We took a break for a few weeks because Rowan had grown out of his Thirsties diaper cover, and we weren't sure which diaper system we wanted to go with. {We originally registered for Fuzzibuns, but it became apparent very early that this wasn't the right choice for us, I'll explain why later}.
Yesterday we attended a cloth diapering workshop at
Tiny Tots. First of all, we were the ONLY parents there who already had our kid! {Guess we were a little late in the research department}. The workshop was mostly about they're diaper service, so since we're not doing that, I kind of yawned through that part. The more worthwhile part for me was getting to see the various diapers/diaper systems they offered and what they were good for, and the helpful tips. For instance, you shouldn't use their disposable inserts with polyurethane lined diaper covers, because the adhesive on the insert will ruin the cover liner, and things like that.
In the end, we opted to continue with Thirsties. Here's why:
Thirsties Duo Wrap
Image Source: Amazon.com
1.
It's a cloth diaper COVER. Not a diaper system. It's waterproof, so it keeps the "dirty" contained, but you
do not have to wash the cover with every soil. This is big for me, because I don't want to be glued to the washer and dryer. Plus, I'm not sure where, but at some point, the water, electricity and gas usage from laundering all the time makes the economic and environmental reasons for CD-ing moot. AND, I like having the cloth diaper prefolds around. They're useful for a lot of things.
2.
They're cheap. {$12} They fit our modest budget. Not the cheapest, but compared to Fuzzibuns or BumGenius, they're cheap. Because you only have to buy a few {like 4}, as opposed to 15-25. A mom at the diaper class, recommended going with the cheapest option first, because not all diapers work with all babies. So you could invest in the most expensive and come to find that you have to start all over...so start with the cheapest option and work up if you have to.
3.
The Gussets. We already know that Thirsties work pretty well for Rowan. I like the gussets in the leg hole that help keep seal up the diaper.
4.
Drying Time. Washing and drying Thirsties are a cinch.
The down-sides:
What I don't LOVE about Thirsties, are that they velcro {although snap ones are available, just not at Tiny Tots}, they don't grow with the baby {you have to keep buying bigger sizes}, and we do get leaks out the top/sides every now and then {but we got that with disposos and Fuzzibuns too. Also, you have to be diligent about changing because the baby definitely feels the wet diaper {which btw, is supposed to help with potty training in the future}.
I have to admit, it's hard to pass up those super-cool, super-soft, and super-cute diaper systems. AND there are SO many options to choose from. I had to talk myself down from the expensive all-in-ones, even though I knew from experience that I didn't like them at much! {Talk about social and media influence at work} Ultimately, they just didn't seem that practical.
We are glad that we have a few Fuzzibuns, because it was recommended to use them at night for a dryer sleep. One thing though, you may want to wait until Baby isn't pooping during the night, because your Fuzzibuns will get stained.
We also didn't go hog wild, yet. We got 4 covers in Rowan's size, and we'll continue to get a few more as he grows. I decided to go with color coordination by size {xsmall = celery green, size one = ocean blue, size two = probably mango orange}.
Happy Cloth Diapering!
