To Cloth Or Not To Cloth?

Question

So ladies I am currently undergoing fertility treatments and ttc. While doing all this I've been thinking about diapers and formula, trying to get my own opinions going.

I know nothing about Cloth diapers. I don't know where to find them. I don't know how they work. I need the run down.

Do you still pin them on?
Are there alternatives to pinning them on?
Is the diaper rash worse or about the same as with disposable?
How bad do they leak? 
Are the blow outs as bad as with disposable?
Do you put any kind of liners inside?
Are there any outer covering for them to prevent leaks when out?
Are they different sizes or one generic size?
How many of each size (if they are different) do I need?

Any advice or pros and cons you can give will be greatly appreciated!!!

Answer

No pins needed. You can use covers with snaps or aplix/hook and loop/velcro. My kids have never had diaper rashes or blowouts in 3+ years of cloth. Covers are water resistant made from Polyurethane laminate (PUL) most commonly or some other water resistant material. There are sized options or one size options. My preference is sized because they fit better and are less bulky but, for the money and longevity, one sized can fit from birth to PT. As a starter stash I'd get enough to last two days and a wash so, averaging a change every two hours during a 24 hour period and time to wash, I'd get 30ish.

Answer

Here's one of our cloth diapers to give you a visual. This is a pocket diaper. The cover itself is not absorbent, but the inserts inside are. :) I third the fluff love and CD science fb page. :)

Answer

You should look up Fluff Love & CD Science, they have a group on Facebook and a website as well with LOTS of information. I also watched lots of YouTube videos before starting with cloth diapers recently, I found them helpful and it's nice to hear rather than read the endless articles out there !

Answer

This guy is in a size 1 AppleCheeks envelope/ pocket cover with a 2-ply bamboo insert. Super trim with an excellent fit.

Answer

I second joining Fluff Love & CD Science and checking out their website: Fluffloveuniversity.com. They will help set you up with a proper wash routine which is super important to avoid problems such as leaks, ammonia, rashes, ect. With a proper wash routine, you shouldn't have any problems.

Also, check out Obbsandlala on youtube. She has a cloth diapering playlists that is really informational. She talks about all of the different styles there are now and how they work and she gives an estimated break down of costs.

In my opinion, it's best to start your stash now, buying a few different brands and styles a week. It's better to have a variety at first as you won't know what brand or style will work best for you until you try different ones. An ideal stash consists of 24+ diapers, for one day. If you want to go longer between washes you'll need more.

We have been using cloth diapers and cloth wipes on our son since he was 2weeks old. He will be 19months on the 12th. Our first we used disposables, and comparing the two, cloth Is 1000% better. My son never gets rashes unless he is teething, we've never had blowouts except for once in the very beginning due to user error (diaper was on wrong), and we no longer have to worry about the chemicals in our diapers that would cause a possible chemical burn (my daughter with parents choice).

There are so many different styles of cloth diapers: 
-All in ones (aio)(most like a disposable like a disposable).

-All in 2s (ai2)(you snap the insert into the shell).

-Prefold's and covers (similar to ai2's, but can either good the prefold and lay it in the diaper cover or fasten it around baby like an old fashioned diaper and use pins, snappy, or a boingo to secure it, then put a cover over it).

-Pocket diapers (literally how it sounds, it's a diaper with a pocket- typically in the back- that you stuff your insert of choice in)

Answer

I have pocket diapers (imagine Baby brand). Once I stuff the inserts into the pockets after doing laundry, they go on just like disposables. I've been using them for almost a month now- my little guy is 6 weeks. I haven't had any blowouts or leaking, but he does wake up frequently at night to eat so I haven't had a diaper on for more than 3-4 hours at a time. 
My husband, Mom, and MIL all were hesitant about cloth, but once I showed them that it's just like putting on a disposable diaper they are a lot less scared.

To Cloth Or Not To Cloth?

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