Try Cloth Diapers Risk Free

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Like Tweet

One Size Fits All

As with so many things, there is no simple answer as to which is better, one-size or sized. Otherwise there would be only one kind of cloth diaper on the market. My diaper stash includes a wide variety of diapers including sized Sandy's, Monkey Doodlez, and WAHM made diapers, one-size BumGenius, Mother-ease, Mommy's Touch and Haute Pockets and adjustable sized Bamboozles (comes in two sizes, but each size can be altered a little with snaps) as well as prefolds and contours. I have found that diapers pass in and out of favor with me over time.

One-size diapers are certainly convenient and economical. The idea of registering for 36 diapers at your baby shower and having them last throughout the diapering years is an attractive one if it means less hassle and expense for you. My daughter has been wearing the same BumGenius and Mother-ease diapers since she was two months old and they're still going strong at nineteen months. I didn't start using cloth diapers at birth though, and I have heard that it can be very difficult to get a good fit on a newborn from a one-sized diaper. The same goes for toddlers and very chunky infants. It can be very disappointing to buy a heap of diapers thinking you will never need any others, only to find they really DON'T fit your particular shape of baby. The most recent additions to my collection are one-sized Mommy's Touch and Haute Pocket diapers. I love them both, and my daughter has fallen in love with the fancy prints on the Mommy's Touch. She requests them specifically and calls them her "Pretty bums" but a quick examination of the akward size snapping procedure on them would lead me to believe I would not have liked them at all for a smaller baby.

Fitted diapers seemed like a waste to me when I started out. Each size would only last a few weeks or months at the most right? But it turns out they can offer a really fantastic fit for quite a long time. I'm pleasantly surprised that I can still use the smallest size of prefold tucked into a medium Bummis Super Whisper Wrap, just like I could when my baby was only a few months old.

At nineteen months and twenty four pounds my long, lean girl can still fit into the small Sandy's fitted diapers, and the Bamboozles I folded down for her at three months are still in heavy rotation too. Sized diapers can fit so nicely under any cover and offer a really trim fit and the right amount of absorbency for each stage. I do find that the sized fitted diapers last longer than sized All in ones though. Diapers with PUL built in to the size, like Monkey Doodlez or BumGenius All in one just don't have the same give. With sized diapers I think it would be practical to think of using two sizes of diapers, as opposed to being afraid of having to buy three or four sets. With that in mind, you will have a small set of diapers and a larger set (for instance many people go right through potty training with medium Fuzzy Bunz and never go up to a large while others skip medium sizes completely when their little ones pack on the pounds and go right to large) and your baby will always have a diaper that fits comfortably without being too bulky or too low-cut.

After much experimentation I have decided that I personally really like one-size when it comes to pockets and all-in-ones, which I use for sitters and away from home, but I also really like sized fitted diapers, which I often pair with wool for overnight and around the house.

I always encourage people not to commit to one kind of cloth diaper until they've tried a few and figured out what works best for them and their babies. Some say BumGenius 3.0 one-sizes are better for skinny mini's but Fuzzy Bunz sized diapers work best on chunky monkeys and there's no point buying a lot of diapers that you don't really like. There are plenty of cloth diaper Trial Packages available that let you experiment without breaking the bank. What works for me may not work for you, and what works for you today may not work next week, but there are still great cloth-diapering solutions available that fit everyone.


- by EdenSky

27 comments:

Anna said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on so many different types of diapers. It's always great to hear what's working for someone else.

Upstatemamma said...

Hmmmm... you use the small prefolds in medium covers huh? I may try that. If I have any medium covers lying around. My pfs are getting no love because she outgrew them and I did not like the bigger size. It never occured to me to try small ones in a bigger cover.

Shaun said...

I'm so glad that I kept an open mind when trying cloth. I started with a few Haute Pockets and Mommys Touch AIOs, then I was lucky enough to win six bamboozled fitteds and covers, THEN I was lucky enough to have a friend sell me some very gently used PFs. I have to say, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the PFs and the fitteds. I like the OS and the AIOs ok for being out and about and for the sitter, but I prefer the PFs at home. My dd is tiny (2 yrs, 24 lbs) and the OS and the AIOs give her a HUGE bubble butt! Plus, for us, it's way more economical to use the PFs and the covers. Although, I would LOVE to try some different OS to see if they fit differently.

Valerie said...

I wish I had thought of using my small pf's in a medium cover! I just assumed it wouldn't work and sold them all! Now I use all one size diapers. Though I may have to get out my medium fuzzi bunz and see if ds can still wear it! Thanks!!

Katie said...

Thanks for the great post. I have tried many of the similar ideas. What has worked well for us: prefolds with covers during the NB and early infant stage and then on to OS diapers. I have two in diapers (hopefully not for long, we are potty training) and the OS is the easiest option.

Shanaka @ Mama Bee Does said...

I agree with not committing to one certain diaper until they have tried many. I made that mistake and now Im making my way around the cloth diaper block.

Suzy said...

I learned that one sized aren't the best for newborn, they didn't fit my niece when she was born, but they fit great at 3 months.

hosiewosie said...

good comparison. thanks for the info!

Jenn said...

i agree to try more than one type of diaper :) i prefer pockets but have used almost all kinds over the few years i have CD . thanks for sharing your ideas !!

Jenney said...

I also love my Haute diapers-I bought 3 used ones and they go through the wash at least twice a week!

the monkeys' mama said...

I thought I posted on here but I can't find it! So, please forgive double posting (or just delete!) but I had to chime in--

We bought ALL onesize pockets and they were all we knew until we branched out and tried a few covers (gDiapers) with inserts (usually BG newborn). Now i wish i hadn't gone the ALL OS route because using covers + inserts are so easy and fun!

But, i still love my pockets so it isn't a huge loss :)

MaryAnne said...

This is a great post. You are right that some fitted mediums work for a LONG time, so they can often work nearly as well as the one-size diapers (and are sometimes cheaper)

Gwenn said...

It's good to know that I may be able to use my pf's a lot longer than I had anticipated. Thanks for a great post!

Slee said...

I totally know what you mean about not over commiting to one style without trying the other. But i'm definitely going to have to try small prefolds in medium covers, because i suspect that my aunt is sending me more prefolds, and snapdragon is growing and growing!
it makes perfect sense though, to use smalls in the mediums for less bulk with all the absorbancy, because the dipe doesn't have to be pinned like it would if you were using plastic pants. so brilliant.

Tiff said...

Great post. I agree, it's a good thing to have a variety diapers to see what works best for your baby. Thanks for sharing!

A Psych Mommy said...

Thanks for sharing! I like a variety, myself--but I mostly have one-size diapers

Ashley said...

I was also puzzled why people would buy sized diapers when I first started... It seemed like such a waste! But really, sizes can last for a long time like you said... a lot of fabrics can be stretched!

I am in love with your daughter. :)

Minnie said...

I love hearing about other brands. Having started cloth later in the game (dd was 10 mo. old), I chose my diapers based on a recommendation from a friend and stocked up on one brand, (Bum Genius). While I LOVE their diapers I soon realized that I wanted to expand my horizons and just recently started trying other brands. My new favorites are Swaddlebees & Kiwi Pie One Size diapers. <3 <3 <3!!!

Unknown said...

Thanks for this post on all the different kinds of cloth diapers. I am very new to CD'ing and it can be so tempting to just pick one type and buy several of them, so thank you for all the wonderful advice!

Amanda said...

Your little girl is just precious!!! thanks for sharing your experiences!!!

dirtydiaperlaundry.com said...

I like to use our infant sized prefolds in g diaper covers.
When starting cloth we knew OS was the way to go for us. I have come to try all different brands, Haute Pockets OS, Blueberry OS, Bum Genius 3.0 Pocket OS, Bum Genius OS Organic AIO, Coolababy OS Pocket (the ebay diaper), and Happy Heiney OS.

By Far my favorite OS has been the Organic BG. I suggest it to everyone I know!

Tiffany said...

I wish I had known about the cloth trial packages when I started...it really is a bit of a science experiment, isn't it?

Not to be another echo, but I hadn't thought to try smaller prefolds in a larger cover. I have been snappi-ing...but I could easily just lay it in, couldn't I?

Dani V. said...

For economics I'm all about prefolds with a thirsties cover for newborn. Then I went ahead and have been using imse vimse one size fitteds with a thirsties cover. My boy was able to wear the one size from around 2 months old. He was born at 8 and a half lbs though.
I've been happy so far and would continue to use this system with any future kids since I know it will fit. Thirsties have never failed me with sizing on my 2 boys and the fitteds are easy to size because they don't have snaps or anything.

I like the flannel one sized for during the day and terry one sized for naps and night.

Dani V. said...

Oh, I forgot to add that with my older son I started cloth diapering him around 4 months of age and I tried AIO's, prefolds, and sized fitteds. I didn't like the Kushies AIO's but I did appreciate the thirsties AIO's for when I left the house. The sized fitteds were fine but I didn't like that they didn't last very long and I would have had to purchase more. I've always used thirsties covers but would be willing to try other double gusset covers. I'm looking to try the blueberry one sized double gusset cover next time I need covers.

Serena Michelle said...

Tiffany: Fastening the diaper via a snappi or diaper pins always yields the best "results." The lay-in method works too - but more often than not the cover will get soiled as well! However, if the diaper has been fastened snugly with the snappi or diaper pins then it will contain any soiled messes and allow you to reuse the cover (so long as it's aired out between uses).

-Serena

Heather S said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! There's so many different types of diapers and although some work for one person doesn't mean they'll work for you. It takes experimenting with that you want to try! Some like the AIO, but you may like fitteds better! Thanks again!

Kelly said...

Thanks for the great comparisons. I was a prefold mama for so long then tried both BGs and FBs and fell in love with pockets but have gone back to using prefolds around the house without covers especially when my boy gets a little red in the tush. And with my newborn, the prefolds & Super Whisper Wraps are the only thing that fit her so far. And the 2 Rocky Mtn. dipes I have. (I haven't tried the BGs on her since her brother is using them and I don't want to hassle with snapping and unsnapping the rise)