So Far, So Good

The cloth diapering is going well so far.  We even used cloth last night, and we were pleased with the absorption.  Because I'm a bit of a nerd, once a question has entered my mind, I have to research it until it is sufficiently answered, so you good people--the readers of this blog--will benefit from the fruits of my labor.  If you are interested in possibly joining me in cloth diapering, keep reading.  The rest of you can probably stop here.

When I decided to make cloth inserts for the gDiapers that I already had, I read a couple of tutorials online.  They mentioned that you can adjust the design for whatever brand of diaper you have.  I literally didn't know anything about any other brands, and I was curious.  I read about "pocket diapers" and "all-in-one" diapers, and several of the popular brands.  Here's the summary:

All-In-One Diapers: Basically, if you're going to make a big investment in cloth diapering, these seem like the way to go.  (I looked at the BumGenius brand.)  You put them on and take them off all in one piece, just as easy as disposable.  They also have an opening where you can add a "doubler" pad for overnight, etc.  If you buy the "one size" diapers, there are snaps that adjust the size from S, M, and L, so you don't have to replace your diapers when your baby grows.  The down side: they cost $25 each, not including the doubler pad.

Pocket Diapers: (Also BumGenius brand) These are pretty much the same as the All-In-One diapers, except the absorbent pad is a separate part, instead of being built in.  These are cheaper, at  $18 each, but obviously you still have to buy the absorbent pads separately.  And if I am understanding they way they work, it looks like you would still have to wash the pocket diaper each time you change the pad.  (Not totally sure about that part.)

Hybrid Diapers: These are the ones I use... gDiapers.  The difference between these and the pocket diapers is that it's basically a three-part system.  (Don't worry, it's easy.)  There is the outside cotton diaper called the gPant.  There is a snap-in plastic liner that keeps the liquids in.  Then there is the insert, either biodegradable or cloth.  The thing I like about this three-part system is that you don't have to wash the outside layer if it hasn't gotten wet/dirty from a leak, which it usually doesn't.  You can use that part several times before washing.  Also, the plastic liner doesn't have to get washed until it is dirty, as well.  In reality, after the "newborn poop" stage is over, both the liner and the gPant stay clean for quite a while.  So the only part you need to change at each diaper change is the insert.  Also, based on what I could find out about the All In One and Pocket diapers, the gDiapers seem like the easiest ones to load with the insert.  You just pop it in... no pocket to shimmy it into, no snaps, just an elastic edge all the way around that holds on to the edges of the insert.  (Note: gDiapers do come in three specific sizes, so you do have to keep this in mind.  However, the Medium and the Large sizes use the same size inserts, so that's a plus.)

Why did I tell you all of this: If you have any interest in making the cloth inserts like I did, I really do think the gDiaper "gPants" are the way to go.  Here's the breakdown of price, based on what I could find:
-gPants: $18-$20 each on diapers.com depending on the print of the fabric
-gPants: two-pack from target.com for $30 (target.com also sells singles, but the price was basically the same as diapers.com except you have to pay shipping on top of that)
-gPants: six-pack from diapers.com for $70 (works out to $11.67 each)
*All gPants come with the plastic snap-in liner already included.  I know the two-pack comes with one extra liner... not sure about the singles or the six-pack.
-gCloth inserts (for comparison sake to home-made) 6 inserts for $30 (works out to $5 each, in case you're bad at math)
-my home-made cloth inserts (as described in previous post) 24 inserts for $46 (works out to $1.92 each)

It is a bit of an investment up front, any way you look at it, but compared to the high price of disposable diapers that you have to keep buying, it could definitely be worth it.

If you're still reading this, you're probably in one of two camps: you're really seriously considering cloth, or you think I'm a little nuts.  Either way, you are now more informed than you were when you started reading.  You're welcome :)