Cloth Diapering, Part 1

I admit, I am addicted to buying cloth diapers (especially online), and have been since well before Caroline was born.  I knew I was going to try it out, and thankfully I got the advice of a few smart moms out there (Lucy, Jenna, Jen B.) who inspired confidence in the process.

I found a great site, ecobabies, that provides a newborn diaper trial service.  They basically send you all sorts of diapers to test out that fit teeny newborn bodies.  This saves parents $ since most babies don't fit in newborn sizes for long.  My package arrived a week before my due date...which means it sat for a few weeks before I even got to play for real.

As you can see above, there were oodles of options in the package, from prefolds and covers (the burp cloth things), to mini all-in-ones (AIOs), to fitted diapers (fuzzy ones that also require covers) to soft pocket diapers. I also had tiny gdiapers for newborns as well as small gdiaper gpants with cloth inserts.

We put the first cloth diaper on C at around 3 weeks of age.  I tried out the tiny g's and she leaked right through.  I was very surprised they didn't fit.  So I was sad about that.  But I had many more to try.  As a newborn, the Grovia AIOs and the XS Funnibunz pockets worked the best by far.  I could never get the prefolds to work on Caroline, and I was not a fan of the crunchy plastic covers. There were only two of each of the styles I liked in the newborn package from ecobabies, so those got used a LOT.  The small gdiapers also fit her pretty well after a few weeks so those were my go-tos for a while.

But now that Caroline is a whopping 10 lbs. or so, she can fit into the one-size options that exist!  What follows are my thoughts and feelings on four of the diapers we have used.  Missing from the list are the one-size Funnibunz, which have a pretty thick insert and so we use them at night for the long stretch.  She cannot bend in them because they are bulky but they work for night!  This is not in preference order.

1. gDiapers

Super cute right?  These started out as both my and John's favorite.  They are by far the trimmest and cutest.  She wears size small gpants, for 8-14 lbs. babies.  I have both the cloth and the disposable (compostable, flushable) inserts, but I preferred the cloth, since soiled diapers just required one pail, not two.  They worked great...for about 3 weeks.  Now they leak basically every time.  I don't know whether she makes more pee these days, or if the leaks are due to her moving around more, but I swear that every other time she did her business they leaked.  A leak means a new outfit.  That is fine if we are home, but bad times if out and about.  Plus each diaper has a pretty cloth part, a plastic pouch that snaps in, and the insert. Too much stuff.  If they didn't leak it would be worth it, because they are not that bulky at all compared to what follows.  But they leak.  So they are pretty much over.  It is sad.

2. Bumgenious pocket diapers

One recommendation I got (mom of two boys) was for pocket diapers.  I will say that since she can fit in them, I am a big fan.  Mostly because they come with two different inserts.  Thinner ones for now, and thicker ones for the future.  Above she is wearing her bumgenious one-size pocket diaper with the velcro.  They are on the smallest setting.  We also have these with snaps.  No leaks yet!  Yes, they are sort of bulky (but not compared to the AIOs) but she is a skinny wisp of a thing with no booty at all (Alford genes perhaps?).  I think going forward much of our stash will be these.

3. Bumgenious elementals (organic AIOs)

Another friend (who just had #3) swears by these.  I like that no stuffing of inserts is required after washing.  However these are bulkier than the pockets since you cannot adjust the absorbency level.  She can still move as you can see :).  AIOs are good because they are most like a disposable - everything is there.  We'll get some more of these, but mix them in with the pockets.  I grab them third in the drawer behind #4 and #2.

4. Tiny Tush Mini Elite pockets

These are currently my fave. They are not one-size but are specifically for the 8-14 lbs. set (like the gdiapers).  But I love them now for their small-ness. They are pockets but the insert is appropriately thin for the smaller diaper.  I have nine of these.  I would get more but worry she'll grow out of them too soon to justify the expense.  But who knows...I love buying diapers!  No leaks here either and since they fit the best around her skinny legs (again, no idea how we got a skinny baby) they are a winner.  She agrees.

I use cloth wipes too.  I match the wipes with the diaper, so I don't have to open two pails.  We do not have enough cloth diapers to use them full time, but we will :).  I cannot say enough great things about the site I order from, www.abbyslane.com.  Free shipping.  Amazingly helpful advice and stellar customer service.  I have even been to the store, which is in Manassas, VA.

Washing is easy.  I will discuss that another day!

xoxo