Krista's Diapering System

My current diaper stash includes the following:

21 bumGenius OS

1 bumGenius AIO

12 Premium Chinese Prefolds (I trifold them and lay them in a wrap)

12 birdseye flats (I either lay them into a wrap, or fold them as a wrap and put an insert inside)

22 Kissaluvs (12 size 0; 8 size 1; 2 size 2)

1 Kissaluvs Contour

1 Fitted Dipe made of Performance Fabric (advantage - holds more and wicks away moisture)

6 Performance Fabric(PF) inserts - (I trifold them and lay them in a wrap)

1 Imse Vimse Wrap

1 Bummis Super Whisper Wrap

16 Nylon Dappi Pants (4 in each size NB - L)

About a dozen homemade wraps - many from cute (old) t-shirts that I use waterproof spray,

some from fleece, and some from a new diaper company that will be introducing their dipes

in the states in a few months

4 Hemp Babies Bigger Weeds inserts (that I cut in half to make 8)

24 wipes

2 tote bags - one that lines my diaper pail (size XL) and one for my diaper bag (size S)

4 Snappis

I've also tried the following diapers and wraps (that I can remember):

Swaddlebees Velour Fitted Diaper

Under the Nile Fitted Diaper

LANA Wool Soaker (wrap)

Starbunz (wrap)

I feel really blessed to have such a wide variety of diapers and, I must admit, the vast majority have been gifts. However, having been able to try a variety, I think I've come full circle in what I enjoy using and, if I were starting new with cloth and buying everything, I would definitely keep it simple. (On a limited budget, I'd start with CPF's and covers and get a 1/2 dozen bumGenius with hemp babies inserts for nighttime. With a little more money, I'd add in Kissaluvs fitted and/or contours.)

I also go back and forth on performance fabrics vs. cotton. PF will hold longer (a must-have at night) but cotton (to me) seem so much softer and nicer on Lydia's bum. I love the Kissaluvs. I also really like the CPF's and actually, plan to order another dozen and use them folded with a snappi and dappi cover (much like Leah). When we first started cloth diapering, though, bumGenius and Kissaluvs were the staple. I had a hard time learning to fold flats and CPFs and Josh wasn't about to put that much effort into diapering. BumGenius and Kissaluvs are easy, which is a plus when you want hubby to help out. However, trifolding a CPF and laying it into a cover is also very easy and very affordable!

At night, I typically will use either a bumGenius OS with a hemp babies insert, or a PF trifold with hemp babies insert and cover. However, the other night I tried using a PF trifold with hemp babies insert and a flat folded as the cover and this worked great. I really like the fact that cotton was next to her all night too. We only switch to disposables when we're traveling.

My washing routine is very simple. I have a diaper sprayer and spray every diaper - both wet and dirty - and then dump it into my diaper pail. Every other day I put the contents of the diaper pail, along with the tote, into the washing machine (we have a front loader, but I'd do the same with a top loader) and wash on a normal cycle, warm water with a VERY LITTLE amount of detergent (we use Sports wash which is also what many hunters use because it leaves no smell or residue). I don't add baking soda or vinegar; I don't do extra rinse cycles (my sprayer has already taken care of all this for me). Then I hang them out on the line. However, if we had a dryer, I admit I'd definitely put the Kissaluvs in the dryer :). The sun will bleach any stains that remain.

If I ever have an ammonia buildup, I "strip" the diapers, as follow: cold rinse, HOT wash with 1/4 c. bleach and a small amount of detergent (can use dish soap); HOT wash without bleach; HOT rinse. If there is no smell I will then do a cold rinse. If there's still a residue I'd keep washing on HOT until I didn't smell a residue, then end with a cold rinse. I've only done this twice and have been using CD's for a year.