Question about cloth diapers

NihilismKat

Most of my family, DH included, seem to have a very negative attitude to cloth diapers.  My mother has been going on and on about cloth diapers in the late 70s and early 80s and how horrid they were.  She has DH convinced that if we do so, our house will smell like pee all the time, and the one lady that taught the first tri pregnancy class at the hospital told DH that people who use cloth have houses that smell like they have a half dozen cats, and it's not really all that sanitary like disposables.

I have a friend from undergrad who does cloth diapers, but she lives out of state, so I can't really convince DH to go to her house and see that it doesn't smell like a gas station bathroom.  She's been trying to convince me to do as well, but she suggests the bumGenius as a good way to go. 

As much as I'd like to try that, I think that maybe prefolds would be a better way to go at first?  I don't think DH will let me spend ~$500 for something that I'll "bore of in a week or two," and people have said that prefolds are a good way to start and are cheaper as well.

If I were looking at buying some prefolds what would be a good suggestions?  My friend said that she got Econobum: Full Kit from someone as a shower present, and it was decent for a start for prefolds, but she much prefers the bumGenius 3.0 or the Fuzzibuns.

Would something like that be a good place to start, and order some more prefolds and covers?   Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Once I can convince him that it's not as bad as he thinks, we can look at getting more and varied types, but I'm looking for suggestions for a cheaper way to start and go from there.

Special*K*

We just started CDing our second. DH was not on board...I pushed the issue. I didn't want to deal with prefolds, so I tested out a few pockets, but not even that many. I tried Fuzzibunz perfect fit, BG 3.0, and Happy Heinys. I ended up really liking BG 3.0 and they are a pretty good deal right now. There are a couple of sites that have 6 packs for $82, which comes out to less than $14/diaper.

In terms of how sanitary it is. It's WAY better than disposables. We only emptied our diaper pail every week and it did get stinky sometimes. I wash the CD every other day and there is never any stink. The smell is contained in the wetbags we use. Yeah, there's some smell when I empty them into the washer...but it's for a second before they get washed and come out nice and fresh and clean. I've been amazed at how easy it is. I'd do a trial package. Once your DH sees how easy and sanitary it is he'll change his mind! My daycare provider even loves them!

Dr.Loretta

If you're going to go with prefolds and covers, I'd get good quality prefolds. Most people suggest the ones at GreenMountain Diapers. Bonus, if they don't work out they make great burp cloths and dust rags.

I might try and find a few used fitteds or sized pockets just to give them a try.

emsrdh03

Jillian's Diapers has a trial program.  What about doing something like that?  It's not a huge investment...you try several different kinds for 30 days...and send back what you don't want.  It may not give you enough to CD full time, but it may be enough to get your DH on board without spending a ton of money.

emolee84

emsrdh03:

Jillian's Diapers has a trial program.  What about doing something like that?  It's not a huge investment...you try several different kinds for 30 days...and send back what you don't want.  It may not give you enough to CD full time, but it may be enough to get your DH on board without spending a ton of money.

this is what we're doing right now (our trial came yesterday).

it's 21 days and if you don't like them you send them back and get all your money back except for $10.  if you want to keep them then you get your $10 back.  you can also just send back a few that you dont like and they'll adjust your refund accordingly.

NihilismKat

Dr.Loretta:

If you're going to go with prefolds and covers, I'd get good quality prefolds. Most people suggest the ones at GreenMountain Diapers. Bonus, if they don't work out they make great burp cloths and dust rags.

I might try and find a few used fitteds or sized pockets just to give them a try.

I was looking at Green Mountain.  They seem to have a good selection.  It looks like I could get a good starter of prefolds there, and maybe pick up on of the 3 or 6 packs of bumGenius 3.0 that are on sale everywhere with the 4.0s coming out.

Green Mountain seems to be partial to Bummis covers.  Anyone have a suggestion on how many I should buy?  And are newborn worth it, or should you go with small?

NihilismKat

emolee84:

emsrdh03:

Jillian's Diapers has a trial program.  What about doing something like that?  It's not a huge investment...you try several different kinds for 30 days...and send back what you don't want.  It may not give you enough to CD full time, but it may be enough to get your DH on board without spending a ton of money.

this is what we're doing right now (our trial came yesterday).

it's 21 days and if you don't like them you send them back and get all your money back except for $10.  if you want to keep them then you get your $10 back.  you can also just send back a few that you dont like and they'll adjust your refund accordingly.

I think I might look into that as well.  I did not see that you could buy someone of the ones you wanted and send back the ones you did not.  DH might be interested in that, he's logical about things to a fault.  That seems like something that he'd agree to.