The Dish on Cloth Diapering

MrsHoot · #1 July 22nd, 2010, 07:17 PM

OK. So I got my BFP today (WOOOOO-HOOOO) and I'm wondering about Cding. First off, I will most definitely have to convince DH to do this. What has everyone used and are they easy to use? I remember in college babysitting for someone who use CDs and I was horrified! LOL I just couldn't see how that would be good.

DHs main concern is absorbency. My main concern-- how do you clean them and are they easy to clean? Are there some brands that are better than others? A friend of mine used gDiapers and I think she likes them pretty well. And my other friend uses them as well, I'm not sure what brand she got but they look like a lot of the ones you have posted on here. They also had this sort of easy diaper washer pump thing that they used. Does anyone have one of those?

I would love to present a logical, sound position to DH about Cding, or atleast seriously looking into it. What are some pros and cons?

Thanks for your help!

*krista* · #2 July 22nd, 2010, 07:28 PM

I was all ready to CD, but when I started running out of the gifted sposies I got a little nervous about it. Honestly, though, I think it is so much easier! With the rate that Charlotte blows out of her darn sposies I had to change her and me every time she pooed.

I have to make this quick... I really love AI2s! I'm currently using Grovia and ordered some Best Bottom which I can't wait to try. I might be able to post a little more later, but I'm sure you will get some great advice!

Oh, and this is how you announce your bfp??! Congratulations woman!

Frozendesire · #3 July 22nd, 2010, 08:08 PM

well first off congratulations!!!!

I love my AI2 Flips

I think EVERYONE in here knows that now haha. I love the fit and I love how absorbant the organic inserts are. Dustin can go all night with 1 organic insert. I top it with a fleece liner I made, it keeps him completely dry and usually catches his poop for the day since he does it first thing in the morning

Of course most one size diaper systems wont fit baby right away. Most people reccomend a prefold and cover system. It's cheap and the prefolds can be used as inserts for extra absorbancy later on, the covers last for a while as well. We will be using an AIO system just for convenience and it's what James prefered. I have a stash of Lil Joey's. I have a few more to buy but that's all my stash will be... which isn't reccomended!! haha. It's always best to get a bit of everything so you can find what works for you and baby.

I hope that helps a bit

Mars · #4 July 23rd, 2010, 05:26 AM

WOOHOOO!!!! CONGRATS!!!

I don't know much about CDing but they are a whole bunch of ladies here who CD so you'll get some great help.

~Caroline~ · #5 July 23rd, 2010, 06:27 AM

I don't know anything about CD (yet), but woohoo! Congratulations!!

MrsHoot · #6 July 23rd, 2010, 08:14 AM

Thanks for the congratulations!!! Lol I posted in AIP but wasn't sure where all I should post my beloved bfp. =)

Thanks for the information so far! I feel like I need someone to show and explain to me how everything works! Are there ever retailers that sell them that would be able to do something like that??

Thanks again!! =)

szczepanski · #7 July 23rd, 2010, 08:44 AM

There are lots of CD shops out there now....you can touch and feel them and figure out what will work best for you that way.

We use cloth and love it. Mostly pockets but we use prefolds in the mornings because he poops a ton. I have all different kinds and brands and love the variety.

Congrats on your BFP!

*krista* · #8 July 23rd, 2010, 09:10 AM

Okay, I'm back...

Yeah if you can find a brick and mortar CD store in your area they will more than likely be happy to demo for you. If not you can find lots of videos on it. But I will try and break down the different types for you right quick. Hopefully this is the kind of information you need... sorry if you already know all this stuff!

Most covers pretty much go on like a disposable. What differs is the method of absorbancy, whether it be prefolds, pocket inserts, etc. Some are more difficult to deal with than others.

Prefolds are absorbant cotton cloth you pin up around baby like an old school style cotton diaper, except they make things that make it easier to put on now instead of using pins... they are called snappies and they work like the pins on an ace bandage. You put a waterproof cover over it. They are the cheapest but most people would say most cumbersome with a wiggly baby. It is like putting on two diapers, the prefold and then the cover, and the prefold can be clumbsy to put on. The prefolds come in different sizes but the covers you can get in one size or specific sizes. I got my prefolds from Green Mountain Diapers: Cloth diapers and diaper covers for baby. They have really good ones. I'm not a big fan of prefolds because Charlotte has sensitive skin and they are very wet against her skin. And if you use them overnight, since they fit like a diaper, there is more area of the skin that gets wet as opposed to using an insert, which is shaped more like a woman's menstrual pad.

Pockets are basically waterproof covers with an area for an absorbant insert to be stuffed in. I don't have any experience with these. You basically stuff the pocket in before putting it on, and take it out to wash.

AI2s are my fav. With mine you have the waterproof cover and the absorbant insert just snaps in. For more absorbancy (like for overnight) I just put a hemp insert on top of it. With the new Best bottoms that I'm getting, the extra overnight insert snaps in too so there will be no shifting around. These seem easier to me than stuffing and unstuffing pockets, but like I said, no experience with pockets here. That is just my opinion/bias.

AI1 is just like a disposable, all one piece. They are much more expensive. With other systems you can buy just a few covers (like however many times baby poops a day) and more inserts because you don't necessarily have to change the cover every time the baby pees. The cover is the expensive part. With AI1s, you have to use an entirely new diaper each time, so the expense adds up. And they say they take forever to dry once washed.

Those are most of the main types. There are different options for each ones, like snaps vs velcro, different insert materials like fleece, which leaves baby feeling drier, and hemp, which is more absorbant for overnight or heavy wetters, hybrid systems like flip that use covers with disposable inserts, etc.

I started out with prefolds to fit newborn and the next size up and some one size AI2s. One size is great because they grow with baby but they will be huge on a newborn. But honestly prefolds are big on a newborn too. Charlotte started fitting well in her one size diapers at about 6 or 7 weeks, but she is on the big side. If I could do it again I would either go with an entire system of something like Best Bottom, which have one size covers but the snap in inserts come in different sizes, or I would just use my one size covers made for AI2s with some prefolds to avoid having to buy separate covers just for the prefolds, then once she got bigger use them with the AI2 inserts. I bought newborn covers and she grew out of them fast. But I am still glad I got prefolds, they make great pads to put over waterproof changing pads for some absorbancy, and I use them to transfer her to and from the shower... I just wish I didn't go overboard on them and focused more on something like my AI2s.

Was that long enough?

Oh and some convincing points for your DH... my DH wasn't sold on CDs until he saw that she has never blown out of one. And if your DH is not happy about poo in the washing machine, there will be poo in there anyway each time baby has a diaper leak or projectile poos on you when you are changing him/her. Poo will get on something that will go in the washing machine, whether it is your clothes his/her clothes, or DH's clothes. It is great to not have to worry about buying disposables and wipes, and CDs can be a big money saver if you don't go overboard. I thought I wanted to only wash diapers every 2 to 3 days, but really I prefer it every day to day an a half, so I could have gotten a lot less diapers than I did. What else... obviously there is less waste and you don't have to worry about when trash day is because there are diapers stinking up the trash can.

Hope that helps!

Kiwi · #9 July 23rd, 2010, 05:30 PM

Congrats on your BFP!!! That happened so quickly for you!!

Will be interested in reading this post as I'm interested in CD'ing as well, and am just learning the ropes. I"m going to a store in a few weeks that just sells cloth diapers, so will be interesting to hear what they have to say.

MrsHoot · #10 July 23rd, 2010, 09:32 PM

Thanks for the congrats Kiwi, it sure did!! And Krista- THANKS. Exactly what I needed!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for that wealth of information and I know more where to start now!

Kiwi · #11 July 24th, 2010, 11:26 PM

So when are you due?!

MrsHoot · #12 July 25th, 2010, 09:27 AM

I should be due on April 1st, unless anything changes at the doctor's appt!! I go for my first appt in 2 weeks. =)

MrsHoot · #13 July 25th, 2010, 12:22 PM

Two more questions I thought of....

1. Has anyone ever tried the generic brands they have for sale on Ebay? I kinda figure they may not be as good as some of the brand names, but was curious to see if anyone had tried them.

2. Will they cloth diaper at a daycare??? We will have to do some sort of daycare (hopefully an in-home one, I'm thinking) and I'm just wondering if they would be willing/open to do this as well. HMMMM.

*krista* · #14 July 25th, 2010, 12:31 PM

Never tried the stuff on ebay...

I just asked as I was screening the daycares. Some of them would, some wouldn't. It is just a case by case basis. Some of them had never even heard of it. When I toured some of them I brought a CD with me to show them how easy it is. You have to make sure they know that you don't want them to wash them, they just need to put them in a bag provided by you. The daycare we are going with said they will do CDs.

alicenwonderland · #15 July 25th, 2010, 05:03 PM

How did i miss this post?! Super big congrats on your BFP!!!

I don't have any experience, because i'm still pregnant with my first. But i'm using prefolds, fitteds, and covers. Many different brands, i want to try thing out.

MrsHoot · #16 July 25th, 2010, 07:14 PM

Thanks for the answers Krista, you are very helpful!!

Alice-- sounds like a great idea! I think that's the route I will go too, just to see what works best for the baby. =) Thanks for the congrats, I am super excited!

alicenwonderland · #17 July 25th, 2010, 07:51 PM

I actually posted this on the cloth diaper board. This is my nb stash.

The prefolds, flats, and one fitted are from Green Mountain Diapers. Then I have kissaluvs, Bumgenius AIO and bamboo fitteds, sage mama fitteds, very baby fitteds, Happy Heiny minis, thirsties aio, lil joeys, thirsties swaddlebees and imse vimse covers.

*krista* · #18 July 25th, 2010, 09:17 PM

That's a lot for just nb size Alice!

alicenwonderland · #19 July 26th, 2010, 07:43 AM

i know lol, keep in mind how long i was TTC, and i bought a diapers after failed cycled to make myself feel better lol. All the prefolds are not newborn size, at least those will fit for a while. You should see the REST of my stash lol.

Kiwi · #20 July 26th, 2010, 09:49 PM

An april fools baby! How cool!

I was due on the 9th of April, but arrived on the 4th. My sister was due on the 1st of April but arrived on the 30th March. My Mum spent both pregnancies freaking out that she'd have an April Fools Baby! I always thought it would have been cool to have been born then!!