Cloth Hybrid Diapers

Cloth diapers are not hard at all. I actually think that many of the hybrids I've seen are more difficult...require assembly, etc...

The key, in my opinion, is to get a diaper service, if possible. Washing them is the hardest part. If you get someone else to do that, it is totally worth the $ and sooo easy!

We use trifolds through a diaper service and cover it with a wrap. Easy as that! Dirty trifolds go in a pail - no rinsing. Diaper service picks it up once a week and delivers new clean ones. It ends up being the same price as buying Huggies.

Honestly, cloth diapers are way easier than most people think they will be. If you choose a convenient to use style (Tiny Tush one size, BumGenius one size, Happy Heiny's one size) they are easier to use than hybrids.

We had massive leaking with the disposable inserts for GroVia and Flip inserts did not work well for us either. Charlie Banana diapers are so small they we could not even use the retail sample they gave us. My 2 year old started screaming when I put it on her and when I took it off after less than a minute it had already made red marks on her legs and waist. She is only 30 pounds, so it should have fit her.

gDiapers worked ok some of the time, but again we had more leaks than we have ever had with regular cloth diapers

A large percentage of my Little for Now customers are people who started using gDiapers, got frustrated and started looking for a better solution.

I actually agree with Liz's (last post) observation about hybrids being more work at times. I have 3 in diapers now and we use a range of diapers for them. With the older ones we use 7th Generation "pull-ups" for school. We do have to use disposables when they aren't in our care and 7th generation is our brand (use wood pulp instead of chemicals to soak up stuff and they don't use bleach to make them). With our youngest (8 months old) I decided to try out hybrid diapers. I choose g-diapers not knowing that there were other options. I don't love them but do like that I can toss the used inserts (when he only pees) into our compost pile. Supposedly you can flush them but we live in an older house and I don't want to test our plumbing. If I had found the Flip system ahead of time I might have gone with those instead (they are cheaper but as compostable as g-diapers).
As far as cloth diapers we have used prefolds with snappies and prowrap covers and lately have made the switch to using all-in-one diapers (bum-genius) and really like those. They are just like disposable in ease of use; you put a diaper on the kid and when they are dirty you throw them in a pail (instead of a trash can).
However, I would also like to point out that I am a full-time stay at home Mom. If your baby is going into day care outside of the home and/or you are going to be working full time, I don't know if cloth work out as well. There are cloth diaper service around that deliver clean diapers and your investment in covers and a diaper pail.
One last suggestion that I have is if you are on Facebook (or use e-mail) ask your friends and family who are parents if they use hybrids/ cloth diapers and get there advice. I just did this and have been able to find folks who are ready to get rid of items because they realized that they didn't have time to use them.
Sorry for the long response; I have lots of cloth diaper info in my head right now:). Hope you get some great advice from folks.

I had prefolds with covers, BumGenius pocket diapers and bought gDiapers thinking they would be good for out and about. I hated the gDiapers! They were a huge mess when baby went poo. With my prefolds or bumgenius clean up was a breeze. And gDiapers are sized so you have to buy again each time baby grows out of their diapers. I think GroVia does come in one-size though.

If I had it to do over I'd go all one-size pocket diapers (like bumgenius or Thirsties) and call it a day! I take really good care of my diapers and I just had to replace the velcro on ours that are over 2 years old. But we only have a few (4) so if we had gone with all pockets they would last longer because you use them in rotation so the same diappies aren't getting used over and over. The newest version of BumGenius is designed to make refurbing them (changing velcro or elastic) super easy when the time comes.

You could also invest in a diaper sprayer to make clean up easier but if you breastfeed you don't even have to rinse the diapers. That comes once baby starts solids but then you get some biodegradable liners and it makes clean up a snap!

And get or make cloth wipes. I use them any day over the paper wipes. And it's another huge savings area.

Your hubby will get on board when he sees the savings! It is huge! I loved not feeling like I was running out to buy diapers constantly and literally throwing money in the trash can.

can't help you with the brands you mentioned, but my DH was very against cloth diapering, until he tried it. We use prefolds, snappies, and prowraps and the same man that said he'd never change a diaper if I wanted to use cloth, changes more of them than i do when he isn't working.

Good luck

My friend swears by her Flips!

both my husband and I really like the Flips! We tried gdiapers, and do like them, but they are more high maintenance than the Flips! We also use the disposable inserts, which are available for the Flips. They are quite genius actually... but a bit more difficult to use with a newborn breastfed baby and all that runny poo! Still love 'em though!

The makers of Bum Genius have a new cover- The Flip- which would be great for both of you. You can use a prefold folded inside it, or they sell disposable inserts very inexpensively (18/$4.99!!!) that contain wood pulp instead of all that dangerous gel. Check them out online- http://www.flipdiapers.com/ I really like them! :)

T.
Barefoot Books Ambassador
www.ReadandGrow.com

I just ordered Best Bottoms on Monday. Its an all in one, and I'm so excited to try it. I've never CD before but want to change my 18 mth old to CDs. I'll let you know what I think. But if you do a youtube search you can see some first hand reviews!! From what the reviews say this is one of the few "grow with your child" CD that could actually fit a newborn?

I'm eager to see the responses you get! Congratulations btw on your soon to be new little one :)

I vote BumGenius. Hubby & I were new to CDing and they gave us all the confidence we needed. I now refer to them as the gateway diaper, so easy to use! We are now a pre-fold family & haven't turned back. We love our cloth for more reasons than I can even begin to list. You might be able to find some gently used on diaperswappers.com our your local Craigslist. I have mine, we are not longer using , currently listed on CL. Good luck.

I highly recommend rumperoos, we've used them with my daughter and there super easy to take care of. The best way to think of them is just another load of wash. And let me tell you it is so satisfying, walking by the disposable daipers in the store. One less thing to worry about keeping on hand!
We didn't need the little joeys, just bought the regular adjustable size with the snaps. We know one tot who unvelcos her cloth diapers so whatever brand I'd go with snaps.
Oh and don't bother with the gdiapers, from what I've heard they're little better then no diaper at all.

My hubby was a little worried at first, too, but now he loves it! We started with BumGenius, and loved them! After 3 years, though, they're a little worn out, and we didn't know how to really take care of them at first, so that probably sucked some of the life out of them! I just got some gDiapers, and they look great! I am going to sew cloth inserts for them, and they should work very well. We've also used prefolds with Bumkins diaper covers, and that worked pretty well, but ds is severely skinny (1 lb 1oz at birth), and these were a little bulky. Try to involve hubby in decision of which to go with (you may have to drag him over to the computer!) Also, there is a website that lets you try several diapers before you buy them. Just do a google search and you should find it. I wish I knew about that option before we started cding! You both will love it, and will never go back to disposables!