Diaper Services
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Dec 2006
My boyfriend and I are expecting our first baby in May 2007 and we are planning
on using cloth diapers. Can anyone recommend a good diaper service? I know the
main ones are ABC and Tiny Tots, and I checked the BPN archives and the
questions/responses were pretty outdated. We live in Oakland if that makes a
difference, and we live in a third-floor walk-
up (not sure if this will affect us getting door-to-door service!). Thanks!
Mary
We use ABC and have been perfectly happy with them. We have friends who use Tiny
Tots and have been equally happy. I think they're pretty much equivalent. Both
should deliver to Oakland (ABC definitely does). We live in an apartment building,
and have them leave the diapers outside the building. We're responsible for them in
case they get stolen, but after 14 months haven't had a problem. If you give them a
key, they might leave them inside the building. I know you didn't ask this, but for
diaper covers I would recommend buying them online. I haven't managed to find a
store that sells a decent selection of diaper covers. I've used babyworks.com and
liked their selection and speed of shipping
Sarah
ABC and Tiny Tots are still the only diaper services around.
We also live in Oakland and used Tiny Tots. We were extremely
happy with them. I've also heard really good things about
ABC. We just went with Tiny Tots because they had a slightly
wider selection of products that we weren't sure we would or
would not use.
Anon
Oct 2006
Hi,
I am expecting and trying to figure out the world of cloth diapers. I want to use a
diaper service and was going to go with ABC because I live in Oakland and don't
want Tiny Tots wasting all that gas driving to me. I also wanted to use the diapers
with velcro attached so I don't have to use pins or fasteners.
ABC said that theirs don't have velcro, but you can fold them in thirds and put them
in diaper covers that have velcro or snaps. They said that doing it this way, you
don't have to use pins or anything to hold the diapers on.
So, my question is, has anyone tried this method and does it work? It sounds a little
complicated, and I am suspicious it won't work. Thanks
Daria
ABC is right - you just fold up the prefolded diaper (funny term)
and put it in a diaper cover which has velcro or snaps for
closure. you can use a Snappi to hold the diaper in place first -
it's like a plastic stretch thing that has little teeth that
grabs the fabric.
anyway, it's very easy to do and the diaper stays put inside the
cover. No matter what, you're going to need the diaper cover to
keep the wet etc contained.
and btw, i LOVE using our fuzzi bunz if you're at all amenable to
washing your own - it's not that big a deal at all, though in the
newborn days, it might be easier to go with a service. but
really, we wash every few days: one cold cycle no detergent, one
hot cylce with detergent and a scoop of oxyclean, one final hot
cycle, then air dry.
Jennifer
The diaper wraps do work, though we had a lot of bad poop leaks
until our baby reached about 10 pounds and her thighs got a
little chubbier. Now that she's on solids, we never have a leak.
The cheapest of the velcro diaper wraps I've found are the dappi
wraps, for sale on ebay new for packages of 6 for $20, including
shipping. Nicer wraps can run up to $10 each.
Elizabeth
I'm sure you'll get lots of advice on this, but I'll throw mine
in anyway. What the diaper service is advising you to do is what
I did with both of my kids--the diaper covers with the velcro.
They're not cheap, and you need to keep getting bigger ones, but
they're not hard to use and they work fine. An even cheaper
alternative, which I did eventually with my second child, was
pins and the old fashioned plastic pull-on covers. I probably
wouldn't do that with a newborn since they're wet so often. The
covers don't breathe that well and it might lead to diaper rash.
But, for an older baby I actually found that method to be the
easiest and the cheapest. Those plastic covers wash off really
easily and I never poked my daughter with a pin, which is
something I'd worried about.
Cloth Diaper Fan
Hi--Welcome to the wonderful world of cloth diapering! I *love*
Tiny Tots. They are already driving all around the east bay,
and as far away as Modesto, etc. so I wouldn't think adding you
would make much difference. I've seen studies saying that cloth
diapers have less of an impact on the environment even taking
the transportation costs of a diaper service into account. But
either way, Tiny Tots and ABC use essentially the same types of
diapers. They're the flat cotton kind called ''prefolds'' because
they're sewn into layers. You fold them onto your baby and then
secure them with a thing called a Snappi Clip that has
essentially replaced pins. Then you wrap a waterproof cover
over the diaper. You can forego the Snappi clip and just wrap
the prefold diaper into the diaper cover, but until the baby's
poop is more solid (after they start eating solid foods at about
6 months) you get much less leaks using a Snappi. There are
great how-to videos on the Tiny Tots website, here:
http://www.tinytots.com/how_to_videos.html
There are other, fancier and more expensive ways to cloth
diaper, but if you use a diaper service you are going to use
prefolds with covers. The cloth diapering community on
LiveJournal is a great resource--search the memories section for
how-to links and tutorials. Here are some LiveJournal links to
get you started:
http://babyslime.livejournal.com/151952.html
http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=clothdiapering
http://community.livejournal.com/clothdiapering/profile (you
have to have a free LiveJournal account and join the community
to read the members' recent postings)
Have fun! I love cloth diapering for a lot of reasons, and I
really love my diaper service!
Cloth Diapering Mama
I have used ABC for almost three years and previously used
disposables with my older child. I *love* cloth diapers and ABC
is a great service. I found cloth to be more convenient on a lot
of levels -- no running to the store, almost no garbage. ABC also
sells a number of other baby items that they delivered to our
door. To answer your specific question: the diaper covers are
easy to use and keep baby's clothes dry, which is especially
important when they are sleeping. No pins are necessary, though
we used a rubber ''grip'' on the diapers themselves to keep them on
a little better -- this is especially helpful if/when you take
the covers off while the child is standing.
kiwiroot2000
I used cloth diapers for my daughter, we used Tiny Tots, but I
don't think it matters too much which service you use. You do not
need pins. There are a couple differnt tecniques for folding a
''prefold'' cloth diaper for your baby. You will need to buy wraps
for your baby, they have velcro and keep the diaper on and the
cloth inplace. I think Rockridge kids sells wraps as well as a
lot of online sites. You can usually use the wrap a couple times
before you need to wash it. Try out a couple differnt brands of
wraps, some will work better than others.
Amy
A great resource for all things related to baby elimination is
http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/ (click on local groups to join the
East Bay email list). The members of this group know all kinds of
different cloth diapering and waterproofing methods and products
and where to find them. Wish I had found this resource much
sooner! Re: your post, I do use Tiny Tots, but apparently they
have a pretty established delivery route in the East Bay so as
long as they are already here... I wanted to go with ABC but I
needed training pants and ABC was low on them.
Montclair Mommy
I use ABC's service and have liked them a lot. The diaper covers
they sell (called ''diaperaps'') have snaps and velcro (use both
or just velcro) and they do work to hold the folded-in-thirds
cloth diaper. They come in packages of three and I'd definately
recommend getting at least six so laundry isn't quite as urgent.
Congratulations!
Kim
Hi,
YEAH, I'm glad you are going to use cloth which is the best
option in so many ways.
I've used ABC Diaper and the other company in somewhere I'd need
to pack a lunch to get to. I think ABC had better customer
service, response time and product than Tiny Tots.
I used wool diaper covers and never used pins. The wool was
fairly water proof and so durable my kid grew out of them before
they wore out. There was also a thinner cover I used (cotton ?)
from Japan- something like Nikki, that also worked well. Both
these types of covers had velco. They worked well- I'd used
them all again.
indigo
Folding the diapers in 1/3's worked fine for us. We used a diaper
sevice (ABC) for the first 4 months. I don't know how folding
without clips would do for a toddler though?
After 4 months we changed to Fuzibunz and wash them ourselves.
They are great! Very easy to wash. it felt like a big initial
investment (about 200$ but) i've used the same diapers for
almost 1 year and he still has room to grow. I do a little more
laundry (2 loads a week).
sold on fuzibunz
Yes, the diaper covers work. We used ABC service for 3.5 years
with twins, and always used their diapers and the Litewraps
covers. There is really not much to it--you lay out the diaper
cover, place the cloth diaper into it, folded into thirds
lengthwise. Then you unfold the top of the diaper so that it
spreads out against the wide top part of the cover. Place your
baby in, face up, and pull cover plus diaper around the baby,
then fasten with the velcro. Some of the covers have snaps for
added security, but we always found we could pull the wrap
tighter if we didn't use the snaps.
The down side of the velcro is that it gets old, especially if
you machine wash and dry your covers sometimes (which we did,
when they had poop in them or just got too cruddy.) So you might
end up needing new covers before your kid grows out of them,
especially in the older sizes.
Other than that, we loved the cloth diapers, loved the service,
were so glad we skipped the disposables that always left a weird
residue on our kids
Loved cloth diapers, glad my kids are potty trained now
Thousands of us have used ABC method that you describe, and it works just fine. We
had their service for at least a year with each of our kids. Yes, there are leaks, etc...
but that'll be true with any non-disposable diapers.
cloth diaper fan
I started using ABC Diaper Service in July when my son was born. The cloth diaper
thing was new to me as well. They provide prefold diapers that you place in the
diaper cover as you described. When you go to change the diaper you discard the
cloth into a diaper pale and place a fresh one in the diaper cover. The cover has to
be changed if anything leaks onto it, usually after 4-5 changes. It is pretty easy
once you get the hang of it. I use disposables at night since they have higher
absorbency.
I use the Lite Wraps that ABC sells. They work pretty well and are easy to clean. ABC
has provided excellent service. I haven't had any problems. Good Luck!
New Mom
Yes - It works just fine - and it works diferently for each kid.
Folding all or part of the ABC cloth diaper into thirds
absolutely works. When my kids were in ABC diapers we had a
bunch of great velcro diaper covers. We washed the covers
ourselves (but sent the diapers to ABC) Others at the day care we
were at had snapped or velcored covers. You can probably even
find some used ones for sale or for free on BPN (we handed our
various sizes down right after my kids outgrew them). ABC may
sell diaper covers. ABC is great, and if you miss puting your
diapers out, you can usually drop them off later that day cuz
they are so near by (to Berkeley anyway!)...but I can barely
remember those days..
Anon
I have been very happy with Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers (see, for
example, www.nurturedfamily.com) My son has been wearing them
for 20 months. They do not fasten with velcro, but with two
rows of snaps. I do not use a diaper service, though.
rasa
We used ABC for both of our children (last time over 6 years ago)
with success. You'll need some kind of water-resistant cover
anyhow and we used velcro-closing Diaper-Wraps (cotton outside,
water-resistant inside) over the cloth diaper without any
problems. When my babies were older, during naps I'd sometimes
use double cloth diapers inside. Enjoy!!
ANON.
We have used the cloth diapers with covers very successfully.
They are probably a bit more cumbersome than ones that are all
one piece (my friend uses pocket diapers and loves them)
however, as far as I know if you want to use that kind the only
option is buying the diapers and cleaning them yourself. We
really appreciated using the service at least initially. We
moved on to doing it ourselves when our baby got bigger and the
diapers we bought would last a little longer as it is
definitely an investment. As for using Tiny Tots vs ABC. We use
Tiny Tots as someone signed us up as a present. So, I know they
are already driving up here for at least us.
Good luck
loved not washing the diapers
Go for it! It was actually quite easy. We were able to use them
for 16 months
anon
When we were expecting we were overwhelemed by the world of cloth diapers &
planned on using seventh generation chlorine-free diapers, but then my Mom did
all this research and found some great companies for us. Our son is almost 13
weeks old and we're still using our own cloth diapers - and have even started using
them when out & about.
For a great explanation of the new world of cloth diapers (ie if you still think they
only come in big squares) check out http://www.diaperdecisions.com/faqs.php#Q6
You should definitely stop by Baby World on Telegraph and get some ''snappis''
which are fastners you can use with any of the folding diapers (old school traditional
''pre-folds'' or the contours). That's the only store with them in town.
For good covers that don't leak (especially if your baby is long & lean like ours):
http://www.bluepenguin.biz/covers.html Amazing friendly service & high quality
(we use the wrap&snap)
We got our diapers (we're using the contours, plus some fitted) at this site: http://
www.thanksmama.com/ as well as some of the velcro covers you're asking about
(the bumkins super whisper wraps)
p.s. our son has yet to have a diaper rash! (odds of getting this go up 61% with
plastic)
cloth diaper converts
I too was unaware how far cloth diapering has come. My last
memory had been of helping my mom with my little sister over 25
years ago. I had all my pins, etc. ready. What a pleasant
surprise it was to use the velcro wraps! It is very easy to
fold the diaper, wrap and go. I tried the Y-snaps, but found
those more difficult than a plain wrap. I used ABC diapers for
all 3 of my children and LOVED IT!!! I potty trained all of
them before the age of 2 (even my son - and some say boys are
harder). I am sure that they were potty so early because of
using cloth diapers. Do not be afraid because of the wraps, it
is easy and you'll get the hang of it very quickly. Good luck
and congratulations on your upcoming addition
LOVE CLOTH DIAPERS
i'm a new mom and chose to use cloth diapers as well. i ended
up choosing ABC because i'm also in berkeley and had several
good recommendations for them. i've had nothing but good
experiences with them and they're very helpful over the phone.
i use the cloth diapers and diaper covers with velcro/snaps
(litewraps) without the pins or snappis. they work great! the
method is easy and the covers hold the diaper in place. of
course, you always get the occasional leaks, but that can't be
helped...
good luck!
new mama using cloth
I have used ABC diapers with the ''lite-wrap'' covers since my 20-month old's birth.
It's super easy and uncomplicated. You just need someone to show you once and
you'll be a pro. Also, they are a very nice company that gives great service
-- very happy with ABC
We used Tiny Tots and were happy with them.
You can use the diapers from either service without pins or
fasteners, as long as you use velcro diaper covers that fit well
(ie, right size, elastic still works around the legs). However,
you'll have fewer leaks (both kinds) if you do use pins or a
fastener to keep the diaper snug.
That said, we never bothered using fasteners or pins with our
boys. Dressing them in onesies (top that snaps in the crotch)
seemed to help keep the diaper plus velcro cover on pretty well
and we didn't have too many problems with leaks. It may look
complicated but it's only the first five times that will be
hard. The next 5,000 will be a snap, until baby starts to wiggle
and you have to learn new tricks :) Good luck!
- Charis
Yes, it works fine. And many cloth diapering aficionados
believe that using separate prefold diapers and covers works
much better than using all-in-ones (where the absorbent layer
and the outer cover are sewn together) for various reasons.
You fold the diaper, stick it in the cover, and fasten the cover
just as you would a disposable diaper. When you remove a wet or
poopy diaper, you drop the diaper itself into the pail and
either re-use the same cover (if it isn't soiled) with a fresh
diaper, or you drop the cover in your own laundry pail or hang
it up to dry.
The only drawback to using this method with a diaper service is
that you do have to launder your own covers. Supposedly you
only need to use a clean cover once every day or two, but my son
managed to dirty them almost every time (around the leg
elastics) so we bought more than a dozen of them and I still
needed to wash at least every other day. Whether this was
diapering incompetence on my part or just particularly runny
poop on my son's part I don't know -- he was a remarkably
FREQUENT pooper for an exclusively breastfed baby, that's for
sure.
Other than the laundry, though, it's only a teensy bit more work
than using disposables. And there are a great many choices in
cover styles available. You definitely don't NEED a fastener on
the diaper itself, but if you find you want to use one, there
are things called snappi-clips which hold the diaper closed even
without the cover on. They are little metal comb-like things
attached with a rubber cord and fasten on the outside of the
diaper, so you don't have to worry about poking your baby or
your thumb with a pin.
Holly
More advice about Diaper Covers & Wraps
Jan 2005
I was with ABC Diaper service for about 2.5 years, and finally
gave up on the cloth diapering thing when my second about 5
months old. When I got my final bill from ABC, they said that I
was 49 diapers short, for which I should pay $75. I simply
cannot believe that I somehow lost or threw away 50 diapers, even
over the course of 2 years. Where would they be? That's a lot
of diapers. I seem to remember someone complaining about this
same problem with ABC in an older post, and I am wondering
whether ABC might have a practice of charging for diapers that
they (rather than the customer) either lost or miscounted. Has
anyone else had this same problem? How was it resolved? Have
others successfully used ABC and cancelled without this problem?
I am trying to decide whether to just pay the bill, or make a
stink.
Don't pay the bill! I too had this problem with ABC when our
first was done with diapers. They must have a counting problem,
or have mathematically-challenged staff... but I knew that all
our diapers had been returned and not diverted elsewhere, and
simply told them I would not pay. With our second child we used
Tiny Tots diaper service, and had no problems with them at all.
Richard
oh, yes- complain and follow through. same thing with us last
year- I agreed to pay for about 5 and they dismissed the
erroneous bill for the other 55. Don't pay it!
chris
Jan 2005
I'd like some feedback from ABC diaper users about the quality
of their diapers. I'm wondering how thorough ABC Diapers is at
culling out the old diapers that have developed sharp ''nubby
bits'' and cotton balls at the ends of the diapers. I'm
currently using Tiny Tots diaper service and I'm finding that
they frequently leave in old diapers that have large cotton
balls at the ends of the diapers that make the diaper
uncomfortable for my baby. I'm considering switching diaper
services, but wonder if I'd encounter the same problem with ABC
too. Thanks in advance for the feedback.
Anon
I'm not sure if what you're describing is exactly the issue I
have with ABC Diapers, but I do find that maybe one out of four
diapers from ABC has some pilling that I would have thought would
be uncomfortable for my daughter. She hasn't ever ''complained''
about it (she's 2.5 and almost potty trained now). It doesn't
seem that they are the older diapers that are the problem--the
older ones actually seem softer to me. I think that they've
bought different lots and some are just not as soft as others. I
have used the ones with pilling for things other than diapering
(ie, cleaning bottom, laying down for changing on the bed, etc.)
so that they didn't go to waste, but sometimes I had to use them
for diapering.
I'd suggest going with whichever service is more convenient for
you rather than switching due to this issue (unless Tiny Tots
supplies just too many diapers that are uncomfortable). I stay
with ABC because they closer to my house than Tiny Tots.
Lori
I have been using ABC diaper service for the past 15 months, and
I think they probably have a similar issue with old diapers. Most
of the diapers are really soft and nice, but for some reason
there are others which are rough and filled with pills. Others
are thin and obvioulsy worn. I've wondered if I should be setting
the bad ones aside (because some are so bad that I decided not
even to use them) and telling them about it. Maybe they have to
rip before they get replaced - don't know.
mom using cloth diapers
We started with Tiny Tots but got such poor customer service
that we switched to ABC. They are much nicer, much more
helpful, etc. And yes, their diapers also have the rough
little nubbies on them...I have a special request for extra
soft diapers and they are usually good about responding. there
are still an occasional bad one each week which we don't use
and return w/ the used ones. Occasionally, we get more than
just a few bad ones so I call and remind them that they have to
be extra, extra soft and then they are usually better for a few
months again. So they do have the same issue, but they are
responsive (you have to stay on them a bit) if you make special
requests....good luck.
anon
We did not have that problem when we used ABC diapers in the
summer/fall of 2004. Have you tried calling Tiny Tots about the
issue?
A dad
I use Tiny Tots for my 2-month-old, and have not had any problems that you
mention. I would suggest calling up Tiny Tots and speaking to Tim, the owner,
or someone else there about your problem to see if they can help you before
you switch services. I have found everyone at Tiny Tots to be very responsive
with any issues we have had with their service.
Lori
July 2004
Can anyone offer recommendations between ABC and Tiny Tots
diaper services? Both seem comparable in price, so I would
appreciate any comparisons or experiences with either or both.
Thanks!
We use ABC and find them to be super-friendly and always willing
to make extra effort to help, and deliveries tend to be
problem-free. I haven't used Tiny Tots so I can't make a
comparison.
Jen
We used ABC since they are located in Berkeley. I thought it
may be less wasteful to the environment in regards to
transportation costs. Both services cost the same and offered
the same intro deals. Twice when we forgot to put the diapers
out we delivered them ourselves! They are very nice and
helpful and quick to respond to requests.
sharon
When I was very pregnant, someone urged me to go with Tiny Tots
instead of ABC because Tiny Tots had more diaper sizes. I am
not sure if this is true, but I have been very satisfied with
Tiny Tots. Their customer service is friendly, fast and
efficient. One time they called me before I could call them to
tell them I needed less diapers. You can also order many
products that they will deliver with the diapers. Tiny Tots has
a thorough description of their cleaning process on the
website. I forget what ABC told me when I inquired about
theirs, but I remember the answer was vague.
Anita
I really like ABC. They're friendly, local and family-owned.
They also carry Little Forest products (great sunscreen), as well
as wipes and diaper covers. The used to launder large items -
not sure if they still do. And, they bill my credit card = one
less bill to deal with. I really missed ABC when my first
stopped needing diapers.
ABC fan
I've never used Tiny Tots, but like ABC quite a bit. The drivers
are friendly, the staff seems to know me when I call with
questions, and they're always ready to fix a problem. If you're
near Berkeley, and you forget to put your diapers out for pickup,
you can drop them off without too much problem. I think Tiny Tots
is in Santa Clara, which is way too far for us to drive. The one
thing I don't like about the service (which could be true of
both) is that some of the diaper fabric pills up alot, which I
suspect would be really uncomfortable. I end up using those for
other things, when possible, so my daughter's bum isn't rubbing
against the rougher fabric.
Lori
Weve used Tiny Tots for about 8 months and are happy with them.
The diaper count was slightly off almost every week in the
beginning, so we gave up keeping track. We fill out
their diaper audit form periodically and they adjust the count
without any questions or charge. The folks there seem very
friendly and casual, so it works for us. The service is
reliable, and once when the count was once way off (~30 diapers
delivered instead of 70), we called and they delivered more the
next day.
Heather
October 2002
We're due in a few months and decided to go with cloth but are
pretty clueless. The Web site's recommendations are now 3 years
old. What is your current experience with ABC or Tiny Tots (are
there others?) Which is cheapest? And do I have to buy/wash
wraps separately, or is that part of the service? Any
hints/suggestions on how many to order or what to order? Do they
give you buckets that keep odors inside?
Jen
I was clueless too, but now feel like an old pro. We have used ABC
for three months and like the service. Our delivery man is Wyman
and he's great. Haven't tried Tiny Tots, but did a price
comparison and found them roughly equal. I liked that I could
drive down to ABC's Berkeley office if I needed to buy or exchange
something. Tiny Tots is in the south bay. I also liked that I
didn't have to do anything but put the soiled diapers in the bag
they provide (which fits in the pail they sell)--no rinsing or
washing. Put the bag(s) out once a week and come home to clean
diapers.
ABC provides the diapers on a rental basis and sells covers and
other supplies. You can buy their covers or get them elsewhere if
you find something you like better, but either way you wash the
covers yourself. I bought their introductory package which
includes a pail and several covers for a reduced price. The pail
comes with a deodorizing disk, which you can replace periodically.
Just ask the driver for one. The pail doesn't seal really tight,
but we haven't found it to be a problem. If you breastfeed, you'll
find that the odor isn't bad. I can't comment on a formula-fed
baby's diaper smell. Regardless, they won't smell any worse than
disposables in a pail, unless you get a diaper genie, but that's a
whole different discussion.
As for how many to order, they'll recommend you get 80 per week to
start. This turned out to be too many for my baby, but initally it
was worth having extra just in case, especially to double diaper
at night. We quickly took the order down to 60 per week. Also, you
initially get a newborn size diaper and then switch to a standard
size at about 2-3 months, depending on your baby's size.
As for covers, I like the covers they sell, but there are lots of
choices out there. I ordered Kushies covers off the Internet and
like them. I also bought Cotton Wraps at Waddle and Swaddle on
Shattuck and like them alot. Both brands go through the washer and
dryer with ease. Good luck!
Lori
We like tiny tots. One advantage has been that you can shop and
they will deliver items w/ next diaper drop off and bill you
with your monthly bill. the pail is a bit smelly but it is
ameliorated by an extremely smelly deodorizing disk and frequent
sprinklings of baking soda. before the babies start solids it's
not offensive and we kept it in the baby room. once they go on
solids it is more 'ripe,' so we keep it in the hall outside her
room and keep the baking soda handy. I also use tilex to
eliminate mildew when we change bags weekly. the service sells
wraps. they are separate and you must wash them yourself. you
get good at getting poop off them w/in a few days. i like the
prow wrap brand wrap, gerber, and nikki. the latter are the most
moisture permeable.
Jessica
Good for you for choosing cloth!
We use Tiny Tots and have been very happy with them. Once when
I forgot to put out the diapers, they dropped off new ones the
next week anyway; they just took me at my word that I'd be
returning them all. A handful of times last spring there were
not as many diapers in my order as I had returned the previous
week, so I just called them up and said it was incorrect and
they said ''no problem - do you want the difference added to your
next week's delivery, or a compensation on your account?''
Everyone is friendly - absolutely NO complaints!
As for wraps, we started out with Cottonraps (which we got from
Tiny Tots). They are of nice quality, but I eventually switched
because the velcro piece was too big -- you'd think that would
be a plus, but I found that because the velcro covered the
entire area at the end that wrapped around (look at one and
you'll see what I mean), when my daughter got to the upper end
of the weight for that size wrap, the velcro would sort-of peel
pack and would cause a rash/scratched area on her legs. So we
switched to another brand (I think it is Diaperaps - it's
whatever they sell at Rockridge Kids) which has a smaller velcro
piece and have not had any problems. I think the key is to get
one with a breathable fabric. Don't buy the cheap ones as they
are less breathable, which means a higher chance of diaper
rash.
As for a pail, we did not get one from the diaper service,
although they offer it. We bought a Diaper Champ. There were
some recent reviews of it on this newsletter and I'd agree with
what everyone said then. It works well enough; not great.
Cloth diapers are larger and therefore don't slide down as
easily as paper ones would. It keeps the smell out pretty
well. It probably would do better at that if I cleaned it more
than once every 18 months. :) More frustrating is that by its
design the diapers pile up in a mountain inside the container -
so, although it's rather large, a lot of the space is naturally
wasted. We did not experience any smell issues until after our
daughter started solid foods - several months after that, in
fact. We beat the smell and space issues surrounding the Diaper
Champ by purchasing a large Rubbermaid tub with a lid that we
keep in the laundry room. Every 2 or 3 days, I empty the diaper
pail and put the dirty diapers in the plastic bag from Tiny
Tots, then tie it closed and put it in the tub. When you open
the lid of that tub... whew! But otherwise it's fine.
Happy Cloth Diaper Mom
We have been very happy with Tiny Tots. Good customer
service. We have had very few complaints, and they were
very responsive every time we called. You do have to buy
and wash your own wraps, but you can order wraps and
other supplies over the phone or internet and they arrive
with your next diaper order. We've used the ProWraps and
like them. All in all, very pleased with Tiny Tots. I haven't
heard anything bad about ABC. A couple of our friends use
them and like the service fine.
Jolie
We've been using ABC since 1997 and are happy with the service.
You have to buy and wash the wraps yourself, though I think they
do give you three to start with. They also provide a plastic bin
and plastic bags for the dirty diapers. They'll advise you to
order 80 diapers per week for a newborn. You can decrease
the number in increments of 10 as your baby gets older. Their
facility is in Berkeley near 4th St., which is convenient if you
live in Berkeley and miss a weekly delivery or pick-up. We've
used cloth diapers at home and paper diapers in daycare and
preschool.
Jennifer N.
I can't compare since we only used ABC, but we were happy with
their service. The wraps that they sell, however, were not our
favorites. No, the service does not include wraps. You have to
buy those separately and wash them yourself. This was
ultimately the reason that we switched to disposable (for
shame!) when I returned to work full time -- the wraps were too
expensive and laundering them too much hassle. We were up to a
dozen of the things and still had to wash them at least every
other day -- maybe we were doing something wrong, or maybe it
was just the shape of our son's butt, or simply the fact that he
pooped a lot, but despite the standard advice that 4-6 wraps
will last several days, we had to put on a fresh wrap with
almost every diaper change. (Of course, your mileage may
vary.) Of the wraps you can buy locally, we ended up
liking ''LiteWraps'' best. But I have heard from many cloth-using
moms that Bummis (which, as far as I know, you can only buy
online) are really the best. I recommend checking out
borntolove.com. I don't know if you are considering washing the
diapers yourself, but if you are (or will be) an at-home mom,
apparently it really is a good way to go -- not really that
inconvenient, much cheaper than a service and better for the
environment too. A service, however, is at least a good way
to ''test out'' using cloth without too big an initial
investment. As for the pail, you can buy a pail from the
service, but it is not an ''odor control'' type, just a big bucket
with a lid. Which is fine, actually, for the first six months,
since breastmilk poop does not smell bad! But if you use any
formula, or after your baby starts solid foods, you may want
something a little more airtight!
Holly
We use cloth diapers and love them, so I hope you do too. We
live in Lafayette, and use Tiny Tots. We have never had any
problems with them. I'm not sure how they compare in cost to
ABC, but I am sure they are pretty comparable. You have to buy
the wraps on your own, and wash them on your own. We like the
Diaperaps covers the best--you can buy them online at
www.diaperaps.com--and we use the Snappi Diaper Clips to keep the
diapers together (much easier than pins!) Tiny Tots gives you a
bin and deodorizers to throw your used diapers in, and yes,
sometimes it smells a little. I have mine in my son's closet,
and also put a Renuzit deodorizer in the closet, which seems to
do the trick. In terms of how many to order--I think that we
started with 80/week when my son was a newborn (yes you are
changing diapers all of the time!) But, when you order, the
service can recommend how many to begin with. Good luck!
Meredith
I used Tiny Tots, and was very pleased with them. There was a
small mix-up when I cancelled our service about the number of
diapers -- their computer said I should have more than I did
have -- but they were quick to take my word for it. One thing
I especially liked about Tiny Tots is they have a large store
of wraps, rash care, breast pumps, etc, that they will deliver
with your diapers.
I have not used ABC, but my friend loved them. Their prices
seem to be comparable. I recall it was about $16 a week.
The service will not launder your wraps. In fact, if one
should slip into the service pail, you will likely never see it
again. I washed mine with my regular laundry and hung them to
dry. You can buy wraps from Tiny Tots or from
www.weebees.com. I like the Proraps for velcro and Alexis
Featherlights for pull-on (you will need pins with pullons).
Tiny Tots can sell you an inexpensive pail that holds a week's
worth -- ABC probably has a similar offer.
Have fun diapering that brand-new bottom!
Catherine
We use Tiny Tots. Both services are the same price. We like
them pretty well, but you have to make sure you count the
diapers they bring each week to make sure the number equals what
its supposed to be. they are hand counted. Also, if you need to
change the number you get for the next week, you have to call by
tuesday at noon for the following week. that is a pain bc i have
no idea on tuesday if i will run out or not and need to order
more. i don't know what abc's policy is.i would ask them when
you have to call in to change your order number for the
following week. they sell wraps but i didn't like the plastic
ones they sell. we get Nikki's wraps . they are awesome! the
cotton/poly blend are the most waterproof. you can get them at
babybunz.com. they are around $14 each but well worth it. the
first few months we only needed a few wraps, but the last couple
months, his movements have been more volumous, so we have about
10 now.
Julie
It sounds like this topic has been thoroughly covered and
almost everything I would say has already been said. But I did
want to add that when we ordered our service a year ago there
were coupons from ABC and Tiny Tots in the phone book. I think
we got a few weeks free. Or maybe it was free wraps or other
supplies. I forget the details. Anyway, I recommend you check
it out. Both Tiny Tots and ABC had identical offers. Their
prices were also pretty much identical. I basically flipped a
coin and went with ABC and have been very happy. (Wyman is also
our driver--very nice guy if you happen to be home when he
comes by.)
Also, you have to ask for the deoderizer tablets (leave a note
if you're not going to be home,) which are handy if you buy a
dirty diaper bin from them. I didn't realize this until I
finally called. You can also get extra bags for the bin if you
ask. I've found that changing the bag halfway through the week
really helps with the smell. So does dumping the poop into the
toilet if it's solid enough. (As others pointed out, the smell
isn't an issue while your baby is exclusively on breast milk.)
Good luck!
Aimee
We had ABC Diaper Service. Their staff is very nice & happy to
help whenever/however possible. Also, a lesser known fact that
they have training pants is an added plus when you are ready to
transition to underwear (when you use their training pants you
don't have wash out the accidents). When my son was finished
potty training we went into the office to turn in some training
pants that we had forgotten to put out on our last pick-up day
& the staff in the office were so sweet. They came & gave my
son a high-five & told him how proud they were to meet ABC's
newest graduate. I would highly recommend them.
Romy
Service: We are happy with Tiny Tots but when I compared them
with ABC they seemed similar. The 80/week they start with were
not enough when our baby was a newborn - we got 110 a week for
the first month or two. When I have extras, I wet them with warm
water to use instead of wipes. Now he is 2+ yrs. and uses only 45
a week, so it does decrease with time!
Wraps: I ordered a variety from Tiny Tots to try them out, but
quickly went to exclusively buying Nikkys from Babyworks
(www.babyworks.com) - Nikkys aren't cheap but seem much more
breathable and have worked out great. Every time I order new
ones, I order 2 more in the next size so I have them on hand when
I think he might be outgrowing the old ones. I found that when I
had trouble with leaks, usually moving a size up stopped it, even
if it looked like he still fit in the smaller size. I usually
had 6-8 of each size, but if you have your own washer you may be
able to get by with less as the baby gets older. We didn't wash
with each wet diaper - only if ''soiled''.
Smell: I found the chemical disk they give you unbearable and not
something I'd want to expose a baby to. As others said, when he
was on breastmilk only smell wasn't a problem. When he started
solids, we worked out a way to keep the pail outside, using a
plastic tub as a place to set the diaper until the change is
done. It is a big pain to get the diaper outside many times a
day, but much better than the smell would be.
-Charis
I love Tiny Tots. You get a starter kit that includes a big
plastic covered bin and a how-to video. I think they recommend 80
diapers a week to start. We started and have stayed with 50 per
week since we use disposables at night and for going out of the
house. We pay $52 for 4 weeks. You can always change your order
and it is very easy to call them about vacations and how you want
to handle them. We forgot to put out our dirty dipes out for pick
up recently, and they gave us loaners. You do have to purchase and
wash the wraps separately. I got a bunch passed down through
friends. You only need one per day -- get 5 of each size.
hae
I want to give my two cents about diaper services: Having used
both ABC (w/child #1) and Tiny Tots (w/child #2), I highly
recommend Tiny Tots and would never again use ABC.
ABC staff twice didn't believe us when r diaper count was short.
They accused us of having some of their diapers when we didn't
and asked us to pay a hefty price for them. When I explained to
them that we had given them all their diapers and had none, I was
appalled at how they spoke to me. When in a similar situation
with Tiny Tots at the end of our two years of diapers with them,
they cheerfully said not to worry about the discrepancy and didn't
bill me. I urge everyone to use Tiny Tots.
Richard
Hi I know you got a lot of info, I just wanted to mention that at
first it'll seem like the cloth diaper covers will be too costly
because your baby goes through so many a day, and
outgrows them so quickly. But the growth slows down and
they stay in the same size a long time as they get a little
bigger. Also the poop frequency goes down, and you can
reuse the covers that are just holding a pee diaper, so the
cover-washing gets much easier.
Also, we just switched to snappy clips and nylon pants for
our 15 mo old, and I think if I have another baby I'll start out
w/ the clips since they hold poop in a little better than just
the velcro cover (less washing=good).
Kristine
February 1999
To the people asking advice about diaper services, I'd like to highly
recommend the ABC Diaper Service. I have only used this service and not
the others, but so far I've been really happy with their service. I did
compare prices when we first starting looking for a diaper service and ABC
compared favorably. But what really got me to appreciate ABC was meeting
our "diaper guy." The person who picks up our dirty diapers and leaves the
clean ones knocked on the door when he brought the first pre-birth load and
introduced himself, explained the service, told us what time he would be at
the house, etc. He is a really nice person and has so far been extremely
prompt and even brings the bag right up to the door rather than leaving it
out by the street (very convenient for those rainy mornings when I haven't
showered and don't feel like parading around the neighborhood in my
stay-at-home nursing outfits!). The other services may be just as good,
but I really like ABC. Hope this helps.
Gretchen
We are using ABC Diaper Service and have no complaints. The company has
been accommodating when we've called to change our order and even to
arrange to pick up diapers before our regular delivery day (it took several
weeks to figure out just how many diapers we need). I chose ABC because
they are in Berkeley - it just seemed plain silly to have diapers driven
here from the Central Valley when there is a company in town. And the
proximity makes it quite convenient to pick up a load of diapers if the
need arises - or drop one off if you forget to put out dirty diapers on
delivery day.
Monica
We've used Tiny Tots for nearly 11 months now and have been really pleased
with them. As far as I can remember, Tiny Tots and ABC are very
similar...I think we went with Tiny Tots because their ad in the Yellow
Pages offers you one month free with two paid months, a $45-$50 savings.
Tiny Tots is always here first thing in the morning to pick up and drop off
diapers, and their driver is friendly. Their billing is efficient and a
no-brainer; we authorized them to charge our credit card every month and
they send a receipt along with our diaper order at the end of the month.
Tiny Tots also has a store in the South Bay and you can order items from it
and they'll bring them to your house free with your next diaper delivery.
We've done this with diaper covers and it's easy...maybe not the cheapest,
but you do get 10% off if you order 6 diaper covers at the same time.
Christina
In response to the post about Tiny Tots vs. ABC. I've been using Tiny Tots
for
over two years now and have found their diapers and service to be top
notch. On
the rare occasion of a mistake in the diaper count they have overnight
delivered
the remaining diapers to me at no cost. The staff is friendly and very
capable.
Besides cloth diapers, they sell and will deliver all sorts of other baby
things
- tushie disposable diapers, ointments, potties, clothing, hats, breast
feeding
supplies. They have a monthly newsletter that I also enjoy. And if you're
having problems using cloth diapers or would like a lesson they will send
out a
rep, at no cost, to come by your house and spend time diapering with you (plus
they have a video you can get free of charge).
Tiny Tots has also been sending free Baby magazines to UC Berkeley's Social
Services department (where student pregnancy counseling is done) for years and
years. That's originally why I starting with them and their good service has
kept me with them.
Marian
To the person choosing between ABC Diaper Service and Tiny Tots: There is a
world of difference between the two! I had the unfortunate experience of
having a bag of ABC diapers picked up by the garbage collector on a winter
morning. The owner of ABC actually suggested that I go to the dump and dig
for the bag of diapers so that I wouldn't be charged for them! Needless to
say, I switched diaper service providers. Tiny Tots treats its customers
extremely well and provides stellar service.
Re: diaper service, I used Tiny Tots and was quite satisfied with
their service. It was three years ago and at the time I think that
they were less expensive than ABC.
Lori
Re. the person who wanted feedback about diaper service, we've been using
Tiny Tots for the past 6.5 months an dhave really liked them. They're
really helpful, their diapers are clean, soft, and seem reasonably priced.
They also give a 10% discount on other products like diaper covers, breast
milk bags, etc. for those who get their service.
Lisa
I used Tiny Tots with my first daughter and decided to try ABC with my
second daughter. At first, things were OK with ABC, but when I had
particular problems either with diaper count or with missing one of my
pick up days. The woman at ABC was very condescending in her explanation
of how diaper counts work and insisted that I must have just lost some so
I would be responsible for the cost of the missing diapers. She also said
that I would have to pay for extra diapers when I forgot to leave mine out
one week, in order to get my order delivered the next week, or I could
drop them off at the processing plant in Berkeley. I don't feel that
customer service was this woman's #1 priority. I did speak to another
person (a man) about my diaper count, and he adjusted it with no problem.
After that I decided to switch back to Tiny tots, but the woman told me I
was missing 10 diapers! Where would they have gone? I told her I wasn't
going to pay $10 for 10 diapers that I didn't have, and she told me that I
would just have to let the process play itself out. (I presume she meant
she was going to send it to a collection agency or something!) She was so
rude about it that I was flabbergasted! Well nothing ever happened with
that, and I continue to be happy with Tiny Tots' service.
Leslie
We used Tiny Tots twice, and both times experienced numerous
discrepancies/mixups with the # of diapers delivered. Their customer
serivce agent always took me at my word, which leads me to believe such
problems are common for them. (They would always send the missing diapers
by UPS overnight).
Patricia
I also had a nightmare experience with ABC a few years ago. They
overcharged me an entire week's worth of diapers. They claimed to have left
a load of diapers that never appeared (and wasn't scheduled). When I
disputed the bill and refused to pay, they argued again that the diapers
had been delivered, and that I must have misplaced them (100 diapers!) in
my house somewhere. I tried again to explain that the diapers had never
arrived, but it was my word against theirs, and they refused to consider
they had made a mistake, and threatened to take the matter to a collection
agency. Only when I my attorney write them a letter did they back down.
With a delivery system like theirs, this could happen to anyone. That
experience made me switch to disposables! Perhaps others might not go so
far, but I truly recommend you find another company.
We've been using ABC Diaper Service for nearly 4 years now and I have to
speak very highly of them. There was a reason we chose them over Tiny Tots
but it's been so long that I don't remember what it was. There was a third
diaper service we looked into as well, maybe they were in San Jose? In any
case, for awhile we had two in diapers. Over the past four years we've had
nothing but the best of service. Jesse, the delivery man, brings treats
for my dog who momentarily forgets to act like the guard-dog she thinks she
is (NOT!). They have a promotion where if you pay for 12 weeks you get
either an extra week or two diaper covers free. Every three months their
office calls me to ask what size diaper covers I want before they put
through the charge. We've also gone on numerous vacations, including one
that was long enough that we suspended service altogether (you return all
but 10 diapers for vacation). Never have they raised any issue about our
diaper count being lower than the original (sad to say, some have bitten
the dust ) nor have they complained when we mixed sizes. Because they're
local it's easy to drop off extra diapers or to purchase items when it's
not delivery day. HINT: it saves a lot of money once you can switch to
every-other-week delivery. Also, if you have an older child in diapers or
training pants it's cheaper because you pay for total diaper count, not two
separate services.
Sophie
April 1997
To Stewart & Anne's request re: diaper service.
I just started using Tiny Tots diaper service again after 9mos of going
without it and I can TRULY say they are WONDERFUL! Our driver is very sweet
and very punctual and the customer service line is excellent. The diapers
are always fresh and our daughter's bottom is rash free again! I can't
believe I ever stopped using cloth. I also recommend the diaper wraps for
newborns that they carry, but also like the brand "diaperwraps-lite".
Cotton & Co. and Rockridge Kids both carry this brand of velcro wraps as
well as this great little device called a "dappi-snappi". You can also find
newborn and small wraps at baby consignment stores (cheaper than new) like
Lillian's, Baby World, Darla's and Lauren's Closet (all but Darla's are on
College Ave.). I knew someone who had tried ABC after using Tiny Tots b/c
it was a little cheaper and still thought Tiny Tots was the BETTER service.
Good luck and happy baby!
Patricia
I used Tiny Tots and liked it a lot. But one caution: they charge you
rent for all diapers, even clean ones you have in your possession. In the
beginning, I thought they only charged for actually cleaning the diapers,
and ended up paying for several weeks when my kids (twins) were too tiny
for the diapers I had had delivered prior to my delivery date. So if, like
me, you end up using paper diapers for a few weeks be sure to return all
the clean diapers.
kim
I use ABC Diaper service (at the recommendation of a neighbor). I've been
quite pleased with their service. They were also very slightly cheaper
than Tiny Tots. As an alternative to disposables, they only become
cost-effective when you can go to every-other-week deliveries. But of
course there are many other reasons to use the service, including
ecological and health.
Good luck!
Dawn
We used tiny tots for year, and they were fine, they had a deal
which maybe they still have that if you sign up for soemthing like
12 weeks the last 4 are free.
Liz
I just wanted to let you know that I used tiny tots diaper service from the
time my daughter was born until she was about 1 1/2 years old. The people
at tiny tots really worked with me. I knew very little about changing
diapers and I did not know anything about cloth diapers. They sent out an
order of diapers about 2 weeks before my due date ( which ended up being a
month before my daughter was born since she was 2 weeks late) and I called
them after my daughter was born to set up a regular schedule with them. My
first order came with a video to show me how to work with cloth diapers.
However, that was not enough for me so they sent out someone to show me how
to put on the diapers. All this was before my daughter was born. It was
really cute. The guy had a little doll and showed me the different ways
to diaper the baby. Before I signed up with the diaper service, I called
around to compare the prices to the other company's in the area. THere was
one place that was cheaper, and when I told tiny tots, they matched the
price (which was really great). Another plus for tiny tots was the fact
that when my baby turned 4 months old and I started bringing her to the
sitter, tiny tots agreed to deliver the diapers to the sitters house. I
lived in a secured apartment building and there was no place for me to
leave the diapers for pick-up, so this worked out great for me. They gave
me an extra hamper, so I had one at the sitter and one at home. On
Wednesday morning, I would bring all my diapers over to the sitter and
leave them on her front porch where tiny tots would pick them up and
deliver the clean diapers. I would then take half the diapers home,and
leave the others there for her. If I had any problems, I would just give
tiny tots a call. They even offer you a discount if you refer others to
their service. I hope this helps you with your search. Good luck to you
and your wife with your bundle of joy.
Yolanda
FYI - I used ABC (I think, its been soo long now) and the thing I remember
is one day my diapers were stolen off my porch (where I had to leave them
for pick up/drop off) and I had to pay for the lost diapers. It was only
$1.00/diaper, which is inexpensive given how much cloth diapers cost new,
but it still was almost $75, which was an awful burden at the time.
Judy
Dawn wrote:
>I use ABC Diaper service (at the recommendation of a neighbor).
I'm that neighbor (hi Dawn!) We've been using ABC for nearly two years now
and love them. We contacted ABC, Tiny Tots and another diaper
company-whose name escapes me- before my son was born. We were initially
going to go with Tiny Tots because they had some promotion then, but
changed our mind when they didn't get back to us on a call. ABC has been
absolutely terrific. Jesse, our delivery-man, gets extra stars and smileys
for always bringing a dog biscuit for my dog, Bookeet. Oh how I wish
mailmen would take a lesson from him! There was also someone there who
very knowledgably answered my partners probing questions about what
chemicals they used and the environmental impact.
Someone mentioned giving back unused diapers; you don't need to do this.
You pay a fixed rate based on how often you get deliveries and your average
diaper usage. Theoretically, if you get 60 diapers per week, then 60 are
at your house and 60 are being laundered. In reality the amounts vary. So
for example if you go away for the weekend and use disposables, you may
hand in only 35 and have 85 at home, but you still pay the same amount. If
you consistently have a lot more at home than at the laundry, that means
it's time to have your number of diapers reduced. If you have more at the
laundry and not enough at home, that means you have to up your count.
Regarding diaper covers, the two brands I like best are Diaperwraps with
the extra tabs that prevent the child from opening them (this isn't
necessary in the Newborn and Small size so get the cheaper ones then) and
the Snap-i-wrap, Cottn'n'wrap covers. These latter ones come in a larger
size which I've been using since my son is starting to outgrow the
Diaperwraps XL size. The Natural Baby Catalogue has those el-cheapo ones
which are just some vinyl and velcro. These are fine for the small sizes
but the velcro is weak and won't last a long time. Same problem with the
Dappi brand. I recently bought one of these and the first day I put it on
my son the diaper completely came off and he had pee dripping down his leg.
I think there're some articles on cloth diapering at
http://www.parentsplace.com that you might want to look at.
Sophie
I have used ABC diaper service for both of my kids. Whenever I have
called with questions the staff is very helpful and Betty usually
will ask how much your baby weighs to make sure that you have the
right size equipment ie, diapers and wraps. We chose ABC over Tiny
Tots because they are a local business and if we forgot to put the
diapers out, we could drive them down and not miss out on the delivery.
They will check pH of urine (if rash is a problem) to see if you may
need alkaline diapers. If you want to try the next size diaper, you
can get a few in your next delivery to try. They also deliver many
other items, like wipes, cotton disposible diapers, earthquake kits.
If you pre pay for 12 weeks you can have an extra week free or two
diaper wraps.
Step One pre school as well as some others in town, use ABC so we
didn't have to worry about toting diapers to and from school.
Denise
re: diaper services--my family has used ABC diaper service continually for the
last 12 1/2 years, and have never had a problem dealing with them. i
occasionally forget to put the diapers out in advance of the driver, and he
always rings the doorbell and waits patiently while i go get them. changes in
service have always been easily accomodated, and when i forget altogether to
put the diapers out, it's easy to drop them off. i recommend supporting this
company.
Gaeblers
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