Buttons Diapers fans that were around this past Spring knew they were coming...

Cloth trainers are finally HERE!

I was lucky enough to get to test them out before they were released, and oh.my.gosh.
I am seriously blown away with how many features they were able to put on this one cloth trainer to make it SO amazing!
So, here we go:

Features:
Buttons had asked the fans in their official Facebook group about what features were a MUST for cloth trainers.
And did they listen!

These are a one-size cloth trainer.
They have two sets of rise snaps to adjust the height, and three sets of waist snaps to adjust the waist.
The waist snaps also mean the trainer can be snapped off in case of an accident.

They fit approximately 15-35+ lbs, according to Buttons.

There is a built-in cotton/bamboo soaker, to absorb any accidents.
The inside of these trainers is lined with an athletic jersey mesh.

Oh, AND they have a pocket for adding extra absorbency for when you need more assurance, like overnight, naptime, or leaving the house.

They retail for $15 for solids, and $15.75 for prints.
The HUGE bonus is that these double as swim diapers!

Check, check, check, CHECK.

What I LOVE:
Can I say everything?
They really listened and included the features that were most important to me, personally: waist snaps and built-in absorbency.

The built-in soaker is absorbent enough to catch a pee.

OH WAIT, did I forget to mention Buttons is also now selling 100% cotton boosters?

If you read my post on cloth diaper fabrics, you would know how much I absolutely love cotton for everything. These little boosters are so soft and absorbent.
They are being sold in packs of two for $10.

The boosters go perfectly in the little pocket of the trainer.

The fact that this built-in absorbency is a natural fiber just makes my heart sing.
I love you, cotton.

I also think the price point is right on.
I was hoping Buttons would be able to offer their trainers at an affordable price, and they really came through with that.

These are awesome as swim diapers, too. I love to have the little bit of absorbency in swims to catch any accidents on the way to the pool.

Here is the fit on my 29-lb three-year-old (wears size 3T), and 24-lb twenty-four-month-old (wears size 24M):

Fit on my little 12-lb three-month-old (wears size 6M). He obviously will not be potty-learning any time soon, but babies this age might be hanging at the pool or beach and need a swim diaper:

Ignore the socks. It's winter in Minnesota.

I'm seriously obsessed.
The elastic is so stretchy, and they seem so comfortable.

Will I try to add absorbency so I can wear them as normal diapers? Probably.

What I Don't Love:
Though easy to pull DOWN, the one down-side to me is that my toddler struggles to pull them back up himself. We have this issue with every cloth trainer we've tried, though.
And any pants with a wide waist band, honestly.
They're just more thick and snug than disposables (and underwear), so I think that comes with the territory of choosing cloth.

I'll always be annoying and complain about dry time, too, if they won't dry completely in one cycle.

Sorry. I'm impatient.

Overall
I love these trainers/swims. I think they're an amazing contribution to the cloth diaper community.
I highly recommend picking up a few pairs for your toilet-learning toddler.

I also like to think that I helped with the design, so how I could I NOT love them?
They are everything I want in a training pant.

I highly, highly recommend giving them a try if you are in the market for trainers.

Where To Buy
Buttons trainers are currently available exclusively through Buttons' website.
Click here to check them out!

The cotton boosters (and incidentally, some amazing herbal diaper cream I happen to make) can be found under their accessories.

I hope you love them as much as I do!

Follow me on Instagram for all things cloth.

See all my cloth reviews here.



Hands down, the most fun part about cloth diapering is the cute little covers.

My original newborn stash consisted almost entirely of one single brand- which went completely against what is now one of my top pieces of cloth diaper advice.

Those covers did actually work out great for me, but I was more than happy to try a larger variety of them this go around.

I wish I had had the opportunity to test even more, but this is what I did.
All covers are pictured and used over my favorite newborn prefold, Snappi-ed in an angel fold.

We are still using all these covers, at 2 months, and over 10lbs.
All of my babies have been pretty average size- between 7 and 8 lbs at birth, and all of these fit under their cords from day one.
This post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may compensate me a small percentage for my referral, at no extra charge to you.

Newborn Size Covers

Sweet Pea Newborn:
This diaper brand has stopped selling.
This was the first newborn cover I purchased, over three years ago. It is one of my favorites.


Pros: It's very small and trim, which I absolutely love. The hook & loop makes it easy to use. Double gussets help contain explosive newborn poop.
Cons: It is a small cover, so though I love it for my average-size babies, it may be maxed out quickly for larger babies. It doesn't work well over fitteds or bulky inners. It is ONLY available in hook & loop, which just isn't as durable as snaps.


Luludew Newborn:
Though very similar to the Sweet Pea cover, there is something about this one that I like just slightly more. I think it may be the slightly larger cut, and the extra softness and thinness of the PUL. It gives it an effortless, amazing fit.


Pros: Also small and trim, but with better coverage. Double gussets keep everything in. Extra soft and trim cover. Comes in both hook & loop and snap closures.
Cons: A newer brand, not available at many retailers. May also max out early for bigger babies.

Retails for $9.99



Diaper Rite:
I was initially nervous that this cover only came in snaps, but it completely converted me. It gives SUCH and amazing fit from day one. I highly, highly recommend it for little babies.


Pros: Fits small and trim. It was the best fitting diaper in the first two weeks. Double gussets hold everything in. Made of super soft, stretchy PUL. Has tuck flaps, for fans of those.
Cons: It runs small, and it is the first cover we're going to outgrow. I feel like when the rise is out, the fit is just off. It needs more waist snaps, so it can fit a wider waist, then it would be absolute perfection. Bigger babies will max this one out very quickly.

Retails for $9.95


Buttons Newborn:
I was SO skeptical of this newborn cover, because it the largest cut of any newborn-specific covers in my stash. It was more bulky in the first couple weeks for us, but it worked. Became one of my absolute favorites at 2 months old.


Pros: Double gussets and elastics all around contain everything. Fits well over fitteds and bulkier inserts. Has the most longevity of any newborn diaper cover I own- there's people putting this one on their 12+ month-old-babies! PERFECT for bigger babies. For some reason, out of all my covers, this one NEVER wicks moisture when the insert is soaked.
Cons: May be bulkier on small babies (I found from 9 lbs and on, the fit was awesome).

Retails for $11-12.50

Rumparooz Newborn:
I have no qualms about saying this was my least favorite cover. Interestingly, it was THE most recommended on an Instagram crowd-sourcing poll I did awhile back. I find the elastics too tight for how thin the PUL is, so it always went wonky when trying to put on. The gussets would fold around and everything. I also feel like it's cut too wide between the legs, so it folds oddly there. This will be the one I de-stash.


Pros: Double gussets. Available in both snap and hook & loop closures. Larger fit, for bigger babies and over fitteds.
Cons: Unfortunately, almost everything for me. They always seem to fit bulky, even at 2 months. Getting a good fit isn't effortless, the way I think it should be, because of the elastics and how thin the PUL is.

EDITED TO ADD: After months, and months (like at 6 months old), I began to like this diaper cover a LOT more. It seemed to get a much better fit after 12-13 lbs.


Retails for $10- $12.00



  
Non- Newborn Diapers

Thirsties Size 1 Duo Wrap:
If you've read my review on Duo Wraps, you would know I am a huge fan of the size 1. They do work from birth, though quite bulky.


Pros: Double gussets. Fit well over fitteds- was my go-to overnight cover. Could be a good newborn diaper for bigger babies.
Cons: Bulky for babies under 10 lbs, and probably any weight baby at the beginning, due to all the fabric between the legs.

Retails for $12.75

Buttons One-Size:
This was always the first one-size diaper to fit my babies. It does actually fit from birth, though it is bulky- not nearly as bulky as other one-size. I was glad to have a ton of these in my regular stash, because I had to supplement on days when all my covers got pooped on.


Pros: Double gussets. Affordable option for those who don't want to invest in an actual newborn stash.
Cons: Bulky, especially for smaller babies.

Retails for $11.50- $13


Overall, I highly recommend trying a variety of covers. Different covers will work differently, depending on the size and shape of baby.

Two months old is around the time that a lot of one-size diapers will begin to fit the average baby.
A lot of newborn diapers will actually go beyond that stage, and give a much better fit still than the one-size will.

Here is how they are all fitting now, at two months old, 10-something lbs (SPOILER: it's almost the same as three lbs ago):


 My Top Recommendations
For smaller babies and the best fit at the beginning, Diaper Rite and Sweet Pea would be my top recommendation, just because it's more accessible to purchase.
For longevity and bigger babies, Buttons newborn are my hands-down winner.

Where to Buy
Almost all covers (except Luludew) can be purchased through Amazon, and Nicki's Diapers.

Luludew can be purchased through their website, but you should request for your favorite retailer to carry them. Diaper Rite can be purchased through Diaper Junction, but I would love to see them in more retailers, too.

You can even create an Amazon Baby Registry, to compile your wish list of diapers for your upcoming little one!

I hope you have found my newborn series helpful!

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This is it.
This is what ultimately ended up making or breaking my newborn cloth diapering success: the absorbency I used.

In Part 1 of my Newborn Cloth Diaper series, I covered the things you need to know in order to be successful from day one, and why I chose to cloth diaper using covers and prefolds for this stage.

In part 2, I will go over all the different inserts I tried, and my gritty, honest reviews of each.

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchases made through this links pay me a small commission for my referral, at no extra cost to you.
-Flats-
Flour Sack Towels (FST):
With my last baby, I had attempted to use flour sack towels, since that is what I was using on my two-year old. They fit SO well, they seriously made the cutest and trimmest newborn flat.
Unfortunately, they were just not absorbent enough for us at this stage, wrapped around baby. They quickly were soaking through diapers and clothes.
I know some families are able to successfully use them from birth, so it is worth a try if you're curious for yourself.
This is by far the most affordable option, at less than $1 apiece at Walmart (ten/$7.88).

You can read more about my love for flour sacks on older babies here.

Birdseye Cotton Flats:
I have two different types of birdseye cotton flats. I have some (organic) one-size that I purchased from Green Mountain Diapers, and some mystery ones (I highly suspect are Osocozy) that I purchased second-hand. These are my current favorite, and full-time absorbency for my bigger boys. My initial intention was to use these flats right from birth.
Unfortunately, I quickly found that though super absorbent for my little guy, they were also quite bulky. The jelly-rolling around the legs was especially bulky, and just seemed like it would be uncomfortable. I also found all the folding a drag, as someone who prefers quick folds.

These flats retail for $12.95- $15.95 /six for GMD, and $12.26/six for Osocozy.
Both have bleached/unbleached, and organic/conventional options, which vary the price.


-Prefolds-
1. Cloth-Eez Newborn prefold on baby, at 2 months old. >> 2. All prefolds stacked, for comparison. 3. (Bottom Left) Geffen Baby XS, next to Cloth-Eez Newborn >> 4. Geffen Baby on baby at 1 week old. 5. Top to bottom: Cloth-Eez, Luludew, and Imagine

Imagine/ Nicki's XS Cotton Prefolds:
Both Imagine and Nicki's brand prefolds are the same, just tagged differently. These were the first newborn prefolds I purchased over three years ago for my first, based on blogger recommendations. They are really tiny, and thin, which makes for a trim pad-fold and fit, but they just do not provide enough absorbency. I see these recommended a lot, but I could not these to work for us.
Sizing up to smalls may work better, but I didn't want to put up the money to try, because of how little faith I have in this prefold. 
I have heard the bamboo ones are better, but I have my own issues with bamboo, and generally avoid it.
They are super budget-friendly, at $12.95 for six, with free shipping, which was probably a huge reason I went for them initially.

Geffen Baby XSmall Jersey Prefolds
These were sent to me by Geffen Baby to try out.
They are cotton/hemp, which makes them super trim and absorbent. They are too tight of a weave for a Snappi to grab, which is a major bummer for me. I don't think I would ever have a full stash of these, but I do love them for times when I need the extra absorbency, like during the super long afternoon nap he takes.
They are on the pricier side, at $8.91 apiece.
Can be purchased from Nicki's.


 Luludew Newborn Cotton Prefolds
I needed to supplement my newborn prefolds after I discovered that the flats I intended to use were too bulky. I decided to try Luludew newborn prefolds. They run a cloth diaper service with these, so I figured they had to be pretty good. I tried them, I really did, but these also were just not absorbent enough for my baby. They're also more narrow than other newborn prefolds, which makes pinning them around baby more of a challenge. I'm not a fan of prefolds that are only sold in packs of 12 for this very reason- I dished out almost $30 for a pack that didn't work out for us.

Cloth- Eez Newborn Cotton Prefold
These newborn prefolds are my HANDS-DOWN WINNER.
I promise you, if you skip over all the other newborn options, and go straight to these, you will NOT be disappointed.
When I found out I was pregnant for the third time, I was determined to make cloth work from day one. So I asked all the followers on my Instagram what their prefold recommendations were. When a mama I trust recommended these, I took her advice and order a dozen of them. It SUCKS that these are not a diaper you will see recommended on blogger platforms very often, because they are everything.**

If I could do my whole newborn stash over- I would just order 2-3 dozen of these and call it a day.
They're thicker than all the other prefolds, so they absorb way more. It also protect the covers from all those million little baby poops and sharts, because it won't seep right through to the cover, like with the other, more thin, prefolds. They wrap around nicely, which helps eliminate bulk.

Other prefolds:
I also used Buttons size 2 cotton prefolds after a couple weeks. They were kind of bulky still at this point, and needed to be folded down in front, but they were perfect otherwise. I'm curious if the size 1 would have been a winner for me, too. If they are the same thickness as the ones I own, I definitely think they would be.
I'm hoping to get my hands on a few some day, but I couldn't find them in stock anywhere the night I was looking.

Osocozy is another brand I would like to try, because I've heard it recommended a lot. Though a lot of people do recommend diapers I don't have success with. The fact that they have these "maxing out" at 10lbs makes me especially hesitant.


-Fitteds-

Okay, so maybe this should be singular, because I only used one type of fitted, and that was the Cloth-eez size small snap fitted. Fitteds are crazy absorbent, but they are also bulky, and expensive, so this was my nighttime go-to, with a Geffen Baby quick absorber. This combo gets us through the night without leaks. I didn't buy these until he was a couple weeks old, so I just went with the size small instead of the newborn.



-Pinning A Prefold Around A Newborn-
I thought my first set of newborn prefolds were too small for pinning three years ago, but it turns out that I just didn't really know how to put them on.
This is a SUPER quick, easy, and fool-proof way to put a prefold on. You will be able to use your prefolds far past when you'd think they will no longer wrap around.


1. Slide the prefold under baby, lining the top up with their belly button.

2. Grab the two sides of the prefolds in the front and tri-fold them together. This should make a nice little pocket right under their bottom, which will help contain some poo.

3. Fold the front up to their waist.
If the prefold is the perfect size, you will be able to pull the wings around and pin it.
If the prefold is too small for the wings to overlap the middle, fan the middle section apart until they can.
If the prefold is too long, fold the top down before pulling the wings around.

4. Snappi or pin that baby up!

In part 3, I will be sharing the fun part- my experiences and recommendations of newborn diaper covers

**This is not a diaper you see recommended on cloth diaper blogs, which I think is majorly due to the fact that we can't be compensated in any way for it.
I don't blame bloggers- because you can't work for free, or I guess, PAY to work. Since Green Mountain Diapers doesn't have any kind of affiliate, or even reward referral program- you need to buy these products outright yourself. and then, you can't be compensated for the time of testing and reviewing them anyway. It's just difficult, because bloggers don't have access to these products in the way they do others.
I don't blame GMD, either, for not having any kind of program, because I know it is not feasible to every business. Though I really hope they do some time in the future! They are an absolutely amazing diaper company. Their Cloth-eez brand is probably the highest quality of any diaper I have ever used, and they are an amazing resource of information. I highly, highly recommend them, and am thankful that they were recommended to me!





Okay, I am SO unbelievably excited to share this newborn cloth diaper series!

I had never been successful in cloth diapering a newborn before now.
With my first two babies, I attempted to, but both were a failure.
In this three-part series, I will share why I failed, what I learned, and what worked for me.
Hopefully my mistakes and recommendations will ensure YOUR success, from the start.
What makes cloth diapering a newborn hard
It is a really hard thing to test newborn cloth diapers, so I have been anxiously waiting for the opportunity to do so! The newborn stage is SO fleeting, if you don't figure something out within a few weeks, you'll be on to one-size diapers and you won't have that chance again until you have another baby.

There are a few factors that make cloth diapering a newborn what I consider a "special circumstance". These are things you need to realize in order to have success in cloth diapering at this stage.

The first is that newborns are small. Like, really small. The first two weeks, especially, even a "big" baby still has skinny limbs and a small body that make one-size diapers loose or bulky.

The second is that with their tiny little body mass, these little humans are super soakers, and usually super-poopers. Their output is unbelievable.

So, you need something that will both fit their tiny frames, and be able to withstand their wetting.


The advantage of cloth diapering a newborn
Using cloth from the newborn stage has it's perks. And they all revolve around poop.

The first is that newborns poop. A lot (usually). You will go through so.many. diapers. When you use cloth, you aren't throwing money away in the trash because your baby pooped 18 times in one day.

The second is that cloth is MUCH better at containing these sometimes explosive newborn poops. Disposable diapers are notorious for blowouts, but cloth hasn't failed me yet. 

The third, is that cloth diapering from the beginning is easy because the poop is so easy to deal with. Exclusively breastfed (and probably formula-fed*) poop can go directly into your washer without needing to remove it (like you'll need to with solids). It is water-soluble, so it will wash right away in the washer.

*It's undetermined whether or not formula-fed poop is water soluble. It's another one of those things that people (cough Fluff Love) get their diapers in a bunch over. Many people wash without rinsing with no problem, but it is your choice whether you want to or not.

Meconium. There is still a lot of false information floating around about meconium. It is, in fact, also water-soluble, isn't anything special, and can go directly into your washer. It is more likely to stain, apparently, but trust me, it's not as bad as the blueberry poops you're going to have.

Diaper changes
For an older baby, you can expect to change their diaper about every two hours.
For a newborn, it's usually about half of that, or more frequently.

When my newborn baby is awake, I basically just change him all the time.
I don't ever want him sitting in a wet diaper, and I never know when he is just going to fall asleep for hours, so changing frequently is really good idea.

My advice: Don't watch clocks, because time gets away from you with a newborn.
Get in the habit of changing with events- change before feeding, after feeding, and/or upon waking.

Sometimes it would only be about 15 minutes, and I will change again because he has already peed. Or you will end up changes like twice in a row, because they pooped, again. I was really thankful to be using cloth then.
It sounds like a lot, but the long stretches of sleep without changes kind of balance it out.

Even with changing this frequently, you need something super absorbent.
This is WHY I failed my first two attempts. My babies would soak through their diaper and clothes in one pee, and I couldn't do it.

I will go over the best insert choices more when I talk about the absorbency I chose, in part 2 of this series.

What diapering system I chose
I ultimately ending up choosing the most popular newborn cloth diapering system: covers with prefolds.
My main reasons were:
  1. This is the most economical choice. For the short amount of time they will be in the newborn stage, and the amount of diapers you will need just to get through a day during this stage, this system makes the most financial sense.
  2. It is generally one of the most absorbent choices of diapers, if you choose the right prefolds.
  3.  This is pretty close to my normal one-size system, which I am using for my "big boys", and love.



First time mom, or new to cloth diapering?
I always, always feel the need to take pressure off of new (cloth) moms by saying you do not HAVE to cloth diaper from day one.

Yes, washing diapers is easy, and cloth diapering is easy, but it does come with a learning curve. This can be very stressful for someone who is just learning how to take care of another human, period.
You do what you feel comfortable with.

I DO recommend using newborn-specific cloth diapers if you want to cloth at this stage, because most one-size diapers don't generally fit until around two months old. If you just want to wait until then to use cloth, then you do that!

If you are completely new to cloth diapers and looking for all the basics, my complete guide to cloth diapering can help.

In Part 2, I go over my absorbency options. Which prefolds did and didn't work. I will also touch on flats, FST, fitteds, and overnights.

Follow me on Blog Lovin' so you don't miss it!
 



 
I am really excited to share this post.

If you know me at all (through Instagram, most likely), you know that I have had three babies in the past three years.
For each one, I wanted to go disposable-free for my recovery, but it wasn't until my very recent third baby/birth that I made the commitment to do it.
This post may contain affiliate links. Purchases made through this links pay me a small commission for my referral, at no extra cost to you. As always, I don't ever link anything I don't or wouldn't use myself.

Why did I want to give up disposable postpartum products?
I chose cloth for myself for the same reasons I chose to cloth diaper my babies: the comfort of cloth, the reduction of senseless waste, and the better quality and durability of reusables.

Oh, hey, I think it goes without saying, but this post is going to share some pretty detailed information about my postpartum bleeding and leaking breasts. I'm definitely not one to shy away from natural body topics, (as you'd know if you've read my menstrual cup post) but if you are, maybe this post isn't for you.
I'll go back to talking about baby poop next week.

Postpartum bleeding happens in stages, from heavy, to medium, to light, as it tapers off.
It varies a lot between women, and births.

The first 24- 48ish hours is usually the heaviest flow.
You have just pushed out a human, and an organ that your body grew to sustain this human while they were in there. This organ has left a hole the size of dinner plate in your uterus, so it's still bleeding pretty good.
This is the time where a lot of people wear Depends or other disposable adult diapers/incontinence underwear.

I know a lot of people like them, but I absolute loathe them.
My experience with Depends has been that they're uncomfortably paper-y and don't breathe, so they become sweaty and itchy.

I knew I wanted to get back into my normal, comfortable, cotton, granny panties the very night I gave birth.

It's probably worth noting that I give birth at home, so I am in charge of getting my own supplies for after the birth. I simply didn't buy disposable pads or incontinence pants, so they weren't an option that my midwife had prepared for me after birth. Since I didn't have a choice when it came down to it, it was an easy commitment for this birth. I would be really interested to hear about someone using cloth from hour one in a different birth setting.


What I used instead
I purchased a few 14.5-inch (like, HUGE) postpartum cloth pads, which I used to line my underwear, then I used flour sack towels on top of them.
I didn't fully trust cloth pads, "postpartum size" or not, to catch this kind of bleeding, nor could I afford, or justify, buying an entire stash of these huge pads that I would use for, like, two days.
I simply changed out the flour sack every time I went to the bathroom, and replaced the big ol' pad at the bottom if they happened to leak through on it.

This worked FABULOUSLY.

I did this for about a day, until my bleeding let up, then I started using it only at night.
Another note: I did hemorrhage with this birth, so my bleeding let up a lot earlier than most.

Bleeding had let up significantly to normal period flow by day 2-3. I switched to using heavy flow cloth pads.

A few days after, I was down to just using liners.

Or, rather, I could have been. I didn't have many liners in my stash at all, so I had to supplement with the heavy flow pads. I forget about postpartum recover, no matter how often I've been through it in the past three years.
I forgot light bleeding and spotting can come and go for weeks, so I wish I had stashed up on way more liners.

This is one thing I would have not had any issue investing in, either, since I do use liners in back up to my Ruby Cup during my cycle. So, I kind of regret that.

What made up my stash
Beside flour sacks, I had three different styles of cloth pads, because I wanted to try a variety to share:
  1. PUL-backed, fleece-topped pads from Buttons Diapers
    PUL backing makes these completely leak-free, and fleece on top gives a stay-dry feeling.
    I personally am not a fan of fleece, because it can also be kind of sweaty.
    Some people complain about PUL backing sliding around on pads, but I didn't have that problem THIS TIME. I used these before, and I did. It all has to do with what type of underwear you're wearing. Snug, cotton underwear keeps them from sliding.

    These pads are shockingly absorbent, though they're very thin. They are super affordable, starting at $15 for three small pads.

    Also available at Diaper Junction


  2. Hidden PUL, cotton-topped pads from Imse Vimse
    These have the PUL in them, but they have an extra layer of cotton covering it to prevent any kind of sliding. They're all organic cotton, which can be more prone to staining, but I personally find it way more comfortable than fleece.
    These are thicker pads, but ultra absorbent. They were my absolute favorite, because I just love cotton. I also like the white, because I like to track my bleeding.

    They are also extremely affordable, starting at three for $19, for liners
  3. Fleece-backed, cotton-topped pads from various Etsy shops
    Leak-resistant fleece is used for backing, instead of PUL. I purchased ones with both cotton flannel, and woven cotton topping.
    I recommend the woven over flannel, since flannel becomes pilly and ugly.
    Fleece backing ensures they don't slide at all.
    These are comfortable and work great, though the fleece does get pilly and ugly pretty fast.

    My favorite of these were from Yurtcraft (I used her postpartum pads). The other Etsy pads I tried, I don't like enough to recommend.

How many cloth pads do you need for postpartum recovery?
This was one of the biggest questions that I had when looking into buying them while pregnant. I realized the rule of thumb is the same as with cloth diapers- plan on changing about every two hours, when you use the bathroom. Simple!

Don't forget the cloth nursing pads
The first disposable swap I knew I was 100% going to do this time was cloth breast/nursing pads.
This is such a simple, and pretty affordable, choice.

I went basic and bought some cotton pads from this shop here, which I really liked. They're so comfortable and can be purchased in so many cute patterns.
They do soak through fast during those really leaky days, but like diapers, I change them immediately once wet. A set of six was enough for me because I do a load of laundry daily.

I wish I had tried a few others, so I had a few more options to share.
I know Imse Vimse has some PUL-lined ones, and I am also REALLY curious about the wool ones, because I love wool.

I personally don't use nursing pads very much.
I'm really leaky** the first couple of weeks, where I will need to switch the pads out for new ones almost every nursing session. I also used them to protect my clothes from nipple butter, (psstt... I used my herbal balm and found it SO soothing!), but beyond that, I don't really use them unless I'm going out. Which is like, never.
In fact, I still have disposable ones left from the one box I bought for my first baby, haha!

**I cannot recommend getting a silicone breast pump enough!! It will save all that leaky milk (and then some) in those first few weeks. It was one of my best baby purchases EVER. I have this one.

Overall, I highly recommend giving cloth a go for the recovery of birth. It is so comfortable and super easy, especially if you already cloth diaper!

I would love to answer any questions you have about postpartum cloth, or cloth pads in general. I had an absolutely amazing experience using them for my postpartum recovery, definitely would do it again, and highly recommend it!



One of the many decisions you need to make when choosing cloth diapers is what kind of material you want to use.

Cloth Diaper materials can be split into two basic groups: natural and synthetic fibers.


Common synthetic cloth diaper fabrics are:

Microfiber- Usually made from polyester, this fabric is THE MOST common material for pocket diapers. It cannot be used directly against the skin because of the way it wicks moisture, it will also wick away natural oils on the skin and cause dryness and burns.

Charcoal Bamboo- This is often sold as "an upgrade" with pocket diapers, also. It is just another form of polyester microfiber, wrapped in dyed rayon microfleece, which makes them safe to use directly against the skin.

Pros of synthetic fibers:
  • Require no prepping- wash once, and wear
  • Dry quickly
  • Cheap
  • Fast absorbing

Cons of synthetic fibers: 
  • Prone to compression leaks
  • Limited absorbency
  • More finicky to wash, prone to stink issues over time

 

Common natural cloth diaper fabrics are:

Cotton- Cotton is a common material for flats, prefolds, fitteds, all-in-ones, and boosters. It can be found in organic, conventional, bleached, and unbleached options.

Hemp- Hemp is commonly used in flats, prefolds, fitteds, all-in-ones, and boosters, also. It is always blended with cotton, due to it's stiffness as a stand-alone textile, and it's slow absorbency. It is super absorbent.

Wool- Wool is a lesser-known cloth diaper fabric. It's most commonly made into diaper covers or pants, due to it's extremely absorbent properties. The care of wool can be daunting to some, since it can (usually) only be hand-washed. It is the only truly antimicrobial fiber available.

Pros of natural fibers:
  • Ultra-absorbent
  • Safe for babies with sensitivities to synthetics
  • Easy to wash
  • Trim
Cons of natural fibers:
  • More expensive
  • Slower to dry
  • Require "prepping"- multiple washes to reach full absorbency
  • More prone to staining

The deal with bamboo:

So, bamboo didn't make it unto either list. That is because it doesn't fall unto either list.
Bamboo, as a whole, does not make a very good textile. It needs to go through extreme processing to be used as a textile, which makes it rayon, a synthetic fiber.
Any cloth diaper you see marketed as "bamboo" is actually bamboo rayon.

It is always blended with another fiber, usually cotton, which is why it takes on some of the properties of natural fibers, but still remains partially synthetic.
It is a hybrid textile.

You can read more about the Federal Trade Commission's statement on "bamboo" textiles here.

Bamboo rayon is used in prefolds, flats, fitteds, and all-in-one diapers.

Pros of bamboo:
  • Ultra-absorbent
  • Soft (depending on amount of processing and how it's blended)
  • Requires no prepping, like synthetic fibers
  • Easy to clean, like natural fibers

Cons of bamboo:
  • Can be unpredictable as a fabric and shrink and warp
  • More expensive than synthetic fibers and cotton
  • Takes longer to dry



Each textile comes with it's own set of pros and cons.

As you know, I am always team natural fibers- specifically cotton.
I love how easily it cleans, the absorbency, the softness of it, and that it has a faster dry time than blended hemp.

It all comes down to personal preference, and which benefits you value most, and what works best for your own baby.

Most brands give you an option for a few different material types, so you can choose which you would like.
I hope this helps!
*This post contains affiliate links. I may be compensated for my referral for any purchases made through these links. Affiliate programs allow me keep bringing all the cloth love, so thank you for supporting Modern Bottom Babies! *

It almost feels ironic to write this review at this time, seeing as one of my latest, and most popular post to date, was all about why I QUIT using pocket diapers.

But, I've heard amazing things about the Thirsties OG pocket, and now that they released a NATURAL pocket diaper, I HAD to try it to share with everyone.

Updated: This post was originally sponsored by one of my favorite cloth diaper retailers, Diaper Junction.

Diaper Junction will no longer be brand-wide retailer, so the links will be changed in this post to support other retailers. But I still encourage you to support DJ and check out their brand of products!

The Thirsties Natural Pocket Diaper was released on July 5, 2018.


Features:
The Thirsties natural pocket is a one-size diaper, with an organic cotton lining.
It comes with two organic inserts- an cotton/hemp blend, and a 100% cotton booster, to customize absorbency.
It has double-openings to allow the insert to be agitated out in the wash (and to make stuffing the pocket easier).
It is available in both hook & loop and snap closure options, and comes with Thirsties' signature leg gussets.
This diaper fits from approximately 8-40 pounds, according to Thirsties.


It retails in at $23.25

What I Like:
If you know me at all, you know natural fibers are my go-to for cloth diapers. Organic is always a bonus. Natural fibers have so many advantages- from cleaning more easily, to being ultra-absorbent, and more trim than synthetic counterparts.
Exciting news! Thirsties listened to fan requests to sell these inserts individually, so you can now buy them to use with any pocket diaper or cover!
The inner cotton lining of this diaper is so soft and thick. It just feels like the Thirsties signature high quality.
The super-trim cotton/hemp insert alone got us through naptime.
I'm always amazed at how much hemp can hold, with how thin the insert is.

And with how large the openings are, the inserts DO agitate out in the wash with no issues. I would even trust a bulkier insert, like a flat to come out.
Remember this was my biggest complaint about pocket diapers in general.

I think the price point is right on. It is more expensive than most pocket diapers- but most pocket diapers don't bring you wonderful natural fibers, or the absorbency of this diaper.

What I Don't Like:
Not that I am surprised, after our experience with size 2 Duo Wraps, but this diaper fits big. Really big.
So much so, that I am really skeptical how it could ever fit on an 8, or even 12- pound baby.
My youngest is still on the lowest rise setting, as a runty toddler.

On my 22-lb 20-month old:
There's no doubt that this diaper would make it the 40 lb limit (my almost 30-lb toddler is still on the middle rise). It's a great pocket for bigger kiddos especially.

Then there's my common complaint about all hemp in general- the dry time is not my favorite. But that is the trade you get for the absorbency.
It actually did fully dry after an afternoon on the clothesline, so it really is not bad.

Overall:
This is an amazing contribution to cloth diaper community! One of the biggest issues I have about pocket diapers in general is that you are usually dished with a microfiber insert, whether you like it or not.
This diaper is absorbent, soft, and easy to use for caregivers and newbies.

Buy It:
Available from:
Nicki's Diapers
Amazon

Questions on anything I didn't cover? Comment below, or message me on Instagram!

Click here to see my other cloth diaper reviews!
To be honest, stripping diapers is not something I would consider myself and expert in, at all.

For good reason.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission for my referral. As always, I only share things that are completely legit and I would use myself!


Stripping cloth diapers is extremely harsh on diaper components (and time consuming, and annoying, and really wasteful of water), and should only be done in necessary circumstances.
 
With a good wash routine, you should never have to strip your diapers.

I think I stripped diapers once, shortly after beginning, when I realized the "cloth diaper detergent" I was using was not actually cleaning them.

Since using real detergent, properly softening my water, and having a solid wash routine, I have not had any need to strip diapers in the last two and a half years.
Psst... wondering HOW to properly wash diapers?

Being that I am not super experienced in it, I still wanted to lend my advice.

I have been asked a few times A LOT, because the topic of stripping diapers is something that is still obsessed over in parts of the cloth community.

It goes hand-in-hand with the myths of old, and unfortunately, there is some ca-razy information out there when it comes to stripping diapers.



I wanted to clear out some of those crazies right here:

1.  Dawn (or any dish soap) should stay out of your washing machine. It is an extremely effective de-greaser, which can break down the working components of your washing machine. It is also full of sudsing agents that can make a disastrous mess of your laundry room. It is great to use to spot treat grease (like "unsafe" diaper creams), but should be rinsed off before going into the machine. Other than spot treating (or washing by hand, I suppose), it should stay in the kitchen.

AND FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS THAT KEEP YOU SAFE, DON'T MIX IT WITH BLEACH.

2. You cannot strip diapers in a dishwasher. That's insane. That too, should be used strictly for dishes.

3. Just stop mixing things with bleach. It shouldn't be used with anything but laundry detergent, AND, more importantly, most of these concoctions aren't even stripping diapers. They're just doing some kind of crazy disinfection, but putting your health and safety at risk by using something beyond just bleach.


What does it mean to strip diapers?

Stripping diapers removes buildup on diapers from insufficient washing, like washing in untreated hard water or from using soap (vs detergent).

Soap doesn't wash away in machines (it needs more agitation, which you could only get from hand washing), so it slowly coats up on the fabric.
 Just the same, if you do not properly soften your hard water, the minerals will build up on the fabric.
Both will prevent the diapers from being properly cleaned, trap bacteria, and cause stink issues.


When should you strip?

As I have mentioned in a few other posts, STINK ISSUES DO NOT CALL FOR AN AUTOMATIC STRIP.

Most stink issues can be resolved by a few back-to-back washes with proper detergent, then tweaking your wash routine.

Generally, at most, a bleach wash may be needed to disinfect and kill the trapped bacteria, then tweaks to your wash routine to ensure it doesn't happen again.

IF you have been washing in untreated hard water, or with soap or fabric softener, and THEN you are having stink issues, and/or your diapers are repelling liquid, that is when you know you need to strip.


How to strip diapers

Always start with clean diapers. Only absorbent parts can obtain buildup, so leave covers and other non-absorbent diaper components out.

Stripping diapers can be kept extremely simple with these methods (choose one):

1. RLR- This product is specifically made for treating buildup on laundry

2. Grovia Mighty Bubbles- A laundry treatment from GroVia

3. Water Softeners- The mighty trio: Calgon, borax, and washing soda are all water softeners that help break down minerals in hard water. Use a couple tablespoons of each, if you have them all.

Mix one of the above choices with hot water in your machine (or bathtub, if you have an HE machine), and soak diapers for a couple hours. Agitate a couple times during the soak.

Run through a hot, water-only wash .

Follow up with a bleach wash (1/2 cup of bleach added to the load) to kill any bacteria that was trapped from the buildup.

Wash again with hot water only.

Then change your wash routine so you never have to do this again. 



We're seeing the beginning of summer cloth diaper prints being released, and are they good this year!!

As you know, when it comes to limited edition prints, they can sell out fast.
There's nothing worse than finding out about a print release too late, and then having to wait it out on the BST.

So check back here to stay in the know about all the cloth diaper releases, from all the major brands!
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase on certain links, I receive a commission for my referral, at no extra charge to you. Supporting my affiliates keeps my site running, so thank you!

Cloth Diaper Companies: If you have a new or upcoming diaper release this month, please feel free to contact me so I can get it added!

This posting will be updated throughout the month, as new prints are revealed and released.
All photos are click-able.

June 1 - 9
Cotton Babies' Lochy Ducky- Exclusively through Cotton Babies June Cloth Diaper Collectors Club

June 1:
Thirsties' Palm Paradise and Tortuga- Available through participating Thirsties retailers for a limited time

Buttons Diaper's Shortcake- Available through participating Buttons retailers for a limited time

June 4:
Lalabye Baby's Lily Bee- Available through participating Lalabye Baby retailers for a limited time


Mother ease Watermelon, Pink Flamingo, Sail Away, and Sea Turtles swim diapers- available through Mother ease
Bambino Mio Rainforest Collection- Available at participating retailers

June 7:
Lighthouse Kid's Company Funfetti and Red, White and Bloom- Exclusively through Green Path Baby for a limited time


June 8:
Thirsties' Good Fortune- Exclusively through Spray Pal for a limited time





Week of June 10-16
June 13, 10 AM CST:
Best Bottom + Planet Wise Grand Finale- Exclusively through Nicki's Diapers for a limited time


June 14

10 AM EDT:
Smart Bottoms' Independence Adventure- Exclusively through Lil' Tulip's for a limited time


10AM CST:
Lighthouse Kids Company's Beach Garden, Bug's Life, and Dream Weaver- Exclusively through Nicki's Diaper's for a limited time




June 15. 12 PM EDT:
Buttons' Cosmos- Exclusively through Diaper Junction for a limited time


Week of June 17- 23
June 18
10 AM CST:
Nicki's Diapers' Brainfreeze- New regular-lineup for Nicki's Diapers
12 PM CST:
Smart Bottoms Far Travels- Available exclusively through Abby's Lane for a limited time


BumGenius Playball! Series- Now available from Cotton Babies. This series comes with an interesting ordering process, so check it out!


June 19, 11 PM CST:
Smart Bottoms' Incognito- Available through participating Smart Bottoms retailers for a limited time

June 20, 10 AM CST:
Imagine and Planet Wise Palm Beach- Available at participating retailers

June 21, 9 PM CST
Lalabye Baby Sarchi- Re-releasing at participating retailers for a limited time

June 22
2 PM CST:
Buttons Diapers Antsy Pants- Available at participating retailers for a limited time




3 PM CST:
Lighthouse Kid's Company Violet's Garden- Available exclusively at Abby's Lane for limited time