Now that's I've written a newbie introduction I want to explore the newbie stash or starter kit.
Originally I thought that All-In-One's were the way I wanted to go. I figured I'd need about 24 AIO diapers to last me a day or maybe two if I stretched it and started budgeting for the $450 it was going to cost me for my stash (all new of course).
But I just couldn't justify that kind of money out of my baby budget. After all, we still have so much to get for our baby and only a limited amount of money to do it in. I also had to consider the fact that AIOs take a little longer to dry and are a little more delicate than prefolds and covers. So I asked for advice and got it. Lots of it.
I wanted to spend as little money as possible but on quality items. However, I, like any mom, have no idea what size my baby will be when he's born. I didn't want to go spending a ton of money of stuff he was going to grow out of in two weeks, or buy things too big that will be falling off of him but I listened to other moms and confidently made my choices (one of which might already have been a boo boo, but I'll get into that more later). I got the scoop on what other moms considered to be the bare minimum and a good starting point and I went shopping.
The general consensus from been-there-done-that moms for bare minimum was as follows:
* A diaper pail with a lid
* Around 30 prefolds, few in Newborn and the majority being Infant size
* 4-6 covers in XS or Newborn size
* 3-5 covers in the next size up just in case and/or for night time diapering which is usually thicker
Optional:
* 4-6 fitted diapers (absorbent like prefolds but fasten like covers)
* 2-4 AIOs for quick night time changes and trips out
* 2-4 doublers for extra absorption over long periods between changes (such as car rides and over night)
* 2-3 Snappis
* A wet bag for the diaper bag
Minimum is fine, but so is going a little above and beyond minimum as well.
First, I needed to prioritize by getting what I needed first. That, of course, would be the prefolds and covers. I found a great sale on some used infant sized bleached Diaper Service Quality (DSQ) prefolds (15 for $3) along with 3 XS Thirsties covers and 2 BumGenius AIOs. My total with shipping was $51. Not bad considering everything brand new would have cost me about $100, not including tax or shipping. I got myself a great deal.
I wasn't planning on getting any Snappis, pins or a wet bag but much to my amazement a friend of mine, out of the blue, just GAVE me a wet bag, a Snappi and two pins to try under the condition that when I was done with them I gave them as a gift rather than selling them. It seemed very reasonable to me. After trying the Snappi I would put that on my "must have" list, especially after seeing John trying to fumble with just the diaper and cover when practicing on a teddy bear. He found it much easier when using the Snappi and anything that can make the process easier is fine with me. I bought two more for $4 at a local parenting store and unless I lose them of they break they will probably be the only Snappis I will ever need.
Okay, I already had 15 bleached infant sized DSQ prefolds but that was only going to get me through about a day so I needed more. I knew through my research that Chinese PreFolds were most recommended but I couldn't find any used ANYWHERE. Even on eBay they were going faster than I could bid on them and for about as much as new so I broke down and decided to buy new. After extensive research I found that the best reviewed, most recommended, highly raved about and good quality prefolds were the Cloth-eez Chinese PreFolds from Green Mountain Diapers.
Not knowing what size my baby will be when he's born I put 2 preemie, 24 newborn and 12 infant sized prefolds in my shopping cart.
Then, before I checked out I did some more reading and research. Turns out, that if a prefold is too big you can simply fold it down until the baby grows to fit it. If, however, the prefold is too small, you really need to go to the next size.
I went back and edited my order to 2 bleached preemie, 12 bleached Newborn and 24 unbleached Infant sized prefolds. I also added on 1 more XS Thirsties diaper cover, 2 Small size Thirstie diaper covers and 1 size Small Bummis Super Whisper Wrap cover (Thirsties and Bummis being the two highest rating diaper covers I could find for a decent price).
My total, with shipping, was $134.31.
You might be curious as to why I chose exactly what I chose and I'd be happy to explain.
I got the 2 preemie sized diapers, not because I expect my baby to be a preemie (and even if he is, 2 diapers certainly aren't going to be enough to diaper him in) but because the preemie sized diapers will work wonderfully as doublers for extra absorption and even wipes or burp clothes. I didn't mind that they were only available in bleached because I don't intend to use them strictly as diapers so they won't get the use the other diapers will get.
I got 12 Newborn sized bleached prefolds because, well, I'm going to have a Newborn, but, to be quite honest, in looking at the size now that they have arrived and been prepped (more on that later, too) I think I could have gotten away with getting 12 more Infant size instead. They are pretty small. If he does end up being born early it won't be a problem and I'm sure I will get my use out of them, even if it's just as doublers for the larger sizes. I also didn't mind getting bleached because he is going to grow out of this size more quickly and might only be in it for 2-3 months, if that, before he has to move on to infant.
To show you just how different the sizes can be in a more "practical application" I'll demonstrate them on Teddy.
Originally I thought that All-In-One's were the way I wanted to go. I figured I'd need about 24 AIO diapers to last me a day or maybe two if I stretched it and started budgeting for the $450 it was going to cost me for my stash (all new of course).
But I just couldn't justify that kind of money out of my baby budget. After all, we still have so much to get for our baby and only a limited amount of money to do it in. I also had to consider the fact that AIOs take a little longer to dry and are a little more delicate than prefolds and covers. So I asked for advice and got it. Lots of it.
I wanted to spend as little money as possible but on quality items. However, I, like any mom, have no idea what size my baby will be when he's born. I didn't want to go spending a ton of money of stuff he was going to grow out of in two weeks, or buy things too big that will be falling off of him but I listened to other moms and confidently made my choices (one of which might already have been a boo boo, but I'll get into that more later). I got the scoop on what other moms considered to be the bare minimum and a good starting point and I went shopping.
The general consensus from been-there-done-that moms for bare minimum was as follows:
* A diaper pail with a lid
* Around 30 prefolds, few in Newborn and the majority being Infant size
* 4-6 covers in XS or Newborn size
* 3-5 covers in the next size up just in case and/or for night time diapering which is usually thicker
Optional:
* 4-6 fitted diapers (absorbent like prefolds but fasten like covers)
* 2-4 AIOs for quick night time changes and trips out
* 2-4 doublers for extra absorption over long periods between changes (such as car rides and over night)
* 2-3 Snappis
* A wet bag for the diaper bag
Minimum is fine, but so is going a little above and beyond minimum as well.
First, I needed to prioritize by getting what I needed first. That, of course, would be the prefolds and covers. I found a great sale on some used infant sized bleached Diaper Service Quality (DSQ) prefolds (15 for $3) along with 3 XS Thirsties covers and 2 BumGenius AIOs. My total with shipping was $51. Not bad considering everything brand new would have cost me about $100, not including tax or shipping. I got myself a great deal.
I wasn't planning on getting any Snappis, pins or a wet bag but much to my amazement a friend of mine, out of the blue, just GAVE me a wet bag, a Snappi and two pins to try under the condition that when I was done with them I gave them as a gift rather than selling them. It seemed very reasonable to me. After trying the Snappi I would put that on my "must have" list, especially after seeing John trying to fumble with just the diaper and cover when practicing on a teddy bear. He found it much easier when using the Snappi and anything that can make the process easier is fine with me. I bought two more for $4 at a local parenting store and unless I lose them of they break they will probably be the only Snappis I will ever need.
Okay, I already had 15 bleached infant sized DSQ prefolds but that was only going to get me through about a day so I needed more. I knew through my research that Chinese PreFolds were most recommended but I couldn't find any used ANYWHERE. Even on eBay they were going faster than I could bid on them and for about as much as new so I broke down and decided to buy new. After extensive research I found that the best reviewed, most recommended, highly raved about and good quality prefolds were the Cloth-eez Chinese PreFolds from Green Mountain Diapers.
Not knowing what size my baby will be when he's born I put 2 preemie, 24 newborn and 12 infant sized prefolds in my shopping cart.
Then, before I checked out I did some more reading and research. Turns out, that if a prefold is too big you can simply fold it down until the baby grows to fit it. If, however, the prefold is too small, you really need to go to the next size.
I went back and edited my order to 2 bleached preemie, 12 bleached Newborn and 24 unbleached Infant sized prefolds. I also added on 1 more XS Thirsties diaper cover, 2 Small size Thirstie diaper covers and 1 size Small Bummis Super Whisper Wrap cover (Thirsties and Bummis being the two highest rating diaper covers I could find for a decent price).
My total, with shipping, was $134.31.
You might be curious as to why I chose exactly what I chose and I'd be happy to explain.
I got the 2 preemie sized diapers, not because I expect my baby to be a preemie (and even if he is, 2 diapers certainly aren't going to be enough to diaper him in) but because the preemie sized diapers will work wonderfully as doublers for extra absorption and even wipes or burp clothes. I didn't mind that they were only available in bleached because I don't intend to use them strictly as diapers so they won't get the use the other diapers will get.
I got 12 Newborn sized bleached prefolds because, well, I'm going to have a Newborn, but, to be quite honest, in looking at the size now that they have arrived and been prepped (more on that later, too) I think I could have gotten away with getting 12 more Infant size instead. They are pretty small. If he does end up being born early it won't be a problem and I'm sure I will get my use out of them, even if it's just as doublers for the larger sizes. I also didn't mind getting bleached because he is going to grow out of this size more quickly and might only be in it for 2-3 months, if that, before he has to move on to infant.
To show you just how different the sizes can be in a more "practical application" I'll demonstrate them on Teddy.
Teddy sporting a Newborn prefold.
Teddy in an Infant prefold.
As you can see, it's much easier to fold down the excess on a diaper that is a little too big, but even this tiny teddy-bear is looking like he's going to be growing out of those Newborns.
The 24 Infant unbleached prefolds were a good call, and with them being added to the 15 DSQ prefolds I already had it gives me a good stash until I need to go to Toddler size. I wanted to make sure I got unbleached because they are said to last longer and seeing as how he's going to be in them the longest of all the diapers so far I want them to last as long as possible.
I got my used DSQ diapers in the mail first and played around with them and a teddy bear (you may have seen pictures of the fun times not two days ago) but just yesterday I got the CPF diapers and, let me tell you, you can tell the difference.
Granted, the DSQs are used but they are still in great condition. The CPFs, however, are almost double in thickness even though they are the same ply (4-8-4) as the DSQs. There are usually only two ply patterns in cloth diapering, 2-6-2 and 4-8-4. What "ply" refers to is how many times the layer of cotton has been folded over that particular diaper before it was sewn. The more ply, the thicker the diaper and therefore more absorbent. The 2-6-2 ply means there are two layers on the side, six in the middle and two again on the other side. I'm sure you can figure out what 4-8-4 would be then.
The thickness in the cotton of my CPFs is just that much thicker and I'm very happy I bought them though I'm sure my DSQs will also be wonderful.
See for yourself in the picture below.
Left to Right: CPF Preemie (2-6-2), CPF Newborn (4-8-4), CPF Infant (4-8-4), DSQ Infant (4-8-4)
Teddy is sporting a CPF Infant prefold next to four diaper covers.
Teddy is sporting a CPF Infant prefold next to four diaper covers.
You can see the CPF Infant is a little shorter than the DSQ Infant because the thickness of the CPF makes it almost shrink up a bit, but if stretched out they are about equal in size.
I'm confident I made a good choice with my prefolds.
Now, as to covers.
The one thing that annoyed me most about shopping online was the inability to see for myself what the inside of the covers looked like, how thick the waterproofing was and whether I thought it would stop leaks and blow outs. I had to take the word of experienced mothers and I've discovered a few reason why Thirsties might be favored over Bummis for diaper covers.
Thirsties (Left) vs Bummis (Right)
While the Bummis covers are ADORABLE due to their charming patterns, the insides are more "clothlike" than the Thirsties making it harder just to wipe them out before reusing.
Also, Thirsties have great little pockets that go around the leg on the inside of the cover to protect against leaks and blowouts. Bummises don't.
While my Bummis is so cute and I plan on keeping it I have a feeling I will end up favoring the Thirsties. For now I have 4 XS and 3 small (including the Bummis. I may end up needing more and if I do I know which ones I'm going for.
But that brings me to the All-In-Ones (AIOs).
As I said before, originally I thought I wanted to do all AIOs but found it would be too expensive and possibly impractical. But after reconsidering and deciding to go with prefolds and covers instead I was willing to put off the purchase of any AIOs until after the baby was born. Yet, I couldn't pass up the deal I got on my two BumGeniuses so I went ahead and bought them.
When I first started looking at AIOs I knew immediately that BumGenius would be the only AIOs I would get. They were one-size fits all as they have snaps to adjust to the growing baby with a good lining to keep baby's bottom fresh and aired out with a sturdy removable microfiber insert for absorption. What more could you ask for?
The inserts need to be removed for washing but after drying the diapers can have their inserts put back in them, folded neatly in a drawer or diaper bag awaiting a quick, much needed diaper change. Some moms who prefold/cover a majority of the time find that AIOs are just too convenient for quick night changes when you are tired and it's dark and you don't want to have to worry about fastening and getting the covers just right or short babysitting stints or to take along to church nurseries and daycares. Because they are as quick and convenient as disposables, one must only remember to throw them in the wet bag rather than in the trash can making it perfect for friends and family who don't want to deal with learning your tricks on how to diaper your baby just right.
So far I only have two AIOs but I have a strong suspicion that I'm going to want at least 2-4 more though two will do for now as I'll never have to worry about baby growing out of them.
I have yet to get a diaper pail which will simply be a garbage pail from Target or WalMart with a cover (to keep down on smell) and I'll probably grab a good pail liner in the laundry section of the same store to throw my dirty diapers in after being removed for my little boy's bottom.
And that, my friends, is my newbie stash. Less than $200 and ready for baby. I'm willing to accept the fact I might have to add some things once the little guy arrives, but thank goodness for quick shipping and a great parenting store around the corner that has quite a bit of cloth diapering products that I can run to in the event of a diapering emergency.
Until then I'll keep researching and keep practicing on Teddy.
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