Diapers Q&A

What do you think about reusable diapers?

Did the savings override the pain of washing and cleaning the diapers by hand? We aren't planning on using a diaper cleaning service and think that disposable diapers are way too expensive, worthless, and bad for the environment. Would you recommend reusable diapers? Did you save a lot of money by using them? What kind do you recommend? Is it hard to learn how to fold the diapers?

Public Comments

1. I think they're great... I regret not using them w/ my daughter, but plan on it w/ the next ones. I think especially if it is your first child and you plan for more, it is very affordable... even if not, it is still affordable. I have lots of cloth diapering friends and these are the kinds they use: http://www.fuzzibunz.com/ http://www.bummis.com/ http://www.happyheinys.com/ http://www.mother-ease.com/ these are the ones that seem the best bang for your buck: http://www.bumgenius.com/one-size.php no need to buy a set in each size... unless one of my cloth friends really gives me a bad review, I plan on getting these when the time comes! this site is all about reviews and tips: http://www.diaperpin.com/home.asp
2. We use cloth diapers most of the time. We use pocket diapers or all-in-ones (AIOs). They are very easy to use and go on much like a disposable. I have never used a prefold, which is the kind of diaper you have to fold up and put a cover over. There is a lot of great information about cloth diapers available online. I got a lot of info from the Diapering Your Baby board on Babycenter.com My daughter seems to be more comfortable in cloth diapers. They look a lot cuter too! They are an initial investment, but overall we should save a lot of money. One nice thing is that you can resell them for 50-75% of what they cost new when you are done with them. You can buy used diapers at diaperswappers.com. If you'd rather have all new diapers, try out one of the trial packs at www.jilliansdrawers.com or many other cloth diapering websites. The nice thing about that one is you can return it all if you'd like, and you're only out a little bit of money for trying it, and it lets you try a lot of kinds to see what you like best. If you read up and decide you'd like pocket diapers, AIOs, etc. there are websites that have sampler packs of just pockets, etc.
3. I used cloth diapers with my oldest girl and both cloth and disposable with my youngest. My youngest grandchild is still in diapers, and believe me, if we had had disposables as good as they make now, when my kids were little, that is all I would have used. I realize that it seems to be better for the environment to use cloth, but think about it: 1. You have to slosh soiled diapers up and down in a toilet, then wring them out before you can put them to soak in a diaper pail. 2. You wash diapers, dry diapers, fold diapers every day. Every day. 3. Your time is worth something. You spend time sloshing, wringing, soaking, washing, drying and folding diapers when you could be spending time with your sweet baby. 4. You have to pin the diaper on, then put a pair of plastic pants on the baby so his/her clothing doesn't get soaked. 5. Kids in cloth diapers get diaper rash quicker than kids in disposable diapers. If you insist on cloth, only buy a couple of dozen, and have some Huggies as back ups. I think you may change your mind. Incidently, how you fold the diaper changes as the child grows. Too, when they get 6 months old or so, you have to use two or more cloth diapers overnight, as the baby has a larger bladder.
4. I am no parent but i would say it would be a lot cheaper and better for the enviroment and your baby. Disposables contain all kinds of weird chemicals that aren't really good for your baby that create rashes and other health related issues. Don't get me wrong disposables would be good for traveling purposes. If thats what you would like.
5. I think parents who use cloth diapers are gonna realize quick that noone has time to wash clumps of poop out of diapers all day. I think its gross messing around with poop diapers.. I would never chose that. You are not saving planet earth when there are so many other types of slobs out there wrecking the earth no matter how nice a thought that is... but you are wasting a hell of a lot of precious water :)
6. I adore cloth diapers. We started when my son was 8 months old but I wish I would have used them from the beginning. The initial investment can be a bit daunting, but it's worth it in the end, especially considering that you can re-use them with other children or sell them once you're finished. My favorites are fuzzi bunz (sold pretty much everywhere) and cubby cuddlers (www.tkcuddlers.com). I also love love love wool cover with unbleached prefolds. If you use pocket diapers, all-in-ones, or fitted there's no folding at all...you just put the diaper on and it closes w/ snaps or velcro type material (fitteds do need a cover though). With prefolds there are several different ways to fold them. The easiest way is to fold it in thirds, put it in a diaper cover, and close the cover...no pinning. There are a few folds if you want to pin too (or you can use a snappi to close the diaper if you don't want to pin). It takes a little getting used to, but it's no problem at all. Washing the diapers is easy too! Justmommies.com has a cloth diapering board that I would recommend as well. Lots of awesome ladies to help you out. So I would definitely recommend using cloth....besides everything else they are super super cute :) I also wanted to add that you don't have to slosh diapers in the toilet. I have never once done that--my diapers are clean and stain free. Also no one that I know of uses a wet pail anymore. I just plop the poop into the toilet and then put the diaper in a washable bag. All the diapers go in the wash...a cold rinse without soap, then a hot wash with soap and all is well. Today's cloth diapers are no where near what the old ones were.
7. modern cloth diapers are FAB! no dunking or sloshing in the toilet.....no bleach .....no pins because today prefolds are used with a snappi.....none of that crap....haaaaaa no pun intended i use hemp fitted growing greens and they are more than awesome they are a fitted one size fits all......they are made to fit newborns to 35lbs.....hemp is naturally organic, super super absorbant, antimicrobial.....and it gets better with age the company frequently puts up their "seconds" on ebay for cheaper......that is where i got my first batch of them.....and then i found a hell of a deal on ebay from a mama selling 11 of them that she used for 2 children....when they arrived they looked brand NEW......that is how good hemp holds up....and the price was a steal overall i have spent a little over $200 for my stash of diapers.....but that is nothing compared to thousands spent on sposies and wipes........i also cloth wipe.....they go right in the wash with the diapers i have NOT seen my water bill go up......i use ALL free clear detergent and vinegar to wash them.....and it's not a hassle at all......seriously.....it's actually kinda fun....am i nuts??? http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/growinggreens.htm there is the link to the main site lemme check on ebay quickly...okay there are none on ebay right now but keep checking back there....the growing green also comes in an organic cotton version......but i say go with the hemp/cotton blend good luck......do a search for cloth diaper and discover the wonderful world of cloth diapering edit.....and i wanted to add in response to the negative attitudes ......i have not regretted for a damn second cloth diapering....it's too too easy....i sooooo regret not having been better informed with my first daughter with whom i used sposies.....i feel horrible knowing that about 5000 of her s hitty and pee filled diapers are sitting out in a landfill somewhere and won't decompose for another 500 years.....and the $$$ i wasted
8. I LOVE using cloth. I started CDing when my youngest was 6 weeks and my oldest was 23 months. We figured out that we would be spendning around $100 a month on diapers along, then add in the cost of wipes; and life would suck! LOL So instead we took a chunk of our tax return and invested in a stash of cloth diapers. We have a little of every type of dipe out there, and I love them all equally. I think they all have their pros and cons; but even with the cons I feel that they outweigh using disposables. I have never had to swish, dunk, and wring out dipes. I don't have a diaper service, and I also don't wash, dry, and fold dipes daily. I normally wash and dry 2-3 times a week; and once they are clean they get dumped into the dipe basket. I have NEVER pinned a diaper on either of my sons, I use the lovely little snappis. Prefolds and flats are the only dipes that you would need to learn how to fold. And it is honestly SOOOO easy. My youngest(now 10 months old) is a monster with diaper changes, but I can still snappi a prefold on his squirmy butt with no problem. As I stated before I think all of the dipes have their own pros and cons. The kind of dipe you should buy depends on what exactly you are looking for. The cheapest route to go would be plain old prefolds or flats with covers. A step up from that would be fitteds with a cover. Pockets are great, because you can adjust the absorbancy as needed. AIO's(All in ones) are the easiest to use, you put them on your baby just like a disposable. The problem with them is that they take SOO long to dry. Another factor is going to be your baby. Some dipes that I have adored others have hated, just because of how it fit their baby. I would tell you to try buying just a couple of each system in the beginning, so that you can decide which one works best for you and your family! Good luck, and I highly suggest you check out diaperpin.com!