When new moms call and ask about what kind of cloth diapers they should buy, they are typically focused on a single product. They want to know how many bumGenius one-size cloth diapersthey should get, or how many Kissaluvs, etc. When I tell them cloth diapering is more of a system than a “how many” question, they are intrigued because they haven’t thought of it that way. They’ve read the reviews and are trying to settle on a type of diaper to use. But what comes out of the baby changes over time and even through the day, so only having one type of diaper to use is like only washing dishes with a thin hand towel. Sure it works for washing most things, but when the gnarly container of leftover spaghetti with crusties on the sides and liquefied mushrooms presents itself to the sink, a spatula and scrubber sure would be nice.
Diapers are the same way. bumGenius work great for overnight and will even stop the super-poo, but most people don’t have or can’t afford a full stash of bumGenius. My favorite defense for the super-poo – a Chinese prefold, snappi and dappi cover (or bummis cover for toddlers) is affordable, but just won’t cut it for overnight because baby, their jammies, their blankets and mattress will be soaking wet in the middle of the night.
A more rounded collection of cloth diapers is best for mom’s sanity and baby. For new babies, I recommend a sizeable stack of prefolds (Chinese or Indian), snappis, and prorap covers for daytime. For overnight, a bumGenius is nice and soft and will keep baby’s bum dry. As baby gets older, eats more solids and their poo stiffens, you will probably find yourself shifting to more bumGenius diapers since they are much easier to use and typically last longer between changes while still keeping their bums dry.
Prefolds are a great investment and a necessary part of any cloth diaper stash because they are so versatile. They not only work great as a diaper, but are also useful as burp cloths, puke deflectors/containment systems, changing pads, and of course wiping the pee off the wall (if you have a boy).
– Jimmy
copyright 2005 Cotton Babies, Inc. – Cloth diapering is a system
About the Author
Jimmy Labit is a full-time dad and has a lot of experience with cloth diapers. He takes care of the technical side of Cotton Babies when he isn't trying to juggle four kids. He is the male voice of Beyond The Diaper and brings a unique and quirky sense of humor to our blog.
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I would suggest that mothers try the premium diapers from Diaperaps. They have 8 layers in the middle with 4 on each side(it is called 4-8-4). It is a super absorbent diaper.