With Rissa, we started out using disposables. I didn’t attempt cloth until she was 3 months old, going on 4 months old. Now at nearly 23 months old, it feels like we’ve always used cloth! I’m not quite sure why I planned on sposies (they are very mainstream, but expensive), but once I knew for sure I was not returning to my job I started researching cloth diapers. We needed to save money where we could!
Plus, I was not happy with disposables. The blowouts were awful. They didn’t fit her very well (especially since she was so skinny). Our trash doubled (boy was that sickening). And… I started to worry about those nasty chemicals against her bottom. Mama needed to find a more economical, greener solution.
So, I read and read and read, reached out on Freecycle for some used fluff, and bought a few items of my own. We tried it out on a part-time basis and found it to be just fine. It wasn’t that hard and the blowouts stopped. SOLD! I continued to add to our stash and we donated the rest of the disposables we had to various people that used them.
While I think we have a nice sized stash, the majority of diapers are one size and girly in color or pattern. Oops. I strayed away from keeping the stash gender neutral. It’s so hard with all the cute diapers out there! While I have a decent amount of neutral dipes, I’m seriously lacking on itty bitty reusable diapers made to fit babies under 8 pounds. That’s when most one size diapers fit properly. Judging by Rissa’s birth weight of 6lbs 10oz, I’m thinking this baby boy might not be 8lbs when he arrives.
As much as I’d rather invest in more one size diapers for him to wear, I do want to have a few newborn sized diapers too. So, I’ve been looking a bit at both. I plan to start using cloth on him as soon as I can at the hospital! I’m not worried about his meconium – I can use some liners to deal with that.
I recently received several cloth diaper goodies to try out from Koala Huggerz. They just opened up a few months ago and I was interested in trying them out. So far, I’m quite pleased!
I received an adorable lion AIO that Rissa has been testing for me as well as a totally cute panda newborn AIO for baby boy. Along with the AIOs, Koala Huggerz provided me with a couple inserts to try, but their covers weren’t available just yet. That was fine – I have covers!
These are what some refer to as true all-in-one cloth diapers because they are sewn in. I only have a couple AIOs, but those leave the soakers partially unattached for washing and drying. These have a microfleece inner with a bamboo/cotton soaker completely sewn in. So far I haven’t noticed them needing too much extra drying time, which is great. I do put them in the dryer though since line drying in my basement did require extra time.
So if you are looking for some new AIOs, give Koala Huggerz a try. The OS AIOs are around $25 which I think is decent for an AIO with a bamboo soaker that should fit most babies from birth to potty.
I can’t wait to diaper this little baby! (Though Pooh looks cute in it, doesn’t he? Rissa likes it when I help her diaper him!)
Did you cloth diaper your newborn? When did you start?
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Disclosure: I received the above mentioned cloth diaper products in order to review them. No other compensation was received – all thoughts are my own! You know I love my fluff.
Darcy is the founder of “Life With Darcy and Brian,” where she combines her love for education, board games, and crafting to create engaging learning experiences for kids. Her creative projects and writing have been featured in outlets like The Toy Insider, CafeMom, Mom.com, Parents.com, Country Living, and The Pioneer Woman.
Monique Eckert
Tuesday 16th of October 2012
Next time I will not chicken out and we will cd the next newborn, and not wait 5 months!
Darcy
Friday 19th of October 2012
Better later than never though! At least after doing it with one kid it doesn't seem as scary for the next one.
Cherie
Tuesday 16th of October 2012
I loved CDing my newborn!! There's nothing cuter than tiny cloth diapers! And they are wonderful for newborn/hospital pics!
Priscilla Benavides
Sunday 14th of October 2012
I would really like to cloth diaper baby #4 who is due in April 2013 and I have been reading into it and getting tips on the proper diapering and washing methods.
Britni Bradford
Sunday 14th of October 2012
Kudos on planning to CD #2 as a newborn! We started with DD at 6 months, and I can totally relate about not being able to resist the same cute girly dipes!
Diane Sallans
Saturday 13th of October 2012
It's wonderful that there are so many cloth diaper options now