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Recommendations for a Newborn Stash

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Figuring out what diapers to get for a newborn can be SO stressful. I spent the weeks leading up to my son’s due date obsessing over it. I was just so scared that if I got the wrong diapers, I would be screwed since I knew life gets so busy with a newborn it’s not like you can find the time researching. So I did TONS of research leading up to my main event. To help save you guys a bunch of steps, I wanted to offer my suggestions. Most are based on my personal experience–I ended up trying dozens of different newborn diapers on my son. But I also have some statistical evidence to support some suggestions.

1 dozen prefolds: Suvey responses have shown that people actually PREFER prefolds as newborn diapers. I am always really skeptical of recommending prefolds, simply because for many people, if they are diapering a newborn then that is their first experience with diapering, and obviously something like an all in one may more easily represent how easy it is. My personal favorites are the Osocozy unbleached prefolds. I find them to be soft and just the right size. I was easily able to use just two snappys during this time (actually, just one, because I lost one Snappy right off the bat).

3 fitted diapers: These were my FAVORITE for nights, simply because they were extra absorbent (since you have absorbency all around it), but I didn’t have to worry about accidentally snappying myself to my baby (or worse!) while I was Mom-zombie in the middle of the night. I really like the Kissaluvs Fitted diapers.

4-5 covers: You need these to go over the prefolds or fitteds. I REALLY liked the sized Thirsties (that are no longer made), but grew to love the Thirsties Duo Wraps made by Thirsties because it was one of the last newborn diapers my son grew out of.

5 All in Ones: These I had handy for being out and about and for my husband to use (he goes nuts whenever I hand him a pre fold and snappy). My personal favorite are the Sposoeasy in snaps (the hook and loop didn’t perform as well). They are discontinued, so you would have to get them used. I also liked the Tots Bots Tini Fit.

Accessories:

*About 30 or so wipes. I personally like the Thirsties Fab Wipes and the Itti Bitti Wipes, but you could also just grab some flannel fabric of your choice and cut it up to make your own.

* A large wet bag or diaper pail with a liner. I have a Diaper Dekor diaper pail and although it is expensive (about $50), I like that it does a good job of trapping in the stink. But you could easily use a trash can or just use a wet bag.

* A small wet bag for out and about. For both wet bags I like Monkey Foot Designs and Leslie’s Boutique.

* A diaper sprayer. You don’t really need this until you introduce anything other than breastmilk.

* Cloth diaper safe rash cream. I personally like CJ’s BUTTer in the Cherry Blossom or Blueberry Crumble scent.

What you don’t see here are pocket diapers and one size diapers. I have found one size diapers that certainly get CLOSE to being good, but I still highly recommend a newborn diaper to get you to at least 10 pounds. Survey responses echo that as well. That’s why prefolds are a good, inexpensive option. Get them used, then resell them, and it will hardly cost you much money at all. Or you could just do a newborn cloth diaper rental program (type in “newborn rental” or “trial” at the Retailer Database to see what retailers offer this). I don’t suggest pocket diapers simply because I found the stuffing to be too much work (especially with such a narrow opening for a pocket). If your baby is sensitive to wetness, just cut a piece of fleece and lay it down overtop.

Don’t feel like you are having to invest in two stashes. I was able to use Swagbucks to get many for free and I bought each diaper on Diaper Swappers, spending no more than $9 per diaper. Also, don’t forget that you can register for these things too. Amazon has gift registry and includes most of the items I listed here. You can also type in “Gift Registry” at www.clothdiaperretailers.com and see what retailers have a gift registry.

For those of you who have diapered a newborn, PLEASE comment here and share what you would recommend for a newborn stash.

Image courtesy of Kellyscloset.com

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  • babeblond@hotmail.com

    I used prefolds with both of my youngest children and they were awesome. I loved the ease of putting them on and adding a Snappi and then a water proof cover.

  • Elizabeth

    Well, my 2nd baby in cloth is almost 2 months old so this is fresh on my mind. I feel like I finally got a good system this 2nd time around. I had a similar stash to what you describe but a little larger (2 dozen prefolds, 3 fitteds, 8 covers, 8 pockets). I wash every other day, but I line dry, so I really need enough diapers to last me closer to 3 days.

    I agree that one-size are frustrating at this stage, but I did have luck with thirsties duo pockets- they have 2 openings which makes it easier to stuff, and they are adjustable so they have lasted for a while…it is an extra step to stuff them but they dry faster which I like.

  • Wanda

    PREFOLDS!!

    All round absorbency to catch the runny poop, cheap and easy with a snappy. I don’t find them hard to use and neither did my skeptic of a husband. He watched me do it once and then started doing it on his own. Even at a year, he’d still rather do a prefold than a pocket diaper.

  • Allison

    I could not get traditional prefolds to contain my baby’s poop. I refuse to make red marks on my baby or to wash a cover after every use.

    I used Thirsties Duo Fab Fitteds and Flip covers from about 3 weeks. I was disappointed in the absorbency of the diapers. I was also frustrated that the unused snaps left marks on my little chunk of a baby.

    I started making my own diapers out of the Rita’s Rump pattern. I sized it smaller to fit a little baby. I feel fitteds or a stretchy prefold are essential for a newborn.

  • Traci C.

    I have a two month old and started with a similar stash. But I’ve never used the prefolds. I just can’t figure them out or get them on right. Its my first time using them. I’m using all in ones and pockets. Favorites are Fuzzinunz XS pockets, with bamboo or hemp inserts. Very trim like a sposie. Lil joey’s aio work well but are very bulky if you are use to sposies. I also like the swaddlebees simplex newborn for their easiness and stretchy tabs, and Happy Heiny mini pockets. And tot bots tiny fit aio. :)

  • Julie

    I loved Imagine prefolds for their extra width and not having to fold down the rise. They are also the cheapest I’ve found on the internet. I suggest two dozen because they get used for spit-up too.

  • kyndal

    I loved prefolds and kissa fitted. I had 8 monkeydoodlez and one grovia aio and I loved them because my family felt comfortable to use them also. It was easier than I thought. Oh katys. OS also worked great for us

  • Amy

    My favorite newborn diapers are Goodmama, Muttaqin Baby and Kissaluvs. I used Proraps cover in the newborn size and loved them.

  • http://www.makingitworkblog.com Carolyn

    I did a newborn cloth trial when my much anticipated XS Fuzzibunz kept leaking, and found that the ONLY thing that didn’t leak for my skinny thighed baby were . . . prefolds and covers! (And are you SERIOUS? Thirsties doesn’t make their sized covers AT ALL anymore?? AGGH! The Duo wraps are fine, but I liked the extra width of the sized covers, you could double stuff them better! SO SAD! Glad I have 4 in storage!) I think using prefolds on a newborn is actually less scary than people think since they’re not very mobile – if I’d tried to learn to use a Snappi on my squirmy 1 year old, I’d be much more nervous ;) I showed my hubby how to do it once, and he was totally on board as well! I’m a HUGE FAN of the GMD sized prefolds (my baby was a preemie, and he used his newborn prefolds for FOREVER!) and I’m looking forward to using them again with baby #2 this fall :)

  • Christie

    I’m the odd gal out. I used best mottos AI2′s with my son as a newborn. He was 8.1 at birth, 7.12 when he came home. They worked great right off the bat.

    While I’ve changed the insert size, I’m still using the same covers, over a year later.

  • Christie

    Burst bottoms! Stupid iPad!

  • Carla

    I actually liked the Fuzzi Bunz XS pockets, and DH was wiling to use them, but we liked Tots Bots Tiny Fits better. Our current NB stash for our 5-week old, 11lb super soaker newbie consists of 20 Tots Bots Tiny’s and 6 GMD small Workhorse fitteds plus doublers (daytime) 6 SBish OBF fitteds and 2 Disana wool soakers (nighttime) and a couple of WAHM sized PUL covers. We used Lil Joeys untill her cord stump fell off, but I would be looking for another solution for the first week or two if we have another baby, possibly NB Workhorse fitteds and Prorap covers.

    If I were starting from scratch for a similarly big newborn (9lbs and chunky thighs), I would do 2 dozen small GMD snapless Workhorse fitteds w/Workhorse doublers, 4-6 small SBish OBF fitteds, 2-4 PUL and 2 wool covers, and optionally, 6 Tots Bots Tiny’s. It would be cheaper, less leak-prone, and easier to wash in our hard water than my current stash!

  • http://www.greendiaperdemos.com Michelle Bottorff

    This is still fresh in my mind with my 2 month old but I have a bit of everything in our stash. What I recommend? -SoftBums Echos as covers (Thirsties duos fit really well too but weren’t as “soft” on that new baby’s skin, kwim?). I used the SoftBums Echos over prefolds, SoftBums mini pods, and fitteds (Thirsties duo fitteds I think were my favs since I am a velcro kind of gal but also used squishy Mother-ease Sandy’s -in bamboo, and itti bitti boos -also bamboo). It was also nice having a few AIOs too like the itti bitti d’lish and Thirsties new AIOs. At 2 months he doesn’t fit into the Sandy’s anymore and is holding on at the last snap setting on the itti bitti smalls, but I will still get more use out of the Thirsties size 1 and of course a LOT more use out of the SoftBums (we either do the full sized bamboo pod now or two mini pods).

  • KeriYo

    This is almost my exact NB stash. More covers (proraps) and fitteds (kissaluvs 0) because i got them for a great price on ebay but as many as they go through prefolds are perfect! Thankfully my nb fit our OS from birth that we use for our 18 month old so I didn’t have to invest in sized pockets or AIO’s.

    Great article and love this website!

  • Kimberly Buller

    With my second I bought 2 dozen birdseye flats, 3 snappis, and 4 xs thirsties covers, 3 sz 1 Thirsties covers in snaps. I liked the xs, they fit better at first, and the aplix allowed a tighter fit, Sophia wasn about 7 1/2 lbs when I started cding her at a month and a half, I had to wait for the order to come in, since I had no idea what to use and a friend suggested trying this cheap diapering system. :0) I liked having at least 3 snappis, so I could have one in the diaper bag and one or two around the house. They are easy to lose! :) I used these exclusively till she was about 6 months and about 12 lbs maybe? I would have to check her baby book for sure! Then I added in a few pockets. This next time around I am prepared with about 20 FB xs pockets, I had heard great things about them. If they dont work out or leak, I will still have my beloved flats and covers! This time I plan on trying out some bummis covers, since I have tiny babies and starting from the beginning!

  • Kristen R

    My sister used XS BG 3.0 AIOs exclusively. I bought her 2 dozen pefolds, a few fitteds, & a bunch of covers. But, the prefolds were too bulky & she hated the fit. She This was her first baby to CD, even though it wasn’t her first baby. We ended up getting a big stack of used XS BG 3.0 AIOs, because the first 7 she had weren’t enough!

    She used the XS AIOs for about a month & I sold them for what we paid in a few good size lots. Some sold locally. I spent less than $15 buying, using, & selling about 24 AIOs. I wish I hadn’t bought the prefolds. Even though we bought highly desirable GMD orange edge prefolds used, I lost about as much $ on those prefolds when selling as I did on the AIOs. & It took me 2 months with them listed on Craigslist for just $15/dozen to sell them. I focused on selling locally to avoid spending $15 to ship them.

    Next time, I’d buy all AIOs. Forget the prefolds.

  • Jesse

    To wash every other day, I needed about 3 dozen dipes total (prefolds and fitteds to start with), 6 covers and 60 wipes. But I had a baby that pooped 5x/day until he was over 2yo. We initially went with Indian pfs but found them to be smaller than Chinese pfs…good for a smaller baby, didn’t work as well for my gigundo infant.

    We use one-size pockets (Happy Heinys, Mommy’s Touch and the odd “other” brand) now exclusively, but pfs or fitteds are the way to go until they’re at least a chunky 12 lbs. or so.

    Rumparooz OS probably will fit a newborn on the smallest setting, but unless you have a very small toddler or a very early potty trainer, you’ll outgrow them before you’re done with dipes.

    For wipes, we’ve used the plain white thin baby washcloths. Folded in half, they fit nicely in a regular wipe box and have held up for 4 years and 2 kids now.

  • Arrielle

    I started with prefolds from gmd (love them) but then I became curious about their fitteds which they have in newborn size). My husband was doing the night changing and preferred them we didn’t have to worry about folding while half awake. We came to using them during the day at home and at $5 a diaper they can’t be beat. I like swaddlebees newborn aio it’s easy to get great fit and are so cute! My daughter who is 5 months is still wearing them with room to grow!

  • Jessica K.

    This is a great post. We didn’t start using cloth til our first one was 3 months old so this helps a lot now that we are preparing for baby #2 this summer.

  • Rachael

    I agree 100%, except my husband liked the prefolds. Those AIOs are perfect to put on a gift registry. The BG AIOs fit my LO pretty well, wide, but no leaks! We preferred aplix/velcro over snaps for a better fit. You can always re-sew with new velcro. I have a ton of second hand small Thirsties pockets that I only ended up using the inserts as doublers.

    My son was huge (10lbs) so we skipped the newborn sized prefolds. I don’t think he even fit in the nb Kissa fitted, size 1 ‘sposies at the hospital. Maybe next time around they will get used, I doubt I will be allowed to go past 40 weeks this time :-/ so I better learn from all of you!

  • Brittany

    Thank you for this awesome guide!

  • Laura P

    Thanks for the article, and thanks to everyone who commented! I’m expecting our first. I thought I probably wouldn’t start cloth diapering until month 2 or 3, but now I want to start as soon as possible. I was quite hesitant about using prefolds before, but the more I read, the more I’m convinced I should give them a try. I’ll come back and post when I have experience to share! :-)

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