cloth diapering

[ides]

Re: cloth diapering

Just FYI, you may find that you need to double up the preemie/newborn size once the babe is a week or two old. They tend to be very thin! I was in infant size by about a month? They lasted until, oh, 6 months I think. Not 35 pounds, definitely!

Or are you talking about infant and premium sizes? If so, you'll probably find the infants quite bulky on a brand new baby, but that's just aesthetic. Well, and it might affect the size of the cover you can use.

Yeah. I meant infant and premium sizes. I'm a little worried the infant will be a bit big at first. Would a snappi help with this? I did buy a dozen flats to use as doublers, burp cloths, etc. So far, I have a variety of small size (8-15 lbs) diaper covers. I haven't yet purchased the premium sizes. I figure those can wait for now. Dh and I are seriously considering buying this washer: http://www.appleappliances.com/product.php?model=DWM99W
It's small and I've read good reviews from other nyers that use cloth on it's effectiveness and quietness. It's on wheels and attaches to the sink. I'm also hoping to wash every two days. The last thing I want is a nasty smell permeiating our tiny apt.

Any other advice for a newbi cloth adventurer?

[spotty_dog]

Re: cloth diapering

Yeah. I meant infant and premium sizes. I'm a little worried the infant will be a bit big at first. Would a snappi help with this?

I think Kirsty had her baby in infants pretty much from birth? He was a nice sized boy and they weren't big for long. I think that the place the bulk will get frustrating is in fastening the diaper, whether with Snappi or pins. You might find it easier to tri-fold the diaper in a good wrap cover at first.

I did buy a dozen flats to use as doublers, burp cloths, etc.

If you start practicing folds from http://gumbush.com now, you might find that the flats make the perfect interim newborn diapers, actually! You can get a great fit on almost any size baby with a flat.

So far, I have a variety of small size (8-15 lbs) diaper covers. I haven't yet purchased the premium sizes. I figure those can wait for now.

Sounds good. I'd advise newborn covers if you were using smaller diapers, but the smalls will probably be about right to go over infant prefolds. Here's Eddy in an infant prefold (probably fastened with a Snappi) and small Bummis Whisper Wrap at just over 2 weeks:

[ides]

Re: cloth diapering

Thanks Allison! I'll check out gumbush.com.

Such a cute pic!

Re: cloth diapering

HELP! I'm overwhelmed!

I'd love it if our cloth diapering gurus could point me to a site or two where I can just get what I need! The service I plan to use will give me prefolds, so I need the appropriate kind of covers for those. I get confused by all of the different brands, all of the different terms for the diapers, etc. I just want to buy a few cute covers for the diapers, and a couple sets of snappies (at least I know I need those).

TIA!

[fluffhead]

Re: cloth diapering

Using prefolds, the imse vimse wraps (cotton, not wool) have worked very nicely for us - a few have lasted through to the 4th kid.

[SuzySunshine]

Re: cloth diapering

Because of the diapers we use we don't use covers, but several of my diapering friends that do recommend this site:

http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.co...p?idCategory=5

[ides]

Re: cloth diapering

Though I haven't started yet I got mine from cottonbabies.com
I got a couple prowraps classic (the newborn size has an umbilical cord dip and I've heard that they work great for newborns), one bummies super whisper wrap, one bummies super snap and two thirsties covers. I wanted to get a variety to try as I'm not sure which I'll like best or which will work best for the baby. There are mom reviews on diaperpin.com about these covers and most seem to like thirsties, bummies and prowraps as the basic work horses.

[spotty_dog]

Re: cloth diapering

I like Thirsties covers for the bright colors, thin PUL, and functional gussets. Bummis Super Brites come in some cute patterns, they're thicker but that might make them better if you think you'd like to trifold the diaper in the cover, and not mess around with the Snappi at first. (They also have a gusset, which Bummis Super Whisper Wraps don't, though I didn't have any trouble with the SWW!)

I think you'll want about six covers during the newborn phase, as squishy newborn poo often escapes the diaper. Unless your service is providing preemie size diapers, I'd go with size Small covers (see my post and photo of Eddy above.)

http://nickisdiapers.com has free shipping on all covers. They also have Snappis.

(Oh, and I already posted the link to Starbunz covers! Cuteness! If you think you might be interested in wool, let me know and I'll hook you up with some sites for starters, or you can go ahead and search Etsy and http://hyenacart.com. )

Re: cloth diapering

It really is overwhelming isn't it Jane? I now end up skipping the research and just asking spottydog!!

I have to agree on the Thirsties covers though, they fit the best with prefolds when Jack was first born and also now with his fat little legs! The gusset part is great.

[Michele]

Re: cloth diapering

I've ordered from nickisdiapers and was happy. I've also ordered from emibeans.com and was happy too.

I think one of the things you can decide Jenn is whether you want the cover to close with velcro or snaps....I think that can narrow down the cover list....I prefer velcro, but my friend in town prefers snaps.

I also think a bit of the preferences comes down to shape of baby. Chunky squat babies wear a cover differently than long lean babes. You might be able to predict yours based on the boys, but she may be different being a girl. Daegan's so skinny, that I (only use BumGenius now) have some trouble keeping the leg straps tight around his legs....it may be because the diapers are wearing out....definitely one negative to the "one-size" kind.

Re: cloth diapering

I like Thirsties covers for the bright colors, thin PUL, and functional gussets. Bummis Super Brites come in some cute patterns, they're thicker but that might make them better if you think you'd like to trifold the diaper in the cover, and not mess around with the Snappi at first. (They also have a gusset, which Bummis Super Whisper Wraps don't, though I didn't have any trouble with the SWW!)

I think you'll want about six covers during the newborn phase, as squishy newborn poo often escapes the diaper. Unless your service is providing preemie size diapers, I'd go with size Small covers (see my post and photo of Eddy above.)

http://nickisdiapers.com has free shipping on all covers. They also have Snappis.

(Oh, and I already posted the link to Starbunz covers! Cuteness! If you think you might be interested in wool, let me know and I'll hook you up with some sites for starters, or you can go ahead and search Etsy and http://hyenacart.com. )

ALISON! How much will I have to pay you to get you to come to Kansas City and give me a tutorial???????????? My service does offer preemie size - should I get those at least for the first week?

I found a cloth diapering store in Kansas City during my online searches last night. I'm hoping to drag Davita there in the next few days. I think I'll have more of a grasp of the topic if I can actually GRASP the items.

[spotty_dog]

Re: cloth diapering

ALISON! How much will I have to pay you to get you to come to Kansas City and give me a tutorial???????????? My service does offer preemie size - should I get those at least for the first week?

How big were the boys? Eddy fit preemie size really well for at least a couple of weeks, though I doubled them up after a few days because they're really thin. He was born at 7 lbs 3 oz. I definitely like having diapers that fit a bit trimmer, a little dipe on a little babe -- you're going to be a bit astounded I think by the bulk of an infant size diaper on a new baby, since you're used to disposables!

I found a cloth diapering store in Kansas City during my online searches last night. I'm hoping to drag Davita there in the next few days. I think I'll have more of a grasp of the topic if I can actually GRASP the items.

Yay! I loved our little Phoenix iMSN road trip to the diaper store, it was so fun to pet all the different fluff (much of which I had only seen on the internet!)

Re: cloth diapering

The boys were 8 & 8.5 lbs. I had an ultrasound yesterday that estimates this one is 4.9 lbs right now, and I'm 32.5 weeks along, w/an induction scheduled at 39 weeks. I know those weight estimates can be as off by as much as a pound, which is a LOT in a newborn.

She's head down, too! Let's hope she stays that way.

Re: cloth diapering

Davita & I adventured to the one and only cloth diapering store in a 200 mile (at least) radius, and now Davita is hooked. I'm committed to giving it a try - with the service, of course. I may sound like a total weenie, but at least I know my limitations!

The cloth diapering store was SUPER crunchy. Methinks the owner is an actively posting member on mothering.com . They sold pins there that said thinks like "Hospitals are for sick people" and "My baby says no to drugs". After the owner gave me a little demo on how pre-folds work, she said "Well, if you're going to cloth diaper, then you might as well use cloth wipes." I quickly said "I'm not using cloth wipes. I know my limitations." The look she gave me! You'd think I'd just told her that I was planning to swaddle my newborn in the skins of endangered species that had been soaked in petroleum!

[HouseofWool]

Re: cloth diapering

Honestly? Cloth wipes gross me out too even though I am pretty hooked on the whole cloth diapering thing... I still figure it is better for my pocket book and the environment than using disposibles. Now I just need to find a place locally to look at the pre-folds...