My son has sensitive skin and he tends to get really nasty diaper rash from wearing disposable diapers. This is the main reason why I decided to switch to cloth diapers. Later, I found out that aside from protecting my baby’s skin, it is also very earth friendly and saves me money from buying expensive disposable diapers weekly!
Gone are the days when cloth diapers are merely “lampins” (gauze cloth diapers) (but my son still uses this at home at times) which can be very irritating for the baby because it can only last one wetting. Nowadays there are several cloth diapers in the market which can lasts as long as disposable diapers.
I admit, I got so addicted buying these cute one size cloth diapers! I tried several brands to find out the best one for my baby. Let me share with you my personal review of the ones we’ve tried:
Alva Baby
| www.alvababy.com |
Thumb up: Of all l the brands I’ve tried, Alva has the most number of cute designs to choose from for boys and for girls. You can choose one depending on you and your baby’s mood!
Alva is also cheaper than most brands. Here in the Philippines, it costs around P299-P300 per piece .
Alva is also not that bulky, thus more convenient for baby
Thumb down: Alva’s inner lining is not that absorbent. After 2-3 wettings, I can already smell and feel that my baby’s diaper is wet. It can only lasts about 2-3 hours only.
Next9 and Baby Leaf
| www.spudnsquishy.tumblr.com |
These are two different brands but products are so much alike.
Thumbs up:
Both brands’ Inner linings are made of cotton amd thus, very absorbent. It can lasts up to five hours unless there is poop. But for hygienic purposes i only let my son use it for a maximum of four hours or less.
Both brands are also ffordable. Price is P350 per diaper
Thumbs down:
Both diapers are bulky especially for newborns. But as they grow, the diaper will fit them more comfortably.
Charlie Banana
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| www.charliebanana.com |
Thumbs up:
Charlie Banana’s inner lining is made of cotton and very absorbent.
Although a one-size diaper, it is not as bulky as Next9 or Babyleaf.
Thumbs down:
Charlie Banana is more expensive than most brands. Price is between P1,000-P1,200 ($24-29$) per diaper.
Personal Note:
My son use all these brands. At home, he uses his Alva diapers since it is more convenient to change diapers in between. Then at night, he uses his Next9 and BabyLeaf and since it is more absorbent, he gets a good night’s sleep. For days when he has to go out for checkups, he uses his Charlie Banana diapers so it will not be bulky when worn with those cute pants or shorts.
Finding the right brand will all depend on your baby’s needs and of course your budget. But if you will buy one, the best ones are the one-size diapers so your baby can use it as he grows. It can be expensive at first as you are building your stock but once you have collected an acceptable number, you will no longer need to buy disposable diapers and thus savings begins. Happy cloth diapering!
Yay! Thanks for the review! Kat!! Question.. haha.. di ko mashado gets tong cloth diaper. So, do I only change inserts after 4 hours? (if let’s say wiwi lang) Or once you change the inserts, you change na din yung cloth diaper? Ganun ba yun? How many do you suggest I buy? (I’m planning to start cloth diapering her in her 2nd month) …
Vivi, some actually just changes the inserts. Kaya lang ako i would rather change the diaper na rin para fresh. If you intend to go cloth diapering (which i highly recommend), i will say start building your stash now. Medyo expensive din kasi sya sa una (300 per piece) kaya it will work kung paunti unti ang pagipon. Exclusive diapering you will need about 30pcs. muna. Ok ka na nun. Just buy ung mga super absorbent na inserts.
Hello, Kat.
Can you use the Alva bamboo charcoal inserts with the Next9 covers? Are they of the same size? My daughter just turned a month old and the Next9 covers (with the proper rise settings) can now fit her. Her Next9 nappies are gifts from family and friends but I would like to try out the Alva bamboo charcoal inserts as they are 5-layers (as opposed to Next9’s 4 layers) and are antibacterial.
Thanks.
Author
Hi Jaya! Yes, you can. almost the same size naman ung inserts. I mix and match my inserts too. Di ko na nga alam ung brands nila once nalabhan na. 🙂 so far ang hindi ko lang ma-gamitan ng other inserts ay ung Charlie Banana na brand namin, only because it is not a one-size diaper e. but the rest, alva, next 9 and Baby leaf, I interchange inserts. 🙂
Where did you buy po yung mga cloth diapers that you used po?
Hi Thyne! thank you for dropping by my blog. Most of Little H’s diapers I bought from Asya’s Cradle, Mothering Earthlings and Next9. You can search for them in facebook.
Hi! ano po ba gamit na inserts? What can you recommend na mas absorbent? microfiber, bamboo, or charcoal bamboo? I’m planning to by stash for my LO.
Hi Siena. Thank you for visiting my blog. Since my since if a heavy wetter already, i use a combination of bamboo and charcoal bamboo. But i still kept my microfibers because although they are not the most absorbent, it is reliable on rainy days because it dries the fastest.
Hi, this is a nice blog. I am 7months pregnant and plans to use cloth diaper. When do you advise to use cloth diaper? Thank you very much!
Thanks for dropping by my blog Socky! From birth is the best time to start. Especially that you are 7 months pregnant, it is the perfect time to start building your stash. You can ask friends to give these to you as gifts during baby showers. Now is also time to plan as to management of these diapers like do you have someone who can wash th diapers daily? Or if it is jus you, how often can you wash, because the answer will dictate how many diapers you will buy.
I do hope you will pursue going the green way and make your baby wear cloth diapers. Congratulations on your pregnancy!
Very informative blog. I’m a first time mom and I am really clueless about these stuff. 🙂
I am glad to be of help to you Mina! Welcome to mommyhood!
Hi miss Kat, I’ m new in cloth diapering, is it ok to change like the insert? I mean hindi ba magiging irritable si baby or something kapag yun lang ang pinalitan? It is ok to change every 2hours or less? Or 4 hours or more?
Hi Tey! Welcome to the cloth diapering community! I’ve heard of some who only changes the insert. But personally, I would rather change the pockets and inserts together to lessen the chances of irritation and infection. Pag newborn, most probably, baka every 2-3 hours kasi madalas sila mag urinate at mag poop.
Hi kat. thank you for this website and sharing about this diaper clothes. I am canvassing for the best diaper clothes yet feeling overwhelmed to choose which of those many brands. Are above given is skin safe? Hindi ba Nagra rashes ang baby mo jan? ung baby leaf at next 9 until what age siya magagamit ng bata?
Hi Brenda! Congratulations on your decision to switch to cloth diapers! To answer your questions, yes, these brands that we’ve tried are skin safe. It worked well for my son who has very sensitive skin. However, proper management of cloth diapers are still a great factor in keeping your baby well protected.
The baby leaf and next 9 diapers are still being used by my son up to now that he is 3 years. just buy the one-sized ones for long-term use.
I do hope I am able to answer well all your questions. thanks for dropping by my blog!
Hi, do you use special soap in washing your cloth diapers??? What insert do u use at night?
We just use regular detergent in washing cloth diapers. It works perfectly well for as long as the nappies were soaked in warm water immediately after use.
At night we use double bamboo charcoal inserts. But since Little H sleeps a little late, I just make sure to change his nappy before he falls asleep (between 9-10pm) just so he’s wearing fresh ones as he sleeps.
Hi! I already have a dozen of regular “lampin” when I learned about cloth diapers. I saw them from online shops selling bundles of cloth diapers and inserts. I want to try them but I was wondering, hindi po kaya sya mainit lalo na ngayong tag-init?
Hi Russhel! That is what I thought too initially. But I realized that compared to disposable diapers, which are plastic, modern cloth diapers are more comfy for babies since it is made of cotton. Pero syempre, kumpara sa lampin, mas presko ang lapin sa unang suot dahil sa mas makapal ang modern cloth diapers. Pero hindi naman magiging komportable si baby dahil tuwing iihi sya ay kailangan mo syang palitan.
One thing I can suggest, especially on a terrible hot summer weather like ours, is to limit the number of inserts for daytime use so it is not as bulky. Instead of using two microfibers, insert one charcoal or bamboo insert instead. Siguradong mas magiging komportable si Baby!
hello. i appreciate ur blog so much. i already have 2 toddlers, it was just now that ive cared to read reviews bout cloth diapers. im still planning to buy my first dozen. what brand can you recommend? what inserts will work well for toddlers?
Author
Hi Devy! glad to have you on my blog. I really find Next9 and Babyleaf really dependable. My Little H, is still using his cloth diapers up to now. Due to his mental health condition, he is still not potty trained at four years old. His Babyleaf and Next9 nappies stood out from the rest after four years!
In terms of inserts, bamboo and charcoal are best for heavy wetters like toddlers. It just takes sometime for it to dry compared to microfibers but with the summer heat nowadays, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Naghihimulmol ba yung alva baby diaper na gamit nyo?I heard from a friend na naghihimulmol dw ung inner ng alva.
Author
So far for us hindi naman. ilang years na ung ibang inserts per ok pa naman. Ung mga na-retire ko na Alva inserts ay dahil manipis na pero hindi pa naman dahil may himulmol na.
Hi Kat! I’m new to CD, how do u wash your cd? kailangan pa po ba ibabad sa water after tanggalin kay LO? and what detergent po ang dapat gamitin? And lastly po ilang beses lalabhan? really appreciate your blog! thanks 🙂
Author
Hi Audrey. Happy to know that you find my blog helpful.
We wash our CDs using regular detergent powder, Surf to be specific. No fabric conditioners as it ruins the material of the inserts. Much better if you soak CDs in water after use to take off residues easily. We wash our CDs every other day through the washing machine. No need to handwash for as long as it was soaked in water since by then, lumambot na ung mga dumi. I hope i was able to answer your concerns! enjoy CD-ing!
Thanks kat! that was very informative especially for first time mom’s like me. I am now 3 months pregnant and I am scouting for advises on cloth diapers. I don’t plan to stick with disposable diapers for a long time. I just want to ask what would be the best insert for cloth diaper? There are many types and I am bit confused with it.
Author
Congratulations on your pregnancy.
For newborn, i find microfleece the best. These are the ones that comes together with the cloth diaper. Since newborns urinate frequently but are not considered heavy wetters just yet, microfleece are best. It is the quickest to dry amongst all inserts. Charcoal inserts are more absorbent than fleece. Bamboo insets are for heavy wetters but it takes a while to dry so i used it only when my son was six months onwards.
Hope that helps!
Hi kat.. 🙂 hi im planning po na magchange into cloth diaper, 2 1/2 na eldest ko nakakapupu na siya sa cr.. So wiwi training nalang ggwin ko thats why im planning na to change po, saan store or website ka nakabili po?and anong brand po marerecommend mo sakin po… Thanks po.. Godbless
Author
Try baby leaf or next 9. Its one-size diapers are big enough to be used by toddlers. they have online shops. just search for them in FB or instagram.
Hi mommy kat! After reading your blog, I was so interested into cloth diapering. I would be a first time mom on March and planning to buy na paunti unti para di biglaan ang gastos. Would you know where can I buy baby leaf and next9 CDs? I’d rather go to the shops kasi instead of buying online so I could really check on the items. TIA!
Author
Hi Rosie! Congratulations on your pregnancy. I hope all is well with you and your baby.
Baby Company has Baby leaf diapers although from what I know, the designs are very limited.
Next9 are available to the following stores (i just got this on their FB page)
Mamaway (Greenhills Town Square in Granda)
BabySteps (Festival Mall)
Kuku Duckbill (Market Market and Festival Mall)
Youji and Me (Trinoma and Greenbelt 5)
Nurture Nook (Rockwell — Estrella Street arcade, across Colegio de Sta Rosa)
I hope this helps! Congratulations once again!
super thanks! so excited na to shop for my baby. you’ve been very helpful. i’m so privileged to came up with your blog. Godbless! 🙂
Hi po. I am 7 mos pregant po. Ask ko lang what brand for newborn would you suggest po? Planning na unti unti na mag-build ng stash para hindi po biglaan sa expenses since may iba pang needs si baby. 😀 saka pag newborn po ilang po yung usual na cloth diaper na macoconsume nya in a day? Salamat po. God bless. Very informative po yung blog nyo. Mas may idea na ko sa cloth diapering. Hihi. 🍁🌹😀
Hi Kat. I’m a newbie mom and I want to try out using cloth diapers for my baby. I bought my initial stash already with microfiber inserts. I read that microfiber inserts shouldnt be placed directly against baby’s skin. Does this mean I have to buy another set of inserts? Like the bamboo and hemp ones? Thanks!
Hi po! I’m on my 28th week now and planning to CD my baby. I’m planning to buy the pocket CD types. Ang question ko lang po enough na ba ang 3 layer microfiber insert? Or I need to add another insert para mas absorbent? If will use a single 3-layer insert, will it last for at least 3 hours if nag pee lang naman si baby?
Author
Hi Charie. Congratulations on your pregnancy!
For newborns, 3 layers will be enough and can last for 3 hours. Overnight best to use either bamboo charcoal or bamboo inserts so it is more absorbent and can last for more than 3 hours.
hi po,anu po mare recommend nyo n magandang insert?
Hello po! My LO po is 1 month.. ok po ba ung bamaboo charcoal na insert? Pwede ba odikit sa sking baby un?kc gusto ko sna bamboo charcoal ang insert ko..pocket type dn stash ko.. so pwede ba i inserrt mismo sa loob ung bamboo charcoal na nadidikit sa skin ni baby?
Or ok na ba ung 3 layer microfiber insert?or mas maganda ung bamboo charcoal na insert?sna mahelp mo sobrang confused kc ako e
Hi. Thankyou for making this blog about CDs. Sobrang informative nya and nakakatulong sa mga new mo ms like me na madaming katanungan tungkol sa CDs. Godbless Keep it up! ☺️
Author
you are most welcome!
Yung next9 po, “pocket” cloth diaper po ba siya? Magkano naman mga inserts?
Author
Hi Ana. Yes,next9 is a cloth diaper. It’s been quite a number of years already since my son used it so I am not really kung magkano na ngayon ung inserts. You can also check ung website nila for more details.
Hello! Thank you for this, very helpful I’m hoping to start potty training baby who is now 18 months, and I guess the next9 and baby leaf are still your recommended brands