[ScottishBrit]

OK so I know this is a lil late since my child is almost 1 but I was just wondering about cloth diaper's....I seriously know NOTHING....I was always for them cause the good for the environment and other reason's but didn't want to use them cause of washing them, ewww...I know you know what I mean. So someone explain to me how these cute things work? Do you use 1 all day ( Ive seen insert things?? ) or do you use multiple ones every day? How do they wash? Do they ever get super messy with poop? Are there Inserts you take in and out and thats what get's messy and you wash that? My whole Idea of cloth Diapering ( Old school in know! ) is that thin gauzey type held together by pins....Im thinking when we have another I do want to try and use them but as of right now dont know anything about them

[♥Ashley♥]

Im glad you asked this Amy, ive always wanted to cloth diaper...but have been too embarassed to ask these questions! lol Because I, like you, know NOTHING about it!!

[mj4409]

I would be really interested in this too!

[ScottishBrit]

Yay, I thought I was the only one that didn't know about this stuff

[Frozendesire]

I would love to learn more about it. I don't know if it is really possible for us to do.. but I think they are SO cute!! and I would SO do it with Dustin

[szczepanski]

Cloth diapers are so cute. Basically, there are all in ones (where its the waterproof cover and absorbent insert) pockets (water proof cover and a removable absorbent insert) and diaper covers with prefolds.

All in ones - you wash the entire thing and can only use it once per #1 or #2.

Pockets allow you to add whatever absorbent material you want in between the water proof cover and soft inner. Very customizable for a heavy wetter, etc.

Diaper covers go over a prefold (the old fashioned style of diaper people you are used to). You can use the cover a few times, changing the prefold part only. Sometimes you can just wipe it off if it gets a bit poopy or peed on. Those can just get thrown in the wash as well.

Lots and lots of colors, styles, materials, etc. I'm not a cloth diaper user right now - I plan on using them and am learning any and everything there is to know about them, hehe. It seems expensive at first but the cost comparison to continuously buying sposies is much cheaper. Lots of different sizes as well...they even make "one size" that supposable fit from birth to potty training. Different brands have different fits, longer/leaner babies vs chubbier thighs and all that so it takes some experimenting to see what fit is best for your little one sometimes. Different companies do have trial packages where you can try all sorts of different kinds of styles, fits, etc. for a pretty good deal (usually around $150).

I plan on using covers for around the house and pockets or all in ones for public/trips.

[Kristen_at_the_lake]

There are all kinds of cloth diapers. We use prefold w/ covers for the most part. We alternate between four covers during the day. Each time he goes potty (#1 or #2) he gets a new prefold and we switch out the cover. We have 24 prefolds for his current size (that will fit until he's about 30 lbs). I have to do a load of diapers about every 3rd day. If his poop is runny then we just rinse it out in the sink and put it in the wet bag. If he just peed then I don't rinse the diaper, I just put it in the bag. On wash day I use Oxyclean spray on all of the diapers with poo marks. I wash once with some homemade laundry soap and then a second load where I add vinegar to soften them. Do not put dryer sheets in the dryer with them.
We also do not use pins, even though we own probably 20 pairs of them. We use Snappis and they are wonderful and so easy. No poking the baby.

[soImarriedAnerd]

ok the pockets though---so you change the insert parts---isn't the top layer still dirty (layer closest to baby)?
--I''m planning on doing prefolds/covers because of how we live. But now that I know we will be in the country for a few months I'm looking at some AIO and pockets also.
Great questions amy!

[szczepanski]

Yes, the pockets are one time use like the all in ones. The nice thing about pockets is you can make your own absorbency level. So if you have a heavy wetter at night you can add more absorbency in there to keep from springing a leak.

[greeneyes]

NAKing...

We've got some AWESOME resources on the CD Board! Also, we have a chat every Weds from 2 - 3 pm EST in the Lounge Room.

I can explain it in Michelle terms But be forewarned, I may be wrong about some things since I am new to this and Jack isn’t even here yet. Anyone please feel free to correct me if I am.

You have two main types of cloth diapers--those that do need a cover, and those that don't.

Need a cover:
Prefolds--like the ones you can get at Target that many people use as burp rags. The generic store ones are not that great, so people usually use ones from one of two companies, Little Lions (LL) and Green Mountain Diapers (GMD). Prefolds are folded and secured in place using either a diaper pin, a plastic thing called a snappi, or some moms just fold the prefold and lay it in the diaper cover.
Fitted--these of course are fitted into the shape of a diaper, but need a cover. They can be made out of a variety of things like cotton, velour, bamboo, and usually have extra layers built in for absorption. Some popular newborn ones around here seem to be nanipoos, and Kissaluvs. There are tons of different brands and types.

Don't need a cover b/c the cover is built in:
Pockets--you can stuff them with doublers, insert or even small prefolds.
All in Ones--you don't stuff these, they are pre-stuffed (at least, that is my understanding).
Al lin twos--similar to AIO diapers but I think part of the cloth layers is removable or something making it easier to get clean. Again, I am a novice so I could be wrong.

There are some popular one size diapers like Bum Genius 3.0 that fit into the don't need a cover category. A lot of people like the versatility and ease of Bum Genius. Fuzzi Bunz are also poular, but there are sooo many brands that people love. And then there are doubler and inserts. These are used either to lay in the diaper for extra absorption, or to stuff pocket diapers with.

All diapers get poo'ed or pee'd once and then they wait to be washed. From what I read most people wash them every other day so that is what I planned for.

What does not usually get washed in between messes unless they are soiled or super messy are the covers if using fitted or pre-folds. There are cotton, wool, fleece and PUL (which have some type of plastic layer) covers. There are most likely more then that but I am a novice. The PUL ones seem to be the most popular, and are brands like Thirsties or Bummis. They can have an aplex/velcro closure or snaps. They often can just be wiped out between changes and left to dry so you can use it on the next change. Wool--all I know right now is that you don't wash it with the regular cloth diaper stuff, and when you do clean it once every few weeks or so you use a special soap or lanolize it. Then there are longies and shorties which I guess are pants or shorts that are a wool cover but I know nothing about that.

As for liners, some people do use paper of cloth liners in the diaper to try and contain the mess on that rather then the diaper itself. I have no idea if they then re-use that diaper or what. And as far as messes, poo gets put in the toilet and flushed like our poo, and there are sprayers you can attach to your toilet to spray off debris before putting the messy diaper in the diaper bag too. I think most moms dealing with breastfed poo just toss it all in the pail.

So that is about it. And then many moms use cloth wipes too so that it all can go in the same washable diaper bag/pail liner during a change.

Oh, and here are a couple of popular cloth diaper store websites. I got some of my stash from these places:

Nicki's Diapers: Cloth diapers and diaper covers.

BumGenius-Pedoodles-Fuzzi Bunz-Ergo Baby Carrier

Hope that helps. The CD board on JM is AWESOME!

[Resi]

Everyone did a good job at explaining everything.

When Oliver was a newborn we did prefolds with cover mostly. I loved the prefolds/covers because we had so many and it was a breeze to use them. Now I do prefolds/covers at nights (they are really bulky with clothes on during the day). During the day it's bumkins AIO's which are my favorite to use. We also have the Bum Genuis Pockets OS and I HATE them. 80% of the time the leak on me. I don't bother with them usually but DH and my Mom use them.

[.Brandi.]

Originally Posted by Resi

Everyone did a good job at explaining everything.

When Oliver was a newborn we did prefolds with cover mostly. I loved the prefolds/covers because we had so many and it was a breeze to use them. Now I do prefolds/covers at nights (they are really bulky with clothes on during the day). During the day it's bumkins AIO's which are my favorite to use. We also have the Bum Genuis Pockets OS and I HATE them. 80% of the time the leak on me. I don't bother with them usually but DH and my Mom use them.

Resi, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who HATES the BG Pockets. I'm a prefold kind of mom. Chris likes the pockets and the AIOs.....I don't mind the AIOs, but I still prefer the prefolds.

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

I wish there was a store where I could get hands on with all this stuff. It's hard to know what I'd like without PLAYING with them, ya know? AIOs sound the easiest... are they the most expensive? They soundd just like sposies except you wash them. Right?

[.Brandi.]

Originally Posted by LadyCoconut

I wish there was a store where I could get hands on with all this stuff. It's hard to know what I'd like without PLAYING with them, ya know? AIOs sound the easiest... are they the most expensive? They soundd just like sposies except you wash them. Right?

Yes, you are correct. As far as price goes, they are about middle of the road, IMO. I would probably like AIOs, if I had a good brand. I have Kushies and while the newborn AIOs were great, the infant size isn't so good. They leak and the fit sucks. But a lot of cloth diaper sites offer a package where you can try different diapers and some will let you return them for your money back or something along that line.

[~Jess~]

I just did a review of the bumgenius all-in-one, lol. It's not posted to the site yet, so here's my photobucket link if you're interested: I love how it always freeze-frames making you look like a fool

[.Brandi.]

Jess, you are so hot! Awesome video!! Alyssa is such a little chunky girl!!

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

Jess you are such a MILF... you totally look like you're naked in the majority of the video until you're on your hands and knees lookin' all smokin! Watching that video made me want that diaper baddddd! You should get a job on HSN!

[bittersweet]

Jess that video is great!! You should go into advertisment. It makes me want those diapers!

[~Jess~]