I also posted on the cloth diapering board, but I'm not sure how much traffic it gets, so I hope you don't mind the xp!
I'm attempting to research and quickly getting overwhelmed. I think we eventually plan to use some kind of one-size all-in-one when baby is big enough, as we'll be using a daycare center and I want to make things as easy as possible for them. But I'm torn on what to do for the phase when they are too little for the one-size dipes.
How long is that phase? I'm perfectly amenable to prefolds and covers since DH and I will be the ones doing the changing, assuming that the baby would fit into one-sizes by 3 months. I'm assuming this is what most people use....correct me if I'm wrong!!
What are the favorite brands and types of prefolds?
Where is the best (cheapest) place to buy them? (I just missed a steal on Craigslist for Bummis, like 25 infant/newborn sized pfs, 4 NB covers, and 4 small covers for $35!)
How many do I need? A friend suggested about 3 doz prefolds and 8 covers. Does that seem right?
Any questions I don't even know enough yet to ask?
Thanks!
Re: Cloth for newborns
The cloth board is great! (and check out their FAQs too).
Personally, I felt newborn prefolds were totally worth it. You are changing them every two hours for those few 2-3 months, then can switch them into the pockets (which dry faster) or AIOs for daycare use and beyond.
I even use my prefolds as stuffers now instead of the microfleece, since it doesn't hold smell and is more absorbent. Can't go wrong!
Pockets or AIOs should be just as easy for the daycare to use as disposables (you'd prestuff them at home, and they'd just be velcro-ing them on or off just like a disposable, and tossing it in a wetbag instead of the trash). Easy!
Personally, I've found my Green Mountain Diapers to be holding up better and of better quality. They have "seconds" sales sometimes which are cheaper and still perfectly good. The cheaper ones are starting to get threadbare on the sides. And you could start with 24 prefolds, 1 snappi and 2-3 covers to see if that's enough (washing likely every 1-2 days).
You will probably need more like 4 (preferably 6) covers to make it easier. But it's fine to start with less and see what you like/what fits and order more once LO is here. Nickie's Diapers ships them for free, so it's not like you need to combine the order.
That WAS a sweet CL deal! I would have cried.
I agree with pp, pockets would work equally well for daycare if you'd stuff them at home [even ai2s]. Plus pockets are typically cheaper. But that is my preference over aio's.
How long till your LO will fit in to OS depends. My son was 5lb 9 oz when we brought him home so even some of our 'nb' sized seemed big lol but he is 2 months now and has been in OS since about 9 lbs. As far as how many prefolds and covers, I can't really say because we didn't use prefolds exclusively through the tiny stage, I had some pockets, fitted and aios as well because he was such a heavy wetter the newborn sied pf's weren't thick enough. But don't get overwhelmed, you have plenty of time to research and figure it all out ;]
I agree with pp that 2 dozen prefolds and 3-4 covers is plenty. We used the green-edged (small) prefolds from nickisdiapers.com from birth to 3 months, and they were great. I think that's a size up from newborn, but my babies were both over 8 lbs at birth, so it worked out great. OS diapers will definitely fit by the time you outgrow them.
For covers, I strongly recommend Thirsties, extra small. We tried tons of covers, and we love these. They were by far the least bulky and the best at containing explosions.
Get four covers just to be safe, and you'll be set.
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