talk to me about cloth diapers

melissad23 · November 2013

so, yall have me pretty intrigued....and with as ugly as her rash has been the few times she has gotten one, I am really considering it.
But, I don't even know where to start:
what brands?
what all do I need?
how many?
how much can I expect to spend up front?
how often will I really be doing laundry??

I'm so needy and clueless. Thank yall!!

Jillibean68 · November 2013

There are so many different ways to cloth diaper. I suggest checking out jilliansdrawers.com or Kellyscloset.com

Currently we use a mix of pockets and all in ones (the easiest and most 'like disposable' IMO). We have Bum Genius 4.0s (pockets) and Bum Genius Freetimes (all in ones), and some Charlie Banana pockets. And a few misc brands here and there. All of the diapers I've bought are one size because I started when he was about 4 months old. I spent maybe $250 total on all my diapers and I wash every other day (but my LO doesn't poop everyday, if he did I would wash every day)
When I was first starting out I looked at those websites and stalked some Facebook cloth diaper groups and learned a whole lot! Hope that helps!

Jillibean68 · November 2013

Also, the cloth diaper board here on TB is pretty informative and helpful if you have questions

AnnieJar · November 2013

Love, love, love them!
I did a trial through Jillian's drawers to get started. And then another trial through sweet bottoms to try a few additional brands. I also spent time lurking and asking a few questions on the bump cloth diaper board, reading a few blogs and watching a few YouTube videos to educate myself. I've spent a little under $300. We use a combo of bumgenius v 4.0 (pockets), bumgenius free and bumgenius elementals (both all in ones) and grovia all in twos. No rashes since we started. I wash usually every other day, sometimes stretch to every third day.

AnnieJar · November 2013

I also just want to add that I was really intimidated to start cloth because 1. There are so many choices I didn't know which types of diapers to get and 2. The washing routine sounded very complicated. The trial programs really help with the first problem. There are several out there. They send you a variety of brands and styles, instructions on how to prep and then do regular washes and then you use them for a period of time. At the end you keep what you like and send back what you don't. Easy. And washing doesn't have to be a big deal either. You find what works for you but I started with the recommendations from Jillian's drawers and made a few tweaks and I use plain old tide detergent which I just get at the grocery store. Super easy.

MKC12/22/2006 · November 2013

Other ppl have answered your questions well, so my only addition is brand recommendation. My favorite are Flip covers and inserts. Super easy. At night we put a bamboo prefold and a doubler in a flip cover so it lasts the whole night no problem. I have an email I sent to a couple friends with lots of details - let me know if you want it!

superToots · November 2013

This whole process can be overwhelming! Please ask us any questions or concerns you have.

We do cloth during the day and a disposable at night.

We tried pockets, but they leaked. So we use a diaper cover and prefolds. It's a little old school, but no leaks and very easy. Also cost effective.

I also recommend a trial through Jillians drawers.

Aisak · November 2013

We use Bumgenius 4.0 pockets one size. I bought new and spent about $500 (I have 28 diapers but got 4 of them for free through a promo). We started when DD was about 2 months. Before that we had a cloth diaper service which was nice because we didn't have to do the washing but kind of expensive in the long run $70/month). I wash usually every two days. We have way fewer blowouts with the cloth than when we occasionally use disposables, and DD has never had a rash.

*i'm in Canada so prices may be different in the states.

kgs0505 · November 2013

I did cloth for several months with my son (about 6?). I had to stop because I could not for the life of me figure out a wash routine that got rid of the ammonia, which was giving him horrible burn like rashes (I have an HE washer, which is harder to work with, less water). If I had figured that out, I would have been doing it now too. I loved my cloth diapers! My favorites were the BumGenius pockets. You can get them at Buy Buy Baby now, so they are pretty available. I did not like the all in ones, they didn't dry as well, and because they were one size, I felt like they were all bunched up and probably uncomfotable for the baby. But like everyone said, you have to figure out what works for you. I washed every other day. And swishing the poop in the toilet really isn't a big deal.

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