Hellobee Boards

1. Do I REALLY need to wash the covers and inserts like, 7 times prior to first use? I remember hearing that/reading it somewhere and it has stuck with me.

I'm pretty sure 4.0s only need one wash. Natural fibers are the ones that need many washes. The packaging should have prep instructions.

2. Can I just use my regular old Tide Free n' Clear or is it necessary to order some of the fancier detergents?

In my experience, synthetic fibers (like those in 4.0s) are harder to get clean, and therefore it's harder to just use any detergent. We had good luck using plain, regular Tide. I think it's now branded Tide Ultra. We also really like Country Save. It's cheap.

3. Any other gear I need? I'm a SAHM for the time being, so there is no daycare situation to worry about.

Im assuming you already have wetbags and wipes. I like to use flannel liners to make poop cleanup easier. I just cut a big piece of flannel from JoAnn's. I also like Grandma El's diaper cream. Whichever cream you use, make sure it's cloth safe... Especially with microfiber.

4. Do I need to double up for overnight? Or order some hemp inserts?

I can't answer this... We use disposables overnight. I have been thinking of trying a Flip organic insert + hemp doubler for nighttime, though. The Flip organic inserts are awesome! I threw away my 4.0 inserts and use those if I need to use the 4.0 covers.

5. Oh! Also, for those who have the Bum Genius 4.0 type, I see that there are snaps on the inserts. Do they snap in place somewhere? I am clueless.

You can snap them down for sizing.

@Weagle: I love the Flip organics too! I threw out my 4.0 MF inserts because they just got used and weren't that absorbent. I would try it for night, it might work! You might also look into a Thirsties cover because they have a double leg gusset which is helpful for night sleeping.

1. Do I REALLY need to wash the covers and inserts like, 7 times prior to first use? I remember hearing that/reading it somewhere and it has stuck with me.

No. Wash once. It is the diapers with natural fibers that need washed 5-7 times prior to first use (and the inserts washed separately). BG 4.0's are fine with just one wash.

2. Can I just use my regular old Tide Free n' Clear or is it necessary to order some of the fancier detergents?

I know people that have used this without any problems but I personally would use a CD safe detergent. We actually make our own! Here is a site that lists and rates detergents: http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm

3. Any other gear I need? I'm a SAHM for the time being, so there is no daycare situation to worry about.

A wet bag for your diaper bag (2-3 so you have an extra when one is in the wash), a diaper pal linger or hanging wet bag for dirty diapers (we had 2 so we could put a new one on right away). Cloth wipes are so nice when using cloth diapers, just toss it all together (we just used water on the bum). Some people like a diaper sprayer but I wasn't a fan. Those I would say are the musts for CDing, especially at that age.

4. Do I need to double up for overnight? Or order some hemp inserts?

We used BG 4.0's with a NB or Ragababe insert inside and never had a leaking issue even with 12 hours of wear.

5. Oh! Also, for those who have the Bum Genius 4.0 type, I see that there are snaps on the inserts. Do they snap in place somewhere? I am clueless.

No. The snaps are so you can snap them down to fit inside when the diaper is at a smaller rise setting. They do not snap directly into the diaper itself.

Hope that helps and feel free to ask away!

@meredithNYC: We used a pail liner inside a Diaper Dekor but a simple trashcan will work just fine.

@meredithNYC: Yay! That's great! Did you find a diaper pal?

We used the SimpleHuman step on trash can with automatic closing lid lined with a planet wise diaper pal liner. I have also heard people loving a hanging diaper pal like the one from Ragababe or Fuzzibunz and skipping the trash can/bucket.

@meredithNYC: Glad its going well!

@meredithNYC: Glad you're off to a good start! Our stash is almost entirely BG 4.0s and they really are good diapers.

We ended up buying a trash can with a lid from Ikea (It's this one, although our store had it in all sorts of fun colors that aren't showing up on the website: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60045656/#/90099049)

I lined it with a wet bag, and the lid forms a good enough seal that there are no odor problems. That said, we keep it in the downstairs bathroom with the door closed, precisely to keep our son from opening it! If it is going to be in an accessible area, a locking lid might be a better bet.

Good luck!

@meredithNYC: we never fill it! we have 18 diapers and I am usually washing the lot when he is in his last 1 or 2.

Do you have a buy buy baby near you? Ours carries the BG4.0 and you can use your 20% off coupons or the $5 of $15!

@meredithNYC: We actually only have around 18 or so as well. We don't CD at night, which helps, but it also means that we always have a stash of disposables in the house. That, in turn, makes it very easy to just take a day off every few days while I do the diaper laundry. If you are committed to only doing cloth, you may eventually want a few more, just to ease the laundry pressure. I feel like I am talking myself in circles here (it's enough! but buy more!) - sorry... 18 is great, especially as your LO gets older and is changed less often.

Also, I hear you on the IKEA trips! They are great for stocking up on things, but I really need to psych myself up for them.