Author Topic: Used Cloth Diapers  (Read 10174 times)

iamsoners

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Used Cloth Diapers
« on: April 22, 2013, 12:35:46 PM »
We're getting ready for the arrival of our mini-mustache and as part of that have been researching and stocking up on cloth diapers.  As a good mustachian, all I can say is, wow, the competition for used cloth diapers is fierce.  I'm talking about showing up at garage sales 2 minutes after they start and three moms are already there, two of them fuming because someone swept in and bought the whole box before they could even start.  And we went to a used diaper consignment sale--it was a frenzy. There must have been 60 women there, again swooping up everything within 15 minutes of the sale opening.

I'm just not that competitive.  I threw everything we needed onto our registry and have gotten all the covers and a good number of liners. I'll use them for (God willing) multiple mini-mustaches and sell them for 80% of retail.

Crazy.  Is the used diaper market this strong in your neck of the woods?  I keep trying to figure out how to profit off of this apparently very dedicated sub-culture.

Johnny Aloha

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2013, 01:53:15 PM »
We bought about 14 sets on Craigslist for an average of $10 each.  There were some cheap knock off versions for $6 and they work just as well.  We were finding new sets to be around $18, and the used or cheap versions were just as effective.  There were no stains, smells, etc.

Congrats and good luck!

Erica/NWEdible

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2013, 01:58:57 PM »
Yes, but only for "status brand" cloth diapers which is...how do I put this...fucking insane. Status / designer poop catcher? For realz? I like cute patterns and colors too, but c'mon....

We went with SmartiPants new. Cheaper than most and made in the US. It was about $300 for 24 adjustable size pocket dipes that got us to potty training at 2. The boy is still in them for overnights. Some leakage as the waterproof liner has broken down, but mostly they've done the job.

CNM

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2013, 02:14:11 PM »
Yeah, the used cloth diaper market is relatively competitive here in Santa Fe, too.  I bought some used diapers off of Craig's List but I ended up buying most of them new.  The used ones I bought were pretty well-used and the velcro closures were weak (as in, they would burst open a lot).  So if you go used, inspect the diapers closely and perhaps check out snap closures rather than velcro.  But, like other people already mentioned, you can get new sets relatively inexpensively.  I routinely see them go on sale on zulilly.com.  My favorite are a pocket diaper called Happy Heinies and for non-pocket diaper covers, Thirsties.

EMP

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2013, 03:37:57 PM »
Yes, but only for "status brand" cloth diapers which is...how do I put this...fucking insane. Status / designer poop catcher? For realz? I like cute patterns and colors too, but c'mon....

This totally gave me a facepunch.  I want the AppleCheeks because they're so much cuter than everything else, but they're so much more expensive.  I've been trying to justify this line of thinking with the thought that they'll have some aftermaket value once we're done with them. 

iamsoners

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2013, 04:36:26 PM »
thanks for the brand advice. We're starting with a very modest collection of Best Bottoms which we like in theory because the cover doesn't necessarily get dirty every time thus meaning, hopefully, we can get by with fewer covers.  I figure we'll try more and experiment after baby is here and we have a better idea of what we're doing.

yolfer

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2013, 12:19:29 PM »
Yes, but only for "status brand" cloth diapers which is...how do I put this...fucking insane. Status / designer poop catcher? For realz? I like cute patterns and colors too, but c'mon....

This totally gave me a facepunch.  I want the AppleCheeks because they're so much cuter than everything else, but they're so much more expensive.  I've been trying to justify this line of thinking with the thought that they'll have some aftermaket value once we're done with them.

Uh oh, we use gDiapers, do I need a facepunch too?

EMP

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2013, 12:29:26 PM »
gDiapers looked too complicated for me, with the little snap in liner and all.  I was planning on using the AppleCheeks as an insert + cover to save $$.  I tried to like the BumGenius and MotherEase and I even took a look at the SmartiPants, but I don't like the colors/style.  Maybe I'm crazy or need my mustache card revoked, but I'd rather spend a little more on a system I like to look at.  I don't plan to start bidding on the hard to find colors though.  That's a bridge too far for me. 

Also we plan on having more than one, so I don't think there would be much value for us in buying used. 

Perhaps someone with more experience would care to chime in?

Use it up, wear it out...

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #8 on: April 23, 2013, 01:04:47 PM »
We cloth diapered both of our children (daughter still wears a diaper at night) and the chinese prefold cloth diapers worked great for us! Nothing fancy, just fold it yourself, pin it with a snappi, and toss on a pair of nylon pants - voila! Darn inexpensive, too! Both my wife & I did diaper duty, so we know our stuff - we even taught my father to do it.

Edit: The prefolds wore well also - we passed them on to our neighbors who used them for 2 more kids! The only time we had to buy new was when they grew.

bogart

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2013, 02:01:59 PM »
thanks for the brand advice. We're starting with a very modest collection of Best Bottoms which we like in theory because the cover doesn't necessarily get dirty every time thus meaning, hopefully, we can get by with fewer covers. 

Um, we used FuzziBunz with Nurtured Family double-sided cotton inserts (and assorted others, our set was hand-me-downs) and we just laid the liner inside the (entire) cover, i.e. we didn't tuck it in the pocket.  Achieved the same effect, without needing the snaps.  This worked fine for us.  We would only tuck the liner inside the pocket (the way Fuzzibunz are intended to be used) if DS had an unusually pink, i.e., irritated bottom, a rare problem.  We typically used each liner once (obviously) and each outer twice between changes before washing.

CNM

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2013, 03:02:15 PM »
Yes, but only for "status brand" cloth diapers which is...how do I put this...fucking insane. Status / designer poop catcher? For realz? I like cute patterns and colors too, but c'mon....

This totally gave me a facepunch.  I want the AppleCheeks because they're so much cuter than everything else, but they're so much more expensive.  I've been trying to justify this line of thinking with the thought that they'll have some aftermaket value once we're done with them.

Uh oh, we use gDiapers, do I need a facepunch too?

FACE PUNCH!  No, I'm kidding.  I got a bunch of g-diaper inserts (very gently) used and I really like them.  They're absorbent and have a wicking top so baby's bottom feels dry.

We have a bunch of different brands covers and liners.  As far as I can tell, they are completely interchangeable. 

I don't see any reason to spend all of your cloth diaper budget on one brand.  In my experience, different diapers have different fits and different pluses and minuses.  They all work, but I have my preferences. So, instead of putting all of your eggs in one basket (or all of your money in one brand), I'd spread it out a bit.  Like I said, I really ended up liking two brands and identified what diaper features I preferred. 

Erica/NWEdible

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2013, 04:01:32 PM »
Well if I'm remembering my math right it's about $2500 to keep a kid in disposables for 3 years, right? And 24 or 25 cloth dipes are plenty...by the time you are past infant stage you don't even need that many...so in theory even the most expensive cloth diapers are a screaming bargain compared to disposables.

I think with brand it's all about fit for your kid, but I really liked the adjustable size diapers and I highly recommend snaps. The velcro ones we tried, event the super on-sale BumGenius (the velcro old style), were very disappointing.

I tried gDiapers when my cousin gave me hers (she was "not a cloth diaper person" LOL) and they were too confusing and then I screwed up the flushable insert thing and caused a major plumbing clog. :)

Getting a few of various styles before you commit and trying them out is GREAT advice.

CNM

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2013, 04:06:38 PM »
Oh and one more piece of advice, someone on a cloth diaper thread on this forum mentioned a facebook page where the organizer would buy a bulk, wholesale lot of cloth diapers and then sold them at wholesale to the facebook members.  I didn't try it myself but I checked out the facebook page and the diapers ended up being really inexpensive.  Maybe worth a shot.

EMP

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2013, 05:33:44 PM »
Getting a few of various styles before you commit and trying them out is GREAT advice.

I think this more of a case of know thyself.  I'll get annoyed by having to learn a bunch of different systems.  I bought four or five different types at a consignment sale and just thinking about all the differences was making me irritable.  That's when I knew I'd have to decide on one and just go with it.  If I don't know how good something else is, I won't miss it and I'll just learn to make it work with what I do have.

N

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #14 on: April 24, 2013, 12:40:14 AM »
yeah, it can get really crazy. I have gotten diapers from people on diaperswappers forum before, which you might want to check out.
or try to attend a local LLL meeting and ask around (la leche league) or other breastfeeding support group, because in my experience, many moms there will also be doing cloth. or an attachment parenting group, or babywearing group. get on those groups local yahoo lists and ask. ask around, ask on fb, etc, someone you know may be ready to sell or give away their stash. (not stache! :)

we tried many kinds and styles and brands. its so variable. size of baby/child, type of wetter the child is (super soaker? pees often?)

just in case you dont already know about EC (elimination communication) you may want to check that out too. saves even more diapers! :) I did a lot of EC with my second, and it was great.

really, prefolds are by far the least expensive option, they do the job, and afterwards, you have cleaning rags, bed pads, etc. I kept a bunch of prefolds and they get a lot of use wiping up spills :)

Justin234

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #15 on: April 25, 2013, 09:15:09 PM »
I will second or third prefolds - they are simple, cheap, and worked find for us (currently using them on twin A and twin B, after using them on our first kid). We bought about 36 new ones in four sets from Green Mountain Diapers (newborn Orange, Yellow, Red and toddler Brown). The only thing we splurged on was organic and unbleached. I'm planning on selling them in about a year and a half when we're done with diapers, recouping much of our investment.

The only thing we haven't conquered is overnight - no matter how we double things up they always leak, so we use disposables overnight.

In case anyone needs encouraging, I really think it is true that kids potty train earlier with cloth. Our son began being potty trained around 18 months and was sleep trained by two or so. I take a lot of pleasure thinking about all the diapers I haven't had to change because of that!

bogart

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #16 on: April 25, 2013, 09:30:00 PM »
We were also a disposables overnight family.

We did not find that cloth diapers facilitated potty training (neither did they complicate it), but on a positive note, the parent who uses cloth diapers is the parent who is accustomed to tossing pee-soaked fabrics in the washing machine.  Whether that fabric is a diaper or a set of underpants (etc.) doesn't much matter.  So in that sense I'll agree on the facilitation angle ;) !

jess

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #17 on: April 28, 2013, 09:47:59 PM »
Yes. And while it seems silly that the "designer" brands cost more - I have bought some CDs that I really hated - they leaked, the velcro scratched my baby's skin or didn't work at all, they held smells longer than others. Yuck. I think that ppl are brand specific because they know what they're getting. Grovias are my favorite (spendy!) but Flip covers with prefolds are a super affordable & reliable option.

homeymomma

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #18 on: April 29, 2013, 08:00:46 AM »
I use snap GroVias, with 22inserts, 5 shells, and 4 boosters for overnight. We also do EC, which I think is only easy for a stay at home parent, The potty cost less than $20. We should be totally done with diapers before 18 months (I'm super relaxed about the EC). The GroVias cost around $300. They are looking great so far, with about 6 months of use. With the combination of the EC, which will reduce the usage of the diapers so they can be used for more kiddos, I would not be surprised if our diapering needs are as minimal as a couple more shells for each new baby, maybe a few more inserts (in case diaper laundry is harder to keep up with with more than one kid.), and a toilet adaptor. This should total less than $400 for diapering for all of our kids. That equals less than 8 months of traditional disposable diapers!

We went with new because I am thinking of these as an investment in all the kids (for the future ones too). We got a stash given to us but couldn't get the stink out of them, so we passed them along to someone else. I'm all for being frugal, but I do also want to be able to be near my kid without wearing a noseplug.

Zoe

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #19 on: April 29, 2013, 08:20:24 AM »
I just bought 6 used pocket diapers off of ebay for $17.50 plus $10 shipping. I was shocked that I got them for so cheap! And they are supposedly a good brand. We've only used a few different brands so I can't comment much on cheap brands vs "name brand". BUT, you do get what you pay for.

At home we use the prefolds with covers. We adore the Thirsties brand covers. The Thirsties covers come in 2 sizes, but they work really well.

 For outings or going to the grandparents, we use the pockets because it's easier for them. Oh, and I went with the One Size pocket diapers. We like snaps, but some of the grandparents like Velcro, so we have a combination.
Overnight we use a specific pocket diaper with a specific group of inserts.
« Last Edit: April 29, 2013, 08:26:35 AM by Zoe »

Kaytee

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #20 on: April 30, 2013, 09:49:09 AM »
We were determined to cloth diaper as well, but per my husband's request and our complete lack of experience with babies, he wanted the simplest possible ones out there. Given that he's a SAHD and presumably changing the majority of diapers, he won that battle. Our toddler wears Bumgenius AIO OS and Fuzzibunz AIO OS. We bought 20 or so used on craigslist for $175. The rest were new or gifts. One option instead of a registry for a bunch of cute-cutesy baby crap is to ask each person to buy a cloth diaper.

Or you can shop around and then appreciate this meme. http://cheezburger.com/5815298048.

jess

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #21 on: April 30, 2013, 09:40:47 PM »
I think asking for cloth diapers for baby shower gift is a GREAT idea. I also admit, we use a disposable diaper at night because I've never had a satisfactory nighttime diaper situation with the cloth. So, if we are diligent and only use the 'sposie at night, that is 6 months of night diapers for $27.00, or $4.50/month. The problem with having disposables in the house, though, is that you will use them! (Or your husband will, in my case.)

Kaytee

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #22 on: May 01, 2013, 08:29:23 AM »
There is also Jillian's Drawers, where you can trial a bunch of cloth diapers and send back the ones you don't like, after you've washed them. http://www.jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/tryclothfor10/tryclothfor10

CNM

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #23 on: May 01, 2013, 09:01:43 AM »
Along the lines of diaper cloth trials, my local "natural" baby store is starting up a cloth diaper rental service/traditional diaper service (where someone comes and picks up the dirty ones and drops off clean ones).  I don't know the price or economics of this, but it's another possible option.

ABC123

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #24 on: May 01, 2013, 09:11:22 AM »
When I first found out I was pregnant my sister got me into Babycenter.com.  Someone on there started a thread asking if anyone was planning on using cloth diapers, and my first thought was "Why is an Amish person using a computer?"  I had no idea people still used cloth.  But I was intrigued and spent way too much time researching different kinds.  I bought a bunch of used dipes, different brands and styles to figure out what I liked and what worked for us.  My kiddos are in full time daycare (thankfully they are willing to use cloth) so the cheaper options like prefolds won't work for us. I eventually found BottomBumpers and that makes up our whole stash now.  I'm hoping my youngest decides to potty train soon (no, using cloth definitely did not lead to early potty training for us).  If you are looking to buy used, I highly recommend Diaperswappers.com that someone else mentioned above.  I found most of my stash there, saving a ton of money off of buying new.

iamsoners

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #25 on: May 01, 2013, 09:16:38 AM »
Quote
Or you can shop around and then appreciate this meme. http://cheezburger.com/5815298048

...I know, right? Mommybloggers are intense. More intense than personal finance bloggers I would venture to say...

Will check out diaperswappers but we're pretty set now after a couple of baby showers. like everything with having a baby, here's to hoping...

Kaytee

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #26 on: May 01, 2013, 09:36:38 AM »
Quote
...I know, right? Mommybloggers are intense. More intense than personal finance bloggers I would venture to say...

You might be right about that. Some of those mommybloggers can really try to make you feel like your parenting is highly flawed because your kids don't eat only the freshest of mermaid tears (harvested in season, of course) while engaging in highly enriching, Pinterest-based sensory bin activities.

CNM

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Re: Used Cloth Diapers
« Reply #27 on: May 01, 2013, 09:52:06 AM »
My baby only uses Diaper Thongs.  It prevents embarrassing diaper lines.

http://www.myspace.com/video/nichole/snl-diaper-thong-skit/55142013