how do i get started? i need information please?

Shannon - posted on 05/28/2012

congrats on switching over to CD. you'll love it. it seems very overwhelming at first, or atleast it did to me, but honestly, best most easiest thing i've ever done. I bought the one size fits all because i didnt want to have to worry about which ones would fit and purchasing more and that works for us. I would suggest purchasing different brands, because i made the mistake of buying all my cds in the same brand and ended up hating them. What we do is...do the diaper change as normal...toss the dirty ones in the wet bag which we put inside a garbage bin...and laundry every other day. I use 1/4 of my regular detergent...tide free and clear and have never had an issue. You can purchase the detergent specific to cd such as rocking green, charlies soap, etc. My baby is breastfed so she has some massive nasty blow outs and so far we have never had a stain. I use a diaper sprayer to spray the poop off and always dry my cds on the clothes line to make sure they get sun....sun helps with removing the stain. newho, i love it, its eco friendly....safe for baby....and sooooo cheap!! good luck and have fun!

Stephanie - posted on 05/24/2012

I highly recommend a sprayer at the toilet with bucket system like The Potty Pail. I am so happy to have it, I don't know what I would do without it.
I use pre-folds and PUL covers, they are so easy and versatile. Snappis are an easy option, as opposed to pins (which I haven't tried yet).
To wash them I do a pre-wash with borax only, then a detergent wash on hot with another scoop of borax. And then another wash without detergent, or sometimes just a rinse cycle. You need some kind of disinfectant or they will be stinky. I use Planet Ultra detergent, you can find a list of acceptable detergents online. Never use fabric softener and you shouldn't have any absorbancy problems.
Note: it's much easier than I thought it would be.

Tiffany - posted on 04/23/2012

I started with a variety - 3 different sizes of prefolds from Green Mountain, the Cloth-eez® Prefold Diaper in Newborn, Small and Medium http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/diap... I like them just fine and either use a snappi or fold them in thirds and put them in a cover. I like whisper wraps, bummi originals and even the kushie wrap that is pretty inexpensive.

NOW, the EASIEST system and the one my husband prefers is the FLIP system and I do very highly recommend it. http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/flip... So easy and they're good, really good. For night time I double up with a newborn size Cloth-eez prefold on the bottom. Have had NO issues with that at all. Definitely try looking on Craigslist, Ebay, etc. There are even diaper swap forums. If you buy used you may avoid having to prep the diapers. In order to prep you have to wash them several times to make them absorbent. Flip covers and inserts will work up until potty training!

As far as washing - I use biokleen power and baby oxi clean. Hot wash, cold rinse and then an additional rinse. Though, everyone has their own way and suggestions in the washing department. In the summer I will line dry - which helps with stains if you have an issue. My dd is exclusively breastfed and we've had zero issue with any staining.

Good luck!

Alexandra - posted on 04/23/2012

You can always check to see if there is a diaper service in your area. That is a great way to cd without a huge investment!

Paige - posted on 04/13/2012

Im excited for you. Cloth diapering is such a fun thing. I am currently building a new stash before my little one gets here in August. It definitely can be overwhelming to start your stash. It really depends how much money you want to spend and what system you think will work best. And since your babay is here already, you have the benifet of trying different diapers and seeing how they work before buying a bunch. Bumgenius definitley has the best reviews out of all pocket style cloth diapers. I also like charlie banana. (They have super cute prints)



I have a blog at http://youngmamalogues.blogspot.com where i talk about some cloth stuff! Check it out! Also the sites the pp posted are great. I love ordering my diapers from kellys closet and nickis diapers.



Hope this helped a little.

Cyndel - posted on 04/13/2012

Here are the web sites and posts that helped me when I only had $60 to get started.



http://theecofriendlyfamily.com/2010/07/...

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/



Here is a post I wrote when I was down, the advice I was given and how it turned out.



Cyndel Says:

February 24, 2011 at 11:09 am



Hey, I’ve had a really hard time with starting cloth diapering. First of all, my hubby is against it completely, though he won’t fight if I get them, he won’t pay for them I’m having to save up part of my personal spending money to get them. And I won’t have enough by the time my baby is born in May unless I find some excellent deals.

Also we live in an apartment and have to use a laundry mat. Which is located 2 flights of stairs above us. I really really want to cloth diaper, but if feels like I’m facing insurmountable odds and am thinking of giving up and waiting until we move sometime next year to an apartment with W/D hook ups.

I just don’t know what to do. I really want to CD but I’m getting told on every side to either give up the idea completely or wait until we move and what with the money issue…(the money issue is my husband is a full time studant, his classes fully paid for by the company who laid him off, but he isn’t allowed to get a job until he graduates or we lose all benifits so it would be almost impossible to get the money any way but how I’m doing it now, even if my husband were on board)…I don’t think we will be able to cloth diaper for a while, unless I can find diapers and covers and stuff, everything I need to get started under 60. and from everything I’ve seen I don’t think I will. Even prefolds which is what I’m planning on getting.

I guess this post was mostly a vent…sorry. But any advise would be well appreciated.



Mandy Says:

February 25, 2011 at 11:09 am



Hi C- this may be a long post but it is meant to be encouraging. I know what its like to have people doubt you and wonder “what are you thinking?” about cloth. But I do want to win your husband on board with your love and respect for him. This situation is not his ideal either and you are both a Team that will do whatever it takes for your family. And if you really only have $50 then go Tim Gunn and Make it Work!

1) freecycle/recycle. Craigslist and FFS on Diaperswappers is a great resource. Also http://www.clothdiaperfoundation.org. It never hurts to ask. I found a Mom that was moving out of state and did not want to take her diapers with her. She sold me 90+ prefolds and about 16 Bummis covers in various sizes for $60. It was posted at $100 but 60 was all I had and she was moving in 2 days. It’s a very simple stash but it works. When I had more money I went to a CD store and they let me try on different cover and diapers for my LO. She fit a couple better so I sold half of the prefolds and covers that I wasn’t keen on ($60) and had money for others.

2) flannel receiving blanket flats or flannel sheet flats with recycled bum sweaters Fern&fairie. Its would be less than $20 and usually the hospital gives you lanonlin and you can use it to lanolize covers. These are EASY to hand sew. I can do one in under an hour and Its not bad Very EASY directions. I also LOVE Autumns suggestion of Walmart’s camping section for wetbags I got 3 for $10. At home I use a reusable shopping bag. We found that air makes the diapers smell less. Did not believe it at first but when the air circulates the ammonia dissipates.

3)Let people know you want to cd. Ask them if they know anyone who cd’s. Then ask that mamma to see her stash then get some ideas and support.

4) If hubby will not be on board totally maybe ask could you compromise and use cloth while at home and disposables if you are out. Baby washcloths make wipes so keep on the watch.

5) I would strongly recommend cotton for shared washing situations. When you have your own washer you can wash and rinse as many times as needed but when you pay per use it can get expensive. If your baby turns out to need stay dry go to a local fabric store and get a scap of clearance fleece (maybe your hubbys favorite team LOL) and cut some rectangles to make a liner. Cheap and effective.

6)-10)….. you can do this you are smart enough to read this and many other blogs. Where there is a will there is a way.

C’mon Mamma you are a creative force of Nature. You can do this. Just as there is no right way to raise your child theres a million ways to CD. Some like a simple stash (me) with aplix. (softbums , flip, & homemade wool covers with flannel flats and cheap fleece liners) Others like a variety and pockets and have heavy wetters that need microfiber and zorb and super wool. In the end it’s a poo catcher! And you and hubby will have a beautiful family. Good luck



Cyndel Says:

July 29, 2011 at 12:07 pm



Thank you to all you ladies!!! My son is 11 weeks old and I have been cloth diapering him from birth!!!

I worked out because I was given about 20 flannel baby blankets and I found some flannel at Joann’s for 75% off and was able to sew 14 newborn prefolds which I now use as inserts for the pockets I found (at Duck Duck Goose consignment sale for $6 a piece) I have 3 Kawaii (one is their cute brown cow minky, one is a teal with monkey’s and banana’s, and I have an army green), and 3 happy heiny’s (2 OS, and I traided the large for a Wahmies OS that I love)! I made 18 os no closure fitteds that I use with a snappi. I found an x-small thirsties, 3 size 1 thirsties duo, 1 Bummis super whisper wrap, and a newborn knit (by me) wool cover, and 2 small knit (by me) wool covers that I love. The cloth wipes I use are old baby wash cloths I got a ton of these at my baby shower when I was pregnant with my oldest. All paid for with $75…hubby was able to give me $25, when he realized I was going to cut up some of his old t-shirts I was so determined to make more diapers lol!

He has now grown out of all the above mentioned diaper covers. I am currently knitting him some wool shorties, I when I traded for the Wahmies it got lost in the mail for a month because she forgot to write my apartment # on the package and the mom felt so guilty about it she sent me a Blueberry OS cover, and a home made medium fleece cover and 14 flannel wipes for free! I also bought a test diaper cover for a newly starting WAHM business for $7. I have a bunch of fleece that I’ve had for years and some that I bought for 50% off along with some PUL that I found 50% off and I’m making more covers for him. So it has been a busy few months keeping ahead of his diapering needs but I’ve made it work and it has worked great! I even use the recipe for Cloth diaper detergent, that will probably last most of my sons CDing years as it is a huge batch, I found at The Eco Friendly Family blog, it cost me not quite $30. It has been wonderful!!!

As for the laundry, my legs get a great work out! At first my husband carried up the diapers and I followed to put them in the washer and start the wash…starting when my son was 2 days old…but my labor and deliver was really quick and easy so I felt like I had just worked all day on hard physical labor and was just a little muscle sore and tired but I could move and function just fine. So it wasn’t that hard!

I’ve really enjoyed cding and overcoming the challenges of cding my son with so little money! Thank you for your support and your help and advice it really encouraged me to continue and strive through the difficult times!





Sorry this is so long! Pm me with any questions!!!