Best cloth diaper covers according to redditors

Either way, it's not like there's a way to go back in time. I'd say for OP's husband to start working ASAP. And also for OP:

> I plan to stop getting takeout food now

Do that ASAP

> Is it worth it to invest more in a deep freezer to be able to save money long term?

No. You can reuse some Chinese takeout containers, cook an entire week's worth of meals one day a week and freeze them. Why do you need some kind of special freezer?

> Cloth diapers? Or are those things not worth it with the upfront costs? What else can we do to pay this off?

Cloth diapers are $12 for 10-pack on Amazon. You can reuse them for your kids and you'll save money in the long run.

I found these for 65-100lb supposedly

HappyEndings Big Kid Pull On Reusable Cloth Diapers/Training Pants (XL, (Fits 65-100lbs), Tractors) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KQM2QXN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_FEDACbSSN80JK

Looks like they have 2 other sizes as well, a medium and a large.

Here's an adult size one

HappyEndings Teen/Adult Hook and Loop Closure Stain Resistant Reusable Cloth Diaper for Incontinence"White" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YDC3O6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_FHDACbCFXAX57


There it's also this style if as an adult pull up ones might be preferable

Adult All in One Diaper by Leakmaster – Reusable Adult Diaper, 2X-Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0023ABQO4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JLDACb6TR9PBD

Ah! I always suggest cloth diapers as my go-to secret mom hack, and I always give them at showers. I use disposable diapers for the bum, but spit up and vomit and and pee emergencies and everything else can be handled with cheapo cloth diapers. They're just fantastic. Forget those tiny little landing-strip burp cloths, because I haven't met a baby yet that's polite enough to only projectile-spit-up in such a tiny range.

Basically the same thing - snaps instead of elastic fasteners, 2 extra loads of laundry (we wash them twice), like the other person said and rinsing out the poop.

Also, costs way less, in the long run. We dropped about $350 on these and they'll last until our baby is potty trained.

We still keep disposables in the diaper bag for emergencies and put them on when the baby sleeps because they're more absorbent than cloth.

We've been doing swim classes at our YMCA since just shy of my daughter's 4 month birthday.

The purpose of swim diapers is to protect the pool from poop, not pee. They are not waterproof.

First, check with the pool - every place has different rules. At my YMCA, they only require a swim diaper. However, a friend told me her swim location (not a YMCA, if it matters) requires a swim diaper and a waterproof cover like this. My mom said when I was a baby, the YMCA we went to required double-diapering.

So, call the swim place you're looking at and ask them what you should buy.

I personally am a fan of iPlay Reusable Swim Diapers. They do run small, so I'd recommend getting a size or two bigger than they say. (For instance, when my daughter was 4 months old, we put her in a medium even though their size chart said she'd fit in a small.) I also bought the waterproof covers I linked to above, just in case she pees in the swim diaper while we're in the car (so she won't pee in the car seat!). We take them off before we go in the pool, though.

And, no, we've never had an issue with poop in the pool. :)

Great list! I'm throwing some links in here because they're so helpful - but I think we might both be fans of the same burp cloth. My son spit up A LOT. Alotalotalotalot. Even after a year. Like - LOTS of spit up. I had so many pretty burp cloths (and expensive! Lookin' at you Milkbarn, Copper Pearl, and Little Unicorn) and they basically NEVER got used. I finally packed them away a few weeks ago (my son is 15 months old). Anyway - I had about 30 of these Gerber Flatfold Birdeye cloth diapers and recommend them so hard. They're absorbent. Cheap. White so you can bleach them. And are great kitchen rags after baby outgrows them.

Also - boppy is great for bottle feeding too! Babies need to be positioned at the same height regardless and the boppy does the trick. Also great for tummy time and supported sitting when they get a bit older.

Hi. Wow I can read how much you're hurting. I'm really, really sorry you're having such a hard time.

I read through your post history and it's super clear that you love your kids. Even considering the heartbreaking decision to place your children in foster care shows how selfless and loving you are.

A couple things, beyond what other people have mentioned...

1. Have you considered calling a local church? You mentioned in one of your posts about wanting to get closer to God. If that's really what you want, reaching out to a church to help you get back on your feet could be a good idea. If religion ends up not being your jam, that's okay too, but I can't imagine someone denying you and your kids help. I don't always think religion is the answer (I know it's not for me), but I have also turned to God as a sort of crutch through hard times, not knowing what else to do.
   
   
2. Definitely reach out to CPS. You are so overwhelmed that you really can't do this on your own. If there are resources available, they'll be able to direct you to them. I know you are afraid of losing your children and I don't know enough about you or your situation to know if that's valid or not, but for the sake of this conversation, let's assume it is. Your worst fear is losing your children, right? But let me reassure you - even if you did, it would be temporary. You seem like a hard-working woman who has hit rock bottom and you're struggling. You don't seem abusive. You lack a support system. If your children were placed into a temporary foster home, it would only be to allow you to get a solid job and get stable again so that you'd be prepared to raise your kids at a later date. I'm not saying this is easy.. this hurts. What I am saying is that how you're living right now isn't working and something needs to change... And CPS will help.you navigate that change with the ultimate goal to keep your family together.
   
   
3. You seem extremely depressed and anxious. I don't know what resources are available for you, but please ask CPS about what you can do to get help for this. You won't be able to be the best mom you can be when you're suffering so much on the inside. <3
   
   
4. What's the water situation at your house? Could you use cloth diapers? For two kids, it would require around two loads of laundry every two days plus soap. You could probably even get /r/assistance to help you. Edit: Do you have any old T-shirts to make into diapers? Here is another example. Diaper covers can be as cheap as $7 each... You could need as few as 2 to get the job done (although it would be a pinch.. but let's face it, you're in a pinch). If you have T-shirts to sacrifice, you could have your diaper problems taken care of for the rest of forever (or until you get your kids into daycare and they probably require disposable) for just $14.
   
   
5. Are you actively looking for a job? A daycare?
   
   
6. I remember you posted about daily activities with your kids! Good for you! Would you like some tips on potty training? If you have your diaper situation under control, then no worries, but if this is something you want to tackle, I can send you a digital copy of the book "Oh Crap! Potty Training". My daughter is 22m and is speech delayed, but I was still able to potty train her and she picked up the word "pee pee". My daughter is also mostly night trained (one accident a week). I don't want to add to your stress level, so maybe keep this idea on the back burner until you've reached out to CPS and have less to worry about.
   
   EDIT: 7) What is the terrain like where you live? Super flat? Super hilly? The thought of you trying to get a car seems unsurmountable right now, but what if you got a bike, maybe with a bike trailer for your kids to be towed in? Would you be able to use it to find a job? Trying to save/find a bicycle seems like an easier feat than a car, if you'd be able to use it.
   
   EDIT: 8) The next time you get some money, buy lots of rice, bags of beans (like, the dried out kind, in all different varieties), split peas, and lentils. Cooking them from dried form is super cheap (like $2/bag) and you can spice everything up differently and throw in some carrots, corn, and peas if you have them. You'll be sooooo sick of them, but they'll keep you full and the bean/rice combo is a compete protein.
   
   
   But really, I just want to applaud you for how much you want to turn things around. It takes a very strong and self-aware person to be in your shoes and be able to be receptive to asking for help.

Apologies in advance for the length of my response. I have no doubt someone will just send you a link for everything you need to know and it'll be awesome, but here's my personal experience, fwiw.

We got a bunch off of amazon that are ridiculously adjustable. They snap together in different ways for the adjustments, but they're basically just like disposables in how they go on and how the tabs snap to the front. Idk if links are allowed, but here's the specific ones we got:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C7JW3GQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They come with a little cotton insert, but we discovered that it wasn't enough to contain the disasters that happened, so we also got additional liner thingies:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DDFOTFU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You take the diaper (the part that looks like a regular disposable), you lay the white cotton liner thingy that came with it, and the additional bamboo liner inside (just lay it in there, we don't mess with the pockets or anything), and then stick it on the kiddo.

We check more frequently than we had to with the disposables because it's less obvious if they're wet, but when it comes time to change, you can change like you normally do and then instead of throwing away the diaper you put it in a wet bag:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CA7LE7I/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We just use disposable wipes and throw them away in a plastic bag if they're extra gross, or just wrapped in another wipe if they're just pee wipes. You can use cloth if you want, though, and then they'd go in the wet bag with the diapers and inserts. If there's poo, you can wipe it off into the toilet, or you can use a fancy sprayer that you attach to the waterline running to your toilet. It just stays connected to the toilet all the time and hangs up on the wall next to it. You turn it on when you need to use it. We bought one, and then almost never used it, fwiw:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017A7GRR0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The diapers and inserts stay in the wet bag until you've got a couple, then you do a load of laundry. We just stick them in the machine and basically run 2 cycles, both hot, because we don't have any kind of "sterilize" option on our machine. You can dry them in the dryer, or do a clothesline or something if you have option, time, and inclination.

They're bulky, and I recommend buying a few packs of them so you don't have little nakey ones running around while you're trying to get laundry done, but I feel like they're worth it.

Sorry for the million amazon links; no affiliation or anything, that's just where we do most of our shopping, ha!

HappyEndings Eco Diapers on Amazon has velcro style ones. I have some of the snap ones and like them. Link

And these are pocket style with PUL outer so they do not need an additional cover.

I just finished updating my budget for the week so thought I’d look back. My daughter is 6 mos, and my SO stays home 2 days a week. We got a lot of the big basics (stroller, car seat, baby swing) from our shower/family, so our largest out-of-pocket expenses:

Child care - $1300/month for 3 days a week.

Loss in income after SO went to part-time - ~$450/month

Hospital, post-natal, a bili-bed rental for 3 nights and a few follow-up labs: $1900

Newborn photographer - $400 (this was a deal too)

Sentimental Christmas present which we hope is important to her: $177

Used jogging stroller: $100

Otherwise, it’s just death by a thousand cuts, so look for little ways to save. Almost all clothes that weren’t given to us as gifts we got at garage sales or swap meets (usually put on by a school district. These can be treasure troves). Honestly there’s not much that it’s really worth to buy new. There’s almost always parent groups on Facebook that swap stuff.

We also do cloth diapers, mostly for the environmental implications, but it saves a bunch in the long run. The upfront costs can be a bit high, but they pay themselves off quickly. Here’s what we got and they’re great:

(https://www.amazon.com/ALVABABY-Diapers-Adjustable-Washable-Reusable/dp/B00C7JW2R6/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=cloth+diapers&qid=1549847680&s=gateway&sr=8-11)

Good luck!

All of my OS covers are HiBaby from Amazon. $7-9 each and we recently bought a few more. I like them as much as the Thirsties covers we used for the newborn stage.

My father in law laughed in my face & said “I give it 21 days” before you quit.

We are going on to month 14 right now. I seriously wish I had bet him something because I could have totally gotten my kid a college fund or a car or something.

But in all seriousness. Cloth is by far & away my favorite. If you find the right support group (friends are the best/local community, Reddit is a great resource, I’m not a huge fan of fluff love university, tbh it’s kinda catty at times!) it’s even better!

As for diapers, we use mostly Alva pockets & mama koala diapers . They are relatively cheap compared to others & sold on amazon which makes it so much better.

We don’t mind our bumgenius pockets as well as bumgenius freetime all in one diapers, but their price is kinda crazy compared to the others that work just as well. (Also sold on amazon)

I wasn’t a huge fan of AIO because they take a while to dry.

For overnight we do either sustainablebabyish overnight or cloth-ezz workhorse fitted diapers & a cover . Love them both & he doesn’t leak!

As for other things — I love bumpkins wetbags wetbags. They are thick & durable as well as cute. & we use cloth wipes. Any of them work & just water. I’ve also learned you can wash disposables wipes & then when you are assembling diapers you can just pull them out & trash them then (so if you do disposables don’t worry).

Also - best thing I ever did was ease myself into cloth. So we started with disposables until my son was big enough for one size diapers. Then we did cloth only while we were home & during the day. & then we did it all daytime hours. & then we did 24/7/365. But it was a comfort thing to figure out leaks & just diapers, but also how to pack a diaper bag!


Sorry for the long post!

Honestly, I found these to be really similar to the Alvas!

BabyGoal on Amazon

We've been using this exact set for 8 months now with prefolds as covers. The only thing I noticed recently is that the elastic on one of them is starting to not be as tight so I might pick up a single or two. But I figure for 8 months, just using this 6 isn't too bad. Plus I wash at least weekly if not more so maybe that's why it didn't last as long? I just switch out the cover for a new one and let the other one dry out. Unless of course there's poop.

Anyway, it also came with a handy wet bag I use often!

Link for the lazy
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-Flatfold-Cloth-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVVA


What exactly do you use this other than glacage? General buffing?

Birds-eye diapers Aka: plain white (unused) diapers.
Flour sack
Edit: linky.

I put plastic pants over the whole diaper cover at night. It prevents leaking. You need to get it big enough to cover the whole outside of the diaper.

Dappi Waterproof 100% Nylon Diaper Pants, 2 Pack, White, Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035JL912/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_j8NRBb2WXJY4P

I love using Rumparooz covers and OsoCozy prefolds because both hold up wonderfully well (I've used mine for 3+ years with 2 kids and my covers are perfect; my prefolds are just now showing wear). I have a few Alva pockets (which are on Amazon for $30 for 6 including inserts), but I don't really like them because they leak and the elastics relax fairly quickly. I use them only as back-up diapers on days I wash my main stash. I know they're more economical, but I feel like I wouldn't buy them again because I just don't trust them for long periods of time. If you're having a baby shower, I'd register for the better cloth diapers because you might get them! And then go from there...building your stash with what you can afford after your shower. :)

Rumparooz and Thirsties brands are both good (they both have pocket diapers; I believe Thirsties also has an AIO as well).

I really wanted to do flats/prefolds with snappis. BUT, my husband really wanted to do pockets because of the simplicity of them. Since he does most of the laundry I agreed. Now we're 6 months in using the pocket diapers and I have to agree, I really love how simple and straightforward they are. We have never had issues with leaks or blow-outs, and stuffing them is easy. These are my favorites of what we've tried: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Being-Adjustable-Eco-Friendly-Waterproof/dp/B07D4F4728?th=1

We did disposables the first month too.

Those do look slightly too small for what you're going to need them for. You could just use them as general cleanup cloths though. You'd be amazed how often you'll need them around during those first few months.

We used these as our burp cloths/general cleaning cloths. I just kept a pile of them on the table with all my nursing stuff.

I got these off Amazon:
Gerber Birdseye Flatfold Cloth Diapers, White, 10 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VBYVVA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_OwkkzZeRxW7bO

I was gifted a bunch of pocket diapers and all in ones from my registry when I had a shower, but when it came time to actually diaper a newborn, they looked HUGE and uncomfortable.

I also didn't start cloth diapering until baby was a month old. That was just for my sanity.

I ordered a bunch of wraps and used store-bought Gerber diapers with a Snappi fastener. It took a few tries to figure out what folds worked best when she was bigger, but for the first few weeks I just folded the diaper in thirds and put it in the wrap.

Once baby was bigger and ready for daycare, I switched to the all in ones and I haven't looked back.

I have 15 diapers total now that I cycle through and that works for us (3-4 diapers used a day, washing every 2-3 days). I also use disposables at night or when traveling.

Hi! So I was in the same pickle as you, really wanted to do cloth but with the washer/dryer situation I was worried it would end up costing us even more. So I investigating the most effective way to hand wash. I use a mobile hand washer with prefold diapers. The AIOs will not work with my method for several reasons but I don't like AIOs anyways, namely because you have to wash both parts every single time you use them. Prefolds + cover, you can reuse the covers a few times before washing. Plus, prefolds are much cheaper, softer, and I think the sizing lasts longer. You can also fold them many different ways to find the best (read: cleanest) fit because every baby is different!

I have 27 prefolds and 7 covers, I believe. This is just enough so that I don't completely run out of diapers by the time the clean ones finish drying on the rack, if I'm leaving the washing til the last minute (usually like every 1.5 - 2 days, but it's better to wash them every day). It takes 10 minutes of plunging in a 5-gallon bucket and maybe another 5-10 minutes of wringing out with cold water. I find it to be kind of meditative and if you get into the plunging it is a good work out, too.

After I bought the plunger I realized I'd need a better detergent solution, too, because I need roughly a cap's worth of detergent each time I do this, which is at least 5 times/week, plus our regular laundry. This is another reason AIOs won't work. The laundry soap I made contains Borax, which will mess with the elasticity of the diapers (the prefold covers, too, but that's okay because I usually just wash those with a bar of laundry soap, Felsnaptha, soak in cold, and throw them in the dryer during our weekly/ twice weekly wash of clothes). Very very cheap to make, 20 cents/gallon.

Oh yeah, and I just throw the prefold diapers in the washer & dryer with the rest of the laundry whenever we do that, whether or not they're dirty (actually, if they're dirty, I still give them a quick wash/rinse anyway, I don't want them yucking up our clothes). They take up almost no room and it keeps them softer.

Washer
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SQ7I5S/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Diapers:
4 packs of these -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AJXY1U/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i07?ie=UTF8&psc=1
1 of these (super deluxe, was a gift, sooooo soft) -
http://www.amazon.com/BabyKicks-Pack-Prefold-Diaper-Small/dp/B001NAAQPU/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1376071041&sr=1-1&keywords=baby+kicks+diapers
7 of these -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AJXY1U/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i07?ie=UTF8&psc=1
1 pack snappis
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YWKWJO/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Detergent recipe - http://theurbanfarmingguys.com/diy-laundry-soap-20-cents-a-gallon
Products -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R4LONQ/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029XNTEU/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0063KXEIG/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't have personal experience, but these covers are for 4-12 pounds and are H&L closure. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011YV2GXC/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_DjoLAbM9DVSEA

They're Thirsties newborn/preemie covers, if the link malfunctions.

We have loved any and all toys made by the company called Green toys because they are made from recycled materials and they are safe in the sense that there is no small parts, no chemicals in the plastic and if my son(s) chews on them I'm not worried. My Step-MIL actually introduced me to them and I am so glad they did. Amazon has a bunch just search "Green Toys".

http://www.amazon.com/aden-anais-Muslin-Stroller-Blanket/dp/B00BMMOKYW/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1394632384&sr=1-1&keywords=aden+and+anais+stroller+blanket We have two of these blankets and I love them. They are the muslin cloth so keeps baby warm but not thick enough to overheat. Plus I love the fact that they are huge which makes them great to cover baby in the carseat or have a floor blanket.

http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-Count-Flatfold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVVA/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1394632645&sr=1-1&keywords=gerber+cloth+diapers We used these when my oldest was an infant and using them again with my youngest. We primarily use them as burp clothes but we've also used them as wash clothes for cleaning hands and faces. I'm sure there many more uses for them--like turning them into cleaning rags when you no longer need them for baby purposes.

For toddler dishes we really like these http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007HZBOFG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1VA53QENRTP66&coliid=I2TQV3KCX2FQSF. The same company makes bowls and sippy cups and I believe utensils (for spoons and forks we use a set made by Oxo). They are durable, and made from recycled materials. They are dishwasher safe I believe (idk because we don't currently have a dishwasher). My son has been known to throw them on the floor and in the sink and they have yet to crack/break. Definitely worth the money in my opinion. Amazon carries them and some Target stores do.

Others have already recommended the cloth diapering subreddit, but to add my experience we didn't really cloth diaper the first few weeks despite having the supplies on hand just because we were in survival mode and extra laundry was out of the question. Then we moved on to pocket diapers (which have covers and inserts - the inserts absorb the pee) with liners. The liners seemed silly at first but they make life easier without being as expensive and wasteful as a full on disposable diaper. So no, totally not dumb to switch over at this point.

Now we only occasionally cloth diaper on weekends - lately we've either been travelling or dealing with a yeasty diaper rash and I've heard that yeast in a pain to remove from a cloth diaper so disposables it is. Day care requires disposables and I've never had luck with cloth diapers overnight (I probably could if I tinkered with it more, but I'm just not that committed).

I did the math at one point and even assuming we had paid for all the cloth diaper supplies ourselves (which we didn't thanks to our registry) we would have broken even on costs just over my three month maternity leave, so every diaper now that's cloth instead of disposable is like free money, a little bit at a time. A year later and the diapers and inserts we bought are still going strong.

I think the distinction is they want a waterproof layer over the swim diaper, because swim diapers are just glorified poop catchers and don't absorb pee (since then they'd absorb pool water too). So, something like this rather than just a reusable swim diaper.

For disposable diapers, we use and like this brand: https://www.babyadvisor.org/best-biodegradable-diapers/#Nature

We're on the third size up now, and have had pretty minimal blowouts. Really happy with them.

My wife was interested in doing cloth if it wasn't too much, but we don't have a washer which makes it harder. We use these for night time, and they work AMAZINGLY. Like kid goes through 1 or 2 the entire night (<3 months old) compared to like 4+ diaper changes. If we had our own washer/drier and didn't have to pay ~$4 a load, I'd probably say screw the single use diapers. Which I was not expecting honestly.

So I think I've narrowed it down to either a chastity cage or a cloth diaper

 

choices choices

Here is a link to Ones I bought similar to Avlababy. Really good no leaks ever.

Simple Being Reusable Cloth Diapers, Double Gusset, One Size Adjustable, Washable Soft Absorbent, Waterproof Cover, Eco-Friendly Unisex Baby Girl Boy, with six 4-Layers Microfiber Inserts (Whimsical) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D4F4728/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gMUFDbEKQ97CE

These are what we got and they go over the underwear:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035JL912?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Yes. We had to. Daycare wouldn’t let us go commando and I knew he would keep pooping in his pull up if we switched him.

Edit: we did 6 days at home before he went back to daycare just to clarify.

It definitely meant the poop creeped to the edges more but they're double gusset and the inner one went but not the outer. And yes! 9m is not bad at all. Luckily, we also had to go up bc he outgrew them quick. We had to use the size two thirsties by around 10/11m

They say 35 lbs for the babygoal but idk, by the time he was like 20 lbs it was a no go. He's also very long though.

ETA. These are the exact ones we bought/use:

Babygoal Baby Cloth Diaper Covers for Boys, Adjustable Reusable Washable 6pcs Diaper Covers for Fitted Diapers and Prefolds, Baby Shower Gift Sets 6DCF02 https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00RFGZ6XS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WPMMDbTVBND09

Gerber Diaper Flats for Burp Cloths These are my absolute favorite burp cloths. They are thin, yet absorbent, so they're easy to pack in a diaper bag and they wash really well. They're super affordable too, like 14 for 10 I think?

Sophie the Giraffe Ugh. I have a love hate with this Giraffe. My son LOVED it, but we always lost it, therefore resulting in buying several of them. They are the most expensive, glorified chew toy, but they're easy for babies to get their mouths on.

Woombie If your baby is a swaddle baby, this thing is a life saver. You won't regret it. I like these the best because they have a zipper, no noisy velcro, no annoying snaps. I know you can find them Buy Buy Baby, Babies R Us, or Amazon. My FAVORITE swaddle! Once they have grown out of the wooombie or swaddle, I highly suggest the Zipadee Zip My son lived in this until about 13 months. I also never had to worry about blankets in his bed!

One last one.... Boon Silicon Teether Skip the mess of a mesh teether and buy this for your sanity. Super easy to clean and the perfect size. When my son was as little as 4 months and teething, we'd put a breast milk ice cube in this thing and he'd go to town. It's awesome.

Eco Friendly, Baby Edition! More suggestions are welcome!

I'm due this winter (being induced in December), and these cloth diapers would be really green and really helpful! My mom used cloth diapers with us, and though they're a little more work, they don't put THAT much extra laundry into the wash cycle, and they save on ALL that waste that's created by baby diapers! Crazy! We do not intend to do cloth 100% of the time, but they'll be nice when baby has already had a poo that day, and we expect no more poo, so they'll be there for pee only. (How predictable is a poo cycle on a baby? We'll figure it out!)

We also want to make most of our own baby food, from local produce from a farmer's market, which cuts down on gas used to bring us our food and all the glass bottles used to store food. Here is a plastic set of little food containers.

I'm also breast feeding, so here are some breast milk storage bags. THAT'S SUPER GREEN, and cheap, because I'm not using all that awful formula.

My prefolds are just a flat thick cotton cloth, essentially. When baby was small, I would fold and use a snappi. As she got bigger, I just stuffed the hybrid covers with a simple fold. I don't know all the brand names and such, I literally typed "prefolds" and "hybrid covers" into Google and bought what i could afford. Here they are... I'm on mobile, so I can't hyperlink but

https://www.amazon.com/Babygoal-Adjustable-Reusable-Washable-Prefolds/dp/B00RFGZ6XS/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=diaper+covers&qid=1556590653&s=gateway&sr=8-5

I felt overwhelmed by all the brands and such, personally. I just did a basic "crash course" Google session and then got what I thought I needed in a diaper service and then bought what I ended up really liking.

I'd say 14-20 we buy ours off of Amazon and they come 6 in a pack for around $30 so the cost up front can be steep but it is so worth it in the long run. We also bought separate bamboo inserts because the absorb better (the Amazon ones usually come with microfiber ones) and you can double up the inserts as baby's volume increases.

We also bought a lot second-hand in the beginning you can usually find them at places that have diaper cleaning services or crunchy granola baby supply places.

Here are the Amazon ones we get: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CJ2OWUG/ref=mp_s_a_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1503928723&sr=8-8&keywords=cloth+diapers

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QK7PPL6/ref=mp_s_a_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1503928786&sr=8-6&keywords=cloth+diaper+infant

You'll have to experiment a bit with inserts to see what kind/how many work best for you. Be mindful that more inserts can create a gap between diaper and baby and this can cause leaks that defeats the purpose of doubling up- it's better to just change the diapers more often.

I love mine. Here's an Amazon link for those interested.

Assume that you'll go through 3 outfits/day in the newborn stage - up to 3 months or so. Figure out how often you are ok doing laundry, and that will help you figure out how many outfits you need. Sleep 'n plays are my personal favorite, but grab a bunch of onesies (short and long sleeve, assuming you're in the US) and a bunch of footed pants. Personally speaking, I HATE baby socks - they fall off too easily; footed pants solves that. Maybe a couple of rompers (one piece shorts/short sleeves) for extra hot days.

We never did newborn clothes - my kids were 7lbs 7oz and 6lbs 2oz. Consignment stores made it easy/budget friendly to grab a couple things in the next size up, so we'd have a couple things to get by while we purchased more.

For other things in the nursery (crib sheets, changing pad covers), 3 was our magic number. We figured one would be on the crib/pad, one would be in the laundry, and one would be clean in case kiddo barfed/pooped/peed on it.

For our August baby in New England, we also had four muslin blankets (47"x47") - that let us keep her covered, but not overheated.

Also, 15 or so cloth diapers worked best for us for burp cloths. A lot of the ones specifically marketed as burp cloths weren't very absorbent.

If you are having a boy, I'd recommend these for "air superiority," as my husband says. They work great for laying over baby's crotch during diaper changes and preventing "fountains."

It all depends on how many diapers you have. If you have 24 diapers, you will have to wash them about every two days to keep up with it. Otherwise, you will run out. The easiest diapers to use for those who have never cloth diapered before are Pocket style or All-in-one style. These are pocket style and this is exactly what I ordered. I will have 24 of them once this order arrives. If you just search Alva or LBB cloth diapers on Amazon, you can even find cheaper prices, but they can take a bit longer to arrive.

Ok, lets do the math again....

By age three most kids will use about 5000-7000 diapers. Lets go with 6000 and assume a cost of $0.28 per diaper. $1680.

Now, for cloth, 24 prefolds and 6 covers will run you about $100 but will last you until you kid is potty trained. 24 diapers will last you about 2.5-3 days so you will need to do laundry about 3 times per week, for 2.5 years, or 390 times. At $3.75 per load, that is $1462.50. Plus the initial $100 gets you to $1562.50. The cost of detergent and such will be the same no matter where you wash so we can ignore those amounts in this calculation but we do have to pay for water and energy so if I remember right that was about $0.20 per load, times 390 loads is $78 so we are now at a total of $1640.50.

So, even at your horrible laundromat prices, you are still coming out $40 ahead if you use cloth. And if you use those savings to justify buying a few more prefolds you can do a load every three days and save even more. And its even better cost savings if you end up having two kids and get to use them again. Or sell them on the used market and get some money back! Can't do that with disposables!

We honestly bought Alva's through Amazon and they have held up better than most of our other diapers. We used pockets and the prints are pretty cute. Our son is now almost 2 and a half and he can still fit into them for night time and naps, though he started to toilet train himself about a month ago. Alva Diapers

No problem, that's what we are here for. The only thing is that if you buy your diaper direct from china they can take about 2-6 weeks to arrive.

If you want cloth diapers for the very first few weeks there are quite a few options available on amazon prime. For a part time cloth during the first 3 months you'll want around 12 to 24 changes. I personally prefer prefold style diapers for the first bit as they are the absolute best at containing runny newborn poop. This is a great blog explaining how prefolds work

3 Thirsties duo wrap size 1 @ $12.99 each, 18 Osocozy prefold diapers @ $12.99 for 6. and 3 snappis @$11.98

For $89.92 you will have enough diapers delivered to your door by monday to use cloth the majority of the time for the first three or four months. The prefolds then can be used to stuff One size pocket diapers until your baby is potty trained, or used underneath the flap of an AOI diaper for added nighttime absorbency.

you will still need a laundry bag and plastic basket to hold dirty diapers and a waterproof wet bag or two if you plan on going out with baby in a cloth diaper (or going to the pool/beach with your toddler)

Thank you this is very helpful! Here is what I have picked out so far. Could someone tell me if I am even on the right track with these?

Are these pockets or all in ones? or is that the same thing?

These I can use under a cover or as in insert for a pocket one, is that right?

If I got the two sets above and 6 different types of covers, would that be a good start for a newborn?

I would also need wipes, would I need the pins/fasteners for these types?

Thanks!

> Now that I'm mostly out of the first trimester woods, I'm anxious to start making some progress on the house and nursery and buying some baby things, but I feel like it's still too early for a lot of that.

I know that feeling! Yay on almost being out of the 1st trimester though!

I found what kept me mostly happy on the "I want to buy baby things but maybe it's still ridiculously early...?" front was to start sale shopping and building my registry. I told myself that if I found a really great deal on something I knew I wanted/needed for baby I'd go ahead and get it. And so far I haven't seen too many amazing sales. I got a car seat and a pack 'n' play on Black Friday. And since I've gotten a couple of diaper covers and prefolds but that's about it.

If you're planning to cloth diaper the Thirsties Duo Wrap cover in size 1 color Aqua is on sale right now on Amazon. It's $8 instead of the standard ~$13.

There is a white noise machine/baby soother that all the registry lists like lucies seem to like that's on sale right now. It's almost 50% off which is pretty nice.

But yeah so that's what I've been doing. Then when I buy things I don't feel silly because I can tell myself, and mostly my husband, "but I saved 50% by buying it now!"

ETA: Some other sales I've seen if you're interested: Carter's is having their twice a year "big sale."

I bought an Alva cover, but I don’t really like it. On the back of the PUL in the front, it has some fuzzy material that holds moisture and makes it difficult to reuse between washes. If you’re looking for cheap covers, I just got this one and it works great! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01JL1F436/ref=mp_s_a_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1518104919&sr=8-9&keywords=diaper%2Bcover&dpPl=1&dpID=5126ZPMQrPL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

If you’re okay to spend more, I find that I prefer aplix over snaps, thirsties duo wraps were great, but they’re sized and size 1 only fit my son to 4 months, and I also have an aplix Blueberry cover that’s super soft that I got secondhand.

We put this one from Fisher Price on our registry - it's unisex enough so SO and I can both use it, and it should be perfect to suit our adventurous needs 😊 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008YZOH1Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1500995682&sr=8-1&keywords=fisher+price+sporty+diaper+backpack

I had a C-section. Here's my list of musts:

Nipple Cream: https://www.amazon.com/Motherlove-Certified-Organic-Cracked-Nursing/dp/B0007CQ726/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1524170982&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=nipplecreams+for+breastfeeding&psc=1

Nursing Pads: https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Ultimate-Protection-Nighttime-Discretion/dp/B0179BQBP0/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1524171034&sr=8-8&keywords=nursing+pads

Huge drinking cup so you don't have to get up so often: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DGMBG5Q/ref=dp_prsubs_3

Nursing Bras: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075DBJ53P/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Extra Long phone charging cords: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074296YH3/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Burp Cloths (which are useful for a million things, I bought 3 of the 10-packs and am so glad I did):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VBYVVA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And my MIL got me this housecoat type thing made of sweatshirt material that was longer than knee length, zipped up, and had 2 massive pockets. I lived in the thing for like a month because I couldn't stand pants after my C-section. Plus it was warm and the pockets were really handy for carrying things (phone, water bottle, burp cloths, etc) while I was holding the baby.

We used flats on our LO for several (4?) weeks because the prefolds were so bulky. They're not expensive or hard to wash. Might be worth having some! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VBYVVA/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_jK5yub0ZC9ATX

[Here's the kind of diaper I find the most comfortable to wear.] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DODG3XW/ref=twister_B01I78DILE?_encoding=UTF8&th=1)

My plastic pants kinda look like these.

Bum genius for sure look like a pain. We use ones similar to these with a single pocket in the back for the insert.

They probably were stinky and rank if you did laundry once every 5 days.

Again, one of the major "tips and tricks" for cloth diapers is getting rid of that smell because of incorrect prep and cleaning.

That is crazy the daycare would not do cloth diapers, when we shopped around for daycares we did not find any that said "Only disposable" but maybe it is just the area you are in compared to us.

The liner thing... doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of what reusable diapers are for? I have never heard of this until I searched just now.

You last line... wtf?

Get a few normal Alva pocket diapers and then don't put the insert in. Makes a perfect swim diaper and fits 10-35lbs! (Then when not swimming you can put baby in one with the insert)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C7JW3GQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_Sdj1AbAM5ZNBQ

Link

Check your local Facebook market place for preloved diapers. To get a few used and play around with what you think will work best.

I’m in 7 weeks of cloth diapering my 18 (almost 19) month old. We have pockets (Alva are my fave and fit the best in our stash) — it ranges from China Cheapies , Alvababy and Moma Koala (these are smaller than Alva’s on my 27lbs toddler).

I mostly have microfiber (can’t go against the skin) with only 24 bamboo inserts <I need more!!!>. I’ve recently discovered Flour Sack Towels; check Walmart for them. I’ve been folding them for a boy and then wrapping around a microfiber insert and we’ve been lasting about 3hrs before needing a change.

At night we use Happy Flute Hemp Fitteds with an Alva cover (I purchased Happy Flute covers but they didn’t work for us).

As far as medical benefits, when open enrollment rolls around before each birth, make sure you select a plan that covers a birth+stay in the maternity ward as one visit, rather than as a series of nightly stays. We paid $700 copays for each mutli-day stay vs. copays of $700/night. Also, post-birth wellness checks should have no copay.

As for diapers, we spent about $150 total on diapers by using cloth diapers. (Note: I am hesitant to recommend this if both parents work, there is a LOT of laundry in your future if you go this way.)

1. Inserts like Dandelion Diapers Organic Prefolds - Bamboo and Cotton Blend Eco-Friendly Prefold Diapers - Compare to Osocozy - Dozen 12-Pack - Size 3 Infant Pinless Prefold https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XU5KUK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FiBdAbB9PX3CQ
   
2. Covers like Rumparooz One Size Cloth Diaper Cover Snap, Charlie https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HBYOE3C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_nlBdAbPVDYZQW
   
3. Liners like GroVia BioLiners Unscented Diaper Liners, 200 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00483GAJU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_UmBdAbXWVM69P
   
4. Snaps for the inserts, wipes, and hand sanitizer; you're set.
   
   We ended up using disposable for our second kid and - wow - about $30/month for up to 3 years. My wife, who stays at home with the kiddos - decided that the covers had stretched too far and she wasn't up for round two. We had planned for multiple kids and reusable diapers throughout; then reality hit. YMMV.
   
   Also, hit up consignmnet sales for kids' clothes. It's insane how fast they'll go through them. Good deals on clothes for, say a 6-month old who isn't going to get their clothes dirty anyway.
   
   It's pretty easy to set up a 529 college savings plan; it's somewhat more difficult to get the grandparents on board to donate to it.

We use these flannel wipes:

Buttons Flannel Baby Reusable Washable Natural Unbleached Wipes - 15 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GLBR3C0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CcjSDbT3Q2SJ5

We have a munchkin wipes container that we keep them in with some distilled water and sometimes a bit of witch hazel. Just enough to keep them moistened. It gets changed out about 1x a day. The container is nice because it has a weighted insert thing so you can pull the wipes up since they are grippy against each other. We just stack them so you can pull them out like tissues.

For on the go we pre moisten them and keep them in a OXO on the go wipes dispenser.

I use cloth wipes. Plain cotton ones are better than flannel because flannel tends to be too linty imo—at least until they've been washed like a thousand times. Most of the time, we use just plain water. This is the wipe solution we'd use when he was really little and his bum would get irritated more easily—it is soap-free. I got these wipes [they say flannel, but they're not like the thick flannel that others are—they're like single ply cotton]. They aren't in stock anymore, but these ones are similar for a similar price. We got about 45 of them, and then we also have about 20 of the thicker more what I'd consider flannel to be [the linty ones] wipes.

If you have soft cotton fabric because you're crafty or if you have receiving blankets that are 100% cotton, you can make your own wipes by cutting them to size [usually about 6" squares is a decent size] with pinking sheers or by overlocking or serging the edges so they don't fray. I made about half of kiddo's receiving blankets into wipes. They're also useful as hankies :)

You could save money in less than a month with cloth diapers. I have a friend who does cloth diapers.

http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-Flatfold-Cloth-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVVA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1451342332&sr=8-3&keywords=cloth+diapers

I've done great with this one.

GREEN ME

I use [reusable diapers] (https://smile.amazon.com/bumGenius-Original-One-Size-Cloth-Diaper/dp/B016T8XJ90/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1506707908&sr=8-1&keywords=bumgenius) for my baby, as well as reusable wipes. Because babies generate TONS of dirty diapers. I don't want them stacking up in a landfill, because that would be a ton of trash.

Here is the mobile version of your link

we use these covers and while we're still new to cloth diapering, I like them. Usually good to just re-use, or wipe down on a heavy diaper. Though on a really heavy diaper/blowout I've had some get on the elastic part at the legs that you can't wipe off and needs to be washed. We also always use a snappie with the pre-fold, though i haven't tried it with out one.

The thirties covers we're cheap and easy to use (snaps are good for older and velcro for younger as older kids can pull them off but were over 20 lbs and still fit these ones).


https://www.amazon.ca/Thirsties-TDWPSSD2-Package-Collection-18-40-pound/dp/B07779D625/ref=asc_df_B07779D625/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=293022699326&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12132101112686655648&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001354&hvtargid=pla-452366054291&psc=1

They work well.http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-Count-Flatfold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVVA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368345868&sr=8-1&keywords=cloth+diapers Like these.

If you're not afraid of a little laundry you can buy some cloth diaper trainers. And seeing as you are about to do potty training, you will probably be doing tons more laundry anyway.

When my son went through potty training, but wasn't night-time trained yet, we did underwear covered by a water-proof cover in the day. No pants. The cover catches most of the pee, but it isn't comfortable, and it isn't dry the way a diaper is. So this helped him "learn" the sensation of needing to pee. Because he was very aware of it as soon as it happened.

At night time, we used cloth diaper trainers, (we called them "night time underwear") - this was to keep up the illusion of wearing underwear (because he was "too big for diapers now") - but it gave the same basic protection. we used these coolababy ones although there are other options now that weren't around before such as these from Sunbaby.

There are also fully waterproof trainers for daytime use (not much absorption) such as these from Alva.

Anyway - I'm not sure how much it helps - but if she really wants to wear underwear, this may be a solution.

I have this one and I like it. It does have one BIG pocket which I like, but there are enough smaller pockets that critical things can still be grabbed quickly. https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Backpack-Diaper-Bag/dp/B008YZOH1Q

I have the same issues with cotton prefolds because cotton doesn't wick moisture away. You could try prefolds made of a different material such as hemp or bamboo. this brand has a cotton/bamboo blend I'm going to try soon. As for covers I recommend flips or rumparooz. You coul try fitteds but they're kind of pricey. I have some one size bamboo ones and they're about $15 each. It's good because they're really nice because the sized ones are about $10 each but I don't hAve to buy new ones with a one size.

Were considering going the wool route now because as of now for nighttime we use a a pocket stuffed with a microfiber and a hemp insert and that's fine for now but I'm wondering if it will continue to be. I thought wool was going to be a pain to wash but I've watched enough YouTube videos that it looks really easy. Probably the same amount of time it takes me doing regular diaper laundry and you don't have to wash them as much.