[gumonyershoe]

Hi, my name is Annaka. I'm about 13w3d pregnant with my first and I plan on cloth diapering. I'm pretty obsessive over trying to find the "perfect diaper" to stash, as I want to start with cloth ASAP (though I have been advised to wait until the meconium stops). I don't really want to just buy one of a bunch of different things and then have to deal with disposables while I wait on whatever my "favorite" is. I'm not opposed to later supplementing my stash with others, but I want a secure ready stash for when the baby's born.

I'm pretty sure I want AI2 or Pockets. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I want one sized diapers that will just "grow" with the baby.

Now... I'm confused. I recently saw someone (a WAHM) post on a different message board about her diapers that are "fitteds" but, they looked like one size AIO? Can someone please tell me what a fitted actually is? I thought fitteds meant that they were sized and meant to "perfectly fit" one particular size.

I am open to any insight. Thanks!

[shen7]

Welcome!

Several things:
- meconium washes out easily, it does not stain, don't let that deter you at all! It is a myth that it stains. It looks tarry and sticky but is totally water soluble.
- OS diapers do not fit newborns. Unless you have a super ginormous baby, you will need something else to get to 12ish+ lbs when the OS ones fit.
- AI2s might as well be AIOs for the newborn phase because their poop gets everywhere and they poop all the time. Or many of them do anyway.
- fitteds have no waterproof layer, they are just all absorbent fabrics, so they require a separate cover to be fully waterproof. I don't know why they are called fitteds, they can be OS too.

Hope that helps some feel free to check out the newborn sticky and the CD 101 sticky and ask questions!

[forest]

Ditto on everything above!!!!

My biggest suggestion is to not buy your entire stash before you try a few different diapers out, especially the one size diapers. I do think you could get away with it for you newborn stash, but I wouldn't do it for the rest. Some diapers just work better for some kids than others. I started with a trial package from Jillian's Drawers. You get a bunch of new diapers to try for 21 days for $10 plus shipping both ways. You can do an infant trial package or one for an older child. Jillian's Drawers - Cloth Diaper Trial, Try Cloth Diapers for $10, Changing Diapers, Changing Minds Program

[BlueEyes09]

If you feel like you are leaning towards one sized diapers then you might want to go the cheapest route until they fit your lo, for us that was around 2 months. I'm pretty sure the cheapest route is prefolds and covers. We didn't do that, we didn't go full time cloth til about 4 months, but now that I know cloth works for us I plan to get some prefolds and covers for the next one...and maybe a few newborn pockets for when we go out or for my husband.

[benandali]

Welcome!! That is awesome you have decided to cd your baby!! You're newborns clothes will thank you!!! Seriously, I"ve never had a blowout in a cd.

I definitely agree that OS will not fit at first. Maybe after a couple months.

Prefolds and covers are AH-MAzING for newborns. They hold everything in, you can adjust the fit by folding the back down and rolling the sides in, they clean very well, and can be used for a multitude of things when you are done wrapping them around baby.
I use them as burp cloths, and now I trifold them and lay them in a pocket or a cover for my 15mo

Some pockets that would be great for a newborn are fb xs (prob used..I dont think they make them anymore?), HH OS mini are GREAT and can "grow" with baby for a little bit.

[ashj_1218]

I just wanted to welcome you to the board. The other ladies went and said everything smart...so me repeating it would just be redundant.

Our favs for our newbie were HH mini OS. We had a good stash of those for him before he fit into our OS. Which even with his massive weight gains was a good couple months (around 13lbs). The good thing about newborn diapers is that if you want to sell them off...they have great resale values, since they get fairly short-lived use.

Congrats on choosing cloth The ladies here are brilliant and fun (well, i am fun...possibly not brilliant )

[Gaby&Emmy'sMama]

welcome to the board! I'm Emma (28) & I have two daughters - Gabrielle (5) and Emersyn (19mo)....

While i love one size diapers (and have plenty myself) - they don't really fit that well until baby is a little bigger.. I started using them with Emersyn at 2 or 3 weeks, and while they did the job, they were very bulky...

If I was going to CD another baby I would definitely purchase diapers just for the newborn stage - I won't bother listing brands, because I'm in New Zealand and have used completely different brands than you have over there! I *did* like prefolds and covers when Emmy was a newbie...

[gumonyershoe]

Originally Posted by shen7

Welcome!

Several things:
- meconium washes out easily, it does not stain, don't let that deter you at all! It is a myth that it stains. It looks tarry and sticky but is totally water soluble.
- OS diapers do not fit newborns. Unless you have a super ginormous baby, you will need something else to get to 12ish+ lbs when the OS ones fit.
- AI2s might as well be AIOs for the newborn phase because their poop gets everywhere and they poop all the time. Or many of them do anyway.
- fitteds have no waterproof layer, they are just all absorbent fabrics, so they require a separate cover to be fully waterproof. I don't know why they are called fitteds, they can be OS too.

Hope that helps some feel free to check out the newborn sticky and the CD 101 sticky and ask questions!

Good to know about the meconium. The only local CD momma I know told me she chose to just use disposables until her son was big enough for one size diapers because of the staining/difficulty of meconium and to get him big enough for OS.

The reason I want OS/AI2 is because in the long run, I think that'll end up being easier/better for me, DH and the daycare situation. AI2 might be difficult... I might need to just do pockets for daycare... Anyway, point being, I don't really care that AI2 would essentially be like AIO when they're little because eventually it'd be easier? I think?

Fitteds - yes, that's what i understood along with only being one size. Which is why I was confused because this WAHM makes her "fitted" diapers with all sorts of crazy prints. If you're gonna have to cover it up, why would you make it crazy prints?

Anyway, I'll check out the newborn sticky before I ask another silly question.

Thank you very much for your response!!

Originally Posted by forest

Ditto on everything above!!!!

My biggest suggestion is to not buy your entire stash before you try a few different diapers out, especially the one size diapers. I do think you could get away with it for you newborn stash, but I wouldn't do it for the rest. Some diapers just work better for some kids than others. I started with a trial package from Jillian's Drawers. You get a bunch of new diapers to try for 21 days for $10 plus shipping both ways. You can do an infant trial package or one for an older child. Jillian's Drawers - Cloth Diaper Trial, Try Cloth Diapers for $10, Changing Diapers, Changing Minds Program

Ooh! Thank you! and I think I'm beginning to realize that my lofty ideas are terribly wrong. Going to check out that site! Thank you again!

[gumonyershoe]

Originally Posted by BlueEyes09

If you feel like you are leaning towards one sized diapers then you might want to go the cheapest route until they fit your lo, for us that was around 2 months. I'm pretty sure the cheapest route is prefolds and covers. We didn't do that, we didn't go full time cloth til about 4 months, but now that I know cloth works for us I plan to get some prefolds and covers for the next one...and maybe a few newborn pockets for when we go out or for my husband.

That's what I've begun to realize I'll probably need to do. In theory, prefolds aren't scary to me. In practice, I think they might be scarier! LOL And I KNOW that DH won't find them easy and I don't even want to try to convince a daycare that they're easy. But maybe for the first several weeks or so... Not that I want my baby to grow super fast, but maybe prefolds will just last me through maternity leave then I can switch to OS?

Originally Posted by benandali

Welcome!! That is awesome you have decided to cd your baby!! You're newborns clothes will thank you!!! Seriously, I"ve never had a blowout in a cd.

I definitely agree that OS will not fit at first. Maybe after a couple months.

Prefolds and covers are AH-MAzING for newborns. They hold everything in, you can adjust the fit by folding the back down and rolling the sides in, they clean very well, and can be used for a multitude of things when you are done wrapping them around baby.
I use them as burp cloths, and now I trifold them and lay them in a pocket or a cover for my 15mo

Some pockets that would be great for a newborn are fb xs (prob used..I dont think they make them anymore?), HH OS mini are GREAT and can "grow" with baby for a little bit.

I was wondering if anyone ever used prefolds as inserts or whatever for pockets/AI2's.

What are HH?

Originally Posted by ashj_1218

I just wanted to welcome you to the board. The other ladies went and said everything smart...so me repeating it would just be redundant.

Our favs for our newbie were HH mini OS. We had a good stash of those for him before he fit into our OS. Which even with his massive weight gains was a good couple months (around 13lbs). The good thing about newborn diapers is that if you want to sell them off...they have great resale values, since they get fairly short-lived use.

Congrats on choosing cloth The ladies here are brilliant and fun (well, i am fun...possibly not brilliant )

The "short lived use" is what I was concerned about with getting separate diapers specifically for newborn stage. Good to know about resale value. I'll have to investegate this further!

I'm looking forward to "picking everyone's brain!" LOL But seriously, I'll try my hardest to look for my answers before asking y'all. I know that newbies asking the same questions over and over has got to be annoying.

[gumonyershoe]

Originally Posted by Gaby&Emmy'sMama

welcome to the board! I'm Emma (28) & I have two daughters - Gabrielle (5) and Emersyn (19mo)....

While i love one size diapers (and have plenty myself) - they don't really fit that well until baby is a little bigger.. I started using them with Emersyn at 2 or 3 weeks, and while they did the job, they were very bulky...

If I was going to CD another baby I would definitely purchase diapers just for the newborn stage - I won't bother listing brands, because I'm in New Zealand and have used completely different brands than you have over there! I *did* like prefolds and covers when Emmy was a newbie...

Emma, you might not remember me but for some reason you and Gaby have always stuck out with me. I've been on various boards with you in the past I believe. I used to love reading about the funny things Gaby would do.

Well it looks like the general consensus is prefolds/covers for newborn stage. Hoo boy! DH is not going to like that as I told him cloth was "just like disposable except they're reusable!" I guess I'll just tell him that it's just while they're tiny then we can go to the "easy" ones.

[gumonyershoe]

OK one more question in this thread before I go look elsewhere...

Anyone try Softbums? In particular their Omni shell? I'm amazed and intrigued and I (currently) am in love with the idea of that diaper.

SoftBums Omni Solo Pack

[*~~Shannon~~*]

Welcome!

Originally Posted by gumonyershoe

What are HH?

I'm looking forward to "picking everyone's brain!" LOL But seriously, I'll try my hardest to look for my answers before asking y'all. I know that newbies asking the same questions over and over has got to be annoying.

HH stands for Happy Heiny. It's a popular brand for newborn diapers.

And don't worry about annoying anyone. We love talking about cloth!

Lastly, I just wanted to suggest looking into used diapers. If you're concerned about spending a lot of money on diapers that will only be used for a short time, used can be a great option. You'll save a couple of bucks per diaper, you can hold onto them for any future kids and you can resell them for close to what you bought them for.

[Mom2#1Drakester]

There are so many answers already that i did not have time to read them all so i am sure i will be repeating some stuff LOL

Fitteds to me are a glorified prefold. Basically just one you can snap up. And then you just put a cover over it.

I chose to use sposies for the first 3 weeks or so just b/c it was like constant poop and with all the stress of having my first baby the last thing I wanted to worry about was doing laundry for his diapers. I was just extremely exhausted (well really for the first year I was always tired LOL)

My fave diaper is bumgenius. I only have 3.0 but they fit my guy wonderfully.

[LifeToTheMax]

Welcome! It sounds like your getting lots of great information

If you go with prefolds, I would be shocked if your LO wasn't fitting into OS diapers by the time your maternity leave was over. I think it would be a great way to go! And you'll be able to use the prefolds for tons of things. I use them to double stuff diapers over night, or if I get a pocket without inserts.

As far as fitteds being covered, some people can actually use them coverless if they have a light wetter. DS is a pretty heavy wetter, and around the house he'll wear them coverless (and pantsless ) because they are so breathable and they help with his rash issues. Not suggesting it as an option, just explaining the cute prints

As far as SoftBums, I have a friend who loves them. The "system" though, isn't terribly unique. You can use pretty much any pocket the same way (without the snaps), unless the insert is microfiber. Microfiber inserts MUST be inside the pocket and not touching the baby's skin.

[gumonyershoe]

Thanks for the responses again. I won't respond individually this time though.

I think what I'll do is see if I can find any NB sized not-prefolds used, and if I can't, then I'll look into some prefolds. Or, maybe I'll get some prefolds anyway because I can always use them as burp cloths or inserts/doublers when I move on to bigger diapers.

If anyone comes across Newborn sized diapers for sale used or cheap, lemme know! I've kinda been sneaking buying stuff (not diapers yet) without DH knowing. One more month and I can be more "out of the closet" with buying stuff!