New to finding Cloth Diapers, Have not purchased any yet, looking for suggestions on what to get! :

Laura - posted on 03/01/2010

I use BumGenius one 3.0's. I have both the organic and the regular kind. In terms of money, these diapers aren't as cheap as some others out there (I got mine as gifts!), but I haven't tried others to compare quality.

I prefer the organic ones because these ones have snaps (as opposed to the velcro), are all-in-one's (regular ones have the insert liners), and they seem like they are smaller altogether. The down-sides I have heard/noticed are that they take longer in the dryer since they are all-in one's, and I have heard that babies with sensitive skin can get bad rashes with them.

C - posted on 02/27/2010

I should have added that the wraps I have now do have two snaps on the inside to snap in a hemp prefold that came with them. I like how the hemp are compact but absorbant since I normally have to put in two prefolds for my moose who drinks and therefore pees alot. I do not like how long the hemp liners take to dry- forever!

C - posted on 02/27/2010

Many times it depends on personal preference or what you're used to. I have kids ranging from almost 16 down to one and have used cloth on them all. I started with Daiperaps and similar brands that I had gotten second hand. Concept is waterproof wraps that velcro on the side like traditional disposable diapers. You just lay whatever insert in them. They worked fine, but you had to have various sizes and the darn velcro always would stick to something at the worst time- like right when you're cleaning up poo! I've been using some one size fits all I got off ebay (U.S.) for the past 5 years. They were homemade and sold thru an ebay store. I bought seconds of off colors so they were cheaper. They are similar to the knickernappies someone else mentioned. Mine have a double row of 4 snaps on each side. The lower row is for snapping around the leg and the upper row is for the tummy. The bum also has rows of snaps. When they are tiny, you snap the bottom snap to the top snap and the diaper folds over itself making newborn size. Then you adjust as they get bigger until you just unsnap the bottom all together. The whole diaper is sewn with elastic thread. I like one size, I like no velcor, I like no pockets. I prefer being able to one handed be able to shake the diaper/liner into the pail.... Good Luck in your search!!!

Jan - posted on 02/27/2010

You will most likely be better off with 2 sets of diapers, a newborn/small set and a medium - potty training set. For one to diaper two kids at once you will need at least 42 diapers to wash every 2 days, one size diapers are more expensive so your start up costs will be higher, plus the adjustment on most one size diapers is not something you will be wanting to mess with in between changes at every change to go between the 2 kids. Again depending on the size of your kids, chances are if you have small babies a one size will fit to potty training, but wont fit for the first couple of months. If you have larger babies they will fit in the beginning but not at the end. Prefolds are a cheap way to diaper a newborn/small baby, and then you will most likely have 2 in mediums for a while. A lot of kids never use Large diapers, so you could most likely get away with just small and medium fitteds or infant and premium prefolds or something like that. I love gdiapers, they were not developed in Austrailia, rather they are made to be like the eenee eco nappies you have in Austrailia.

http://www.eenee.com.au/index1.html

you can use the cloth pants and snap in liners with cheap prefolds and will get more life out of your prefolds. I use preemie prefolds with a snappi and cover for a newborn, then small gdiaper pant with the preemie prefold in the liner. Then I use infant size prefolds in the medium gdiaper pants or you can buy inserts designed for the eco nappies.

Lauren - posted on 02/26/2010

I have to agree about the bum genius 3.0s. Ours are great! I also use a couple of Smartipants which are nice because you don't have to pull the insert out before it goes in the washer, they come out on their own in the wash. The only thing I don't like about the smartipants is the snap closure. With a wiggly baby, it is so nice to have quick securing velcro at diaper change time.

Kelly - posted on 02/26/2010

I don't know if you can get them in Australia, but I absolutely love my Bum Genius 3.0 One-size diapers. They also come with a one year warantee for workmanship. Cottonbabies is based in the USA and I purchased directly from the website. They make a couple of other good diaper systems too that grow with baby: Econobum and Flip diaper system.

http://www.cottonbabies.com

Jessie - posted on 02/18/2010

I am using GroBaby one-size cloth diapers; which adjust from newborn to toddler sizes with snaps. They are great, and have organic cotton liners that snap into the shell, you change the liner as needed and the shell twice a day (sometimes more if there is a big mess).

http://www.thenaturalbabyco.com/grobaby%...

Harmony - posted on 02/18/2010

With my almost 9-yr old I tried using fold them yourself ones... SO didn't work out. I'm now starting to stock up on gdiapers. So far, I love them. The only thing I don't like is how expensive they are. However craigslist and ebay are wonderful for getting deals. I have not yet had an opportunity to use them since my newest isn't here yet. But I will be happy to let you know how they are! They do NOT come in one size fits all type thing; but honestly I'm glad about that. I can't imagine those *really* fit a newborn, or a bigger child. They're likely great for the middle type size.

Johanne - posted on 02/17/2010

Hi - Im in Aussie now and got my nappies back in NZ. I bought these for my baby - now 2 and also being used for my 6mth old too. Its a really easy system - get a whole package for abot 655 (nzd) - so with aud 25% cheaper with exchange rate. They are a great system and Ive used other nappy types - peapods etc and these are the best. Other nappies like pea pods cant be soaked or use barrier creams or use fabric softener - if you do it decreases the absorbency. You have a selection of outers (plastic) and a select of cloth nappies that fold up and go in the outer plastic nappy. Have a look at the website - Im sure they will post to auz. With the $655 deal you also get 20 cloth wipes and a pail to soak them in - never used a disposable wipe in 2 years.
http://www.econappies.co.nz/
Just a note though that I do use disposable at night cos of the leakage - but still better to use 30 or 31 a month than every few days.

Lauren - posted on 02/17/2010

I tried the bum genius and quickly figured out it would not take us to potty training...much too small for my daughter who has been consistently in the 50th percentile by american standards. But my neice would do fine in them, she's much smaller. It really depends on your personal preferences and child. So many to try, but happy heinys are my favorites (I'm an aplix lover) and had good luck with fuzzi bunz (I just didn't like the snaps). GOOD LUCK!

Misty - posted on 02/17/2010

The website is www.muttaqinbaby.com!!

Misty - posted on 02/17/2010

I love Muttiquins! They have a style - 3 Step Rise 1 Size (you'll find them abbreviated 3SR1 or 3SR) that are made for babies 8-35 lbs. I LOVE them! They make up 90% of my stash!

Daye - posted on 02/17/2010

Hello again.
I just wanted to tell you that you can run any questions by me about diapers you find. There are hundreds and hundreds of different types and I certainly haven't tried them all but between me and my really good buddy we have tried at least 50 brands. We also have been cloth diapering since our babies were very small and now we have toddlers. Mine is 18 months, hers is 19 months.

Anyway, I hope I haven't scared you away from Bum Genius unnecessarily! Most people I know have no problem with them. I would say about 75% of parents I know had Bum Genius carry their kid from infant to toddler.

Good Luck again!

Shana - posted on 02/16/2010

gDiapers can be purchased at Wal-Mart.com

Nyssa - posted on 02/16/2010

I am on to looking at knickernappies, I had a look at gDiapers and you can't buy them in Aus, or even on the US site!

Daye - posted on 02/16/2010

Well, I am from America and I don't know what you will be able to find where you are but I have tried over 30 brands of diapers and I certainly do have an opinion on the best types.



So my first choice is Knickernappies all in one pocket diapers. The insert for this diaper is so cool! It is half microfleece and half hemp yet it's designed to dry as quickly as an all microfleece insert. It's hard to describe so I'll just let you investigate for yourself. Many brands that produce sized diapers (small,med,large) also produce one size diapers yet their onesize diapers are smaller than their large. This has been a problem for me as I have a very chubby baby.



Knickernappies actually will takes you to potty training, unlike many other brands. I have had mine since my daughter was 4.5 months old. Now she is 18 months and still fits in them perfectly. I love these diapers but I do not know how well they will fit a newborn.



I used prefolds and covers for the first 3-4 months of my kids life. But I did alternate now and again with pocket diapers sometimes. One thing you should be prepared for is how freaking tiny Newborns are. Most cloth diaper one sizes you put them in is going to swallow them, even if it is on the smallest setting. Any one size that fits a newborn perfectly is NOT going to last to potty training. Unless your kid is super petite!



That said, may be your kids are or will be on the small side. If you are slim and your partner is also slim another good diaper to try is Bum Genius. I recommend this one to all my skinny friends new to cloth diapers. Especially ones with girls. These diapers are also nice for Mom's going to cloth diapers after using disposables (like you?) b/c they fold up so easily. Which is nice when you are out and about, you can fold up the dirty diaper and put it in your wet bag and know that the diaper will stay small and contained.



Don't leave diapers folded up like this in the diaper pail; it is best to have them open in the diaper pail until you are ready to wash.



That said, I still like Knickernappies the best. I don't have a problem with folding up the knickernappies as best and quickly as possible and putting them in my Wet bag when I am out.



Another great one size is Haute Pocket. Well made, and will take your baby through to potty training.



So, make sure you think about what kind of babies you produce. Even skinny parents can have chubby babies who slim down as they get closer to preschool. It's hard to know. I have a thin friend whose husband is 5'8 and small, and their baby is a GIANT. Tall and big. But most of the parents of girls I know do fine in Bum genius. And I bet you can find them in Australia. I have found Bum genius's in Japan even!



Good Luck! And don't be discouraged if the diapers leak a lot at first, just wait til your baby is a month, by then they should fit MUCH better. Get some biodegradable "natural" new born diapers so you can have some diapers to fall back on while your infant grows into the smallest setting of the one size.



Oh and 30 diapers is the magic number for amount of diapers you'll need. You can get by with less if you wash every day but who wants to do that if you can avoid it. I know 30 diapers is a huge expense but you'll save money in the long run, even if you use disposables for the first month.



Well, Hope this helps, good luck!

Nyssa - posted on 02/16/2010

Thank you that is great, i will look at them, Do you know anything about the bumgenius nappies or even the ones made by the adminstrator Nifty Nappies?



It seems to be a huge market for them everywhere in the world, the only ones I can actually source locally at the moment are Pea Pods another aussie one but you have to buy all differen't sizes and its not something that I would like to do - i would much rather a one size for all ages lol!

Hannah - posted on 02/16/2010

gDiapers are the best- and were developed in Australia! They are great since they have both a cloth insert option or a flushable refill option- we use cloth at home, and the flushables on the go and at night. No chemicals, no landfill, one happy bum! the US site is www.gdiapers.com- I'm sure if you just search the internet for "gDiapers" the Austrailian site will come up.



Good luck!