How do you start building your stash?

colorsplashstudio

So I am very eager to do cloth diapering. I am thinking of purchasing one size AIO diapers, about 24 of them and start doing it when LO is big enough to fit into them and using disposables until that time. This is my first so I'm nervous about being overwhelmed by everything let alone trying cloth diapering the first couple months, although I'm debating getting a few NB workhorse fitted ones just to try my hand at it off and on at home the first few months. My question is...I want to buy diapers now! I want to just haul off and buy all the AIO diapers, all the same, same brand, but it sounds like this isn't very wise. People seem to buy a bunch of different brands to see what works for them or not. So how do I start building my stash?? Do you just buy a few different brand diapers and then unload the ones you aren't reaching for as time goes on?

mrshudson618

We bought a whole stash of what we thought we wanted( prefolds) and just a few others to try in case we didn't like the prefolds, which we did. We started right away though, so we needed a while stash.

Since you aren't planning on starting right away, you could just get a few diapers and try them before you get a lot of anything. You will already be using sposies, so you don't need to have a full stash to start.

Have you been to a CD store in person? How sure are you about what you want? If you are sure that you want AIOs I would at least get a few different brands, because what you want based on research may just not fit your baby.

And I would not destash anything you don't love right away, as things fit so differently as babies grow, something you don't love at first could be a favorite later.

ElleBeeDub

Yeah... WSS. 

I was determined to only buy 2nd hand and super-on-sale diapers when we first started, so I wound up with an extremely varied full stash to start. As time goes on, I've bought and sold based on our needs and what works best. While I'm happy with our stash now, there are some diapers that I wish I hadn't sold when I did because I think they would fit G much better now than they did then.

freezorburn

You could do a diaper trial or rental from Jillian's Drawers (or other) during the NB phase. That might be a nice way to ease into it and try different types and brands. Then it's easy to just return what you don't like, keep what you do like and buy more of what you like.

km_md

I bought a few AC shells used from a friend and bought a couple of new BGs (AIO and 4.0) to try out to see what I liked. I didn't know much about cloth so I stuck to a couple of brands that friends recommended and I had used on kids in my moms daycare. We also did disposables for the first couple of months. Once she fit into the cloth we did a mixture of cloth and disposables for a few weeks since I didn't have a big stash until we knew what worked. Then I just bought more of what I liked.

From being on this board I've learned a lot and am considering trying other diapers but this is working for us right now and I have enough changes to get me through so I don't need to buy anything right now.

emmylou78

I did the taboo and bought prefolds with various covers for NB, then all bumgenius 4.0 for my stash. I added in a few flips for fun when they were on sale. I wanted the easiest thing so I'd stick with it. I chose BG bc it was a middle of the road for cost (esp if you catch sales) and they seemed generally well liked across the board. Also I wanted ease of use for y mom who watches baby, so keeping with one brand was the appeal. I lucked out and it's worked perfectly for me.

I've ventured out with a few best bottoms for fun, Kawaii for NB, and a couple Thirsties on sale. I still reach for my BGs though 90% of the time. It's what's best for you.

colorsplashstudio

Thanks ladies! I just posted another discussion, but I bit the bullet and made a purchase. I bought a half dozen GMD workhorse fitted in newborn size and a couple waterproof covers from etsy, a simplex AIO and a BG AIO newborn. I just kinda want to try a few here and there and get an idea of what I like for when she's big enough to wear OS diapers. I have a feeling I am going to like the GMD ones for before she can wear AIO OS and hopefully buy some more. This is our first so I'm hoping it all works out and then I can reuse the diapers a second and maybe third time, then I can just buy a few new covers if the next one is a boy. I think I am going to slowly start building my stash of BG Freetimes if I see sales and whatnot, but we'll see what happens! I have some stuff to return to target from my shower so I'm thinking of using the money for some BGs from there.

12bailey18

I'm a newbie and have only lurked but I'm expecting twins and looking into cloth to save money. Our city has a buy/sell/ trade CD FB page and I've been scoping that out. I recently bought a mixed stash from someone so I could start building. I wanted a variety to see what I like and I also wanted to buy used to cut down cost. Our consignment store in town also holds CD classes and keeps a good stock so I'm going to look there too.

ABColeslaw

I have a very varied OS stash, although half of it is made up of Best Bottoms.  I will say I find use for everything in my stash, I would be very hesitant to ever marry one type or brand of dipe. 

If you want to try your hand at the NB thing along with your 6 work horses, add a dozen prefolds, that way if you do take to Cding in the NB stage, you can do it more and rely on sposies less.  The cost investment is very small and if you don't like them?  Burp cloths.  You don't need to buy any more covers that what you have to try these out.