Well, we bit the bullet, and ordered our first set of cloth diapers almost two years ago. Times were tight, and primarily for financial reasons I chose Econobums (cover and prefold). I was entrigued by the idea that two packs would diaper a child for their entire babyhood. I chose to just get one set, to see what I thought, and also got a set of the Flips (cover and microfiber insert). Both were by Cotton Babies, and quite inexpensive by cloth diaper standards. (I will admit that I was surprised, to say the least, at how much people are willing to pay for cloth diapers.) I thought that there was a decent chance that I would later want to try some of these “high end diapers,” but I wasn’t willing or able to at the time.
My husband and I were quite pleased with our purchases, and tended to favor the Flips above the Econobum. It was very convenient to put in a microfiber insert, with no folding needed. As time went by, the Flip inserts tended to retain odors more, and diaper cream REALLY messed with them. The prefolds withstood better, and when just folding into thirds, it really wasn’t difficult. Well, over time they began to retain some odor, as well.
I tried some Bum Genius pocket diapers, new from a baby boutique, and did not like them! It was annoying to have to change the cover with every diaper change, they take forever to dry, and if you don’t secure the velcro strip when washing, “yuck” gets stuck in it. Perhaps the biggest hassle was when my toddler played “unhook the velcro to take off the diaper. “Now they’re my back-ups.
Then, last summer I got a big box of Punkin-Butt Chinese DSQ diapers, new on Craigslist, for a wopping $10! These are my favorite! I fold them with an “angel’s wings” fold, and secure them with a Snappi. I found that doing it this way keeps most of the “mess” from getting on the cover. I still favor the Flip cover best. It is slightly thicker, I like how the snaps are positioned, and it has a “wipe clean” interior. Since they are just a cover, they hang dry VERY fast. Usually the covers are dry before the diapers are finished in the dryer (that is if I remember to hang them up!).
What I have found to work best for us:
- Chinese DSQ prefolds (2 dozen is plenty)
- Snappi (have a few on hand- I have broken them before!)
- Flip/ Econobum covers (I have 5)
- cheapy baby washcloths for wipes (be sure you can distinguish them from regular washcloths)
- Garbage can with flip-up top
- Burt’s Bees Diaper Ointment (it works better than anything else I have tried, even Angel Baby Bottom Balm)
Have you discovered how to get those lingering smells out? A friend and I both had the same trouble. We “stripped” them with blue Dawn (1 Tsp, for a whole load of diapers and covers in the washer). Then rinse 2 times in the washer. Then dry in the never with a dryer sheet, or on the line, and Voila! They smelled great, and they started soaking up potty like they were meant to again!
But you probably already have this posted somewhere on your site.
Thank you for commenting on this! I too have found stripping diapers with Dawn to be very helpful, but forgot to update that here.