Cloth Diapering: If you only knew what other cloth diaperers know...
I think it may have been a tight budget combined with a body full of nesting hormones that caused me to look into cloth diapering. I only had one friend (a now distant friend from college) that I knew of that CD'd (cd=cloth diaper from now on). While researching CDs, I came across the facts that each baby puts about 6,000 diapers into land fills in their first 2 years of life. I don't consider myself a "green" fanatic, but the idea of 6,000 poo-filled diapers times the number of babies in the U.S. sitting in a land fill is kind of a nasty thought! That thought combined with the money saving numbers, were all I needed to convince me to try it out. By the way, the average person spends about $1600 on diapers alone per child assuming all children potty train at the magical age of 2 and never need a diaper again (and since I am still in the middle of potty-training my almost 3 year old, to that I say HA!). This number-cruncher added up what she thought she would need to be successful in her CDing endeavor and came up with $450 (which is just my number, depending on how you CD, this number could be less or more) I also decided that since I am already washing diapers, why not go all natural and wash homemade wipes as well? So, I get to live with the satisfaction of adding $40-60 to this homemaker's monthly savings and the feeling that I am helping out the planet.
To help you out, if you are considering CDing, I made my own list of pros and cons that I have discovered thus far. Also, I provided you with some links to some of the sites that helped me in my research.
PROS:
1. Money Savings! Oh and I forgot to mention: they can be re-used for each baby. The more babies you have the more you save. Also, people buy used CDs, so if you only want one baby... sell them when you are done!
2. The feeling of doing something good for the planet. I seriously feel REALLY good about CDing.
3. I have yet to have a diaper blow-out and only had one diaper leak on me. For you first-time preggos: maybe my kids are just poo-machines, but diapers blow out A LOT! I tried Pampers, Huggies, Luvs and quite a few off-brands and could never find a diaper that prevented this entirely... that is, until I tried CLOTH DIAPERS. I HATE changing clothes as often as I diaper. So, maybe I have more laundry in diapers, but I have less laundry in stained clothes. This makes me HAPPY!
4. Cloth diapers are CUTE! Yep, that's right... no more nasty plastic pants that your grandma used on her babies. CDs come in all kinds of different prints and colors. This also makes me very happy. I think diaper butts are cute and I love me a picture of my baby in just a diaper, but now imagine a cow print diaper butt or sailor print or bright blue or kangaroo print or... I think you get the idea. Sorry, Huggies, your expensive, limited edition, denim print disposables fail to impress a CDing mom!
5. Now I am not here yet, but it is my understanding that CD'd babies potty train easier and faster. Hey, it's worth a shot! (and Puh-lease, Lord, let it be so!)
6. Snappi's. You don't have to use scary diaper pins anymore. Snappi's are fast and easy to use, and, because of how they go on, they can't accidentally come in contact with your baby's skin.
7. Breastfed-only poop doesn't even need to be rinsed out. I stick my pre-folds into a diaper pail lined with a PUL fabric pail liner (same leak-proof, smell-proof fabric used for most diaper covers). I wash my prefolds in hot water and dry them in dryer and haven't had a stain or noticed a smell yet. (Though I am aware, once we start solid foods, I will be changing my system.)
8. Toilet-attachable spray nozzle. When we do get to solids, I can spray the poo directly into the toilet. This has been my sanity-keeper with my potty-training daughter.
9. Less diaper rash. No harsh chemicals and they seem to "breathe" better which makes for an overall healthier heiney.
10. Doesn't add much time onto diapering. (Same amount of time to put on a prefold as a regular diaper and maybe a couple extra seconds to put the diaper cover on? But if you use all-in-ones, there wouldn't be any extra time added)
11. Different companies offer trial run deals. If you end up hating it, you can send them back and get your money back. Or you can do like I did, commit to trying it out for one size and just get enough for that size. I hardly had anything to buy because my baby shower took care of almost everything I needed. Score!
12. No weird or harsh chemicals on your baby's precious bum. Like seriously, how do disposables get all that liquid to absorb?!? Have you ever seen the insides of a disposable and then poured liquid into it?... It's weird and so not natural! (Okay, and maybe i am a little weird because, yes, I've tried it)
CONS:
1. You will need to do laundry every 2-3 days. (diaper services are an option, though they will cost you about the money you save going cloth).
2. Cloth diapers require special detergent (though not necessarily more expensive depending on what you use)
3. For you mom's who swear by the purple desitin or butt paste for diaper rash, these are not an option. Special diaper rash cream must be used. (petroleum based creams get into CDs and affect absorbency). Not too hard to find it, but I am one of those mom's who swear by the aforementioned products. The non-petroleum products have not been as fast at working in my experience. I have heard you can use diaper liners to protect your diapers while using these products, but have not tried it for myself.
4. Maybe a funny con, but seriously, the diaper butt is HUGE! My son requires a size larger in onesies and jeans to accomodate his large diaper rump. I am sure as he grows larger his butt will look more proportional, but for now it looks a bit silly to me. To give you an idea, they are about the size of 2 disposables put together.
5. Most people have no experience with CDs. I can imagine child care workers and babysitters that just simply won't CD your child. Most people are open (and curious) but it can be hard to give a crash course on the angel fold while trying to get to dinner appointment. My solution was to get a couple all-in-one CDs (they work just like a regular disposable except that you don't throw them away).
Best wishes in your diapering journey!
Amanda
Links:
http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php If you want all the cloth diaper facts, here they are!
www.diaperjunction.com I have had a great experience getting diapers from them. In my research, they have the best prices, are the easiest to obtain free-shipping from, and have the largest selection. Also, if going with prefolds, their diaper-rite prefolds are the cheapest and work great! Scroll down to their "Information" section and look at their articles. They have a list of definitions and some great "how-to's" for those who have no clue about CDing.
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/ A great cloth diaper product review site.
http://handmadebyrita.blogspot.com/ For you DIYers, here's a blog with some great FREE patterns for making your own cloth diapers.
To help you out, if you are considering CDing, I made my own list of pros and cons that I have discovered thus far. Also, I provided you with some links to some of the sites that helped me in my research.
 |
| Jedidiah sporting a Thirsties Duo wrap cover. |
PROS:
1. Money Savings! Oh and I forgot to mention: they can be re-used for each baby. The more babies you have the more you save. Also, people buy used CDs, so if you only want one baby... sell them when you are done!
2. The feeling of doing something good for the planet. I seriously feel REALLY good about CDing.
3. I have yet to have a diaper blow-out and only had one diaper leak on me. For you first-time preggos: maybe my kids are just poo-machines, but diapers blow out A LOT! I tried Pampers, Huggies, Luvs and quite a few off-brands and could never find a diaper that prevented this entirely... that is, until I tried CLOTH DIAPERS. I HATE changing clothes as often as I diaper. So, maybe I have more laundry in diapers, but I have less laundry in stained clothes. This makes me HAPPY!
4. Cloth diapers are CUTE! Yep, that's right... no more nasty plastic pants that your grandma used on her babies. CDs come in all kinds of different prints and colors. This also makes me very happy. I think diaper butts are cute and I love me a picture of my baby in just a diaper, but now imagine a cow print diaper butt or sailor print or bright blue or kangaroo print or... I think you get the idea. Sorry, Huggies, your expensive, limited edition, denim print disposables fail to impress a CDing mom!
5. Now I am not here yet, but it is my understanding that CD'd babies potty train easier and faster. Hey, it's worth a shot! (and Puh-lease, Lord, let it be so!)
6. Snappi's. You don't have to use scary diaper pins anymore. Snappi's are fast and easy to use, and, because of how they go on, they can't accidentally come in contact with your baby's skin.
7. Breastfed-only poop doesn't even need to be rinsed out. I stick my pre-folds into a diaper pail lined with a PUL fabric pail liner (same leak-proof, smell-proof fabric used for most diaper covers). I wash my prefolds in hot water and dry them in dryer and haven't had a stain or noticed a smell yet. (Though I am aware, once we start solid foods, I will be changing my system.)
8. Toilet-attachable spray nozzle. When we do get to solids, I can spray the poo directly into the toilet. This has been my sanity-keeper with my potty-training daughter.
9. Less diaper rash. No harsh chemicals and they seem to "breathe" better which makes for an overall healthier heiney.
10. Doesn't add much time onto diapering. (Same amount of time to put on a prefold as a regular diaper and maybe a couple extra seconds to put the diaper cover on? But if you use all-in-ones, there wouldn't be any extra time added)
11. Different companies offer trial run deals. If you end up hating it, you can send them back and get your money back. Or you can do like I did, commit to trying it out for one size and just get enough for that size. I hardly had anything to buy because my baby shower took care of almost everything I needed. Score!
12. No weird or harsh chemicals on your baby's precious bum. Like seriously, how do disposables get all that liquid to absorb?!? Have you ever seen the insides of a disposable and then poured liquid into it?... It's weird and so not natural! (Okay, and maybe i am a little weird because, yes, I've tried it)
CONS:
1. You will need to do laundry every 2-3 days. (diaper services are an option, though they will cost you about the money you save going cloth).
2. Cloth diapers require special detergent (though not necessarily more expensive depending on what you use)
3. For you mom's who swear by the purple desitin or butt paste for diaper rash, these are not an option. Special diaper rash cream must be used. (petroleum based creams get into CDs and affect absorbency). Not too hard to find it, but I am one of those mom's who swear by the aforementioned products. The non-petroleum products have not been as fast at working in my experience. I have heard you can use diaper liners to protect your diapers while using these products, but have not tried it for myself.
4. Maybe a funny con, but seriously, the diaper butt is HUGE! My son requires a size larger in onesies and jeans to accomodate his large diaper rump. I am sure as he grows larger his butt will look more proportional, but for now it looks a bit silly to me. To give you an idea, they are about the size of 2 disposables put together.
5. Most people have no experience with CDs. I can imagine child care workers and babysitters that just simply won't CD your child. Most people are open (and curious) but it can be hard to give a crash course on the angel fold while trying to get to dinner appointment. My solution was to get a couple all-in-one CDs (they work just like a regular disposable except that you don't throw them away).
Best wishes in your diapering journey!
Amanda
Links:
http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php If you want all the cloth diaper facts, here they are!
www.diaperjunction.com I have had a great experience getting diapers from them. In my research, they have the best prices, are the easiest to obtain free-shipping from, and have the largest selection. Also, if going with prefolds, their diaper-rite prefolds are the cheapest and work great! Scroll down to their "Information" section and look at their articles. They have a list of definitions and some great "how-to's" for those who have no clue about CDing.
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/ A great cloth diaper product review site.
http://handmadebyrita.blogspot.com/ For you DIYers, here's a blog with some great FREE patterns for making your own cloth diapers.