My cloth diaper starter pack

To-date I have purchased 1 pocket, 4 AI2, and 1 AIO.  Here's my stash.

1. Charlie Banana One Size Pocket Cloth Diaper with 2 microfibre inserts (1 small size, 1 large size) - RM70 includes shipping
I bought this preloved from another mommy.  Though preloved, she has never used it before, just pre-washed once.

I have to admit that I wasn't too impressed with the microfleece.  My fingers felt uncomfortable running over them.  I am pretty sure, I don't want my girl's butt to touch it either.  A little regret in buying this before deciding on organic cotton.

I like the snaps though.  It's very easy to snap in and out.

So I might be using it like a AI2 by laying it with organic cotton prefolds or flats.  

Although it is stated as One Size, I am surprised that it is actually quite small.  Will it fit until she is a toddler?  I really doubt it.

2. Tiny Bibiya One Size Hybrid Cloth Diapers Trial  Set (comes with 1 bamboo cotton soaker and 1 hemp  cotton doubler) - RM36 x 2 plus RM6 shipping

I bought 2 of these brand new because I thought they were quite cheap.  Yes, I did wrote earlier that I want to support Malaysian made products.  Unfortunately, this is not 100% organic cotton.

I bought both the snap and Velcro type, just to test it out.  The Velcro looks so easy to take out while the snap is very difficult to snap in and out.  You need to put in more energy.

What I don't like is there's a huge part of the PUL that will touch baby's skin.  On top of that, at the back, there's a snap that is sticking out unless I put a prefold over it.  Since baby will be lying on her back most of the time, I am pretty sure she can feel the snap if I use the soakers only.

The biggest disappointment I have is the so-called bamboo hemp soaker.  It can be snapped to the hemp cotton soaker which is 55% hemp and 45% cotton, all natural.  But the hemp soaker is right at the base while the bamboo hemp soaker is on top.  The bamboo hemp soaker consist of 1 layer microfleece, 1 layer bamboo terry, bamboo 70%, polyester 30% and 1 layer hemp cotton.  The top part of the bamboo hemp soaker which is made from microfleece material is the one that will be touching baby's bum.  See the last photo.  The white part is microfleece.  

So, I might be using prefolds or flats for this on top of the soakers.  Might be useful for night time.

3. GroVia One Size Hybrid Hook and Loop Shell with 2 organic cotton soakers- RM105 includes shipping (from another mommy), RM111.29 + RM7 shipping (from Kasihku Sayangku)

I bought this so-called preloved from another mommy and it's brand new.  Not even wash.  This is a US brand although made in China.  I like the organic cotton soakers.  The panda is from the mom while the pink design is from Kasihku Sayangku.

The negative part of buying a GroVia hybrid is that you have to buy the soakers separately.  I do find the Velcro part very sticky.

4. BumGenius Elemental Organic All-in-One One Size Cloth Diaper - RM88 + RM8 shipping

I bought this brand new from Sentuhan Bayu.  I like the whole idea of it being organic and one size and all-in-one.  It might be the most practical cloth diaper when it comes to grandparents and baby-sitters.  But it may be too difficult to dry if gonna wash this on a daily basis.  I am still cracking my head as to how to wash this for the very first time.

5. Rumparooz Wet Bag - RM85 + RM8 shipping

Bought this together with the No.4 at Sentuhan Bayu.  So it's only 1 time shipping cost.  It has very good reviews and I like the fact that the material is biodegradable.

6. BumGenius Cloth Baby Wipes (12 pcs) - USD13 + USD19.09 international shipping (~RM137)

I was looking high and low for flannel cotton cloth baby wipes in our local online store.  But I couldn't find any.  After doing my research, found that it's cheaper to buy from Diapers, online shop based in US, compared to Amazon.

Since it's super expensive, I might be using old baby clothes and cut them into squares to use as cloth baby wipes instead.  

7. Bummis Organic Cotton Prefold Inserts - Infant (6 pcs) - USD18 + USD19.09 international shipping (~RM159)

Bought this together with No.7, so shipping is only 1 time.  Again, I was looking high and low for organic cotton prefold inserts and can't find any in our local online shop.  Green Mountain Diapers have the Cloth-eez prefolds which has very good reviews.  Unfortunately, they do not ship internationally.  GroVia has prefolds which are bamboo + cotton, and not 100% organic cotton.  So no go.  

This is again much cheaper to buy from Diapers compared to Amazon.  But considering our RM is so low, this item is super expensive in our Malaysian terms.  But I was curious as to what a prefold is.  So curiosity caused a hole in my pocket.

8. Pureen Hypo-Allergenic Detergent (HAD) - RM19

Bought this at Guardian pharmacy.  They are having a Christmas sale right now.  Apparently this detergent is one of the approved detergent to wash cloth diapers.

9. Flats or Kain Lampin (16 pcs)

I was given these preloved flats.  Not sure how much was it but probably not much.  

Conclusion:

6 cloth diapers is probably not enough to start-off a cloth diapering system.  Since I have no experience on how to do it, there might be a lot of trial and error.

Here's the costs so far = RM785.55

Organic decision

If based on my organic decision, I will probably end up with BumGenius Elemental AIO and GroVia Hybrid AI2 with organic soakers.

Affordability

BumGenius Elemental AIO = RM88 (discounted)

GroVia Hybrid AI2 shell with organic soakers = RM111 (discounted)

Sentuhan Bayu has a BumGenius Elemental starter pack (6 pcs) = RM510

Looking at the cost, it is probably cheaper if I go for GroVia.  Just need few shells and buy lots of soakers.

Practicality

I will not know this until I trial and error on my girl.  I also need to see if BumGenius AIO is easier to dry or not.  Otherwise, it is not a good system.  Other factors I might consider is the smell factor, which one is easier to change and which is more convenient for both day and night use or whether she is a heavy wetter or not.

Because if up to the grandparents, they might be using GroVia as an AIO which defeats the purpose of an AI2.  Then in that case, AIO is probably better.