because they velcro close (easy) and no stuffing. I liked these soo much that I bought about 6-8 in small and medium. I hope I still like them as she gets older! Luvaboos in Rochester, NY helped me start my stash.
Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size (they say you (typically) only need a set of small and medium to get you through potty training). Most sites have the old colors on sale right now, the new colors are GREAT. I like these a lot!!! They are slim, they snap at the waist and around the thigh, perfect for Greta's chubby little thighs. You can customize without bulkiness!! These are really easy to stuff and the insert comes out in the wash on their own! I also bought 6-8 in small and medium because I loved these soo much!
Blueberry Minky (I have 3) and use them at night (remember I found these on clearance or I wouldn't own them, they are expensive..but I find really worth it). I want to buy more of these.
We travel a lot, and I find that my stash suits me well. I find having 2 dozen on hand in rotation at one time great, as you won't be forced to laundry every day. I will have to do another post on laundry for Cloth Diapers, because that has been a whole other experience.
**I am by no means an expert, if I were on the wii, I would have received maybe a novice level for Cloth Diaper. There are so many brands I have never tried, different insert materials, fitted diapers and dozens of things I have never tried. This is just my experience and what works so far for me. As Greta gets older and bathroom habits change, I am sure I will be writing about new nuances with diapers and what works and what doesn't.
New to Cloth or interested, check out this summary which describes the types of diapers and learn the language!
Favorite Websites for CD:
http://www.kellyscloset.com/
http://www.diaperjunction.com/
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/
This is really informative! EXCELLENT!!
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