reusable diapers
Posted by permanentgrin on Oct 25, 2009 · Member since Mar 2006 · 1789 posts
Any and all advice would be appreciated. I'm pregnant (20 weeks) and definitely don't want to use disposables if I can help it (bad for the environment and they cost more money in the long run), BUT, there are like a million different options for reusable diapers and I have no idea where to start. :o
I was visiting a friend last month who uses cloth diapers, and the thing that impressed me the most were these:
https://system.netsuite.com/core/media/media.nl?id=2911&c=411700&h=7e6c31a3ed84fa06c8ab
Snappis
I'd contact to ask her what type they use....but they're technologically AWOL (sans internet, sans phone, etc) atm. I believe they're the basic flat style/variation.
hmmm... in the days i used to diaper babies a lot reusable diapers consisted of a square that you had to fold and then be careful not to pin the baby while you were fastening the diaper. then they got covered with something that pretty much looked like a plastic bag with elastic on it.
honestly, i'd go with that way (if that stuff still exists) and see if you like it. i mean, the only suck part of reusable is cleaning the poopy diaper, which you aren't going to get around either way!
congrats, by the way! not sure if you mentioned it somewhere else, but i was unaware up until this point that you were pregnant!
yes! i want to get some snappis. they're for the old-fashioned cloth diapers which have now been revamped by some companies to incorporate extra layers for extra absorbency.
check out this site... diaperdaisy.com. they have the snappis as well as different kinds of cloth diapers and cool, new diaper covers. i think i'm going to start out with the prefolds and a few covers.
i don't have any first-hand experience, but personally i want to get some BumGenius 3.0's (cloth diapers that fit baby from 8lbs all the way to like 30lbs!) if i can come up with some extra money. you can see their diapers at bumgenius.com. target actually sells them online, too, for something like $36 for two of them. they've gotten pretty good reviews... as have a few other popular brands.
and then there are lots of crafty sellers on etsy.com who make and sell cloth diapers, too. cloth diapers are so much cuter these days if you can afford the upfront cost... and yes, even though they're pricey, they still save money (and the environment) in the longrun!
Amelia is wearing Bumgenius 3.0 in the picture <-------------- (although I'm not sure you can see it very well).
I'm like you. I researched and researched and researched cloth diapers when I was pregnant until I went cross-eyed. I'd read great reviews of some diapers, but there were always those few negative reviews that made me second guess any decisions I made. Finally, I just wanted to be done with it and bought 24 BGs. I also bought some newborn prefolds, covers, and some snappis but I never used them except for spit up rags.
Overall, I'm happy (she's 6 months old now). They say they'll fit newborns, but I found that I couldn't get a good enough fit until she was about 10 pounds. I was so overwhelmed anyway, so perhaps it worked out for the better. We live in Las Vegas where it gets very hot in the summer, and I thought they seemed a bit hot when we went "out" so she wore disposables outside until it got cool enough (just about now). They clean up fairly well, though I don't know that I could do cloth diapering without this: http://www.pottypail.com/. They are also much bulkier than disposables, which is probably true of any cloth diaper. I was a bit concerned about the bulkiness at first mainly because it seemed like it made her legs go into an unnatural "frog" position, but it didn't seem to hurt her development as she's beginning to crawl this week. Cost wise, yes, they seem expensive, but I think I've already broken even with disposables.
Good luck!
We used pre-folds with the Snappi that Hanashi showed. They are very reasonably priced, and then you just need covers. The covers that worked best for us were MotherEase. No leaks...they are sort of like the granny panties of cloth diapers, but they work! You only need a few covers to get started, and about 30 or so cloth diapers.
We liked them so much that we ended up buying some Mother Ease Diapers too-they are cloth and snap and are one size, so that's all we will need till he's done with them.
My advice is not to go crazy before hand buying a ton of one kind. Try a second hand store and get a couple different kinds to see what works for you. Babies are shaped differently and some work better on some kids than others.
I'm glad I did this because I tested a few out and found MotherEase was the best, and didn't invest in them till I was sold on them.
Also, there's a little thing you can hook up to your toilet that is sort of like a shower sprayer so you can rinse the diapers off in the toilet. I could never dunk mine in and flush like my mom used to do, so the sprayer was a better choice.
Something else to keep in mind...if your baby comes up tiny (like mine!), the first month he/she might not be able to wear them....I had to wait about a month, or until he was about 8 pounds or so. The hospital gives you free disposables. USE them. You will have a lot on your plate, and if you use disposables for a few weeks at first, its not the end of the world. I tried, and his legs were spread so wide open like he was doing the splits. :)
Get a "wet bag" to hold your dirties till laundry day. Don't use a wet pail.
When you get closer, I can post instructions on washing them.
CONGRATS by the way!!!! How exciting!
This is a very helpful topic! My little girl won't be born until sometime in March but she is my first and I have absolutely no experience in cloth diapering, but that is what I am planning on doing. The information and experience you all have posted is great so far!
Thanks for the tips everyone. Keep them coming. ;)b
Berryraw, I didn't know you were pregnant. I'm due in March too.
I've used the flat diapers with pins and covers before while babysitting, but I'd prefer to use the more modern, shaped kind with snaps and/or velcro for convenience. Also, DH has no experience whatsoever with diapering, so I want something that'll be easy for him.
The upfront cost of cloth diapers can be a lot (about $20 per diaper), but it still works out cheaper than buying disposables for 2-3 years. Plus you can re-use them for the next baby, if you have more than one. The problem is, there are SO MANY. I've looked at tons of websites, reviews, etc., and I'm just really overwhelmed with all the information/options. Built-in waterproof lining or separate covers, snaps or velcro, one-size-fits-most or specific sizes, all-in-one or pockets with inserts, etc. :o There shouldn't be 92867548291384 ways to absorb pee/contain poop! I have plenty of other things to worry about.
I used prefold (flat) diapers with bummis covers.
When my twins were newborn we used 160 per week :o... No.2 is just now night trained at 5, (his brother was much quicker). My diapers are very well used.. holes in the diapers and the velcros haven't stuck for at least two years. But I'm very proud to say I didn't use ONE disposable diaper... not a one. My SIL left a disposable with my niece one afternoon and I couldn't figure the damn thing out... I pulled the tabs off and could figure out which end went at the front. My SIL laughed so hard.. At that point I'd changed 1000s of diapers but had to use duct tape on a disposable!
We bought special soup to wash the diapers. I *think* it was called hydrox II.
If you can afford it, or can get it gifted, get a diaper service for the first few weeks/months, less crap to deal with...
PG, I would stay away from pocket diapers. I have one, and just don't get the "convenience" of having to put the diaper/pad in a pocket. I never use that one!
The ALL IN ONEs are the ones that are 20 a piece. You don't need a cover-just one piece that absorbs and also protects the clothes from getting wet. I have a couple of those, and they are easy. But expensive and they outgrow everything so quickly. I would be hesitant to invest in that type, unless $ is not an object of course.
The cloth ones that go under covers are easy too. My DH had to learn, and it wasn't that hard. Really, its the covers that are most important, because that is what keeps the clothes and beds from getting wet. Plus, you need fewer of them. Lyle can wear just 1 or 2 covers per day, and when they dry out he can wear them again. We are getting by with about 6 covers total right now. I think my covers were about 11 each. MotherEase ones don't hold the pee smell, so they don't need to be washed as often.
I remember feeling very overwhelmed by the whole idea when I was pregnant too. I didn't get all the different kinds, but now it seems so simple. I would seriously buy just one of each kind (one all in one, one pocket, a few pre-folds with covers-and a SNappi!), and see what you like best. Get the mother-load of diapers when you figure out what you like (after the baby is born).
Cloth diapering is TOTALLY worth it from a financial perspective. Its really only been one extra rinse cycle per week for us-maybe 2 at first. I did get a lot of mine second hand. But once I figured out what I liked, I invested in some NEW Mother Ease Diapers.
K2 that is AMAZING that you never used one disposable! I admire that! We use them when we travel, because well, our families are not really down with storing and washing poopy diapers. Shame on them!
A friend of mine uses the bumgenius all in ones, and her son is 15 months now and her complaint is that the velcro is going on them already and he can't run around pants-less without risking losing the diaper. I think snaps are probably a better option for people who want AIO one size diapers since they get used so much/for so long.
I don't have any kids myself yet, but I do plan on cloth diapering once we've got 'em. I'll probably use prefolds and covers when they're infants since they go through so many diapers, then try out some AIO one size for when they're bigger.
We used prefolds, bumkins all in ones, and some fleecy ones. People gave us some as gifts. They were all fairly easy. The all in ones were great, but the prefolds were just as easy, really, and the covers dry out really quickly. The only problem we had was that my daughter was too small at first(5lbs.) and I was having a nervous brealkdown because no diapers would fit her, and my mom had to sew some for her. Those snappi things terrified me. I tried one, and just wound up snapping myself w/ it. I thought the diaper pins seemed safer.
ETA: congrats, all you pregnant ladies. I had no idea!
Thanks for the tips everyone. Keep them coming. ;)b
Berryraw, I didn't know you were pregnant. I'm due in March too.
Cool! This is my first so it is a bit overwhelming for me. Do you know if you're having a boy or a girl? We just did the one ultrasound last week, no more after that. My primary prenatal care is from my midwife - going for a homebirth!
This whole "stroller derby" section has been really enlightening so far. I lurk around even though I'm still just a mama-to-be:) Glad you all share your experiences!
It's my first too, and unplanned, so it's definitely a bit scary. I didn't find out if it'll be a boy or girl. I like surprises. :)
L2A, as far as I can tell, the main pros of pocket diapers are:
1. They dry faster since they separate into pieces (this is a big priority for me since I don't have a tumble dryer and I live where it rains a lot. I don't want to buy 100 diapers just so I can have dry ones on hand at all times).
2. You can put extra inserts in them for more absorbency for overnight, long car trips, or if the kid just pees a lot.
Anyway, I'll probably still get a few different kinds to see what fits and what I like best.
It's my first too, and unplanned, so it's definitely a bit scary. I didn't find out if it'll be a boy or girl. I like surprises. :)
L2A, as far as I can tell, the main pros of pocket diapers are:
1. They dry faster since they separate into pieces (this is a big priority for me since I don't have a tumble dryer and I live where it rains a lot. I don't want to buy 100 diapers just so I can have dry ones on hand at all times).
2. You can put extra inserts in them for more absorbency for overnight, long car trips, or if the kid just pees a lot.
Anyway, I'll probably still get a few different kinds to see what fits and what I like best.
#1 I can see...didn't think of that.
#2 You can do that with any diaper. They make pads and liners just for this. We usually put one on at night. They are great!
L2A, I knowI've heard of mother-ease before but for some reason I never really looked into them until today. I went to their website and they seem like really high quality and reasonably priced diapers, and when I looked up reviews separately, no one had anything bad to say about them. I just have a few questions for you....
Which kind do you use? I'd be most interested in the one-size ones so I don't need to buy 2 or 3 sets, and I'm also not sure which fabric option would be best.
Do you line-dry them, and if so, how long does it take?
Which covers do you use/recommend (the air flow or the Rikki wraps)?
Sorry to keep bugging you. You're just so darn helpful. :)
I'm glad you looked! I have no complaints.
I use the cotton one size ones. Lyle is 16 months (we've had them about 2 months) and I will be able to use them until he is potty trained. I have only tried the air flow ones-they do not hold the smell of pee! I like that they use snaps because the covers I bought (whisper wraps-another line) with velcro-the velcro sucked after a few months. Start with the Small covers. They are also adjustable. Lyle is still wearing a small-but he IS pretty tiny. I bought one medium just to see but I doubt I will ever need to buy a set of them. My kids are small though. He still wears them on the smallest setting!
I am not sure that they would be small enough for a new born. I only bought one newborn size cover (whisper wrap) and he outgrew it so quickly. One is plenty!
Get some plain old pre-folds too. We have those for when we run out of the mother ease. They are also only a couple of dollars each.
They are not super thick (but come with liners to make them thicker) so I think they would dry rather quickly. I use a dryer though.
I could try hanging one outside for you and see! I hardly get any sun in my yard though, which is a big part of why I use a dryer.
I don't mind helping at all. Let me know if you have any other questions!
PS I could send you my velcro wraps that I am done with-but would it cost a zillion dollars to mail something to Australia?
Just to clarify, we use these:
http://www.mother-ease.com/cms/editor1/images/one-size-400px.jpg
http://www.mother-ease.com/cms/editor1/images/airFlow400px.jpg
I use (well used to before daycare since daycare doesn't allow cloth diapers >:( ) Bubgenius 3.0. They last like forever. I spent probably $250 for them initially but he wore them exclusively for like 8 months, now he just wears them on the weekends, but I am sure that they have way more than paid for themselves by now. They are washed in the washing machine and were washed like everyday and they still are holding up. After being washed everyday for 8 months solid, I think that is pretty good! And they are adjustable so that they can get bigger as your child gets bigger. I never had a problem with them leaking, except if they wern't changed enough and they filled with pee, but as far as poopy blowouts, I always had much more of a problem with that with disposables than with cloth, the cloth have elastick above the butt crack that catches the poop where disposables do not. (TMI?) I am attaching some pictures. They work exactly like disposables diapers except they are totally washable. They come with 2 cloth diapers that are stuffed inside a shell. What touches the babies bottom is this material (felt I think) that is designed to whisk moisture away and it goes soaked up by the cotton cloth diaper stuffed inside. I would never use the old fashioned diapers because they don't do that. These may be more expensive than your old fashioned cloth diapers but they are way easier, and better for baby. I love em. If the poop if fairly dry then all you have to do is plop it into the toilet then throw the diaper in the wash.
I tried other brands too even the old fashioned one where you fold it with the plastic outside diaper. He HATED the old fashioned diaper, as soon as he peed he started crying because the pee was right there and his diaper got cold and wet and was nasty, and it is hard to change, difficult to figure out, have to worry about poking baby with pin, etc. I didn't like that.
I tried Fuzzy Bunz and I liked it but it wasn't adjustable and it cost just as much as the one-sizes did.
There was another one-size brand of cloth that works a lot like Bum genius that I tried, hated it, it leaked everywhere.
I tried all-in-one (not one-size) and didn't like the way that pee wasn't whisked away from baby but like it is with pocket diapers.
Just my 2cents. I am attaching some pics (they come in various colors). How is my spelling and grammer?
Here is what I use:
http://www.nurtured.ca/ProdImages/bumgenius_lg.jpg
http://www.supermommyssuperstore.com/images/bumGenius-6pack.jpg
Of course mine don't look this pretty now, they are getting pretty worn, but they still work!
And one more picture of Mikey because I can't resist!
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