Diapers Q&A - Cloth Diapers?

Cloth Diapers?

I am planning on using cloth diapers for my first. However there are so many kinds out there I don't know how to pick what is best for my little one. Also I can't seem to find them anywhere but online? Does anyone know of a store that carries them? Also have any of you used cloth whipes? That just seems rather extreme to me so I don't think I will be using them. But I have not completly ruled them out.

Public Comments

Google organic diapers and organic wipes. If you are going the cloth route, might as well go organic as well. The organic wipes are good for baby and the planet. Most are flushable as well. I highly recommend!! I use organic wipes. We are out of diapers.
I've seen cloth diapers at walmart. Gerber brand. Also check babies r us or burlington coat factory if you have those stores near you. As far as a better brand or anything I couldn't tell you.....I didn't use cloth diapers or wipes but I have seen them at walmart before and Gerber's pretty good.
big w k mart depends where in the world you are , i used chux wipes on my bubs bum as she was allergic to the ointment/scented wipes , if its just a quick wash down , no poop, you can put them in the washing machine and there fine a few times round.. congrats and good luck
First, if you're using cloth diapers, you might as well use cloth wipes, too. All you need is a couple dozen cheap baby washcloths: Run one under warm water before each change, and your baby always has nice warm wipes, and you just toss them in the pail with the dirty diapers. It's NO extra work, very cheap, and chemical-free. Depending on where you live, there might be a diaper service or cloth diapering store in your area; check the phone book. As for the kind of diapers ... It's really up to you. Prefolds with a good cover are the cheapest and work just fine. Fuzzi Bunz are awesome but more expensive and a bit harder to clean (you really have to use the detergents the company recommends). Kissaluvs fitteds are amazing for containing newborn poo. I found that what I wanted out of a diaper changed as my kids got older. For newborns, you just want the poo to stay in the diaper. For a squirmy toddler, you just want something very fast. For a toddler ready to potty-train, you want them to know wet = uncomfortable.
we prepare the cloth daipers at home. We use 100% cotton used cloth, smooth and soft. We make sizes and keep ready. The preganant woman starts making them when she is in her 3rd trimister.
Cloth is awesome! I would never go back to stinky, rashy, ugly, expensive and *inconvenient* disposables. That's right! I am a big fan of the plain old prefold. I like it Snappied with a Bummis SWW or a Proraps. Proraps are indestructible. They're ugly, but they're cheap too. Bummis are cuter, are well priced and hold leaks very well. When your baby gets older and the poop gets more solid, wool covers are really amazing. They can cure a diaper rash in hours. Most of us buy our diapers online or make them ourselves. There are more and more stores out there that carry cloth (check the nearest Whole Foods or other health food store). Even in Kentucky, where I live, there is a store that specializes in baby slings and they carry cloth diapers. For product reviews, check out www.diaperpin.com or the Diaper Hyena. Cloth wipes are more convenient than you think. They work out really well. You wipe baby's butt, then you toss the whole mess into the diaper pail. If you use commercial wipes, then you have to separate the poopy wipes from the diaper. Plus, one of the benefits of cloth is keeping weird chemicals off your baby's butt. By using commercial wipes, you expose that smooth, delicate skin to irritating detergents and other nasty stuff. I just used pinking shears to cut up old receiving blankets into small squares. Before a diaper change, I rinsed a wipe or two with warm water. No problem. EDIT: Ha, ha. NOBODY uses Gerber brand diapers. It's always the plastic diaperers who come on here and suggest them! They make great burp rags, changing table liners and blankets for dolls, but I would not trust them to hold any amount of poop or urine!
I don't use cloth diapers, but I really enjoy the products offered from this website. It is run by a work at home mom from her home, so the pictures kinda stink, but her products are great. I just bought a sling from her. She has lots of different options for cloth diapers and wipes, as well as wet bags. http://www.wallypop.net
You may be able to find some in a store, depending on where you live, but it is highly unlikely. Do not buy the gerber prefold diapers that you will find at places like Wal-Mart, those are suitable for burp clothes only, not for diapers. I use a combination of unbleached indian prefolds and fitteds. I have a couple All-in-ones, but I just find that prefolds and fitteds are a better choice for us economically. I also use cloth wipes. Why would it be extreme? The chemicals is disposable wipes are pretty harsh, and using cloth also saves money. They really are not much trouble. I just use wash cloths. Wet with a solution of water and baby soap(chem free California baby), wipe his bottom, and then toss in the wetbag with the diaper.
The best place I know of to get cloth diapers is online. Although check out any baby boutique stores in your area. They usually carry cloth diapers. Stay away from any cloth diapers you can find at a discount store (Target, Wal-mart or even Babies R Us!) These are usually Gerber brand and they are terrible!!! If you are looking for regular chinese prefolds make sure you buy Diaper Service Quality (DSQ). These hold up for years. There are all sorts of covers out there, but Bummis Super Whisper Wrap is my favorite. You can also use a Snappie clip instead of pins (I don't even own pins). If you are looking for a more convenient style diapers, I like the bumGenius one size diaper. This is a pocket style diaper that grows with your child. It is supposed to fit from 7 to 35 lbs. It has velcro closures and stretchy side tabs which makes these diapers as easy to put on as a disposable! As to the cloth wipes. Once you try them you won't want to go back to disposable. They are so easy to use and work SO much better than those thin wimpy disposable wipes! You can buy cloth wipes or make your own. I use my cloth wipes with Kissaluvs Diaper Lotion Potion. Just spray my baby's bottom and wipe with a wet or dry wipe. Then just throw the diaper and wipe in the pail - no sorting out wipes form diapers and no having to have two pails (one for diapers and one for wipes) If you have any other cloth diaper questions feel free to email me! I thoroughly love cloth diapering my baby and there are so many convenient accessories out there, so if you want any suggestions just ask!
I love cloth diapering! I wish I would have started from birth. I have tried many different kinds and brands and here is my opinion on them ... You need about 24-36 diapers. There are many different kinds of diapers ranging in price and level of convenience. It really depends on your budget, lifestyle and baby when it comes down to the question of "what's the best cloth diaper?" And sometimes, you will want a few different kinds for different times of the day. Do you prefer economical diapers? Do you prefer convenient diapers? Do you have the time and patience to fold diapers, get them on the baby, fasten them and then put on a cover? Would you prefer one step? Do you need diapers that dry fast? The cheapest route is pre-folds with covers, but it is the most inconvenient. You will need 24-36 pre-folds and 6-8 covers. You also may want to buy some snappi fasteners and liners or doublers. You have to fold the pre-fold diapers to fit on the baby, then fasten, then put on the cover. Example of pre-fold diapers: http://www.parentingbynature.com/201_unbleached_prefolds.htm Example of fastener: http://www.parentingbynature.com/04_snappi.htm Example of cover: http://www.bummis.com/en/Products/covers/SuperBrite.html The middle option (for both price and convenience) is fitted or contour diapers with covers. Again, you need about 24-36 diapers and 4-6 covers. Fitted diapers and contour diapers don't require folding. Fitted diapers will have fasteners included, either velcro or snaps (poppers). Contour diapers require a fastener, or a snug fitting cover. Both types need to have a cover over them. Example of fitted diaper: http://www.bummis.com/en/Products/covers/Bamboozle.html Example of contour diaper: http://www.softclothbunz.com/Kissaluvs-Contour-Diaper_p_0-166.html The most expensive route is pocket and all-in-one (AIO) diapers. These are the most convenient though as they have either velcro or snap closure and their cover is built-in. All-in-one diapers consist of a waterproof outershell (normally PUL or nylon) and layer of absorbent material sewn on the inside (flannel, hemp etc). Pocket diapers are also a PUL outer shell with a stay dry liner (normally fleece, mirco suede, velour or minkee) interior --- there are no absorbent layers in a pocket diaper, they must be added. Pocket diaper have an opening in the back or front of the diaper where you need to add absorbent inserts, usually micro terry or hemp fleece. All-in-one diapers will take longer to dry, while pocket diapers are quick to dry since the absorbent layers are separate. Again, you will need 24-36 of these diapers, but you do not need covers, as these diapers are already waterproof. For pocket diapers you may want to buy some extra inserts if your baby is a heavy wetter. Same with the AIOs, you may need to buy some doublers to increase their absorbency. Example of AIO diaper: http://www.thebabymarketplace.com/securestore/c153258p16870526.2.html Example of a pocket diaper: http://www.jamtots.com/Baby-Kangas-One-Size-Pouch-Diaper-C502.aspx Personally I chose to use pocket diapers during the day and fitted diapers at night. You can save some money by buying one-size (OS) diapers so you only have to buy the diapers once instead of multiple times as your baby grows. I use the Tots Bots Bamboozle diapers above for night -- they are highly absorbent and come in 2 sizes. I use the Baby Kanga OS pocket diapers shown as an example above and I also use bumGenius OS pocket diapers during the day. I prefer pocket diapers because they are quick to put on (my baby is an acrobat on the change table), they dry fast and the absorbency is adjustable by adding or removing inserts from the diaper. You can lay doublers inside AIO diapers but they bunch and just don't work as well I find. When it comes to sizing it depends on the diaper brand. There are some that only come in two sizes, some are "one-size" and there are some brands that make up to 5 sizes (however your baby won't need all 5 sizes!). It is best to buy the diapers online. Once you have an idea of which type or brand of diaper you want you can go to their site online and most will have a locate a retailer section. If you have a local baby boutique or natural foods store that sells them you can go take a look at them. However, I find that most retail stores charge $2-$5 more per diaper than most online retailers. When you decide on the diapers you want do a lot of price and stock comparisons. Try to order most of your diapers from the same place so you can save on shipping costs! It is best to buy a few different diapers and try them to see what works best for you and fits your baby the best. Then you can invest in more of a particular kind. In my experience cloth diapers fit better, do not leak and do not cause diaper rash. I used to have some poopy problems in disposables but have never had a leak in cloth diapers, even during the runny breast fed baby poos. It is really important to make sure your diapers are rinsed clear of any detergents when washing them. If you have a build up of detergent in your diapers that can cause leaks and rash and smelly diapers! I use Country Save detergent, which washes really clean from diapers and I have never had any problems. Oh, and I love cloth diapers too because they are so cute! Email me from my profile if you need anymore information!