How to Start It?????

The inserts and doublers are an option, but you can use plain old diapers and covers. I actually bought several different systems to see which I liked best. CottonBabies.com has a lot of different types plus a lot of information. I use pocket diapers that use an insert which are convienient but expensive. I also use pre-folds (a cloth diaper that has been folded and sewn to be thicker in the middle, you still have to fold it to fit it in the cover) with a waterproof cover. I like that method because it's cheaper and as long as the cover isn't soiled, you can wipe it down, let it dry, and use it a few times before washing.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!

There are so many ways to cd a baby these days. I got started using jilliansdrawers.com "Try it for $10" program with my first. They send a variety of diapers...prefolds, pockets, all-in-ones and fitteds. You try them for 21 days and at the end send back what you don't want to use and they will refund all but $10 (if you don't want to keep any). I loved it! I mainly have pockets and prefolds in my stash.

I also am renting my newborn diapers from nellsnaturalbaby.com. She sends 24 kissuluv size 0 diapers (fitted diapers). You keep them for 3 months and when you send them back she'll refund $75 of the $150 you pay for the rental . I love the kissuluvs! They are awesome for containing the newborn explosive poo. I do use a doubler for night with my lo (he's 2 months old) because otherwise we have a soaked baby in the morning, but the doubler ensures that he doesn't soak through his diaper.

Good luck!

Hi E.,

I am a local Mom who owns a small cloth diaper business. I cloth diaper both of my children ( 8 months and 2 and 1/2). I would be more than happy to meet up for a coffee to give you the "ins and outs" of all of the different cloth diaper methods available. There are sooo many to choose from now.

No pressure to buy from me, I just love to "talk cloth" and am excited when I hear other people who are ditching the sposies and using cloth! I am more than happy just to share my knowledge. It is so much healthier for our kiddos!

http://www.greatlakesdiapercompany.com

i starting cloth diapering when my son was 6 months old. I loved cloth diapering. i have most of my cloth are one size diapers that are bum genius that are velco. and some that are size large. i do like the velco but also love the snaps that i have. the more you have the less you have to do laundry. i started out with 6 then 12. so i was doing laundry maybe 2 or 4 times a week depending on how often i needed to change him. iam gonna be selling mine since my "baby" will be getting potty trained soon. if you want you can come over and see mine, and if you want them i will be willing to sell them. or check out zbeardiapers.com, who is local and she is very helpful she helped me when i need it. good luck

This is the most comprehensive website I've found so far regarding cloth diapering:
http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/basics.htm

Hi E.,

Welcome to this country. I cloth diaper and have actually used a variety of diapers based on what I could afford at the time.

First, you don't need inserts or doublers, especially with small babies. Those are only added so that the diaper can stay on longer. The reason they suggest diaper doublers is so that you can leave the diaper on longer -- which is great for older babies, especially when they start eating solids. Little babies need to be changed more often -- diapers are a good indicator in seeing if your baby is nursing often enough and sucking efficiently.

I started with the 2 dozen prefold diapers and a 5 pack of pins you can get at Meijer or Walmart and 5 small diaper covers - called Dappi diaper covers that I got off ebay. This took me through the first 7 to 8 months.

It was when she changed sizes at about 18 pounds that I bought Bummi's and Bumkins all in one diapers, and while I like them, I actually like a brand called Sugar Peas better. I was given some Sugar Peas when she turned a year old and they are great.

I actually only use 8 to 12 diapers per day, and 5 diaper covers - and she is 17 months old.

If you have a washer and dryer that is easily accessible, it is easy to throw a load of diapers in the washer every night or so and once you get into the practice, it is nice to always have fresh diapers in the morning.

If you have really good diaper covers like Imsi Vinse or Sugar Peas (wool or fleece) than you can get by with 4-5 as they are more sturdy. The Dappis worked well for us until my daughter was 20 pounds. These are inexpensive, velcro on to fit snug, and don't leak through.

Congratulations on cloth diapering -- we found it very inexpensive and better both for baby and the environment.

While the Dappi's are great and an inexpensive start for cloth diapering, I would really suggest getting Sugar Peas for long lasting diapering. The diaper covers only have to be rinsed in cold water unless they have poop on them and it is great as you can snap in the hemp diapers and there is no slipping.

E.; wow it all sounds complicated, but if you use fitted diapers, they are shaped and have velcro to fasten, diaper doublers are like a cottony pad that fits inside the diaper to pick up most of the moisture, they are like giant menstrual pads but usually washable, and covers are the outside that cover them, but you can still buy plain ole flat diapers that obsorb just as much by themselves, most people buy these for burp cloths any more and they are used to keep their faces clean or clean up spills more than used on their little butts, the flat ones work just as well and if you get the ones with padding in the middle they work just as well as diaper doublers and you dont have a diaper and diaper doubler to change, or to clean just a diaper, when i used cloth diapers, i made it simple, just a cloth diaper and plastic outer cover, and pins, you can fold them any way you want, or put them on how you are used to , they absorb just as much and do a pretty good job, and they do make yah feel better about what your child is wearing, the clean up is dump the soil in toilet and then put in wash machine they come out fine, i would bleach mine and in one wash load and then run another wash, then a double rinse i loved them, i never had fitted diapers, and tried the doublers, the flat folds, come cleaner better, in my opinion, no creases to get into to, the diaper doublers i did not care for, at all, they were an extra step to cleaning, i not only had to clean the diaper but had to also take out the diaper doubler clean that, or throw it away, cant rememeber really if they came disposable or washable, i think at that time you could do both, but disposable , you might as well buy diapers, so i think the washable ones would be better but still another step, enjoy life and do what is best for you , keep things simple, even here in the states you can do it simply, you just have to know what to get, usually you can get flat folded diapers in the baby aisle, on the bottom shelf for 12 for about 12 dollars, they have the gauze type , when folded right fit well, and they have the type that has padding like in the middle, those are my favorites, so have fun and enjoy , D. s

While I have always used disposables, I have a close friend that uses cloth diapers and I had to learn so that I could babysit the little girl. She uses regular diapers, that need to be folded before they can go on in order to fit and then the cover. At night (or if she is going on a trip that is several hours) she will use the insert. When she uses the insert, she just sits it inside the diaper to add an extra layer in the crotch area. Then she puts the diaper on and puts the cover on. The purpose of the doubler is to provide extra absorption.

As far as quantity goes - I'm not sure how many she has. I would guess that if you get less you'll need to wash them more often. Get more and you'll need to wash less.

I hope this helps.

Buy the cloth ones. 2-3 packages. You will need some plastic over pants to keep any moisture from getting on clothes. You do not need to put anything inside the cloth diapers. They're made with extra thickness in the center.

I would also purchase disposables, for travel or emergency. But around the house, use the cloth. Later they become dust rags.

Hi E.,
I understand, I was totally overwhelmed when I started, too. There is a lot to learn! I would actually suggest trying a couple of different types of diaper before you buy a whole system. I bought fitted diapers at first but realized I liked pocket diapers better. Quite a few websites have packages that you can "try" and then return what you don't like. I highly suggest jilliansdiapers.com, nickisdiapers.com or kellyscloset.com. Kelly's Closet also runs the website theclothdiaperwhisperer.com which I found super helpful for answering questions.

If you choose the cheap and easy route with prefolds and diaper covers, I suggest using Snappis instead of actual diaper pins. Also, if you choose that route, you don't need fitted diapers or doublers, just the prefolds (I suggest Chinese prefolds over the less absorbant/soft ones you find by Gerber and other brands). You can use an additional prefold in the cover for a doubler if you're baby is a heavy wetter.

I have about 17 pocket diapers for my daughter, I built up the number over time. You can save money buying larger number at once (if you go with fitteds, pockets or AIOs) but AGAIN I would suggest figuring out what works best for your baby (and you) first. I prefer Fuzzi Bunz one size pockets.

Also, you might want to use disposables at first, especially if you're breastfeeding. The baby's first stools can be hard to get out of diapers, you're going to be really tired until you get into the swing of things and breastfed baby poo is explosive. I didn't really start using cloth until my daughter was a couple months old.

Good luck to you, it's more work but I find that I feel a lot better about using cloth over disposable. Definitely check out those websites, especially the cloth diaper whisperer for your questions. If I can help you any further, please let me know. Happy New Year!

C.