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| Hello. This is my first pregnancy and I am going crazy looking for easy, yet inexpensive diapering systems. Someone from another CDing forum pointed me to motherease cloth diapers. I need a little help learning how to use the one size cloth diapers because I am severely visually impaired enough to where the video tutorials will not help me learn how to use these. I have made comparisons between the various options out there and feel that the one-size will be the easiest for me. The AIOs will work as well, but they are way too expensive for our budget. My husband can see alot better than me though. I am hoping that if I get these, he will figure out how to use them as well. We definitely do not want to do disposables because of the cost overtime on both our wallets and the environment. Any advice would be appreciated. |
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Hello and welcome to the forum.
Kudos to you for wanting to use cloth, you will find invaluable information here from more experienced moms than I am. I have been using ME one-size for 11 months now with my son and I do think that I could do them with my eyes closed... But then, it's easy to say when you don't really have to!
I cannot compare as I have used only these diapers, but there is basically only two snaps to snap, one on each side, plus the front to fold until your baby is big enough to use the diaper unfolded (the age at which that happens varies a lot from child to child). I haven't heard of anything cheaper that would be even remotely as easy to use. You will have to use a cover as well, which means 4 extra snaps if using Air Flow or a velcro band to attach if using Rikki Wraps (might be easier for you to use).
Basically, as long as no part of the diaper is sticking out of the cover, they pretty much never leak, which makes them a wonderful system (you might want to cut off the tags as they do tend to stick out and if you cannot see it it might become annoying having to verify every time). You will have to buy different size covers as your baby grows, but you can also find diapers and covers used online on this Website. They are so well made that they can easily last through more than one child and it's a good source for used diapers.
I would definitely recommend ME. Good luck! |
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| Oh. snaps are really no big deal for me. I have actually disposable diapered a friend's baby a long time ago with no problems, but that was before I went blind. I think that with the correct assistance and advice from users of CD's, I will be able to pull this amazing feet off haha. I hope that i am not asking too much, but can you give me each step for how to use these one sizes? I feel that these will be the most economical choice for our budget. By the way, I was browsing the special packages and noticed that the convenience package was pretty expensive. I am wondering if i should get the starter pack first, or just splurge and get the convenience pack. Which pack did you actually go with before deciding to use these diapers? |
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I think you will be very pleased with the motherease one-size. They make up the bulk of my diaper stash and we have very few complaints. My husband calls them "Fatherease" diapers.
I'll give a step-by-step a go and I'm sure someone else will fill in any gaps (I apologize if some of my steps seem obvious but I figured I start right at the beginning)
Newborn fold:
Slide diaper under baby's bottom
Bring front of diaper up between baby's legs.
Fold down top of diaper so inside snaps are facing you. There will be a row of 6 snaps (flat side facing you) and a row of 4 snaps (inside of snap) underneath
Bring the winged sides of diaper from the backside of the baby and snap onto the bottom row of four snaps (You can even overlap if you need)
Cover with wrap of your choice
As per the package size, I guess it depends how often you are wanting to do laundry and if you are willing to use some disposibles for a bit while deciding if you like the motherease. The other option is trying a couple of different brands of diapers and selling the ones you don't like.
There is the introductory offer where you can try a single diaper and a cover. Personally I got someone's part-time package (12 diapers) second hand and later ordered a starter package of the bamboo diapers. I have a few other diapers - prefolds, bumgenius, bamboozles so I didn't need a larger package. What about the 24 diaper package (I can't remember the name). That gives you enough for about 2 days and is quite a bit cheaper than the convenience pack.
HTH |
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| Thank you so much for the step by step instructions. I can finally picture how to do the one-size diaper in my head. I have come across the introductory offer and might give it a try. What I will do is get that, and buy a pack of 24 and if I like them, I will use them exclusively. By the way, do the one-sizes aaccomodate the umbilical area? I apologize for asking, but I cannot see the pictures in order to tell. |
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| Also, do I have to prewash the diapers several times in order for them to reach their maximum absorbency potential? |
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Hi!
Congratulations on your pregnancy! Being a mom is fantastic fun.
You do need to wash the diapers a few times before you use them. They probably don't reach MAXIMUM absorbancy until even later, but I think 3-4 prewashes is usually enough, depending on what kind (bleached/unbleached/organic/bamboo) of diaper you get.
There is no 'accomodation' for the umbilical stump with the one-size diapers (it just gets covered by the diaper), but everyone that I know that has used them has had no problems with this. Baby doesn't seem to care, and you'll be changing him/her so often for the first few weeks that it doesn't matter. The one-size is a great option - the most economical and versatile, I think. Good luck! |
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| Ah ok. Yes. I thought that I would have to prewash. That is no problem for me though. I am thinking about getting the unbleached as I did not notice a price difference between those and the bleached ones. My baby is not going to be in a single disposable throughout her total diapering time. I am not even giving birth to her in a hospital. I am going to a small birthing center that my mother found for me. |
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Just a side note, with a newborn, the absorbency is not much of an issue as in the beginning you will be changing them so often... By the time you need more absorbency, the diaper will have been washed many more times and have reached their full potential. I think I pre-washed 3 times, but then I had the bamboo ones, I don't know if the different fabrics make a difference.
We used disposables in the hospital and switched to cloth when we left. We never looked back, although we have used disposables on extended travels. The only problem we had with the umbilical stump was when it got caught in the cover. We were changing our son and when we pulled the cover away, the stump was partially ripped out. It scared us a lot, but it turns out it was pretty much ready to fall anyway and it wasn't a problem. But I would be more careful now, at least the first few days. In our case, we managed to fold the diaper underneath the stump.
Good luck with the birth! |
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| Smiles. I cannot wait to have my baby |
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| The unbleached are great, but they do need some extra washing to get rid of oils etc... so they absorb. I had to soak mine in oxyclean to get them to absorb... I had washed and dried them 6 times on hot, but they were still repelling water when I tested them. The bleached only need a wash or two to start absorbing. Just thought I'd mention that! |
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| Oh wow. you would think that the bleached would repel water more than the unbleached. i am wondering though if the bleached diapers are bleached with an alternative process rather than clorine bleach? |
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| Just wanted to throw in a quick note that although I agree that the OS are the most economical way to go (and the bulk of my own stash), would it be easier for you to use the Sandys? They don't have the fold over of the front part for the newborn stage. I think you could do the OS by feel, but wonder if the simpler arrangement of the Sandys might help? You are looking at more cost, but you can regain some of your investment in resale of the small Sandys, or you can buy used. I have been really pleased with my OS, but just a thought. |
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| Hmmm I really hadnt thought of that. How are those diapers different besides not being OS? Do they look different?And how many will i need for newborn stage? I want to spend as little as possible without really skimping out on this. I mean, I guess it will not hurt to spend a little extra as when the baby is born, my monthly check goes up once I report the birth of my baby to the SSA. I am not sure if my family will support my decision in using cloth and get the cloth diapers for my baby shower in january ,although my mother was with me when my midwife told me the cost advantages of cloth vs disposables. I will probably end up with packs and packs of disposables lol. My mother thinks that I will be dying to use disposables once I get sick of washing the cloth, she still thinks that the diapers are old fassioned like they used to be. Anyway, I have to run for now. Need to be ready to go to my eye doctor in about an hour. |
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| I agree with the previous poster on the Sandys. My husband can use those easier and I can use the sandys in the dark, but the OS is a little harder even during the day. Not that they are hard, but it is just that they are made different. The OS has the snaps side by side where the sandys are top and bottom on each side. Anyway, good luck. as far as washing them, I love it. I love washing them. it makes me feel so loving. what i am doing for my baby it great. |
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I'll try to explain the difference between the OS and Sandys as extensively as possible... The OS is made so that when the baby is small, you fold the top of the diaper down (the part of the diaper that you fold up on the baby's tummy) to reveal a second row of snaps. The sides of the diapers are like two tabs that fold from each side onto the front of the diaper and snap onto that row of snaps (one snap on each side, so two snaps total). Depending on how tight you do the snaps, which are about at the belly button level, it also tightens the diaper around the thighs. You can even snap one of the tab on top of the other tab for a newborn. The fabric around the diaper is stretchy but there are no elastics. These diapers are more bulky at first as there is more fabric, but become less bulky when you stop folding the top.
The Sandys come in XS, S and L. Since price is a big issue for you, I would skip the XS anyway, they are nice and less bulky for newborns, but the S won't leak and work well anyway. When you fold the Sandy's up over the baby's tummy, you have two snaps on each side of the diaper (4 total), one on the top around the tummy, one around the leg of the baby. It seems to work better on some baby who have chunky legs but a tiny tummy. They also have elastics around the legs and some ruffles on the fabric. They are less bulky than the OS for starters, but the L are more bulky than the OS unfolded.
One thing for sure: if I was you I wouldn't mix both kinds. We started with XS sandys and OS for the bulk of our stash and the two different ways to snap them always got me confused (especially as a sleep-deprived new mom) and I could see them. Personally I like the OS better, as I found the Sandys harder to get the poop out of (it seemed to get stuck in the elastic), but if you are exclusively breast-feeding you don't have to rinse the poop. People's preference between OS and Sandys varies widely, there are several threads on that on the forum.
Oh, and as for number, I had 36 and still washed every day, but that's because they were bamboo and were not dry after one pass in the dryer, so I partially line dried. I don't think I would go under 24 for a newborn, you would still probably have to wash every day in the beginning (I used 12-15 per day I think in the beginning) and then every two days (at 11 months, I use about 7 a day, but you still need some to use while you're washing the other ones).
Hope that helps! My mom thought I was crazy to use cloth too, but after two weeks at home helping me at the birth of my son, she was just amazed at how he could wear the same pajamas for the whole day (no leaks at all, ever). |
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Just one thing, the One-Size does have elastic at the legs and waist. It's sewn differently than with the Sandy's and I think it's not as tight, but it's definetly there. You can even check ME's description: "This amazing terry diaper actually grows with your child! Soft rib-knit binding covers the elastic at waist and leg openings."
Personally I'd advise you to maybe try one of each diaper and then play around with them to see which is easier for you. We all have our preferences but really you're in a fairly unique situation so the 'usual' pros and cons may be different for you. ME has a trial package for both of them (on the website you have the One-Size and Airflow package, but you can get a Sandy's and Rikky's by calling them). You can then play around with them, on a doll, stuffed animal or even better if you have a friend with a small baby... As long as the diapers aren't washed or soiled you can return them to ME so it's only the shipping that you risk. Or maybe contact ME to ask if there are any local stores in your area that carry their products. There are more than one might think and you could get to touch and feel them for yourself.
Karen.
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Oh and I have to agree about washing cloth. It's not only not that bad (the only 'bad' part is that putting the diapers into the washer is a little smelly, but it only lasts a few seconds so it's no biggie imo) but I think it's kind of fun. Well, maybe 'fun' isn't the right word but it's very very satisfying.
And lack of support from family and friends is pretty common. No one believed I'd stick with it either. Try to emphasize to your family that you really don't want any disposable diapers. If they really don't believe you'll stick with cloth they can always buy something other than diapers... Reassure them that should you change your mind, disposables are easy enough to buy so it's not like you'll be 'stuck' anyway... Just ignore the nay-sayers and stick with what you believe. Most people that talk trash about cloth have never tried it and the few that have have almost never tried quality and modern cloth diapers like ME. So they really don't know what they're talking about anyway... I have 4 children and my last two were twins!! Talk about being overwhelmed!! If I'd believed for a second that disposables would have made my life the least bit easier I probably wouldn't have hesitated to buy at least some... But I knew from my first two that cloth (especially ME) does NOT leak and that washing them is no biggie. I never had to deal with blowouts, leaks or washing soiled clothing or bedding. I never had to make emergency trips to the store cause I was running out of diapers and I never had to worry about watching for sales or clipping coupons cause disposables are so darned expensive!!
Karen.
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| Oh, something else I just thought of: because the OS has that extra row of snaps for when you fold down the top in the beginning, when you stop folding, there is a row of snaps on the inside of the diapers which can be used to snap-in an extra liner (for night-time, for instance, when the baby is older and no longer gets changed at night). That's why the liners made for the OS have snaps. But it doesn't change much because even without the snaps, the liners will stay in place in the Sandy's as well. So you can really use either liner with either diaper... |
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| Hmmm. Maybe what I will do is do what was suggested on this topic. I will get one of each and compare the snapping layout of each. I can always ask my husband to look at the pictures of the diapers if any are pictured on this website as well. We discussed the use of cloth and he thinks that will be better although he does not believe that there are chemicals in disposables.However, I ripped open a diaper about a year ago to see what was inside (I soaked the diaper with water first) and when I put my hand in where i had ripped the fabric open, I felt this disgusting, nasty gloopy gell stuff. I definitely do not want that on my baby! My midwife did the calculations and it will be pretty near $12000 overtime to keep 2 children in disposables anyway. Where as if I buy a set of cloth diapers, my innitial investment will only be three or $400. And I will not have to keep purchasing them either. That is what I like about them. |
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