Diapering a 1 year old “newborn”

My baby was in no way a micro preemie, but being born at just under 5 pounds did pose some challenges, but many benefits to cloth diapering!

At almost 12 months, she is JUST NOW unable to fit into her last newborn diaper.  I am sadly having to put away her Tots Bots Tiny Fits, and she weighs around 14 pounds.  They still fit in the waist, but the rise is getting a little short, so they’re starting to leave red marks around the top of her legs.

So, what has this meant to our stash for the first year?

She stayed in the hospital for the first 7 weeks of her life.  I was a first time parent and had never even seen anyone use a cloth diaper, and I was nervous enough about putting on a disposable diaper on such a tiny baby.  So, we used disposables in the hospital, then when she came home I learned how to use her cute and tiny little preemie prefolds, but we were still using disposables at night, with one change (so 2 per night).  I eventually got brave and started using double stuffed ALVA bamboo pocket diapers (one bamboo and one hemp insert) when they finally started to fit her little chicken legs.

Grovia covers fit from the start, even over those giant KL0’s, then I found bamboo alternatives (Imagine newborn fitteds).  Those were awesome but she outgrew the rise before the waist.  The Grovia covers started making her reflux problems worse at around 6 months, so we stopped using them.  They fit weird with our larger prefolds anyway.

Ahh….prefolds.  Those cute little flat clouds that we call Bummis preemie prefolds.  I loved them so much, but had to start using the next size up because she would out pee them, even with a small cotton doubler, and I couldn’t snappi them around her waist anymore.  I think that was around 6 months too.  Not bad at all, I got 4 months use out of those little prefolds (remember she was in the hospital for almost 2 months).

At 6 months, she was probably around 10 lbs, and the ALVAs and the next size up of prefolds (green edge, but bleached and “Chinese”) were working well.  Oh, I forgot about the Flip covers!!!!  I couldn’t believe it, but they started fitting at around 7.5 lbs!!!  I’ve been using them ever since!!!  She’s still on the tightest setting, at 14 lbs, but I’ve let out one of the rise snaps, and she’s almost ready for letting out the waist one snap.

The Itti Bitti Boos were a different story, and the only ones we got less use than expected.  I had to size up to a medium due to fit issues, probably at around 11 or 12 pounds.  I will be keeping the smalls for any future newborn, but I really wish they had fit longer.  At least they’ll be in good condition and have good resale value, right?

So, so sum up our awesome experience with cloth diapers thusfar, they CAN work for small babies, and I wholeheartedly recommend using them for newborns!!!  I’m even happier I got to use most of my newborn diapers for a longer period of time, they’re just so darn cute!!!  Get some of those tiny preemie prefolds and you’ll be good to go.  Before you know it, they’ll be fitting in their one size Flip covers!!!  I can’t recommend these two items enough!!!

If you’re just starting a stash for a new little one, here is my advise:

1) start with preemie or newborn prefolds

2) find a cover you like (everyone’s different, there’s aplix or snaps, one size or sized, PUL or TPU, even wool to consider)… try getting a few of several different brands/types because you don’t know what will fit your baby best anyway, then buy more of what you like!!!

3) buy bigger prefolds

4) buy some Flip covers

5) experiment with wool, fitteds, AIO, pockets, whatever you think you may like…now you’ll have an economical and reliable base stash of prefolds and covers AND you’ll have some cloth diapering experience under your belt!

I only stuff diapers at night

In the 9+ months we’ve been cloth diapering my daughter at home, I’ve realized I wouldn’t have my stash any other way, and that includes minimal stuffing!!!  Here’s what we use on a regular basis:

1) prefolds OR 4 layer bamboo inserts with Flip covers (prefolds are snappied or not, depending on my mood/likelihood of a #2 to appear in the diaper)

2) an occasional Itti Bitti Boo or Bumgenius New Elemental while we’re out and about

3) either Bummis Tots Bots Bamboozle fitteds OR a bamboo Alva diaper double stuffed with one bamboo insert and one hemp insert (I like the Thirsties better than the Babykicks Joey Bunz, but use both)

I LOVE my simple, straightforward routine that requires minimal stuffing (only one set of PM diapers) and virtually NO MICROFIBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh how I loathe you microfiber!!!!!!!!!  The only microfiber that exists in my stash is an inner layer in the Bamboozles.  That means I don’t have to touch it, feel it, or loathe it!!!!

Sorry for the rant on microfiber, can you tell I dislike it strongly?!!!

Just for fun, here are brands that I’ve tried and don’t currently use:

Grovia shells: They’re awesome for newborns, but started to make her reflux worse at around 6 months, so we’re saving them for a future baby.  I think the aplix closure is awesome, but was too rigid on her little tummy…the soakers also didn’t impress me, they didn’t absorb like I thought they should, so we just used her tiny preemie prefolds, perfect!  (I do LOVE their biosoakers, which are biodegradable disposable inserts.  They’re awesome for road trips!!!  But please do remember to still put poo where it belongs, in the toilet rather than in the garbage…just shake off the insert before you throw it out.)

Grovia Kiwi Pie fitteds:  I loved the prints, the fit was ok, but again the absorbency was less than expected.  I bought them used, so they were well prepped, I guess they just can’t beat my Itti Bitti Boo fitteds!!!!

Itti Bitti Tuttos: So minky soft & trim, I loved the fit of these and the gorgeous colors, but no matter what I did, even with different inserts and just using the outer as a cover, they leaked every time I used them.  Total bummer, but away they go…  My stash doesn’t have room for under-performers!

Sustainablebabyish Multi Snapless Fitteds: So cuddly-soft!!!!!!!!!!  I had some mini versions too, and they were adorable, fit like a dream, even the one size fitteds could fit on my tiny baby…But for some reason they were giving her a rash.  I think the terry fiber ended up holding in the heat…that’s the only thing I can think of…I tried alternating detergents, but that didn’t help.  I was so sad and wanted to love these, but I can’t keep diapers around that are too hot for my baby bum!!!!  Maybe if we lived in a cooler climate, instead of lovely, warm Florida?

Applecheeks: The covers are ruffley-cute, and the bamboo inserts are functional for both cover sizes (did I mention I LOVE bamboo), but my LO gets a heat rash very easily, and these just tend to hold in heat I guess…I can use the cover with a bamboo insert just laid in, but I don’t find that I use it in that way.  It’s the last thing I ever reach for, and I usually just place the Applecheeks bamboo insert into my Flip covers instead.

Lil Joeys: These were the cutest, most functional AIO for a newborn that I could find.  Here’s my process of elimination for other newborn sized All in One diapers:

Bumgenius xs had weird aplix pieces at the back of the diaper as laundry tabs, and I couldn’t put them against my baby’s skin, and I heard that their absorbency was quickly outgrown;

FB xs is actually a pocket diaper, which had microfiber to deal with, so that was a definite NO!;

Swaddlebees newborn had a weird fit, but would likely fit longer…I figured my prefolds would function just as well for a comparatively minimal cost;

Tots Bots Tiny Fit in the new minky were too hot for my baby’s bum (but I LOVED the original bamboo ones, too bad I didn’t break down and buy/find them until my baby was around 10 lbs!!!!);

Grovia newborn just seemed to have a design flaw from the get go…that ruffled gather for the leg elastics always looks like it would just wick on to clothing to me;

And…did I miss any?

Back to the Lil Joeys…I got maybe 4 of them to try, 2 Tulip pink because I was having a girl, and some gender neutral colors for future planning.  I thought these would be perfect, they fit well, contained to poo, I actually never had a leak in them!!!  However, when I would wash them, I just didn’t feel like they were getting clean like my other diapers.  I guess too many layers all enclosed together is not my thing.  Give me flat prefolds and inserts that I know are getting clean!!!!

In the end, my newborn AIO recommendation is the Tots Bots Tiny Fit in the old bamboo/microfiber style, but I’ll write more about them in a later post!

Bummis Super Lite: These covers were PERFECT and I will miss them…I’ve sold them all, they were all newborn size.  I had read a review about them while I was still using them.  They had said that they tend to no longer be able to contain the pee as the baby grows, in other words, they’re outgrown in the capacity department.  I was like “That’s not true, my covers are perfect!”  I think it was about a week later when the same thing happened to me.  Right at the time she started outgrowing her preemie prefolds, the Super Lite covers stopped cutting it.  I’m not sure if it’s how the leg elastics are encased?  But they just started leaking every time…the PUL was intact…it was weird, but off they went to a new newborn family

I’ll probably do a series of separate posts later, chronicling my absolute favorite diapers!!!  What are your favorites and why?  I know every baby is different, what might not work for me might very well work for you!!!  Do you like to have all pockets (which require stuffing)?  Do you love microfiber?  Let me know!!!

Cloth Diaper Stash Update!!! 4/13/12

So, I’ve made a few changes to my stash, and I wanted to give an update!!!

Though I’ve avoided microfiber like the plague, I recently got some Kissaluvs Marvels OS Fitteds, which have a bamboo/poly inner, and a microfiber soaker sewn in.  The bamboo is super, super soft and I’ll be sure to give an update as to the fitted’s performance when I actually have a 10 lb baby to try them on!!!  Please be sure to check out my post comparing one size fitteds, which includes this lovely diaper!!!

***PLEASE ALSO BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY CURRENT GIVEAWAY FOR THIS KISSALUVS MARVELS FITTED, ENDING 4/30/12***

I’ve also added a BUNCH of flip covers.  I went COVER CRAZY :).  I think I’ve criticized their overall look/fit before, but I think I can be more careful and make it look neat.  I know that putting a diaper on a moving target can be a bit more tricky than doing it, say, on a stuffed teddy bear!!!  Kudos to these Moms who were able to make their Flips neat and tidy!!!:

 

I got/will get so many because they’re so cheap!!! 🙂  It looks like they have regular seconds sales on their website, cottonbabies.com.  Go check it out!!!

So, without further ado, here’s the updated stash, as of TODAY, and what I plan to use to finish it out:

NEWBORN

24 Gently Used Bummis Organic Prefolds

9 Gently Used Kissaluvs Size 0

2 New Bummis Super Lite Covers – Purple (I plan to get about 4 more purple)

2 Gently Used Bummis Super Brite Covers – green & orange

SMALL

12 Gently Used GMD Yellow Edge Prefolds

36 New Bleached Chinese Prefolds

2 Gently Used Bummis Super Whisper Wraps – ladybug & city

1 New Bummis Super Lite – green

5 Gently Used Osocozy AIO – 2 white, 2 green, 1 blue

MEDIUM

5 New Swaddlebees Simplex 2.0 – 1 Dino, 1 Butterfly, 1 Swirls, 1 Bloom, 1 Monkey

1 Gently Used Bummis Super Lite – brown

23 Gently Used Premium Prefolds

ONE SIZE

9 Gently Used Itti Bitti Tuttos – 2 black, 1 navy, 1 royal, 1 jade, 1 fuchsia, 1 silver, 1 fleur, 1 retro (I plan to add 1 brown & 1 peppermint)

9 Flip covers – 2 white snap, 2 white aplix, 2 sweet aplix, 2 noodle aplix, 1 new albert snap (I plan to add 2 clementine, 2 rabbit, 1 blossom, 1 twilight)

2 New/Gently Used Grovia/Grobaby shells – wildflower (I plan to get more: 1 plane, 1 bicycle, 1 peacock)

2 New Kissaluvs Marvels Fitteds – 2 world (I plan to get 2 more in their owl print)

1 New Kawaii Goodnight Heavy Wetter – brown dotty

1 New Ebay diaper – owl minky

ACCESSORIES

1 New Planet Wise Wet/Dry bag – circuit

1 Gently Used Itti Bitti Luxury wet bag – fleur

10 New Planet Wise wipes – black/white (I plan to get lime/tangerine too)

10 Gently Used WAHM cotton doublers

2 Gently Used sets of sherpa doubler/preflat

Several Size 1 Snappis

(I plan to add several hemp inserts, CJ’s butter, Thirsties Diaper Lotion Potion, and some bigger wet bags, eventually)

I’ll do another post someday to give you all the totals, actual pictures of my stash, and a “final” stash (is there ever a true final stash, really?).

Hope you enjoy and please feel free to add comments below!!! 🙂

Current Diaper Stash as of 2/16/12

We are still TTC, but I have almost completed my cloth diaper stash.  I want it to last through at least two children, possibly 3, and I wanted a good variety without getting too complicated.  As first time parents, I wanted to keep washing and wearing the diapers simple, I wanted to stay away from the dreaded microfiber stink issues as much as possible, and I have a personal preference for the look and fit of a fitted diaper over a bulky all in one (AIO).  I have a variety of gently used and new diapers.  Here goes:

12 Gently Used Bummis Newborn Organic cotton prefolds

9 Gently Used Kissaluvs Size 0 fitteds

2 Gently Used Bummis Newborn Super Brite covers

2 New Bummis Newborn Super Lite covers

36 New Bleached Infant size prefolds

1 New Bummis Small Super Lite cover

5 Gently Used Osocozy Size 1 AIO (all in one)

2 New Itti Bitti Boo Small fitteds

23 Gently Used Premium prefolds

6 New Medium Swaddlebees Simplex 2.0

8 Gently Used Itti Bitti Tuttos

2 New Kawaii Goodnight Heavywetter OS (one size) pockets

1 Gently Used Bummis Tots Bots Easy Fit OS

1 Grovia OS AI2 shell

4 New Grovia Wonder Wraps OS covers

10 Gently Used 6 layer cotton doublers

12 Planet Wise cloth wipes

ISA, it will not be overkill or too little for the number of kids we hope to have.

My goal is to spend about $1000 for EVERYTHING, EVER and that should get us through 2-3 kids.  I think that there is a misconception that if you buy 24 pocket diapers and use them birth to potty on one child, that they will be able to last you through your second child.  With using a mixture of sized and one size diapers, they will be in a bigger rotation, will wear less, and will last longer.

I have spent about $800 so far, have re-sold about $160 worth on Ebay, so that puts me at $640! 🙂 ?

My still to buy list includes: more sized covers, an airplane print Grovia shell, 8 more Swaddlebees (4 medium, 4 large), 2 more Tuttos, 4 more Boos (2 medium, 2 large), Country Save detergent, wet bags, more wipes, perhaps some wool dryer balls, and a partridge in a pear tree!!! 🙂

I will likely post a picture when my stash is “complete” (is a stash ever really complete?).

I already have enough drying racks, I plan on putting the soiled diapers in the wet bags (no pail), I don’t plan on having a diaper sprayer but will likely use a squirt bottle of some sort instead.  I don’t plan on having a changing table, but will likely use a changing mat wherever (floor, bed, etc.).  I plan on using just plain ol’ water with the wipes, or perhaps make my own solution in a squirt bottle if needed.  With this amount of diapers, I hope to do laundry every other day.

I don’t plan on doing EC, but I do plan on getting them used to the potty as soon as I think they are ready.  I will hate to see the cloth diapers go, but I want them to be trained as soon as possible.

I think that should be enough on my stash and my diapering philosophies for now.  I have completed roughly a 500 word essay blog, so I’ll let you get back to whatever you should be doing instead of reading my babbling.  Thanks for reading and please do feel free to post any cloth diaper stash advice/comments/warnings below!