Hellobee Boards

@Ash: Yep, we CD too! It hasn't always been exclusive, but we've been doing it pretty much solid since Deere Boy was 2 months old- over 4 years ago! I lurrrrrve my cloth diapers. I love hanging them out to dry on my massively long Amish clothesline, lol.
I haven't tried a ton of different styles and brands like some CD moms, but I've tried a few and I've decided that the cover/prefold or insert system is pretty much it for me. It's affordable and probably the most practical type of system. I started out with Bummis Whisper Wraps and hated those because the Velcro wore out so fast (I always cough up the cash for snaps now, I've learned my lesson). Then I was introduced to the BG Flip system which I still love, there are some components of them that I wish were in my current system. I highly recommend the Flips for anyone starting out. My current CD love is the Grovia shell system. They come with their own snap-in insert, but I also use prefolds with them. They fit my skinny kids much better than the Flips did and I like the way they designed the snaps that hold them shut. But they're pretty pricey, so I'd still recommend the Flips (or the economy line from BG, which is just a pared-down version of the Flips- the Econobum) to someone just getting started. Ha! Not that you asked for advise, but I'm still giving it.
Oh, and I have some Rumparooz pocket diapers that a friend gave me and I didn't think I'd like the pocket diaper idea (because you only get one use out of the cover before you have to wash it), but I really, really like them for nights. You can stuff the pocket full of soakers and it keeps everything mostly trim and in place and works a lot better for the amount if pee a 2-year-old can put out in a night, as opposed to stuffing all those inserts into a cover.
The BG Flips, Grovia shells, and Rumparooz pocket diapers are all one-size, which I love and is pretty much a requirement for me. If I'm cloth diapering two kids (which was the case with DB and TG for a king time, not sure if TG will be potty-trained by them time Cricket comes or not), I don't want to be bothering with two sets of different sized covers. No thank-you.

@ms.janedoe: Lol, yes, for some odd reason,fluff shopping is super, super addictive.

@FarmWifeGina: Hmm, that's an interesting point about the pockets. I've kind of ignored them because I don't like the thought of stuffing and possibly unstuffing (depending on the diaper) and I like the re-usability of covers. But that's a good point about the night time diaper benefits. My plan was to use a fitted, like Thirsties, which was recommended here on Hellobee. Maybe when we get to that point I'll have to try both. Stuffing one diaper a day doesn't seem like a big deal.

Do you just use prefolds in them? Or some other material? (hemp, microfiber, etc.)

@MrsCB: I use the inserts that were included with them and prefolds, whatever's closest.

@Cara M. 17: Oh good, i'm not the only one using disposables lol! I have to go back to work full time and cloth diapering isn't really heard of here so I know no daycare/MIL will do it and it's not worth it to just do it when i'm home.

@FarmWifeGina: Have you asked the Classifieds? Maybe someone on HB has one

@Cara M. 17: @sweetooth: Thanks!!! We made the appointment at 12 weeks, so it's been awhile and its kinda crazy that its almost here! I can't wait to see him again- 4 more days! The 11th is our anniversary, but DH can't come because he has a required teacher workday. Instead, my sister is coming with me and then I'll stop by DH's school and show him the pictures

@MrsTiz: I'll be going back to work after 12 weeks. Our LO will either be in daycare or with a nanny, which is part of the reason we choose disposables.

@mrscb: It makes me sad that you have to hide CDing. I think it's a wonderful thing you and others are doing for your babies and for the environment (and wallets)! It's a shame people don't take the time to understand what CDing is in 2013.

@lilteacherbee: That sounds like a great day and I'm sure your sister is thrilled to come along!

@MrsCB: Yes, very true! Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one unfortunately. I think with pregnancy and parenting you have to do what's right for you and your family and people should just respect that. DH and I decided we want to use glass bottles bc of BPA and other chemical concerns, and people are already asking WHY?! Because that's what I feel is best!

@MrsCB: The newer glass bottles are really durable! Maybe you could buy a pack and try them out if that's what you would prefer.

@evansjamie: Thank you :). I'm just not big on the confrontation of people questioning my choices, so it's becoming easier to not mention things.

FWIW the aggravating opinion thing, for us, has been people saying, "Oh, you should let it be a surprise!" if we mention that we're finding out the sex. We were getting guesses on FB which I thought was fun, until people started butting in with the idea that we shouldn't find out -- and for us it's partly a medical thing, too, not just finding out for fun! So I totally get how freaking annoying it is.

@MrsCB: We had a similar issue when we mentioned CDing with DS. My mom used cloth on me, so she was the easy one and also wanted to follow whatever parenting decisions we made, but I had a lot of resistance from my SIL's basically to the point of being harassed about it. I just stopped bring it up unless they brought it up, then I would talk about it, but kept my responses short because they would lay into me again. They thought for sure we would give it up, but we didn't (we only use sposies now because DS had an allergic reaction to nutritional yeast in Jan and it, along with some other stuff, caused ongoing issues we are still sorting out...it really pains me that my stash is just sitting there and DH cannot wait until we go back to CD for the cost savings....he wasn't always a fan either). Co-workers and strangers may have made comments but it was more of a once and done thankfully. We didn't register for sposies or CD's and we didn't exactly announce we were CDing either, but we did not get a single diaper at our shower which was great!

I actualy like pockets. Stuffing them can be kind if relaxing at times and the wash itself isn't really a big deal. If your DH's are on board with CDing it can be an activity you can do together.

I think part of the problem is that cloth diapering has changed so much since our mothers and grandmothers were doing it and they simply don't realize. Sposies were DA BOMB and a huge deal when they came out- hurray for no more diaper folding, diaper pins, and rubber pants! Or, for some women, hurray for not having one more load of laundry to put through the wringer washer. I think maybe we don't know just how much of a drudgery it really was. At least, that's the conclusion I've come to after hearing the older ladies in my Homemakers Club. And by the same token, they don't really know all the options we have for cloth diapering these days and how comparatively easy it is to the old days. And at least we have options- if we forget to wash the diapers, I'm sure there's a sposie or two laying around somewhere that we can use to tide us over, we probably don't need to be up until midnight doing diaper laundry so we have something to put on our kid's butt the next day.
But I totally get how annoying it is when people act so negative about the whole thing. I was told multiple times that I wouldn't last two weeks and I had no idea what I was in for. Well, that 2 weeks has kind of turned into 4.5 years, so yeah, BOOM.

@lilteacherbee: Are you going to BF? I know what you mean about BF because NOOOO one here does it either. I don't personally know anyone who has even attempted it! DH's family is not very supportive and FIL thinks it's nasty..

I don't think i'll co-sleep though, i'm too much of a wiggle worm. He'll sleep next to the bed in a RnP I think

@lilteacherbee: You & I have very similar situations, both with things that aren't common and your mom = my MIL 100%!

@Ash: Are you getting enough fluids? I got them normally, but during pregnancy they are really bad! Usually trying to drink more really helps. I'm not a big drinker in general, so during pregnancy I have to be mindful of my fluid intake...I think I'm going to get one of those large jugs again to carry around so I make sure I get X amount throughout the day.

@MrsTiz: @lilteacherbee: I'm sorry your not getting much support in terms of your decisions from the people that matter the most. That is so tough. Besides my mom the rest of my family was very against me BFing. I wanted to because it was better for baby, but after learning about DS's allergies it became what we needed to do as long as possible because it was the safest option for him. They still didn't understand...especially when BFing turned into extended BFing. I also got a lot of flack for co-sleeping. My mom warned against it and we did not intend on co-sleeping at all, but it again became a necessity with everything going on with DS's allergies and reflux. It was safer for him to sleep with us (he needed to be upright) and the best way for any of us to get some sleep.....basically you will know when the time comes what are the better patenting choices FOR YOU and not what worked for someone else or even possibly what you thought you never would do pre-baby. You sometimes just got to roll with it and enjoy the ride.

@Ash: I tend to drink more at work...I'm bored haha. The other reason I would get them (also in my mid-foot) was because of potassium or calcium deficiencies, but I don't think that is the case for you.

I'm a little late to the conversation, but I am also cloth diapering and breastfeeding, and am fortunate to live in a community/state that really supports both! My mom, however--she's very supportive of me in general, but I can tell that she thinks cloth diapering is ridiculous. It made me really mad when we talked about it because she only seemed "supportive" once I said that if it doesn't work out I'll just switch to disposables.

I'm stocking up on BumGenius 4.0s and have used all of Oh! Apostrophe's blog posts to guide me. http://ohapostrophe.blogspot.com/search/label/cloth%20diapers

For those breastfeeding--I just bought and read most of Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Breastfeeding, and I highly recommend it!