Learning Cloth Diapers

This is an email I sent my girlfriend who is expecting her first baby in October. This is also my take on the cloth diapers I have been using and learning about.

So here is what I found out with the diapers we bought from ebay.
The first 3 AIO (all in one) pocket diapers I bought from China were a super good quality but they would still occasionally leak.
The next 5 diapers I bought (same brand not same seller) were not as good a quality. The first day I put one on Chandler one of the snaps came off. The diaper is still usable but I was disappointed. I have also learned that the diapers should really be worn with a double insert to maximize the length of time between changings. With only one insert you need to change every 2-3 hours (still may leak) with two inserts Chandler can go all night long (about 8-10 hours) with no leaks.
All in all, the diapers are good it has taken me a few weeks to work out all the kinks. They may also not be good on a newborn since they are kind of big and bulky, but as soon as that newborn stage is over they should be great. (After 2 weeks with our big babies :)
Also you should wash them occasionally with a few tablespoons of bleach because that microfiber holds odors more then a regular cotton diaper does.

All that being said. Jennifer let me borrow one of her Chinese cloth prefolds and with my great Prorap cover, Chandler can go all night and then some before I need to change him. That is the best cloth diapering method with little to no bulk between the legs and I think the quality is the best for the money . I am still using the birdseye cotton cloth diapers (the cheap cloth diapers you can buy at Walmart/Kmart etc.) but I have to change him every hour to two hours. They aren't very absorbent but they still do the trick. You just have to change often or change clothes often :)

I have only spent about $120 on all my cloth diapering supplies and that should do me good at least through the end of the year. That is a huge savings to me against the cost and waste of disposables.

Also since we got so many newborn disposable diapers as gifts we used all of them before we started with the cloth diapering experiment. We have only bought 2 packages of disposable diapers and I prefer LUVs or City Market brand Comfort something-a-rather. Diapers don't have to be expensive to still do the job. (FYI I have never liked Huggies, they leaked no matter what)

So here are some links to my favorite cloth diapering websites plus some links to stuff you can make your own cloth diaper accessories. If you have the time make the stuff now cuz you won't find the time once the babe gets here. I am just barely finding the time to make some stuff with all of my obligations. That is why I am giving you these links today :)

This first link is great. I have read the whole thing and really feel like this women knows her cloth diapering stuff. Great links too.
http://diaperpages.com/index.php
This woman is great too and has a great pattern for fleece cloth diapers. They are next on my list. You may even get one soon :)
http://webpages.charter.net/rhamley/diapers/diapertext1.htm
This site has a ton of links to patterns for all things cloth diaper related
http://www.diaperjungle.com/sewing-cloth-diapers.html#FREE%20Diaper%20Cover%20Patterns
This site gives a breakdown of cloth vs. disposables. Plus it has great links. I love Wollypop but haven't bought anything from them yet.
http://www.diaperdecisions.com/cost_of_cloth_diapers.htm
These are my favorite wool soaker patterns
http://www.borntolove.com/frugal-column2.html
http://withatangledskein.blogspot.com/2008/02/little-fire-crochet-soaker-pattern.html
I haven't made these yet but I am gonna try them soon.
http://www.borntolove.com/pattern.html