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library_mamaWell, I'm stil way behind on my book reviews, but amnachaidh suggested that I post reviews of the cloth diapers we've been using here. And, since someone else emailed me asking for the same info, here it is:
We've tried four kinds of diapers so far, and five different covers. Here's the breakdown:
Diapers:
Kissaluvs size 0 - these are soft terry diapers with snaps, and cost about $9 each. We loved them for the first two or three weeks because they were small enough to fit, and they can snap down to be out of the way of cord stump. Now, though they still fit at the biggest place, they're just not absorbant enough for him anymore. I'd say great for newborns, not so great afterwards.
Snugglebottoms and Snugglebottoms with Velcro - these are flannel contour diapers, with or without velcro (hold in place with a cover if there isn't velcro). They cost about $17 a half dozen, which makes them the cheapest non-prefold diapers I've seen. These work just fine, though I prefer them with velcro. I don't like them as well as some of the other dipes, I think because they look worn and crumpled all the time. It's irrational, but there it is. For the long haul, I don't think flannel will last as long as some of the other fabrics out there, and velcro tends to go sooner than snaps. Also, they have more sizes than some of the other diapers out there, which makes them a little more expensive per diaper, though still cheaper than premium diapers.
SugarPeas 2 size - these are usually hemp blend fitted diapers with snaps, and run about $12 each (or $14 for organic cotton). They have a snap-in doubler, which we like to get with the microfleece topping that keeps the moisture away from baby's skin. These are our favorite fitteds. They are really absorbant, very pretty. The two-size concept means that they have lots and lots of snaps, so you'd need only two sizes of diaper all the way through, while getting a better fit than with a one-size diaper. The snap-in doubler means they still dry quickly. The only bad thing I've ever heard about these diapers is that they aren't the trimmest fit out there, though this doesn't bother me. They aren't the cheapest option, but you can get a bulk discount some places, and they will last forever.
FuzziBunz - this is a pocket diaper with a waterproof outer layer, and a microfleece inner layer. You put your own filling in the pocket these two layers make. The diapers are $15 each, plus whatever you put in them ($4.50 for a good hemp insert.) This makes them the most expensive diaper we've used, but they are really nice. No cover means only one layer to put on a wriggly baby, and they are quite trim. They come in 3 sizes. They are especially great for night, when you can double stuff the pocket. Again, the microfleece keeps baby feeling dry. Happy Heineys are a similar diaper, but with velcro - haven't tried them, but I've heard the fit isn't quite as good. FuzziBunz have two rows of snaps, one to adjust the fit at the leg and one for the waist - we've not had a leak yet. They have a high resale value (around $10), too, so if you don't want to save them, you can get most of your money back.
Covers:
PUL covers:
Litewrap - I guess it's fine, but neither of us really like it. No reason why - maybe it leaks more, or is harder to put on?
ProWrap - This is the basic cover, and it does work just fine.
Bummis - This one we really like, though it will soak through if the diaper is too wet.
Bumkins - This is nice too, though it can leak out the back vent if the diaper is too wet.
Wool covers
We didn't want to try wool at first b/c they do absorb the pee, and this sounded gross. Also they run around $20 each, which is pricey. But now we've tried a couple, and they are our favorites. They just don't leak, and you don't have to be as careful with the fit. With a PUL cover, if any of the diaper underneath is showing, it will leak, so you have to get it nice and tight with nothing showing. Wool just holds the moisture in no matter what. We've used both the SugarPeas Wool Cover, which works with snaps like the diaper, and the Aristocrats Wool Soaker, which is a pull-up stretchy thing. We love them both.
Buying the diapers
Everything I mentioned above except for the Snugglebottoms is available from Naturalbabies.com. They have a kind of confusing web site, but the owner lives in Northville, and I always get things super fast. Everything she sells is also available on other sites, so you can look around and sometimes find better prices (though she does price matching, too.) The Snugglebottoms are only available from http://www.babybunz.com/ Check out diaperpin.com for diaper and store reviews, and to find stores carrying specific diapers.
I haven't bought any cloth diapers used. Some stores, like http://stores.punkymoms.com/ have exchange programs, where they'll give you store credit for used diapers you send them, which they then sell for you. I have just figured that even if we buy the most expensive diapers we've used so far - SugarPeas and FuzziBunz - we'd probably spend around $900 (as opposed to $400 for prefolds). With the cost of disposables at around $2000 per child, and the cost of cloth spread over two babies, we'd still be spending a quarter of what we would on disposables.
We've tried four kinds of diapers so far, and five different covers. Here's the breakdown:
Diapers:
Kissaluvs size 0 - these are soft terry diapers with snaps, and cost about $9 each. We loved them for the first two or three weeks because they were small enough to fit, and they can snap down to be out of the way of cord stump. Now, though they still fit at the biggest place, they're just not absorbant enough for him anymore. I'd say great for newborns, not so great afterwards.
Snugglebottoms and Snugglebottoms with Velcro - these are flannel contour diapers, with or without velcro (hold in place with a cover if there isn't velcro). They cost about $17 a half dozen, which makes them the cheapest non-prefold diapers I've seen. These work just fine, though I prefer them with velcro. I don't like them as well as some of the other dipes, I think because they look worn and crumpled all the time. It's irrational, but there it is. For the long haul, I don't think flannel will last as long as some of the other fabrics out there, and velcro tends to go sooner than snaps. Also, they have more sizes than some of the other diapers out there, which makes them a little more expensive per diaper, though still cheaper than premium diapers.
SugarPeas 2 size - these are usually hemp blend fitted diapers with snaps, and run about $12 each (or $14 for organic cotton). They have a snap-in doubler, which we like to get with the microfleece topping that keeps the moisture away from baby's skin. These are our favorite fitteds. They are really absorbant, very pretty. The two-size concept means that they have lots and lots of snaps, so you'd need only two sizes of diaper all the way through, while getting a better fit than with a one-size diaper. The snap-in doubler means they still dry quickly. The only bad thing I've ever heard about these diapers is that they aren't the trimmest fit out there, though this doesn't bother me. They aren't the cheapest option, but you can get a bulk discount some places, and they will last forever.
FuzziBunz - this is a pocket diaper with a waterproof outer layer, and a microfleece inner layer. You put your own filling in the pocket these two layers make. The diapers are $15 each, plus whatever you put in them ($4.50 for a good hemp insert.) This makes them the most expensive diaper we've used, but they are really nice. No cover means only one layer to put on a wriggly baby, and they are quite trim. They come in 3 sizes. They are especially great for night, when you can double stuff the pocket. Again, the microfleece keeps baby feeling dry. Happy Heineys are a similar diaper, but with velcro - haven't tried them, but I've heard the fit isn't quite as good. FuzziBunz have two rows of snaps, one to adjust the fit at the leg and one for the waist - we've not had a leak yet. They have a high resale value (around $10), too, so if you don't want to save them, you can get most of your money back.
Covers:
PUL covers:
Litewrap - I guess it's fine, but neither of us really like it. No reason why - maybe it leaks more, or is harder to put on?
ProWrap - This is the basic cover, and it does work just fine.
Bummis - This one we really like, though it will soak through if the diaper is too wet.
Bumkins - This is nice too, though it can leak out the back vent if the diaper is too wet.
Wool covers
We didn't want to try wool at first b/c they do absorb the pee, and this sounded gross. Also they run around $20 each, which is pricey. But now we've tried a couple, and they are our favorites. They just don't leak, and you don't have to be as careful with the fit. With a PUL cover, if any of the diaper underneath is showing, it will leak, so you have to get it nice and tight with nothing showing. Wool just holds the moisture in no matter what. We've used both the SugarPeas Wool Cover, which works with snaps like the diaper, and the Aristocrats Wool Soaker, which is a pull-up stretchy thing. We love them both.
Buying the diapers
Everything I mentioned above except for the Snugglebottoms is available from Naturalbabies.com. They have a kind of confusing web site, but the owner lives in Northville, and I always get things super fast. Everything she sells is also available on other sites, so you can look around and sometimes find better prices (though she does price matching, too.) The Snugglebottoms are only available from http://www.babybunz.com/ Check out diaperpin.com for diaper and store reviews, and to find stores carrying specific diapers.
I haven't bought any cloth diapers used. Some stores, like http://stores.punkymoms.com/ have exchange programs, where they'll give you store credit for used diapers you send them, which they then sell for you. I have just figured that even if we buy the most expensive diapers we've used so far - SugarPeas and FuzziBunz - we'd probably spend around $900 (as opposed to $400 for prefolds). With the cost of disposables at around $2000 per child, and the cost of cloth spread over two babies, we'd still be spending a quarter of what we would on disposables.
