Diapers Q&A
Interested in cloth diapers...?
Hi! I'm currently 20 weeks with baby #3 and am interested in using cloth diapers this time around. I actually wanted to use them with my first but my husband said he couldn't deal with dumping doo-doo into the toilet everyday. lol However, he's only changed about a handful of poopy diapers since we've had our children so I'm pretty set on the idea of going cloth. We now live in the country and we burn our trash. However, diapers don't burn so I had to bag them and every few weeks take them to the dump. It was insane the amount of diapers we just threw out! I jumped on the interenet today but instantly became overwhelmed with all the info out there. What's best? The pocket ones, the all-in-ones, the fitted ones? Or do I do a combo? What brands are the best, the easiest and prevent leaks the best? How much is it to get started? I'm prepared to make the investment and am really excited about not throwing all those disposables out into a landfill! Any info will help! Thanks!
Public Comments
- Hi there, There are a few different ways to go. There are All In Ones (AIOs) which are the most like disposables. You put on one item, and then when it's soiled you take it off and wash it. The pros are that they're easy, the cons are that they're harder to wash and dry, and more expensive. Then you have fitteds or contours, which are a diaper shape that you put inside a waterproof cover. Then there are prefolds or flats, which are diapers that you fold onto baby, and then cover with the waterproof cover. What I did though was take the cheap way, which is prefolds, a few snappis, and covers. I use a combination of wool covers (my own knit longies and soakers and commercial wool covers like Sweet Pea and Stacinator) and PUL covers, primarily the Thirsties ones as they've got a poop-proof leg gusset. For me this is a great solution because I could buy tons for very little money (Green Mountain Diapers has the best ones, a little shorter and a lot wider to make it easier) and I can wash and dry them relatively quickly, every other day. My wash routine is a cold rinse with Bac-Out when needed (it's an enzyme cleaner that helps get them really clean) followed by a hot wash with a small amount of Free and Clear detergent, followed by a cold final extra rinse. We've never had diaper rash, they're cute as anything, and I feel so much better about diapering - it makes it fun too! So, my essentials would be: 1.) Enough diapers to wash every other day. For a newborn that might be up to 24, for an older child I'd assume you're changing eight times a day max. Covers, if you need them, or not if you're doing AIO's. 2.) A diaper pail - I got a new, empty drywall pail from Ace Hardware for about $2 - it's GREAT! 3.) A diaper pail wetbag/liner. I think Wahmies made mine, they're great. Grab a portable size one for when you go out too. 4.) A free and clear detergent. 5.) Access to a washer. And that's it! There's nothing else you need, although there are lots of fun things to have, like diaper sprayers, doublers or inserts, colorful snappis, wool soakers - it's fun! And I really like http://www.thenaturalmotheringshop.com - great service, excellent prices Edited to add: We've never had diaper rash, we've never had a blow out or leak, and our water bill is lower than that of our neighbors. Washing diapers also requires only 1/4 of the detergent you'd use on a normal load, so the effects on local waterways is limited. Just so you know.
- OK, so you won't be throwing diapers into landfills.. You will however, have a baby with almost perpetual diaper rash.. A baby who leaks through 3 or 4 outfits per day, and soaks a couple crib sheets a day... Hmm Toss diapers in a landfill or waste water and pollute water and soil with phosphates and detergents...
- My daughter used cloth for her son. I used cloth for her. It's more work, but should be cheaper in the long run. She had quite a variety. First, don't get the ones with velcro closure. They eventually don't hold tight. I also didn't like the all in ones. Too much work as you couldn't dry them in a drier. I personally liked the chinese ones. They were very thick and absorbent. We got most of hers on auction sites. In fact, I have to list hers. If you live in the country, you can also hang them out to dry. This is nice and keeps them whiter.
- I use cloth diapers on my 4 month old twins and I have to say I love them. I use the normal cloth diaper with the velcro cover. I ordered mine through a diaper service and they drop off and pick up the diapers once a week. They give you a special garbage bag and some air fresheners to. I pay once every 3 months and it all depends on how much it costs with how many diapers you order. I ordered 75 per child and it came to about $250.00 for that 3 month period. If I ordered less diapers it would cost less. You just have to make sure you change them about once every 3 hours because they aren't very absorbent. But the best part for me was they have not gotten a diaper rash yet.
