Diapers Q&A

Do any of you use Cloth diapers?

We plan to because of several factors. I've already decided that I want to use prefolds. I have a question though. I read somewhere that getting newborn size cloth diapers is a personal choice because babies grow so darn fast and a bigger size can be folded to fit. It also pointed out that newborn diapers might be worth it because you can always use them as a soaker pad with older babies. So what have you that have cloth diapered done? Have you invested in newborn diapers or foregone them for a larger size? If you chose the larger size, what size did you get? On the subject of cloth diapers...what are some good diaper pail brands that are reasonably child/pet proof? Thanks. :) LOL. I asked about a pet proof diaper PAIL, not a pet proof diaper. Sheesh. Feel free to call them nappies if you want. I do (hubby's Scottish) :)

Public Comments

1. I had also read that "premium" sized pre folds could be used on newborns, instead of starting them when the baby was 15 lbs. This lead me to hate pre-folds and end up buying lots of expensive all-in-ones and pocket diapers! My daughter was 6 lbs 8 oz at birth. I didn't try to start cloth diapering until she was almost 4 months old and a little over 10 lbs. I bought the premium sized pre-folds and had so much trouble trying to fold them down small enough and get them secured with a snappi while my baby wiggled that I gave up on the pre-folds after a few days and bought some all-in-one diapers. That's when my cloth diaper addiction started and I have bought and sold a ton of diapers since then! I love pocket diapers now. I think if I do have another baby I will buy infant size pre-folds for use from birth and use them later as inserts in pocket diapers. I definitely know that I don't have the patience to fold and fit a pre-fold on a baby once they can roll, crawl or walk as they become so hard to control at diaper changing time! It is all I can do to just get the pocket diaper on my daughter. I can't imagine trying several times a day to get the diaper on her and then get a cover over it! I only do that once at night before bed and that is enough for me! (I use a fitted bamboo diaper and a wool or fleece cover for nights).
2. I used medium sized prefolds from 6 months+ and at 13 months these still fit my son (sometimes use 2 at night), although I have to say I didn't use cloth when my son was newborn, tbh I knew I'd be so tired and distracted that the extra workload would be too much. I switched to cloth when he was about 6 months old. I much prefer prefolds to shaped, I find them more versatile, softer and more absorbent. For a newborn you can use muslin squares as nappies (nappies = diapers, sorry, I'm British, lol!) and pin them to fit. Maybe buy a few small size prefolds, as you say, they can be used as an overnight booster pad when your baby is older. Newborns need very frequent changes so you will need to have a really good stack of nappies if you want to stick to cloth and not "supplement" with disposables. I'd say to get about 20 nappies and 4 or 5 wraps. Once your baby is a little bigger I would go for a medium size prefold, they can be folded up a little more for a smaller baby and will hopefully last until your baby is about 12-18 months, depending on how heavily s/he wets. I haven't graduated to large size prefolds yet!! You will need to buy newborn size wraps and replace them when your baby outgrows them. I like the Motherease wraps best, they are really good quality and have lasted through line drying, tumble drying, and just about everything else! Again I haven't needed to go onto the large size wrap, I'm still using mediums. For a nappy (diaper) pail I actually use a transparent plastic storage box with a lid! Because the lid clips on really securely (better than any pail) to keep the nasty smells in and avoid it being tipped over etc.
3. I used cloth diapers for both my children. It is much safer on the skin, lets it breath. I got larger sizes and folded them smaller, more absorbent too. I didn't go much larger than newborn, as I recall though. I loved the money savings also, hated the cleaning! Be sure to use Dreft or something of that nature for cleaning as the normal washing soap can cause irritation. I can't remember the diaper pail I used, it was given to me at baby shower. Good Luck!
4. I skipped the newborn size diapers. For about the first week, I just used soaker pads in newborn snap-on wraps (Cot'n wrap) instead of diapers. It wouldn't hurt to get a few newborn diapers, but I wouldn't go overboard with them. I found that I liked different types of diapers for different ages and uses. I used the regular prefolds for the first couple of months, then the Under the Nile snap diapers when she got older, and sometimes Motherease or Crickett's snap diapers for a better fit under clothing. I'd suggest getting an assortment to see what works best for you before you buy tons of one kind/size. As for diaper pails, I just used a regular kitchen trash can with a trash bag liner and kept the baby & pets away. This site has good cloth diapering info: http://diaperpin.com/home.asp
5. i doooo! but i have tried prefolds and don't like em.....but i love my fitteds i bought the one size fits all hemp fitteds....birth to potty train.....and then i have some fitted hemp Crickett's and i never bought a pail....i just use a small regular laundry basket for dirty dipes...though i might invest in a pail as baby gets older and yeah the extra soaker pads are really really good to have around good luck on the cloth even though i am prolly not much help
6. Apologies... Firstly we are led to believe this is UK and Ireland YA. So we have a different perspective, but I do know what a "diaper" is lol. May I use the term nappies? Thank you... They came in one size, 18insx18ins. from "cheap" to "top of the range".There is no problem in getting nappies to fit newborns, you simply "double" fold. at the back for a girl, at the front for a boy. There were no different sizes. By the time your child was ready to be "toilet-trained" nappies had outlived their purpose. We did used to have "rubber" eg plastic pants that went over the nappy to prevent leakage and the child becoming wet, but that was only a precaution. Nappy liners were used to prevent faecal staining, but regular changing did this anyway. Nappies were soaked overnight in a "sterilising" solution, then washed and rinsed for further use. Sounds like hard work but it wasn't it . was just the routine that came with having a baby. Today, as a grandmother, I devour quite literally a washing line full of nappies. Stop anal~ ysing, I would be more concerned at your "pet" proof Q! Pets n kids do not equate! As a lover of children and a supporter of the other, why would you want to "pet proof" your child's diaper?