Yes, you may use diaper cover with traditional square nappy. In fact, I recommend using this for the first month (during the day) when baby poos very frequently anyway. I prefer to use a diaper liner (either washable fleece or disposable ones) for a stay-dry feeling. You may also consider prefolds with diaper cover, as reviewed here.

I’m not sure of Kodomo baby detergent. Personally, I stay away with detergent with fragrance because baby may be sensitive to it (we’re a family with super sensitive skin), and it’s an extra chemical, which isn’t necessary.

Also, clean diapers should smell of nothing, so I know that they’re clean. If fragrance covers them, I can’t tell if the diapers are indeed clean.

Pocket diapers such as Moo Moo Kow need to be changed completely once soiled or wet, because the layer that touches baby’s skin is part of the pocket diaper.

For All-in-Two, such as Grovia (reviewed here), the diaper shell can be reused if not soiled.

After using soooo many different types of diapers, I still prefer pocket diapers:
1. It’s convenient to “throw” the entire diaper into the diaper pail. And use an entirely new diaper.
2. I like the stay-dry layer that’s part of the pocket cover. No need to add another stay-dry diaper liner.
3. When I use diaper cover or AI2 diaper shell, they often get soiled with breastfed baby’s explosive poo, or the edges get damp, so I end up not reusing them most of the time.

Of course, every cloth diapering mum has her own preferences.

I’m a first time mum-to-be and would like to seek some advice from you. Can I use diaper covers (e.g. Thirsties Diaper Covers etc) with the traditional nappy cloths (white squarish cloths)? What do you think of Kodomo baby detergent? I like the fragrance :p

My understanding of reusable diapers (Moomookow etc) is that once the diapers are soiled, I would have to change a new one totally, and not just the liners, am I right to say that?

Thank you for your advice.

Traditional cloth nappies:
Upsides:
- very economical, especially on 2 babies

- versatile: different folding patterns, can use without cover for full breathability

- dry very quickly: since they open up into 1 layer

Downsides:
- need folding that takes up much time: multiply by 2 and you need a lot of time. (Newborns go through 12-18 nappies a day.)

- not very absorbent: need to change very frequently. Newborns (breastfed) poo a lot and need to be changed frequently anyway, so it is fine for the first 1-2 months to use these. After that, many mums prefer something more absorbent.

- not stay-dry at the waist: Even after adding a stay-dry liner, the waist area gets wet, so some babies fuss for diaper change.

- can’t last for long naps (3hours) or overnight for heavywetters: try with double layer and it may work. But without all-round stay-dry, some fussy babies can’t sleep long and want to be changed. Modern cloth diapers made of hemp / bamboo absorb a lot more and can hold overnight, with less bulk. Also, the stay-dry liner means more peaceful sleep for everyone.

- shed lint: the cotton tends to shed lint in laundry, so wash them in laundry nets. Clothes that catch lint easily may need separate washing.

For our first 1 month, we used only traditional square nappies since confinement lady did the laundry.
Once she left, I found it hard to cope with the folding while taking care of a fussy baby alone. Modern cloth diapers are a time-saver and we use them for outdoor trips and overnight as well.

Alternatively, you may consider using prefolds with a diaper cover.
Prefolds are prefolded and sewn cotton cloths, which are very easy to use. They are simpler to use than traditional square nappies, with less folding needed.
Newborns need newborn-size, older babies can use the regular ones.
An example of this system is by Bummis (available at Tiny Pants).
I love Bummis diaper covers, which are especially great at holding in explosive breastfed-baby poo.

Got to go for dinner now… Feel free to email me with more questions.

When he outgrew the Medium pocket diapers, we upsized to Large fitted pocket diapers (allowing absorbency all over, including waist and sides) with fleece shorts. The main reason is that he rolls about a lot when asleep, so fitted diapers provide better absorbency.

Some keys for successful night-time cloth diapering:
- increase number of inserts/soakers, using pocket diapers, night-time fitted diapers or fitted pocket diapers
- if child moves about a lot when asleep, fitted diapers would work better than pocket diapers

I am planning a review for our new night-time diapering combination, so stay tuned for the article.

i just started cloth diaper for my baby few weeks ago. I’m still using disposable at night as she is a heavy wetter, with disposable it will still leak sometime. Wonder which cloth diaper is better for night time and have better absorbency?

Vee is cloth-diapered on outings too, since it is very convenient, just need to bring along a wetbag for the soiled diapers. May also lay a disposable liner on the cloth diaper if expecting a big poo during outing. Think we only used a few packs of disposables over the past year; haven’t bought 1 for almost half a year.