OT: Cloth Diapers

[staci]

Anyone out there use cloth diapers currently or recently? for ds I intended to try cloth diapers, but I just bought the gerber spitrag ones and after one wet diaper mess all over I decided that wasnt for me

I didnt even KNOW at the time that there are fancier cloth diapers. Now that we are beginning talking about having another child, I am thinking about trying it again. How many do you buy? What brand do you use? Does it save money in the long run?

I must admit, while I do care about the enviroment, it wasnt enough to make me use cloth. Our primary reason for doing it would be any money we could save. We are in the process of cutting out all things unnecessary, trying to find a way for me to be able to continue to stay at home.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[gemanda]

We've been using cloth diapers since DD was 3 days old.

I'll admit, we're slightly odd in that we ONLY use Fuzzi Bunz. Most people use lots of different things, but DH was very against that one. He wanted to only have to learn one thing! :lol:

When I figured out the dollars, we spent about the same on Fuzzi Bunz for DD as we would have disposables (she's very slender, so she stays in sizes for a long time). However, the huge savings will be with #2. We have all of our old ones stored in tubs, just waiting. We'll have to spend little or no money on diapers the second time around.

If you're not having another one, eBay for Fuzzi Bunz is insane. It's not unusual to see them go for $10-12 in good used condition on there...considering they cost $14.95 (at most, many stores have quantity discounts) to start, that's not too shabby!!

 

[minkydog]

I used cloth diapers on all three of my kids--had two in diapers at one point. I just bought the pre-fold Gerbers at Target, about 2 dozen and about 6 vinyl pants. I fold the diaper into long thirds then open the back and lay the baby on in. Fold the front in(keep it folded in thirds) and pin the back "flaps to the front--voila, a double folded diaper! If they really wet a lot(older baby) put a second folded-in-thirds diaper right down the middle and pin the outside diaper closed. It isn't any bulkier than a Pamper.

I did use Pampers at night because nothing beat the absorbancy. My babies stayed drier at night and slept longer. but during the day, it was cloth all the way. I like to wash them about every 2-3 days, so they don't start smelling bad. We saved a ton of money on (handed-down)diapers.

 

[Tiffann4k]

I gave up after trying the "spit rag" diapers, you should invest in some AIO ( all in ones)

Its been a while since I have used them ( youngest is 5) so I cant even remember what brands I have but they worked the best for us...especially since my last two children are only 10 months apart and I had both in diapers.

Just do a search for all in one cloth diapers or check out Ebay for them. They are costly to get started but they are well worth it.

 

[Bird-Mom]

I use cloth on both of my dds and I love it! I have tried many different combinations, but this is what I found works the best for our family. From birth to about 20-23 pounds, we use chinese prefolds (much thicker and more absorbant than the gerber ones) with Bumkins covers. Then from 20-23 pounds until potty learning, we use all in ones-Angelwraps and Full Moon Baby Gear are my favorites. I also adore Simply Cloth, but she is no longer making them, so you might find some on ebay.

I used fuzzi bunz for about a year, and I hated stuffing them. I also loved fitted diapers with wool covers, but my dh hated them. He thought it was double the work to put on both a diaper and a cover.

Throw them in a dry pail and wash every 2-4 days. It is really easy. The biggest problem is that cloth diapering is addictive! You will want to try all kinds and have lots of pretty fabrics.

There is a great diapering board at mothering.com. for more info and to ask questions.

 

[Reese]

I've used cloth diapers for all my kids. Right now we are just using the flat diapers. I like them because they dry so quick. We wash them every night in a small load and hang them on a clothes rack in the living room and they are dry in the morning. We do use disposable at night though as they absorb more so DS sleeps much better.

I just fold the flat ones in thirds and lay them out on the velcro vinyl cover. Than I fold the extra in the front where he needs it and do the sides up- no need for pins.

 

[GatorGal]

I used cloth diapers for my DD until she was potty trained. I'll admit that I used disposables at night and while on vacations. I used Kooshies All in One diapers. They are made in Canada, and were on the expensive side, I think about $9 each, but I felt they were worth the money. They have a water proof barrier on the outside with velcro tabs, so no pins, and an extra lining of flannel in the inside. I also used the flushable liners that Koosies makes which were great for removing the solild, these worked best after breasfeeding. It was recommended to me to not store the soiled diapers in a a wet diaper pail, so I just used a regular diaper pail. I had enough diapers to last about 2 and half days, you really don't want them haning around soilded for longer than that. Washing was so easy, I rinsed the solids out in the set tub I have next to the washer and did an initial rinse in the machine. I then washed them in hot water with Dreft and did an extra rinse at the end (I was surprised how much soap was in this second rinse) and I really think the second rinse kept diaper rash from every being a problem. I dried them in the drier and then just tossed the clean diapers in a drawer in her room. I didn't mess with folding them. When she was breast fed and they got stained, I would lay them out in the sun and after a few hours they looked like new.

Some things to keep in mind: Your diaper bag never gets any lighter..you either have clean diapers or soiled ones it it, I kept a waterproof bag in the diaper for soiled diapers, and my DD did seam to wet through her clothes if you didn't change them frequently enough.

Kooshies come in 3 different sizes, really small, like up to 10 pounds, then 10 pounds to about 25 and then 22 pounds and up. I had about 20 in the middle size and 15 ouf the larger size.

I would certainly do it again if I had another child.

HTH

 

[WAHMto5]

We use cloth diapers and wipes and wouldn't do it any other way, we them!!
I really like Fuzzi Bunz and Very Baby AIO's. We also have some cutsie show~off ones also I think when people think cloth diapers, they think of the old fashion way nd frown upon it. They have come sooo far now and are soo easy and nice to use. I own a Bath & Body Store (www.NorthernEssence.com) and about 95% of our wholesalers are cloth diapering stores.
I had soo much fun, especially diapering a little one!!

 

[Lesley]

I've used cloth for both my girls...gave up much as you describe with my first (boy)! LOL

The mothering diapering boards are a good place to find out more. With my first dd (second child, first cloth diapered) I liked using Nikky covers with one size diapers from kidalog.com (the baby softwear). Now I prefer snapped diapers like motherease sandy's or similar wahm styles. A member of these boards used to own DiaperBabies.com and I love her diapers, there's a new owner now, but I believe she uses the same patterns, etc... I also really love the one diaper I have from Sugarplum Baby. As for covers, I've been knitting my own wool soakers/longies....but I also like some of the fleece ones out there. And I actually like Gerber flat diapers for newborns (not prefolds)...but after that they just make good cleaning rags.

Probably the least expensive option in cloth is to use good quality prefolds (chinese or diaper service quality) with snappi's and knit your own soakers. Buying soakers knit by others is probably among the most expensive options though!

Another option is diaper-free baby care (or semi diaper free...lol). This is actually what we do to some extent though we do use diapers often...but my girls have both also used the potty from birth. Hmmmm....I don't know if I have any up to date links, but perhaps try a search for the book Diaper-Free, the gentle wisdom of natural infant hygiene by Ingrid Bauer.

Anyway there are a lot of great options out there in cloth, and they're really not much bother once you have a system in place. Any system you use will save you money in the long run, though the initial investment can be high. Good luck!

 

[Kermit]

I love cloth diapers. My kids cry when I put disposibles on them. My 2 year old says, "Me no like this diaper," and my 14 month old just says, "No, no, no, no!"

I've tried a lot of things. When I just had one in diapers, I prefered good quality Chinese prefolds and ProRap covers. I got ProRap seconds directly from the company that makes them. I think they were $4 each, but they've gone up $1 since I bought mine.

When my second child was born, his skin would get irritated with wet fabric next to it. So I started using diapers that had microfleece next to his skin to wick away the moisture. Those things are amazing. They stay dryer in them than in disposibles, and without those yucky beads. We tried a number of things, but we ended up buying enough Happy Heinies to just use those.

Since then, it's become clear that my baby is allergic to polyester, so he's in the CPFs and ProRaps. My older one is still in Happy Heinies. I am planning on trying wool covers soon on my baby to see if that would help more with his eczema and allergies, but I am afraid that he might be allergic to the lanolin.

I've never found an AIO that I absolutely love. I've only tried them for babies, though, and babies have such runny dirty diapers. They might be fine for older babies and toddlers. I also don't like fitteds and separate covers. That just takes way too long. It's like putting two diapers on every time you change the baby.

 

[staci]

Thanks guys! Its hard to believe that something as basic as diapering can seem so confusing to me

Kermit(or anyone) where do you get those prowrap covers? any websites or anything?

Are chinese prefolds the same thing as the gerber ones from target? If not where do I get them?


Lesley, I had never even HEARD of diaper free baby care! i think im a little late with ds, but will have to look into that more.

oh, and what is a soaker????

Im sorry Im so clueless!

 

[MrsPete]

Our primary reason for doing it would be any money we could save. We are in the process of cutting out all things unnecessary, trying to find a way for me to be able to continue to stay at home

I tried them -- both the basic Gerber pre-folds and the more expensive catalog-type diapers. I found them to be a large expense upfront and a great deal of trouble.

Perhaps I was tough on them in the wash, but the expensive diapers (sorry, can't remember the name -- it's been a decade) fell apart rather quickly; they never would've lasted for a second child. I used bleach because without it the diapers just weren't clean. Also, I lived in a tiny house, and the diapers were always in the way; a case of disposables can be stored under the crib -- don't try that with a diaper pail full of stinkers (hopefully you have more space than I did). Remember, too, that cloth diapers are never going to be free. Washing with hot water is expensive. Don't forget to include all the extra loads of outer-wear clothes that you'll be washing because there will be more leaks with cloth diapers.

I found a great source for second-quality disposables that was about half the price of the cheapest store-brand disposables, and I gave up the quest for cloth diapers. Sorry, I can't share the source. A mom in my area (mother of two sets of twins, all boys) bought them and delivered them right to the house. Her system was great: you could call her and leave a message on her answering machine, and she'd deliver a case of diapers to your house on Friday. Once you were an established client, you could leave a check in an envelope and she'd leave the diapers on the porch. I have no idea where she bought the diapers, but they were mixed brands (sometimes I'd get a whole case of Luvs, sometimes it'd be half Pampers and half store-brands -- no choice). They were second-quality; the pretty little patterns'd be off-centered, and a few in each case would have no tapes. This didn't matter; I'd just save those for at-home use and I'd use first-aid tape.

There are many other ways of saving with a baby; not paying day care is one, not buying all the stuff, stuff, stuff that people say you need is another. Most of these other ways of saving are less labor-intensive than cloth diapers. And you can save money in so many other areas: groceries, utilities, etc.

 

[graygables]

I used chinese prefolds (bikini twist) w/ my youngest 2, with WAHM fleece liners (poop slides right off and keeps stains to a minimum) and Bumpy covers when they were little. I bought most of mine from www.thebabylane.com. I used pins, but I also had a 3way stretch thingy (forget what it was called) for DH to use. When my youngest came along, I discovered a WAHM who made Firefly diapers. I *loved* her b/c back then, she would take my fabric and sew dipes from it, so DDs diapers *matched* her outfits! :rofl2: I think they've outgrown that level of custom service, but those were the *best* diapers I'd used, especially once DDs got mobile. With the Fireflies, I would just get microfleece and cut it into rectangles for liners rather than use the thicker WAHM kind.

BTW, I switched b/c my DD3 has psoriasis and her hiney was AWFUL in a disposie. Once I switched to cloth, she cleared right up and did great. Laundry was a snap. Dump solid waste into the toilet and I used a dry pail (w/ a nylon liner). Dump the whole thing into the washer and soak on cold, spin out, then wash on hot. I used Zout for tough stains and line dried as much as I could (the sun does WONDERS for stains!). At the end of the diapering "season", I sold them all on eBay for about what I'd paid for them, so, aside from a load or 2 of laundry per week, I CDed 2 DDs for FREE!

 

[Kermit]

Call ProServices for ProRap seconds. Start calling a while before you need them because they don't always have seconds in every size.

The Chinese Prefolds that you order online from a good diaper company online are far superior to the ones in the store. They are more expensive, but they're so much better that they end up being cheaper in the long run. I have some that I've been using constantly for over 2 years now, and they're just now starting to fray ever so slightly. I'm guessing I have a minimum of 6 months before I have to put them in the rag drawer. They will fall apart if you bleach them or even use Oxiclean, but you don't need to do that. Any good washing machine will get them clean.

If you do start to doubt whether you'll be saving much money, there are diaper websites out there that have done the math. And they even show you how much you save with the better diapers, since they want you to buy the best they sell. The only way you'd really pay more for cloth is if you lived in an area with the most expensive water AND electricity costs. If either your water or electricity is average or close to average, you'll save a significant amount of money.

 

[samshane]

I Cd my last child - loved it so much I started making my own and I still do even though all mine are potty trained now. I really miss it - though I will be having NO more kids! I loved the all-in-ones and those are the only kind DH would use so that is what we did (and that is how I ende dup making them and selling them). It's a huge underground world of cloth diapering! Good luck!

 

[gemanda]

A good resource for finding reputable companies is www.diaperpin.com. Or Google for the product.

 

[WAHMto5]

I don't know if anyone is interested or already signed up, but "The Great Diaper Hunt" just started on November 1st ~ 30th. You can still sign up and play it is fun and the prizes are GREAT!! More info on it and to sign up is at:
http://www.diaperdecisions.com

 

[akamom]

I cd and I bought my diaper from Katie's Kisses. I just bought a diaper package for an infant, bought a couple Waddle Hoppers, few more Snappi's, and an extra cover and that's all I've needed! Here's the link to the packages. http://stores.hsprofessional.com/katieskisses/Search.bok?category=Diapers: Diaper Packages It really isn't as hard as it used to be. GL!