Best cloth diapers according to redditors
We found 386 Reddit comments discussing the best cloth diapers. We ranked the 194 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 386 Reddit comments discussing the best cloth diapers. We ranked the 194 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
You don't need 3 swings/rockers - pick one.
You don't need 2 strollers - pick one.
You don't need 2 activity mats - pick one.
You don't need 2 cribs - pick one.
You don't need 2 mattresses - pick one.
You have 3 different bottle types; I'd recommend choosing just one and not bother getting another brand unless your baby has issues with that one. You don't want to unbox, sanitize, etc. and risk not being able to return the other set.
I don't see the point of those "wet and dry wipes" organizer pouches; a ziploc bag works just fine if you want to carry small amounts of wipes with you.
As far as baby carriers go, I recommend Lillebaby over Infantino, hands down. They sell some of their styles in Target, but you can get more on the Lillebaby website or Amazon. You may want opinions from /r/babywearing, or go to a local Babywearing International meeting to try out carriers before choosing one.
Things I don't see:
I always recommend Lucie's List when it comes to having a basic, not-overdone registry. They talk about essentials (not fluff) and sort things by price.
You may also want to post this in /r/beyondthebump rather than here, since everyone in Beyond The Bump have already had a kid.
Good luck!
It's a hose that shoots a stream of water after you are done taking a dump. Indian people in general don't like the idea of using tissue papers to wipe their ass, we prefer water to wash it. That's where this hose come in pretty handy
Here's an Amazon like to it
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07121VL4D/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vw.DDbV5J50A2
Quite a few of my friends used it at my place and loved the idea lol and now they got it installed in their homes. Once you use it, you can never go back to using just paper
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 bought wet/dry bags and throw my sweaty/wet clothes in them so that they don't get anything else wet. I try to remember to lay my clothes/towel out in the trunk to dry out a bit but it doesn't always happen, lol. I also bought a quick dry microfiber towel which rolls up neatly, doesn't take up much space, and dries fast.
All of my shower and makeup stuff are in travel sized bottles (can be purchased from Walmart or the Dollar store for cheap!) to save room in my bag.
As for food, I just use an insulated lunch bag with a small ice pack and that is more than enough to keep my lunch cold until I get to work.
I do pack everything the night before. I always keep an extra pair of underwear/socks/bra in my car just in case I forget to pack them.
Best of luck with the change! It becomes a lot easier and you learn more tricks and time savers as you go along :) I used to think showering/getting ready at the gym after a workout was such a hassle, but I have consolidated things enough at this point that it is pretty easy.
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Edit: a word
:( That does sound hectic. My registry is kinda all over the place because I've already bought a ton of stuff, but just some suggestions of some things (FTM so no idea really if these are good or not, some were recommendations from friends, some were recommendations from various online resources).
Lucie's List is probably the best resource I found online.
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
Wet/dry diaper bags should do the trick and fairly inexpensive.
The larger ones we use for diapers would easily hold my gym clothes.
Make sure to get a larger size.
ALVABABY 2pcs Cloth Diaper Wet Dry Bags Waterproof Reusable with Two Zippered Pockets Travel Beach Pool Daycare Soiled Baby Items Yoga Gym Bag for Swimsuits or Wet Clothes L2933 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075CYYJCK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VVnXDb4XZWM2X
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.
Wet Bags worth every penny!
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.
this is going to sound ridiculous, but I use pre-fold cloth diapers. They're super absorbent and easy to wash. You can get them from amazon (here) or even Target/Walmart. Bonus: they're also great for cleaning other things and dusting.
I love these conversations, so very much.
___
All that to be said, it can be really difficult to make some of these steps.
It was (and is) hard for me to make a move to using rags for cleaning instead of paper towels.
Zip lock bags are just so convenient. I struggle the most with this.
____
Edit: I'm down to discuss any of this or talk more ideas.
Where I struggle, more than just above:
I'm totally open to suggestions for any of that.
The ones I use are from Mama Cloth and I buy them on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MT09RUQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
It's only $15 for 7 of them.
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.
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've always just chucked disposables into a bag then tossed them in the outdoor garbage can at the end of the day. For cloth get a wet bag. I recommend getting a sprayer attachment and giving them a quick rinse beforehand. Makes everything easier and less smelly
Wife just started using these. She's had 1 leak while sleeping, but otherwise they've been great for her. Never used on the trail, though. She has pain with tampons, but only mild discomfort with the cups.
We've looked into the reusable bamboo pads, but they're a bit expensive. Well, looking on amazon they seem cheaper now. https://www.amazon.com/Charcoal-Menstrual-Reusable-Sanitary-Hibaby/dp/B01MT09RUQ/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1503611230&sr=8-1&keywords=bamboo+menstrual+pads
Used to be 20 bucks a piece.
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.
Wet the toilet paper first. Or better yet install a bum gun, it will change your life. If you’re handy, you can get it cheaper than this one.
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!
Mitten cuff onesies are our favorite to use on our little one. Especially when he was just born, it was too hard to trim his nails and having the option to cover his hands without dealing with mittens made it so easy. We also don't use much of the pajamas that covers their legs because the less buttons you have to deal with in the middle of the night, the better.
Gerber Unisex-Baby Newborn 3 Pack Longsleeve Mitten Cuff Onesies Brand, White, 0-3 Months https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007C2PVT4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IdtQDb99VDGMH
You'll definitely need more burp cloths. I have about 30 and could use more. Cloth diapers as burp cloths are great since they're so absorbent. We use these the most.
Gerber Birdseye 3-Ply Prefold Cloth Diapers, White, 10 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VBYVWE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cGtQDbV795PPP
Our baby also loves his Wubbanub and they're nice so baby can practice grabbing things and they don't roll off baby as easily as a regular pacifier would. They have a ton of different animals.
WubbaNub Infant Pacifier - Baby Penguin https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018HJ0TXI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LPtQDbK2J7FFW
But really overall your registry looks good! You have a great variety of different sized clothes so that's good. The Dr. Brown's bottles are also great, I would just suggest having a large bowl in your sink to soak all the parts without them touching everything else in the sink. Or if you have a divided sink maybe use just one side for baby things. The only extras I would suggest are a small nail kit to keep in your diaper bag, baby blankets to cover baby up in his car seat or to swaddle, and Aquaphor when lotion isn't enough. Hope that helps!
I'm pregnant with my third and still using cloth. People thought the same stuff about us at first. My MIL said she wouldn't be babysitting with them but gladly does.
Side note, we used disposables before and I babysat for a friends kids who used disposables. People would say "cloth is gross" having never used it. Meanwhile I've had wayyyyy more poop explosions with disposables rather than cloth. Enough that my friends daughter would have to be bathed and outfit changed almost every time she pooped at my house. My friend told me it was common at her house too.
Gonna be honest and I was a little turned off by what people were saying at first. But we LOVE cloth over disposables any day. Now my husband and I joke around and make fun of the people at his job who complain how much disposables cost. I couldn't see adding a ton of disposables to a landfill and the chemicals that go into making disposables.
I'll help you out with any questions you have. Feel free to PM me whenever. We've used pretty much every different type and brand available and have stuck with prefolds and covers. I'd say invest in a couple prefolds if you can. I used the small size (yellow edge) from 3 months to over 2 years old. We buy from green mountain diapers or Amazon. You can get 6 of these for $13. Don't be thrown off by the 7-15lbs. That's about the size you'd use them if you wanted to wrap them around baby. We did that in an "angel fold" from newborn to 3 months and then did a trifold after. Also in terms of "prepping" we prep prefolds with regular laundry. So they get washed and dried with other stuff and not wasting the water and soap by themselves.
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.
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&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1394632384&amp;sr=1-1&amp;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&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1394632645&amp;sr=1-1&amp;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&amp;colid=1VA53QENRTP66&amp;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 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 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.
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?
Warning - lots of text below! My baby is about 6 weeks now and I'm exclusively breastfeeding. My Medela Harmony manual pump has been fine for building a stash - I pump 1-2 times a day for the freezer and occasional bottle feedings from Dad. I think it's pretty convenient, but I'll be using a double electric pump when I go back to work (waiting to see what Tricare will cover in 2015!).
Whatever you decide to use for diapering, I'd strongly recommend getting some prefolds (I got Osocozy unbleached). They're great for burp cloths, catching milk from your other boob during letdown, etc and they're also way cheaper and more absorbent than fancy burp cloths. Personally I love prefolds and covers for diapering, but don't buy too much into any one system or brand until you know what works for you. My husband hates prefolds so now I'm having to add pockets and AIOs to appease him.
I'd get some swaddlers (at least 2; my favorite is from Nuroo but that was a gift and they're pricey, the summer infant SwaddleMe wraps are good now that she's bigger but didn't fit well until about 10 lbs). My girl lives in footed pajamas and I love the Gerber zipped ones, we found tons at goodwill for $1.50 each but if you can't find them used, they're on Amazon for $10 for a 2 pack. You're right that other people will buy clothes, but they'll pick cutesy stuff and you need some practical choices too.
Nursing pillow - I had an unexpected C section and this has been so necessary. I love the Luna Lullaby since it's big and I had a big baby.
Some kind of baby carrier, I got a Moby wrap while she's small and it's amazing for running errands (I put it on before getting in the car and pop her in before going in the store, WAY easier than a carseat and stroller).
We were gifted a used swing and it is a freaking godsend. It's the only way I get chores done since I can pop her in there and cook, do laundry, clean, etc without her crying. YMMV, some babies hate them, but buy used and you won't be out too much cash.
Wubbanub pacifier is easy to keep track of and super cute.
Pack n Play with a mattress for cosleeping (recommended to reduce SIDS risk for the first 6 months). At least 2 mini crib sheets.
Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter is amazing for the first couple weeks.
QuickZip crib sheets will be amazing once you use the crib.
Simba baby safety nail cutter - no bleeding!
Finally, the Itzbeen pocket nanny timer is so helpful for keeping track of feedings and diaper changes, especially in the first few weeks.
Hope this wasn't too overwhelming. Good luck!
*Edited to add links to products.
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.
Yep! Definitely do that. They get better about it as they get older, but when they're really young it's almost inevitable that you will be peed on. The wee wee teepee is a little cloth cone you can cover them with. A friend got a few at her baby shower and thought it was a joke gift until she got peed on. haha.
You don't have to spend $300. :) A pack of one dozen prefold diapers will cost around $20; pick up two or three packs of those. Prorap diaper covers will cost around $7; pick up 6-8 of those.
Fold a prefold in thirds, lay it in the cover, fan out the back half for rear-end coverage, then wrap the cover around baby and snugly fasten the velcro. Voila! You've diapered your baby.
When you take the soiled diaper off, if it's just wet, set aside the outside cover to air dry for next time. Anything poopy goes into a bin (many times the cover stays clean through 3-4 changes). If baby is drinking formula or eating solid foods, a flushable diaper liner is nice to discard any solid waste; breastmilk poop tends to come out okay in the wash.
EDIT: I just googled the brand of prefolds I used with my son four years ago, and found their factory seconds on Amazon. That's much less than I paid for mine!
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&amp;psc=1
Diapers:
4 packs of these -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AJXY1U/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i07?ie=UTF8&amp;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&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1376071041&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=baby+kicks+diapers
7 of these -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AJXY1U/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i07?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
1 pack snappis
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YWKWJO/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&amp;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&amp;psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029XNTEU/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0063KXEIG/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I've heard the Gerber pre folds have declined in quality. I went for the [OsoCozy] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003AJHDQW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_f3URCbTVMJ1NA) and love them. Super thick!
I nursed my son for 18 months, including pumping at work for months 3-12.
For bottles, I'd start with the Medela ones that come with your pump. Some babies are picky and some aren't - my kiddo would take breastmilk from a garden hose. If baby is not into these, go from there.
For your pump, double check to make sure it will come with some kind of cold-storage bag and ice pack. I have the PISA tote bag one from when my 4yo was a baby, and it came with this, but I bought it myself so I don't know about the insurance options. You might also be interested in milk storage bags or some other longer-term milk storage solution as you pump more.
Finally, I'd recommend having some flat cloth diapers around in addition to nursing pads. After a few washes, they're super absorbent and perfect for spitup messes, overspray when your kiddo gets distracted and lets go of the nipple, and putting in your bra while you sleep in case you end up on your belly and start leaking!
We bought a hose that attaches to your toilet line when we thought we were capable of doing washable diapers. We quickly learned that it would not work out for us, but the sprayer has been super useful for blowouts. It is way more powerful than a sink faucet and blasts the crap right into the toilet, where it belongs. After I spray out a blowout, I just leave the destroyed item hanging on the side of the toilet to drip dry, then run it with the regular wash.
I love mine so far. I found tampons uncomfortable and disposable pads make me rashy by the end of my period. The cloth ones are comfortable and don't give me a rash. I rinse the ones I used that day out when I shower and store them in a delicates bag that gets thrown in with my darks. Then I air dry. Caveat is that I'm a stay-at-home parent right now so I haven't really had to deal with changing them while out, but the set I have came with a wet bag so it wouldn't be a huge deal.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MT09RUQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1
FTM here, three weeks into this cloth diapering adventure! I bought the osocozy prefolds factory seconds on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00212KQRM?psc=1&amp;ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title) in the blue infant size. I was a little worried about what the "factory seconds" would entail, but I found them to be great- there might be some loose strings or be missing a tag or something, but otherwise totally functional, and just over $1 each if you have prime. I have 24 of these and another 12 clotheez size small that I was gifted. I wash every other day, and find this to be about the right number, 24 wouldn't quite make it 2 days for us.
I have six sweet pea newborn covers, two thirstiest x-small covers, and a thirsties duo wrap. I prefer the thirsties x-small, and I find the Velcro on them makes getting the sizing right easier than the snaps on my other ones. My daughter was over 9lb at birth, and she's almost grown out of the sweet peas already. Duo wrap works, but is a bit big yet. I've been just pad folding all of the diapers, because they seem too bulky on the legs if I angel fold. After reading some of the comments here, I might try jelly roll folding.
I've found my 9 covers to be plenty with every other day washing, im surprised some people were recommending more!
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).
Birds-eye diapers Aka: plain white (unused) diapers.
Flour sack
Edit: linky.
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."
These are technically cloth diapers but we used them as burp rags and they're the BEST. So, so soft. And you pretty much can't have too many of them because as a new parent you're going through so much laundry.
My son is 4 and we still use them. I put one in his backpack and we use it to wipe runny noses at the park, clean up spills, emergency napkins, etc.
Also a Nose Frieda. Trust.
ALVABABY 2pcs Cloth Diaper Wet/Dry Bags |Waterproof Reusable with Two Zippered Pockets|Travel, Beach, Pool, Daycare, Soiled Baby Items,Yoga，Gym Bag for Swimsuits or Wet Clothes L2933 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075CYYJCK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7mkmDbB1AXQ53
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.
Another vote for towels.
I actually use the pre-folds from our cloth diaper days (something like this
We're like four days into this cloth diapering things and what we did was ask for a bunch of prefolds (I think we have two dozen of size 1 of these) and I bought some NB covers (6) off of Nicki's Diapers (there was a sale so I think I spent like $25 -- much cheaper than what was on Amazon). So, far, so good. We did use disposables for the first week because of meconium and having to use antibiotic cream on his penis. We also registered for a large (for home) and small (for the diaper bag) [wet bags] (http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Wise-Wet-Bag-Medium/dp/B005WWIMGA/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1398382271&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=wet+bag), and a diaper sprayer. You could also ask for cloth wipes (we're not there yet). Also, we received a lot of newborn and size 1 diapers at our showers (we didn't ask for them), so we haven't had to buy anything diaper-wise. We used up most of the NB diapers but haven't touched the three bags of size 1s. It's nice to have the disposables for going places during the day while we're getting used to the cloth.
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)
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.
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
Diapers and wipes are always good -- newborn or preemie size probably. That said, some diapers just don't fit great on some kids, and some kids will have more sensitivity to certain wipes, so it's hard to say exactly which type/brand to get. "Water wipes" (https://www.amazon.com/WaterWipes-Sensitive-Wipes-Count-Packs/dp/B008KJEYLO) are a really good sensitive wipe. I wouldn't necessarily send her too many/any bigger diapers yet. They'll just take up room and might be a brand that doesn't work great. A box or two of the next size up is enough for now.
A good diaper cream will probably also be needed. I'd recommend something somewhat "natural" like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P16ZXK/, again to help reduce sensitivity hopefully. I would avoid petroleum jelly based ones.
Some type of burp cloths. However diaper cloths (I can't remember if that's what they are called) work great. I can't speak for this brand but something like this.. https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-3-Ply-Prefold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVWE. They are usually like a light linen/muslin, and usually fairly large square, and plain. They're easy to clean and big enough to fold over if part gets dirty, etc, and multi-use.
I would also avoid too many clothes. Some onesies with zippers is probably all that's really needed. Maybe also a nice soft hat as well, and some muslin swaddle wraps. Additionally, a warm, soft blanket or something to cover them when they go out. They're not supposed to wear anything bulky between the child and the carseat harness (ofc, they'll need a carseat if they don't already have one -- most hospitals won't release babies without one though, especially from the nicu).
Pacifiers are good too. Kids will probably find a certain kind they prefer, but I think this is basically what hospitals almost always use https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SCF190-01-Soothie-0-3mth/dp/B0045I6IAO.
They may also be recommended a vitamin like poly-vi-sol, or possibly other things, but this is hard to buy without being able to talk to her to find out exactly what is prescribed.
Similarly, bottles, nipples, and/or breastfeeding equipment, but this is hard to buy without knowing what she and the kid prefer. However, hand sanitizer for after diaper changes, and a nice bottle brush (https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Bottle-Brush-Blue/dp/B000N0SNHY/ or https://www.amazon.com/Sponge-Bottle-Brush-Pack-Blue/dp/B07DQQFP63/) are great to have.
Some type of food/meal delivery would be awesome. Possibly even a local housecleaning or laundry service too, depending on how independent she is.
And ultimately, money can help, as well as your phone number or contact info and an openness for contact and support.
There might be more that I can't think of. At this stage it's probably as important to get things to help her directly as for the baby. She may also have some medical needs depending on how the delivery went, and all that. Feel free to pm me too with any more questions etc.
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!
Skip the fancy ones and go for plain white, which are about a buck each. We bought two dozen and STILL have trouble finding a clean one sometimes!
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-3-Ply-Prefold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVWE/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1459366297&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=gerber+diapers
Kimono-style shirts for while cord is still attached.
https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-3-Ply-Prefold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVWE/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1487257675&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=cloth+diaper
These are great as burp cloths and wiping up milk while feeding.
Muslin blankets are our favorite. I got a 4-pack of Aden & Anais blankets and we use them every day. They were good for swaddling early on. They don't take up a lot of space.
Scratch mitts! Your baby will scratch its face otherwise.
We barely used our bathtub. You could probably skip it for now and just sponge bathe your baby as needed. They don't get really dirty and frequent baths dries out their skin anyway. I sponge bathe once or twice a week.
A few pacifiers to try. Our kiddo likes the Dr. Browns.
Saline spray for when you use the Nose Frieda.
Cold mist humidifier if your air is dry.
Nursing pillow. Nipple ointment. Nursing tanks for you.
I just use a towel on the bed for diaper changes.
Subscribe to Enfamil and Similac and they'll send you formula sample containers, so you can just keep something on hand in case you need to or choose to supplement at some point.
DAPPLE! This cleans bottle parts a lot better than regular dish soap.
Yes - my mother used to say: “give me your hands.”
Now I’m an Esthetician and I get to tell other people to do that.
But yes, please, if you feel like you need to touch your face, try cleansing it instead! Get yourself some of the soft 3 ply baby diapers from Gerber on Amazon, wash your face and remove, gently with a lukewarm one of these as a washcloth. Your skin will feel much better!!
Cloth Diaper = Luxurious Feeling Washcloth
I got a Bumkins one on amazon and husband installed it. He picked on me for shelling out $40 for it (dunno why its more expensive now on Amazon) but he uses it to clean diapers as much as I do. We have a solid eating 7 month old and a toddler. Toddler has the grossest poops so this thing has been the best.
This is just the one I have. There's a ton of others.
Bumkins Cloth Diaper Sprayer, Chrome https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A65YN8E/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Nmbnub0KCH17Z
These "cloth diapers". Best burp cloths ever. Buy a million of them.
I use a Simple Wishes All in One bra and it’s so much easier than stripping down to strap on a pumping bra! I also use opaque wet/dry bags for my pump parts rather than a clear ziplock, because I keep them in the communal fridge while at work.
Bra: Simple Wishes SuperMom All-in-One Nursing and Pumping Bra, Patent Pending, Black, 36D https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0775T2WH2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_piNYCb4V8J73H
Bags: ALVABABY 2pcs Cloth Diaper Wet/Dry Bags |Waterproof Reusable with Two Zippered Pockets|Travel, Beach, Pool, Daycare, Soiled Baby Items,Yoga，Gym Bag for Swimsuits or Wet Clothes L2629 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DNT5TJM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UhNYCbGW2X4GQ
I just got them at Babies R Us? I could get, like, 10 of them for $9. That was 15 years ago, though, so maybe things are different now?
You can buy them online, though.
I use a diaper sprayer for the really messy ones (think peanut butter). Usually though, she makes a ploppable turd (sorry for the gross word, couldn't think of what else to call it lol) and I just turn it out into the toilet and flush. Then the diaper can go straight into the wash. Easy peasy! No liners, no fuss, no trash.
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
My bidets are the handheld sprayer typehandheld sprayer type that are like a hose attached to the plumbing of the toilet. This type always seems cleaner to me, because the hose hangs outside the toilet.
I didn’t need to turn off the water main to install it. It takes 5 minutes at most.
Please don't associate this wonderful product with that crappy obsolescent VPN protocol.
Do what your heart tells you to. If you can, move back home where family will help you raise your child. If they can give you a place to live, all the better. Having a baby might not be as expensive as you think. Sit down and start thinking about budgeting and how you can do things as cheaply as possible. Fo example, cloth diapers save moms thousands of dollars. Breast feeding is free (and saves tons of money on health bills, since babies get sick less). If you are living with family they can provide free childcare while you work. What kind of job do you have? Can you live with family at least while you obtain job training/education to raise your income? My mom had a baby at 19 and somehow managed to do it single and with no help from family. She was on welfare and had a pell grant to her get associates, then she was able to stand on her own two feet. You will be fine!!
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.
I have a simple system that works for me and 4 friends so far. You just wash baby’s laundry as usual. All clothes go into the washer and dryer - no lint, pilling, shrinking, special sprayer, etc.
Process:
Shopping list:
Notes:
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&amp;qid=1556590653&amp;s=gateway&amp;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.
Since I just bought a bunch of stuff off of amazon for baby #2 today I can go over some things I found useful.
Bouncer: I didn't have one with my son, but wished I would have. I had bought two different types of fancy swings, and my son hated them (plus they are big and bulky). But a bouncer would have worked great because it is nice and portable, so things like showers would have been so much easier.
A Moby or a Mei Tai wrap: I loved these with my son. They were perfect for grocery shopping so I didn't have to lug around a giant car seat that takes up a whole shopping cart (PSA never put an infant carrier in the infant seat of a shopping cart). Plus it kept all the strangers grubby hands off my baby. It amazed me the amount of people who would just walk up and touch my sons face when he was in his car seat.
Lots of footie PJs: They are so much easier to deal with till they are about 3 months.
Night gowns for babies: Like these are awesome for nighttime. the bottom part is open so no need unbuttoning or unzipping and waking baby up even more.
Burp clothes (gerber cloth diapers): Like These. Don't waist your money on the cutesy burp clothes in stores. They are thin and horrible material. Plus they barely cover your shoulder. These are what the hospital used as burp cloths and they worked so great! They are super thick and huge (covers your whole shoulder). My son had bad acid reflux so there was a lot of spit up.
Receiving blankets I didn't use them for swaddling (my son hated to be swaddled) But they work great when used on top of a changing table cover, or on a couch/bed. They save you from having to wash the changing table cover a zillion times. And are a great to throw in the diaper bag for an outing to use on changing tables.
Boppy: I used my boppy so much! They are great for breastfeeding, but also for laying baby down for tummy time.
These were just some things that helped me. Hopefully some of it you find helpful =)
Do you not already have one of these cloth diaper sprayers? Hooks right up to your toilet tank so you can just spray to poop directly into the toilet and flush it.
Honestly, they've been amazing for me. There are lots of different brands out there, I have some of these which are super absorbent (they feel a little 'bulky' at first, but honestly, you get used to it very fast). Another benefit is that they don't move around much at all, and if they do shift in your underwear you can definitely 'tell'.
I also have these for 'lighter' days (which honestly still aren't that light for me). Plus I've had both sets for nearly two years now, and they're still perfectly fine, so I've saved money too!
Those washable zippered wet diaper bags.. Useful for so many things.
8 months into EFF and cloth diapers. We change him in his room and if there is poop we take it to the bathroom and spray if off with a diaper sprayer, this one we bought on Amazon. Then the diaper goes into the wet bag in his room, and we wash every other day. This has worked very well for us. If our bathroom and his room were not near each other (it's right across the hall) I would probably just have an additional hanging wet bag on the bathroom door.
Now that baby is eating a lot more solids I'd say 50% of diapers don't even need to be sprayed anymore and the poop can just be plopped into the toilet lol.
ETA: His diapers definitely needed to be sprayed, especially before we introduced solids lol I'm very happy some did not experience that but we sure did!
I ordered one like this from the US amazon and it shipped just fine to my Japanese address....
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A65YN8E?pc_redir=1407180406&amp;robot_redir=1
I love mine. Here's an Amazon link for those interested.
Budget Mommy Cloth Diaper Starter Kit:
6 covers: http://www.alvababy.com/1pc-baby-color-snap-covers-with-double-gussets-dcb09-p-1583.html
3-pack Snappis: http://amzn.com/B00BH0QB64
30 prefolds: http://amzn.com/B007VBYVWE
Total: $68.86 – even better if you can find anything second hand.
Cut up some old t-shirts for cloth wipes and you’re covered while you learn about AIOs, AI2s, pockets, fitteds, and everything else you need to know.
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&amp;qid=1524170982&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;keywords=nipplecreams+for+breastfeeding&amp;psc=1
Nursing Pads: https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Ultimate-Protection-Nighttime-Discretion/dp/B0179BQBP0/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524171034&amp;sr=8-8&amp;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&amp;psc=1
Extra Long phone charging cords: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074296YH3/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;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&amp;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.
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&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=293022699326&amp;hvpos=1o2&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=12132101112686655648&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=m&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9001354&amp;hvtargid=pla-452366054291&amp;psc=1
Here dude
https://www.amazon.com/ALVABABY-Waterproof-Reusable-Zippered-Swimsuits/dp/B07DNT5TJM/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=bag%2Bfor%2Bcloth%2Bdiapers&qid=1566829534&s=gateway&sr=8-2&th=1
These bags will hold your dirty sweaty gym clothes when you come back from school. Will save your backpack and your room from the rank until you can wash them. Just dump your clothes out of the bag into the washer and the bag in after to wash them together. Super easy. No smells or leaks.
I have found of my prefolds, the GMD cloth-eez size Small (yellow edge) and size 1 Osocozy prefolds are a good length trifolded for stuffing pockets. I angel fold my prefolds with a snappi, but still keep some of these smaller ones out for stuffing pockets, at night I also put a GMD small cotton doubler in with it.
My daughter is 7.5 months.
These were hands down the best burp cloths and we had many different types.
She lived in gowns for the first month. They're the easiest outfits to change and the quickest during middle of the night diaper changes.
Halo swaddles were our favorite. They were easy to use, and the easiest ones to transition out of when the time came.
A sound machine. We have the Hatch. Babies are SO freaking loud at night. Her noises constantly woke me up. Then when she got older she started to sleep longer with it being on loud. The light on the Hatch is great for middle of the night diaper changes.
If you're formula feeding get a formula pitcher. It saves a lot of time and reduces the foam in bottles so it reduces gas.
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).
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.
Hi newbie!
Congrats on the new addition! First of all, let me try to put your mind at ease by telling you there is no right or way to cloth diaper.
That said, as most have already stated, you need to run a prerinse cycle on all types of diapers before the full wash. This is to get most of the pee and any residual poop bits out so that it isn't all swishing around in the main wash (i.e. keeping your diapers from getting clean). The good news is that the pre-rinse cycle is usually pretty short. My washer is in the basement too and it never bothers me to do two cycles (pre-rinse and full wash).
Everyone's answer for the BEST inserts is going to be different. It's really a matter of preference. If you want to to start out inexpensively you can just pick up some prefolds and either use them with a snappi or just fold them and lay them into the diaper.
Dad nerd time!
The gist of it is you've got an outer diaper that keeps clothing dry, and then an insert inside to soak up all the waste. I would recommend getting mostly pre-fold inserts, several outer covers, and then some pocket diapers for overnight.
Outer Diaper
Most of the ones we use are a simple water-proof outer shell. There are buttons arrayed all over it that let you size it to your baby over time. This is the piece that (usually) holds everything in and keeps clothing dry. There's also little pockets you can stuff diapers into if you'd like.
Pre-Fold Inserts
We mostly use what are called Pre-Folds which are just little squares of absorbent cloth. You wrap them around baby and then clasp them together with a little rubber thing that grips the fabric.
We also have a few pre-folds that have become too small. Now we simply fold them up into long rectangles and insert them into our pocket diapers (more on that soon)
Fitted Inserts
Some inserts are 'fitted' which just means they have buttons all over them. You don't have to use a clasp or fold them at all, you just put them on and snap them in place. They're slightly easier to use than the pre-folds but not by much.
Pocket Diapers
These are pretty cool and very absorbent. The only draw-back to them is the cover is directly exposed to pee/poop so you can't use it over and over like with the others. They're basically a normal cover but they're soft on the inside and will be put directly on the baby. There's a pocket inside them where you insert an absorbent pad. They do a surprisingly good job of wicking all of the moisture to the insert and off of the baby's skin.
Pocket Hybrid Diapers
These are like normal pocket diapers but they come with an insert sewn in to the. You can throw these on the baby by themselves and they will work just fine. We like to put an extra insert inside them to make them even more absorbent and we use them for overnight diapers.
Renting Diapers
It surprised me that this was an option, but it turned out to be really effective for us when our baby was brand new. Newborns grow fast, and they'll get too big for your newborn diapers pretty quickly. Renting some newborn diapers initially helped a lot and it wasn't as gross as it sounded. The diaper company was very careful to clean the diapers and when we got them you couldn't tell they were used.
Wet Bags
Get two large wet bags for your house and several smaller ones to take out with you. You need two large ones for the house. When one becomes full and gets carted off to the laundry room you don't want to be stuck using your small wet-bags while the big one goes through the wash.
Cleaning the Diapers
This really isn't that bad if you've got your own washer and dryer. Our baby is breastfed so the poop was basically mustard. There's no solids in there at all; it just dissolves in the water. If you use formula things may be different for you, I'm honestly not sure how that affects baby stool. I can't imagine there's much solid poop at all either way.
Your diapers should come with care instructions. We bought 'Charlie's Soap' which has worked out well for us. You might end up needing to get their whitener product if stains bother you.
We do a load of diaper laundry every 2-3 days.
That's the long and short of it I think. I really can't think of much of a reason to use disposable diapers beyond a lack of laundry facilities. If we didn't have a washer and dryer it would be way too cumbersome to keep up with. Cloth diapers are cheaper, more reliable, more absorbent, less wasteful, and not much more difficult to use. Don't be intimidated. Get some rentals for your first one or two months, get an idea of what you like and what your daily diaper process will be and then buy your own.
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
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
I installed a sprayer and it's been working out great! Got this one: Stainless Steel Cloth Diaper... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07121VL4D?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
And it has an on/off valve at the water line that can control flow. So I just don't turn it on all the way - removes the poo without blasting it everywhere. So I'm not feeling the need for a shield, though a clamp/holder might be nice.
I'm a SAHM, so haven't had to deal with day care. I'd think that if they put the diapers in a wet bag/bucket that's sealed, they won't dry out and you'd be about to spray them down at home.
Also, why quit when solids start? What's the point of doing it at all then, the majority of diaper time is still ahead and you've spent all this money on your stash. Seems to me it'd bea waste.
Biubee 3 Pack Wet Dry Cloth Diaper Bags - Baby Waterproof Washable Reusable Hanging Diaper Organizer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M6E2D7O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_wnF7CbFXSRM5Z
This is what we use for daycare! Does great, has actually held up better than one of our planetwise ones. I also have some for my pump parts during work.
What's a bad stop?
The T-valve is for this thingamibob. It was used on the old toilet as well.
I don't doubt the toilet is crap. It was a cheap renovation. This is my first time working on a dual flush. Are the valves for these things standard?
Or from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075CYYJCK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_K-eCCbCDKWF3P
Oh don’t worry I bought this before I came to the US dorms because I know there aren’t any bidets in any restroom.
I used to use it until I moved to an apartment with my own bathroom. Now I installed an actual bidet and it feels like home again.
Yup! We have a clothes rack for drying inside (apartment) and it works really well. I’d probably recommend prefolds for your inserts, because you can clip them flat. I’ve found that the fancy ones that snap in tend to take a lot longer to dry at the edges, and you wind up having to dry them right-side out and then flip them inside out to finish them.
Prefolds: https://www.amazon.com/OsoCozy-Prefolds-Unbleached-Absorbent-Best-Selling/dp/B003AJHDQW
Fancy ones: https://www.amazon.com/GroVia-Certified-Organic-Cotton-Diapering/dp/B002KKQBK6
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&amp;qid=1451342332&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=cloth+diapers
I've done great with this one.
So, would this be something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-3-Ply-Prefold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVWE/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1506274314&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=burp+cloths
These and these are the ones someone had recommended in a previous thread
They work well.http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-Count-Flatfold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVVA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1368345868&amp;sr=8-1&amp;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.
Here is the mobile version of your link
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!
I'm a mommit getting all up in your space, because my husband sent me this :)
Use a weewee teepee! They are tiny flannel teepees that sit right on top of it and block any fountains!
Edit: this is what I'm referring to: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NM3DFY/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/180-0112441-1666270
You're talking about these?
I bought them just two weeks ago, ran them through a hot water wash with baby detergent. They came out flimsy like first aid gauze and they don't absorb the poor kid's spit. I would have been better off buying a pack of men's t-shirts.
Are these the same ones or is there a better version I missed?
I also have a bunch of stuff on my registry that is inexpensive ($10-$25) for friends and if my coworkers decide to do a shower here which they have done for other new moms in the past. Here are some of the things I have on mine
Sleeping gowns so you don't have to unsnap the onesie for midnight changes
A baby tub
Tub Thermometer
Baby thermometer
Nose Frieda which others have mentioned
preferred bath/care products
Cloth diaps which make fantastic burp cloths/cleanup
Nursing pillow also good for tummy time
Plus some other odds and ends. People will also buy stuff that they like, so you'll probably get stuff that was not on your list and that is ok. You can also request to have a "diapers n wipes" shower which a friend did since she was on her 4th child, and she probably got 2 months worth of diapers and wipes out of it if not more. Also, make sure you get multiple covers for your changing pad, it'll be nice to have more than 1 when it needs washing! Congratulations!
I got this one from amazon http://amzn.com/B014V793E6