About Me

My son Jackson and I are doing our part to save the planet. Welcome to The Cloth Diaper Experiment. Join us from Day 1 as we switch from disposable to cloth. If you are interested in sending me products to review or if you would like to take part in a giveaway, please contact me at TheClothDiaperExperiment@gmail.com

Monday, November 9, 2009

Back to Basics: Prefold Week

There are so many different kinds of cloth diapers in this day and age. I, personally, know that I overlook my prefolds which is sad because they are a great, inexpensive way to cloth diaper.
This week is going to be all about using prefolds. I will show you how to prep them, fold them and different ways you can use them.
There are also going to be a few prefold related giveaways so make sure to check back often! What is the big prize this week, you may wonder??
That's right! Bummis has donated an organic Diaper Kit in the size that you need for my big giveaway this week!
There are also some covers donated by Cuddle Wuddle and even more covers from Thanks Mama! So, if you are in need of some covers or want to start out cloth diapering, definitely enter the giveaways!

Leave a comment in this post with any prefold questions or advice you may have. You will get one extra entry into the giveaway of your choice. I will be closing the comments on this post on Wednesday so you should hurry!


Posted by at 8:49 AM
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39 comments:

  1. I'm new to cloth diapering (our first baby is due in February), and we plan to use prefolds for the first little while. What are the best/most effective ways to fold them?
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  2. I am planning to use prefolds for my new baby due in 10 days. What fold is best for such a little bum?

    carlamo (at) ymail (dot) com
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  3. I have some folding advice: either trifold lenth-wise and pull out the edges to the left and right at the waist to snappi, or just lay the prefold in the cover flat, and then trifold the front of the prefold as you bring it up in front of baby's butt. That's the way my husband and I both found ourselves doing it after a while. Extra material can be folded down in front before you snappi/pin. If the prefold is too tight/small to snappi, don't worry about it. The wrap-style covers are tight enough to hold it in place without any fasteners, which means you can use it for a long time!

    Laura C

    laurakcowan/at/gmail/dot/com
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  4. I am expecting twins at the end of Dec. I would like to know what prefolds to start with (Chinese,Indian,etc ) how many to buy and how long should I expect the smallest size to fit. Also what online store is the best to get everything I need at once including laundry detergent.
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  5. We found that in the early days with our baby, the twist and snappi method worked best for us. Then as she grew we started doing tri-fold, and now that we've moved up in size we are back to the twist! Looking forward to reading more about pre-folds, although we are in a phase of using lots of AIOs because she doesn't like to sit still for a diaper change!
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  6. How do you get Dad's to use PF? I don't mind them but I can't get DH to use them!
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  7. What is the difference between Chinese prefolds and Indian prefolds?

    Also, how important is a snappi? Do I really need one?
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  8. How absorbent are prefolds compared to one-size pocket diapers with soakers?
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  9. YAY I soooo have no idea how to work prefolds so I am very excited to see the different ways to fold them! Thanks for making this a prefold week :)
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  10. I started using a couple prefolds just because they were cheaper and now I use them pretty exclusively during the day. I save the few pocket diapers I have for when dad changes diapers :)

    My best prefold tip is to try different folds and different covers. I was surprized by what worked for me and I actually do my own version of a fold and it seems to work great!
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  11. I am having a really hard time finding a diapering system to use at night that will not leak and will keep my baby dry. Would using some kind of prefold combination be absorbent enough for night time use? My baby is 8 months old and sleeps 12 hours.
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  12. My advice is #1--Get some snappis, they are SO great! #2--Buy lots of preemie prefolds for those first few weeks/days. Little Luke is up to 7.5 lb & we are still using exclusively preemie prefolds w/ a cloth wipe as the doubler! Love them!
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  13. I have the same question as Jennifer - my kids never stay dry at night, would prefolds with the perfect cover work? Also, are there some snapping prefold covers that you recommend? All velcro covers seem to irritate my kids' skin.
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  14. I plan on using prefolds at first but how many am I going to need with my newborn? How many covers?
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  15. Are there any [non-online] stores that sell snappis? or even diaper pins? I remember WalMart used to have them, but they don't carry them anymore.

    My baby's due in March, and I plan to use cloth diapers, so a friend gave us a bunch of prefolds, but nothing to fasten them with.
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  16. Yay! I've only used prefolds and they are not as scary as people think! You can't get any simpler than trifolding a prefold and laying it in a cover. My son complains about snappi's so this is the go to way for him.
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  17. My advice, invest in Snappis! they are so much more easier then pins and safer too as they will not prick your baby badly! :)

    Also....
    Gerber brand prefolds found at Walmart make better burp rags then prefolds.. instead stick to chinese prefolds or nicer brand ones found online... or a cloth diapering store.

    Save money, skip the newborn prefolds and go straight for infant sized they last longer... and while they may be big at first, you just have to fold them over...:)
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  18. First of all, I LOVE your blog. I found it a few weeks ago when I was googling detergents for cloth diapers and have thoroughly enjoyed reading your reviews and opinions. I have a 4 month old and started cloth diapering in August. I went straight to AIOs and Pocket diapers for ease but have found diapers with inserts such as gro baby to be easier to spray off. SO, I bet prefolds would also be easier. I'm super excited to hear more about them and am wondering 1) How to fold them. Everyone has a description but I think we need some pictures And 2) Are there some good covers out there that are clothlike and don't seem so plasticy?
    Thanks!
    allsmilz@sbcglobal.net
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  19. I have seen on a lot of places that sell prefolds that they always specify what color the edges are (blue edge, orange edge brown edge etc.) And I've ALWAYS wondered, what's the difference? And I am also looking forward to seeing the different ways to fold, and I am curious to know how to pin a prefold without poking baby. Snappi's scare me!!
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  20. I have been using pockets, but I have been looking into prefolds because they seem to be so affordable. I would love to see how to fold them and put them on, how to prep them, and how many you need if you already have pockets that you are using too. I'm sure I wouldn't need a whole new stash of them, but I wonder how many covers I would need too.
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  21. I'm curious how many people really use the snappi's or just use the covers to hold the diaper on. I am due with my first in march and plan start right off the bat with cloth diapers, but I can't tell if the snappi's are really necessary.
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  22. I would love to try out prefolds on my 7 month old as I would like to be more green than I currently am right now.
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  23. I am interested in using mostly prefolds with my twins due in Decemeber. How many would you suggest starting out with? How many covers do I need? In your opinion what is the best brand to use?
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  24. i'm not due until april but have been doing a lot of research on cloth diapers. i would love to try prefolds on my newborn.
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  25. mandy danicnwithyou@hotmail.comNov 10, 2009 09:43 AM
    I am currently expecting our second baby and I would really like to try prefolds so we can really save some money. The two biggest questions I have is how do I prep them, and how long can you use them for. Am I going to have to buy mulitple sizes of them? We'd love to be entered for the giveaway thanks!
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  26. I have a 13 month old and another coming in Feb/Mar. I would love to start cloth diapering both of them, but get so overwhelmed by the options. There's a great variety even when it comes to prefolds. So, what is the difference between the types of prefolds? (Chinese, Indian, Birdseye, Bamboo...) Do they have different qualities?
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  27. Prefold advice!

    Chunky babies/babies with chunky legs, definitely try the Bikini Twist. I've found it to be easiest to use for us and the best with my chunky legged LO's.
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  28. I'm completely new to to cloth diapering, our second daughter is due March 2nd. We have only bought one batch of 12 prefolds and no covers yet, how many would you say is the best number for an average stash per size? We plan to buy the proper sizes when needed because the startup costs are a little bulky for us.
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  29. ok...dirty question :)

    my son is 4 months and just started on solids. let's just say that his poo resembles that accurately. sometimes the poop actually shoots out of the prefold and ends up in the crotch-area! it IS still contained by the cover (thank goodness), but is a major mess! i use unbleached indian prefolds and bummis super whisper wraps! we're tight on money and this method is very economical and easy enough for me that i cloth diaper away from home!

    so...any folds that will contain the poo any better? i'm currently lying it flat, jelly rolling the sides, and securing it with a snappi.
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  30. I'm really looking forward to prefold week! What is better, Chinese or Indian prefolds?
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  31. IMHO, Indian PF's are better. They seem to me to be more absorbent, thicker, softer... And the surface of them doesn't get pilly like the Chinese PF's.

    Holly, if you're really going back to basics, what about flats? Wouldn't they be even more basic? :) 'Cause honestly, I prefer flats. Small baby = i liked PF's better. 1yr old = origami folded flat/receiving blanket is the best thing EVER.

    And I second, or third, or fifteenth, the "SNAPPIS RULE!" sentiment.
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  32. Oh, and - @Raine - Try a store called The Littlest Birds in Asheville. It was the closest one to you I could find.
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  33. I don't know if I can have two questions or not but I thought of another one...What kind of prefold is better, bleached or unbleached?
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  34. My secret to using prefolds at night with no leaks is to do the basic fold and fold them around a doubler. I have a skinny baby so I love the bummis super brite wraps because they have extra protection around the legs, oh and as everyone else has said snappis are awesome!
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  35. I have a hand full of prefolds to use with Zaiden, But does tri-folding a prefold and laying it in a cover really work? And for how long till it doesn't?
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  36. I am planning on using cloth diapers for the first time with my second child. I would like pictures and detailed definitions of terms such as prefold, trifold, flat. I am a little confused and a bit overwhelmed. gina dunk @ yahoo.com
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  37. How many Snappis should one have in their stash for 1 baby? I had 2 and ghave already lost 1 . Also often should i replace my Snappis?
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  38. Re Snappis: We have two and have only ever used one. We used them mostly when the prefolds were on the big side for baby, to hold it in place while we fastened the cover on top. Now that she's bigger, the corners of the prefolds won't overlap enough for us to Snappi, and the wrap-style covers hold on a folded prefold just fine on their own. When she moves up to a larger prefold, I expect to go back to using the Snappis again. They're fantastic, much less pokey than pins. I can think of several instances when baby wiggled in a way that I expected her to be scraped by the Snappi, but she wasn't at all. If it had been a pin...

    If you're just trying prefolds, maybe try 12 prefolds and 3-4 covers (Thirsties Duo Wraps are my fave cover, because they're adjustable size and because the leg gussets hold in messes and work better for a baby with big thighs and a small waist). A full stash in my mind is 24 prefolds and 8 covers (6 would be fine, but I always keep a couple in the diaper bag).

    As far as getting husband to use them: I know a husband who won't use anything but AIOs, and I guess you pick your battles ;) BUT My husband will ONLY use prefolds because
    1) You can toss the prefold in the pail without touching it!
    2) You can reuse the cover, which is more efficient and makes for less bulk in a diaper bag.
    3) They never leak! We use Thirsties Duo Wraps with Green Earth brand cotton DSQ unbleached prefolds. (Note: the thread color just tells you what size the prefold is.)

    For nighttime, put a hemp insert under the prefold in the cover for extra absorbency. We never have leaks with just the prefold anyway, but it does get pretty soaked and hemp traps some of that extra moisture. We've got a 5-month-old, but she's a heavy wetter. Pockets leak EVERY TIME on her unless they're also doubled up with a hemp insert (try Thirsties hemp inserts for a go-to insert, or Joeybunz for a bigger one. Also, FYI, it took me awhile to figure out that hemp inserts are thicker than hemp doublers. I just went with the inserts, even though they're bulkier, so I won't have to buy a thicker hemp item later.).

    Laura C

    laurakcowan/at/gmail/dot/com
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  39. First, love the reviews and pictures!
    My question is just how necessary it is to have a snappi under a cover?

    Beatrice D
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