Not sure where to start? Well, I first recommend considering the different diapering systems available. Once you decide on a system you like, you can go from there.
Systems-
The first option has several different choices within it. You can use diapers (just the absorbent part) and covers. These are two separate piece of fabric that you'll be putting on the baby.
Diapers- flats, prefolds, fitteds, contours Covers- PUL, wool, fleece
Flats-
http://www.earthycrunchymama.com/2011/11/styles-of-cloth-diapers-2/
Flats are one large piece of fabric. It's one layer thick, and you fold it up a bunch of times and then snappi or pin it on the baby. When most laymen people think of cloth diapering, this is the type of diaper they immediately think of. It's pretty old school, but many people still prefer them even over the more modern solutions. Need a cover of some sort.
An example of a fold-
http://www.diaperware.com/picturepages/flatfolding.htm
Advantages- washes fast and easily, easy to strip/disinfect if needed, drys fast, perfect fit regardless of your baby's shape, can use same cover for pee diapers instead of a new cover every change.
Disadvantages- lots of folding involved. I mean, it's not as complicated as folding a fitted sheet or anything, but compared to the other diapers, it's the most involved.
Prefolds-
http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/diapers.htm
Prefolds are similar to flats. They're just a rectangle of absorbent fabric that you fold onto the baby. Prefolds are made of several layers, though, so there is less folding involved. You will need a cover.
Folds-
Bikini twist-
Angelwing-
Trifold-
Jellyroll-
(You can find plenty of videos on YouTube for more step by step directions.
For both Flats and Prefolds, you will need to either use diaper pins or Snappis to close them.
http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/other.htm#Snappis
Fitted Diapers-
http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/diapers.htm#fitted
Fitted diapers are essentially prefolds that are sewn into the shape of a diaper. They have elastics around the legs, and most have snap closures. They're often easier than prefolds and flats because there is no folding, and many people also find them to be better against leaks. Lots of Work at home Moms (WAHMS) make some SUPER cute fitted diapers on etsy.com and hyenacart.com. Need Covers.
Advantages- All the advantages of prefolds and flats, but they're easier to put on!, tons of cute designs and patterns available.
Disadvantages- snaps and elastics mean that they MAY not fit your baby as well as diapers you can fold yourself.
Contour diapers-
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?products_id=2211
Contour diapers are basically fitted diapers without the built in closures. They allow you to use a snappi, pins, or none at all if you want.
Advantages- easier to put on than flats or prefolds, snug fit against baby, easy to wash, dry, or strip if needed.
Disadvantages- No snaps, so you'll need to close it on your own
Covers-
Diaper covers can be made out of PUL, fleece, or wool.
PUL-
http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/superbrite.htm
PUL covers are all so similar, yet so different. It's just a matter of person preference, really. Some have snaps, others have applix. Some have single leg gussets, others have double. Some are one-size, others run NB-XL. It's really just a matter of trying out different ones to see which works for you.
From a personal standpoint, I have used Thirsties Diaper covers, Thirsties Duo wraps, Econobum covers, Flip Covers, Bummis Super Brite and Super Whisper Wraps, as well as a WAHM cover from Twinkletoes Diapers. Believe it or not, every one of them worked for us. I thought that the Super Whisper Wrap-
would leak when we first got it, but it didn't! For some reason I expected all my single gusset covers to leak. But they didn't! So don't let a single gusset necessarily scare you off.
Wool-
I'll be honest, I haven't ventured into this worlds personally, yet. Wool is natural and very breathable. It's water resistant, not waterproof and needs to be soaked in lanolin-saturated water before use so it works as a diaper cover. You can find wool 'shorties' or 'longies'- basically pants and shorts that double as a diaper cover- in so many adorable patterns.
http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/covers.htm#doubleknit
http://www.etsy.com/listing/84600119/dark-pink-merino-wool-longies-free?ref=sr_gallery_32&ga_search_query=wool+longies&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_min=0&ga_max=0&ga_search_type=handmade
http://www.etsy.com/listing/97995013/hand-knit-wool-shorties-monster-soaker?ref=sr_gallery_7&ga_search_query=wool+shorties&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_min=0&ga_max=0&ga_search_type=handmade
Wool is often times people's bulletproof overnight cover when all other diapering systems fail them.
Advantages- natural, breathable, bulletproof, adorable options,
Disadvantages- more expensive, must be lanolized
Fleece-
Fleece is a man-made material, but it is breathable and durable like wool. It's a good alternative to PUL covers, and not as expensive as wool. While wool covers can sometimes be used several changes, most fleece needs to be washed as soon as it gets wet with urine. They also come in a variety of colors and patterns, as well as styles such as longies, shorties, soakers, and wraps.
Soakers-
"Skirties"
Wrap
http://www.diaperware.com/information/newborn.htm
All-in-one
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/grovia-aio.html
AIOs are exactly as they sound- all in one. They're one diaper, all the layers sew together. No added steps, just on and off the baby like you would with a disposable. They are the most expensive of all the diapering system because you're paying for not only the convenience, but the combination of all the layers- waterproof and absorbent.
I thought that I would love AIO diapers, but never planned on making a whole stash of them for money purposes. I was actually disappointed. AIOs take a LONG time to dry because you're not supposed to dry them in the dryer. Mine take sometimes almost 2 days to dry completely. If I were to have an entire stash of them, I would need to have two separate stashes just to account for drying time, which makes their high price even more daunting.
Another downside- you can't really adjust the absorbency in an AIO. There's no where to stuff extra fabric. So if you need more absorbency for a heavy peeing baby or overnight, then you may experience leaks.
They are, however, awesome Daddy, grandparent and daycare diapers. Some daycare centers who originally say NO to cloth will make the exception for AIO diapers or prestuffed pocket diapers (See below) because they really are simple.
Advantages- easy on and off, no extra steps, good for daycare and Daddy, no stuffing
Disadvantages- expensive, long drying time, no changing absorbency, you change the whole diaper each diaper change.
Pockets-
I'm going to write a very biased review here. I love pockets. They're my favorite! They really are the best of all the cloth diapering world. Pockets are two parts- a shell, and an insert. The shell is made up of a waterproof layer sewn together to a soft layer on the inside. There is a hole, usually left at the top, back of the diaper, where you can stuff the insert into the shell.
Those are just a few visuals to try to explain how that works.
These diapers are awesome because once stuffed, they work like an AIO or a disposable. Just pop them on and off the baby. They dry quickly because the inserts can go in the dryer, and the shells are only the two layers so the line dry in a couple of hours, even inside. You can easily strip the inserts if needed. You can also change or add to what you stuff them with. Sold separately, you can find hemp, bamboo, and other diaper inserts and doublers. Some people use prefolds folded in the trifold fashion. Lots of pocket diapers come with microfiber inserts, and while it's very good and wicking away the moisture from your baby, it sometimes starts to stink and needs to be stripped every once in a while. So far, I've used MF for 4 months full time and the only stink issue I've experienced happened when I accidentally ran a cold wash instead of hot.
Even more proof that they're the best of both worlds- they also run in the middle price-wise. You can find good pockets from Alva or Sunbaby diapers for 4-6 dollars a diaper (with free shipping from Japan, but it does take sometimes several weeks to reach you). Most pockets will cost you approximately 10-20 dollars.
Some people dislike pockets because you have to stuff them. This process normally takes me about 15 minutes or so. I tend to just stuff them right after they are all dried, and then put them all away ready to be used.
Variety is another advantage here. Pocket diapers come in so many colors and patterns it will make your head spin. With pockets, you need to change the entire diaper each time you do a diaper change, unlike when you use diapers with a cover. So you will need as many pocket diapers as you will have changes until laundry day. That means that if you change the recommended every two hours except maybe overnight, then you will need probably 8-10 diapers a day, being conservative.
Advantages- Easy to wash and dry, you can change absorbency, they're cute, easy to clean and disinfect
Disadvantages- more expensive that prefolds and covers, need to change entire diaper each change, you have to stuff pockets.
All-in-2
AI2 or hybrid diapers are sort of a combination of using covers and pockets. This system uses covers and inserts that usually snap into the cover. For pee diapers, you can just snap in a new insert after wiping down the cover. Some systems even sell disposable inserts, which some people love for travelling.
They are easy to wash, quick to dry, come in cute colors and designs, and you also get more for you money by needing fewer covers. This diapering system doesn't really have any particular disadvantage. Some people love them, some people just prefer other systems!
Advantages- fast drying, saves money compared to pockets and AIOs, easier than folding prefolds or flats, no stuffing,
Disadvantages- none, really!
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Those are the basic modern cloth diapering systems. I know that it sounds like a lot, but really, it's just a matter of understand how they work and which you think you'd prefer. I guessed that I would love pockets and AIOs over prefolds, and I was right- at least about the pockets. Prefolds aren't bad, but sometimes when I have a squirming baby, the extra step of diaper-then-cover is a pain. We use prefolds at night and get really good leak protection for longer stretches of laying down. AIOs are actually my least favorite and that shocked me. I was glad that I didn't invest in a lot of them because I sold the ones I had. Pockets are definitely perfect for us most of the time!
Once you figure out which system, you can go crazy and start looking up brand names to try out. This is where it gets fun! The choices are pretty much endless, especially once you start looking into WAHM diapers on etsy and hyenacart.
Brand Suggestions-
Below, I'll list some of the more common, popular diapers as a place to start for you. These are by no means the only options, but they're some of the ones that I see mentioned most on message boards.
AIOs-
itti bitti d'lish-
http://ittibitti.us/cloth_diaper/bitti_dlish
Bum Genius Freetime
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=98&products_id=3101
Grovia AIO-
http://www.kellyscloset.com/GroVia-One-Size-All-In-One-Cloth-Diaper_p_4011.html
Pocket Diapers-
Bum Genius 4.0-
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=98&products_id=2424
Fuzzibunz-
http://www.cottonbabies.com/index.php?cPath=56
Sunbaby-
http://www.sunbabydiapers.com/product.php?id_product=20
Alva-
http://alvababy.com/
Rumparooz-
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/rumparooz-cloth-diapers.html
Blueberry-
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/blueberry-one-size-deluxe-pocket-diaper.html
Happy Heinys-
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/happy-heiny-pocket-diapers.html
Prefolds-
Green Mountain Diapers-
http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/diapers.htm
Imagine-
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/imagine-indian-prefolds.html
Cottonbabies.com Indian prefolds-
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=277
Econobum-
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/econobum-trial-diaper-packages.html
Flats-
Sustainablebabyish-
http://www.kellyscloset.com/Sustainablebabyish-Bamboo-Terry-Flat-Cloth-Diapers_p_4328.html
Imagine-
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/imagine-birdseye-flat-diapers.html
Birdseye flats-
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=276
Hempbabies-
http://www.kellyscloset.com/Hemp-Babies-Flat-Cloth-Diapers-6-pack_p_2942.html
Swaddlebees-
http://www.swaddlebees.com/Products/Fitted-Diapers/flats
Fitted Diapers-
Green Mountain Diapers workhorse fitteds-
http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/diapers.htm#workhorse
Blueberry-
http://www.swaddlebees.com/Products/Fitted-Diapers/b9100
Thirsties Fab fitted-
http://www.kellyscloset.com/Thirsties-Fitted-Diapers_c_825.html
Sustainablebabyish-
http://www.kellyscloset.com/Sustainablebabyish-Snapless-Multi-Fitted-Cloth-Diapers_p_4325.html
Contour-
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=2211
Diaper Covers-
Bummis Super Whisper Wrap-
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=92
Bummis Super Brite-
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=1284
Flip-
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=2220
Thirsties Duo Wrap-
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=2339
Woolly Bottoms-
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=3133
SustainableBabyish
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=2342
Disana-
http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/covers.htm#doubleknit
Blueberry Coveralls
http://www.blueberrydiapers.com/Products_3/Diaper-Covers_2/b5288_4
AI2 and Hybrids-
Flip
http://www.cottonbabies.com/index.php?cPath=139
Best Bottom
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/best-bottom.html
Grovia
http://www.kellyscloset.com/GroVia_c_902.html
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Some other things:
Detergent
Cloth diapers need cloth-diaper safe detergents. Normal detergents have dyes, scents, and other additives that can cause repelling and other issues for your diapers. Here is a list of some CD safe detergents.
http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html
I use Ecos Free and Clear that I got at Walmart.
Diaper Creams
The same thing applies to diaper creams. You need to make sure that you use a cream that is safe for your diapers and won't cause build up and repelling.
http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/diaperrashcreams.htm
Prepping
Depending on the type of type of material you are working with, you will need to prep your diapers and inserts. microfiber and other man-man fabrics will need to be washed at least once. Hemp, cotton, and other natural fibers will need to be washed several times in order to gain the most absorbency. PUL needs to be dried in the dryer one time to seal it. Wool needs to be prepped with lanolin. Everything you buy will come with specific prep instructions, so you just need to follow those directions.
Storing dirty diapers-
What do you do with a dirty diaper? Well, the great thing about breastfeeding, if you're doing so, is that you don't need to rinse you cloth diapers. Breastmilk poop is water soluble, so during your rinse cycle it's taken care of.
You can use a wet pail, a dry pail with a liner, or a wet bag for you cloth diapers.
A wet pail is a bucket of water, kept somewhere discreet, where you toss your dirty diapers to soak. This prevents any poop from being caked on, however, I have used only a dry pail and never had any real staining or stink problems.
A dry pail can be something as simple as a cheap garbage can with a lid. We have 2 Planetwise pail liners, and rotate them every wash.
I have found that sometimes the pail will smell less if you leave the lid off. I've read that has to do with containing the ammonia from urine, but whatever the case, sometimes the lid makes the smell stronger as you open the can.
A wetbag is a bag that is lined with a waterproof layer of PUL that usually closes with a zipper. These are handy and can be hung on doorknobs or hooks in convenient places, and they do an awesome job at containing any smells. We use the Planet wise hanging wet/dry bag. It's also great for when traveling.
Storing diapers on the go-
Wondering what you do in public? Many places sell various size wetbags, like the large hanging one above, but in small sizes. Pop one of those in the diaper bag, and when you change your diaper, the dirty diaper goes in your small wetbag. For wipes on the go, some people opt to just use disposables, others take their cloth wipes and a small, travel size spray bottle of water with them. Spray the dry cloth wipe, and then it all goes in the wet bag.
http://www.kissedbythemoon.com/Planet-Wise-Wet-Bags_p_385.html
Cloth Wipes
I was so intimidated by the idea of cloth wipes at first, even more so than the diapers. But it's so unbelievably simple, and I'm glad we did it!
You can use baby washcloths or cut up flannel or receiving blankets into squares about 8 inches or so in length. I know that some people claim you can leave the edges to fray but I found that they just frayed way too much not to be annoying. I was finding little strings all throughout the diaper laundry. So I zig zag stitched around the edges of my wipes and it helped.
There are many websites that give you ideas for cloth wipes solution. You can also use plain water, or water and some bathsoap. I mix a large jug of water and bathsoap for now, but plan to eventually start looking into tea tree oils and other essential oils.
I use my wipes warmer, roll all my wipes, pile them in, and pour the solution over them. Easy peasy. Upstairs, I have dry wipes and a spray bottle with plain water in it. Both work, but I love the wipes warmer.
Cloth wipes are so much more effective at getting poop off their little bums. I've used disposables on my older daughter, and I know that there were times I went through about 10 wipes per change just trying to get all the mess off of her. AT the very most, I've used two for even the messiest of diapers. They're also very simple to care for- just toss them in your diaper pail along with the diapers, wash with them, and that's it!
http://www.zany-zebra.com/cloth-wipe-solution.shtml
Washing
-If you are dealing with a baby who eats solids, spray off, scrape, or dunk poop into the toilet.
-Place diaper into your pail.
-Dump your pail into the washer.
-Cold rinse cycle.
-Hot wash, with CD safe detergent.
-Cold rinse. (Some people do two, I do one with no issues).
-Line dry your covers and shells, anything with elastic and snaps.
-Tumble dry your diapers, inserts, washcloths (unless you keep them wet, then just place into the wipe warmer).
-Stuff pockets, if necessary.
DONE!
How many Will I need?
How many diapers you need will greatly depend on how often you want to do wash. Newborns and young infants often poop A LOT. With cloth diapers, you pretty much have to change them every two hours or so. The benefits of CD include the lack of those yucky chemicals, but those chemicals are partly why disposables can be worn for hours on end with no leaks. That does NOT mean it's good for your baby. Just because it's possible, does not make it okay. Cloth diapers differ, because they just eventually reach capacity for absorbency and leaving them on for too long absolutely will result in leaks from just being full.
So two hours is the recommended, normal time to change a diaper. Newborns will be up and getting changed every two hours around the clock- 12 diapers a day or more. As they get older and sleep through the night, You'll still probably be changing them about 8 times a day, then once or twice at night until they're really, fully sleeping through the night. So if you want to wash diapers every two days, then you'll probably need around 20-25 diapers. If you're like me, and like to be prepared, you may want more so you're not stuck with no diapers or washing sooner than you expected. If you want to be able to go 3 days, then closer to 30-32 may be a better number for you. Going longer than 3 days isn't usually recommended because then you really will be dealing with more smell from your pail and your diapers will be more likely to stink.
Also, keep in mind that newborn poop can be very runny! As babies get older, their poop can be better contained in prefolds and other diapers, but during the newborn phase, you more likely to get poop on the cover every single time they go (which often times is every diaper change!!) You may need a few more covers for the NB phase than you would normally need.
Cloth Diapering a newborn and one-size diapers-
One-size diapers are not truly one-size. You will be hard put to find a one-size that will fit, and many people agree that your one-size diapers won't really fit until about 10-12 pounds in some cases.
Therefore, you should considering having a newborn stash as well as a one-size stash.
Many companies sell separate Newborn sized diapers as well as their one-size for this reason.
When I was looking for our newborn diapers, most of my mom friends and online community members recommended prefolds and covers for newborns. They tend to work best at containing the runny poop, and they are more versatile for the unsure nature of the size your newborn really will be. If prefolds really are not for you, you will really want to search out a specifically NB sized diaper.
We worked out the math for our newborn stash, compared to what we would be spending on disposables, and it worked out to be about the same, slightly less, to use cloth. What sold us on cloth for this period was the fact that we could sell our newborn stash and make most of that money back in the end. When all was said and done, we only spent about 30 dollars on our newborn diapers (that was the difference between what we spent and how much we sold everything for later). Not too shabby!
Used cloth-
Don't be grossed out. I know that it sounds horrible to imagine at first. But in the cloth diapering world, people buy and sell used cloth ALL THE TIME. There are tons of message boards and online communities that are dedicated to the buying and selling of used cloth diapers. Many moms take awesome care of their cloth, but obviously there is still some concern.
Ask for clear pictures. If you can't really see the diapers well, you're taking that chance. Don't buy unless you're confident they look as described. Try to buy from sellers with good feedback.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think it's important to understand some of the challenges that you will probably face at some point if you choose to cloth diaper. Like everything, problems may arise. It's not a mark against cloth and it doesn't mean that it's too much trouble- it's not! But you should know these things and understand then before you're blindsided later on.
1.) Yes, there will be more laundry. If you hate laundry, then this is going to be an issue. I'll say that most people probably add another 2-3 loads of laundry a week, because most people wash their diapers every 2-3 days. But- it's not any more difficult than your other laundry- just a rinse, wash, and rinse cycle. There is no real particular headache involved.
2.) Yes, you may at some point come into contact with urine or feces. But modern cloth diapering makes that almost a non-issue. Many people use Diaper sprayers, and they pretty much eliminate the need to get down and dirty with your cloth. They're essentially a kitchen sink sprayer that you attach to your toilet. When you have a dirty diaper, you bring it over to the toilet, spray off the poop, and that's that. The diaper can go into your diaper pail or wetbag.
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=37&products_id=1228
You can also make your own by buying a few parts from Home Depot or Lowes, and it will cost you approximately 20 dollars or less.
http://gidgetgoeshome.com/2008/08/25/diy-tutorial-make-your-own-diaper-sprayer/
Not into a sprayer? I've seen people buy spatulas to use specifically for scraping off their diapers into the toilet. Of course, you can always resort to the classic 'dunk and swish' into the toilet, too!
3.) Do they smell? The short answer- no. I say no, because they smell no more than disposables do. For anyone who has used disposables, you have also probably used a diaper Genie (or the like). When we used one with our older daughter, it got to the point that my husband wouldn't actually put the diapers into the diaper Genie thing. He'd leave them sitting on top of it because when you opened it, the smell would hit you in the face for those few moments.
If you have discovered that throwing them out in the garbage right away is the best solution, then you will be dealing with those few moments of stink when you open and close the pail, and when you dump them into the wash. It's literally 10 seconds each time. The house and room doesn't smell, and the diapers wash smelling fresh.
4.)"stinkies"- This term (which, for what it's worth, makes me cringe) simply means that your diapers are starting to stink. This is usually a result of detergent or residue build up or bacteria. You'll most likely need to strip your diapers at some point, and it will depend on what type of diaper you have when the time comes. PUL needs a little more care than prefolds or flats might. For detergent and build up- A simple solution- hot wash with no soap, cold rinse, and repeat until there are no bubbles in the wash. If bacteria is the problem, you can wash using tea-tree oil, grapefruit seed oil, or even bleach as a last-ditch effort. Again, depending on the type of system you use, bleach might not be the best option.
Either way, they are poop catchers. At some point, you have to be willing to strip your diapers. It's not overly complicated, but it will take a few extra washings.
5.)Fit issues. Like with disposables, and even clothing, you may not get the perfect fitting diaper right away. Cloth diapers are all about trial and error. You may read the thousands of awesome reviews of Bum Genius diapers, only to find that they leak on your baby and just don't fit right. Every baby is shaped differently, so you may need to try several different brands and styles before finding the perfect one.
6.) Night solutions are often a pain. Many cloth moms struggle to find their nighttime solution. It's a lot of pee to hold in for a long time. You may need to play with various diapers, materials, and styles of diapers before finding one that lasts over night. I've known several moms to resort to disposables overnight because they just couldn't stuff enough on their little one's bum to keep them dry by morning.
7.) More electric and water bills? Very minimal, but yes, technically the bills will go up a little. Most people I've talked to have reported a $5-10 increase in their bills a month. Any time there was a greater increase than that, it always wound up having to do with family staying with them in their homes and using more of their electricity, or a leak in the plumbing somewhere, or other non-cloth diaper related increases in the bills.
Still not sure?
Try a cloth diaper trial!
http://jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/tryclothfor10
or
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/15-day-wash.html
You pay outright for the diapers, send back what you don't want, and get refunded all buy a small amount of your money.
I hope this helps someone take the journey along with me. I am in love with our diapers and regret not diapering my older daughter this way!
