Diapers Q&A

help with cloth diapering, how to tell if they fit right? any tips?

so, i've always planned to cloth diaper, but i feel so overwhelmed! at first, everything seemed too big for my baby, but now she's already outgrown some of the cloth dipes i had gotten. i used one once (a knicker nappies pocket diaper) and it leaked SO bad, urine up her whole back. it was because the lining wasn't tucked in & it wicked, but with the insert i couldn't get everything tucked in. the inserts are so bulky on such a little one! i still want to try it, though. i HATE using disposables.they smell so stinky--all chemical-y; the ones that i've found that don't leak poo everywhere smell the worst!! ugh! and they leave bad marks all over my baby & just seem so uncomfy (i hated wearing pads after the birth for so many weeks--i can't imagine having to wear something similar for YEARS!) anyway, i have a few one size pocket dipes (a baby kanga, a bum genius, and a happy heiney) and a lot of covers... anytips for me?? how are they supposed to fit?? btw, i've been shopping for new from this site: http://clothdiaperoutlet.com/ how do you think it compares? is it a decent source? i've gotten a lot of used covers, though, in all sizes. (about a dozen each size) are flat prefolds good inside those? do you just lay them in the middle where you want absorbency? what about poo? it seems it would just run off the liner & out the leg hole, does it?? i have a 3 month old, about 15 lbs. the pocket ones are new, have only used one 2 times, and i don't use creams on my baby--she never gets rash.

Public Comments

1. I tried a whole bunch of diapers and what I found that worked for me was the Happy Heiney Pocket Diapers and Fuzzi Bunz. There are all sorts of inserts, if the ones you're using hang out look for a different one. Also, during the early months babies pee a lot so you can use a doubler in the pocket to absorb more. I used a small hemp doubler from Green Mountain Diapers- they don't add too much bulk but the extra absorption is fantastic. I don't know how old your baby is but once mine turned about 5 months old the diapers seemed to fit a lot better. Hope that helps.
2. You might need to strip your diapers and check the kind of cream you are using. Sometimes they need a good wash from the build up of creams so they don't wick. Just add a drop of a de-greaser dish soap to the wash.
3. I completely agree with you about the disposables. The only time we have had a bm leak is with disposables. Cloth diapers also vary in fit and effectiveness. I have found that I like fuzzi bunz and bumkins, although my absolute favorites are from monkey snuggles diaper co I do NOT like the one size, i find they are bulkier on smaller babies. If you want, contact me and I will send you pics of the dipes on my son. The fit should be similar to disposables. I went crazy trying different brands/ styles (ebay has some good deals) and found that I like the AIO and pockets, but that is just personal preference.
4. What kind of cover are you using? I'd suggest one with leg gussets, like Thirsties. They also have a little flap in the front, so that if you like folding prefolds into thirds, it tucks in there. And as for pocket diapers - what kind of insert are you using? We only use HEMP. I will not use microfiber again. Ever. The ones that came with my pockets (FB's and bumGenius one sizes) didn't hold enough pee. Now they are in a sack in the corner of the baby's room (I used one to dust the other day though). I love the BabyKicks Hemparoo Joeybunz. Don't give up though! We are all here to help you :) Also - check out DiaperPin.com and http://talk.sheknows.com/f227/