Diapers Q&A

Cloth diapers?

So, I'm flirting with the idea of cloth diapering. I like the bum genius ones that you can adjust to fit as the baby grows, and the happy heinys are so cute that I might get one or two of those just for fun. My husband thinks I am insane. I slightly question my sanity too...but I figure they will cut down on costs and like some of the other benefits as well. If you use cloth, do you find them to be a hassle or do you like them? AND how do I convince hubby that I have not gone completely batty for wanting to give them a try? My daughter is 7 months old...at this point would it even be more cost effective? And how well do they contain messes? My girl can do some diaper damage!! lol. Any insight/advice/experience would be appreciated. thanks!!

Public Comments

1. The debate between which type of diaper is best is not an easy question to answer. The reusable cloth diaper isn’t what it used to be. Some cloth diapers now have double or triple layers and a multiply, fiber-filled strip, making them more absorbent than older styles. Some styles of cloth diapers now come with Velcro strips, eliminating the need for those large safety pins. You can launder them at home or turn the job over to a diaper service. There are also various types and styles of disposable diapers, ranging from simple plastic covered paper diapers to the newest high-tech, cartoon covered, absorbent gel material filled, elastic legged disposables. With so many different choices, here are some things to take into consideration. Skin Care & Health concerns: The greatest concern for parents is to keep their baby’s skin dry, healthy and free from diaper rash. Many things can cause diaper rash. Prolonged wetness, lack of air circulation, soap, chemical and dye allergies, ammonia formed by bacteria that interacts with urine left sitting against the skin and the growth of microbes in the diaper area can all be irritating and cause rashes. Some concerns about disposable diapers have been about dyes, sodium polyacrylate (the super absorbent gel), and dioxin, which is a by-product of bleaching paper. Sodium polyacrylate has been linked in the past to toxic shock syndrome, allergic reactions and is very harmful and potentially lethal to pets. Some dyes and dioxin according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is known to cause damage to the central nervous system, kidneys, and liver. The (FDA) Food & Drug Administration has received reports that fragrances in disposables caused headaches, dizziness and rashes. Problems reported to the Consumer Protection Agency regarding disposables include, chemical burns, noxious chemical and insecticide odors, babies pulling disposables apart and putting pieces of plastic into their noses and mouth, choking on tab papers and linings, plastic melting onto the skin, and ink staining the skin. Plastic tabs can also tear skin if the diaper is not properly put on the baby. According to the Journal of Pediatrics, 54 % of one-month old babies using disposable diapers had rashes, 16 % having severe rashes. A study done by a disposable diapers manufacturing company (we won’t name the company, but its one of the largest manufacturers) shows that the incidence of diaper rash increased from 7.1% to 61% with the increased use of throwaway disposable diapers. Keep in mind that each baby is different; some parents will find their baby does perfectly fine with disposables while other parents may find their baby has some type of reaction to disposables. On the other hand cloth diapers can cause rashes by not being changed enough or properly cleaned and sanitized after becoming soiled. It is all a matter of personal preference, how your baby is reacting to a particular diaper and how you feel about other factors that come into play when deciding between cloth and disposables. The best way to prevent diaper rash is to change diapers, cloth or disposable, frequently. While disposable diapers can hold large quantities of urine, this slight wetness is still against your baby’s skin, which can lead to rashes. Cloth diapers should be changed every time your baby wets and then the diaper should be properly cleaned so all bacteria that may be in the cloth is killed. Cost: The cost of diapers is usually a great concern for most parents. Cost estimates show that disposable diapers will run approximately $50 to $80 per month, using a diaper service will cost approximately $50 to $80 per month and laundering your own cloth diapers will cost slightly less at approximately $25 to $60 per month. The cost of disposable diapers varies due to the wide range of disposables on the market. Some name brands are very expensive, while some store branded disposables can be half the price of name brands. The cost of a diaper service mainly varies because of two factors. One factor being the amount of competition in your area (number of diaper service companies) and the second being the quality of diapers that you choose to use. The cost of laundering your own cloth diapers also varies because of many factors. One factor is the quality of the cloth diaper. Some parents will initially purchase very high quality cloth diapers which will last several years, while other parents might buy low quality diapers which only last for a short time. Another factor is the amount of laundering that is done for each load of dirty diapers. Some parents will only do a minimal amount of cleaning and sanitizing, while other parents will go through many steps to clean a load of dirty diapers. The more cleaning and sanitizing that is performed for each load of diapers the higher the cost. Other factors are your time to launder the diapers, cost of electricity, soap, water, and wear on your washing machine and dryer. In general, if you compare the cost of the fancier high tech disposable diapers to the cost of laundering your own cloth diapers, you will save money by using cloth diapers and laundering them yourself. If you decide to go with disposable diapers, here are a few tips on how to save money on disposable diapers. Environment: There has been much debate over the impact of disposable diapers and cloth diapers on the environment. The pro-disposable diaper advocates say that the extra water used to wash cloth diapers is just as much of an abuse to the environment as the production and disposal of disposable diapers. But taking into consideration the following estimates you will probably agree that disposable diapers are much more harmful to the environment than cloth diapers. It is estimated that roughly 5 million tons of untreated waste and a total of 2 billion tons of urine, feces, plastic and paper are added to landfills annually. It takes around 80,000 pounds of plastic and over 200,000 trees a year to manufacture the disposable diapers for American babies alone. Although some disposables are said to be biodegradable; in order for these diapers to decompose, they must be exposed to air (oxygen) and sun. Since this is highly unlikely, it can take several hundred years for the decomposition of disposables to take place, with some of the plastic material never decomposing. The untreated waste placed in landfills by dirty disposable diapers is also a possible danger to contaminating ground water. Pro-disposable advocates say that cleaning cloth diapers uses more energy and contributes to the load on sanitary sewer systems and potential water pollution. This view really makes no sense if you think about it. The amount of water used per week to wash cloth diapers at home is about the same amount consumed by an adult flushing the toilet four or five times daily for a week. Also, the greater amount of water and energy being used by diaper service companies to wash large amounts of cloth diapers multiple times; the per diaper impact on energy and water supplies is actually less than home washing. Finally, when flushing solids from a cloth diaper down the toilet and washing the diapers in a washing machine, the contaminated, dirty water from both toilet and washing machine go into the sewer systems where they are properly treated at wastewater plants. This treated wastewater is much more environmentally friendly than dumping untreated soiled disposable diapers into a landfill. Convenience: With the newer style of cloth diapers that are on the market, disposable diapers are not much more convenient that cloth diapers. The new multiple layer, Velcro fastening cloth diapers are just as easy to put on and take off as disposables. Cloth diapers do not really need to be presoaked, or even rinsed out. Flushable liners can be used with cloth diapers that let you lift the soiled liner off the cloth and flush the liner and the poop down the toilet. If you don’t use liners, you can just dump the older baby’s solids down the toilet. Cloth diapers usually only add about 2 extra loads of laundry a week to your schedule. Disposable diapers are more convenient when traveling because you can just throw the dirty diapers away without carrying them around for washing. Disposables also require fewer changes because of the super absorbent materials; but taking into consideration the increased risks of rash and the extra impact on the environment, your decision should be made with much thought. Summary: The choice between the different types of diapers available is a matter of personal preference while taking into consideration all of the topics discussed above. There really is no one best type of diaper that is good for every baby. Deciding to use cloth or disposable diapers depends on your lifestyle, personal preference, finances and your concern for the environment. Some parents combine the two, using cloth at home and disposable when they are going to be out all day. The choice that is right for you and your baby may be different from the one that's right for your friend and her baby. The best thing to do is know the advantages and disadvantages between cloth and disposable diapers, talk with your doctor, discuss it with your wife or husband and make a decision on what you think is best for your baby. Whichever diaper you decide on now, you may find that your baby develops diaper rash more frequently later or has some type of allergic reaction. This could be sensitivity to your choice. If this occurs, don't fight it, just switch. Try a different type of diaper, a different brand or go from cloth to paper or vice versa. If your baby ever shows signs of having a reaction to a diaper you should always notify your doctor. The reaction you might be seeing could just be a small rash, but it could be a more severe allergic reaction.
2. When my kids were little that's all that was available. They saved money and cut back on waste in the landfills. We had to put plastic pants over the diaper at that time. That's what kept the clothes dry. They must have improved them somewhat by now. I'm not familiar with the two brands you named. If the new diapers have an outer lining, you don't have to worry. There's nothing wrong with you for deciding to go with regular diapers. You are smart to try to save money.
3. i know as a jamaican term they are called nappies and are folded in a special way to fit the baby just the same way you tell us about your problem address it in a serious manner to your husband try your best to convince him about this cost effective method
4. I tried cloth, hated it. I tried gDiapers, which are cloth outers and have a flushable insert, loved them. They handle messy diapers (Im sure to use them after we have had antibiotics), and as a side benefit since they arent plastic disposables they dont fill up our dumps with more diapers, and if you can flush them (so easy) you dont have the bags and bags of diapers to take out, or to wash. PS a lot of ppl just love the gDiaper outers (little G) and have figured out how to use a cloth insert with them.
5. My mom always says that she used cloth instead of disposable for my sister and I, and she said she liked it much better. I would consider using a laundry service though, rather than washing them yourself- thats what she did. I do not know how costly that is now, but there used to be a special diaper service that picked them up. I don't remember them of course, but they worked for her through 2 children, and I have heard that cloth makes a child potty train faster- and I was potty trained at 1 1/2, so it may be true. I believe that they had an outside cover, to make them non messy, but I'm not sure. Anyway thats how they used to get along before disposable diapers! Just tell your husband they save money, contribute less waste, help the environment, and teach you child to become potty trained faster! Good Luck!
6. My baby's first diaper was a cloth one they put on him in the hospital, and it was so gross... They do not contain messes at all. That's why in the good old days, babies used to wear a plastic protector, remember? If you are very committed to the saving-ecology thing, kudos to you, but maybe give it a try or two, and don't feel bad if you decide to change your mind.
7. My twin sister and I were brought up on cloth diapers. First, the cloth would have to be very absorbant, and these diapers need to be changed more often. Second, get plenty of them! They need to be washed each time, and babies can go through about a dozen a day! Third, they save the paper used to make regular diapers. Fourth, yes, diapers are expensive, so you would be saving money! If you have a good washer, time on your hands, and the commitment to being green, go for it!
8. We switched to cloth when my daughter was 15 months old after battling the "rash from hell", as we like to call it. WE LOVE CLOTH and will never switch back to 'sposies! We mostly use prefolds/flats with covers at home & pocket diapers when we go out. My husband is great at putting a prefold on a wiggly toddler! My one suggestion is to not buy a bunch of one kind just off of what is cute or what one person suggests. What works for one may not work for you. Lots of people RAVE about Fuzzi Bunz, but they don't work for my daughter. Check out a diapering forum like http://www.diaperswappers.com to talk to other cloth diapering mommies about the different types of diapers available. Also check out sampler packs like this one: http://www.jilliansdrawers.com/cdcm.html You can try them all out, and if you don't like them, you send them back & you're only out $10!
9. Check out diaperswappers.com there are many cd'ing mamas on there. My advice: Don't get caught up in the cloth diaper decision. Make a decision and stick with it. I use flat diapers with pins and nylon covers. I have tried everything from fuzzi bunz to kissaluvs and everything in between. The fuzzi bunz leaked for me. I find the best dipes are the ones I fold and are cheap. Also, they are easy to dry. I guess that means I am not the hippest mom out there, but I don't care.
10. I just started using cloth, and asked my online friends who use cloth what they recommend. I was interested mostly in the new Bumgenius 3.0, like you mentioned, and it got rave reviews. I began using them this week and I love them! They are so well-made and soft, and not hard to clean at all. I just put a load of clean ones away earlier today. My daughter is quite happy in them! I got cloth wipes too, and they're lovely soft cotton; along with diaper spray (essential oils and witch hazel), my girl has a nice clean bottom in no time! I saw bamboo wipes online also. Apparently cloth-diapered babies toilet train earlier than disposable diapered babies (on average), since they can feel the wetness more with cloth. The lack of chemicals in the cloth also cuts down on diaper rash. As for saving money, you will save more the more you use them, like with subsequent kids. I factored it out once; if I used them for 2 or 3 babies, I'll save thousands!! As for making life easier (and calming your hubby down!), you can get the flushable liners, making dunking basically unnecessary. I hadn't ordered those, but I did tonight, just to catch her poops! It is technically easier to use disposables, but I like knowing that I'm saving money, doing something good for the environment, and my daughter is exposed to less chemicals. Email me anytime if you have any questions!
11. I never used them myself. I so did not need even more laundry. One thing to take into consideration is how often and how bad your daughter's diaper rashes can get. My mom used them with me at home or short trips out because I got such nasty rashes from disposables. On long trips she coated my tush with Desitin and put on a disposable diaper. I've always had quite sensitive skin so if this is a problem your daughter has too, I would suggest trying them. As for it being money saving, I look at this way: you pay for disposable diapers (just the diapers) with cloth you have to pay for the diapers, the extra water & detergent for cleaning them or a diaper service (if it's available in your area) the extra electricity for running the washer (dryer too if it's machine dried) and possibly an increase in your sewage fees for there being more waste leaving your house; are you really saving money?
12. I used cloth diapers for my daughter and I preferred them over paper diapers. I guess you can argue that paper diapers are more convenient, but the cloth diapers were not much more work. When my daughter was a newborn (and going through the most diapers per day, with the messiest poop) I had to do a load of laundry ever day or every other day. After a few months it came out to one to three loads a week. As far as changing the diapers, it doesn't have to be any more difficult than a paper diaper, but even the most complex diaper (flat fold) wasn't really much harder, I would just fold it while putting away the laundry and pin (or snapi) the diaper in place to use it. If you are planning to have more kids, and you continue to use cloth with them then your investment will pay off a lot. You wont get as much value out of the one size at this stage, but you will still likely save some money over paper diapers. If you really want a value, even seven months in, consider using prefolds instead of the name-brand one-size all-in-one's. Even if you opt for the expensive diapers, you may be able to find them on sale or second-hand to offset the cost. There are several ways of further reducing your expenses, like drying them on the line instead of using a drier, or making some yourself if you sew (or know someone who does). It is an investment up front, but consider that even store-brand paper diapers cost fifteen to twenty five cents each (that adds up quick), and you can see why you ultimately save using cloth. As for hubby, maybe he thinks you're crazy, but give him a chance to see how things go and he may change his mind. If you have to, let him use paper diapers while you use the cloth until he sees how you like them. People are often surprised by how easy they are to use, how they are not any more smelly than paper diapers, and how well they work when they finally see the diapers in action. At first I had planned to use cloth only at home, but my daughter would leak EVERY time she wore a paper diaper, so I stopped using them. My sister (who swore she would never do anything crazy like use cloth diapers) just switched her five month old to totally cloth. She had been using both cloth and paper, but his poor sensitive skin breaks out every time she puts him in a paper diaper. Contrary to what people told her would happen, the paper diapers cause a reaction and rash, but she can put him in a soft cotton diaper that doesn't have any super-absorbent polymers to wick away moisture, cover that with a pair of wool shorts, and the rash cleared up in a matter of days.
13. I used cloth diapers with my second, and will again with my third. My second had a lot less diaper rash then my first, and we're hoping that trend continues. We always had a bag of disposables around for when we went out, and we really only did about 2, sometimes 3 more loads of laundry a week then we did before. It's not too bad, we also usually hung them to dry, the sun works as a natural bleach. There are so many choices, we used some that had disposable liners,(roll of 100 about $5) you can get liners that are flushable, ones you throw out, and ones that are for the compost. Using a combination of these with some all-in-ones and some fitted ones with a diaper cover (less material to wash/dry, the covers dont really need to ever go in the dryer) really cuts down on laundry. We only started using three different kinds because in the beginning we didn't know which was best for us, and we ended up just purchasing more of all three. There is probably still lots of options that we didn't explore. Happy Heinys are great, we especially love the softness of their fleece pocket diapers. Kushies are great too, we also used a few lesser known brands, Tush and Fuzzi Buns. Here's a bit of info http://www.parentingweb.com/misc/cloth_facts.htm Good luck on your choice. a good friend of mine just switched her 1 year old, and she says she's loving it. Before she was using expensive organic disposables to keep the chemicals in most of the other brands away from her baby. One of the best parts for us now, is with our third we are not going to have to purchase that many diapers, almost all of our other ones are still usable. I still want some new ones though, my son is three now and there are so many new styles.
14. CLOTH diapers are wonderful!. I told my hubby he could use disposables if he really hated the cloth. He loves them. My mom wasn't so sure about them, and she tried using each a cloth and disposable, and she was won over by the cloth. Cloth diapers can seem really expensive, but that's because you are putting all your money in up front. (if I had been buying disposable $30/mo x 24/mo I'd have spent $720 already!!) )I know I haven't spent that much on cloth, in fact - after I sold my small size FB's on Ebay, I got back all but $20 that I had invested! (and we used them for 7 months) And when they get a bit older you change their diapers less, since they can hold it longer - I only have 18 size medium diapers, and wash every other day. I totally believe they will be cost effective for you. And they do have a re-sale value, or save them for another baby... Here's my experience with cloth diapers - We tried a bunch of different types after his meconium was gone (used seventh generation until then). We tried all different kinds - fitted (needs cover), contour (needs cover) All-in-ones (takes longer to dry) chinese prefolds (needs cover), Fuzzi Bunz (needs insert - lots of choices there) If you go with the kind that needs a cover - Cot 'n Wraps are my favorite cover, hands down. Ultimately we ended up using Fuzzi Bunz (FB). I never tried the Bum Genius- hadn't heard about them until 18 months into cd'ing, and didn't get how one-size would work for all, plus FB's work so well for us. You can get these nifty rinse wands that attach to your toilet water intake, and you can rinse them off right into the toilet. No problem. You can also get flushable liners, and dump them in the toilet if you don't want to deal with poop at all. Really, it's not bad. I can't think of a poopy blow-out that I've ever had. (I can recall some with disposables!!) I've had some come to the edge, but I can't think of anything getting out all over his clothes. In fact, we were using disposables on vacation, and my son got horrid diarrhea. I was crying in the bathroom of the condo, wishing I had my FB's. The disposables leaked so badly...I know the FB's would have been able to soak up the mess and he wouldn't have been belly to feet in poo. We've never had any stains, but if you get some you can just hang them in the sun, it will naturally bleach them. Washing them frequently and thoroughly should be all you need to do. (I wash every other day) ALWAYS USE A DRY PAIL SYSTEM!! Can't stress this enough - your diapers will smell so bad if you use a wet-pail system, and it's a drowning hazard too. My son is 2 now, and I'm currently trying to figure out if he needs to go up to a large. He isn't leaking in a medium, but they are looking more like a bikini than a diaper these days! LOL. I just ordered the new version of FB's, but am a little nervous, as I've heard when companies come out with a new version, something changes. I just ordered and tried a Large Knickernappies Disposanot. They are very similar to a FB, they need an insert, but they are side snapping, instead of front snapping, which seems to give a better fit at the waist. They also have elastic at the front waist, which is nice. I don't like them overall, because they are too hard to stuff with an insert compared to a FB. (the outside fabric doesn't stretch as much as a FB) The FB's are expensive, but we bought some on Ebay before committing to them as "the one". My husband likes how simple they are, I like how you can stuff anything in the pocket to absorb urine. (I've even used a hand towel!) I currently use chinese pre-fold diapers as inserts, they work fine for us. There are LOTS of options for inserts though. The only downside we've found with FB's is that there is a lack of quality control on sewing. Some fit tighter than others, but since there are multiple snaps, it's easy enough to manage, and we've had minimal leaks - maybe 2 in two years? Other people have left you great links, I can't remember if I saw this one listed, and it has lots of great diaper reviews: www.diaperpin.com Good Luck!!
15. I bought the all in one Bum Genius cloth diapers prior to baby delivery. We used them for a few days. Decided that the extra time, effort and diaper changes was not worth the money saved. I researched cloth diapers prior to buying the BumGenius. I read that the cloth diapers was better for baby - fabric verses plastic cut down on diaper rash and allowed the body to breathe. Truth: my son has never had diaper rash - I am a poop monster - I can smell it a room away and change his diaper immediately.