Cloth diapers: Taking the plunge
Oh, I was resistant to do the cloth diapering thing. In large part because just researching the topic is so overwhelming and presented a timesuck challenge. I've slowly been coming round to the idea, especially after I kind of accidentally discovered the bumGenius 2.0 option recently.
What sealed it for me, though, was when I got my LANA nursing pads and tried them on earlier this week. OMG, they are SO soft and comfortable. I'm really sold on the concept – especially in how they compare to the disposable nursing pads I was using when I breastfed my other babies. It got me to thinking that I want Jakey to be that much more comfy, too.
My girls never had any problems with disposable diapers, but I am anticipating a more sensitive baby this time, based on Scott's skin sensitivities, particularly with contact allergic reactions. Also, there is some speculation about disposable diapers and the longterm fertility consequences for boys.
Anyway, there are a ton of good reasons for me to consider cloth diapering, especially since I work from home and we can afford the more convenient alternatives like fitteds, pockets and all-in-ones.
So I dug in, did my homework and have decided: We're going to do it. (And for the record, Scott is all for it, too. 
In fact, he's actually wanted me to CD all along because he thinks it's best for baby, environment, etc., BUT he didn't want to be pushy since I'm the one who will be doing the majority of the work (have I mentioned I ADORE this man). So he was pretty happy to see me researching and getting serious about this alternative.
The initial cloth diaper stash will look something like this:
For newborn stage (0-4 months):
- Three dozen Kissaluvs fitteds – size 0 – These seem to be universally hailed for newborns and explosive BF poop containment. I think I will feel very comfortable investing in a stash of these to get us through the first few months. (They are not so popular for older babies that have a greater bladder capacity and don't need to be changed with every feeding – absorbency apparently becomes an issue…)
For older baby (5+ months) – just considering for now; won't buy at first:
- Dream-eze fitteds (organic cotton and organic velour) – These are wildly popular, but also significantly more expensive than the Kissaluvs. Because they are so expensive, I'm wary about stashing a large supply of them for the newborn stage (which is relatively short compared to the length of time babies can wear the larger sizes). Also, I have a feeling we'll be using the bumGenius 2.0 once Jakey has chubbed out a bit.
- One dozen bumGenius one size – This seems like a low risk investment… over the course of 2-3 years I imagine we'll get enough use out of a dozen of these to warrant the risk of buying that many up front. And if it turns out to be a love affair at any point of the diaper stage, I will just buy more! Most of the complaints I've read about these have been in regard to their fit on a newborn.
Assorted covers to try before making decisions about next size up:
- Bummi's Super Whisper Wrap – Wildflower Diapers is offering a free one of these per dozen Kissaluvs, so will have three of these on hand.
- Imse Vimse organic cotton – I'd like to try one of these
- Stacinator fleece – I want one in the leopard – so cute!
- Wonder Wraps – one size | reviews
- And I'm thinking a couple wool covers, too: Like maybe this one? I also may try an Aristocrats. I'm really sold, in theory, on wool covers. I'm curious to see how they play out in practice.
- gDiaper starter kit – For $25, I think these are worth trying out. Even if we don't cotton to the flushable inserts (harrr), cloth diapering moms rave about the quality and effectiveness of the covers (plus they are really cute)!
Mom to 4 kids and 2 stepkids, I am a writer writing in the heart of chaos. I am the co-founder and former editor of 
Woo!!But omg 3 dozen!!! lol Thats a lot of nappies, yes babies use lots, but I tended to wash every day when Lauren was tiny hehe Well the nappy bucket filled up anyway. But hell if you can afford it go for it
Wool covers are divine, my mum knits them. I didn't discover them until Lauren was a bit older, but she was in them pretty much exclusively from then on. Except if we had to go on long car trips, or she was going to be sitting down in a stroller a lot as they can wick.I cant wait to find out the flavour of this baby so I can get mum to make some gender specific soakers 
YAY to cloth convert, to save money and just because there are SO many fitteds out there I am going old school with this baby, have some organic flannette flats, ordered some bamboo flats and going to also get or make some muslin flats for the firs couple of days for the meconium, no meconium is getting near my precious bamboo flats lolI also have some fitteds, and will buy some more when the baby is older, but mainly using flats.
Dee
1 Jun 07 at 3:16 pm
LOL at your fitted rebellion! I could totally see going old school if I was more experienced and had more time. What makes you choose flats over prefolds?And yes LOL I totally have to be realistic about laundry frequency! Between working fulltime, dealing with all the older kids' commitments AND the competition for the washing machine, I think I could manage every other day (and briefly considered purchasing just 2 dozen), but ultimately I want to have the ability to skip two days if necessary. Weekends around here, for example, can be pretty harried and we find ourselves at home very little. Even buying everything I want to buy comes out significantly cheaper over time than disposables – at least there's that! I've been thinking about the meconium issue – won't that stain my fresh little dipes? Maybe I should get some liners or something I don't care about until the BM transitions?
beba
1 Jun 07 at 3:34 pm
Probaby a good idea.I am going to use my old fleece liners with the meconium so I can just chuck them in the bin and not worry about them.Oooh reminds me need to buy some more microfleece so I can make some new liners for this bubba!
Dee
1 Jun 07 at 4:10 pm
Ooh, nothing makes me happier than cloth! bumGenius nappies are GREAT, the one size ones fit Duncan perfectly, the sized all-in-one's are great too and dry super quick. I'd love a dozen!I am deeply in love with my Stacinator merino covers, the only thing I'd say is that boy urine seems to have magical delanolising powers and we do get some colour bleeds with dark coloured ones…periwinkle seems to be the best! And yes, wool wicks in carseats/pram/bjorn situations which isn't ideal. The sudz'n'dudz organic lanolin spray is great for quick and easy lanolising.Love love love Bummis Super Whisper Wraps….so reliable!
Bridget
1 Jun 07 at 8:50 pm
Man, it is so hard for me to decide between disposable and cloth. There are so many pluses and minuses for both. The only way I think for me to know best is to try both and see what suits my lifestyle but those cloth diapers are totally adorable!
Kuri
2 Jun 07 at 10:50 am
I can't thank you enough for all your extensive research. I am still in early TCC stage but I like to have a long term plan. Thanks!
raspberryswirl
2 Jun 07 at 7:26 pm
I'm glad my research is helpful to someone else! And I hope you are not in the TTC stage for long. Best wishes for a postive test soon!
beba
3 Jun 07 at 8:34 am
Cloth is wonderful. You can buy rice paper liners that are flushable for the BMs, otherwise you may want to consider getting something you don't care about for the first week or so. I would actually advise you to get a few cheap terry cloth towels at a dollar store and cut them up to use. They're absorbent, THICK, and good for wiping off excess, and cheap enough that you won't feel bad about trashing them. I use cotton unfolded diapers I got at an Amish sewing store, I like them better than prefolded diapers because once I'm done using them on the baby's bottom I can sew them together to use for cleaning windows and floors. I was raised pretty stinking old school! (Of course, my Grandma was Amish and I have a ton of Amish relatives, so the old school is more like just plain "school".) Oh, and if you're breastfeeding, cut up a wash cloth to stick at the very top of the back of the diaper, this will help prevent the up the back explosive yellow stinkbomb. It seems silly, I know, but that little inch of extra absorbency will really keep that BM on the bottom and not up the back!
faerie~wings
4 Jun 07 at 6:38 am
[isto é bom]
chitoes
6 Jun 07 at 1:54 am
I used cloth with my boys when they were babies, but that was such a long time ago! It looks like all of the products have gotten so much better.
Red Pen
16 Jun 07 at 8:29 am
I used Bummis Super Whisper Wraps with prefolds for my first daughter and now I'm using pocket diapers for my second, so much easier but a little pricier. I tried wool covers for night time but didn't really care for the washing method so I tried the stacinator fleece covers, worked great, I also use cloth diaper wipes, you can get a recipe at http://www.thewishingwellness.com/. It makes so much since to use cloth wipes if you are already cloth diapering.
carrie
5 Jul 07 at 11:09 am