[Sugaree]

I've been lurking around for awhile and have a few questions for you awesome ladies.

First off, what do YOU use and how many of each do you have? I am totally for CDing, but SO will probably end up being the SAHP so I need something that would be easiest for him. That means AIOs or pocket diapers (?? I'm still learning the terminology) I guess. I understand that is not the most economical way to go about it, but if it gets him on board then so be it.

Secondly, many people have said that you should wait until your child is born to start buying diapers because you never know what will fit the best. That being said, is there anything that can be bought early. We won't start TTC until late-summer/early-fall but I'd still like to start stocking up on as much baby stuff as I can so that we're not hit with all these expenses at once.

Thanks in advance!!

[shen7]

Welcome!

My experience with DHs is not actually that they can't handle something like a snappied prefold and cover. It is more that they want a straightforward stash, with as much sameness as possible. I find that moms like to experiment and have a little of many different types of diapers whereas dads want to do the same thing every time, every change. My DH loved our prefolds and was really good with a jellyroll and snappi and a velcro cover. You know your DH best though of course

I encourage you to just keep researching and looking around for brands and styles you like. I would put away money slowly rather than stock up on diapers slowly. New and better ones come out all the time and once you've done your research and saved up your money, you can wait for big sales when you are pregnant and stock up then. That's my advice anyway. I know some ladies just can't help themselves esp when it comes to newborn fluff

Okay and I am writing a book here sorry, but my stash was all GMD prefolds and covers through newborn and small, then I got into GMD workhorse fitteds and Tinkle Traps prefold fitteds, and finally in size Large we are doing Bottombumpers AIOs, Flip covers with padfolded flats, and fitteds (mostly Motherease Sandys) with wool and fleece, and I occasionally fold a flat or use one of our few toddler size prefolds. My stash got very ADD on me but I enjoy the variety now (although my husband always goes straight for the Flips and flats).

[Admin-Rachel]

Welcome! I didn't start with cloth from birth, but only because I just got tired of poop explosions.

I like AIO's. I have two, but they do seem to take longer to dry. They are the easiest to put on and the most like a disposable that I've used. I also use pockets, a mixture of Kawaii, Sunbaby, Alva, Oh Katy, Fuzzi Bunz and no name ones. I like the fit of the Sunbaby and Oh Katy the best for our slim babies (my son and my granddaughter). I like that they can be used from now till they potty learn and once you stuff them, they are very similar to an AIO. The most difficult thing for me is learning which is good for over night usage and which is not. I like the pockets because I can add an extra insert if I'm running to the store and don't want to worry about changing him during the trip. Also, my son's poop pattern is pretty predictable, so I can add an insert into the diaper (not the pocket) and it's much easier to clean up.

[AnotherOnTheWay]

My husband wanted the path of least resistance as well. This does not mean it has to be AIO and pockets though that is what most would imagine. I agree that the GMD (Green mountain diaper) work horses are a fitted diaper (a prefold that has been sewn into a diaper shape and has snaps/no snaps) and then you put a cover over. My husband said it was a good compromise for us as long as he wasn't folding cloth. So for my newborn stash, I am sewing my prefold (newborn size) into fitted diaprs for DH to use (much like the work horse diaper). If I hadn't already had them, I would buy the newborn workhorse.

All babies will fit into a newborn cloth diaper (not always a newborn disposable). Some are just in them longer than others but they tend fit all babies when first born. If you plan on having more than one kid there is definitely no reason NOT to buy a newborn sized cloth stash. I would go cheaper on it than your regular stash since it is outgrown the fastest. 18-24 diapers here.

After the newborn stage is really when you test the waters to see what works for your baby. Again prefolds/covers or fitted/covers will give you more versatility between kiddos but AIO/pockets are more user friendly. At this stage you can get what they call a OS (one size diaper that is adjustable as the baby grows) or you can buy sized AIO/Pockets (small, medium and large) as the baby grows. I like the OS since this is my last kiddo and are more economical. I have small and medium prefolds/covers from my DS that will also use as well.


So I guess bottom line...if you plan to CD more than one kiddo then don't worry about the $$ on the AIO/pocket can you will use them all again. I wouldn't buy a huge stash of one kind of diaper past newborn/small stage until you know what works great for your kiddo unless you have a good deal come up.

[Sugaree]

Thanks for all the advice!! You all brought up some very good points, especially regarding the economics regarding multiple children. I'm sure that I'll continue to lurk around here for quite awhile.

Thanks again!

[Gaby&Emmy'sMama]

welcome to the board!!!! I'm Emma (28), Mummy to Gaby (5) and Emmy (22mo).

I don't think there is anything wrong with starting your stash before your baby is born - I did it, and I am glad I did! As for how many and how many of what? I have an enormous collection of all the different types of diapers... I have over 150 diapers all up, and that is rather excessive

The most basic, cheapest stash (made of AIO or pockets) you could probably have would be 2-3 dozen Sunbaby pocket diapers - they are really cheap, but seem to be pretty good quality

I do recommend buying newborn size diapers for the newborn stage - and to be honest, if I was going to be buying newborn size diapers, I would buy the whole stash preloved - because they are in them for such a short amount of time....