Calling All Cloth Diapering Mamas!!!

I have some questions for ye..........if you can bear with me.

First off...
DD is due 3/13. I've still got a ways (9 weeks), but I'm starting up my CD collection NOW! If you would kindly do so, I'd like to give you a rundown of the stash I'm currently working on, and I'd love it if you could give me some tips, yays, nays, or whatever you think of said stash in progress. Too much? Too little? Way off-base for what I need? Anything I'm forgetting? Just tell me like it is...I can take it, I promise.

Here's the stash I've got at home so far...
- 7 bumGenius 3.0 OS dipes with MF inserts (used)
- 1 bumGenius 4.0 OS dipe with MF insert (new)
- 2 AlvaBaby minky dipes with MF inserts (new)
- 4 AlvaBaby dipes with MF inserts (new)
- 8 small WAHM wet bags for on the go (used)
- 32 bumGenius/Cotton Babies flannel wipes (used)
- 2 bottles California Baby Diaper Area Wash
- 1 pack Honey Chunks Sensitive
- Ecos Free & Clear Laundry Detergent

And a couple of ebay bids I'm hoping to win...
Bid 1, currently at $66 w/ s/h (reserve not met):
- 10 gDiaper small dipes with liners
- 1 extra gDiaper liner
- 3 WAHM cloth inserts
- 12 Bumkins cloth premie prefolds (most likely won't be able to use)
- 15 Cotton Babies cloth prefolds
- 5 $2 off gDiapers coupons
Bid 2, currently at $41 w/ s/h:
- 4 gDiaper small dipes with liners
- 3 gDiaper tiny dipes with liners
- 4 biodegradable/disposable inserts
Bid 3, currently at $30 w/ s/h (reserve not met):
- 6 gDiaper small dipes with liners
- 6 extra gDiaper liners
DISCLAIMER: I know some of you are going to hate on my gDiaper choice, but it's a must for me. I have a DH that is anything but thrilled about my CD choice and this is my compromise with him...he won't have to touch any poop or pee...just dangle over toilet, swish, and flush. Lol. It's really a must if I want CDing to be successful.

Feel free to let me know if you think any of these bids are not worth the items I'm getting. I'm new to this venture & how much all this stuff costs. You most likely are not. YOU are the expert.  

Now on to the next few subjects (still CD-related)...

I was thinking about stocking up on some bamboo and/or hemp inserts. I've read that they're great. Would you recommend I do this or should I just stick with the MF inserts for now and maybe do some stocking up later once DD gets bigger & starts to wet more? Either way, are there better brands for inserts than others just like the dipes, or is it just what the insert is made up of that matters?

I know I'm going the AlvaBaby, gDiaper, bumGenius route so far. I'm contemplating getting a few of some other brands as well, but would love nothing more than your input/experiences on these brands...
- FuzziBunz (heard some great & some horrible things)
- Thirsties (heard mixed things)
- SoftBums (my cousin is exclusively using these on his 2 month old right now)
- Apple Cheeks (recently heard about these)

I guess the most helpful thing would be if everyone could give me a quick rundown of what brands their main dipes & backup dipes consist of, as well as their favorite insert choices/combinations (MF, Bamboo, Hemp, etc.) & why that combo seems to work (if possible).

I'm ready to be a CD-learning sponge and soak up ANY info anyone would like to provide. Seriously. I can take any brutality as well.  

THANKS BUNCHES!!!

I have no info  ,,,but I want to watch cuz I am wondering the same things
good luck to you!

I loathe gdiapers. Even if its a must for your husband I would use a different hybrid like the flips. I mean seriously who the thought of making the diaper velcro in the back. I tried them and they leaked and I never got a good fit. Plus you are always buying them since they are sized diapers.
My DH was grossed out by the idea of cloth at first. Now he has no issues. We got a diaper sprayer for the poop. When they are newborns and if you are EBF you dont even have to clean the diaper first. You can also just get flushable liners to lay in the diaper so he can just dump if its that big of a deal.

As for my stash I prefer WAHM's I pay more but I would much rather support a working mother than some company in china. Squishy Butt (AI2) and Ella Bella Bum (pockets)

<blockquote><b>Quoting Tανη [CNL]:</b>" I have some questions for ye..........if you can bear with me. First off... DD is due 3/13. I've still ... [snip!] ... sponge and soak up ANY info anyone would like to provide. Seriously. I can take any brutality as well.   THANKS BUNCHES!!!"</blockquote>




Fuzzibunz SUCK.

I use alva, sunbaby, blueberry, BG and a few other cheapy ones. I use bamboo, blend, MF and charcoal inserts. I like my blends the best.

Quoting BareFootBabyMaker:" I have no info  ,,,but I want to watch cuz I am wondering the same things good luck to you!"

 

Quoting Brink:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Tανη [CNL]:</b>" I have some questions for ye..........if ... [snip!] ... sunbaby, blueberry, BG and a few other cheapy ones. I use bamboo, blend, MF and charcoal inserts. I like my blends the best."

Lol. I think I'm just gonna let the Fuzzibunz go. Like completely. I've heard mixed things, but there's just too many people that hate them.

Sunbaby & Blueberry. Gonna have to look those up. Never heard of those brands.

Charcoal inserts? I've not heard of that either. Are they super absorbent?

What do you mean by blends? The combination of inserts or homemade stuff?

Sorry for all the Q's.  

<blockquote><b>Quoting Tανη [CNL]:</b>" Lol. I think I'm just gonna let the Fuzzibunz go. Like completely. I've heard mixed things, but there's ... [snip!] ... super absorbent? What do you mean by blends? The combination of inserts or homemade stuff? Sorry for all the Q's.  "</blockquote>




They're charcoal bamboo some of my diapers are lined in it too.


Blends are a bamboo MF blend it's 4 layer.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Brink:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Tανη [CNL]:</b>" Lol. I think I'm just gonna ... [snip!] ... They're charcoal bamboo some of my diapers are lined in it too. Blends are a bamboo MF blend it's 4 layer."</blockquote>



When people talk about layers in the insert how can you tell? I bought a bum genius pocket and have no idea how to tell

Quoting Jennybananna:" I loathe gdiapers. Even if its a must for your husband I would use a different hybrid like the flips. ... [snip!] ... but I would much rather support a working mother than some company in china. Squishy Butt (AI2) and Ella Bella Bum (pockets)"

Lol. My SIL was gonna try CDing her youngest daughter. She only had maybe 5 gDiapers and never stuck with it. I used them and didn't have any issues with the velcro being in the back. *shrug* I know each baby's different, though. Who knows...maybe I won't get a good fit for Alba in them either. And yes, I'm EBF.

I would love to support the working mothers, but unless their dipes are under $10 each, I just can't do it at the moment. I'm having to buy all dipes used off ebay to save the money. I only bought AlvaBaby dipes brand new becuase they were $5.50 each and came with free shipping...and were recommended by quite a few mamas. And most of the time, I have to let the bidding wars on ebay go because it gets out of my price range (just like I had to do with Bid 2 from my OP...the final price was $67 w/ s/h, which comes to be $11.16 per dipe). I try my best to stick as close to $5 per dipe as possible, but I can let it get a bit above that...but I won't go over $10 per dipe. With all the dipes I need to stash up on, I have to budget carefully.

BUT, once I have my stash set up and have available funds to get the super cute dipes and such, I will have NO problem buying from WAHMs. I already have a link stored for Squishy Butt, but do you have one for Ella Bella?

Quoting Tανη [CNL]:" Lol. My SIL was gonna try CDing her youngest daughter. She only had maybe 5 gDiapers and never stuck ... [snip!] ... I will have NO problem buying from WAHMs. I already have a link stored for Squishy Butt, but do you have one for Ella Bella?"

https://www.facebook.com/EllaBellaBumBoutique?fref=ts

Also I think you said your husband would do a dunk and swish? Thats really all you have to do for any diaper ever. Look into the flushable liners as well that might be a great compromise. I have heard great things about the alvas too. Personally I never tried them but if I was on a tight budget those would of been the first things i bought.

Quoting Jennybananna:" https://www.facebook.com/EllaBellaBumBoutique?fref=ts Also I think you said your husband would do a ... [snip!] ... the alvas too. Personally I never tried them but if I was on a tight budget those would of been the first things i bought."

Yeah, that's why I was going with gDiapers for him. They have the flushable liners. But you can't use those with pocket diapers, can you? Like...the gDiapers have that plastic inner liner that holds the flushable liner in place. You have to stuff pocket diapers...so I don't see how that would work for him.

Does Ella Bella have any other way to check out her site? I don't have a FB. I have Squishy Butt's Hyena Cart link saved.

THANKS!

Quoting Tανη [CNL]:" Yeah, that's why I was going with gDiapers for him. They have the flushable liners. But you can't ... [snip!] ... Bella have any other way to check out her site? I don't have a FB. I have Squishy Butt's Hyena Cart link saved. THANKS!"

They make liners that you can just lay inside the diaper (any diaper) This is what im talking about with a flushable liner http://www.amazon.com/Bummis-BL-L-Bio-Soft-Liner-Large/dp/B0025YWL4W

Okay, so what about Sunbaby diapers? I just got a pack of 12 of them off Craigslist for $30 (the guy threw in an extra 11 random brand CDs + some glass baby bottles, books, & toys for free...spring cleaning). They look like they're good quality & may become one of my favorite diapers, but since I don't have a baby to try them on yet, I'm just wondering what others' experiences are with them...should I invest in more or jsut wait?

Quoting Tανη [CNL]:" Okay, so what about Sunbaby diapers? I just got a pack of 12 of them off Craigslist for $30 (the guy ... [snip!] ... a baby to try them on yet, I'm just wondering what others' experiences are with them...should I invest in more or jsut wait?"

I would wait until you know what you like the best.

Quoting Jennybananna:" I would wait until you know what you like the best."

Grr. Do you know how hard that is? Lol. But yeah, you're right.