Recommend Your Flats.

Cherylleann

I have been asked to instruct a class for my local WIC office later this summer. I know the least expensive option is flats but I have no experience with these yet. I would like to try them and offer them as an affordable on the tiniest budget option. Are the GMD ones best or are the All Together Diaper Company ones on Cottobbabies just as good? Also, do you have a reccomendation on a very inexpensive diaper cover? I like Flips and Thirsties Duo wraps but I know there are cheaper options. TIA!

Aurora_Borealis

What a cool thing to do!

As far as inexpensive covers, I loved the Proraps newborn size. They are under $10 and even cheaper used. I did not end up liking the larger sizes - the fit was weird.

Currently I've been liking the litewraps cover in size small for use over bulky fitteds. The sizing is really off, though. Size small says 10-15 lbs, but DD is 15 lbs and I imagine they will fit her for another month. They cost around $8.

My favorite inexpensive OS cover is actually the Econobum by Cottonbabies. I use the Econo and my Flips covers interchangably. The main difference between the two types is that the econobum  has just one row of waist snaps instead of two. Cottonbabies has run a BOGO the last 2 Novembers for this product. I ended up paying $9.95 for 2 which also included 2 prefolds.

Sorry - not much experience with flats. I have a dozen of what I think are Gerber birdseyes that I use as burp cloths. I've heard they work well for newborns, but not so great for older babies. At $11/dozen though they are very affordable.

kristin720

I actually made my flats using one of my old flannel sheets and another I purchased from a thrift store. I just cut them up into squares (24x24) and (27x27) and stay stitched the edges. They have been working beautifully although I will say they are not great for overnight although may work ok with a microfiber dish towel under them as a doubler.. I use bumgenius 4.0 for overnight. As my baby gets older I think we will need to use two flats folded together during the day time as he just soaks through one in no time. Sorry if this doesn't help much but if you are trying to present budget friendly alternatives you could bring up making their own diapers or repurposing other things such as using dish towels, etc. Also I know people on here make or buy cloth wipes but I have actually been washing my disposable wipes and they come out of the wash and are able to be reused.

 

MrsOjoButtons

I haven't put them to the test yet, but I bought and prepped a dozen GMD flats. If the difference between GMD and Gerber flats is as noticeable as it is with the prefolds, I don't know that I'd pay money for the Gerber ones. 

Piggy-backing on what PP said, I found a tutorial for repurposing old t-shirts, no sewing required. https://www.pennilessparenting.com/2011/03/cloth-diapering-for-penniless-parents.html?m=1. If money is a significant barrier, the Gerber plastic pants really aren't so bad. We used those on my sisters and they got the job done without adding more bulk. Occasionally the elastic at the leg would tear away, but they were so cheap and readily available that it wasn't a big deal. 

Daisiesinmygarden

CB are cheaper, esp. when you add the GMD shipping. I have both CB and GMD and I do prefer the GMDs, but if on a tight budget I would have gone with CB. They are very nice, but were a little smaller.

As PP said, I have read good reviews on the Econbum covers.