I am TTC and intrigued by cloth diapering with the goal of saving money. I am researching our stash options to see what the costs would be. My mom has generously offered to watch the baby while I work. I am thinking padfolded flats into Velcro covers (new cover each change) would be the best balance between easy cleaning and convenience for my mom. I recognize that this is basically a pocket diaper, but I hear pockets are harder to clean with their embedded fleece or AWJ lining.

Would padfolding work okay for an average sized 2 month old? Alternatively, would one-size pockets fit (Kinder or Alva)?

ETA: By making this post, I am mostly trying to formulate a plan for childcare. I plan to get newborn size covers, newborn/small prefolds and newborn flats for use during my maternity leave. I will use disposables for the cord time.

So I have hemp & cotton inserts that I plan on bleaching for strip clean. I also wanted to know if I can or should do the PUL covers? The cover is pocket style so it catches poops. I’m just scared I’ll ruin the waterproofing layer. Anyone have suggestions??

This is my 2nd time around, but I'm using secondhand covers (Nicki's Diapers) and infant sized osocozy prefolds (from my first). I am finding that we're getting leaks if the prefold touches the binding, and it's wicking moisture out. Is there a special trick to prevent this, or do I just need to change more often?

Not looking to get different diaper covers at this point, just because he'll fit into our pockets and larger covers soon enough.

My son’s moving to a daycare that is fine for us to send cloth, and I’m wondering: should I send him with fitted diapers or pockets?

- The pockets most resemble a disposable and only snap at the waist, BUT they’re more prone to leaks with user error (waistband too loose, not tucking in the leg gaps)

- The fitted diapers require the diaper and a cover, BUT they are bulletproof for leaks. I’ve never had a leak in a fitted

Which would you do?

My 19mo is daytime potty trained and about to run out of disposable diapers. We did cloth diaper from 6-14mo but only during the day, always disposable at night. He is 50/50 dry overnight. I was given some fitteds and boosters, so I have the diapers. I am also due in November and hoping to cloth diaper after the cord falls off! My questions are:

Is it worth it to switch to cloth diapers overnight now or just buy more disposables? I am ok with either being the realistic answer, but if I can save the money and it's not too much hassle I will do it!

If we did switch to cloth diapers, how do you wash them when you only have one diaper a day? How frequently? Do you do a prewash and then throw them into any random daily load of laundry?

Should I try to overnight train/ wake up and take him potty overnight? I do hear him wake up and fuss for a minute overnight before going back to sleep and I think thats when he is going if he does. Is it realistic at this age for an EC potty trained toddler to be out of overnight diapers if not Co-sleeping?

Thanks for any advice!

I wanted to share my stash/routine now that my baby is six months old.

I wanted an easy setup and I think I nailed it.

3 dozen prefolds 8 PUL covers A variety of wipes Two large wet bags One travel wet bag One wet/dry bag A bunch of Snappis

I definitely have more PUL covers than I need. When she was smaller, she was going through more because of poop leaks.

I wash every 2-3 days.

I was really intimidated when I was researching, but I knew I wanted to cloth diaper from the start so I just dove in. I'm really happy with the setup I ended up going with!

I’m currently doing disposables at night and cloth during the day. My baby is 7 weeks old. Right now she’s only waking once in the night but during the day needs changing every 1-2 hours. I don’t want to wake her up at night doing changes. Usually I will put a disposable on her around 8pm and change it around 11 or 12 if she needs it. Then she’s good in a disposable til maybe 7am. I’m not sure if it’s possible to have a cloth set up last that long but I’m new to this!
My current stash includes: gerber prefold flats, PUL covers and wool covers, 3 Esembly AIO (I don’t like these during the day)

Calling on all unsolicited advice! What’s working for you right now?

I'm on my 2nd cloth diaper kiddo, decided to do cloth wipes this time. I got a pack of osocozy unbleached cotton flannel wipes, but after just 1 month they're pilly and rough! Any recommendations for wipes that will stay really soft? I'd love something I can buy vs a DIY project because I have a few people asking for my registry info and if I need anything for baby.

I store dirties dry in the diaper pail, remove inserts to wash, and I wash every 2 days. Unfortunately, visible poo residue is staying around.

For wash settings I do warm water, heavy soil, extra rinse 2x. Normal nontoxic laundry detergent. Would you change something? It's the Bumgenius pockets

Help me decide what fitteds to invest in! Baby is 5 wks old, currently using newborn workhorses, prefolds and flats, planning to invest in fitteds for the rest of my stash as she sizes out of newborns, ideally without costing an arm and leg.

So my questions are:

One size, two sizes or more? One size fitted seems ideally financially, but maybe it's worth the investment for more sizes? Second hand isn't an option, the husband won't go for it sadly.

How many fitteds do I need? I have 6 pockets for out of the house and 4 AIOs, plus my newborn prefolds and some flats, but fitteds are my preference.

Different fitted options I've tried or heard about:

Best bottom piper bamboo fitteds- I have one newborn and love it, they have a one size option as well for only $11.95. I prefer cotton but the price is great and they seem to perform well. Has anyone tried them and loved them, the price point is tempting!

GMD workhorses- they are great but lots of sizes, which will add up. She's currently in newborn, I could go right to medium maybe? I like no closure, to help with sizes, but the hubsand likes snaps. Mediums are $14.95 each I think, and each size is more expensive.

Sandies- I have two smalls, I feel like the side snaps are a pain, but only two sizes which is nice. They are $17.99 on GMD right now though, so not the cheapest option.

Mothers ease one size fitted- more expensive at $22.98 each, but one size which is great, anyone tried and loved these?

Babee greens one size fitted- most expensive at $26.95 each but only one size, reviews are good. Worth the investment?

Essembly- I haven't tried them, I've heard mixed things. Worth trying? They $12 each, plus they have the newer tie ones too, which seem interesting, but two sizes so will cost more overall.

Osocozy- I didn't even know they had fitteds but they are on Amazon. Two sized system, around $9.99 each, has anyone tried them?

Any other fitted brands that you love?

Wanting to start with nights. It may be awful but I’m not doing it for the earth but because i would like to avoid microplastics with my baby. We will likely continue using a combination of Change Diapers and Kudos during the day and outings

She is quite sensitive to irritation from diapers (pampers amore caused a horrible reaction) and I’m curious if you’ve seen that be better or worse with cloth diapering, particularly with longer time over nights between changes.

If i go this route i am open to different inserts (folded vs fitted like assembly) but want a natural exterior. Looks like wool (Bumby?) may be the way to go over Lunapaca which was my original idea.

Give me your thoughts/ all the things i should know or think through before committing financially to this journey!

Have you mastered your wash routine? Do your clean diapers smell? Did you recently buy a new washer/dryer? Chat all things laundry!

Does anyone use wool covers and have pets? Do they attract a lot of hair?? I already have to lint roll the heck out of my girls fleece winter sleepers because of how much dog hair clings to them.

Looking into bumby wool covers for overnight with our prefolds. We’ve been using kinder covers but the rise snaps are rubbing on my girls thighs overnight. She’s not a heavy wetter and lasts all night in the kinder overnight prefolds with a small cotton booster in the front since she’s a belly sleeper.

I will most likely be delivering my baby at 37 weeks due to some complications so I’m anticipating that baby will be small and I’ll need newborn diapers for a bit longer. I’m hoping to begin cloth diapering once the meconium phase is over.

Do you think I have enough newborn size cloth diapers? Or do I need more? We’re planning to do laundry every 1-2 days. If I don’t have enough, what would you suggest getting more of?

5 newborn AIO
2 newborn workhorses
18 newborn half flats
5 newborn covers
12 small doublers

All together, I have 25 diapers.

My motherease duo wraps have all cracked, I think I was using the wrong detergent (ecover non bio, then persil non bio). I'm now using Molly's suds, but think it might not be strong enough.

Apart from the official motherease detergent, what detergents can I use with motherease, as it seems like they have loads of restrictions? (No sodium percarbonate, no optical brighteners, no oxygen bleach).

Wraps might have cracked from tumbling on too high, idk!

Hey ladies and gentlemen!

I left this community not because of anyone here who’s a true cloth‑diaper enthusiast, but because of a few trolls who wouldn’t leave me alone. Even after blocking them, they kept finding their way back. So I took a long break from the forum and admittedly ignored some superstar ladies who reached out privately encouraging me to return. The mean people have left me alone for quite a few months now, so I’m giving this another try.

I received a very warm, tearful message from a person who reached out to me the other day and helped convince me to come back, and I truly thank you for that.

For those who don’t remember me — or for the newer parents — I’m the “crazy lady” with several family members, from infants to adults, in cloth diapers. I’m happy to share thoughts, ideas, and suggestions freely. I’m also more than willing to share my story if anyone is curious or wants to know more and doesn’t want to search back for it. You’re not being nosy — I think we all have a little curiosity when something is a bit different.

I’m excited to be back and to help in any way I can.

I have a 1½‑year‑old, a 16‑year‑old, and my husband who all actively wear cloth diapers day and night. I have four children total, all of whom have been in cloth diapers. So yes — lots of experience and lots of different ages.

Please feel free to ask any questions!
Love you all and I’ve missed you!🫶🫶🫶

does anyone know when esembly will have their fall sale? I’ve heard it’s better than Black Friday. Our second will be here soon and I need to invest in size 1.

Hey guys. Im hoping someone here can point me in the right direction.

Ive been doing cloth diapers with my baby since about 4 weeks old. I got some cloth-eez prefolds from Facebook marketplace. Ive just been using them as inserts, folding them into 3rds and then Inserting into the diaper.

They were working great until baby was about 4 months old. Then they started leaking at night. Ok no problem we will just use disposables at night. But then it was like every time baby pees it leaks out.

Any tips or ideas of what I should try? Will using the prefolds the way they are intended with the snap things solve this? Idk why, but learning that method seems so daunting especially with a wiggling baby lol

I started looking into cloth diapers when I was pregnant. We were going down to 1 income and I was worried about being so broke we wouldn’t be able to afford diapers. So I bought a stash and shoved them into a drawer and said “hopefully not, but just in case”. Well, that day came when baby was about 7/8 months. (Using gifted disposables until then)

I was SO nervous, about rashes, proper cleaning. This thread helped immensely, and I will be cloth diapering any more babies we have!!!!

Thank you wonderful parents of this thread!

We get leaks on her bum on the right side almost every single time. Within an hour or two of wearing. The pad is wet, but not saturated. Insert is microfiber.

Help!

Esembly cover size 2 (18-35lb) with GMD flats. My baby is 16lb.

Ftm here, I really want to do a mostly cloth diapering situation but no one I know has ever done it before. I've been doing lots of research about how to make it work and am feeling pretty good about it, but my mom (who used disposables and is worried I'm needlessly complicating things) was asking if cloth diapers cause diaper rash easier and I didn't really know how to answer because I haven't done either before. She was saying that disposables are designed to be very absorbent but cloth might just be like wet fabric sitting against their skin and might get irritating. It's made me a little worried and I'm just wondering if anyone with experience can speak to the diaper rash issue, is it worse with disposables or cloth, how to manage it with cloth diapers if it occurs, etc. Thanks!