Newborn: We used a prefold and wrap method for our newborn. It was leak-proof and easy. We ordered a dozen of the prefolds and had 3 covers. You can reuse the covers several times, so you only need a few.
GMD Cloth-eez Prefolds- Newborn Size - $24 a dozen ($2 each)
These babies are the standby that women have used for generations to diaper their babies. They are super cheap ($2 each) and a great fit for newborns before they transition into pocket diapers.
Thirsties Duo-Wrap Snap Cover 6-18lbs - $12.75
This is a great cover that allows you to adjust the size. Simply snap this baby over the prefold and you have a waterproof protector.
Snappi Diaper Fasteners - 3 pack $9.75
Such an upgrade from diaper pins. This grabs with plastic clips that keep you from worrying about poking yourself or your little one.
Excellent Video about this Newborn system
This is a great little video (2 minutes long) that shows exactly what we used for newborn cloth diapering. The only difference is that we bought the Thirsties cover with snaps (not velcro) because velcro wears down in the laundry and snaps can be used forever and ever without "wearing out"
12+ lbs: We use a pocket one size diaper. We have about 12 diapers designated for our 2 year old and 15 for our 5 month old. We could probably get by with far less but received many as baby shower gifts.
BumGenius 4.0 Snap Diapers - $17.95 each
These are my very favorite diaper. They can be used all the way up to potty training time. Seriously, I tried these on my son when he was 3 1/2 just to see, and they totally fit him. They are wonderfully made, and I can interchange them easily between kids. If I am using one of my 2-year-olds diapers for my 5 month old, I just have to adjust 3 snaps in a row in order to get a perfect fit. I own a Fuzzibunz, and both my kids leak immediately. I have heard wonderful things about Fuzzibunz from parents who have thinner kids, and I think that must be the ticket because our Fuzzibunz diaper is just a leak factory on our wide babies. Helpful BumGenius Video
AlvaBaby Double Gusset Color Snap Diaper - $6.99 each
These diapers are the cheaper version of the BumGenius and manufactured and sold from China. They ship free but it does take a long time for them to arrive (3-4 weeks for us). They actually snap smaller than the Bum Genius because they have 4 different size settings (rather than 3). They are truly good diapers.
Overnight:
Joey Bunz Premium Hemp Insert - Large - 3pk - $18.75
My middle child would always wake up soaked before we switched to cloth diapers because there was no way to adjust the absorbency. With cloth diapering, I am able to add or remove layers as needed. Overnight and for afternoon naps, I love the Joey Bunz Premium Inserts. They are so much better than the other hemp inserts out there. They dry quickly and pretty much bullet proof. I got the large pack because they fit the Bum Genius perfectly at its largest setting but can be folded easily to accommodate the smaller diapers.
Wipes:
Baby Wash Cloths (Edged) - Buy at Wal-mart/Target/etc.- $4-$6 in store
I have 3 different kinds of wipes: the OsoCozy, Hemp, and Gerber Wash Cloths. The best (and cheapest) option is to go to Walmart and pick up a pack of baby washclothes that are edged (see picture in link for example of what I mean by "edged")
Laundry System: You are going to want to do a load of diapers every 2-3 days. You simply take the liner out of the pail and empty the contents into the washing machine. The agitation of your washer will naturally remove the inserts from your pocket diapers, so you don't have to. If you dry your diapers, do so on a low heat setting.
Simplehuman Diaper Pail - $36.64
So this is really a step trash can but it is the best diaper pail that I can truly imagine. The planet wise liners fit it perfectly, it has wheels so it can be easily moved. It has a lock so that no pesky pets or curious toddlers can get inside, and it has a step lever so that you never have to touch the lid to open it if you don't want to.
Planet Wise Diaper Pail Liner ($16.50)
You will want to buy 2 liners - When you are doing a load of cloth diapers, you will wash the liner with the load. You'll want the extra one handy so that you always have a liner in your diaper pail.
Charlie's Soap Laundry Detergent - $13.99
I really like this laundry soap and it lasts for months and months because you only use a tablespoon of it at a time. You have to be really mindful that you don't use detergent that will leave any sort of chemicals in the actual diaper, and Charlie's fits the bill.
Tide Ultra Powder
Tide Ultra is a save the day product. Cloth diapering moms swear by it, and I've used it interchangeably with Charlie's and had great success.
Simple, Helpful Cloth Diaper Laundry Video
Have you had any issues with leftover stink and ointment residue? I think I've solved the stink problem with a vinegar or baking soda 2nd rinse, but I haven't tried anything to get the residue off.
ReplyDeleteVinegar is amazing at restoring softness and getting rid of that ammonia smell that sometimes encroaches, but I've heard it can wear out your elastic pretty quickly (not sure if that's true). My bumgenius diapers actually say they are safe to bleach, so I tend to do that if anything smells funky.
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