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Eco-Friendly Family
Koala77
member
Help me convert to Cloth Diapers for DC #2 :-)
Koala77
member
I need a crash course in cloth diapers. Please help. :-)
We want to use cloth diapers for our second, but I'm loss as to where to start. If you know of a great website for tips/tricks and bargains, please share.
I read ncbelle's info on CD in her link (great info, BTW), but still have some questions....
For example:
1. We don't want to use a diaper service. HOW do you do this yourself? Any more tricks?
2. What are fitted diapers and how do they work? What are AIOs specifically?
3. Any better covers than others (some work better for different ages)?
4. Did you use them from the very beginning? What about all the BF poops!? Was that too much work? I'm recalling multiple feedings and poopie diaper changes in the wee hours of the morning....
5. What do you do with the used cloth diapers when you are out/on vacation? (or do you switch to disposables?)
6. How cost effective is it? Can it be less expensive than disposables? I currently spend about 18 cents a diaper on disposables with DC #1.
TIA- I really appreciate your help.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Help me convert to Cloth Diapers for DC #2 :-)
Are you near Fairfield/Cordelia? No need to answer here, but it might be fun for you to see all of the different types of CD's in person. You can contact Banana Peels Diapers (https://www.bananapeelsdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=458) to see if she'd be willing to do that.
1. The only trick to washing diapers yourself is to find the right detergent/routine that works for you. That can take some trial and error.
2. Fitted diapers are not waterproof, but are usually very absorbant. They require a cover (although DS goes coverless at home a lot) and usually come in cute prints.
3. Covers depend on the baby, but we like Thirsties and Imse Vimse a lot.
4. Can't help there - we started at 5 months. Next baby will be CD'd from the beginning though!
5. Depending on the vacation, we use cloth or NatureBabyCare disposables. It just depends on the length of stay and where I'm going. If I have a car, I CD and wash at the laundromat (it's usually a nice excuse for some alone time - can read a book!). Next trip I won't have a car, so I will use Gro-Baby and Flip with disposable soakers and just hand wash the covers as needed.
6. I didn't track this for us specificially, but I'd be shocked if I haven't saved money over the last 23 months.
Posts on cloth trainers/PLing
1. We keep a trash can with a lid in the bathroom and use this. No water just dry. Doesn't smell. We also use bac-out by BioKleen for the poopy dipes to get rid of the bacteria and it has a nice lemony smell. I just spray on poopy dipes and toss in pail.
2. Fitted diapers are basically prefolds that have been shaped to look like diapers. They need covers. AIOs are diapers with a PUL (waterproof) outer shell and you stuff them with liners. This is what we use and I find they work wonderfully. Just take off diaper and pull inserts out then throw everything into the pail.
3. We never used fitted or covers so can't help you here.
4. We started at 2 months. BF poops are water soluble. Meaning they dissolve in the wash and no scraping or dumping is necessary. And with the AlO diapers it's like changing a disposable except you are not throwing it out! Alot of people use fitteds and prefolds for newborns since you are changing so often. Now that DD is on solids I just empty into toilet the solids spray the bac out and empty into the pail. Easy peasy.
5. I cloth diaper when I'm on vacation! I'm usually at family houses and I pop a load of wash in the washer. I think if I weren't by a washer I would just use disposables for the trip.
6. I spent $200.00 on Cloth to start my stash and I haven't bought anything, diapers or wipes since December. We use cloth wipes also. I also asked for cloth for Christmas. So family bought some diapers for us. I think I have 30 diapers in all. You can go on diaperswappers.com and get some great deals. I also have almost all one size diapers meaning DD can use them till she's potty trained so that saves me even more.
I NEVER thought I would do cloth. But I'm in love. It's super easy and it's saving me a ton of money not to mention the environmental benefits!
1. We don't want to use a diaper service. HOW do you do this yourself? Any more tricks? All it requires is doing a load of diaper laundry every 2-3 days. Wash twice and dry twice (or hang). I use pockets and AIOs. The pockets require stuffing the insert in the pocket. AOIs require nothing else. Stuffing takes about 5 min for a load of laundry so its no big commitment
2. What are fitted diapers and how do they work? What are AIOs specifically? I've never used them. I dont know from experience. I went with pockets mostly because they are easy, work well and I like the stay dry material wicks wetness from LO. I assume that fitteds would keep the baby slightly wet at all times like PFs. AOIs are all in one piece. You just snap or velcro on baby.
3. Any better covers than others (some work better for different ages)? The only covers I've used are flip or g diapers and there are way better ones out there. Don't use g diapers. They are the worst CD
4. Did you use them from the very beginning? What about all the BF poops!? Was that too much work? I'm recalling multiple feedings and poopie diaper changes in the wee hours of the morning.... I started G diapers at 6 weeks. It was okay. I wish I had started with pockets or AIOs. Most CDs are so easy now that it doesnt make it any harder at 3 am than a sposie. PF may be the exception.
5. What do you do with the used cloth diapers when you are out/on vacation? (or do you switch to disposables?) We've only been places where I've had a washer and dryer so I CD. If I were staying in a hotel for a week or so I would probably use G diaper inserts in a cover. And just bring about 8-10 covers and a pack of d gdiaper inserts.
6. How cost effective is it? Can it be less expensive than disposables? I currently spend about 18 cents a diaper on disposables with DC #1. If you go with basic, good diapers I bevieve it is very cost effective, especially if you will have another child. If you are like me and buy new diapers ALL THE TIME it may not be that great of a deal. But at least I am doing good for the environment and I will have multiple kids use them and pass them on to friends too. GL its fun!
So I am also brand new to this idea of cloth diapers but here is a link that i have found to amazingly informative. This link has built my confidence up to where i now believe that i can cloth diaper 24-7 and survive!
https://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/cloth-diaper-video-reviews/
As of now i like fuzzibunz, bumgenius 3.0 and bummies. econobums are super cheap and i might get a pack of those just to have and try. FYI BRU and target both have a small online selection of clothdiapers. Another suggestion i would make is to look up local retailers of cloth diapers in your area and see if they do classes or at least if they are willing to do some education on their products. Good luck!