How to choose a Cloth Diaper Game Plan
Written by Diaper Diva
Prefolds (snappi/pins/wrap), Contoured, Fitted, AIO, Pocket, Wool, PUL, Fleece, Flannel, Polyester, Snaps, Velcro……the list goes on. How can DIAPERS be this complicated?? Can’t you just go to Target & pick up some gerbers?
Sure, but where’s the fun (& high performance…*bias*…) in that?
If you’re new to cloth and are on board with the idea, but a bit overwhelmed on which route to go, I’m going to spend the next week here with you. While I don’t know everything, I’ve stalked my share of forums enough to THINK I know everything…. The most common advice is to buy one or two of a bunch of different types to try & see what you like.
This is excellent advice. The logic is that gently used cloth diapers (GENTLY) have an awesome resale value, so you can “easily” recoup most of your losses. However, for most of us, even deciding on which “bunch” to try is daunting (we haven’t even touched on brands….), not to mention the shudder of dealing with traveling to & fro from the post office numerous times to ship off those disliked “trials”. I have however (unfortunately AFTER committing to my diaper stash) discovered a site that allows you to test drive a bunch of different diapers for a week for about the cost of what it would be to use disposables for that time-frame.
So the disclaimer here, is that as with all things Baby, everyone has an opinion and not many are the same. Some favorites depend on the size & shape of the baby & others on the fashion obsession (or lack thereof) of the mother. I’m going to organize the options under some general categories here & we’ll walk through them one at a time this week.
Another note: If I mention specific brands when talking about types of diapers, I will offer what I would probably choose if taking that particular route. You don’t want me going into specifics on brands at this point….neither of us would make it to the end of the post.
The first important step is to evaluate your reasons for cloth diapering. This will help tremendously in narrowing down the categories until you find what works for you. Most people do not fall neatly into one category, but like I said…we’re just narrowing down here folks.
1) Cost
2) Environment
3) Vehement distaste for chemicals (or allergic)
4) Rash issues (not due to disposable diaper allergy)
5) Met someone who cloth diapers, thought they (um..the diapers) were cute plus I have a shopping addiction so this just seemed like a logical step to take.
Tomorrow: Category #1: Uber-frugal to Reasonably frugal
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- Cloth Diapering to Save Money Pt. 1
Hi! Dana referred me to your blog (my husband just graduated from RTS Orlando). We’ve been doing cloth on our 2-week old since he finished up meconium. Dana mentioned you do layering at night…what does that entail? We usually use a flannel diaper with a cover, and he’s either swaddled or as of last night, we had him in a wool soaker. Appreciate any tips or pointers. Also, any ideas on the best way to change ‘em at night without fully waking up baby so he can get right back to sleep.
Hi Dolly! Welcome to the wonderful world of Cloth diapers! :o) I feel like I already know you through Dana’s stories….
Our night-time solution: Pad that thing up with whatever you can find. When diaper girl was newborn, I put her in a size 0 Kissaluv (holds newborn explosions like nobodies business), with a medium (maybe small..can’t remember, whatever fits) wrapped around it (since the kissaluv was too small to accomodate a doubler), then the diaper cover. As a little extra protection, you can put baby in a 100% polyester fleece sleepsack (or wool if opposed to non-natural fibers..but that will cost more $$).
Now we use a fitted (we use Mother-ease One Size), with a Mother-Ease doubler, then an infant sized prefold tri-folded in the middle, fleece liner on top. Then on goes the cover.
Of course they can’t hardly walk in the get-up (i enjoy watching them waddle & try though…lol), but they don’t need to walk while sleeping!
As for sneaky changes…i have no idea, other than perhaps use AIO’s or Pockets for night-time dipes so the change is at least quicker?? Once my kids started sleeping through the night I did not change them (thus the need for Ft. Knox padding). I only changed if i was already up with them for feeding.
That was a long comment, guess I’ll have to write a “how to diaper at night-time” post soon…
Ryan, oh excuse me, Diaper Diva, I am sitting her laughing out loud right now! I miss how funny you always were/are and now you have gone up a notch by joining the ranks of cloth diapering…expertise! Wow, I am completely in shock of this whole blog right now! It’s actually very helpful, though! So, is there anything in your blog about elimination communication? Or do you have a separate blog for that?
We like to use Thirsties Fab-Fitted with the Mother Ease Air Flow covers. By the way, did diaper girl or diaper boy ever have issues with walking (once they did start walking) with all the bulk of the diapers? Sometimes Cadence will be laying down on her side and because the diaper is so thick, her leg will lay straight out and we just laugh because it’s so cute. But seriously, could it affect them being bow-legged or their walking? Have you encountered talk like this from any of the forums you’ve searched?
no neither of the ‘diaper kids’ in this family have any bow-legged problems & both started walking at average times (just after first birthday’s). Diaper girl was the only cloth diapered from birth & yes especially early-on she had “stick out legs syndrome”, as I used a one-size diaper starting at 8lbs (which meant the diaper took up half her body for a month or two). I admit i was concerned, however our pediatrician (& mommas on forums) assured me it was nothing to be concerned about. lo & behold, she’s walking fine & no deformities.
she does waggle her booty a good bit when she runs though (even now out of diapers)….not sure if that’s just her girly-hips or a repercussion of running-while-enormous-cloth-diapered. it’s downright adorable.