Cloth Diapering - How much do I need?

[MrsBanjoClown]

I am trying to decide what all I want for cloth diapering. I am setting up a registry, just to keep track of my "wants". I am not expecting a shower with this one, being #3. This is what I have on my "registry" so far. Is this too much? Not enough? Anything you see that is not necessary or that I should avoid? I have several different kinds since I don't know what I am going to like. I should add that both of my boys have been over 8 lb. when they were born.

 

2 dozen newborn prefolds

3 dozen small prefolds

2 dozen medium prefolds

1 dozen bamboo inserts

2 small fitteds

2 medium fitteds

2 wool covers

3 newborn covers

2 small covers

2 one-size covers

3 large rolls Bummis Bio-Soft Liners

4 KerrBear one-size pocket diapers

Snappis

[UrbanSue]

The variety seems unnecessary to me but, as you say, you don't know what you'll like. The only obvious discrepancy I see is one dozen bamboo inserts but only four pocket diapers. You'll need to wash them both every time so you don't really need more inserts than pockets. If you want to double up at night you can use one or more of your prefolds for that purpose. You could really skip the inserts all together and use prefolds all around.

[MrsBanjoClown]

Thank you for that info about the inserts. I didn't know if you could use the prefolds inside the pocket diapers or not. Are the liners necessary?

[prairiewindmomma]

Can I recommend waiting until baby gets here to see what you/baby prefer? You have a lot of variety in your list, and I'm guessing if you're like most cloth diaperers, you're going to end up with a strong preference. I had one baby who could only handle microfiber without rashes. I had another who did better with prefolds put into flip covers. My shopping lists would look very differently for each.

 

For current baby, we use 6 flip one-size covers and 24 flip prefolds. We have 6 pocket diapers and two trash can size wet bag liners, two wet bags. I use disposable wipes.

 

With babies #2,3,4 we used 18 microfiber pockets (heavy wetters, super sensitive skin). For a time I had 3 in diapers....my total stash was only 24, and I washed daily.

 

With our first baby, we used everything under the sun and bought and resold a lot of each. ;)

[kbutton]

What you use inside your pocket diaper depends on the brand and what they recommend. I didn't like doubling prefolds (unless one was really thin) for extra absorbency. I like the doublers/inserts better.

 

Unless the mediums won't fit in your covers (which I doubt), I would probably skip the newborn prefolds entirely. I had medium diapers with my older son, and I wished I had gotten the longer size to be truthful, though doublers fixed the problem. Quantity depends on how often you wash, etc. If your babies are on the large side, and you plan to use disposables for a few weeks, you might not want any newborn stuff, but fit varies greatly by brand in that regard.

 

Liners are wonderful. I don't remember if I used that brand specifically, but I flushed the poopy ones, and I washed and reused any that were just wet. If you can air dry them, they'll last a long time, and they are probably a fire hazard in the dryer anyway. I think they are worth the investment if you can use them that way.

[lailasmum]

Sometimes prefolds will fit inside pockets padfolded it depends on their design. I don't know those ones but if they are slim fitted pockets then probably not. I personally think you need more covers. We found 6 per size a good number. It depends how often you are going to wash but it means you have plenty incase of a blow out that soils the covers badly and you can have one in a change bag without having to get it out the second you get home. But then some poeple rinse and hang to dry and reuse covers whereas I put them in with my full load every other day.

[kbutton]

Oh, and we found it easier to use cloth wipes since we didn't have a diaper genie to house the stinky wipes, and they don't flush. We cut up thin, flannel receiving blankets that I picked up at yard sales. I think prariewindmomma has a good suggestion to wait and see what you like. If you are on the frugal side, go with your price point, and then branch out from there if you don't like what you bought. Also, if your child ends up having a lot of rashes, Cotton Babies carries a microfiber sock that you can stuff with prefolds--it sort of makes a pocket diaper out of whatever diapers you already own.

[UrbanSue]

I agree to get some cloth wipes. They work so much better than disposable wipes, anyway. And you can put several wet ones in a ziploc for being out.

 

Do you have any friends who cloth diaper? If so, ask around about borrowing things from their "newborn stash". I find that most cloth diapers don't fit newborns all that well and the investment is harder to justify with tiny diapers that are only going to fit a couple months, at best. But if you could borrow a few different styles for that stage you could figure out what you like and go from there.

 

I've never used liners, by the way. I find that BMs from breastfed babies washes fairly clean and the more solid stuff later on shakes off well enough to satisfy me.

 

The advice to have more covers is probably good. Also, I have one son who gets a rash from microfiber but is fine otherwise so sometimes microfiber is a problem, not a solution.

[VeganCupcake]

I would also suggest trying a variety of stuff before committing to what you have listed. There are several online cloth diaper stores that will "rent" you a sample package so you can try and see what you like, what works for your baby, etc. Nicki's Diapers offers it--you send back what you don't like and keep what you do.

 

I personally didn't like the flushable liners. For breastfed babies, they're not necessary. Once baby eats solids, they might be a bit more helpful, but they can bunch up so that the poop gets all over the diaper anyway. I am 100% devoted to my diaper sprayer, though. :)

[hjffkj]

I suggest skipping the newborn size prefolds and just folding the fronts down of a bigger size. They grow out of them soo quickly and since you other 2 were over 8 lbs its safe to assume this one will be too and you'll only be using them for a very short period. Best prefolds I've found are green mountain! I've used pockets also but only because they were given to me for free. If money is an issue start with just a 2 dozen prefolds and some covers. And slowly try other types as baby gets bigger if you don't like prefolds

[ChrisOR]

 

 

2 dozen newborn prefolds

3 dozen small prefolds

2 dozen medium prefolds

1 dozen bamboo inserts

2 small fitteds

2 medium fitteds

2 wool covers

3 newborn covers

2 small covers

2 one-size covers

3 large rolls Bummis Bio-Soft Liners

4 KerrBear one-size pocket diapers

Snappis

 

 

My suggestions --

 

--Skip the newborn prefolds since your babies are already in the 8 pound range. I used flats :001_wub: so don't really know about prefold sizing beyond that.

 

-- Get a one-size fitted like Mother-Ease One-Size or get MotherEase Sandys (I think smalls fit through 18 pounds). I love wool covers with fitteds!

 

--Get one-size covers like Flips. Or a two-size like Thirsties Duo. Since you have bigger-than-average newborns, you don't need newborn covers. Getting a one-size cover will allow you to get 5-6 covers rather than 2 or 3 per size. It is nice to have more covers.

 

-- I loved DiaperPin forums! Have fun!

[Guest]

Use disposable dipes while the baby is still expelling meconium. I had hefty babies and Newborn prefolds were not entirely necessary. OTOH, they worked well as an overnight doubler later, and they make good burp cloths, so it wasn't really a waste.

 

I'm not a big believer in getting a lot of different bits and pieces. If they require different kinds of washing, it is a pain to separate dipes with different requirements. I also recommend cloth wipes. I used little baby washcloths from Walmart for this purpose. I still use them for face cleaning or little spills.

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

All you need are the prefolds and covers. The smaller prefolds can work as inserts for night time with the larger diapers. Cloth wipes are nice too and can be used as wipes or as extra layers for night time as well.

 

 

*If you want to save money just get only the full size prefolds and fold them down to needed size.

[VeganCupcake]

Use disposable dipes while the baby is still expelling meconium. I had hefty babies and Newborn prefolds were not entirely necessary. OTOH, they worked well as an overnight doubler later, and they make good burp cloths, so it wasn't really a waste.

 

I'm not a big believer in getting a lot of different bits and pieces. If they require different kinds of washing, it is a pain to separate dipes with different requirements. I also recommend cloth wipes. I used little baby washcloths from Walmart for this purpose. I still use them for face cleaning or little spills.

 

In my experience, meconium looks scary, but it washes out easily. Breastfed poop stains more. But there is something to be said for not cloth diapering from birth if it will be overwhelming.

[UrbanSue]

 

In my experience, meconium looks scary, but it washes out easily. Breastfed poop stains more. But there is something to be said for not cloth diapering from birth if it will be overwhelming.

 

I definitely agree here. It's okay to use disposables for a few weeks while things settle down, especially if you don't have laundry help. You aren't a cloth diaper failure and don't be tempted by all those diaper forum moms who announce, "Sposies have never touched my baby's skin!" I have done it both ways depending on what I had available. It might be easier for figuring out what you like to focus on the "regular" size diapers that will start fitting after a few weeks anyway.

[FO4UR]

I've CD'd my big kids and went kinda crazy with trying everything. With my current baby (5mo) I am exclusively using prefolds/flats stuffed in a wrap cover.

 

 

I have Flips and Imagine covers. I like Flips better.

 

 

Fitteds are nice to use, but pita to keep clean and take forever to dry....and if you only have 2 that fit are only good for snapping pictures imho. Oh, and they are expensive. Pockets are nice but you have to stuff (and unstuff) them. Weighing all the options....the easiest for cleaning and using is a prefold in a wrap cover.

 

 

Since you have big babies, I'd order some infant prefolds (36) and Flips covers (6). That is all. If baby comes out tiny, washcloths in a xs Thirsty cover.

[raceNzanesmom]

I would start with what you need for the first few months and not worry about later on. See how you do with prefolds before buying a bunch of sizes. I prefer prefolds that fit a newborn, but I had tiny babies. I kept 4 covers in rotation and it was plenty. Just wash out in the sink if needed between washings.

 

I'd get, for now

3 dozen GM small prefolds

4 small covers (I prefer hook and loop fastening at this size, something with gussets)

4 one or two size covers (I prefer snaps at this size)

A triple pack (or two) of Snappis

2 medium trash bag size wet bags (I buy at Walmart in the camping section)

2 diaper bag size wet bags (super water resistant and with a zipper)

3 dozen cloth wipes (cheap white Walmart washcloths work fine)

Medium flip top trash can (I buy at Target)

A yard of cheap light colored fleece cut into rectangles or hourglass shape for liners

Purex Free and Clear to wash dipes

 

Later on you may find you'd like to try fitteds or pockets, esp for night or outings, but I wouldn't worry about it now. If you do well with prefolds you can buy the next size, 2 dz will probably be plenty by that size. The smalls work well as doublers, so they'll get longer use. I also found once I was comfortable with prefolds that I preferred pins and the smalls lasted longer pinned vs Snappi'd.

 

If you find you need something easier than prefolds I highly recommend prefitteds, fitteds made from prefolds. They have the ease of use of a fitteds, ease of washing as a prefold. I'm also a big fan of Snap-EZ pocket diapers.

 

Best wishes and congratulations!

 

ETA: The sun works great for getting out stains, even in winter.