Now that the funky baby quilt is behind me, I am on to my next project. My cousin asked if I could make her some cloth diapers for her baby that is due in July. Evidently, store-bought cloth diapers can be quite pricey, but they are so much better for the environment that I decided that I would go ahead and give it a try.
This is where my readers will hopefully come in. I don’t have a baby to try different patterns on, so I’m praying that some of you have sage advice to give me as I start this adventure in cloth diaper making. As I have googled this topic, I have quickly become overwhelmed in all the different things to consider.
Because the all-in-one diapers are made out of fairly expensive materials, I am hoping to make some covers that have the diaper inserted into it. The other thing that would be handy is that I would really like some real life thoughts on sizing. Each pattern seems like it would only be good on a baby for a couple months. Is there anyway to size them so that they can grow with the baby? I doubt that I am going to be willing to make a set of 20 diapers for my cousin every six months.
This would be much easier if I could make one and then try it out, but I am up to the challenge (hopefully). So if anyone out there has wisdom to share on how to do this, make it cheaper, or make them last longer, I am listening.
Dear Becca,
Prefolded cloth diapers are worth the price. There are disposibale liners available to use with them. They come in one size, which you adjust as the baby grows by folding them to fit. The liners minimize stains. We are still using old diapers for all kinds of things,dusting etc.
Love you, Gramme
My suggestion is to put pockets in them. These serve two purposes:
1. If a man is changing the diaper, he will know which is the front and back.
2. Babies need to carry stuff too.
🙂
I use a terry diaper that is flat. Here is the link to the company that makes them:
http://www.dri-line.com/buy/product_info.php?cPath=39_95&products_id=36http://www.dri-line.com/buy/product_info.php?cPath=39_95&products_id=36
I like these very much. They dry much faster than fitted diapers, in my opinion. I use a Snappi to hold them on, along with a variety of different covers: Bummis, Mother-Ease Rikki Wraps and knitted wool covers.
They are very flexible and we have only needed two sizes for our kids, from newborn to two.
I have learned that every person who cloth diapers has their own opinions about what works best, but I hope this helps a bit.
Thank you so much for all the advice! Before all this research, I didn’t realize that some people use prefolds and covers still. Stacey’s terry diaper looks nice and absorbent too. There is a lot to think about.
I agree that the pocket diapers look the easiest. Unfortunately, I would need to make a ton of these, as they need to be washed after each use. I was hoping for more of a cover and insert variety, so that they would be easier to make.
If anyone else has any advice for me, I am still trying to figure out exactly what to do.
I second the prefolds and Snappi. I have cloth diapered three kids. With my third I made a dozen fitteds and found that I still used the prefolds most frequently. They dry quickly and you can buy or make cute covers very inexpensively. Using a Snappi makes them so easy to put on and take off. I used pins with my first 11 1/2 years ago!
Chinese or diaper service quality (DSQ) prefolds can be found used in great condition because they last so long, or new fairly inexpensively.
In your situation I would probably buy prefolds used or new and make some cute covers from PUL.
Cuddlebuns are one size diapers and you can buy a pattern. These are some of my fave diapers.
http://www.sewshoppe.com/cbptn.shtml
buying a one-size diaper pattern would be nice. you could easily make some prefolds. i don’t know if you have a serger though. the sewshoppe (linked by tiffany) has all the fabrics you’d need. as an fyi, fabrics most absorbent are (in order): hemp, bamboo fleece, bamboo terry, bamboo velour, then the cotton fabrics (sherpa, flannel, terry). hemp can get buildup and get stinky but is super absorbent. bamboo is amazing. my most recent post (6/3) was on bamboo.
I just found this:
http://hyenacart.com/kaylasclothkits/
Thank you all for your wonderful responses! I think I’m going to give it another week or two, and then decide. She’s not due until the end of July, so I have a few more weeks for research.
If you use a pattern for a larger baby, it should fit a smaller 1 two if you are using pins, but if your aren’t using pins, sewing velcro or another form of closure at different
intervals of the diaper should make it adjustable to different sizes, plus that would be safer than pins.