Late to the CD party

Mimaloo · February 2014

At first I thought "no way". The thought of dealing with a CD at 3am just wasn't doing it for me and I started stocking up on disposables. However, lately I've been thinking a lot about CD but it seems kind of overwhelming.

Do any of you ladies have a particular website, blog, book, etc. that I should read to learn more about it? I've googled and again, (and maybe it's my baby brain which makes me really stoopid lately) it just seems like there's so much info and it makes my head hurt.

Thanks in advance.

kshampeny · February 2014

Since I'm a FTM, I have no relevant experience, but this is the website of the CDs I'll be using and they have some pretty good informational stuff on the whole process.

https://www.gro-via.com/

spacepotatoes · February 2014

The Cloth Diapering 101 series by Jamie Gleisner (I'm really hoping I spelled that right) on youtube is a great place to start.

mmks · February 2014

Check to see if there are any CD stores in your area. It really helped me to try them out and talk w the staff. They may even have a CD class you could take!

cynthiarene · February 2014

I just went to a class put on by online store Abbey Lane and it made it all seem so much simpler. Somehow all the resources on the web make it seem really intimidating! We are going simple - 24 prefolds and 5 or 6 covers / that's it. (Though we will be getting some all-in-ones, aka AIOs, for daycare eventually.) All that to say, if you can find a local class it is worth it! If you're interested I can also send you my notes from the class (PM me) - I already typed them up for a friend who couldn't make it.

daizijayne · February 2014

PinStripes and PolkaDots has a lot of good info, too.

rainbowsockmonkey · February 2014

allaboutclothdiapers.com is a great website for info. She gives reviews of different brands that she has used on her own kids, and answer tons of questions (how to wash, what to do about leaks, etc).

Xath · February 2014

The resources here are all good. I'd recommend starting with the diaper trial from Jillian's Drawers. It gives you a variety of diapers to try out so you can figure out what works for you and for LO. They send care instructions with all of the diapers, so it's very easy for the newbie. Also, it's a sort of risk-free investment because it gives you 30 days to decide whether cloth is right for you and you're not out a ton of money if you hate it. (but you won't because it's awesome).

usernewname · February 2014

There is no wrong way to CD … it was works for you and your family. There are guidelines out there and lots of advice on what works for the average bear and what doesn't. But it's trial and error then your sailing

We're doing flats and covers - more folding involved, but easier clean up. Homemade detergent (will switch to the well known Tide if that fails) but I will figure it all out as I go.

babyaotw · February 2014

spacepotatoes said:
The Cloth Diapering 101 series by Jamie Gleisner (I'm really hoping I spelled that right) on youtube is a great place to start.

This is where I started. I also lurk the CD forum here!

kristine526 · February 2014

One of my mom's at one of the centers I worked at grew some wings and become The Diaper Fairy in Louisville. She's the entire reason why I started looking into cloth to begin with. Her website might be helpful to you:

https://www.diaperfairy.net/

tjkdlhb · February 2014

Mimaloo said:

At first I thought "no way". The thought of dealing with a CD at 3am just wasn't doing it for me and I started stocking up on disposables. However, lately I've been thinking a lot about CD but it seems kind of overwhelming.

Do any of you ladies have a particular website, blog, book, etc. that I should read to learn more about it? I've googled and again, (and maybe it's my baby brain which makes me really stoopid lately) it just seems like there's so much info and it makes my head hurt.

Thanks in advance.

It's no more difficult than a disposable

Actually... we find we have fewer leaks in cloth. It's like a paper plate vs a real one in terms of quality. Cloth diapers are meant to last, so are made with stronger materials. The elastic can work miracles in containing poop!

I had fully planned to use disposables with DD. I was afraid that CDs wouldn't work. Seeing so much discussion about them on The Bump is what made me start thinking it would be possible to do. And it was really one of the very best decisions we've made.

Ditto PPs who recommended the Cloth Diapering 101. Also, if you have any questions, feel free to ask on the CD board. That's a great place to lurk as well.

Mimaloo · February 2014

Thanks so much ladies! I'll be spending a chunk of tomorrow doing some research

mrs.cjlange · February 2014

cottonbottommama.com really breaks it down simply and well for you in her cloth-diapering 101 section. she blogs about her life with her two kiddos now, but originally started the blog to discuss her experience attempting cloth-diapering.
Honestly, there are so many options and it can be totally overwhelming. we opted for pocket diapers and all in one diapers (AIOs) for ease of use. the pocket diapers have inserts that you stuff into the "pocket" of a fleece-lined diaper. These we found easiest to clean and they dry quicker as well. AIOs are pretty much the closet thing you can get to a disposable in terms of use, however, they can sometimes be harder to clean and take a long time to dry (we air dry ours). We've been happy with all the major brands as well (BumGenius, FuzziBunz, Happy Heineys, Thirsties, etc ...)

cnbean · February 2014

It seems confusing at first, but I promise it does start to make sense!

The cloth diaper board here is great, and its what got me interested in cloth at first. I also second getting more than just one type/brand of diapers. What works for others may not for you. I personally dislike the way Bumgenius diapers fit my son, but I like Fuzzibunz. Its hard to know what is going to work until you have a kid to put in them.

LoveIsAll25 · February 2014

I am in mobile right now so I can't search for it, but, a few weeks ago there was a long post on this board with videos and comments on cloth diapering.

alphalyrae · February 2014

I don't think we have any CD stores near us, BUT. BabysrUS carries Gdiapers and Charlie Bananas, and Buybuybaby carries BumGeniuses.

DH and I bought a bunch of Gdiapers and I registered for a bunch of Charlie Bananas because DH is on disposable inserts mode at the moment. I found the youtube tutorials helpful as well as https://www.kellyscloset.com/Cloth-Diaper-Information_ep_34-1.html

runningyogimama · February 2014

I read through the FAQs on the CD board and lurked for a few weeks at all of the questions asked, and I felt like I learned everything I needed to know the first time around!

And, honestly, there is absolutely nothing more to a diaper change at 3 AM with a cloth diaper than with a disposable diaper!

chknma · February 2014

I'm new to CD with this LO and found the CD board FAQs and 101 YouTube series to be most helpful. The next helpful thing was going to a local CD class and getting to see the CDs in person.

I figure CD will be an adjustment from disposables, but once we get into a routine with laundry and figuring out what we prefer, it will get easier!

bumpuser9353653 · February 2014

I suggest the CD board on TB as well. lots of helpful info there.

We switched over to CD when DD was 6 wks old b/c the disposables irritated her skin and we were putting out twice the amount of garbage. We went with gDiapers with cloth inserts for the hybrid approach and have been pretty happy with them. Also have some BumGenius 4.0 Velcros as a backup.

We were nervous about the adjustment too but it's so easy to get in the groove. And we have an HE washer, so no wasted water with the smaller diaper loads. And DD rarely ever gets rashes!

RachelCA29 · February 2014

The Bump Cloth Diapering board is my favourite research spot, because the FAQ there is really all-encompassing, and if you can't find the answer to your question there the ladies are always happy to problem-solve and/or offer solutions they have tried. It's nice to have a lot of moms that have different CD experience versus one persons blog on just their experience.

I also love the 7 part Cloth Diapering 101 series that @spacepotatoes suggested. I've watched it multiple times (I made my husband watch it too to get the lingo and types down before I started buying our stash). I also find YouTube is a great resource for CD reviews (of specific types/brands) and a great resource for things like folding tips and and tricks (for flats and pre-folds).

Starting up a newborn stash is a great way to start because newborn sizes/CDs are a bit cheaper than OS/large sizes and buying used is a great money-saver to try out lots of different types of CDs. Used newborn stuff is in pretty good condition because it's only used for a month or 2 when you get it used. Starting with a newborn stash with lots of different types of diapers (prefolds + covers, flats + covers, AOI, pockets) will give you a chance to try different types, especially since prefolds and flats are CHEAP, even cheaper used, and then you can decide what you like to invest in for your OS/larger stash.

If you are nervous about it, and already have some disposables, you could always try it part time and just get 5-6 diapers for around the house. You'll see it's just as easy and disposables and get a handle on the laundry part of it. Then you could slowly build your stash from there as you run out of disposables and move to CD full time.

rcbuko · February 2014

I used only CD with my first and have done a mix of cloth and disposable with my second and third child. With our third who is still in diapers, we only put him in a disposable at night. I hope to have the new baby exclusively in cloth like I did with my first.

I am pretty boring with my cloth diapers as I prefer only a few brands and have been so happy with them that I don't really look to branch out. Bumgenius One Size pockets are my favorite followed by perfect sized Fuzzi Bunz. I have other diapers that I am happy with but got them here and there and don't have large numbers of them. There are lots of sites to buy diapers and all are helpful with instructions on how to clean and what you need to start. I mostly use cottonbabies.com.

Good luck. Once you get over the intimidation and find your groove, cloth diapering is really easy.

Want a personalized experience?

Late to the CD party

Re: Late to the CD party

Choose Another Board

Search Boards