Spinoff: cloth diapers

[CiCi04]

I've often thought about using cloth diapers. Maybe even part time. I tried 12 years ago with my oldest but DH had such a hard time, I gave up. Recently, I had seen a velcro diaper that had a waterproof outer cloth. I haven't seen the mom who used them in quite some time. Does anyone know what I mean and where to get them? i also wonder what the health & financial benefits are?

[Joyto5]

We are doing cloth this go around. There is a hybrid diaper called Gdiapers where you can use a flushable insert or cloth liners. We are going that route as well as trying some Bumgenius AIO (All-in-ones). It's just like a disposable only you wash it. As well as some Pockets where you stuff inserts into the diaper to fit the absorbancy you need.

The water proof outer cloth your talking about is call PUL Or Polyurethane Laminate. They laminate one side of the cloth and make it water proof. I've been making some Mama cloth with a hidden layer to make it water proof. If you go into a fabric store and ask for PUL they will look at ya funny. :D Ask for Laminated fabric and they will most likely send you to the waterproof table cloth area. Not the right area either. So far I've not found any local fabric stores here that sell it.

From even 12 years ago (My oldest is 13) cloth diapers have change a LOT! I also cloth diapered 2 of my younger siblings. I remember the pins and plastic pant covers.

As for cost. My GF switched to cloth about 2 months ago. the initial cost is expensive.. but with me finding the deals on gently used diapers and all.. They will be paid off in 1 more month. not really bad considering you can spend $400+ getting started with one child.

Let me know if I can help with anything. I'm still learning myself.

[Macabe]

I don't use velcro because I hate the way the velcro sticks to everything in the wash. I'm sure there are a ton of brands but the one velcro brand I tried was blueberry.

I use Fuzzi Bunz which are similar but have snaps instead of velcro. They're pocket diapers, which means there's an insert that goes into a pocket, and you take them apart when you wash them. The benefit to pocket diapers is that you can add extra inserts, or thicker inserts, for nighttimes, or as your baby gets bigger. The outside cloth is waterproof, as you mentioned.

I have no idea about the health benefits at all. I do it for two reasons. First, my friend lent me most of the diapers and I only had to buy the inserts and a few extra diapers. So for me, the financial benefit is huge. I spent about $100 on inserts and a few diapers, and I'll probably use them for 6 months or more.

Also, I use them because I can't stand the idea of adding to the landfills so much with disposables. Seems like such a huge waste. And of course, the environmental cost of making, transporting, packaging, and selling the disposables, too.

There are also a ton of WAHMs who make diapers, cheaper than buying FB or another brand new.

[Wildflower]

We use cloth. Here is my opinion, and keep in mind cloth diaperers tend to be often quite opinionated about their preferred system :) (At least I am - LOL)

AIOs take a LONG time to dry. Unless you live near the equator and can line dry your diapers all year round, I would not recommend them. I prefer something that dries in ONE cycle in the dryer. Even fitted diapers don't dry in one cycle for me. So I prefer a velcro (prefer this over snaps myself) cover and either contours or just prefolds folded into a long rectangle and simply laid inside the cover.

I tried every single type of CD and this is what *I* like. Others chose other systems for various reasons. I know they also have pocket diapers that are like AIOs, but I figure what's the point in stuffing a pocket when you can lay a diaper inside a cover even faster and then you can reuse the cover over and over until it gets wet (if you go too long between changes or have a super soaker) or gets soiled.

You could just get some cheap thin velcro covers and some flannel prefolds and have a very nice system. I say flannel because the diapers I got in a regular store (not online) that are flannel, which I got as burp cloths for DS long ago, serve very nicely as my backups when all my contours are in the wash.

Here are some pics of what I use and sort of an idea of how I make them, in case you're curious: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v79/wijody/Diapers%20and%20Stuff/wraps%20contours/

[Macabe]

I know they also have pocket diapers that are like AIOs, but I figure what's the point in stuffing a pocket when you can lay a diaper inside a cover even faster and then you can reuse the cover over and over until it gets wet (if you go too long between changes or have a super soaker) or gets soiled.
I agree with this, I think. I'm not sure what the point of the pocket is either. The benefit to me is 1. They are on loan so I didn't have to buy them and 2. My nanny, who is a bit bothered by the idea of CD, doesn't have to fuss with anything. They go on like one piece diapers so they're more like disposables. What that means for me is that when I wash them I have to take them apart, which is icky sometimes.

[CiCi04]

Wow! You make those! I like! Do you have a pattern or did you figure it out? I can sew but never thought of making my own.

[CiCi04]

Also, how many would I need to have enough of a supply to not run out in a few days? I guess I'll have to start counting diaper changes today.

[Joyto5]

As if I don't enjoy sewing enough.. don't you dare get me into making my own diaper covers ROFL! .. Now I'm looking at your pictures thinking how I can make my own covers.

We are going to do the AIO for a small while to get DH into the groove. I can understand the AIO concept... even the pockets (Also for DH's benifit).. but for the life of me I can't figure out how to use a cover without a snappi or pins. I may just be thinking way to much into it!

[lifeintheshwa]

Ok I'm new here but figure I might as well jump in with both feet so here goes.

I use cloth diapers because i'm lazy. It really is SO simple. No smelly diapers in the garbage, just a load of laundry every 3rd day.

I use pocket diapers - I have a couple of brands including bum genius (which I like the best), and happy heinys. I buy one size fits all diapers so my son can wear them until he's a toddler (at least in theory, he's only 4 1/2 mos old now). I love that they're super absorbent, and I wash them in our front load washer and hang them on a drying rack until they're dry inside, and stuff them again while I'm putting him down for a nap in the sling. (and yes, they're expensive but my sister and I will be sharing diapers for our kids and getting lots of use out of them, and we can always sell them when we're done as they tend to have decent resale value!)

I also use prefolds during the day with bummis super whisper wraps and snappis to keep them closed but my little guy so quickly wets diapers and is bothered by it that they just don't work well for us at night.

I've also tried fitted diapers - fitted cloth with covers but found they weren't much different from the way cheaper option of prefolds.

I prefer velcro over snaps too as I find the snaps can really wake him quickly and I'm less able to get them to fit perfectly than with velcro. Plus, if they aren't in the dryer, then the velcro doesn't get as messed up.

Seriously, check out your local craigslist and try some gently used diapers out someone's selling. You might just be surprised at how easy it is.

[CatSoup]

http://jilliansdrawers.com/cdcm.html
Try em!

[SingingMom]

We recently started trying out some CD systems. I like the gDiapers, but I think I may like the PUL diaper covers more. I have some PUL fabric coming to me, and I'm going to try sewing up a few pocket diapers, and some plain velcro-style diaper covers, and maybe even a few all-in-ones. I'll try it all and let you know what I think.

What I'd really like is a way to use cloth in the gDiapers. The gDiaper covers are light and look comfortable. If I had to wear diapers, I would want a nice soft light cover like that.

So far, I think cloth is WAY less trouble than I thought it would be. The Bummi super whisper wraps I have are too big for my DD's little butt, so I'm seeing some leakage. But when my fabric gets here and I can sew up some new covers, that problem should go away.

[cream_city]

We're using fitted diapers with Bummis covers. But we're going to be using pocket diapers and prefolds when she's a little bigger. What I like about the pocket diapers (I have one Bum Genius and one Fuzzi Bunz) is that the inner lining pulls the pee away from their skin, keeping it drier. It seems to irritate her skin less.

I like the Bum Genius better, and unlike Fuzzi Bunz, they're made to fit from about 8 lbs (though I think they work a little better around 10 lbs) through 32 lbs. Also, the pocket diapers dry in 15 minutes, unlike the prefolds and fitted diapers I have.

[Joyto5]

What I'd really like is a way to use cloth in the gDiapers. The gDiaper covers are light and look comfortable. If I had to wear diapers, I would want a nice soft light cover like that.

My GF does Cloth in the G's. I'm also planning on doing it. With the small Gdiapers, I have preemie prefolds and going to top it with a layer of fleece to help keep her tush try. I also have some Microfiber cloths I'm topping with fleece. (Not supose to let mocrofiber touch the tush) I'm also waiting on some more zorb. I make inserets topped with microfiber and fleece for Gf's night time use. She says she loves it! Haven't tried it msyelf, just yet.

I think I over bought on the preemie prefolds. have 2 unopened packages too many ROFL!

[Wildflower]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE1TRU_El64

You can start here - though I am confused by her using 2 layers of PUL, since just one works perfectly and is more trim, and sewing 2 slippery layers of PUL together would be a PITA.

Basically you just need to cut out a diaper shape (using any pattern) and then sew the FOE. The pics I showed you were fleece lined, but I no longer make them that way. I prefer just one layer PUL (I like 1mm over the 2 - the 2mm is thicker and more plasticy feeling). I also make 1-layer fleece covers that work great, too. :)

Here is another tutorial for FOE: http://www.chloetoesboutique.com/store/WsPages.asp?ID=3