I have been wanting to cloth diaper for awhile and just trying to work out what I will need. I am thinking of going with prefolds for the majority, but hoping you experienced mommies could help me out. Is this practical for a newborn?? Should I wait a few weeks/months to start?? I will be on my own with laundry and housework. Dh has been an awesome help in the past, but already has his hands overflowing at this point and I do not want to put anymore on him.
Do prefolds work well at night? The liners, inserts and doubler things are a little overwhelming? Is it better to go with something thicker for nights?
I still have lots of time to decide.

Thank you! Thank you!
:-D Kathaleen

I've used newborn size fitteds for my newbies. That's the only 'special' size I buy. Some standard size prefolds were given to me, so I never purchased the smaller newborn size. I have *heard* they do well, but I only have experience with newborn fitteds...which I love and see as totally worth the expense :p I use those for 3-6 months (depending on the baby...how long I can squish 'em in there :p) then go to Mother Ease One Size diapers...only needing to then have 2 size covers. :)

I never have figured out a good night time system. My first one or two managed ok, but after that, I never found my groove and didn't have the $ to put into new, expensive 'systems'...disposable was less stress for me.

I wish I could tell you I had a good experience with cloth diapers but I didn't .... I really tried and I even tried to get encouragement knowing that others just love cloth diapering... I even tried doing it for the guilt of having made my DH spent buying them when I knew we couldn't really afford them all at once I convinced him it would be a 'saving' on the long run... but they just didn't work for me.... I was using the FuzzyBunz and don't take me wrong ... I've heard many people love them... it might just be my very particular case! It was just insanity here! I had to be changing them every 45 minutes to an hour and they were SOAKING WET most of the time, Natalia was all fussy and even her clothes would get wet! I LIVED to change diapers... I finally stopped 'cause I was going nuts! I didn't even have time to take a shower sometimes 'cause I had to be either changing a diaper or feeding her or washing diapers or folding them! I still had to use disposable diapers at night and when we went out ... =sigh= I wish they had worked for me! Dh is buying disposables all the time now and I have a bunch of almost new cloth diapers.... I might try to sell them... at least now I have time to clean the house, cook and take a shower... Dh was kind of bummed at the beginning, when I told him I just couldn't do the cloth ones but he is happier now to come to a clean house and seeing we have some time for ourselves when he is here I am not changing diapers all the time...

sorry... This sounds more like a post to go to the "gripe box" I hope others can tell you of much better experiences... I guess every child is just different... maybe my recommendation would be to not buy them all at once, try different types, see what works for you...

Hugs!

Paloma.

Prefolds at night were not practical for me since ds is a huge wetter...always has been and at night would squirm because they don't keep him dry enough. Prefolds are cheapest, but you may think of investing in maybe only a few pocket diapers for night. You and baby may sleep better. I found Fuzzy Bunz to work best for ds with THREE inserts now... (yep, I said 3...Ugh..) 8/ LOL. When he was younger, two inserts did the trick.

I found Fuzzy Bunz to work best for ds with THREE inserts now... (yep, I said 3...Ugh..) 8/ LOL. When he was younger, two inserts did the trick.

[whatcrazy]

wow! maybe that would be the trick! but... isn't that too much!? I mean... with the fuzzy bunz I already find my daughter looking weird ha ha ha... even her pants are hard to fit! I mean... they have to be kind of too big but then the legs are too long to! ... wow! interesting... that could be the solution for me.... since your boy's been a big wetter like it seems my daughter is ... how often are you changing diapers now with the 3 inserts?

Paloma.

I have a bunch of almost new cloth diapers.... I might try to sell them...


What size are they? I'm looking to buy some medium Fuzzi Bunz in the next few months. I never got enough mileage out of the smalls with DD. How many diapers do you have?

They are medium! I have 23, they are white, lavender, blue, aqua, green, and I think I have like 3 pink and 1 red.... I had 24 but I guess one of them was defective, the elastic band in one of the legs didn't work almost from the very beginning, they have no stains, no odors, they are really really new....

They are medium! I have 23, they are white, lavender, blue, aqua, green, and I think I have like 3 pink and 1 red.... I had 24 but I guess one of them was defective, the elastic band in one of the legs didn't work almost from the very beginning, they have no stains, no odors, they are really really new....

I wonder if that was part of the problem? My DD didn't fit mediums at all until 4 months old. Do you think that part of the problem was that your DD was in the wrong size? Using the wrong size can cause major leaks. How much did she weigh when you started and discontinued using them?

But anyway, if you decide to sell them, I would be interested, but they're not in the budget right now. It would probably be in the works about 4-6 months from now. How much would you want for them if you sold them?

well... I don't think it was the wrong size... since she was already in the 2nd. snap each side for her thighs and on I would say almost on the 3rd. one on her waist ... she was 16 pounds when I stopped.... I don't know how much I would sell them for... let me ask DH .... I think I bought them for $19 USD ... Let me check with him....

:)

Paloma.

I use (and absolutely love) my Bumgenious pocket diapers. Overnight Dd will wear them with a doubler. During the day it is mostly a moot point because she wears training underwear. Honestly I can't tell you what is best for a newbie since I started cloth when Dd 2 was already a toddler but I really like the one size Bumgenious. It starts extra small and unsnaps as baby gets bigger. I do use pre-folds and I will use a smaller prefold as a doubler for overnights although I prefer not to if I don't have to. I would also reccommend getting Snappies if you do use pre-folds. I love them so much better than diaper pins. They are easier to use and I don't have to worry about getting E with the sharp point of a pin.

Really the best thing to to get a couple of the different kinds of diapers and try them. I have always heard that what one mom loves another won't. I got lucky in that I loved the first pocket diaper I tried.

Here is a link to the site where I get my diapers from. Absolutely love them. http://www.kellyscloset.com/

I bought some preemie PF's & used those first. I also have small FB'S that I now stuff w/ the preemie PF'S!!!
I also have some Goodmamas & Mutts(they are very absorbent) you may like those for nights.
prefolds are a great buy!!!! They can be used as diapers, inserts, & burp cloths. They are easy to clean, dry fast & bleach out real well in the sun!!
I don't use pins, just lay inside a cover & fasten the cover.

Thanks guys, for all your advice.

I will buy some prefolds and a couple somethings? ha ha And just try and see how we do. They do sell FB's and mother ease down the street. That would be kind of handy for later, then I would not have to order.

Thank you!
[cheerful]

Wow this thread is so useful. [cmomsrocks] I am thinking of trying cloth diapers this time around, too.

Plaid- there's a company in Vancouver who "rents" out a variety pack... for you to try. http://www.newandgreen.com/TEST_Cloth_Diapers_cat.html

You may want to give something like this a try.

I use bumgenius one-size and whamies one-size. I love the bg and like the whamies. I used some generic fitteds with (thirsties) covers in the summer and didn't find them too bad for quick changes and running around the yard. I don't care for them going out- as they don't "last" long enough.

I've had build up problems in our hard water/he washing machine. But it seems to have resolved itself.
d:)

Thank you for the diaper link. What a great idea! We are in BC but far far from Vancouver so to bad that would not work for us. I am going to buy a few and see how we do. I was chatting with my Aunt the other day and she said at one time she had three in cloth diapers. :-D

Oh, I keep meaning to say Paloma.

That first babies are overwhelming. If you really wanted to try cloth diapers again. I think it would be easier with later babies. :-D I am guessing?? But I found the next babies way easier to care for overall. I honestly do not know about the diapering part, but maybe?? :-D

[whatcrazy]

wow! maybe that would be the trick! but... isn't that too much!? I mean... with the fuzzy bunz I already find my daughter looking weird ha ha ha... even her pants are hard to fit! I mean... they have to be kind of too big but then the legs are too long to! ... wow! interesting... that could be the solution for me.... since your boy's been a big wetter like it seems my daughter is ... how often are you changing diapers now with the 3 inserts?

Paloma.

I only have the 3 inserts at night and 2 in the day. He probably goes through about 7 diapers a day.

I only have the 3 inserts at night and 2 in the day. He probably goes through about 7 diapers a day.
I forgot to mention that ds pants ARE a bit more snug with the cloth diapers but we just go up a size in pants.