A ton of cloth diaper questions....

Preggo crashing - i am trying to put together my registry list / list of what i'll need before baby arrives and i am a little lost with what i'll need to cloth diaper...

From what ive read it seems like a good idea to just start with prefolds since the all-in-ones wont fit a newborn good?

Are all the prefolds the same sizes or do they come in different sizes? If so what sizes would i need for a newborn and how long til they outgrow them?

Also how many prefolds to start with? How many covers?

Do you use the cover for the whole day (unless soiled) and then use a new one each day or use the same cover until it gets dirty?

Will the newborn clothing fit over the diapers (they look bulky) or should i have an larger size on hand in case?

I know i need to get a wet bag for the dirty ones - what does everyone use as a pail? A regular step lid garbabe pail or a diaper pail?

Is the poop sprayer worth it or is using a baby wipe by hand enough?

Laundry - what detergent is best? Is a regular Free & clear detergent enough for stain removal? If you dont clean the poop b/c EBF does that lead to more stains? Should i use the pre sanitize cycle on my washing machine?

do you dry the diapers / covers in the dryer? If not - how long does it take them to line dry?

Any advice / hints is much appreciated - thanks so much ladies

Re: A ton of cloth diaper questions....

I'll answer what I can.............

We use prefolds on my 8 week old. We have to put a twist in them but they work great. Yes, prefolds come in different sizes. My friends that cloth diaper exclusively said 2 dozen for the orange edged green mountain prefolds since with newborns you want quantity. Then you can probably get by on a dozen yellow edged for a while.

We use a disposable at night but generally a new cover each day unless they get dirty obviously. We also use some pocket dipes (thirsties) that are small enough and I love my GroVias. I have used the snap in liners and thrown a prefold in there.

I like the Imse Vimse and Thirsties covers, and I've heard that proraps are good for teeny tiny newborns for a snug fit. We have about 6 covers.

We are EBF and don't have a sprayer, I just throw them into the wetbag and throw the full wetbag right into the washer unzipped. We anticipate getting a sprayer for when solids are added to DD's diet. We only use a wetbag, no pail currently.

As for clothing, my DD is still in NB sizes and they still fit even with the cloth. But she is long and lean, if she was chunky it may be a different story. I think you're best to see how your DC is size wise for all the clothes. DD has some NB size stuff that is too big, even with the cloth on.

this site has some awesome tutorials and a chart for which laundry detergents to use etc

http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/basics.htm


ETA: We dry everything on a drying rack, I don't think you're supposed to dry the covers in a dryer.. I know Imse vimses say to line dry...........

Message edited 12/13/2010 9:10:41 AM.

Re: A ton of cloth diaper questions....

Thanks

Re: A ton of cloth diaper questions....

Posted by BabyFever10

From what ive read it seems like a good idea to just start with prefolds since the all-in-ones wont fit a newborn good?

Agreed.

Are all the prefolds the same sizes or do they come in different sizes? If so what sizes would i need for a newborn and how long til they outgrow them?

No they are not. The sizes will vary from where you happen to purchase the prefolds. I would get about 12 newborn and 24 of the next size up.

Also how many prefolds to start with? How many covers?

I would get about 8 covers. Don't get the newborn ones or just one or two, get the small ones. They will last longer and still fit on a newborn. The other option is to get the one size ones as they will last for as long as you use cloth, though I never used the one size when DS was born only when he got older so I don't know how well they fit.

Do you use the cover for the whole day (unless soiled) and then use a new one each day or use the same cover until it gets dirty?

Pretty much, but as a newborn you don't get much use out of a cover then you will as your baby get older. In the beginning I went through about four a day.

Will the newborn clothing fit over the diapers (they look bulky) or should i have an larger size on hand in case?

Yes they will fit. I had a chunky baby and the clothes still fit fine.

I know i need to get a wet bag for the dirty ones - what does everyone use as a pail? A regular step lid garbabe pail or a diaper pail?

I didn't get a pail. I used a large wet bag (laundry size) and hung it on the back of DS's bedroom door. I have two of these so one could wash and I still had one to use.

Is the poop sprayer worth it or is using a baby wipe by hand enough?

If you are breastfeeding there is no need to spray the diaper just toss in wet bag than washer. If you are using formula or doing both BF and formula you might one to invest in one. I don't use a sprayer, instead when DS was on solids I used liners that you can flush away.

Laundry - what detergent is best? Is a regular Free & clear detergent enough for stain removal? If you dont clean the poop b/c EBF does that lead to more stains? Should i use the pre sanitize cycle on my washing machine?

I swear by All free and clear. It is inexpensive and works well. Once a month I will do a bleach wash. Every two months I will do a Sani wash. If you do have staining (shouldn't have much with EBF) you can just put the wipes outside to sun. It really works well, better than bleach.

An average wash for me went like this.
One wash on cold and a second wash on Hot. Than dry on medium.

do you dry the diapers / covers in the dryer? If not - how long does it take them to line dry?

Some say not to dry the liners but I do and never had a problem.

Any advice / hints is much appreciated - thanks so much ladies

FM me is you have any other questions. I have cloth diaper my DS since birth and still do now at 21 months.

Re: A ton of cloth diaper questions....

Thanks - good info!

Re: A ton of cloth diaper questions....

I have been cloth dipaering for ayear - so here is my info

i started with 24 newborn prefolds - they lasted me to about 5 months - and i had about 4 covers in x-small and small - i just folded the front over in the beginning - i liked the thirsties covers best - after 5 months i moved to bigger prefolds but this is a time that is also good to move to all in one's or stuff in ones

i bf for 6 months - so i just threw them in the wet bag and washed - i do a cold soak and then a hot wash with soap with a second rinse

i just use all free and clear - half the amount suggested on container

after starting food - i use liners because my ds goes to day care

i use the bum genuis at night starting around 6 weeks

i also tried the thirsties all in one but they leaked for me

it is overwhelming the choices but diaperpin.com has lots of reviews of diapers

also if you are planning on having morethan one child- snaps last longer than velcro but harder to put on a squirmy baby - also elastic does wear out of diapers - so one size does not always work best

the diapers definelty make there clothes fit tighter - every now and then i need to use a disposable tolet him a certain outfit

the thinnest diaper i found that works best is bum ware extreme all in ones - just like a disposable but cloth

good luck

Re: A ton of cloth diaper questions....

I use both the Flip system and Best Bottom diapers. They are AI2 and I had no problem with how they fit my newborn. Although she was bigger - 8 1/2 pounds when I started CD. Now Flip came out with newborn inserts so they would definately fit a tiny baby.

I have 20 inserts and 12 covers, although I a medium laundry load every day.

I alternate between 3 covers for the day. When one gets soiled, I pull a new one out. So there's one on her, one ready to go and one drying out.

I have two Planetwise wet bags that I alternate between (one is always in the laundry). I hang the bags from the curtain rod in the bathroom right by the toilet. I have a diaper sprayer that I use to clean the diapers and then it goes directly into the wet bag.

Get a diaper sprayer. My absolute BEST CD purchase.

I use Bum Genius / Country Save detergent. Gets everything clean and no scent.

EBF poop is water soluble so it should desolve completely. Although it does leave stains, put the diapers in the sun and they will bleach away.

I line dry my covers and machine dry the inserts.

Don't forget smaller wet bags for the diaper bag. You will want something to put the used diapers in when you are out and about.

CDing is really very easy. It sounds so intimidating, but it isn't at all. Plus I love not being a slave to how many diapers and wipes I have left and do I need to go to the store (I also use cloth wipes - just wash clothes soaked in water with a small bit of baby wash and baby oil). I have saved so much money!

FM me if you have any questions or want to see the diapers in person. I wish I was able to do that before we made the decision to CD. Thankfully we are very happy with our decision and it works out wonderfully.

Message edited 12/13/2010 5:09:25 PM.

Re: A ton of cloth diaper questions....

Re: A ton of cloth diaper questions....

Re: A ton of cloth diaper questions....

just posted a long reply that got deleted!

i have 30 indian prefolds
3 xsmall thristies covers
3 small

all free and clear

newborn prefold size would be nice, but i was being cheap. went all regular size...i can see a benefit to the newborn though. they were big on her.

clothes fit fine

covers, i changed if she peed a lot...then i either handwash cover and hang dry or toss in wash with any other load, hang dry.

prefolds washed every other night. cold rinse cycle, then hot full wash cycle with detergent.
none are stained, EBF-threw them in wash dirty. zero stains.

now, she mainly poops on toliet, if not, i bought a cheap spatula, hold over toliet and scrape. works like a charm.

i started out with soil pail. did not like it. now i just use grocery bags. zero smell. i just open the bag, throw one in, tie closed, reopen to throw another in.

good luck!!