Cloth Diapering

Cloth Diapering questions

I'm new to cloth diapering but I'm not new to the idea of it.  My mom cloth diapered myself and my siblings back in the 80's and she did so with pre-folds, diaper pins and pull over white "rubbery type" covers.  She converted to disposables with my baby sister after a few short months of cloth diapering her as it got to be too much with my baby brother being in cloth as well (he's 18 months older than her).  

Before I got pregnant, DH and I had talked about Cloth but he had said he thought disposables would be easier for him and other family members to change, etc.  Shortly after I got pregnant, we started talking about it again and I showed him the cost difference between CD and Disposables.  He was shocked at the difference! I told him that we would spend a lot up front (over time of course) but it would last us through this baby AND another with the possibility of only having to replace a few things with the 2nd baby (i.e. covers/inserts that were too far gone, etc).  With this happening, we went to a local store that has cloth diapering expertise.  He was sold after the visit.  We decided on covers with inserts as it seemed to be a bit easier then AIO's or pockets.  

Since then, I've started my stash.  So far I have 4 unnamed (I got them off EBay) one size covers with beautiful PUL and elastics (I was told they were used but only briefly - it doesn't look it!!) as well as 2 Best Bottom covers with 6 small hemp (I think that's what the tag says) inserts (got them used off a BB Facebook group).  I also just purchased 2 more covers with 3 inserts (I believe one is an overnight soaker?) that should be delivered.  That's a total of 8 covers with only 9 inserts.  The little bit of research I did do, was saying 24 diapers for EOD washing.  I'm not sure if that was for AIO's or Covers w/inserts.  I'm not sure how many covers and inserts I should have in my stash as for some reason, I can't seem to find an accurate accounting for EOD washing.  I'm guessing I'll need at least 18 inserts of each size if I stick with Best Bottom and 14 covers?  

Any help would be appreciated.  Even links to information that I can book mark to show DH as he thinks I'm going over board with the searching.  I'm buying pre-owned but in EUC or GUC.  I did register for Ecobums start up package as well as some osocozy pre-folds for the unnamed covers I have.  I have GMD already bookmarked on my safari, but just browsing their site is confusing. 

Thank you in advance and sorry so long!

TLDR: New to CD.  Need help decided amount to stock up on for covers/inserts for EOD washing.

Rainbow Baby! BFP 02/20/2018 EDD 11/01/2018
BFP 10/31/2017 EDD 07/09/2018 Miscarriage 11/28/2017
DD # 1: BFP 5/22/2014  EDD 1/30/2015 Born 02/06/2015
DS # 1: BFP 7/18/2000 EDD 3/27/2001 Born 4/1/01

Re: Cloth Diapering questions


  • Are you planning to CD from the start?  OS diapers won't fit a skinny-legged NB.  Also the Ai2s (covers and inserts that you've been buying) aren't going to work well with NB poop unless you are ok with changing both the cover and insert each time.  Also, we recommend 36 changes for NBs because you will go through tons of diapers at first.

    What issues are you having with GMDs site?  It seems pretty easy. 
    I was hoping to start at birth and the bit of research I did was that OS won't fit NB unless they're over a certain weight and have chunky legs.  I haven't thought about getting the NB size for baby because if history repeats itself, I'll have a chunky monkey 9+ lb baby.  36 covers and inserts for NB? That's a little crazy for EOD washing.  

    I'm OK with getting NB covers and Inserts...but we are also ok with starting out with disposables until the cloth fits.  

    So you're saying that I'll need 36 covers and inserts in NB size for EOD washing?  What about after the NB size.  How many S/M/L and overnight inserts will I need? How many OS covers will I need?

    Rainbow Baby! BFP 02/20/2018 EDD 11/01/2018
    BFP 10/31/2017 EDD 07/09/2018 Miscarriage 11/28/2017
    DD # 1: BFP 5/22/2014  EDD 1/30/2015 Born 02/06/2015
    DS # 1: BFP 7/18/2000 EDD 3/27/2001 Born 4/1/01
  • 24 eod for once you're past the newborn stage. The bb really don't work great until you're having more plop able poop it just way less poop overall. They're great, though!
    Mama to a little girl born July 2011 and a little boy born April 2014! Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • 24 covers and inserts? That does seem like a lot.  Especially since I was told 26 AIO for EOD washing.

    Rainbow Baby! BFP 02/20/2018 EDD 11/01/2018
    BFP 10/31/2017 EDD 07/09/2018 Miscarriage 11/28/2017
    DD # 1: BFP 5/22/2014  EDD 1/30/2015 Born 02/06/2015
    DS # 1: BFP 7/18/2000 EDD 3/27/2001 Born 4/1/01

  • For the newborn phase I had 6 covers and 36 prefolds. It was fine for washing EOD although DS spit up all the time and we used prefolds for burp cloths so sometimes we were doing laundry every 1 1/2 days.
    ^^ Thats the number I was looking for! Good. :) 

    Now, how about other sizes of inserts? I'm losing my mind!!!!!

    Rainbow Baby! BFP 02/20/2018 EDD 11/01/2018
    BFP 10/31/2017 EDD 07/09/2018 Miscarriage 11/28/2017
    DD # 1: BFP 5/22/2014  EDD 1/30/2015 Born 02/06/2015
    DS # 1: BFP 7/18/2000 EDD 3/27/2001 Born 4/1/01
  • If you do have a larger/chunky baby, best bottoms may fit pretty quickly since they get pretty small. I would probably start out using them over prefolds fastened with a snappi. If you do that, you'll want about 36 prefolds (newborn or smalls from GMD are good) and probably 8 or so covers. If you only want to use the snap ins early on, you'll need more covers because more of them will get poo on them and you'll have to change the covers more often.

    Once you start getting less poo or start solids, you can switch over to the snap-in inserts. You'd need about 24ish inserts for each size and the same 8 covers should be fine. Some people skip one of the insert sizes, so you can maybe get away with that if you want.


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  • bnan said:
    If you do have a larger/chunky baby, best bottoms may fit pretty quickly since they get pretty small. I would probably start out using them over prefolds fastened with a snappi. If you do that, you'll want about 36 prefolds (newborn or smalls from GMD are good) and probably 8 or so covers. If you only want to use the snap ins early on, you'll need more covers because more of them will get poo on them and you'll have to change the covers more often. Once you start getting less poo or start solids, you can switch over to the snap-in inserts. You'd need about 24ish inserts for each size and the same 8 covers should be fine. Some people skip one of the insert sizes, so you can maybe get away with that if you want.
    Thank you! I registered for an Econobum set and 3pkgs of each size of osocozy pre-folds (18 total of each size).  I may just get the snappies as well.  Thank you thank you thank you!

    Rainbow Baby! BFP 02/20/2018 EDD 11/01/2018
    BFP 10/31/2017 EDD 07/09/2018 Miscarriage 11/28/2017
    DD # 1: BFP 5/22/2014  EDD 1/30/2015 Born 02/06/2015
    DS # 1: BFP 7/18/2000 EDD 3/27/2001 Born 4/1/01
  • Since you are doing covers and inserts, you might also like to include 6-12 flats in your stash. They will work and any size/stage, and you have the flexibility of either padfolding them and using them like an insert, or folding them any number of ways so they can be fastened with a Snappi (and therefore hold in poo more effectively than an insert). They are also versatile as pocket inserts, for travel (they are very forgiving laundry-wise), and as doublers/boosters. GMD has several sizes. Or you can get Flour Sack Towels from Walmart for very little money.
  • 24 covers and inserts? That does seem like a lot.  Especially since I was told 26 AIO for EOD washing.

    You need the same number of changes. You would still need 24 changes, it doesn't matter what type.

    So if you were using covers and inserts, you would need at least 24 inserts. The number of covers depends on the type of inserts and the age of your baby.

    For nb, a good number is 36 changes, with about 8 covers. If you are using snappid prefolds you need 6-8 covers, but if you are using a snap in insert system poop will get on the covers, so you will need a new cover at every pool change. So when they are little and poop a lot you will need more covers.

    OS 24 inserts, 4-6 covers.
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  • I'll just throw this out there... MOST newborns have lots of runny poo. My SIL however has a 5/6 week old, and although she poops every.single.change. it's just a little smear, and hasn't gotten on covers. she's actually trifolding prefolds in her newborn covers without issue. So, every baby is different, and I would personally get a snappi just in case, but you may also get lucky and get away with trifolding in the NB stage and using Best Bottom inserts pretty early on. Depends on what kind of pooper you get!
  • I will look into the fitteds and upping my cover count as well as insert count.  I am stocking up on bb inserts as it is now.  I just purchased 13 large stay dries and 4 large overnights.  I will go onto GMD and see what the fitteds are all about.  Do they work well with the BB covers?

    Rainbow Baby! BFP 02/20/2018 EDD 11/01/2018
    BFP 10/31/2017 EDD 07/09/2018 Miscarriage 11/28/2017
    DD # 1: BFP 5/22/2014  EDD 1/30/2015 Born 02/06/2015
    DS # 1: BFP 7/18/2000 EDD 3/27/2001 Born 4/1/01
  • They work ok. Especially for smaller sizes. The bb covers are very trim so it just takes a little more work to get them over a fitted, IMO. Nbd but like an extra five seconds to check the legs and make sure everything is tucked in.
    Mama to a little girl born July 2011 and a little boy born April 2014! Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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