Diapers Q&A

Cloth Diapering a Newborn, which diapers?

After researching about which cloth diapers seem to be the best, we decided to get the: Bum Genius 3.0 One Size pocket diaper, Fuzzibuns new small pocket diaper, and hemp/fleece infant prefolds with Bumpkin covers. Thinking about getting the 12 pack in the Bum Genius, 12 pack in the fuzzibuns, 5 covers (only the prefolds I'm getting need covers), and 24 prefolds. 1st, is this a good number to start with for a newborn? I would want to launder every 2 1/2, 3 days. 2nd, does anyone know if the Bum Genius 3.0 one size is too big for a newborn, or if the fuzzibuns are? 3rd, does anyone know if the Bum Genius 3.0 or the fuzzibuns are okay to use for a baby with an umbilical chord, can they be folded down? If anyone has any answers to even one of these questions it would help alot, Thanks!

Public Comments

1. Bum Genius all in ones are great, but they aren't so good for newborns as they are a bit large (our daughter was just about 8lbs when she was born, of course, babies lose a bit of that weight afterwards) and whenever she laid sideways, it leaked through the side. They did cover her umbilical cord and it was awkward, if not hard impossible, to fold it and still close it with the velcro tabs. We used Pampers Swaddlers until it healed. Maybe the prefolds will be your best bet if you want to avoid disposable diapers. When our daughter turned 4 months, we decided to get Happy Heiny's...avoid it because the snaps pinches her, even though there is an insert & somewhat loose. Although it could be that since she is pretty active and not fully unbuttoned, she is being pinched -- regardless, stick to the Bum Genius. They may be a bit bulky, but they're totally worth the purchase. Depending on how much your baby pees, which is usually at every feeding, you may or may not need more in addition to what you have listed. Be sure to wash before you are down to the last one -- the inserts take some time to dry, even in a dryer on high.
2. Get 3 dozen prefolds and more covers. They are wonderfully handy. We still like diapering with a simple prefold tri-folded inside a cover (either a Bummi's cover or one I've sewn that is similar.) In fact, a prefold tri-folded around a doubler and stuffed in a cover with another doubler next to baby's skin has been our only leak-free night time solution! For diapering a newborn, the diaper I absolutely LOVED was the Kissaluv's size 0 with the fold down for the umbilical cord. I like to sew my own cloth diapers now but if I had another baby, I'd still have a big stash of Kissaluv 0s! They are so wonderfully soft and perfect for a newborn. Another tip: Get two diaper pail liners made out of 2 MIL PUL. I sewed a couple of these for my pail and they have held up wonderfully washing/drying every 2 days.in HOT. I put them in a tall kitchen garbage pail and it works great.
3. I didn't start my daughter on cloth diapers until she was 5 months old (she was premature and I wasn't ready and totally overwhelmed!) so I can't answer most of these questions from personal experience, but I can tell you this: My aunt also uses cloth diapers and she advised me to take plenty of the disposables home from the hospital because meconium is IMPOSSIBLE to get out in the wash! I believe her because when I saw it come out of my daughter, it looked like roofing tar coming out of a caulk gun.