Cloth Diapers Update {23 months in}

I started my blog, originally, to blog mostly about cloth diapers, then I changed to be about all things G, then it become just all things parenting / my life.

I can't believe, however, that's it's been SO long since I posted about cloth diapers. I figured I should do an update, seeing as how I've got nearly two straight years of experience (From newborn to toddler) using a variety of of cloth diapers in a variety of situations.

Moving across the country: diaper edition

When we found out we would be moving from Kansas to California, we had about two weeks notice. There were a lot of things running around my head; moving check lists, address changes, settling our lease terms, finding a new place to live, how to physically get to California with a baby... but I never even blinked when it came to diapering. We'd obviously continue our cloth diapering.

A year ago, I would have been scared to even think about moving with cloth diapers; but our experiences in cloth have brought us to a point where we trust them and prefer them over disposables. (I do hate to say that I did briefly blame cloth diapers for G's night-wakings about 2 weeks ago). I used to fear traveling with cloth because of the smell and hassle of changing--not to mention trying to find a place to wash them. Thankfully both of G's grandparents used cloth and are okay with me doing laundry at their houses. We've never stayed in a hotel longer than 2 days, so we've been able to skate by on our good size stash. The smell is contained in our awesome travel wet bags (one planet wise and one itti bitti). The 'hassle' of changing a cloth diaper versus a disposable is just something I've gotten used to, and pocket diapers that are pre-stuffed make changing G pretty comparable to using a 'sposie.

I wanted to share how moving across the country in cloth worked for us, incase you ever find yourself in a similar predicament.

Confession.

The almighty cloth diaper queen has fallen. Two days ago I bought a package of disposable diapers. Sad Face.

Baby G woke up FIVE times Sunday night, so no one really got a lot of sleep that night. She leaked through five diapers and we ran out of sheets. We resorted to covering her mattress with a large blanket and tucking it under (I know, not the safest in the world). The only diaper that hasn't leaked at night is my trusty Thirsties Fab Fitted/Hemp Insert/Duo Wrap cover and the only nap time diaper that I've trusted is my Mother-ease Sandy's fitted with Stay-dry insert and Londonware fleece cover. Other than that, everything has been leaking. My hemp solutions are not working as they had before moving to California. I don't know if it's the water here, or if baby G has turned into an even heavier wetter than before.  I have no idea what is going on, but I even tried "stripping" my diapers yesterday.

I'm on a mission to fix it, but for now...disposables at night time if the Fab Fitted is dirty :-(

SOS!

Cloth Diapers at Night, vol 2

A few months ago I wrote about our night time cloth diaper solutions. They've changed a bit since then, so I wanted to write an update.

I do laundry every other day, but sometimes laundry runs late, so I have three main night time diaper options. Sometimes G will sleep all night in one diaper, so I need them to be super absorbent because she usually eats at least once in the night and is a "heavy wetter" in general. Other times, though, G will go #2 in the middle of the night so we have to change her and don't need the capabilities of the diapers below. She's not predictable with the bowel movements, so I always have to assume she'll be in one diaper all night. I really wish there were a way to stop the midnight poop-scapades. Any tips are appreciated.

Thirsties Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway

Thirsties is first brand I remember learning about while researching cloth diapers during my pregnancy. I read such rave reviews about their products--especially the diaper covers and wraps. Consequently, Thirsties was one of the brands in my first-ever fluff purchase. I bought some Thirsties' Duo Hemp Prefolds (size 1) and an extra-small diaper cover. Until this review, my only experience with Thirsties has been with prefolds, inserts, and covers. Their hemp prefolds are the most absorbent diaper I've experienced (thirsty...Thirsties...get it?!?), so I use them alone OR as a night time doubler. But, as you've probably read around my blog, I'm over prefolds--ready to move on. I've been dying to try their other products because Thirsties is a very well rounded cloth diaper company.

Rationing Cloth Diapers

What does your cloth diaper stash look like? How would you describe you diapering style?

"Diaper Central"

My stash is more prefolds, with a growing number of pocket diapers. I have a few fitteds. I'd describe it as slowly growing. My cloth diapering style is "easy as possible." I don't want to mess around on the changing table, so I do as much work ahead of time as possible (stuffing, prepping, organizing). I want G's diapers to be as much like disposables as possible--in terms of easy to use.

Now think about your favorite diapers, you know, the ones you wish you had more of--but your budget just won't allow it--how particular are you about when those get used?

our pockets
missing only my black SmartiPants

Unfortunately, prefolds are way cheaper than pockets. So, I have more prefolds, which are not as easy to use. Prefolds aren't good night or nap time options for us, and they don't contain poop very well--unless I use a snappi, which isn't often because they aren't "easy." So when I know G will be sleeping, or possibly pooping, I use a pocket diaper. Like many things, not all pocket diapers are created equally. Some keep G drier than others, and some are better fits. Some stuff well and are still trim...while others stuff super huge and nothing really fits over them. In our house, I have certain pocket diapers that are night time approved and others that are only nap time approved. Yes, I may be crazy!

I call it "Diaper Rationing," and it's a daily occurrence in my household.

G takes 2 naps a day (one diaper a piece) and goes through one-maybe two-diapers at night. IF we go to the gym, I'll put a pocket diaper on her then, too. So I need at least 5 pocket diapers set aside each day. I have ten pocket diapers currently in rotation. Simple math tells you that I have just enough, maybe.

I'm going to miss sunning our dipes

I do laundry every other day, and sometimes diapers aren't dry in time and I'm scrounging around trying to figure out what to do. You can be sure laundry gets done in the afternoon if my night time diapers are MIA. I'll use my new Mother-ease fitted for naps and sometimes night time, so that helps fill the gaps now. I'll put G in a disposable (Huggies Pure & Natural) for naps before I'll use a prefold.

I have many different types of diapers in our stash, and they all have a purpose...but I sure would like it if I had enough of my 'favorites' so that the world didn't come crashing down when the diaper I want to use is dirty or drying!


Our ideal diaper "schedule" for now:

Day 1
Night Diaper: SmartiPants stuffed with microfiber, Thirsties Hemp Duo (or Hemp Babies) and Thirsties Hemp Insert
Reserve second night diaper: Microfiber and hemp stuffed pocket diaper
First Morning Diaper: Fitted to protect for any extra morning poop
Second Morning Diaper: prefold
Nap time diaper (or gym diaper, depending on the day): Fuzzibunz or OhKaty stuffed with microfiber and doubler
diapers between naps: prefolds
Nap time diaper: Fuzzibunz, Kawaii Baby, or Tots Bots stuffed with microfiber and doubler
diapers until bed time: prefolds

Day 2
Night Diaper: My new bumGenius 4.0 style Kawaii Baby stuffed with microfiber, Thirsties Hemp Duo, &  Thirsties Hemp Insert
Reserve second night diaper: Microfiber and hemp stuffed pocket diaper
First Morning Diaper: Fitted to protect for any extra morning poop
Second Morning Diaper: prefold
Nap time diaper (or gym diaper, depending on the day): Fuzzibunz or OhKaty stuffed with microfiber and doubler
diapers between naps: prefolds
Nap time diaper: Fuzzibunz, Kawaii Baby, or Tots Bots stuffed with microfiber and doubler
diapers until bed time: prefolds

Mother-ease Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway

I bought or received almost all of G's cloth diapers prior to her birth. She has started to outgrow her current diapers, so our stash needs to grow too. I've been looking around at some different brands--not because I didn't like our current brands--but because there are so many different ones out there, I wanted to see if we could improve upon what we already had.
One brand that I had heard about, but never tried is the sponsor for this review/giveaway: Mother-ease Cloth Diapers. Our Bradley Instructor used Mother-ease and highly recommended it. I thought the systems were a bit pricey, so I went with some other brands and received some diapers as gifts.
Now that my cloth diaper knowledge is more developed, I feel their prices are actually more conservative than I had previously realized. In my opinion, Mother-ease is competitively-priced and very high quality, all while being made in North America (Canada).  Mother-ease has been in the business since 1991 (US-1995), and was born from personal experience and experimenting with different types of diapers. By staying in the cloth diaper world for that long, I feel like they deserve some major respect.

I received the Sandy's system to review with G. Sandy's diaper is a two-size fitted style with extra absorbency sewn in. It's recommended for heavy wetters, over their other products (one size fitted style, classic white all-in-one, and the new Wizard Uno, Duo, or Easy Stuff Pocket diapers).

Specifically, G has been testing out the small Sandy's diaper, medium Air Flow cover in Savanna, and a small stay-dry absorbent liner.
  

---

prepped for bedtime

Fit. The style of the Sandy diaper is different from any other diaper we have. For starters, the diaper and cover snaps are on the side. I really love this feature because it helps me get the diaper adjusted perfectly for G's chubby legs yet trim belly. There are 3 snap options on both the cover and diaper.  I'm really impressed that the small diaper size (8 - 20 lbs) fits G on the second leg snap and first belly snap--it's really stretchy and I bet it will fit her past her first birthday. The large size is estimated to fit babies 20 - 35 lbs, with newborn and toddler sizing also available. The Air Flow cover is very roomy, so there isn't extra diaper fabric poking out--and comes in more specific sizes since it's not as stretchy as the diaper itself. G is in a medium (10 - 20 lbs) cover and she is on the smallest settings with room to grow in the rise, so I think this will fit her for a long time too. The liners come in small or large.

Quality Materials. I loved how thick and soft the Sandy's diaper feels. I only have one other brand of fitted diapers, but it in no way compares to the quality of Mother-ease Cloth Diapers. After three washings (beyond the first prep washes), it is still just as plush as when I received it. I have line and machine dried it--both methods work just fine and keep it comfy for G. The diaper doesn't feel stiff after line-drying, like other brands I have. The Air Flow cover is much different from the covers I am used to. It is soft and flexible. The inside feels slick, with water resistant materials, but it seems cushiony (you'll just have to try it to see what I mean). I always line dry my covers. The stay-dry absorbent liner is amazing. I don't know how it works so well, but it keeps G feeling dry on every centimeter of her body that the liner touches, while also feeling soft. My only wish is that the stay-dry feature was on the entire surface of the actual diaper!

Leak Proof. Fitted style diapers, in general, offer the best protection against dirty leaks because they have multiple lines of defense--the waist and leg elastics of the diaper AND the waist and leg closures of the cover. We have not had any leaks; wet or dirty. The Sandy's diaper has extra absorbency sewn into the middle area, right where it's needed. The small size holds up to 12 ounces, and the large size holds up to 15 ounces. The Air Flow cover allows breathability, while keeping G's clothes dry. I think the cover is a nice middle ground between wool covers and plastic pants--as it minimizes irritation, protects against leaks, and reduces heat inside the diaper area.

Ease of Use. These are not exactly the easiest to use cloth diapers, as there are several steps to using a fitted diaper. I get the liner situated on the diaper and lay G on top of the diaper/liner combo. Then I snap both sides (4 snaps) and then get the cover on top (4 more snaps), and then adjust the placement to make sure she is comfy. I suppose it would be easier if G wasn't SO wiggley, but she's at the age where diaper changes are harder than ever as she always wants to be on the go.


Green Company. "Mother-ease is a socially responsible, green powered Canadian manufacturer committed to exceeding customer expectations with original designs including natural and organic cloth diapers while leaving a minimal carbon footprint" (their mission statement). Since 2007, they've been producing cloth diapers with 100% green power.

---

You can purchase Mother-ease diapers on their website, as it is the best online resource for accurate product names and stats.

Mother-ease has also graciously offered one Letters from Momma reader a free Sandy's Diaper System. Enter to win using the rafflecopter form below. Open to US/Canada.

I received the above product to facilitate this review, and received no other compensation. All opinions are my own, yours may vary.

Cloth Diapers at Night

Do you cloth diaper?
Just not at night time?
Want to try cloth but you're scared?
Need a better night time solution? 

Try ours!
I'm not gonna lie, there was a time in our household where we used disposables at night. It was a dark, expensive, and occasionally leaky time. We didn't start out that way, it just became necessary when G got really bad rashes from cloth diapers.

Come to find out, it was because I wasn't using appropriate detergent & I wasn't using the right kind of diapers for night time. Because G wets her diaper a lot at night, using certain types of diapers (regardless of detergent used) caused her to get rashed up because the diapers wouldn't keep the moisture off of her. Certain diapers also couldn't contain the leaks, and that just wouldn't work for us because we want to be sleeping--not changing sheets.

Enter disposables with Destin and Rx rash cream. After about a week of that being our night time solution, I got really fed up because it wasn't what we had set out to do. Buying disposables, even if we only used 7 to 14 a week, was not part of the plan. We were determined to save money, be kinder to G's bottom, and help the planet. AND they weren't leak proof either!

I stripped our cloth diapers and started using cloth diaper detergent. Then I made sure to keep the diapers detergent-residue free (sometimes this is a very annoying task). Then I tried some different combinations of diapers/inserts/doublers to see what worked best. A few of our diapers weren't good for night time, but those that were, I share below!
In my honest opinion, the below solutions work even better than disposables at night time.

You will need to get a quality pocket diaper with a microfiber insert, a hemp doubler, & possibly another hemp insert depending on the thickness of the microfiber-or the level of wetness you are trying to protect against.

Microfiber, although not a natural fiber, absorbs the quickest. Many moms have found that if their baby pees too quickly other fibers can't soak up the wetness quick enough--and the diaper leaks. Hemp is the most absorbent fiber you can stuff into a diaper, so it's great for overnight. The combination of the two is the best I've found! 

Our night time line-up:

Tots Bots, SmartiPants, FuzziBunz, Rump-a-rooz

Tots Bots (sold in North America by Bummis) Easy Fit stuffed with its liner, 1 Hemp Baby Little Weeds insert, & 1 Thirsties Hemp Insert

OR Tots Bots stuffed with its liner and 1 Thirsties Hemp Duo Prefold
I have one Tots Bots and it is my preferred night time diaper. It holds in the moisture while keeping G as dry as possible. The nicest thing about this solution is the fit of the Tots Bots. It's stretchy in all the right places so that it closes around her legs and belly perfectly. The velcro allows for a customizable fit every time.

Our new Smarti Pants stuffed with its liner & 1 Thirsties Hemp Duo Prefold. This is my second favorite night time solution, due to my preference of velcro (Tots Bots) over the snaps (smartipants). This, as I state in my SmartiPants review, is a very trim fit, so her bottom isn't too bulky.

My third preference at night time is a tie between the medium one-size FuzziBunz and the Rump-a-rooz. I like the trimmer fit of Fuzzibunz, but don't really like the way it fits her legs.  I stuff the Fuzzibunz with its microfiber insert and a Thirsties Hemp Duo Prefold.

I like the double gussets of RaR, but it is SO bulky and doesn't fit G very well in the belly. Thus, the two are tied. I stuff the RaR with the two 6-r soaker inserts it came with, plus a Hemp Babies Little Weeds doubler.

SmartiPants (2nd) is the trimmest fit, the Rump-a-rooz (4th) is the thickest

The reason to have a good pocket diaper for night time is to keep the moisture off the baby but still contained inside the diaper. The stay-dry capability of part that touches the baby is really important, that's why I've listed the brands that work best for us (to give you some suggestions/starting points). The covers of the pocket diaper are important too, so that the diapers don't leak out the front or back. The real workhorses here, though, are the extras that I stuff the diapers with--as long as you have a quality diaper, the brand probably doesn't matter as much--it's the stuff you stuff it with.

Hemp Babies Little (or Bigger) Weeds Doublers/Inserts
Thirsties Hemp Prefolds and Inserts

 Check out my other diaper posts!

Buy some dipes at Kelly's Closet!

Diapering Lessons & Reviews

G in a thirsties' duo cover, 4 weeks old

To all parents considering cloth diapering:

As a mother who did a lot of research about the in's and out's of cloth diapering, and has now been cloth diapering for over 4 months, I'd like to share with you some experiences and reviews of products I use(d). There are many new products I haven't tried, and many brands I don't own. These reviews are products I use all the time and have experience with.
To view the post that I wrote prior to the birth of my daughter click here. It contains information about the various types of diapers, reasons to diaper, my expectations/thoughts about the topic before actually doing it, and links to various places.
Now, I realize that 4 months is not really that long, but trust me, changing diapers 24/7/rain or shine/number 1 or number 2, I feel like I've been doing it since the day I was born. I do advise you to do your own research, but I'm happy to be part of that as I consider myself an expert of sorts now because I have tried a variety of diapers and a variety of methods.

Ok, ready for the good stuff? 

Detergent.
This is lesson number one. For the first few months of G's life, I used Purex Free & Clear (PFC) based on the information found online that suggested many moms had good things to say about it. I didn't want to shell out the extra cash for fancy-schmancy cloth diaper specific detergent. I knew that PFC had the potential to build-up (that is, leave residue behind that could cause rash/irritation) due the fact it still contained brighteners/enzymes. So to combat that possibility, I read up on how to strip diapers (wash using dawn dish soap, vinegar, or a variety of other methods & then rinse a million times in HOT water) should said build up occur.
The long story short is that the build-up did occur, despite extra rinses, using less-than-recommended amounts, and a variety of other steps taken to remedy the situation. G got diaper rashes, especially after being in a wet diaper over night (the good news is that I can tell you how to keep a heavy wetter's overnight diaper from leaking at all). After several days in disposables and Zinc/Rx cream, she was all healed up...and I thought my diapers were stripped. I.thought.wrong. Back to disposables it was....I finally just bit the big-spender-bullet and headed over to my local diaper store to pick up some Rock In Green.
Lesson learned: just start with diaper specific detergent and save yourself and your baby's bottom the trouble.
Rock In Green (RiG) is awesome; it gets the diapers so soft, smelling new, and rinses out leaving nothing behind--but there are many other brands to choose from. Check out this chart, but stick with the good ones, don't risk anything below 4 stars. Or, at least don't say I didn't warn you.

Washing Method.
You've gotta find what works for your situation, and I tried a variety of methods before settling on my current one. If you have regular water and a top loader, try this:

• Use a diaper sprayer (we use Bum Genius Diaper Sprayer - love it!) to spray yuckies off your diapers before putting in the pail (I'd squeeze/wring out excess water). Put plain ol' wet diapers straight into the pail.
• Do laundry every other day so that nothing gets too smelly in your dry pail. I, and almost every modern CD'er, do not suggest the wet pail method favored by our mothers.
• Do a cold rinse and if you are not exclusively breast feeding, include a pre-wash solution, like Thirsties pre-wash or Bac-Out, to get rid of bacteria.
• Do a HOT LONG wash cycle with the appropriate amount of detergent (varies based on what you're using. For RiG I use 2.5 tbsp, for PFC I typically used 1/4 of the way to the number 1 line).
• Double HOT rinse.
• Do another cycle to make sure all bubbles are gone, if diapers seem like they need it.
• Line dry many items, but usually I tumble dry because it keeps them soft. I ALWAYS line dry my pail liners and my covers.  

line drying my diapers

 Diapering Product Reviews. 5 point scale based on ease, fit, and protection in my experiences with my daughter who is very long and average weight, with chubby-for-her-size thighs
 - Click on the diaper name to be linked to manufacturer's information.

Prefolds.  
*Thirsties Hemp Duo 4 
These are great absorption diapers. They definitely cost more than plain cotton prefolds, but they are worth it for heavy wetters/over nights. They do take a bit longer to dry, and are white so they may stain (nothing a little sun won't cure). They are easy to fold and are trim/thin under covers and clothes. I'd suggest having these in your rotation for sure. 
*Econobum 100% cotton 3 
These are pretty thick prefolds, which is a good thing for absorbency but bad for fitting under clothes. We used them even when G was to small to wear them. We put them under her while changing her so that the changing table stayed dry if she decided to go mid-change. She has just begun wearing them in the past 2 weeks. They aren't perfect fits when trying to fold 'angel-wing' style, but are great for 'twist' or 'newspaper' folds. For the cost, just get run of the mill prefolds, but I do like them. 
*plain cotton prefolds 4 
Cheapest way to diaper your baby. We got ours at our local diaper store, $20 for 12. I think you can find them even cheaper online. You can get a few different sizes that fit babies from newborn to toddler. They are easy to clean, and once you get used to them, they are fairly easy to put on. I would love to give them a 5 because I don't think they are that hard...but of course there is some work involved and they can add bulk to babies' bottoms.

Covers. 
*Thirsties Snap Duo Covers 4.5 
These, as I stated in my first blog, are great because they have the ability to fit what are normally two sizes of babies. They snap up or down to fit what equates to size 1 to about size 3 in disposables. They are great at keeping wetness in, and have only had a few blow-outs (nothing a disposable could have done about those either!). Come in snap or aplix close, but we only have the snaps and I highly recommend them, as aplix (velcro) will be easy for growing hands to rip open.
*Thirsties Regular Aplix (non-duo) 4  
These don't do the snap up or down thing, but fit great for the size they are for. I have the extra-small size aplix closure in these, and they were great for little babies growing fast in the waist. Aplix really allows for a customizable waist fit. The Duo type costs a bit more than these, but as stated, these will only fit a specific size, so you'll buy more in the long run. 
*Econobum Snap One-Size 2 
Don't waste your money. They came with a package deal I received, and I'm glad I got the prefolds that came with them, but the covers are nothing compared to the Thirsties, so don't buy them separately. 
*Bummis Super Bright 4 
Received hand-me down and despite being older, it's in good condition and hasn't leaked yet. I think the leg 'gussets' could be nicer. Overall, no complaints. 

Fitteds.
*Kissaluv Organic Hemp 4
Completely different fit than the regular (see below). I really like this fitted. It comes with an extra snap-in insert that makes cleaning dirties off a lot easier. Change these pretty soon after they get wet because it doesn't seem to keep moisture off G as much as I thought it would. I really like fitteds in general because they contain dirty messes even better and work nicely under wool covers. Not a perfect score because it is harder to get a cover over these than prefolds.
*Kissaluv (regular) 3.5 

The worst thing is the fit. I think these are for skinny thigh, chubby belly babies because the sizing is completely opposite what G needed. She's not 15 lbs yet but has been out of the "up to 15 lbs" size for a month. Also note, they will never be as soft as they are when you buy them. 

Pockets.
*Tots Bots 5
My absolute favorite diaper. I knew they would be from all the reviews I read before buying one on amazon during a sale. They are pretty expensive (in my opinion), but totally worth it...though I'd hold out for a sale and buy several. The insert is connected and easily doubled over inside. The velcro is amazing. The fit is PERFECT and there have been no leaks. This is a quality diaper imported from Scotland. Very soft too. BUY BUY BUY!
*FuzziBunz 4
Great option, very popular. The model I have doesn't have double gussets and that's my only complaint. It's very easy to stuff and add extra hemp inserts into. They fit very well--I like the double rows of snaps. Good middle of the road option.
*Happy Heiny's Mini One Size 2
These were a complete disappointment!!! I bought two and wish I hadn't. They leaked a lot! I think it had to do with G's shape, but still. They didn't fit great and after a few wet leaks and a few unfortunate dirty leaks, they're out of rotation. They may work well for some babies, but not ours. The positives were the size options and the very sticky velcro. They were absorbent, but the leaks came out the leg holes.
*Rumprooz 4

I thought I would like this diaper more than I did, but it is still a great diaper. It is super absorbent and contains practically all messes. We did have one dirty leak--but it was user (re: daddy) error. I really like the double gussets and the option to use one or both inserts it comes with. The inserts are very absorbent...the manufacturer calls them 6-r soakers because each insert is 6 layers and can typically handle even the heaviest of wetters. I also really like the double rows of snap closures. It didn't receive a 5 because it is pretty bulky when stuffed with both inserts. Also kind of pricey! 

All in One's.
*Lil' Joey's (by Rumparooz) 4
Very handy for little newborns and tired moms & dads who want to cloth diaper with no added hassle. This diaper requires no stuffing and even has an umbilical cord snap-down feature. It washes and dries pretty easily, but didn't really fit G very long. It says it goes up to 10 lbs, but seeing as how she was born almost 9 lbs, this was an expensive, short lived diaper. We have two that are in perfect condition for our next newborn ;-). Though they seem costly, if you don't give birth to large(r) babies, I think the ease may justify the price.


Miscellaneous.
*Thirsties Hemp Insert 4
Many, many layers of absorbency. Add to any pocket or prefold diaper...not perfect because it NEVER gets dry in the dryer when everything else does.
*Baby Kicks Hemp Insert 5
"Body shape" style insert, very absorbent and fits perfectly into most pocket diapers.
*Hemp Babies Little Weeds Insert 5+
This is a large wash cloth size, fold-able hemp insert. Perfect option to add absorbency for overnight. Add this to a Thirsties Hemp Duo and you've got a no-leak-guaranteed option for night time heavy wetters. My husband tried to use it a stand-alone prefold, but it didn't wick away moisture at all, so I wouldn't suggest it.
*Bum Genius Microfiber Insert 3
Compared to hemp inserts, these just aren't as absorbent. They do great at pulling moisture in and away from baby, but I wouldn't put it directly next to her skin. Use these to stuff pocket diapers or add absorbency to cotton prefolds.
*Kissaluv Pail Liners 4
The only reason these aren't perfect is because the inside of the liners seem to attract detergent in the wash and not rinse completely (so I take them out and rinse separately so the diapers aren't affected). Keeps pail dry & fits a kitchen size trash can (I use the step-can kind with a lid).
*Planet Wise Wet Bag 4
I use this for my on-the-go bag. I've never had anything leak through and the prints are really cute. The zipper is nice to close everything in. It hasn't seen a lot of use, but so far, so good.


Disposables.  
*Huggies Pure & Natural 4.5
These are the only disposables we've ever used (except the Pampers Swaddlers they used in the hospital) and the only ones I ever care to use. They are better for her bottom and better for the environment because they biodegrade faster and are made with more natural ingredients that typical disposables. They are, however, still a disposable diaper. That does mean, though, they are very EASY to use and get rid of. They are a pretty good fit. G is long and lean, but has chubby thighs (she got it from her momma). The tabs are very easy to apply and quite stretchy. I also like the 'wetness' indicator. I've only had one through-the-diaper leak due to heavy wetting at night. She has had a few blow outs in these diapers that got ALL over her clothes and anything near them...but I honestly don't think any other diaper could have contained those bombs. You will pay for the Huggies name brand, but if you are trying to find a 'green' disposable, you will pay more anyway...I highly recommend these.


Wipes.
We've not made the switch to cloth wipes. Perhaps with the next baby I'll suck it up and go for it!
*Huggies Natural Care 3
My biggest complaint is that they tear easier than expected. There are just better options out there, but they do their job.
*Kirkland's Signature (Costco Brand) 4
We received these as a gift and I liked them a lot. Hypoallergenic/unscented. They come in a big box, but each pack of 100 inside has its own reseal-able, travel-like package.
*Pampers Sensitive 5
My favorite wipe, especially the thick type.
*Up & Up Hypoallergenic (Target Brand) 4
Very good economical option.


I'll write more about the actual process of cloth diapering in another blog, I think this is plenty of information for one post :-)

One month old in her fuzzibunz