ISO cloth diapering wisdom

[blaueteufelin]

Ok, so I'm in the cloth diapering comm on LJ and I've read a bunch of stuff on cloth diapering, but I'm still not exactly sure what to get for our initial stash. There's just such a glut of information and options out there that it's hard to sift through all of it and decide on something for ourselves. I'd love to have any advice on how to get

Comments

[lizzabette]

I have an info. sheet from Diaper Lab that gives a great overview.

Salina suggested having half the number of covers as prefolds because the covers often just need a rinsing after one use and can be used again without washing --- depending on how messy things are.

She also recommended if short on space (and our apartment is smaller than yours) to use a cloth bag rather than a pail for storing the dirty and clean diapers, and the bag can be run through the wash with everything else. She also said in most cases the covers can be thrown in with regular wash at the laundromat, and she also had a suggestion for a diaper spray hose thing that hooks up to the toilet that can let you spray them down before throwing them in the machines if you'd rather.

Anyway, I have a handout from her I can photocopy for you that goes over all the basics of all the different styles, the different materials, the different brands, and the cleaning and storing. And if you are going to buy any diapers, I'd really recommend going to Diaper Lab as the prices are comparable to everything I've seen on the net and it's a local store (Highland Ave in Somerville). You can buy from them online now, too(diaperlab.com).

If it helps at all, Salina has two kids in cloth diapers right now, so she has a lot of experience with it.

[blaueteufelin]

I'm pretty sure mostly prefolds and pockets will be best for us, at least for a newborn stash. It's mostly all the different brands that get me feeling overwhelmed with options ;) I just want someone to tell me, this is good for X, or this worked super for us, etc.

alovelyblue also suggested hanging bags instead of a pail. I've added a few to our registry now.

Yea, I have the diaperlab address and all, I just don't know when David or I will be able to get out there in the next few weeks since we're usually both busy during her store hours. I'd definitely like to have a copy of the handout if you can make one - or even better, a PDF, if you can scan it in. That would be great, thanks!