ISO your cost saving cloth diaper tips

[mena292]

Hello All!
I am in search of cloth diapers and accessories and tips! I know it is a huge money saver after the initial investment. Any hints and tips of how to find them for cheap, and keep them working nicely? What brand and types do you like best and why?
Also do you cloth diaper on vaca, or switch to disposable?
I appreciate your help!
Melissa

 

[artemis4]

Hello All!
I am in search of cloth diapers and accessories and tips! I know it is a huge money saver after the initial investment. Any hints and tips of how to find them for cheap, and keep them working nicely? What brand and types do you like best and why?
Also do you cloth diaper on vaca, or switch to disposable?
I appreciate your help!
Melissa

I actually had a company that sold cloth diapers and diapering accessories for 8 years. I designed fitted diapers and had them sewn for me, the whole nine yards.

My favorite cloth diapers, the ones I reached for first for my own kids and had more of than any other diapers? Simple 4x8x4 diapers service quality prefolds fastened with Dritz metal head diaper pins. I paired them with Bummi Super Whisper Wrap covers because those fit my kids' bodies the best. It was the cheapest combo I sold and my favorite by far.

I used cloth on vacation unless we were camping for more than two nights. Then, I used disposable topped with a diaper cover. The cover helped block the smell of disposables, which I cannot stand, and it prevented blow outs, which happened more than expected with disposables.

 

[berkfam22]

I have had luck buying used diapers off eBay and craigslist. I make sure to wash them in a bleach cycle and they are good to go. My favorite brand is Bumgenius, followed by a Green Mountain Diaper (GMD) prefold or workhorses paired with a flip cover.

 

[wendow]

I used cloth for many years. My favorites were Bumgenius, FuzziBunz and just a basic prefold with a Thirsties cover. I bought all my prefolds from Little Lions. I also liked the Little Lions classic fitted. Again just cover those with a Thirsties cover.

As for where to buy, there are certainly some on Ebay and CL. I also bought a lot off of Diaperswappers.com on their swap/sale boards.

 

[bumbershoot]

From the first diaper change that I was in charge of, 43 hours after DS arrived, he was solely in cloth. Even camping we used cloth. My own mom used cloth after I had a massive reaction to the plastic Pampers diapers; she never looked back and neither did I.

After lots of experimentation, I found that keeping the washing routine simple was best. Cheap and worked well. Given my reaction as a baby to Pampers, I'm sure you're not surprised that I cannot use smelly detergents. So I ultimately found the combo of a handful of washing soda (made by Arm&Hammer, often found next to baking soda, but in a bigger, different colored box...it's got a chemical name, that I forget, as well, and can be found in large quantities at swimming pool supply stores) and about 10 spritzes of Simple Green in a full washing machine. Once I found that combo I never needed anything else and never needed to "strip" the diapers again.


I could have stayed with prefolds and covers easily. It's what I started with until I got a better handle on what type of body he had and what would fit him best.

 

[dpswift]

I just bought a good quality prefold diaper and used pins and rubber pants. It worked great I could never get the velcro covers to work right but they are much better and more expensive now.

As far as washing I just threw them in the wash with detergent and bleach. I did put in dishwasher soap for awhile but did not like the way they came out.

 

[irishdancemomma]

Download the diaper swappers app and buy used.

 

[burnurcomputer]

http://www.econobum.com/


I used them, as well as the flip covers. I made my own inserts by tracing the inside of the diaper, tri folding microfiber and covering with flannel (which didn't get stiff or hard) and serging around the outside. It was a faux serge, because I didn't have a serger at that time. I also had prefolds that I purchased and used old receiving blankets as flats. I had some, and bought some at a 2nd hand store.

I am frugal, lol!

 

[MomofDisneyLoversx3]

I used cloth with all of my kids. With my two oldest I used a combination of prefolds (ie the rectangular old fashioned ones) with a snap or Velcro cover (usually bumkins or snug wraps) or fitted diaper (looks like a disposable almost) with a cover. When my third came along I had sold my diapers so I needed new. This time I did all in one pocket diapers (fuzzibuns style). I found these to be the easiest. Diaper an cover all together, I could put an extra liner in the pocket if needed, and much less leakage. I would use cloth if going away for a day or two, but not for longer than a weekend. Just my preference. I typically washed every other day, so a week without washing wouldn't have worked for me.
Something I didn't see anyone mention was flushable liners. BEST thing ever! They are (I believe) rice paper. They come in a roll and you don't need much but when the baby is a newborn and not on solids it keeps the mushy poos contained. You just flick the whole thing into the toilet. I used Kushies brand and real nappies brand.
To wash I alway did a cold water presoak adding a presoak from real nappies. Can't recall the name but after two years of diapering I had some left and gave it to a friend. Rock and Green as well as FuzziBunz make one also.
I then did a hot water wash w either homemade laundry soap or Charlie's. It's important to use laundry soap not detergent because detergent puts a coat on the diapers decreasing the absorbency. I did a double rinse with vinegar in the rinse water and hung them to dry.

Hope this helps!!
Heather!

Ps. If you haven't bought diapers yet I have a bunch (I think 18-20) I was going to list on eBay. Let me know if you are interested.

 

[bumbershoot]

Something I didn't see anyone mention was flushable liners. BEST thing ever! They are (I believe) rice paper. They come in a roll and you don't need much but when the baby is a newborn and not on solids it keeps the mushy poos contained. You just flick the whole thing into the toilet. I used Kushies brand and real nappies brand.

Whereas I found those things to be the biggest pains ever! I think I used them maybe 3 times. I still have a roll of kushies and some other type. I keep hoping to find a local CD user to give them and my NEVER used diaper-sprayer to (as I mentioned above, I kept it simple-simple), but I never come across any!

 

[MomofDisneyLoversx3]

Whereas I found those things to be the biggest pains ever! I think I used them maybe 3 times. I still have a roll of kushies and some other type. I keep hoping to find a local CD user to give them and my NEVER used diaper-sprayer to (as I mentioned above, I kept it simple-simple), but I never come across any!

How funny is that? Every has a different experience.

 

[nmrgrl55]

I used cloth with my daughter and LOVED them. My favorite when she was an infant were my yellow edge GMD snapless fitteds with a snappi and thirsties duo cover. I also got a trial from Jillian Drawers and it was a great way to figure out what I liked. I used GMD prefolds as well and they were really easy once you get the hang of it. My favorite pockets were BumGenius 4.0s and Alvas. The BGs were pricey, but I bought them when they were B4G1 (or something like that...it was a couple years ago ) While I LOVED the fit of the velcro, I felt like it was cheaply made for a diaper that was on the pricey side. The snaps held up well, but I always preferred the fit of the velcros. I bought my Alvas in a Co-op for a few dollars each, and they were just as good, if not better, than my BGs. I had some custom velcro Alvas and they have held up amazingly well. Unfortunately I had to use disposables for daycare when VIolet was 18 months or so, and that made me end up stopping my cloth all together. But it was AMAZING to go a majority of her life without buying diapers and now I can sell my stash if I want