Product Spotlight Series: Diapering (w/o Nov 6)

doxiemoxie212 · November 2017

This is a place for FTMs to ask questions and S+TMs to share the wealth of knowledge they've accumulated on baby products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week it's.... diapering! Cloth, disposable, wipes, and anything in between.

Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed.

For S+TMs:

Favorite [diapering product]:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
What you like about it:
What you don't like about it, if anything:
Is there a [diapering product] you don't have but are considering? Why?:
Is there a [diapering product] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?:
Additional thoughts on [diapering]?:

For FTMs:

[diapering product] you're interested in:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
Any questions about it/them for S+TMs?:

To view past Product Spotlights or view the upcoming schedule, see here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gjNtxy2Kd2JceTYYR5wkwVcpTbU-khgazhjcZnfI1y4/edit?usp=sharing

buffalove1211 · November 2017

With DD, I used Pampers swaddlers exclusively for the first year. Pampers swaddlers seem to be the gold standard in diapers, but they are also expensive. (The best deal was when BRU would give you a $20 gift card with the purchase of 2 large boxes of diapers.)

Over time, I wised up and started looking for other options. These days I buy Luvs on Amazon, and they are fantastic. I cannot vouch for Luvs newborn diapers though, but I plan on trying them out. I also like Target Up & Up diapers, but I do not use them overnight... they never leak, but they have more of a urine smell in the AM.

Sorry for not using the template, but my thoughts didn't fit well in the questions!

doxiemoxie212 · November 2017

@buffalove1211 Luvs is made by the same parent company as Pampers, so...

you are choosing wisely there, IMO.

sunshineandwhiskey · November 2017

So - I will keep this simple - we use Honest Brand for during the day, and Huggies Overnights for night-time. DD gets the worse diaper rash ever (like open sores), with any other diapers. We stock piled and everything

It is nice though that I don't have to worry about buying diapers since they show up on my doorstep automatically. Plus they're cute.

catlady1215 · November 2017

I don't have many thoughts on diapering. I'm sure cloth diapering moms will be able to fit the questions better.

I used to always be told 'huggies for girls. pampers for boys' by a few moms. I only have one child so I have no idea if this is true for all lol. But ds, as a baby, peed through so many huggies. we had a bunch from the shower, so we worked our way through those first. when we got to pampers, it was like night and day. so much better. once he got alittle older we branched out to Luvs and loved that one also. it wasn't till he was like 2 that we tried huggies again and they then worked ok for him.

Lilpenguin3 · November 2017

I love the pampers swaddlers for newborns.

Then I switch to Prefolds and newborn Rumparooz covers.

We use fitteds with a Rumparooz cover at night.

I love pockets with cotton/bamboo/hemp inserts but DD has super sensitive skin so we use any pockets as covers. The best cheap pockets are Alva and they have tons of cute prints.

Amphibious22 · November 2017

FTM here very interested in cloth diapering. I've done a lot of research and think that the AI2 is what I want as my primary system. Basically looking for STMs with experience in cloth, but specifically AI2s. One brand that I'm looking at a lot is buttons. Anyone tried that before?

icecubeinthedesert · November 2017

What tips do STMs have for narrowing down more quickly on what diaper works for their LOs? It seems like a lot depends on the baby, so I'm wondering what active decisions you should make to consider other options. I have a bad habit of sticking with subpar solutions because change is a hassle, but if I knew what kind of warning signs to look for, might help narrow down more quickly.

doxiemoxie212 · November 2017

@icecubeinthedesert YGPM

tammy574 · November 2017

@icecubeinthedesert My opinion is to not buy them before you have that child. If you want to stockpile, do cash or gift cards. My first leaked out of everything except huggies. It depends a lot on your babies chunkiness as well. Pampers are better for skinnier legs, huggies for fat legs. It really depends on each baby what works. I’d start with one brand and migrate as needed. I hated pampers sogginess but some think they are the best. And in the end after a kid or two we all end up using luvs subscribe and save from Amazon because They. Are. So. Cheap.

sabby2 · November 2017

We used Pampers swaddlers for dd as a newborn. I tried Huggins but she got a god awful rash and I felt so bad for her.

We switched to cloth diapers when she was around 9 or 10 pounds. We used Best Bottom ai2 system and also Grovia ai2. I liked them both. As she got a bit bigger we bought severa Grovia ONEs and used them at bedtime and loved them.

We did cloth at home and disposable at daycare and I liked not having to have tons of diapers at home too. Kept the cost down for us. I didn't find that doing diaper laundry cost me any more on water and energy bills. We used Tide with our diapers after doing a ton of research.

sunshineandwhiskey · November 2017

@icecubeinthedesert Honestly, i really think it just depends on YOU and what your baby is like. Every STM is going to prefer a different type for different reasons. Blowouts, absorbancy, comfort, and price are definitely big factors. You just have to weigh what is most important to you, and of course trial and error.

fun fact: The diapers i had that I didn't like (for whatever reason before we had to switch to Honest), I would send them to daycare. They had to change diapers every two hours, and I knew they could deal with them

catlady1215 · November 2017

@icecubeinthedesert it'll definitely be trial and error. Our hospital used pampers. Which worked, so we came home knowing atleast one brand that worked on him. They sent us home with a bunch (tip: open any packs they leave in your room. Cause usually they let you take what's opened

). If you want a couple different kinds at home ready, I just wouldn't buy big packs. It's all about holding the leakage and explosions in!

sunshineandwhiskey · November 2017

@catlady1215 Yes to the open diapers at the hospital!! I had DH start stashing them in his suitcase. The nurses never questioned it either - they encouraged it.

catlady1215 · November 2017

@sunshineandwhiskey we did the same, start stashing! Lol. Then as we were leaving, they handed us even more.

kbrown2385 · November 2017

@tammy574 totally on point with the luvs on amazon subscribe and save. You can’t beat that price!

sabby2 · November 2017

I forgot to add we also used luvs and target brand. They worked fine. The up & up brand definitely smells more like pee after wet.

nakoehl · November 2017

I'm a FTM interested in cloth diapering, any STMs out there have some links to share for their favorite ones?

Austenista · November 2017

Favorite [diapering product]: I buy Sam’s Member’s Mark diapers in bulk and they work great.

Link/picture: https://m.samsclub.com/ip/mm-diapers-size-1-2-252-count/prod19190198

Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): ~$36 for like 200- 224 diapers

What you like about it: buying in bulk saves money and they do the job well.

What you don't like about it, if anything: very rarely they’ll leak, usually a good indicator it’s time to size up or the boy has just had an abundance of liquids.

Is there a [diapering product] you don't have but are considering? Why?: I used Kirkland brand formula and I would definitely try their diapers. I’ve used a few samples that I liked. I think they’re pretty comparable quality to Member’s Mark.

Is there a [diapering product] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: I wanted so badly to like cloth diapering and I tried and tried and never could get the hang of it. Always leakage everywhere. User error definitely but I just had to give up for my sanity.
Additional thoughts on [diapering]?: Diapering is an expensive but necessary evil. Your main goal needs to be coverage and longevity. What works for you to establish that good routine is a variable of course, and I support any mama doing any thing that makes her and baby happiest and most comfortable.

blinnea23 · November 2017

Third time Mom.
We did honest co and huggies when we used sposies.

For cloth I really love pockets. They are easier to strip when you have stink issues, rather than AI2s.
my favorites right now are fuzzibunz and cheap sunbaby’s. I’ll splurge on the occasional WAHM for the print.

My best advice for cloth is to have a top loading washing machine. Being able to soak makes a world of difference.

sabby2 · November 2017

@blinnea23 you may want to check out fluff love university. Ideally you should never have to strip or soak cloth diapers. Stink issues usually points to a problem with your washing routine. The ladies on that Facebook group helped me figure out issues and I've never had any stink, rash, or absorbancy issues since.

katelynrae86 · November 2017

We've only ever used pampers newborn (it's what the hospital used and they worked fine) then switched to the Costco Kirkland brand. We've never had any issues with leaking or irritation, but haven't compared to other brands so I may not be the best judge. They are very inexpensive, especially if you stock up when they are on coupon every few months.

We also use the Kirkland wipes and I have to say I really like those. They are larger and thicket than others and are unscented. Some have such a strong scent, which I don't care for. They're $20 for 900 wipes I think (9 100 packs). Funny story, they first time I bought a box, as a naive first time expectant mother, I thought, "900?!? That will last me forever!" Haha...yeah, right...

Also, random but related: changing poopy diapers with morning sickness is a special kind of hell.

BurlapandLace · November 2017

For sposies we have always used Pampers Swaddlers.

For cloth, we love BumGenius. I started with the AIOs (All in ones) because cloth kind of seemed complicated and I wanted the easiest diaper/closest to a sposie I could find.

However, I ended up MUCH preferring pockets and sold all of my AIOs and switched over to all pockets. With pockets you can adjust the absorbacy and use different materials to stuff (cotton, hemp, bamboo) instead of microfiber.

NamelessAria · November 2017

Favorite [diapering product]: For sposies I use the Costco brand. No complaints. They've been great so far. They do have far more of a pee smell than the cloth diapers but that seems to hold true for all the sposies I've tried. For cloth I really like the GMD cotton prefolds and Diaper Rite bamboo prefolds. I use a lot of pocket diapers (mostly Rumparooz but I also like the Thirsties pockets. Nicki's are great also as long as you do snaps and not aplix) and I usually stuff the pockets with prefolds. For diaper cream my favorite has been the CJ BUTTer quick stick. I also got a couple of the sample pots and man those little things have a ton of uses in them for the $1.50 or whatever they were. I have yet to use an entire sample pot. They're really great also for spots it's hard to get with the quick stick or just to throw in a diaper bag when maybe you don't have room for the whole stick.
Link/picture: Sorry guys. I'm not linking pictures of all of that.
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): Kirkland diapers are $38 for a box of 198. GMD prefolds are kinda a bit more expensive for a prefold. Probably $$- $$$. Diaper rite were very reasonable for a bamboo prefold. I'd say $. Rumparooz pockets: $$ Thirsties pockets: $$ Nicki's: $. CJ's: $$

I'm willing to answer any questions anyone has on any of that.

marcus7676 · November 2017

@icecubeinthedesert Part of it depends on what you prefer. I wanted a greener diaper (but didn't want to use cloth). My husband cannot stand the smell of pampers, so those were out from the beginning. We started with some of the greener diapers - three different types (bamboo nature is the only one I remember). If DS had a bad blow out or constantly leaked, we tried a different brand. We ultimately settled on Babyganics during the day and Honest Overnight (sized up) for nighttime.

Favorite [diapering product]: Babyganics (day), Honest Overnight (night), Waterwipes
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): Diapers - $$; Wipes $
What you like about it: Greener, but still cost effective. No smell. No leaks (!).
What you don't like about it, if anything:
Is there a [diapering product] you don't have but are considering? Why?:
Is there a [diapering product] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: Pampers and Huggies smell IMO.
Additional thoughts on [diapering]?: Not every type works for every baby. Get a small pack of NB and size 1 diapers (most stores let you return unopened packages) in the brands you want to try. See if they work, leak, blowouts, smell.

dinodna3 · November 2017

@Amphibious22 What AI2s were you looking at?

morristhecatmom · November 2017

Favorite [diapering product]: BG freetime snaps
Link/picture: https://www.cottonbabies.com/products/bumgenius-freetime-play
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): $19-22 (although I really prefer purchasing during cotton babies second sale for a deeper discount. Sales are usually not posted with much warning and the items go very fast.)
What you like about it: it’s all one piece, the flaps help open up in the wash and get clean really well. No stuffing. I still prefer prefolds and covers for teeny tiny babies, but I like these when baby start to hit 10-12 pounds.
What you don't like about it, if anything: Once solids poop starts, they are a little tricky to lay properly for easiest rinsing. Just takes a little practice.
Is there a [diapering product] you don't have but are considering? Why?: I told my husband if we cloth diaper this time around, we definitely need a diaper sprayer. Although he really takes the reins when it comes to cloth diaper laundry.
Is there a [diapering product] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: I found I do not like cheap cloth diapers. They just don’t hold up nearly as well. There’s also a few brands of wet bags, especially the ones at target that I didn’t feel they were worth the money.
Additional thoughts on [diapering]?: we definitely agreed that we are going to use disposables at night from the beginning and the first few weeks. Finding an overnight cloth diaper solution had been so tricky with our previous kids, it just makes more sense to do disposables at night.

blinnea23 · November 2017

@sabby2 it’s because I have a stupid front loader that doesn’t use enough water

Amphibious22 · November 2017

@dinodna3 I'm really interested in buttons and best bottoms (they're basically the same system but buttons look cuter). I'd be open to other suggestions though.

TravelingCouple · November 2017

@katelynrae86 totally feel you on changing poopy diapers with ms...I have designated a specific scarf that easily wrap around my head to cover my mouth and nose to change DS, he thinks it's hilarious..

We also used Pampers swaddlers when DS was little. He started having blow outs overnight with those so we switched to Huggies overnight. Huggies during the day never worked for us as he'd always blow out in those.

We use Luvs now for day and night and haven't had any issues for a long time as far as leakage. The Amazon Mom subscribe and save is so worth it for diapers! We even used it for Pampers to save $$.

Speaking on diapers and all things little booties, diaper rash creams never worked to heal DS but Aquaphor is a miracle in a bottle for pretty much everything kid skin related.. Diaper rash, eczema, dry skin, it's cured it all for DS and I buy in bulk!

dinodna3 · November 2017

@Amphibious22 I used a couple Best Bottoms with DS. I really liked how you could use the same shell as long as it didn’t get soiled with poop. I would just wipe it down if it was damp at all. But I personally could never get them to fit him right but I know a couple friends who loved them. Also, I kinda gave up on cloth diapers both the kids when DS was still pretty young (maybe 4m). So I’m unsure if they would have fit better when he was a bit bigger.

I did however love using the inserts as overnight boosters for DD, she was a heavy wetter in motn. They were quite bulky by worked excellent for overnights.

lovesclimbing · November 2017

*Lurker*

We cloth diaper, but use disposables on trips.

I recommend as hard as I can against buying lots of disposable diapers ahead of time, particularly cheaper brands.

I am super cheap. I buy store brand of pretty much everything, so of course, I started out with Walmart- and Fred Meyer-brand diapers. Mistake! She averaged a blow out every other day, and as she's gotten older, it's gotten worse. Now, she blows out at least every other poop. I've tried sizing up and all that. She just blows out straight up the back. I tried Luvs, Pampers and now Huggies. Huggies have been better than everything else, which honestly isn't saying much. She still blows out frequently in Huggies. I can't imagine having a little boy in disposables! I'm told they blowout worse than girls up the back because their genitals block it from going forward at all.

The reason for the blowouts, I believe, is because the diapers don't hug the baby's back above their butt. A lot of diapers, particularly cheaper ones as well as Pampers and Luvs, don't have any elastic in back, they just have "stretch ease" or some fancy catchword for the way the material stretches in the back. It stretches just a tiny bit, and you can't really get the diaper tight enough to really hold the waistband against their back. Huggies have actual elastic, although it's still rather chintzy. That does a slightly better job of keeping the diaper against their back and resulting in slightly fewer blowouts.

I recommend buying a small pack of a brand, using them until they're gone, and then buying a small pack of another brand if that first brand didn't work and using it up and repeating until you find a brand that works.

I like cloth diapers because they have actual real elastic in the back that holds the diaper against their back above their butt, and, because it's real elastic, it's strong enough to keep poop from escaping.

BurlapandLace · November 2017

Also, for those interested in cloth diapers but worried about buying a kind that doesn’t work for your baby, they make cloth diaper trials where they send you a few different types, styles and brands so you can try a few out to see what works best before you buy a whole stash

llamamama14 · November 2017

We've cloth diapered using BumGenius elementals for both of our kids. I copied this blog post: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/08/the-much-requested-cloth-diaper-post/ and its worked well for us. DS is turning 3 this month and he's still in the elementals (we haven't yet potty trained.)

The only things I do differently from the blog post is I use 18 diapers per kid, I use Tide powder to wash, and I use disposables at night because our babies are heavy wetters and even double stuffing didn't help. It has taken some trial and error to find a wash routine/cycle that works but overall cloth has been pretty easy.

@blinnea23When I had a front loader I let the diapers soak in the toilet after each use. Toilet soaking eliminated our ammonia stink issue.

sabby2 · November 2017

The Grovia ONE are amazing overnight cloth diapers! We never had a single leak in them! They're a little on the pricy side but wOrth it for a fairly trim night time option.

llamamama14 · November 2017

@sabby2 interesting... the reviews on those look good. I swear I just thought an overnight cloth diaper wasn't possible unless you had a baby that didn't nurse much. We stuffed DS's bum like he was a little sumo wrestler and he would leak every time. I didn't feel dedicated enough to keep trying to find a solution, to be honest.

BurlapandLace · November 2017

@llamamama14 ~ we cloth overnight in pockets. One hemp and one bamboo all wrapped in a cotton prefold holds my 2.5yo overnight

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