Cloth nappies

mamacat315 · September 2015

I feel like I am ready to take the plunge with cloth nappies for this baby...but I need some convincing. I know people who are OBSESSED and say it's a much better system (for more than just environmental reasons) but I want to know why. When your kid had a poo explosion when you are out, do you carry the dirty nappy around in your bag till you get home? Are you constantly doing laundry? So many questions. Mamas who've used them: sell me!

AdventureMama · September 2015

They are awesome! I love them.

We always have wetbags (zippered bags lined with PUL) in the diaper bag, so if he poops, we roll it up, stick it in there, and throw it in the diaper pail when we get home. Easy peasy.

We do diaper laundry every other day, sometimes we go two days in between. It really isn't that difficult once you have a good wash routine down.

Why I love them: Cost. A few hundred dollars investment at the beginning and then you're good to go. They're cuter and smell nicer (no fake, overly-sweet sposie smell). Better on the environment, of course. And better for his skin!

I really like the CD series on YouTube by ObbsandLala. She makes everything so much easier to understand and answers every question in detail!

Life is Exciting · September 2015

Poop splosions are so rare in cloth. We hardly ever had any escape the diaper. But yes, get a couple of good wetbags to throw in the diaper bag and wash them with the diapers. If you're planning to breastfeed, you don't even need to scrape or spray the dirties until baby is on solids because EBF poo is water soluble and can go straight in the washer. I've been CD'ing for 2 years (started from birth with my son) and I will definitely be doing it again with my daughter.

The worst parts are finding a cloth diaper friendly daycare and getting the wash routine down right (which I never really had any issues with until the toddler poop came along).

If you want more info, I'd be happy to talk more

AdventureMama · September 2015

Oh man, I totally missed that you said poo 'splosions. Yeah, in two years now I have literally never had poop escape a cloth diaper, ever. Even the crazy poops stay contained. Another pro!

lilqt3929 · September 2015

AdventureMama said:
They are awesome! I love them.

We always have wetbags (zippered bags lined with PUL) in the diaper bag, so if he poops, we roll it up, stick it in there, and throw it in the diaper pail when we get home. Easy peasy.

We do diaper laundry every other day, sometimes we go two days in between. It really isn't that difficult once you have a good wash routine down.

Why I love them: Cost. A few hundred dollars investment at the beginning and then you're good to go. They're cuter and smell nicer (no fake, overly-sweet sposie smell). Better on the environment, of course. And better for his skin!

I really like the CD series on YouTube by ObbsandLala. She makes everything so much easier to understand and answers every question in detail! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2CE681574C00E83D

A few hundred dollar investment, really? Is this buying a certain type of cloth diapers, used, or what's the secret? I was under the impression it'd be quite a bit more then that!

AdventureMama · September 2015

@lilqt3929: I bought some used, but mostly we ordered online- Kawaii brand. They're between $7 and $10 new. We have a few more expensive diapers, but I'd say 80% of our stash is Kawaii. I think we probably spent between $300 and $350 or so (we spread it out so I don't know exactly, sorry). We will have to spend more because now we'll have two in CDs instead of one, but it'll still save us a ton.

And the nice part is that you can resell when you're done (as long as they aren't totally falling apart) and get some money back! And of course you can use them for multiple babies.

Achae · September 2015

@Adventuremama my sister uses a brand and buys the covers for like $30-40 and then resells them when she's done for the same price if not higher, so at least there is that!

AdventureMama · September 2015

Achae said:

@Adventuremama my sister uses a brand and buys the covers for like $30-40 and then resells them when she's done for the same price if not higher, so at least there is that!

Yeah, there are some really expensive diapers out there! I just can't bring myself to spend that much, especially because I don't know what condition they'll be in after using them for multiple kids.

DaisyTortilla · September 2015

I love it! I just started not too long ago. I bought mine on eBay. We haven't had any poopslotion either. Our washing routine is simple and effective. I learned everything from my very experienced crunchy mom friend!

MamaFroFro · September 2015

There are expensive diapers like fitteds for example but I hate worrying about stains tears and what not for resale purposes. I will be using bamboo prefolds with good covers which run around $10-$15 per cover. I am not having a baby shower but I did create a baby wish list so if anyone asks me if we want or need anything I can refer them to that list. I included prefolds and covers on there

lilqt3929 · September 2015

@AdventureMama that is intriguing! I know there's all different prices/types out there, it's just so overwhelming and I didn't realize a complete stash could be that inexpensive. We did sposies with DD but I may be able to talk DH into CDs if we will have that kind of savings! $300 is like less then 6 months worth of sposies (we had to use pampers).

notasycophant · September 2015

@AdventureMama , how many should I get for the baby in advance? I assume I need to get bigger ones as baby grows. But how many for the first 3 months?

mamacat315 · September 2015

Thanks ladies. I think I am convinced. There is a cloth nappy library where I live, so I can borrow a bunch of different ones to get a sense of what we like.

oxfordlanding · September 2015

I've heard it's better to use disposables for newborns then switch when they are a little bigger, because one size doesn't really fit nb well (plus you need cord fold) and there isn't much point buying a load of nb ones because it's such a short time. Thoughts?

jess8185 · September 2015

Ive also heard the one size doesn't fit NB very well, but that prefolds are the best for NB and can continued to worn even after NB stage.

MamaFroFro · September 2015

B

oxfordlanding said:
I've heard it's better to use disposables for newborns then switch when they are a little bigger, because one size doesn't really fit nb well (plus you need cord fold) and there isn't much point buying a load of nb ones because it's such a short time. Thoughts?

My newborns all work up to 15 lbs. my son was smaller and grew slow so we could end up using newborns for a while with the new baby. Just depends on how big your baby is really. I'm getting the newborn prefolds to use too because they can double as inserts in one size diapers later. Also not sure about the cord issue but I can fold most my cloth diapers down. Here is one I made with a snap down front. Also only planning on have a 1-2 day stash with the newborns because I will most likely wash all the dipes at the end of the day or the next morning. With EBF poo it's so easy, just toss them in the washer. No prerinse necessary and then I don't have to have a huge stash.

salixjoy38 · September 2015

I was just researching all this this morning (damn pregnancy insomnia) thanks for the further tips. Not sure what I'll end up on, I think most of my CD friends used fitteds.

brushesnbrunch · September 2015

I'm kind of leaning towards a CD delivery service...has anyone had good or bad experiences with them?

DaisyTortilla · September 2015

Here is a series of videos that has plenty of cloth diapering info. This was one of my resources as well,

https://youtu.be/gVo6SMebcX8

violetigerlily · September 2015

oxfordlanding said:

I've heard it's better to use disposables for newborns then switch when they are a little bigger, because one size doesn't really fit nb well (plus you need cord fold) and there isn't much point buying a load of nb ones because it's such a short time. Thoughts?

I'm a FTM but we recently attended a two hour awesome cloth diapering class at a local baby boutique. They have a newborn diaper rental program where you can rent a full set of a variety of different types of diapers for around $50/month and get a sense of which types of CD's are your favorites. Might be worth looking into if you can find something like that in your area or online. They also said a lot of people do disposables for the first few weeks and that after your babies get to be around 10-12 lbs the one size diapers (there are adjustable snaps etc so they fit from there to toddler age) tend to fit pretty well. That way you only have to buy one set of CD's for your child.

AdventureMama · September 2015

notasycophant said:

@AdventureMama , how many should I get for the baby in advance? I assume I need to get bigger ones as baby grows. But how many for the first 3 months?

@notasycophant, sorry, just saw this. We actually started CDing DS at three months and did disposables before then! My most savvy CD friends say that covers and prefolds are the way to go for newbies- I will ask them the exact amounts.

MamaFroFro · September 2015

Someone said 12 prefolds per day for a newborn and I think it was 1 cover per 3-4 prefolds.

AdventureMama · September 2015

AdventureMama said:

notasycophant said:

@AdventureMama , how many should I get for the baby in advance? I assume I need to get bigger ones as baby grows. But how many for the first 3 months?

@notasycophant, sorry, just saw this. We actually started CDing DS at three months and did disposables before then! My most savvy CD friends say that covers and prefolds are the way to go for newbies- I will ask them the exact amounts.

Ok my friend said she always recommends 36 changes for the newb stage, so that many prefolds and then maybe 6 covers (since they're totally waterproof you can use them a few times before tossing them in the laundry). That's a good amount if you plan to wash every other day.

evalina88 · September 2015

Yes! I live abroad and they don't sell any here, but I've decided to buy some next time I'm at home (Europe).. spent hours researching..its kind of addictive but also confusing. Seems like preference for a system is so individual and depends on the baby ..

I went from wanting all AIOs to a combination of 5x bamboo fitted size 1 (for nights), around 20 prefolds and 2 one size covers + 3 small size covers, 10 one size pockets (little lambs, they have great deals!) that will def not fit a newborn and 9 barely used bumgenius 4.0 that I got second hand. I will buy some extra boosters and covers and am tempted to buy some more fitteds as well

Really hope this will work for me as there is no way I can buy extra or return the ones I don't like

OctoberStars · September 2015

How feasible is it for a working mother to cd? I know it can be tricky to find a daycare that accepts cloth, but other than that is it a marathon of laundry all night when you get home?

Life is Exciting · September 2015

DaisyTortilla said:
I love it! I just started not too long ago. I bought mine on eBay. We haven't had any poopslotion either. Our washing routine is simple and effective. I learned everything from my very experienced crunchy mom friend!

Curious what detergent you use

Life is Exciting · September 2015

m

OctoberStars said:
How feasible is it for a working mother to cd? I know it can be tricky to find a daycare that accepts cloth, but other than that is it a marathon of laundry all night when you get home?

I'm a full time working mom and I have cloth diapered since day 1. My son is 2 now. I don't find it to be too time consuming. Since he's been on solids, I have sprayed the day's diapers every night before bed (takes 5 minutes) and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night, I do cd laundry. In the warmer months, I hang the laundry on the clothes line on tues, thurs and Saturday mornings before I start my day. In the colder months, I dry them on low or hang them in our laundry room.

Hubby doesn't do any of the spraying, but will help with the laundry if I remind him of the settings.

I use disposables when he gets a yeast rash or when we are traveling (I tried traveling with cloth and found it to be too difficult.)

strlitemiss · September 2015

My newborn stash went off the same advice @AdventureMama gave 36 prefolds, I originally planned on 10 covers and that was it. I got a killer deal on barely used lot of covers so I have 16 and decided to buy 5 AIOs for overnight in case I have a good sleeper. (Hey I can dream right

) You don't need a giant stash for right off the bat because they don't stay little long. I'm shifting focus on bigger diapers as I will have 2 in the regular size cloth and I'm nervous about not having enough.

DaisyTortilla · September 2015

Life is Exciting said:

DaisyTortilla said:
I love it! I just started not too long ago. I bought mine on eBay. We haven't had any poopslotion either. Our washing routine is simple and effective. I learned everything from my very experienced crunchy mom friend!
Curious what detergent you use

Regular ole Tide in powder form. No downy or free and clear just original. Works great, I haven't had ammonia or stink issues till this day. This was what I did a lot of research in and my friend highly recommended! Works great for us!

ETA: I also spray the diapers with Bio Kleen before I put it in the wet bag. Some people say it doesn't work out with their machines, mine has done fine!

strlitemiss · September 2015

I have tried so many different detergents that were more eco friendly and personally nothing cleans like powdered tide.

AdventureMama · September 2015

We like Country Save powder. Cheap and effective!

brushesnbrunch · September 2015

My SIL is the CD aficionado in my family and I actually just emailed her on this topic yesterday to get her input. She recommends Rocking Green detergent that she gets on Amazon...but it really depends on your water I think, and so with her water in GA this is what she recommends.

Life is Exciting · September 2015

DaisyTortilla said:

Life is Exciting said:

DaisyTortilla said:
I love it! I just started not too long ago. I bought mine on eBay. We haven't had any poopslotion either. Our washing routine is simple and effective. I learned everything from my very experienced crunchy mom friend!
Curious what detergent you use
Regular ole Tide in powder form. No downy or free and clear just original. Works great, I haven't had ammonia or stink issues till this day. This was what I did a lot of research in and my friend highly recommended! Works great for us!

ETA: I also spray the diapers with Bio Kleen before I put it in the wet bag. Some people say it doesn't work out with their machines, mine has done fine!

Sweet! I was actually just getting ready to make the switch to tide powder. Glad to hear it has worked for you. I also ordered some bac-out to spray the diapers with before they go in the pail. Combating some ammonia and rashes with my 2 year old. I'm guessing it may be my wash routine.

mma0126 · October 2015

violetigerlily said:

oxfordlanding said:

I've heard it's better to use disposables for newborns then switch when they are a little bigger, because one size doesn't really fit nb well (plus you need cord fold) and there isn't much point buying a load of nb ones because it's such a short time. Thoughts?

I'm a FTM but we recently attended a two hour awesome cloth diapering class at a local baby boutique. They have a newborn diaper rental program where you can rent a full set of a variety of different types of diapers for around $50/month and get a sense of which types of CD's are your favorites. Might be worth looking into if you can find something like that in your area or online. They also said a lot of people do disposables for the first few weeks and that after your babies get to be around 10-12 lbs the one size diapers (there are adjustable snaps etc so they fit from there to toddler age) tend to fit pretty well. That way you only have to buy one set of CD's for your child.

That class, and rental program sounds amazing!!! Where abouts is if?

Liz726 · October 2015

Just wanted to say that threads like this are so helpful for a totally clueless FTM like me. A bunch of great questions here that I might never have even thought to ask, and great info being shared. Thanks everyone!

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