Cloth Diapering 101

[highlandmom]

Ok, I got told to clean up my page, and as Cloth Diapering (CD) seems to be a popular topic it was suggested that this become a sticky topic.

So all of you experienced CDing moms, give your advice for newcommers.

Supplies needed?

Brands that you like/dislike and where you buy them?

How do you deal with a stinky pail?

And anything else that you can think of.

Thanks,

[3littlepiggies]

im going to get some in about 2-3 months before this baby comes!

but maybe you can add...

how to clean/dry them
strip them!

[PikaJen]

I had this typed up already, I will come add post other things later, Katie woke up.

Cost Comparison to Disposables

Disposables:
3 years @ $40/month: $1440
1 years worth of Pull Ups for Night (9 packages): $180
Cost of Disposable Diapering ONE child: $1620

Prefolds:
2 dozen infant prefolds: $40
2 dozen premium prefolds: $60
4 newborn Bummis Soft Whisper Wraps*: $48
6 small BSWW: $72
6 medium BSWW: $72
6 large BSWW: $72
4 extra-large BSWW: $48
Cost of using prefolds and covers for MANY children: ($364) $412

One Size(MotherEase):
24 one size diapers: $264
12 snap in doublers: $30
4 small covers: $45
6 medium covers: $68
6 large covers: $68
4 extra large covers: $52
Cost of using one size diapers on MANY children: $527

Fitteds (Poochies):
12 newborn*: $108
12 small: $120
12 medium: $144
12 large: $168
12 extra large: $192
6 snap in doublers for mediums: $18
12 snap in doublers for each for large and extra large: $96
Full collection of BSWW noted in Prefolds*: ($264) $312
Cost of using Poochies fitteds for MANY children: ($1002) $1158

All In Ones (My Precious Baby):
14 small: $182
3 small Day to Nights: $60
12 medium: $168
3 medium DtNs: $75
12 large: $180
3 large DtNs: $75
12 extra large: $192
3 extra large DtNs: $75
Cost of using All In Ones for MANY children: $1007

8 Bummis Training Pants: $128

**newborn covers and diapers are optional, many people prefer to use disposables for the first few weeks or month because of the meconium and the fact that babies grow out of newborn sizing very quickly**

My Diapering System:
12 preemie prefolds caught on sale: $18
4 newborn covers (used): $5
8 small MPBs mostly new: $89
4 small DtNs: $88
13 medium MPBs mostly new: $127
3 DtNs: $57
1 medium poochies: $7
2 Bummis covers: $16
14 large MPB (mostly used): $110
2 large DtNs (one was free): $20
large celestial baby fitted: $0
5 extra large MPB:$61
2 extra large DtNs: $50
7 pairs of training pants: $130
My Total: $778

You can save between $1208 - $462 PER CHILD by cloth diapering. Not to mention many cloth diapering supplies are suitable for resale so you could sell them after you were finished further increasing your saving.

[3littlepiggies]

its great that you posted that Jen

I remember the first year diapering Benjamin it cost us the first few month like $80-100 per month and after that its like $50 per month!

Its so much cheaper to do CDs then disposible diapers that is one of the reasons we are getting into buying them in a couple of months!

[thebarmybee]

Am I reading it right that you would have roughly 12 diapers per size?? My DD went through that in about a day at the beginning. Does that mean laundry every day??? How much do you think you spend on extra water, soap, electricity, etc? I have been seriously thinking about switching to cloth for #2 but it really seems like it wouldn't save that much money when I figured it all out. Perhaps I was thinking I needed too many diapers?

[3littlepiggies]

im going to start to cd my #2 baby and im getting prefolds. Im going to get the smallest size first with 24 prefolds and then i will go to the next size and get 2 or 3 dozen of them! I would say get more cds so you dont have to wash every day!! That is what im plaining on doing! this is the site im thinking about getting them from!

http://www.mommacommuneboutique.com/
Im getting prefold package with 4 covers!
http://www.mommacommuneboutique.com/...ics-51-15.html
http://www.mommacommuneboutique.com/...ties_Cover_and
_Prefold_Package-153-15.html
these are what im thinking of getting! I will be getting more covers here and there and i might not have to buy the prefolds so often in the one size! depending how big your baby gets you might be able to use them longer instead of going up the next size so soon!

I posted a thread here is the link

http://londonmoms.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6672

For the 2 years that we have been using the disposables i think we might have spent about $2000 give or take some! And if you only spend what $300-500 you are going to be saving so much money. And if you have more babies you probably be able to use them for them!

[PikaJen]

When I CD'd Serena I did wash every day for newborn. I made some more newborn sized fitteds for Katie. As they get older, you do go through less. Serena at 3 goes through 5 diapers a day roughly. Katie is using about 8.

[PikaJen]

Other things -

AIO = All In One, although very few diapers are truly all in one now, because they take too long to dry. Most are AI2, where the soaker pad is removable. Generally the most expensive option, though the easiest to use.

Pocket - Like an AIO, except the soaker pad slides into a pocket in the diaper. Cost and ease of use are the same as an AIO.

Fitted - Cheaper than an AIO, although they require a seperate cover, which is an added expense. Fitteds are usually cheaper than AIOs and nearly as easy to use.

Prefold - a rectangular piece of cloth "pre-folded" and sewn into 4x6x4 or 4x8x4 layers. There are many ways to configure a prefold on a child. They require a seperate cover, but can also be used to stuff pocket diapers. By far the least expensive option, but can be intimidating for beginners.

One Size - there are lots of one sixe options to choose from, AIO, Pockets and Fitteds. I have used a few, and IMO they can indeed go from newborn to toddler.

I use My Precious Baby AIOs, www.mypreciousbabybyapril.com She is a Canadian mother of 8.

I use a dry pail for my diapers. Poop gets flung into the toilet, no sprayer. I use sunlight liquid and washing soda with a hot wash and two cold rinses. Every once and awhile I will do an extra wash (with rinses) once or twice to strip them.

[3littlepiggies]

jen does she sell Prefolds, i cant find it on the site??

Jen do you have any other canadian websites???? thanks

[PikaJen]

No, April doesn't sell prefolds. She only sells products she makes herself.

www.bareware.ca is Canadian, but it looks like they've gone to e-bay. www.borntolove.com I'm pretty sure is Canadian, it's where I got my prefolds for $1 each. They have a sale page that if you keep an eye on it you can get good deals.

[bikruca]

canadian diaper sources (by no means a complete list!)

www.jamtots.com
www.parentingbynature.com
www.extraordinarybabyshoppe.com
www.valor-kids.com
http://www.diaperingdecisions.com/index.htm
http://www.weecarediapercompany.com/...FQstWAodM0N-VA

[3littlepiggies]

thanks ladies i just want to see the prices

[3littlepiggies]

is $2.50 good price 4 prefolds??

[miasmom]

2 dollars for 4 is a good price. I like my pre-folds, I think I paid 127 for a kit with 24 diapers, 4 wraps and 100 flushable liners.

[3littlepiggies]

the kit im looking into is $159 for 36 prefolds and i think 6 covers
here is the link http://www.parentingbynature.com/cloth-diaper-kit.htm

and im thinking of getting some bigger prefolds right now for my son and some covers. I was starting to potty train but he is not ready, he doesnt care if he is wet!
I have been looking on some of the sites and they done sell big sizes, but i did find one that has toddle sizes, 35+lbs so i was going to get some of those!
http://www.jamtots.com/Chinese-Prefold-Diapers-C55.aspx
do you ladies think that is a good idea?