Cloth Diapers Essentials Pack, Newborn Size

I ordered real nappies on the recommendation of my neighbor who has been using them for her 5-week old since day 1. She showed us how simple they are -- no pins necessary and no leaks yet, in her experience. I ordered the newborn essentials pack from real nappies and, at the same time, some clotheez prefolds and three different styes of bummis covers from green mountain diapers, which was recommended to me by other moms. The real nappies are much thicker than the clotheez, and GMD recommends pinning the clotheez to prevent leaks, so I'm guessing the real nappies will end up being much more absorbant and easier to use. I'm glad to be able to compare a few different brands and styles of diaper covers (bummis original, litewrap, and superbrite) -- we'll see what fits best on my baby once he arrives sometime in the next few weeks. I will probably try using the real nappies prefolds ('inserts') with the bummis covers, but I like that the real nappies cover has a less bulky front velcro strip than any of the bummis covers -- this should make clothes fit better over the diaper and perhaps be more comfortable for the baby, especially when in a sitting position. I'll update sometime this winter when we've put them to the test, but so far I'm very happy with the quality of the real nappies compared to other comparably priced cloth diapers, and very happy with the promptness with which we received the package and the included DVD.

(Posted on 11/6/11)

I haven't purchased the full system or any of the diapers, but we tried the disposable liners and are very pleased. Our in-home daycare provider is great about using cloth diapers (another brand, no need to mention), but we get the liners so she doesn't have to worry about taking extra time for solid waste. This also prevents her from having to send it home with the diapers as well (ick)! We have found that the liners are reusable, if you aren't weirded out by it. If there is no solid waste, you can rinse them and let them air dry and use them again. We have been using the GroVia liners, but found these online and they are just as good, if not better, for less money. We had to try some other liners in a pinch that weren't reusable and were disppointed to find that we went through the same number of liners in a quarter of the time. These liners are soft on my son's skin, but durable enough to last through a few wet diapers, as well as hold some pretty impressive dirty diaper loads. We have had no problems with them bunching up, but we also let the leg elastic hold it in place (we don't tuck it in and still have had no problems with leakage from it). So there's my two cents! Hope it helps!

(Posted on 10/13/11)

The diapers seem to be exactly what I am looking for. As another rater summed it up, "plain, simple, and straight forward". I purchased 2 Newborn Essential packs, which I believe will be plenty of diapers. I will update my review once baby arrives and I have some hands-on experience with them.

(Posted on 3/8/11)

I'll share what I was looking for, so you can better get what you need out of this review. Having used other cloth diapers with all sorts of bells and whistles, I was looking for plain, simple and straight forward. No finnicky wicking material, no special washing instructions, no need to strip, or handle carefully. I wanted the old fashioned, very economically priced, get the job done sort of a diaper. When I read that they were used at maternity wards in New Zealand, I figured I'd probably found what I was looking for, and I have.

I was initially concerned at the lack of leg gussets, but have been pleased and relieved to find that they function perfectly without them. I think perhaps with some of the thinner inserts out there, the leg gussets become more necessary. But, as these are meant to fit firmly against baby, that doesn't pose a problem with these and I have not had leaking issues apart from my occasional lapses by leaving the diaper on too long between changes. You do have to make sure you've got the diaper snugly fastened. I pull up and out towards baby's side with the front of the diaper as I cross the tab over to fasten which nicely snugs down the legs and waist at the same time.

I have had the whole gamut of issues with previous diapers that I have tried, and these are far superior in function, at a fraction of the cost. Add to that a two child use guarantee out of your diapers and you really can't go wrong.

We've used the first two sizes so far. I did find that they were easier to use and fit better as my baby got a little bigger - the second size was easier, but the first size worked too. The liquid poo fold works like a charm.

As pps stated, you need to make sure the insert is fully stuffed into the leg gussets and isn't sticking out anywhere around the legs or waist.

I also noted that the velcro tabs were stiff and kind of sharp. I have solved this problem by making sure the insert is completely forward in the cover, so it doesn't fold over and tuck in at the waist, thereby preventing the tabs from coming into contact with skin. I line the insert up with the very edge of the front of the diaper and then stretch the back out so that when the diaper is put on, the insert stays close to the front and not the back.

They seem pretty sturdy and have held up well. The writing on the labels has come off, but the cover itself seems virtually unchanged by multiple washings.

We have a essential pack and a top up pack for this size, yielding 5 covers and loads of inserts. I never make it through all the inserts but I do occassionally run out of covers and have to use a disposable while I do the wash. I think if I were more on top of my laundry, that wouldn't pose a problem, but I think to essential packs instead, with 6 covers is how I'll go for the next size.

It really seems like you can't beat the price. If you're doing cloth diapers to be economical and functional, then this is a good match. If you want the latest bells and whistles, flashy colors, and don't mind spending a pretty penny for what could turn out to be a flop, then this wouldn't be your best match. I kind of wanted a sure thing without much that can go wrong, and not much of a financial investment in my experiment. It worked out great!

(Posted on 6/21/10)

The prefolds are quite nice but the covers are flimsy and the velcro tabs raw edged - they actually scratched my son's leg badly enough to draw blood just from him crawling/sitting around in the diaper for about a half hour. Then there is the issue of the legs and the lack of gussets or decent elastic stretch so they do gap open easily. The liners are basically useless and don't even remotely work, they just bunch up into the baby's butt crack and that's about it. So I got a set of diapers that are mildly dangerous, ill-fitted and bonus baby g-strings posing as diaper liners. At least the prefolds are nice and absorbent, they're doing a fine job in the gdiapers I ended up buying after this fiasco. Don't waste your time - if you want inexpensive go with Dappi, if you want diapers that really work well spring for gdiapers. I wish I hadn't used them at all so I could have returned them ... the diaper cover was stained on first use and I haven't been able to get it clean.

(Posted on 5/15/10)

Overall these were
easy to use
easy to clean
real versatile
5 stars from me.
My guys are moving up in size so I am getting the next size up!

(Posted on 2/10/10)

I was so excited when my mom bought me these to try when bubs was born. Well I wasn't disappointed love them so much have gone on to buy the big pack, Birth to Potty. Thanks for great service too!

(Posted on 8/14/09)

Thank goodness you came along. This is the only diaper that actually fitted my newborn. No leaks and I tell you he had some really big explosions!

(Posted on 8/10/09)

Wanted to let you know I'm going to buy the big pack. I can proudly say have never put my baby in a disposable diaper and do not intend to. Thanks for making is so easy.

(Posted on 8/10/09)