newborn Cloth Diapers

After almost 3 weeks the newborn disposable diapers that were given to me were all used . . .

Time to start using cloth diapers!!

When I was pregnant with Truman I decided to use cloth diapers, but I wasn’t sure I would stick with it long-term.  I figured the cost & learned that I had to use them for at least 4 months for them to “pay for themselves”.  I ended up using them almost 2 years – until Truman potty trained himself. 

When I initially began using cloth diapers I didn’t really know a lot about them, (what was good or not) & made most of my purchased based on recommendations from blog mamas that used cloth. 

My beginning stash included:

Diapers (suggusted:  24-36):  I ordered both contour & fitted diapers.  I don’t have any complaints about either – contour aren’t as easy with newborns; however, they make great (less expensive) back-up diapers.  I purchased: 

• 6 fitted Kissaluvs
• 1 fitted Thristies
• 6 contour Kissaluvs
• 4 Imse Vimse flannelette contour
• 1 Imse Vimse terry contour

*Thirsties are my all time favorite!  I also really like the Kissaluvs fitted, especially for newborns.  I am not crazy about the Imse Vimse diapers at all.

Covers (4-6):  I ordered

• 2 Imse Vimse cotton covers
• 2 Imse Vimse wool covers
• 1 Thirsties cover

*I happy with both these brands for covers.

AIO (3): The AIO's are awesome, but they are also awesomely expen$ive.  Initially, I decided to order 1 of each brand that I had my options narrowed down to. I ordered:

• 1 AIO (w/ snaps) from Imse Vimse
• 1 bumGenius one size
• 1 pocket diaper from Fuzzi Bunz.

*I like all these brands, but the Imse Vimse didn’t fit as long as the other 2 brands.

Doublers (12-24):  I ordered:

• 1 bumGenius insert
• 4 Kissaluvs booster doublers
• 1 package of Thirsties doublers
• 2 Imse Vimse terry liners
• 5 Imse Vimse flannelette liners
• 2 Imse Vimse stay dry liners
• 200 Imse Vimse flushable liners

*The bumGenius inserts are great for pocket diapers, I really liked the Kissaluvs & Thirsties doublers, but I did not like the Imse Vimse liners at all.

Taralyn’s Newborn Stash

I still have all my diapers I originally began with as well as additional purchases & gifts, but this time around I definitely have favorites!  As my second go around with cloth diapering a newborn I am using:

• Thirsties fitted diapers & covers
• Kissaluvs fitted diapers & covers
• Lil’ Joeys newborn AIO
• GroVia newborn AIO
• BumGenius newborn AIO
• Fuzzi Bunz newborn pocket diaper

I also found some “pretty girly” cloth diapers on Etsy, as well as some really inexpensive wool diapers (which make a great alternative to the expensive wool covers). 

Thirsties: Size Medium

It has been a while since I’ve posted on our cloth diaper adventure.

I ordered 9 size medium fab fitted diapers & 2 diaper covers & 1 duo wrap(melon, celery/meadow, & sky blue).

My ‘Lil Buckaroo is kinda a ‘lil guy so our size small diapers lasted us a long time! In fact, I just ordered the next size last week. Yes, he made it in size small until he was a year old. Talkin’ about getting my moneys worth – Whoo HOOO! The smalls actually still fit him, but he needed a bigger diaper for absorbency! - The boy could water a garden! Here is a picture of the size difference b/t the size small & medium:

Thirsties fab fitted diapers are still my favorite cloth diapers & Thirsties diaper covers are my fav covers too, but I like to be a little adventurous at times, so I also ordered 3 of Thirsties New Duo Diapers (Mango, Meadow, & Ocean Blue). I prefer fitted diapers & a cover over pocket diapers; however, there are times a pocket diaper is more convenient. Plus, my dude needs some major absorbency overnight. Thirsties Duo Diapers, by far, are the best overnight diaper that I’ve ever used. This Duo Diaper has some major advantages over other pocket diapers . . .

First off, they are super absorbent – did I mention that? Second, these are the BEST inserts I’ve seen. They are 2 layers snapped together. WOW! (It’s sad that I get excited over diaper inserts!). They also include a front pocket cover to prevent any leakage out (*I do wish this was on both ends.)

Thirsties signature leg gussets are my favorite feature of all these diapers & definitely why they are my favorite cloth diaper brand. They fit a growing baby perfectly, are super absorbent, & well, they are just adorable on my Lil’ Buckaroo!

I have officially made it over a year using cloth diapers (I will admit, I’ve cheated from time-to-time, but definitely use cloth 98% of the time & have NOT bought disposables once!) To celebrate this accomplishment my Mother-In-Laws “real life” best friend, who is Lu Lu from Lu Lu’s in the Fluff, is sending me one of her Glamorous "booty" scents.

Lu Lu has also agreed to send one of my readers their choice from one of her Glamorous "booty" scents!

*All Lu Lu’s detergents are:

Dye free

No fillers

No enzymes or optical brighteners

Phosphate free

Great for sensitive skin

Easy rinsing formula

Approved for military use

Works great on microfiber

Perfect for cloth diapers

HE compatible

To enter this giveaway, visit Lu Lu’s in the Fluff & come back & leave a comment telling me which scent you would choose!

For an extra entry blog or facebook about this giveaway & leave a comment telling me so!

Giveaway ends next Friday, June 11.

Cloth Diapers 0-5 months

I have been diapering my dude in cloth diapers for almost 5 months now. When I first began this chapter of motherhood I was very excited, but a little nervous. So how is it workin' out these days?

FABULOUSLY!

I love it! In fact, I have not put my Lil' Buckaroo in a disposible diaper since I began using cloth - not even when we are out & about.

Although the upfront cost of cloth is more it has proven to be cheaper than disposible. I love not having to buy diapers every week.

Thirsties are my favorite! I just love them. They fit the best from newborn & up. They wash great. They are cute. They don't leak. They don't stain terribly bad. They are soft. I don't have ANY complaints. They are by far my favorite. In fact, I just placed my next size order & I order Thirsties exclusively. Celary is my favorite color!

Feed Your Stash

Cloth Diaper Blog hosts a giveaway each Friday to Feed Your Stash.

I haven't used Rumparooz yet, but have them on my WANTED list.

If you want to FEED YOUR STASH with 2 FREE Rumparooz head over to FEED YOUR STASH Friday!

Dirty Diapers!

"What do you do with them when they are dirty?"

. . . Has been a popular question, followed by looks of disgust.

I'm sure there are more complicated detailed washing routines suggested, but I try to keep things simple:

1. My wetbag hangs alongside my crib
My crib is more of a changing/nap station because my babies sleep with me at night.

2. When I change my Lil' Buckaroo I toss the dirty diaper (both kinds) in the wetbag.

3. I toss the load into the wash when the bag is full (usually every 2-3 days).

4. I wash with dreft & put vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser.

5. I only have a cold water cycle (another unfinished project courtesy of Big Daddy) so hot water is not an option for me, but I do set the cycle on "Heavy Duty" & add an extra rinse.

6. Usually I throw them in the dryer after rinsing; however, I try to hang them on the clothesline at least once a month. This is a fantastic way to kill bacterias, rid odor (which I have not had a problem with), & remove staining.



Some tips I've discovered along the way:

1. Use "detergents" NOT soaps!! - Make sure your laundry detergent is not soap based.

2. An extra rinse cycle is good because diapers are designed to retain liquids; however, soaps repel liquids so it is a great way to try to rinse any remaining soap which will eventually cause your diapers to leak.

Isn't it soooo gross? What do you do when he poops?
No, it doesn't stink & no, it isn't any more disgusting than changing a disposable diaper. I'm nursing so I have yet to encounter solids, but I am a mother of 4 boys -it couldn't possibly be any worse than what I encountered with house breaking potty training the Mustangs. I literally do the same thing with cloth as I did with disposable. I just bundle them up, only I wash them instead of tossing them. Not a big deal at all.

Doesn't it stink?
Well, I must admit, I have a very weak since of smell (hits how I can stay married to Big Daddy) but even with that said, the wetbag is in my room, not zipped & no one complains. There is a piece of fabric sewn into the bag to add essential oils (tea tree or lavender) to cut bad odor, but I haven't had to use this yet.

I do the same when we are out. I have a small wetbag that I throw into my diaper bag & if I change a diaper I toss it into there & empty it into the larger one when we get home. *I change lots of diapers in the front seat of my suburban & I will add that the blinker knob makes a mighty fine wetbag hook :)

If you are considering diapering, please don't let the cleaning process discourage you or limiting you to a diaper service who picks your type of diaper for you. There are way too many cute diapers out there to cover your babies hiney in for that!

Cloth Diaper Reviews: Fitted

Although I like the contour diapers, I think fitted diapers are my favorite (so far). My favorite fitted diapers are a toss up between Kissaluvs & Thirsties.

Kissaluvs $13.95
Kissaluvs fitted diapers are especially good for newborns. They not only have a fold-over for the belly button, but they just fit so good. Like the Imse Vimse contour diapers, these too have the elastic around the legs that totally helps any leaking. These diapers are absolutely adorable & very soft. *I have seen a difference in the fabric after multiple washings, but it is still very soft & I have not had any problems with leakage. They have fit Truman well from 6 to 11 pounds & are suppose to fit up to 15lbs - which I don't see being a problem. I am not a huge fan of the snap closer (however, I've been told it will be helpful when he is big enough to pull his diapers off), but it doesn't seem to be an issue with this style of diaper. These diapers work well with the Imse Vimse covers. It is petty, but the only thing I don't like about these is that the stitching in the next size is purple only - not too boyish. This really isn't a big deal though, considering they will be covered anyway.

Thirsties $14.25

I really like the Thirsties fitted diapers. I didn't order this brand originally, but came across it in a size xs after began using cloth diapers. The first month Truman was having a difficult time gaining wait, so this was the perfect diaper for his tiny little hiny. It is just a perfect fitting diaper & it has the hook loop closer which I love. This type of closer just seems to taylor the fitting to a tiny to growing baby. In addition to the hook loop closer, this diaper also has the washing tab to prevent any damage while washing. These diapers are very very soft. I love the fabric & can't wait to order more of these in the next size. Thirsties does have a cover that works well with these & the Imse Vimse covers work just as good without any leaking.

Diaper Reviews: Contour

Imse Vimse $8.95 - $12.95

I like the Imse Vimse contour diapers, but they aren't my fav. I love the snugness of the elastic around the legs - they fit my newborn great. I ordered both the flannelette & the terry style fabrics. I liked them both - the terry seemed to have better absorbency, but the flannelette is oh so soft & not as bulky. These diapers seem to hold stains more than my other fitted diapers do. Although pinning is not necessary, the snappi will not work with these diapers. I'm not sure if I will order the next "one size fits all" size when My Little Buckaroo outgrows the newborn size, but I probably wouldn't order the newborn size again. The newborn size is suppose to last for most 0-4 month old babies, but these diapers are more expensive than my alternative contour diaper, Kissaluvs (which are for 0-6). I like them, but I don't think they are cost effective in the comparison.

Kissaluvs $7.95

I love the Kissaluvs contour diapers. These diapers are so soft & come with a very affective pre-sewn doubler inside. They are bulkier in the early newborn stage than the Imsi Vimse; however, my baby quickly outgrew the bulky look & even then, they were still leak proof. Like the Imse Vimse diapers, these do not require securing them with a pin or snappi, but as you can see in the picture the snappi will work perfectly with these diapers. I've used these with the Imse Vimse diaper covers & have not had any problems with leaking. I wish these had the elastic around the legs, but they are still my favorite contour diaper.

These are the only 2 styles of contour diapers I have used. I may order some to the Tiny Tush contours when Truman is ready for the next size.

Cloth Diapers - Why??

Why on earth am I using cloth diapers?

I wanted to try them with Tucker, but couldn't afford the upfront cost. I thought about it with Trevor, but didn't think I had the time. When I saw how cute they were on MckMamma's blog I got to thinking . . . this very well could be my last baby - I think I'll try it now.

There it is, the honest truth: they are cute, I haven't done it before, & I wanted to. Period end of story. No green momma here, no cost-affective reasoning, no "it's better for my baby" theory. HOWEVER, I do believe in all of these:

Green: There is little explanation needed nor any debate really - I have used disposable diapers for 3 boys. Just an estimation of my contribution:
Say we use 10 diapers a day. That is roughly 300 a week, 1,200 a month, & 26,400 a year. Then say, you cut it down to just 5 diapers a day the second year (which was not the case in my house, but for arguments sake). The total diapers I polluted this earth with for one child was around 39,600. Plus 2 more kids = 118,800!!! So, by using cloth diapers I am certainly not hurting the environment!

Cost: Big Daddy read my post on my AIO/Pocket diaper reviews. He came home totally confused, "Tell me he does not have $20 undies on?!" "Well, sorta." LOL "BUT . . ." He walked out of the room. Let me give MY break down of the cost of disposables vs. cloth. Okay, using the estimated numbers above the cost of disposables for the first year would be at least $1,200. For my favorites an estimation of the first year + for cloth diapers would be about the same, but keep in mind these are REUSABLE!! (Based on 12 contour diapers, 66 fitted diapers, 3 pocket diapers, 13 covers, and 30 inserts.
*If you compare the cost of wipes: disposables (2 packs of 192ct/per month) = $204 cloth wipes (*40 re-usable)= $60 *really, you only need 24 to get started so this is a high estimate.

Better for my baby: Check THIS Post out from All About Cloth Diapers Blog.

Cloth Diaper Reviews: AIO & Pocket Diapers

When I first began looking into cloth diapers & discovered THE ALL IN ONE diaper I really thought, "I wish I could afford to use JUST these." Well, I have used cloth diapers for about a month now & my views have changed. AIO's are convenient & very easy to use; however, not a necessity with cloth diapering full time. I ordered 3 different brands of AIO/Pocket diapers: bumGenius, Imse Vimse, & Fuzzi Bunz. Here is my 2 cents . . .

All-In-Ones (AIO) & Pocket Diapers


bumGenius ($17.95 ea)
I ordered the bumGenius One Size cloth diaper (in Twilight to be exact). BTW, this was NOT mentioned by MckMamma, but got great reviews as one of the "TOP Cloth Diapers." It is my favorite in this category out of 3 brands I have. Originally, I just ordered 1 of each brand, but I went back for more on this one. I will admit, I was very skeptical on ordering this to begin with. How can a diaper fit a baby from 7 lb's to 35 lb's and really work? Yeah, right! My skepticism was proven wrong when I tried it out on my less than 7lb baby. In fact, this diaper was one of the few that fit his tiny little bum. I have used the bumGenius insert & doubler with this diaper & have not had any leaks. My favorite things about this diaper are the fold-over laundry tabs & the stretch-to-fit tabs that can cross over for a better fit on smaller babies. Another bonus to this style/brand is the unique covered pocket opening to prevent leakage from the front. The only problem I have found with these diapers is staining along the inside linning around the legs. This is an elastic-scrunched section & it doesn't wash poop well. Outside of this, it is my favorite Pocket diaper & by far seems to be the best buy in the long run because it is a ONE SIZE diaper.

Fuzzi Bunz (pocket diaper =$17.95)
I really like the Fuzzi Bunz & have no complaints. In fact, it seems to wash better than the bumGenius. The 2 are quiet a bit alike, I just prefer the hook-loop closer the bumGenius diapers use over the snap closer style of the Fuzzi Bunz. I will suggest if ordering for a newborn, getting the x-small. The picture below is of Truman at almost 4 weeks old in a size small.

*Fuzzi Bunz just came out with a One Size diaper that is retailing for $19.50.

Imsevimse ($22.65)
This is a great diaper; however, it is expen$ive & a bit of an over kill. It is very soft & comfy, doesn't leak & is a great fit, but did I mention ExPeN$IvE?

Cloth Diaper Reviews: Covers

Covers


Imsevimse
-cotton




-soft


-wool


Thirsties

Cloth Diaper Accessories: Part 2

Disposable wipes or cloth wipes?

Once I got started on my cloth diapering journey I quickly found wipes to be an issue. While preparing for my first order I noticed that most of the online stores also offered cloth wipes. Hummm . . . How does that work? Just for fun I decided to order a few brands of wipes (not knowing if I would ever really use them or not). Diaper Pin suggested purchasing 2-3 dozen wipes to get started. I ordered: Kissaluvs, Imse Vimse, & Fuzzi Bunz cloth wipes. After I got the hang of using cloth diapers & doing really well with it I decided to add cloth wipes to the mix. *Plus it was a pain having a cloth diaper dirty bag & still needing a trash can for disposable wipes.

How do cloth wipes work?

I'll admit - I never thought I would actually use the cloth wipes. *I was just having fun shopping online for baby stuff :) I was intimidated by the thought of using cloth wipes (for some reason this intimidated me more than the diapers did ? ? ?)

Then I read an article about how easy using cloth wipes is at

I also visited Zany Zebra & for a fantastic cloth wipe tutorial. Zany Zebra's article explains it ALL & even gives wonderful wipe solution recipes.

After visiting these sites & reading how easy using cloth wipes is I gave it a go. It is VERY easy!!

Here is what I do:

I mix my solution in a bowl, dip my cloth wipes in the solution, squeeze out excess water from the wipes (leaving them damp), fold them in half (like a hot dog), & roll. Then I place them in my: Prince Lion Heart Cloth Wipe Warmer. - YES, you read that right! THERE IS A WARMER MADE ESPECIALLY FOR CLOTH WIPES & IT WORKS! It holds 12 cloth wipes, keeps them moist & warm. Once I use the wipe I just toss it in my wet bag along with the dirty diaper & wash. The wipes tend to last as long as the diapers do.

By the way, my FAVORITE wipes are the Fuzzi Bunz Cotton/Fleece Wonder Wipes. They are so soft & gentle. If you use cloth wipes or are thinking about it you have to try these - you won't use anything else after these. They are FaBuLoUs!

For my solution: (*I sorta use my own recipe)

2-3 cups of water (for about 12 wipes)
4 drops of lavender oil
4-6 drops of tea tree oil
4 squirts of baby oil
2-3 squirts of baby wash (Burt's Bees baby wash)

Cloth Diaper Accessories: Part 1

Bags or Pails?

Wetbags are made to hold wetness & oder in. These can be used for dirty diapers, wet clothing, or swimsuits. Most wetbags have a small loop attached to hang over a doorkknob or hook, or where ever you may need to hang it.

Pails are just a simple waste basket with a waterproof diaper pail liner which is great for holding dirty diapers.

Wet or Dry?

A wet wetbag or pail is when you fill either half way with water or a combination of water & vinegar or another mixture to soak your dirty diapers in while waiting to wash (every 2-3 days). Some wetbags come with a special slot for inserting oils (tea tree oil) for smell.

Dry is just that - same system without adding water to soak. You can sprinkle baking soda to cut the smell of dirty diapers.

Click HERE for an article by Diaper Pin on wet or dry options.


I decided to use a dry wetbag. Beginning this journey I wasn't quite sure how this was going to work, so I just purchased 1 basic wetbag from Imse Vimse for household use & 1 very cute Rodeo wetbag from Diaper Doodie for my diaper bag.

I quickly realized I was going to need at least 2 wetbags for household use so that I can use one while I am washing the other & not have a pile of dirty diaper collecting in the process - so I went shopping at the Cloth Diaper Superstore! I had a little fun . . .

I got a Large 16 x 20 Wet Bag
custom made in the cow print fabric. I am very excited about 2 new features of this bag that the Imse Vimse does not have: It has a 3 x 3 fleece square inside for placement of oils & the handles have a snap for snapping onto something so you aren't limited to just hanging.

And just so I could take advantage of the free shipping I went ahead & forced myself to get a 10 x 6 Cloth Pad/Wipes Bag & the Grab-N-Go 9 x 9 Designer Wet Bag (*which as a dry & wet section) both in the cow print as well.

You just thought the decisions were over . . .

Cloth Diapers: My Stash

After stalking MckMamma's blog doing my research on cloth diapers I prepared to place my orders.

I narrowed down my brands, picked a few systems that appealed to me, decided how much of Big Daddy's money I was going to use money I was going to invest, & I created my own beginner's package.

During this process, I did a little comparison chart myself. I took into consideration a new "How Much" & compared it to the type of diaper, how many I wanted, & how long we would use it (*most diapers have a weight & or age range). My charts looked like this:










*I did not bargain hunt. I found Soft Cloth Bunz & compared their prices with a few other sites & was satisfied. They beat a few other prices & were a little higher on some; however, when considering shipping & placing several separate orders - this seemed to be the best bargain for me. So, prices for all brands (excluding Imse Vimse & Kushies) are from Soft Cloth Bunz.

So here is what I compiled:

Diapers (24-36): MckMamma uses the contour diapers & makes it look so simple; however, the fitted diapers are more in my comfort zone. I went with both, so if I continue using cloth diapers when Truman out grows this stash I will have a better idea of what I want to order next. I ordered 6 fitted Kissaluvs, 6 contour Kissaluvs, 4 Imse Vimse flannelette contour & 1 Imse Vimse terry contour.

Covers (4-6): Kissaluvs don't have their own brand of covers, but the Imse Vimse will work with them - which was perfect for me. I ordered 2 cotton covers & 2 wool covers from Imse Vimse.

AIO (3): The AIO's are awesome, but they are also awesomely expen$ive. Choosing these was a tough decision. Since this order was my "trial" order, I decided to order 1 of each brand I had my options narrowed down to. I ordered 1 AIO (w/ snaps) from Imse Vimse, 1 bumGenius one size, & 1 pocket diaper from Fuzzi Bunz.

Doublers (12-24): I ordered 1 bumGenius insert (*will fit with Fuzzi Bunz pocket diaper too), 4 Kissaluvs booster doublers, 2 Imse Vimse terry liners, 5 Imse Vimse flannelette liners, 2 Imse Vimse stay dry liners, & 200 flushable liners from Imse Vimse.
Here is the chart I made to help me decide which liners I wanted:


I really liked the Kushies, but decided to wait on ordering any b/c the first size only fits to 10lb. For the price + shipping it was not going to be cost effective to just order 1 to "try." After I gain some experience with using cloth diapers I will order some Kushies if I decide to continue this journey.

Cloth Diapering: What Kind & How Many?

I think I mentioned before that I was entertaining the idea of using cloth diapers (especially after reading MckMamma's post on cloth diapers). I did my research, reviewed several brands online & placed an order.

It all began with this post at My Charming Kids. Then I began to stalk her blog & found this post. After my stalking ended I hit google & found answers to most of my questions.

My first questions were "What kind & How Many?"

What kind?

Did you know there is such a thing as "diaper talk"? Yes, mam - there is even a cloth diaper glossary! I was so confused . . . contour, doublers, liners . . . WHAT?! Do they just have a beginners package?

First, I had to decide on the system & types of diapers I was going to use. You can still find the old fashioned cloth things that you fold & fold & fold then fasten with a pin. Like this image from Cloth Diaper Whisperer: YIKES!
However, cloth diapers have come a LONG way over the years. You now have several options: one size, all-in-one(AIO), pre-fold, contour, fitted, pocket, & the list goes on.

Next, I started researching the brands of cloth diapers. I began with MckMamma suggestions (b/c she is just way cool & knows her natural living pretty darn well). Then I did a little googling "top cloth diapers." I narrowed my picks to:
Imse Vimse
Kushies
Kissaluvs
Fuzzi Bunz

Once I visited these websites & thought my choices were more limited - I discovered I had to choose the types of fabric: fleece, wool, cotton, flannelette, terry, bamboo & this list continues . . . Then there are: doublers/liners, snaps or hook & loop, pins or snappis, velcro . . .

Diaper Pin has a great pro & con list explaining most of this diaper talk. Parenting By Nature has a wonderful explanation of What's what in cloth.


How Many?

How many cloth diapers you will need varies depending on the age of your baby & how often you will be using cloth diapers.

I created my "Wanted List" using Diaper Pins suggestion of:

24-36 cloth diapers (*some sights suggest 18-20)
3 all-in-one diapers
4-6 diaper covers
1-2 polar fleece or wool covers (suggested for use at night)
12-24 doublers/liners

Here are a few other links to help make a "Wanted List":

Soft Cloth Bunz: How many diapers are needed?
Soft Cloth Bunz: How many diapers to buy?
Mama Oh Baby: How many cloth diapers?
Nicki's Diapers: FAQS
Parenting By Nature: Getting Started With Cloth Diapers