To cloth or not to cloth | slackermama . com

Posted on Friday, April 25th, 2008, 8:12 PM

As I mentioned earlier this week, I’m considering trying out cloth diapering. Well, more than considering actually. At this point, I think it’s just a matter of when and a matter of how. I’d like to incorporate the gDiapers I won, either in part or in whole or as another variety. Either way, whatever I chose, I will have to purchase other supplies. Two covers aren’t going to cut it, I don’t care what you say.

With the gDiapers, the prevailing thought is to use a cloth insert instead of the flushable insert (at least when here at home and save the flushables for when out and about). I toyed with fashioning my own insert, but then, I could also buy an insert. Or I could buy prefolds from Walmart and use those. But I’d have to cut those down or something in order to make them “fit” properly. Still, would be less work than fashioning my own inserts which could involve “sewing”. And, ya know, I don’t do that. Obviously, the easiest choice is to buy inserts online (such as would go in a pocket diaper). But which inserts would work the best? What “brand”? What fabrics? How much is this going to cost me? (I’m a little afraid of the answer.)

Then there’s the question of extra diapers. Do I want to buy more gDiaper covers and use that whole system exclusively? (Again, I would only be using the flushables when out and about.) Or, would I want to try another cloth diaper, perhaps an AIO (all in one)? Then again, if I used a pocket diaper, then I could use the inserts that I made/purchased for use with the gDiapers. In both cases, what brands are the best? What features does one look for? What works the best? What is the easiest (because, knowing me, if it’s not easy I won’t keep it up)?

GAH. Questions, questions. It’s amazing that I don’t just give up the whole notion. But then I find myself cruising different cloth diapering websites and forums and my interest is piqued again.

What do you all think? Do any of you use cloth diapers? If so, PLEASE tell me what works for you. I’m positively obsessed with the idea right now.

What’s shakin’? You Need to Read - April 26

Filed under General Snark | Comments RSS | Add Comment

Previous: You Need to Read - April 26
Next: What’s shakin’?

6 Comments

Posted by Coty (7 comments.) 04.26.2008, 5:16 am

Do it, do it, do it!!! *chanting* LOL

I use a mixture of pretty much everything. A tried and true favorite are the Bumgenious one-size dipes. Highly functional, but a little boring. I’ve also just gotten into prefolds. They’re a lot easier than I had imagined they’d be.
Posted by Michelle 04.26.2008, 5:27 am

You are BRAVE!! Like I said earlier, I have a grudge against cloth, mostly because they were sprung on me and I had NO idea how to work them.
Posted by Lisa 04.26.2008, 9:20 am

We had the biggest problem with fit. In so many different ways. DD had/has a tiny waist. So we had a problem where she was always between sizes. Either the waist was too big or the legs too small. We’d do ProWraps for the first half of a size (it’s just a wrap to prevent wicking and you lay an insert inside). Then we’d do the FuzziBunz once they fit ok. I really liked the FuzziBunz except that (as a pocket dipe) you had to pull out the insert either before putting in the pail or before washing. Icky either way. With ProWraps, the insert would just fall out (not having a pocket for the insert), but that meant it could slide a bit in the diapering. So I had mixed feeling about both of them. But I didn’t want to put the money into trying tons of options to see what fit best. I loved the fleece lining on the FuzziBunz and the colors/options. I’m not sure what we’ll do with the next kid. Now that I have a stash that will work for at least the first 9 months (we only CD’d until she was about 1), I can experiment a little and not feel like I’m wasting time and money trying things out. As for inserts. I tried a few of the Hemparoo and really liked those. I tried the just plain prefolds and liked the price/value.. but they aren’t as convenient as the inserts that just plain fit. I doubt this was any help :) But the FuzziBunz are probably worth trying - just know about the separating dipe from insert thing. Oh and look into the washing. Dipes can be picky. If you don’t wash them just right, they can repel liquids!
Posted by Britt (23 comments.) 04.28.2008, 6:55 am

As you know, I’m new to cloth, so my opinions might not be valid, but I’ll tell you what we’ve decided to do and why, and you can see if you like any of my logic :)

I chose to use bumGenius pocket diapers because:
1. They are one-size (they adjust with snaps) so I don’t have to buy a full supply of diapers in several sizes
2. They come with a newborn size liner and a larger (adjustable) liner so you don’t have to buy the liners separate and they grow with your child
3. They are the least expensive one-size pocket diaper I could find
4. I think they are cute
5. I had a coupon
6. The moisture goes down into the liner and doesn’t sit right on Nicky’s skin (a lot like a disposable)

I really like them so far. I like the way they fit Nicky (but he’s also a toddler-I’m not sure how they would fit a newborn because I haven’t tried it, but my BFF used them on her newborn and she likes them just fine).

I just bought one to try, and I liked it a lot, so I have 6 more arriving today. They are really expensive up front, but they will eventually pay for themselves. I bought my six from diapers.com with a promotional code for $10 off (good on your first purchase). They also have free shipping. Since they haven’t arrived yet, I can’t tell you whether I like the website I bought them from or not, but I can certainly let you know later. My first one I bought from cottonbabies.com, and I had to pay shipping. They are $17.95 each (which is only $1 more than a gDiaper and bumGenius comes with the liners so you don’t have to buy them seperate-so they are more cost-wise than gDiapers).

I also have some prefolds, and I borrowed 2 proraps from a friend to try (instead of the vinyl pants I was previously using as a “test). They are a nice, less expensive alternative to pocket diapers or AOIs. Proraps are about $6.99 each and you just put a cloth diaper inside them, and they velcro on like a diaper. Nicky has worn both a small and a large (to try) and they both fit him, so they seem to be versatile. They’re just kind of ugly, and they get poop on them easily. Oh! And as long as they don’t get poop on them, you can just re-line and re-use them with each diaper change(but they do get a bit of pee in them, so you have to be cool with putting a peed-on wrap back on your baby). So you only need about three of them.

I’ve found the washing to be quite easy. You just have to use dye and scent-free soap and no additives. They also recommend that you air dry them when possible because it prolongs the life of the elastic.

I think any type of cloth diaper you use will look bulkier than a disposable, so if you try them and Evie says, “Mom does this diaper make my butt look big?” you will have to say, “Yes, honey. It kind of does.”

Like I said, I’m new at this, but if you have any questions, let me know. I can go on and on and on…. so I’ll shut up now.
Posted by Marilyn 04.28.2008, 7:33 pm

To Michelle - Thankfully, it looks like cloth diapering is easier to deal with these days. I can’t blame you for being upset at the time, shoot, when I was younger and babysitting I was peeved when I had to change a DISPOSABLE, much less a cloth diaper. ;)

By the way, I’m testing out a neato plugin that sends comment responses to the original comment poster. If that doesn’t make sense then I’m not surprised. :)
Posted by Marilyn 04.28.2008, 7:46 pm

Testing my test out. Cuz I’m just that big of a nerd.