Another CD ?- AIO vs. Prefolds

GoldenGibson · September 2011

So as I'm exploring the CD world I have heard lots of good things about Bum Genius 4.0 dipes and so I definitely want to try those. However, being a CD novice I can't help but imagine that an AIO would be SO much easier so why doesn't everyone just use an all in one diaper?

When you wash the bum genious type dipe, do you take the insert out and wash the inserts and the diapers together? Do you wash all the inserts in one load and all the dipes in another? This must be the stupidest question ever, but I'm just trying to get a handle on this LOL Please bear with me!

Can you walk me through how a normal CD day goes? Do you stuff all the clean dipes at once so you just have them ready to go or do you stuff on an as needed basis? When you change baby, do you take the diaper off, take out the insert, and put both pieces in the wet bag? Or, do you just throw the whole thing in and separate them later?

Also, with an AIO you don't need a cover, but with a prefold you do?

Alliebooberz · September 2011

I'm still researching them -

but my layman's answer is that I'm guessing it's probably cost.

With an AIO - yes it is VERY convenient, closest to disposables. But - once it's dirty, it's down for 24 hours or something, because you have to wash the whole thing. And, the BG 4.0's are like $18-20 or something for new.

Prefolds do need covers - but the prefolds are between $1 and $2.50 a piece, which is REALLY affordable especially compared to the BG 4.0. And the covers are $5-10 a piece and apparently you can use a cover a couple times before washing it as long as you wipe it out.

So I'm guessing cost is a big factor.

I'm hoping to do prefolds and covers mostly based on cost and will acquire as many AIOs as I can when I can afford them.

Alliebooberz · September 2011

Check out the FAQ's on the CD board. They are really really helpful and they go through all the beginners questions very thoroughly!

lostaspen · September 2011

The reason everyone doesn't use AIO is because they are generally more expensive, you can't add more absorbency (on most brands), and they can take a long time to dry. But you are right, they are super simple and easy. AIO have everything built in, including the cover. If you use fitted or prefolds, you need a separate cover.

When you wash an AIO, you just throw it in. Pocket diapers have removable inserts you need to remove before washing. I use entirely OS pockets now, and just wash everything all together.

Here's my routine: To wash, I put all the diapers, inserts and wash clothes, plus the pail liner, in the machine. I do a prerinse on cold, then a hot wash with soap, then a second (and sometimes third to get rid of more soap) hot wash.

To dry I hang them outside to get some sun--the sun is the best at removing stains. Once dry I bring them in, and stuff the pockets again, then put them in the drawer.

I try to check DS's diaper every1-2 hours, sometimes he'll pee through one insert in that time, sometimes he'll have no pee (babies are so different than toddlers!). When I take a wet diaper off, I remove the insert and throw it in the diaper pail (it's a 13 gal. trash can with a lid, that has a new liner), then put on a new diaper. If it's a poopy one, I clean him up, put on some CD safe cream (my favorites are Angle Baby Bottom Balm and Grandma El's), then put on a clean diaper. Then I take the dirty and put the poop in the toilet (and dunk if necessarily. Note: EBF babies have water soluble poop, so no dunking necessary until they start solids!), then remove the liner and put in the pail. Then I wash my hands really well.

I wash diapers every 3-5 days, depending on how many DS has worn (we use sposies when we're out of the house). I think that's it, though I'm sure there's more (always is with CD!). HTH, good luck.

digwriter · September 2011

Question for anyone who might know - with all of the washing required, how much money do you really save by using cloth over disposable, especially if the whether permits hanging them out to dry? Wouldn't you pretty much blow the money saved on disposable on paying for electricity and water?

GoldenGibson · September 2011

Alliebooberz:
Check out the FAQ's on the CD board. They are really really helpful and they go through all the beginners questions very thoroughly!

The weird thing is as soon as I go over there I get extremely overwhelmed again and end up just saying that I'm going to do disposables... I need to take it one step at a time I guess. Even in the FAQ's people start going in to all the zillions of brands for each type of diaper and all the different materials ( organic vs non, bamboo, cotton, etc.) and I get lost. Maybe it's just not for us...

Alliebooberz · September 2011

dig - we have a well and HE washer and dryer so we probably will still be saving money since we don't pay for water. And then hanging them to dry, will save on electricity. And HE washer I think makes it cheaper to run on electricity too.

Irisheyes1247 · September 2011

digwriter:
Question for anyone who might know - with all of the washing required, how much money do you really save by using cloth over disposable, especially if the whether permits hanging them out to dry? Wouldn't you pretty much blow the money saved on disposable on paying for electricity and water?

My wash routine is cold wash with no soap, hot wash with soap, 2 extra rinses. I only have 12 BG 3.0 and I wash every other day. Even with all this, our water bill (comes quarterly) has gone up $5. Electricity is a little bit more, but not a ton. I definitely think that can save $$ plus it is mostly an "all at one" investment, up front, buying dipes and then you don't have to be getting them every week or every few weeks. A lot of people get really into different styles and patterns and then keep buying, and THAT certainly doesn't save you anything.

Alliebooberz · September 2011

GoldenGibson:
Alliebooberz:
Check out the FAQ's on the CD board. They are really really helpful and they go through all the beginners questions very thoroughly!

The weird thing is as soon as I go over there I get extremely overwhelmed again and end up just saying that I'm going to do disposables... I need to take it one step at a time I guess. Even in the FAQ's people start going in to all the zillions of brands for each type of diaper and all the different materials ( organic vs non, bamboo, cotton, etc.) and I get lost. Maybe it's just not for us...

I totally know what you mean. I have read lots and lots and lots now and I feel like after a good month of constantly reading about this stuff that I finally *kind of * have a grasp on it.

GoldenGibson · September 2011

Irisheyes1247:

digwriter:
Question for anyone who might know - with all of the washing required, how much money do you really save by using cloth over disposable, especially if the whether permits hanging them out to dry? Wouldn't you pretty much blow the money saved on disposable on paying for electricity and water?

My wash routine is cold wash with no soap, hot wash with soap, 2 extra rinses. I only have 12 BG 3.0 and I wash every other day. Even with all this, our water bill (comes quarterly) has gone up $5. Electricity is a little bit more, but not a ton. I definitely think that can save $$ plus it is mostly an "all at one" investment, up front, buying dipes and then you don't have to be getting them every week or every few weeks. A lot of people get really into different styles and patterns and then keep buying, and THAT certainly doesn't save you anything.

As far as drying goes, if the weather doesn't allow for outdoor drying, do you hang indoors somewhere or put them in the dryer?

One of the reasons I was looking heavily at BG 4.0 is not only because of all the positiive reviews and raves on the bump but also because I can register for them at babies r us so if we got some as gifts it would help us save on our CD start up costs. They sell 2 for $35 there and I've seen them elsewhere for about $16.50 so far. Do the BG 3.0 and 4.0 dipes require covers? I've also seen BG all in ones for $11.95 each and I think I'd rather do half 4.0's and have AIO's if they work well on baby.

Alliebooberz · September 2011

GoldenGibson:
Irisheyes1247:

digwriter:
Question for anyone who might know - with all of the washing required, how much money do you really save by using cloth over disposable, especially if the whether permits hanging them out to dry? Wouldn't you pretty much blow the money saved on disposable on paying for electricity and water?

My wash routine is cold wash with no soap, hot wash with soap, 2 extra rinses. I only have 12 BG 3.0 and I wash every other day. Even with all this, our water bill (comes quarterly) has gone up $5. Electricity is a little bit more, but not a ton. I definitely think that can save $$ plus it is mostly an "all at one" investment, up front, buying dipes and then you don't have to be getting them every week or every few weeks. A lot of people get really into different styles and patterns and then keep buying, and THAT certainly doesn't save you anything.

As far as drying goes, if the weather doesn't allow for outdoor drying, do you hang indoors somewhere or put them in the dryer?

One of the reasons I was looking heavily at BG 4.0 is not only because of all the positiive reviews and raves on the bump but also because I can register for them at babies r us so if we got some as gifts it would help us save on our CD start up costs. They sell 2 for $35 there and I've seen them elsewhere for about $16.50 so far. Do the BG 3.0 and 4.0 dipes require covers? I've also seen BG all in ones for $11.95 each and I think I'd rather do half 4.0's and have AIO's if they work well on baby.

Here's another thing that I have really seen a lot from CD moms... Do NOT stock up on one style or brand before baby. I know that is a total turn off, but they basically say they are expensive and if it doesn't work for you, then you have essentially wasted money!

GoldenGibson · September 2011

Alliebooberz:
GoldenGibson:
Irisheyes1247:

digwriter:
Question for anyone who might know - with all of the washing required, how much money do you really save by using cloth over disposable, especially if the whether permits hanging them out to dry? Wouldn't you pretty much blow the money saved on disposable on paying for electricity and water?

My wash routine is cold wash with no soap, hot wash with soap, 2 extra rinses. I only have 12 BG 3.0 and I wash every other day. Even with all this, our water bill (comes quarterly) has gone up $5. Electricity is a little bit more, but not a ton. I definitely think that can save $$ plus it is mostly an "all at one" investment, up front, buying dipes and then you don't have to be getting them every week or every few weeks. A lot of people get really into different styles and patterns and then keep buying, and THAT certainly doesn't save you anything.

As far as drying goes, if the weather doesn't allow for outdoor drying, do you hang indoors somewhere or put them in the dryer?

One of the reasons I was looking heavily at BG 4.0 is not only because of all the positiive reviews and raves on the bump but also because I can register for them at babies r us so if we got some as gifts it would help us save on our CD start up costs. They sell 2 for $35 there and I've seen them elsewhere for about $16.50 so far. Do the BG 3.0 and 4.0 dipes require covers? I've also seen BG all in ones for $11.95 each and I think I'd rather do half 4.0's and have AIO's if they work well on baby.

Here's another thing that I have really seen a lot from CD moms... Do NOT stock up on one style or brand before baby. I know that is a total turn off, but they basically say they are expensive and if it doesn't work for you, then you have essentially wasted money!

Thanks, I've heard this as well. The idea behind the BG 4.0's is that if we register for them and get a bunch, we can just open one set and if we don't like them return the unopened ones. I'm really excited at the prospect of receiving them at the shower as opposed to having to buy all the CD's ourselves to start with! But, BRu doesn't have a big selection and they don't sell any AIO's

I know a lot of people buy used as well but we plan on using these for all our kids (3+) if possible so I'm thinking that it makes more sense to just buy new because it's likely the used ones won't last through that many babies. What's the typical lifespan on CDs?

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