considering cloth diapers..help!

mgra328

i am expexting #4 in November and am considering cloth diapering for the first time!

 bumgenius diapers have been recommended to me, but i have a few questions...

 first...how many do you need?  they make a one size, so i don't need a per size breakdown.

2. do you need to replace them for each child?  this brand comes in boy or girl colors and i was going to get gender specific, but am scared that if we have more babies i will have wasted my investment if we have the opposite gender!

3. what is your laundering process?  do they need to soak first?  do they ever start to retain smells?

4.  can you use traditional diaper creams with them if baby does get a rash?

 while i'm concerned about the environmental impact of disposable diapers, money is very tight lately and i'd like to try to find a more economical way to raise babies! 

 

thanks so much!

 

 

papagena

Well, if money is your chief concern, you may want to look into prefolds, as they are the cheapest way to go (and really not that difficult). However, we have BG pockets, and really like them, so I'm happy to answer those ?'s.

Please note - BG's one size diapers generally don't fit babies until 10 - 12 lbs.  My LO didn't fit into them until after he hit the 3 month mark.

1. I always recommend at least 24 diapers to CD full time.  For a NB, a few more is definitely nice. I started with 24 main diapers and 6 extras that I didn't regularly use (for when I accidentally ran out!), and that was very doable.

2.  You shouldn't have to replace them for each LO - you may have to replace some or (on BG's especially) the velcro tabs (you can get free replacements from Cotton babies if they go bad within a year - plus, if you don't tumble dry the shells, there is a lot less wear on the velcro & diaper in general).

3. We put the dirty diapers in the diaper pail - no soaking.  Now that DS isn't EBF (solids) we do have to scrape off the poo - but we use flushable liners, so not that bad at all.  Cold rinse in the washer (sometimes with some vinegar), followed by a hot wash w/ detergent and 2 cold rinses. 

Sometimes diapers do retain some smell - but they shouldn't if you have a wash routine that works.  Amonia smell is a fairly common problem - usually resulting from the diapers getting a detergent build up.  Happens with microfiber more often than other natural fibers (BG's have a microfiber insert, but I've never had any issues with them, and I have purchased extra hemp inserts for them, which I love and are more absorbent).

4. You need to use a CD safe detergent and diaper cream.  Lists for both can be found on www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com

HTH - good luck!

Mrs.tlcS

mgra328:

 bumgenius diapers have been recommended to me, but i have a few questions...

They're a good diaper, and make up the bulk of our stash.

 first...how many do you need?  they make a one size, so i don't need a per size breakdown.

 They are one size, but they don't fit newborns well at all (as per my understanding... we didn't start CDing until DD was about 6 months.).  Usually about 10-12 lbs is when they begin to fit babies.  So you will need something different (whether cloth or disposable) for the newborn stage.  They have rental programs for newborn diapers at Sunshine Diapers, Nell's Natural Baby, and DreamDiapers.  That might be worth looking into for you in the short term.  You would need to supply your own covers (which can be resold on Swap Spot here, or on CL, Diaper Swappers, and some other places.

How big your stash should be depends on how often you might do laundry.  Newborns go through 10-12 diapers a day (covers can be reused as long as they're not pooped on), so 24 would get you through about 2 days.  I plan to have 36 diapers for the newborn stage with my new LO.  DD got by on about 18 diapers (we CD during the day and paper diaper at night)... but we didn't start till she was 6 months old...

2. do you need to replace them for each child?  this brand comes in boy or girl colors and i was going to get gender specific, but am scared that if we have more babies i will have wasted my investment if we have the opposite gender!

You should not need to replace them for each child - well cared for diapers can last through several children.  They have lots of GN colors (the light blue is lovely on a girl) - greens and yellow/orange, and white.

3. what is your laundering process?  do they need to soak first?  do they ever start to retain smells?

I do not soak my diapers at all.  It's unnecessary and gross!   I do a cold rinse when I start the laundry.  Then I do a hot wash with CD safe detergent, and an extra rinse.  Then I tumble dry (though line drying is better long term on the elastic and aplix).  The microfiber can start to retain an ammonia smell, but if you keep on top of it, it can be controlled.  Some women choose to replace the microfiber inserts with natural fibers (wool or hemp), which is another option.

4.  can you use traditional diaper creams with them if baby does get a rash?

There are CD safe creams that you can use. I'm sure someone else here will have a recommendation for you... I haven't dealt with any diaper rash since switching to CDs, so I have no experience with that.

  

HTH.

Summerly2

Check out this thread for some general info : https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/1/19280383/ShowThread.aspx

 Lots of clicky links in there too.

Ditto pp that prefolds and covers are by far the cheapest option. That's how we started out; with a dozen of those and 9 pocket diapers (mostly BGs) for nighttime/diaper bag (we didn't start CDing until 5 months so we didn't need quite so many to start with).

I'd definitely recommend at least 24 to start with. Although to be honest, with a newborth I'd probably want at least 3 dozen or so.

You don't need to replace them between each child. You could try to buy more gender neutral stuff instead of specific boy/girl stuff or if you end up having another baby and it's not the same gender, sell the gender specific stuff on diaperswappers.

Our wash routine goes like this : cold pre-rinse followed by hot wash and sometimes an extra rinse at the end. Line dry or throw in the dryer. You will need CD safe detergent. No need to soak first and as far as smells; it really depends on your wash routine/whether you have hard water/soft water, etc. If you start to get stink issues, you can strip the diapers with Dawn or change up your routine. It's not uncommon to have stink issues from time to time, but it can usually be taken care of without too much trouble. Don't let it scare you away!

As far as diaper creams, you need to use something that is CD safe b/c some stuff can leave bad stains and can also make your diapers smell. Check out pinstripesandpolkadots (linked above, I think) for recs on diaper creams and detergents.