FYI for anyone who shops at Kelly's Closet. I finally decided to order some Thirsties Hemp inserts and Duo Hemp prefolds that I've been putting off forever. And the triple diaper dollars put me up to the next reward level!
@sliztee I have 24 in each size and it's always worked out well. For the first 6 months that was enough for every other day washing. Then after that I do about 2.5 days. I wouldn't do too many less than that, but more never hurts.
As far as the inserts, I never needed any extra absorbancy until DD was around 9 months. I orginally bought Green Mountain Diapers cotton inserts since I use their cotton prefolds, but DD is a heavy wetter so that's why I've ordered the Thirsties Hemp inserts as they are supposed to absorb more than cotton. Here's hoping because I'm sick of her PJs being soaked through in the morning..
@SawyerRichardson the 24 in each size.. . Is that cloth diapers or inserts? I feel it should be easy to understand but I am playing the pregnancy card because I can't get it!
So, I wasn't really planning on buying different sizes of diapers...I presently have 18 of "one size" diapers. Is that okay? (Right now I have 6 Alva Baby and 12 Mama Koala.) Do you think I need to invest in different sizes? We might use disposable diapers in the first few weeks as we're getting used to having a little one. Haven't decided yet. @SawyerRichardson
@SweetSweetTooth Sorry, I can clarify! That is how many prefolds I have. I only use inserts on top of the prefolds for extra night time absorbancy. If you are asking how many Inserts your should get for pocket diapers, I have no idea. I've never used pockets, but I'd assume it'd be similar?
For night time inserts though I have 12. It's probably not necessary to have that many, but since they get so saturated and sit for so long over night i like to rotate them out every day.
Check the weight limits on your one size diapers. Most start at 10-12 pounds and the average newborn is 7-8 pounds. You'll need newborn diapers which usually start at 5 pounds until baby reaches the lower limit of the one size. After that you should be fine with one size diapers until potty training!
Ladybug - April 2013 Dandelion - October 2018 Angel "Aurora" - July 2020 Angel "Sawyer" - May 2021 Angel "Maxine" - January 2022 Angel "Violet" - March 2022 Baby Dove due March 2023
My goal is to have about 30 diapers (I'm using AIOs, pockets and AI2). That should be enough to wash every other day, maybe a bit more. I have about 20 newborns that I borrowed from a friend. The newborns are good till about 16lbs. For one size it all depends on the diaper. I was told some of my light house ones will work well down to 7lb. Some one size can be snapped so they fit new borns, but the biggest thing I hear being an issue is around the thighs.
Covers (and some all in 2) don't need to be replaced every change because you can change out the insert and just wipe down the inside of the cover, so you don't need as many.
We started using cloth diapers for DS when he was about 5 months old, and had about 30-35 OS pockets in our stash. We had about 45 inserts just in case.
Oh, and we used fitteds with covers for overnight. We had about 7.
We have about 15 newborn diapers, 2 One-Size that fit a newborn, and 20 One-Size. They're mostly AIO but we have a few Bum Genius pockets and inserts thrown in. Our stash is pretty small comparatively to most people's but I wanted to have the bare minimum we would need to start cloth diapering and am prepared to use the bare minimum. For me that meant having enough day time diapers to last a day with a few extra for the next morning. That way I can wash the dirty diapers daily and let them dry over night, with a few already ready to go for the next day in case the diapers aren't quite dry by then.
We do plan on adding to our stash before the baby gets here but I'm fully prepared to make it work with what we have if we end up not being able to swing it.
Had we gone prefold and cover route, we'd probably have double the amount of diapers. We had to scale down to afford the extra cost of AIO.
Ladybug - April 2013 Dandelion - October 2018 Angel "Aurora" - July 2020 Angel "Sawyer" - May 2021 Angel "Maxine" - January 2022 Angel "Violet" - March 2022 Baby Dove due March 2023
@SweetSweetTooth - you can totally do it! especially with AIOs... other than a little extra laundry, it is SO worth it. the savings are insane and the fluffy bums are the cutest bums of all. good luck! let me know if you have any questions!!!
me 32 | dh 45
married 11.11.17 mama. epicurean. plant lover. wine enthusiast.
In terms of water and electricity/gas usage, my friend said the increase in their bill was minimal. And you can decide how often you want to wash, you just might need more diapers. You're only adding 2-3 washes a week, so I don't think the wear and tear will be bad.
All in ones are more expensive, but the ease is worth it in my opinion.
My electric and water bills went up about $10 a month total. But you are also doing a whole extra person worth of clothing laundry, too. So it isn't all just the diapers.
From what I have heard you won't need a sprayer until you add in solid foods. I know breast milk poo is water soluble. Not sure if formula poo needs to be sprayed out.
I’d get a sprayer. DS was formula fed and from what I remember that has to be sprayed off before washing just like solids. His poops were difficult to get off of the diaper with the dunk and swish method. The sprayer was the best purchase we ever made. Just make sure you get a spray guard to avoid poopy water being sprayed everywhere.
Any of y'all have a wash basin in your basement you plan to use before throwing the cloth diapers in the wash? I was thinking I might get a sprayer for our faucet and rinse them down there. Thoughts?
My friend is going to come over after my shower and help me test my water, prep my new diapers and set up a wash routine. DH just keeps shaking his head at me.
A couple of the women in my book club mentioned if you have diapers that seem to be impossible to clean to let them sit in the sun after the first rinse then the poop becomes clay like and comes right off. Anyone else have experience with this?
I just placed my first order! I have no idea what I am doing so I ordered a small package 3 best bottoms shells and 9 inserts and 2 grovia shells with disposable inserts and 2 sets of soaker pads.. I am debating thirsties.. but I like how the best bottoms snap. I want a few AIO
Oh I was misreading that. I thought you were talking about waist snaps instead of velcro. The Thirstie I have is an All in One. You want to look for All in Two if you want snap in liners. Not pockets.
Re: Cloth Diapering
Happy Harvest!
Couldn't resist.
As far as the inserts, I never needed any extra absorbancy until DD was around 9 months. I orginally bought Green Mountain Diapers cotton inserts since I use their cotton prefolds, but DD is a heavy wetter so that's why I've ordered the Thirsties Hemp inserts as they are supposed to absorb more than cotton. Here's hoping because I'm sick of her PJs being soaked through in the morning..
For night time inserts though I have 12. It's probably not necessary to have that many, but since they get so saturated and sit for so long over night i like to rotate them out every day.
Hope that helps!
Dandelion - October 2018
Angel "Aurora" - July 2020
Angel "Sawyer" - May 2021
Angel "Maxine" - January 2022
Angel "Violet" - March 2022
Baby Dove due March 2023
Covers (and some all in 2) don't need to be replaced every change because you can change out the insert and just wipe down the inside of the cover, so you don't need as many.
Oh, and we used fitteds with covers for overnight. We had about 7.
Dandelion - October 2018
Angel "Aurora" - July 2020
Angel "Sawyer" - May 2021
Angel "Maxine" - January 2022
Angel "Violet" - March 2022
Baby Dove due March 2023
mama. epicurean. plant lover. wine enthusiast.
All in ones are more expensive, but the ease is worth it in my opinion.
3 best bottoms shells and 9 inserts and
2 grovia shells with disposable inserts and 2 sets of soaker pads..
I am debating thirsties.. but I like how the best bottoms snap. I want a few AIO
ETA: Also that they dry faster than AIO's.