Cloth Diapering Update

The cloth diapering is going really well. I am actually finding it kind of fun. It's probably a good thing that it's logistically challenging to add to my stash, otherwise I'd have already spent a fortune trying the different options out there. :)

Andrew is on board. Five years ago when changing a disposable felt like an ordeal, he probably would have been less than happy about the fiddlyness of prefolds and snappis, but as a third time dad, he's cool with it. It would be easier for him if I'd stuck to one system since each type has its peculiarity to learn (such as fastening laundry tabs and not putting wool covers in with the rest) but he holds his own and doesn't complain.

Since my original purchases, I have added some Fuzzi Buns pocket diapers and a Bummis Super Brite Wrap cover.

I am very satisfied with the Super Whisper Wrap covers, but I wanted to see whether I like the Super Brites even more. (Not sure yet, as I bought a medium and it's still a little big even though that style is supposed to fit small.)

Joshua is such a slim baby that he may be using the infant prefolds/fitteds and small covers for some time yet, but I have been thinking ahead to medium size, which will likely take him through until he's out of diapers altogether. I have two Stacinator products on order: a fleece cover and a stretch wool cover. Got good deals on both. I'm looking forward to trying them out.

I think there is really no "one best" cloth diapering system. It depends on a number of factors: baby's shape, baby's elimination patterns, lifestyle, and just plain personal preference.

That said, probably good quality prefolds and a bunch of Bummis covers would do the trick for most. It is economical, both the diapers and covers dry quickly, and together (in my experience) they do a pretty good job containing wetness and mess.

Joshua is a frequent pooper, and we still haven't mastered the Perfect Messproof Diaper Fold, so it often gets on the cover. If he's wearing a wool cover, this is annoying because then I have to hand wash it. Which, admittedly, really isn't all that much work. But since I only have a couple of wool covers, it annoys me. I also have only a few Bummis covers, so this is also annoying. But if I had enough Bummis covers that I didn't feel like I were rationing them, it would be no big deal. So, to this end, even though he will probably only be in smalls for another couple of months, I bought another size small Bummis Super Whisper Wrap.


The Kissaluvs fitted diapers do a great job of keeping the mess off the cover, but I only have a half dozen of them so they are used up long before it's time to wash diapers. They are quite absorbant, but in kind of a different way than the prefolds, so that I feel like Joshua's skin gets more soggy from being exposed to them. So I won't be buying more of them in the next size.

I have three brands of pocket diapers. This type of diaper is quite nice, and all the rage in the cloth diapering community. They dry quickly, absorbency and fit are customizable, the fleece lining keeps the baby feeling dry (important overnight), and if they are pre-stuffed, they are as easy to put on the baby as a disposable. This last feature is great for dads, grandparents, and sitters.

All three kinds of pocket diapers I purchased are "one-size". This means that they will fit most babies right from newborn through to toilet training. They are somewhat bulky on a newborn, but I think it's a small price to pay for the versatility. I use pocket diapers for night time and for outings.

The Baby Kangas diaper is unfortunately pretty useless on our skinny legged baby at this point because there's only one row of fastening snaps. Either they gape at the legs or they pinch around the middle. We may be able to use this once he gets older, but for now it's out of circulation. The poor design probably explains why I got it on sale.


Fuzzi Buns is one of the most popular pocket diapers on the market. They have a unique buttonhole elastic adjustment system which I like much better than the front snaps. The fleece inside is luxuriously soft and feels dry through heavy wettings. The colours are yummy and the diaper feels well made. I like it that they come with two sizes of inserts. I own two FB diapers, and have two more on order.



A Winnipeg company, AMP Diapers, makes really nice diapers. I have one and another on order. The outer layer of fabric is nice and light which makes it less bulky, though one reviewer wondered how well it would wear over time. The fleece on the inside is not as plush as Fuzzi Buns, but then the lighter weight fabric would reduce bulk as well. I particularly like the gentle, well-fitting leg elastics.

The jury is still a bit out on the wool covers. I don't love them as much as some do, but they do have their place, in particular when baby has diaper rash. The extra circulation wool affords helps clear it up quickly. Provided they don't get soiled, wool covers are great for traveling since they don't get stinky like the PUL covers do. On the other hand if you do have to hand wash a cover or two, the PUL covers dry much more quickly.

Now, this could just be Joshua's elimination style, but I am going to postulate that cloth diapers contain blowouts better than disposables. I recall not-infrequent poonami occurrences with Eva and Micah. With Joshua we've only had a couple, and evidence points strongly to operator error versus equipment malfunction.

My advice to parents considering cloth diapering? Try a variety before committing to one system. If you're going to go with prefolds or fitteds, don't skimp on covers. It really stinks to run out of covers. Four months (approx how long most babies are in size small) may not seem so long, but in the days of 12 or more changes per day and all the adjustments that come along with having a new baby, the last thing you want to worry about is emergency cover washing.

If you have or have had a child in diapers: what system did you choose and why? What did you like and dislike about your choice?

Almost 4 Weeks Already!

Can you believe Joshua is almost 4 weeks old?

This week was going pretty well, with increased tolerance (though not full acceptance by any means) of car rides and some longer relaxed happy stretches. By that I mean up to ten minutes of just hanging out before he starts to fuss. Then Wednesday night he was restless in the night and needed about 90 minutes of bouncing to get back to sleep. Last night again he needed 2 hours and later another hour of bouncing in the predawn hours. The good news is that the tv programming is quite good in the middle of the night! I am catching up on old ERs and Greys Anatomy. I am also learning many valuable fashion lessons from Stacy, Clinton, and Tim Gunn.

I started keeping a food log. Wheat has been out of my diet for over 3 weeks now. Dairy has been out for a week or so. Today I had a bowl of yogurt so we'll see what happens. I didn't want to add either until he'd had about three really good days in a row, but I was so starving this afternoon that I caved. He's been somewhat fussy today so unless he has a dramatic reaction, I may not get a clear signal of intolerance.

I took Joshua to the pediatrician today. He weighs 10lbs 4oz (4,650g). His heart and lungs sound terrific. His abdomen looks and palpates fine. We hadn't done the heel prick test I know as "PKU" screening, and Dr. Flores recommended that we do the more exhaustive metabolic disorder screen test, so we will do that on Tuesday.

I'm still on the cloth diapering learning curve. I bought a little of this, little of that so I could figure out what I like and what works best for us and order that kind in the next size up. Well, four weeks in and I just don't know. I'm still trying to figure out how to fashion the perfect blowout-proof Poop Pocket with the prefolds. A lot of people seem to love one size pocket diapers, but they're so bulky up front right now, snapped down to the smallest size. I want to love them, because they have a nice soft liner that keeps baby feeling dry. That wasn't a priority for me because I want to do at least part time EC and I know that he is more likely to stop using diapers sooner if he doesn't get too comfortable in them. That said, I don't want him to have be too uncomfortable either! And he sleeps in such long stretches that his diapers get really soaked and I feel bad for him. His private parts get all wrinkly like he's been in the tub too long!

I found myself thinking that cloth diapers were really not very absorbent at all since they get so wet so fast. But right now he pees about every 10 minutes so of course they're going to get wet fast. And I rarely have a leak, whereas I remember needing to change Micah's leaky disposable diaper- and sleeper- in the middle of the night almost every night when he was younger than Josh is now.

I have been doing some EC. The other day we caught like 4 pees and poops. That was fun. If/when Joshua gets more relaxed I'd like to lay him out on a pile of prefolds or something and REALLY watch his cues and learn his elimination patterns better. But right now he'd last about a minute. So for the time being he's in diapers and covers all the time, with a number of potty opportunities throughout the day. And I change him as soon as I know he has pooped. At this point there's no way I can keep up with all of his pees. I'm hopeful that as he grows and his eliminations become less frequent and more regular/predictable, we'll be able to really get into an EC groove.

Joshua has already grown out of the cover I crocheted for him. I'll have to get going on the next size. I wonder if I can get two out of the wool I have left. I like the wool covers because I know they breathe, and the ones with the little legs contain blowouts better. The down side is that because the wool absorbs the wetness, a little gets wicked onto the baby's clothes. They just feel a little damp to the touch though, not wet like a leak would make them. I must say that the Bummis Whisper Wrap covers are really good. They do live up to their reputation. The Berry Plush minky cover truly is adorable and works decently over a prefold or fitted diaper, but I've had a few messes with the snap in insert so I'm not convinced of its value as an All In One diaper. I'm not sure about the Kissaluvs fitted diapers. They're great for Andrew who hasn't had a complete orientation to the cloth diapering world yet (but is putting in an excellent effort and being totally supportive), and I haven't had a leak. But then they just somehow feel even MORE wet than the prefolds when they're wet. Maybe I'm just being silly. But Joshua had some diaper rash in his first couple of weeks so I'm paranoid of anything that might cause its return.

I do like five loads of laundry a day. I don't know what has happened. I only wash diapers every two days and Joshua usually makes it through the day in a single outfit, so how has my load increased so much? Oh wait.... Could it be the copious number of "accidents" the older two are having lately? Well, this too shall pass... (and at least it's not puddle accidents, right?)

A Few Pics

"No photos, please!"

Nana enjoying a snuggle with fly-catching Josh after putting him to sleep

Joshua wearing the diaper cover I crocheted him.

I am loving the wool diaper covers! Especially the pull-on ones with the longer leg part. It means less chance of leaks. Of course, he's still not wetting as much as he will in future, but so far I'm quite happy with those covers. The one I crocheted fits quite snugly right now so it probably won't last too long. I will definitely make another (or more!) in the next size.

We had a tough evening yesterday. He was really upset. I think it was because I had a little chocolate yesterday. Will have to pick the tiny m&m's out of the celebration mix for the next little while. Once it passed, we had a good sleep. Overall, I can't complain about nighttimes one bit.

Diaper Mania!

With the exception of lanolizing my wool covers and giving a quick wash to my used diapers, I'm pretty much ready to go in the diaper department! Here is a sample of my stash:

Now for the details:

The two main types of diapers I will be using. Both must have covers over them. The one on the top is called a Fitted diaper. This type has elastic around the legs and either snaps or velcro to secure it at the waist. This particular brand is Kissaluvs. They come in all sorts of pretty colours too but I went with the unbleached variety. I got 5 cotton and one hemp, so I could see what the difference is. Apparently these are quite a good fit on newborns and do a good job of containing runny newborn poop. They are also relatively expensive; that's why I only bought 6. A newborn baby will go through something like 12 diapers a day! The used diapers I have (thanks again Louise and Melissa!) are also the fitted variety.

The remainder of my diaper stash are Prefolds. Similar to what my Mom used on me- but different! These ones have a number of layers in the middle, and are made of a somewhat more absorbent cotton, from what I understand. They can be folded and laid into a cover, which holds it in place. Or they can first be secured with a Snappi (see below), then covered. When I got them they were kind of smooth and they were bigger. Now that they've been prewashed they have shrunk to newborn size and are nice and quilty.


I got a variety of cover types so I could see what I like. I will need to buy the next size of covers when baby is about 4 months old. Clockwise from bottom: Bummis Whisper Wrap. This is a super popular cover because it is relatively economical and works well. Micah had some Bummis training pants so I believe that they work great because those training pants were great. However I noticed that Micah got kind of sweaty under his training pants and there will still be two or three hot months after baby is born so I wanted to try some other alternatives. AMP Duo. This one is actually a pocket diaper (where you prestuff a pocket with an absorbent layer then use it much like a disposible- but without disposing of course) but can also be used as a diaper cover. It is also one-size and should fit from newborn through potty training. It got very good reviews online so I'm curious to see how I like it. It is a Winnipeg company so I was glad to support them as well. BerryPlush Cover. Isn't this the cutest thing? And the minky material is sooo soft. This can be used as a cover as well, or an absorbent liner can be snapped or laid inside. This cover was pure indulgence. Aristocrats Merino Wool Cover. Wool is supposed to be a great material diaper covers: breathable, antibacterial, and doesn't need to be washed often unless soiled. This is supposed to fit 7-20 lbs but it seems big for a newborn! The good news is it might even last us to potty training. Jamtots Sugarpeas Wool Flannel Cover. A different type of wool cover, to see what I like. I also picked up some wool and plan to crochet a merino wool diaper cover. You might remember my prototype.

Infant Potty Bowl: A good size and shape for holding between the knees while baby is eliminating. I hope to do a fair bit of EC. Click here to see my post on that topic. Snappis diaper fastener. Goodbye diaper pins! These stretchy wonders have little teeth that hold it, and the prefold diaper, in place. Wool changing pad. Again planning to take advantage of the wonders of wool, I plan to mostly use this under baby at nighttime. If there are any leaks, then I won't have to change my bed linens! And if it's just urine, I don't even have to wash the pad right away because the urine will just evaporate.

Snappis in action.