My first 4 mths of CDing with Diaper Reviews

SP250

I thought I?d give my experience so far with deciding to cloth diaper my daughter, Jillian.  Again, some may disagree, but this is just my experience and opinion.  

WHILE PREGNANT:
I did a ton of research, asked a lot of questions, and got completely overwhelmed.  After reading tons of reviews and getting info from some friends who CD, I learned that the One-Sized Diapers aren?t really One Sized.  They will be too big for newborns.  I didn?t want to have to drop major money on a stash of newborn size diapers, so before I had Jillian I found earhtycrunchymama.com and her rental program.  Let me just tell you AWESOME!!

For $125 I was able to pick from several types of diapers. I chose Fuzzi Bunz (xs), Gro Via Newborn, and BumGenius Newborn.  She also sent a diaper pail bag, detergent, cloth wipes, and a few other goodies.  Once Jillian outgrew the newborns she sent me a shipping label, I packed them up, and received a $70 store credit.  Jennifer was WONDERFUL to work with and answered all my questions.  What awesome customer service.  I 10000% recommend the newborn diaper rental to any mom wanted to try out CDing. 

See the program details here: https://shop.earthycrunchymama.com/pages/newborn-cloth-diaper-rental-agreement

 

JILLIAN ARRIVES:
For the first 2 weeks I used disposables until her cord fell off, then I dove head first into CDing.   When I started I had the following to test out:

- GDiapers
- FLIP
- Newborn BG
- Fuzzi Bunz XS
- GroVia Newborn AIO

Grovia Newbron:
I found out quickly that I did not like the GroVia?s as they didn?t fit her well and I had leaking issues. Plus the organic core didn?t wick moisture away so her bum would be wet.

FLIP (my opinion for use on newborns):
The flip was HUGE? way too big.  That wasn?t even an option. She was born 7lbs 4oz and was 10.5 pounds at 1 month old.  The OS diapers are supposed to fit starting at 8 pounds.  No way.  At  4.5 months I was finally able to use them (see below for my review). 

Newborn BG's
The Newborn BG?s were my favorite and I love the hook & loop.  It gets a good fit and is most like a regular diaper so it was an easy transition.  They were also very trim.  The only down side was they took longer to dry b/c they were an AIO.

Fuzzi Bunz XS:
Fuzzi Bunz were my second favorite.  They are super soft inside and wash up great.  They dry super-fast too as they are pocket diapers.

 

The newborn rental also taught me that I prefer sized diapers b/c they are trimmer & fit better.

Jilly started to outgrow the newborn diapers around 7 weeks old, so I started to buy my own stash of diapers.   This is what I got?

?         BG 3.0 Sized Small (they don?t make them anymore so I bought 10 on clearance from cotton babies)

?         Fuzzi Bunz Size Small

?         Fuzzi Bunz OS (I got them for a steal so I could pass up the deal)

?         Fuzzi Bunz Elite OS

?         Charlie Banana OS (again? got this for next to nothing? wanted to try it out)

?         BG 4.0 OS (I wanted to see the size of these since they don?t make 3.0?s anymore)

?         Green Mountain Diapers (GMD) Yellow Trim Prefolds and Size Small Covers (Thirsties & Bummis)

?         FLIPs (had them before she was born but could finally start to use them)

BG 3.0 Small, FuzziBunz Small & OS, & Charlie Banana OS:
Again, the BG 3.0 sized are my favorites, followed by the FB Small.  The FB OS aren?t that bad.  Since they are sized through elastic adjustments in the legs and not buttons in the front, they are trimmer than the BG 4.0 OS.  The FB Elite is very nice & the new insert is very thin.  Super  trim fitting. Charlie Banana is very much like FB. The shell is made better as it has a flap over the pocket opening when FB?s do not, but the new FB elite insert is better.  The FB & CB OS?s are OK, but I prefer the sized because they are trimmer, fit better, don?t give my DD a bubble but, and I don?t have to worry about elastic adjustments.

BG 4.0 OS:
The BG 4.0 OS is a HUGE diaper.  Currently, I only use them at night on Jillian.  They are so bulky.  At 4.5 months and probably 15.5 pounds they are finally starting to work for her.  I also don?t like that you have to fold over the insert to fit.  Again, it creates unnecessary bulk.  I hate bulk.  BUT?the BG 4.0 OS has been great for overnight? no leaks and Jilly SSTN.  I think I will like these more as she gets bigger and I can use them on the biggest rise w/o folding the insert.

Covers & Prefolds:
Because I liked sized diapers, I thought I was going to like the GMD sized prefolds and covers.  NO FREAKIN WAY!  I felt like Jilly was sitting on a pillow.  I did like the covers though and used them with what was left of my gDipaers disposable inserts.

FLIPS:
The FLIPs I couldn?t use when she was a newborn I have recently been able to try out now that my DD is big enough. The Stay Dry insert is awesome!!  WOW? the top is dry and the microfiber underneath holds all the moisture.    I think I still prefer an AIO or Pocket b/c the insert doesn?t shift, and I don?t care for a folded insert, but I will get more of these for my stash.

 

WHAT'S NEXT:
She just outgrew her BG 3.0 Small?s, so I searched and searched the internet to find Mediums and bought what I could find.   I?m very sad Bum Genius stopped making them.  They are such a wonderful diaper.  My go to diaper.  I really don?t mind the extra drying time b/c they are so trim and hold everything in.  I know what I bought won?t be enough of a stash, so I?m going to get more FB?s medium and some more FLIPs with Velcro covers.   I prefer Velcro (Hook & Loop) so much more than snaps.  I can get a better fit and it?s much quicker to make a diaper change.  My daycare likes them too.    I just wish FB?s offered hook & loop?. If they did they?d be the perfect diaper.

DAYCARE:
I also must say that I stayed with AIO?s and Pockets b/c my daycare will CD, but they won?t use hybrid systems.  It has to be a new diaper each time.   I send in my FBs and BG 3.0's. They prefer the velcro BG's as they are quicker to put on and most like a disposable.  I did get them to try FLIPs and they will use them, I just need to give them a cover and insert as one diaper.

WASHING & CARE:
Washing the diapers has been easy and I?ve haven?t had any real build up issues? even with using my front loading washer.  I thought being a working mom I wouldn?t find the time and I?d go back to disposables, but I haven?t.  It?s not been an issue at all.  A few times I waited too long in between washings and I had to wash them twice to get all the stink out, but that is it.

I use liners in each diaper to help with poop messes.   I just toss it the toilet and flush the #2.  If any gets on the diaper, I just rise it off in the utility sink in the garage.  The liners are also a nice barrier to protect the diaper when I need to use a little Burts Bees Diaper Cream.

My washing process (about every other day)

1)      I have a plastic trash can with a pop up lid that all dirty diapers go in.  About an hour or so before washing my diapers, I soak them in the trash can in cold water.

2)      I them put my diapers in my front loading washer with a drenched bath towel.  This tricks the machine into thinking there is more in the drum than there is and uses more water.

3)      I do a quick express wash on cold with no detergent and no spin cycle.

4)      Next I do a long load with 2 TBSPs of Eco Sprout Detergent that does all of the following:

a.       Prewash

b.      Sanitary wash

c.       Second rinse

d.      Extended spin

5)      When that is done, I put the diapers on a drying rack to dry. 

a.       Pockets dry in a matter of hours

b.      AIOs take at least 24 hours.

 

OVERALL THOUGHTS:
CDing has been a great experience so far.  For me, it wasn?t about saving $$, more so reducing my environmental impact with this baby.  We still use disposables from time to time like when we travel or are out for the day.   For my husband and I, it?s really been no different than it was with disposables with our 2 boys other than washing them.  They are easy to put on, don?t leak, etc.   I?m so glad I decided to CD for this baby.  I love it!

tokenhoser

Feel free to add your reviews to the review sheet - just add rows to the appropriate tabs and fill in the brands you used.

roxyfoxy85

Thank you for sharing your reviews and experience!

october_artist

Thanks for sharing all your info/experience!

catjerrel

You're awesome!! Thank you so much for taking your time and writing all this!

acmayn01

This is a dumb question, but I'm assuming "BG newborn" means BumGenius. Where do you buy those? I haven't seen any but they sound good...

whitneyandbrook

Thanks so much for sharing. I'm going to be CDing for the first time with baby #2 so I found it really helpful to read about your experience! 

 

ETA: How big was your DD at birth? My DD was 8 lbs.6oz so I'm expecting about the same for #2. Will that affect how long he is in newborn size? 

SP250

Yes...BG is BumGenius. You can get the newborn size at cottonbabies.com.They use to make these in sizes XS to Large but the stopped making the bigger sizes for the new one size free time. They only kept the newborn size.

SP250

My DD was 7.4 at birth but 10.5 at one month.