Adventures in Newborn Cloth Diapering, Part One
September 13, 2011
Hey, Baby Ike. So. This is awkward, but apparently the Internet is very, very interested in hearing about your diapers.
Not in a creepy way! I don't think. Everybody just keeps asking about the cloth diapers and what we think of the cloth diapers and would we recommend the cloth diapers or are we just pointlessly martyring ourselves over the cloth diapers and so forth and so on and etc.
The thing is, there are about 500,340,201,430 (at last count) websites out there that discuss cloth diapers. Probably a good half of those sites specifically cover cloth diapering a newborn. I know, because I read just about every single flipping one while I was pregnant with Ike.
Noah wore disposables, and honestly, it never even occurred to me that cloth was a viable, non-crazy-person option. I switched Ezra over to cloth diapers when he was around four or five-ish months old. I was sick of diaper rash and poop blowouts, and we were making all these other efforts around our home to be more (GAG) "green" and generate less waste and trash, so disposable diapers kinda seemed like something we should eliminate (ZING).
That, plus our inability to EVER remember to buy diapers at the store, since we always THOUGHT we were using fewer diapers than we actually were, is what led to me finally shrieking "THAT'S IT, I'M SWITCHING TO CLOTH" while driving to the store with Ezra in nothing but one of Noah's old swim diapers because GODDDDDDDDdamn.
That process was really easy. I emailed some people who cloth diapered and asked them what they used. Answer: FuzziBunz and bumGenius. Okay then! I hunted around for the best price and plopped down a couple hundred bucks on diapers (half one brand and half the other) and some detergent, promising myself that I would stick with it, and that it was a worthwhile investment.
And it was! Holy cats. The diapers did everything I hoped they would do: Stop blowouts and rash (check), look adorable (check), eliminate our need for both disposable diapers and nighttime pull-ups (check check), and save money in the long run (check check check). And it turned out I was much, much better at remembering to dump the contents of a diaper pail into the washing machine every few days than I was at remembering to pick up another econo-mondo-box of Huggies size...wait, is he a 3 still? Should we move up to 4s? And don't I have a coupon somewhere for Pampers?
I kicked myself for not considering cloth diapers before. TRUTH.
But. I sensed that cloth diapering a newborn might not be so straightforward. The whole "one diaper birth to potty-training" thing isn't really possible -- unless you get a REALLY BIG BABY like Noah, or are willing to snap your infant into a crazy bulky, cinched-up diaper four times the size of his head for a couple weeks. Plus: leaks around the leg holes because newborn babies have thighs like underfed poultry. Plus plus: The umbilical stump! YOU MUST MIND THE STUMP.
So I knew our hand-me-downs would not be a viable option at first.
But then! Going out and buying a whole diapering system just for a few weeks? Or months? Or however long it would take my baby to fit into the hand-me-down one-size diapers? Oof. Doesn't that kinda kill the money-saving part? Especially once you realize how much some newborn-sized fitted diapers and fancy covers can cost, so maybe I should just go with a couple dozen prefolds and cheap waterproof covers? Is that enough? Should I buy more? Do they need something different for nighttime? What about when we're out? Will I really be happy fumbling with prefolds and Snappis in a public restroom with no changing table?
(Now go ahead and repeat that previous paragraph over and over again for about eight straight months. Welcome to my pregnancy! Try not to go completely insane.)
So. Okay. I GET why everyone wants me to talk about cloth diapers, because it's the same reason I wanted everybody else to talk about cloth diapers: I was hoping what worked for you would work for me, too.
Thus, cloth diapering Ike has been an ongoing process of trial and error, tweaks and re-jiggerings and changing our minds about what works best and when and how.
It's a weirdly rewarding process, for sure, because I have two full drawers now of some of the most CRIMINALLY CUTE diapering options in the world, to the point that I'm so HAPPY he was born in the summer because it meant I never, ever felt compelled to put actual clothing on him and cover up the adorableness. Plus, instead of package after package of disposables, I've purchased wonderful diapers and covers handmade by other moms, with my money going to support their home-based businesses, or just to help someone make some money off their hobby, doing something they love.
And when you realize that newborns go through about 8-10 diapers a day...well, shit, man. That's almost 100 non-biodegradable diapers headed for the landfill every 10 days. Some of them having spent all of 30 seconds in active duty on your baby's butt, because newborns have IMPECCABLE poop timing.
I do not judge anyone, however, who chooses to value their sanity over the environment in those first weeks and months. (Or ever, really. My diapering choice isn't meant to one-up yours, or anything. Just trying to lay out why I choose this, and all.) I could definitely make the argument for stealing as many Pampers as the hospital will give you and worrying about cloth diapering later, once your baby gets some chunk and YOU get some damn sleep.
I will say, hey: I have three kids. I work about 25-30 hours a week, on average. I have been known to drive my child (in a fuel-guzzling minivan) to his bus stop two blocks away because it's kinda sort-of raining outside. So I am not Superwoman, either environmentally or otherwise. But if I can do this, I'm pretty sure anyone can. And by anyone I am also including drunk monkeys.
So. Now that I've bored everyone to tears with my preamble, how about some specifics? Like I said yesterday, I'm breaking this magnum opus into a few parts. Tomorrow Imma gonna be brutally honest and tell you about the stuff that didn't work for us and some of the things I'd probably do differently. The next day I'll talk about what did work and where we are now, three months later.
But before I do that, I thought it might be nice to do a little primer on the diaper varieties I've tried so everybody will know What I'm Talking About When I Talk About Cloth Diapers. I was incredibly intimidated by all the different things when I first looked into cloth diapers: I wasn't prepared for such a steep learning curve. One-size? Fitted? AIO? Pocket? PUL? Fleece, wool, wraps, liners, doublers, soakers? WHAT IN THE SAM HILL IS EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT?
After the jump, a brief intro to a few different kinds of diapers. Plus baby pictures! If that's all you're here for.
This is a prefold, fastened here with a Snappi using the "angel wing" style fold. Prefolds are cheap, super-absorbant and easy to launder, but my personal journey towards loving prefolds was filled with poop blowouts and a lot of cursing. That said, I adore them now. (SPOILER ALERT!) Prefolds require a waterproof/water-resistant cover.
And here is a prefold in a PUL (Polyurethane Laminate) cover. No Snappi or pins necessary with this style cover -- just fold it over in threes and lay it right in there, then snap or velcro the MacGuyvered-diaper-thing on.
This particular cover is a Thirsties Duo Wrap Snap, size one (6-18 pounds). However, it didn't fit Ike's chicken-thighs very well for the first couple weeks, and while he is NO WHERE close to 18 pounds and there's a ton of room to grow in the waist, you'll notice we've already unsnapped the "rise" all the way. The perils of having a very (VERY) long and skinny baby, alas.
A handmade fleece cover from Etsy, over a fastened prefold (or a fitted, I don't remember). NOM. Breathable, great for rash-prone skin, and can be washed with regular loads of regular laundry.
WOOOOOOLIE PAAAANNNNNTS. I use these with fastened prefolds, fitted diapers or over any diaper prone to leakage (even a disposable, overnight). These are handmade from recycled sweaters and make me want to chew his legs off.
Wool covers were a damn hard sell for me: Wool? In August? That you have to handwash in a special soap and WTF is this lanolizing nonsense? Are you kidding me?
I expected to hate the snot out of wool covers. There are now on my list of Things To Save In A Fire.
(Ike's perfectly-coordinated-with-his-woolie-pants-onesie by The Plain Chachalaca.)
This is a fitted one-size diaper by Rebel Baby Co. These also technically require a cover, but are so absorbant and leak-proof that I only cover them at night and when we're out of the house. Other times, you'll have plenty of warning that the diaper is getting a tad damp and needs to be changed before there's a mess (unlike prefolds). These fitteds are lined with organic bamboo velour and have an adjustable snap-in soaker. They are more expensive than prefolds and take longer to dry than pockets, but...look at that diaper. LOOK AT IT. LOOK AT IT AND WEEP FROM THE CUTE.
(I also have this diaper in several color varieties of Ooga Boogas, stripes, argyles, dinosaurs, firetrucks, AH MAH GAWD.)
(Oh, and I also have one [1] hand-me-down Babykicks fitted, courtesy of Temerity Jane who said, AND I QUOTE: "This diaper is CRAP. YOU have it." I don't totally hate it, but I don't really love it. And I certainly agree that it is not cute enough to warrant its own photograph, so there.)
This is a refurbished bumGenius one-size pocket diaper, from my original stash purchased for Ezra. These little numbers served us very well through potty training in the 20+ pound range. But by that point, the velcro was almost completely shot, so I found someone on Etsy to yank it off and replace it with snaps.
However, the velcro was sort of essential to the whole "one-size" promise -- these are still a bit big for Ike at three months. Though that may be because some of the leg elastic needs to be replaced. (That's an easy fix, even for a non-sewer like me. I just have to get around to it, in all my copious amounts of free time.)
More one-size pocket diapers. The one on the left is a new one by FuzziBunz, the one on the right is by Charlie Banana (disclosure: a PR company sent me that diaper). This is the style diaper I started with, obvs, and it's DEFINITELY the easiest sell if you're trying to convince a daycare or significant other to give cloth a chance. You pre-stuff the diaper shells with inserts and then...done. Put it on, snap/velcro it up like a disposable.
That said, these diapers are pricey, they did NOT fit Ike at first, and I've found to be the most high-maintenance in the laundry department compared to the other options I've tried. The microfiber inserts these diapers come with are the most prone to stink and/or repelling, at least with our personal washer/water/detergent situation. But I'm getting ahead of myself; I'll have more to say about these later.
My single solitary foray into All-In-One (AIO) diapering. I bought this diaper by GroBaby (now GroVia) for Ezra. Hated it. Hated it HARD. The shell was laughably small to be a true "one size" and the snap-in insert/soaker thing was woefully underprepared for a heavy little boy wetter...but if I added additional doublers or anything I could barely get the thing fastened. However, for a smaller, non-mobile baby, this diaper is finally pulling its weight as a Solidly Okay Daytime Diaper.
That said, the brand has changed and overhauled the diaper so much since I bought this that I have no idea what it's like now. AIO diapers are similar to pocket diapers, except the inserts either snap in or are sewn directly to the cover (no stuffing required). Nice, except that this particular style takes longer to dry than pockets and isn't quite as leak-proof as a fitted with a cover.
Okay. Whew. I think that's everything I'll be talking about, save for extra crap like liners and laundry care. The worst part is that there are still dozens of additional diaper styles and systems and probably HUNDREDS of other brands. But I am just one person, with just one baby butt to cover, and one diapering budget that I am trying very hard NOT to blow to smithereens with a dozen more pairs of woolie pants.
Tomorrow: I Cannot Tell A Lie, Internet: Things I did NOT enjoy about cloth diapering a newborn.
I love hearing about cloth diapers! Even though I work for a cloth diapering company, it's still fun to learn. I tried cloth when my baby was newborn but I didn't have the money to invest in it full time, and I was scared of prefolds. But then I started again when my son was almost two and loved it all. Except ammonia stink. I hated that.
Posted by: Jessica | September 13, 2011 at 03:16 PM
Yes, there are many, many website talking all about the cloth diapers, but no one does it in such an entertaining way as you do.
I'll say what saved my sanity about all the cloth choices was being given a full supply of hand-me-down fuzzi-bunz. We used disposable for about a month, and when my daughter outgrew the small size I bought a bunch of mediums (she's a petite one) cause it's what I knew. I don't think I can be arsed to learn a whole new system. Am lazy.
Posted by: Olivia | September 13, 2011 at 03:20 PM
Holy moly! That was informative beyond my expectations.
I did cloth with my first using a diaper service and the options for covers was nothing like those. Amazing.
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: The Mommy Therapy | September 13, 2011 at 03:27 PM
Also, I cannot wrap my head around the level of organization that must be needed to use a lot of different diapering systems. Maybe someone can clue me in and let me know how that's done.
Posted by: Olivia | September 13, 2011 at 03:36 PM
One thing to note about cloth diapering for those of us who have children in daycare - many, many daycares do NOT accept cloth diapers. We were lucky enough with our first to have her start somewhere that was happy to use them. She's now in a different daycare that will not use them (they said NAEYC doesn't allow them).
Posted by: Lucy | September 13, 2011 at 03:53 PM
OMC! that diaper by Rebel Baby Co. is ADORABLE!!! i also am addicted to cloth..and will save all our wool if there is a fire...i've also ventured into making my own wool! YES! it is possible!!google is a magical thing!and by making my own wool i mean buying a wool sweater and cutting the cr@p outa it :P..ah cant wait for more cloth posts from you...even tho there are a million and one other sites and i dont really need any help with my addiction i do enjoy reading what you have to say :P
Posted by: Megann | September 13, 2011 at 04:00 PM
Erm, confusing. But I love learning about all of this.
I'm hoping for baby #1 in the next year, and plan to cloth diaper... but the question is, can you sell me on starting out with a newborn that way... hmm? Ike is one hell of a diaper model... nom, nom baby legs. :)
~
Posted by: Angie @ Musings of a Violet Monkey | September 13, 2011 at 04:00 PM
Drunk monkeys is an excellent standard to apply to help in deciding whether the rest of us could do this.
Posted by: MJ | September 13, 2011 at 04:12 PM
@Lucy, that's so true about daycare. I find using cloth at home still saves a significant amount of money. My daughter didn't start daycare until she was 18 months old though.
Posted by: Olivia | September 13, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Eeeek! So geekily excited for this! I'm currently 15 weeks pregnant with #2. I cloth diapered our first from about 3 weeks--as soon as the cord fell off (he was a chunkster) in a combination of bumgenius and fuzzibunz OS (later adding some mediums, which, surprise! I prefer for a bigger baby). So, fairly simple collection. (Oh! except I switched to fitteds and covers at night! lifechanging!) Now, I'm obsessed about diapers for this one. Even though I really know that the most practical route (for us, probably) would be a one case of newborn/size ones, and to add to my existing OS collection with some cute patterns/alternatives, depending on if we're having a boy or a girl (which, love my little guy, but I'm still miffed by all the diaper adorableness out there for baby girls. Boys deserve cute patterns too!)
Posted by: Katie | September 13, 2011 at 04:16 PM
Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!
I am deparate to hear more, but I already am clicking links and making lists. I have a few things ready, some prefold covers, diaper sevice gift certificates (gotta love the American baby showers! And registries!).
I am going with prefolds (see diaper service) and covers, but need to get into the wool covers. My friend swears by them, and I'm so happy about the sweater-turned-cover link - what a perfect idea!
Our boy in due 1st week of November, and this such perfect timing. I am really really grateful for all your RESEARCH and BUYING&TRYING. I know we have to see what works for us, but this is giving me such a better understanding.
THANK YOU!
Carry on.
Posted by: BlesstheFunk | September 13, 2011 at 04:17 PM
We use Flips because they are super cheap and easy but as you mentioned with the grovia...I worry they might not hold the pee as he grows...(only 6 months now)
They seem to hold a ton (especially with the doubler) but we'll see, I suppose.
I would love to buy some mix and match but I finally got the hubby and my mom on board and hate to confuse them.
Posted by: Karen | September 13, 2011 at 04:35 PM
We use Flips because they are super cheap and easy but as you mentioned with the grovia...I worry they might not hold the pee as he grows...(only 6 months now)
They seem to hold a ton (especially with the doubler) but we'll see, I suppose.
I would love to buy some mix and match but I finally got the hubby and my mom on board and hate to confuse them.
Posted by: Karen | September 13, 2011 at 04:35 PM
I love the idea of cloth diapers, however husband does not. So alas, much to the land fills dimise we use disposables and i dont get any cute covers. (sad face)
Posted by: April | September 13, 2011 at 04:46 PM
You have possibly the world's cutest cloth diaper model.
Your previous posts/discussions about cloth diapers are what convinced me to try to switch to cloth as we started potty training in earnest (my son had already been using the potty a lot but we were using disposables most of the time). After way too much procrastination, I finally settled on FuzziBunz. They were great... for the two or so months I used them - I ended up using a mix of them and disposables because I didn't have enough to do cloth 100% of the time. Then my son up and potty trained himself almost overnight. Even though it ended up being such a short time, I really appreciate your advice on them.
Posted by: Laura | September 13, 2011 at 05:33 PM
Amy, It's was your original post about Ezra's diapers that finally convinced me to take the plunge and CD my son (one month younger than Za). I subsequently (happily!) CD'd my one year old daughter from birth as well :-) So you, and your fanfriggintastic blog have saved HUNDREDS of diapers from piling up in landfills. Thank you for spreading the word about the ease of cloth diapering! Luvs it :-)
PS - have you seen the new Blueberry and BumGenius prints? ZOMG!!!!
Posted by: Elyse | September 13, 2011 at 05:34 PM
Amy, It's was your original post about Ezra's diapers that finally convinced me to take the plunge and CD my son (one month younger than Za). I subsequently (happily!) CD'd my one year old daughter from birth as well :-) So you, and your fanfriggintastic blog have saved HUNDREDS of diapers from piling up in landfills. Thank you for spreading the word about the ease of cloth diapering! Luvs it :-)
PS - have you seen the new Blueberry and BumGenius prints? ZOMG!!!!
Posted by: Elyse | September 13, 2011 at 05:34 PM
Amy, It's was your original post about Ezra's diapers that finally convinced me to take the plunge and CD my son (one month younger than Za). I subsequently (happily!) CD'd my one year old daughter from birth as well :-) So you, and your fanfriggintastic blog have saved HUNDREDS of diapers from piling up in landfills. Thank you for spreading the word about the ease of cloth diapering! Luvs it :-)
PS - have you seen the new Blueberry and BumGenius prints? ZOMG!!!!
Posted by: Elyse | September 13, 2011 at 05:34 PM
Do you realize that each of your children and associated paraphernalia are a tax write off, given your line of work? Shazam!
Posted by: Miriam | September 13, 2011 at 05:58 PM
Really? Wool is cool for the bum? As in-no heat rash? Note to self: Don't think and pregnant at same time. (Can't wait to have little person in CDs again!)
Posted by: Babs | September 13, 2011 at 07:30 PM
Don't care about diapers. Came for the baby pics. Score!
Posted by: Suzy Q | September 13, 2011 at 07:34 PM
I was just here for the pictures...thank you.
Posted by: Sheila | September 13, 2011 at 08:15 PM
We researched cloth diapers for months when i was pregnant...they seem like a job for a supermom, and not feeling so super when I was 50 lbs. over my regular weight, we went for disposables. And now...I'm beginning to regret that!
Smoking Crayolas Blogspot
Posted by: jen fuller | September 13, 2011 at 08:23 PM
Wait. What's a fitted?
Posted by: Cassie | September 13, 2011 at 09:02 PM
I just gave my 22 year-old brother a lesson on cloth diapers and their benefits for the environment and the amount of time it take disposable diapers to breakdown in landfills. He was amazed. Or maybe just speechless because he could care less. But seriously, this has been the MOST helpful thing I have read when it comes to the whole cloth diapering business. I've still got till Marchish (probably should do some stocking up either way before the kid actually gets here) to figure it out. I'm excited to read the rest of it!
Posted by: Kimber | September 13, 2011 at 09:09 PM
Yayy. Bookmarking. Pinning. And not just for the adorable baby.
Posted by: Kathleen | September 13, 2011 at 10:38 PM
I got totally intimidated from all the All-in-One, All-in-Two, Fitted, Bum Genius, Fuzzibunz rigmarol and just went with prefold and Thirsties wraps. My bank account approves of this decision, cause I'd have a bad Etsy habit otherwise. The babe was only 5 lbs at birth, so we did disposables the first couple of weeks, but they've been a breeze ever since.
Even convinced a friend to switch her almost 2 year old to cloth and she wishes she'd done it sooner.
Posted by: Nicole | September 13, 2011 at 10:44 PM
Our little dude is 8 weeks old, and we transitioned from disposables to gDiapers a few weeks ago. I think we like them. He's our first, so I don't know how often leaks should happen, but we really haven't had too many in the grand scheme of things. I especially love the flushable inserts, which are great for traveling (too expensive for us to use at home). We also have the hose thingy on our toilet - love!
Posted by: kristin | September 13, 2011 at 11:19 PM
1. You can begin to cloth diaper "late." I only CD'ed my son for 10 months and it still saved us a ton of money, especially since we'll be using the diapers with our next baby as well.
2. I'm wondering about the wool and fleece covers on a newborn. Ike's leg's look like they are in a "frog" position. Can that be comfortable?
3. I used GroBaby exclusively on my long, skinny son from 2 months to 12 months, before they rebranded as GroVia. Then I got one all-in-one diaper and liked it a lot more. We had to stop using them when my son started drinking lots of water/juice/milk. They just couldn't handle all the liquid, and would start to leak about every 1.5-2 hours. I always changed my son more often in a CD, but it got to the point where I couldn't change it before it started to leak. In sum, the fit of the GroVia all-in-ones are fabulous and worked GREAT for my baby, until about 13 months old.
Posted by: lesley | September 13, 2011 at 11:54 PM
That first little tidbit in my last comment is meant for all the commenters/readers who think that it is ALL or NOTHING, and they MUST make a decision before the fetus is out of the womb. You DON'T. Looking back, my advice is to go through a 30 day trial program from an online store and try different kinds. Also, use cloth wipes. I LOVE cloth wipes and quilter's nappies are my favorite.
Posted by: lesley | September 13, 2011 at 11:56 PM
THANK YOU JESUS. Uh, I mean, Amy. I have been waiting on pins and needles since you first mentioned doing this series. This could not be more perfectly timed, as I sit here holding my 3-day old, wondering how this prefold/Thirsties Duo Snap Wrap (in Blackbird!) is going to hold up to our first real wet diaper. I am way too excited to read ANY advice and thoughts you have about making this cloth diaper business work.
Posted by: operation pink herring | September 14, 2011 at 08:09 AM
Can we also possibly get a tutorial on how to get a prefold to look like that? My folding/snappi jobs look like they could use some rubber bands and duct tape to keep them from falling off.
Posted by: operation pink herring | September 14, 2011 at 08:13 AM
Can we also possibly get a tutorial on how to get a prefold to look like that? My folding/snappi jobs look like they could use some rubber bands and duct tape to keep them from falling off.
Posted by: operation pink herring | September 14, 2011 at 08:13 AM
I agree with Olivia (comment #2) ... the reason we all are craving these cloth diaper posts so much is 1) they are so amusing and 2) Ike is adorable and this way we get lots of cute fluffy butt baby pics. Hooray!
Posted by: Michelle | September 14, 2011 at 10:51 AM
I do declare we could be cloth diapering twinsies. Not with first, but yes with my second and third (who was due within a few days of Ike but decided to come NICU early instead.) My Sienna's silver tho.
Anywho, while I tried nearly everything, it was the BGs that took my middle child all the way to potty training. I was so stoked to try Rumparooz this time around because way better colors, internal gussets for newborn runnies, fleece vs. suede cloth, and no waiting to grow into them. (Have you seen the firetruck one???) They turned out to be a big disappoint. The laundry tabs on all 6 I purchased starting unstitching themselves the very first time I washed them. I called customer service numerous times and left messages at least twice requesting warranty info and never got a call back. They also always have that slightly damp feeling on the oustide like Haute Pockets which is awkward when someone wants to hold the baby. But I gotta give credit -- they fit really well on a skinny 6 pounder. I really liked my Gen-Y Universal covers in the early teeny tiny days, which says a lot because I am an aplix girl. Still trying to figure out what's going to be my fav this time around.
Posted by: Heidi | September 14, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Um... I really, really appreciate this, and I definitely know more about cloth diapers than I did before, but could someone please, please, please direct me to a "Cloth Diapering for Dummies" website? I swear, everything I look at requires a level of knowledge and vocabulary on cloth diapers that I just don't have. Expecting my first in a few months, and don't want to choose not to cloth diaper because I didn't understand the vocabulary or what the heck the cloth non-waterproof covers were for.
Posted by: Kirsten | September 14, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Hi Amy,
I cloth diapered my son from newborn until he was almost 2 years old. I stopped b/c I took a trip with him and didn't want to bring cloth. I never turned back to cloth after that trip.
Anyway...cloth is ADDICTING! I had so many cute diapers it was insane. I almost just wanted to pull his pants down to strangers to show them the super cute cloth he was wearing.
I ultimately gave up the cuteness factor for the practical/cheaper factor and switched my stash to BG and Fuzzibunz.
Glad to hear/see you are doing cloth! Awesome!
Take care,
Janessa :)
Posted by: Janessa | September 14, 2011 at 12:43 PM
I had to read this twice but now I think I get it! I've been reading cloth diaper stuff and totally want to try it when/if I have some babies but I didn't totally get it until now. Thank you so much for breaking it down and including pictures. Very helpful!
Posted by: Alex | September 14, 2011 at 12:45 PM
I love, LOVE, bust-them-out-in-mixed-company-and-force-people-to-feel-the-softness-LOVE, the new Fuzzibunz. OMG.
Can't wait for the next 2 installments. You are gearing me up to challange our daycare on thier no-cloth policy. No pressure, but you are writing my pre-battle speach, so, like, make it good. Tonight we diaper in HELL!!!!!!
Posted by: Melissa Olds | September 14, 2011 at 12:47 PM
our daycare was fine with cloth diapers - they all just came home in a bag for us to deal with! We also sent only all-in-ones to prevent operator error (can't expect them to be up on all different cloth diapering options and nuances of installation). we got a ton of use out of of them since my son used them until he was 31/2!
Posted by: some chick | September 14, 2011 at 01:28 PM
very cool series.
wished i coulda read it 3 years ago.
i was going to do the cloth diapers myself, but during that time we were in (the south) the midst of a rather large drought. so, i kinda thought i'd be ruining one part of the environment by saving another part. it was kinda 6 of one, half dozen kinda situation for me.
i don't regret it, but i do wish i didn't have that hanging over my head so i could've tried it.
looking forward to the next few posts about this. i will pass the info on to any pregnant friends who become interested.
Posted by: mpotter | September 14, 2011 at 01:32 PM
@mpotter: don't feel bad about not using cloth during a drought. I heard someone on NPR say that the environmental impact really depends on a person's location. If you live somewhere with plenty of water, but not much land cloth is better. But, if you live where there is little water, but a lot of land disposable is better.
Posted by: Olivia | September 14, 2011 at 01:38 PM
We used a cloth diaper hiring and laundering service (in the UK) until the babies were 4 months old and I had some level of household organisation back. It was great as we didn't have to buy any of the teeny newborn sizes, and I had one less job to do in the postnatal haze. Then at 4 months the laundry service sold us all the prefold kit we'd need until potty training, including some good quality second hand outerwraps. That kit did two children without any problems or issues at all. I calculated we saved hundreds of euros (dollars). So it was all good (despite everyone thinking we were crazy :) ). This was 5-8 years ago and the outer covers are soooo much cuter now!
Posted by: French Kate | September 14, 2011 at 02:05 PM
PS forgot to say, the only negative for me was that no crèche or childminder would allow us to use them.... think you need to find a likeminded hippy lady for that : )
Posted by: French Kate | September 14, 2011 at 02:07 PM
PS forgot to say, the only negative for me was that no crèche or childminder would allow us to use them.... think you need to find a likeminded hippy lady for that : )
Posted by: French Kate | September 14, 2011 at 02:07 PM
I used normal square nappies,(Nappies = Diapers. I'm British, so shoot me! actually don't there has just been a bomb scare 8 miles away in Canterbury Cathedral, just as my 16yr old was walking past to catch the bus home from school :o) Anyway whens said 16yr old was a baby I used 'un' prefolded square Nappies and I had no problem fitting them on my 6lb 1oz baby without her bum looking to big. I used the Kite Shape when she was older but the Double Triangle when she was avery little baby, with plastic pants over the top.
Posted by: VioletSky | September 14, 2011 at 02:21 PM
Well, i just dropped $100 at NikkisDiapers.com. Such strong influence you have. Like Oprah.
Posted by: Jeni | September 14, 2011 at 02:32 PM
Getting ready to cloth diaper my second, but this will be the first time I tried with a newborn. Like you, #1 was in disposable all the time. As far as daycare, we didn't have a single issue. DS2 was highly allergic to disposable diapers (which facilitated the switch to cloth) and every daycare just needed the doctors note. So those dealing with rashes ALL THE TIME... it is probably the diapers, talk to your pedi. The super absorbent polymer is becoming a common allergenic according to the 2 pedi practices I have used.
Posted by: momsmoo | September 14, 2011 at 03:08 PM
Not to be a snob :) but that Grobaby is an AI2 not an AIO. The soaker comes out, which makes it a 2 piece deal (or a hybrid). Plus their AIO's are side-snapping. I HATE their AIO's, but like their AI2's OK, and they are a pretty easy package for daycare (plus cheaper), so I use them for that.
Posted by: rachael | September 14, 2011 at 07:18 PM
Not to be a snob :) but that Grobaby is an AI2 not an AIO. The soaker comes out, which makes it a 2 piece deal (or a hybrid). Plus their AIO's are side-snapping. I HATE their AIO's, but like their AI2's OK, and they are a pretty easy package for daycare (plus cheaper), so I use them for that.
Posted by: rachael | September 14, 2011 at 07:18 PM
Not to be a snob :) but that Grobaby is an AI2 not an AIO. The soaker comes out, which makes it a 2 piece deal (or a hybrid). Plus their AIO's are side-snapping. I HATE their AIO's, but like their AI2's OK, and they are a pretty easy package for daycare (plus cheaper), so I use them for that.
Posted by: rachael | September 14, 2011 at 07:18 PM
Not to be a snob :) but that Grobaby is an AI2 not an AIO. The soaker comes out, which makes it a 2 piece deal (or a hybrid). Plus their AIO's are side-snapping. I HATE their AIO's, but like their AI2's OK, and they are a pretty easy package for daycare (plus cheaper), so I use them for that.
Posted by: rachael | September 14, 2011 at 07:18 PM
Not to be a snob :) but that Grobaby is an AI2 not an AIO. The soaker comes out, which makes it a 2 piece deal (or a hybrid). Plus their AIO's are side-snapping. I HATE their AIO's, but like their AI2's OK, and they are a pretty easy package for daycare (plus cheaper), so I use them for that.
Posted by: rachael | September 14, 2011 at 07:18 PM
Not to be a snob :) but that Grobaby is an AI2 not an AIO. The soaker comes out, which makes it a 2 piece deal (or a hybrid). Plus their AIO's are side-snapping. I HATE their AIO's, but like their AI2's OK, and they are a pretty easy package for daycare (plus cheaper), so I use them for that.
Posted by: rachael | September 14, 2011 at 07:18 PM
Not to be a snob :) but that Grobaby is an AI2 not an AIO. The soaker comes out, which makes it a 2 piece deal (or a hybrid). Plus their AIO's are side-snapping. I HATE their AIO's, but like their AI2's OK, and they are a pretty easy package for daycare (plus cheaper), so I use them for that.
Posted by: rachael | September 14, 2011 at 07:18 PM
Not to be a snob :) but that Grobaby is an AI2 not an AIO. The soaker comes out, which makes it a 2 piece deal (or a hybrid). Plus their AIO's are side-snapping. I HATE their AIO's, but like their AI2's OK, and they are a pretty easy package for daycare (plus cheaper), so I use them for that.
Posted by: rachael | September 14, 2011 at 07:18 PM