I recently read an article where cloth diapers were described as the new vogue movement in parenting. I think this perfectly describes cloth diapering today. When I first heard of a friend using cloth diapers, I was actually surprised that cloth diapers still existed. I pictured cloth and safety pins (not much of a water barrier). However, when my friend introduced me to the cloth diapers she was using for her family, I was surprised and inspired. While still available, gone are the years of the simple cloth and safety pin system. It has been replaced by an innovative and growing field of designs from bumGenius, Grovia, Econobum, and Thirsties to name but a few. The list of cloth diaper manufacturers is growing and so are the styles available for families.
The sheer volume of selection and variety can be intimidating to a first time parent looking for the right solution for their family. However, the abundance in choices also provide a solution for practically every diapering situation. There are fitted diapers intended to fit your child perfectly within each growth stage. There are diapers that grow with your child (typically fitting children between 8-35 pounds). There are flip systems in which a cloth pad is inserted into a water proof cover (perhaps the most economical solution). There are pocket diapers where the insert is placed in a pocket and removed once in need of cleaning. There are all-in-one diapers that have no inserts or pockets but instead have everything sewn together for the ease of use (perhaps the easiest transition diaper or diaper to have on hand when family babysits). The options available to cloth diaper consumers are seemingly endless.
After seeing how functional cloth diapering was, I asked my friend for all the information she could give me and I was blessed with a wealth of knowledge from someone who had had much more experience than myself. I was so happy to be getting the inside scoop from someone who I trusted and respected. After having our daughter and cloth diapering for approximately seven months now, I have been able to hit a stride and a system that works for our family. In fact, it has become so second nature that I no longer feel self conscious or the need to explain why we cloth diaper when around other people. I actually forget when around other families that cloth diapering isn't the norm, although I would argue that cloth is making a come back with young, especially urban, families.
Why do you use cloth?
There are many reasons to use cloth diapers. For our family, the primary reason we chose cloth was because it was so economical. It is estimated that most cloth diapering families save $2,000-$2,500 per child as compared to families who use disposable diapers. The interesting thing about this figure is that it assumes that families will purchase brand new diapers for each child. The reality is that a family could be saving an additional $200-$300 when they keep and reuse their cloth diapers for subsequent children.
We chose to use disposable diapers with Liesl for her first two months so that we could ease into parenting a bit more slowly. We ended up spending over $100 on diapers before we switched to cloth. Granted, infants use a lot more diapers in the beginning, but when we estimated the costs, my husband determined that our investment would be paid off within the first 6-months of use and possibly even sooner. We ended up switching over to cloth when our daughter was about a month and a half and I have never once looked back and regretted the change.
At the start, the reason to use cloth was economical, but since switching over, I now have so many other reasons why I love them! Not only are they cheaper in the long run, cloth diapers are so much better for the environment. Not taking into the account the materials that are being used to make the diapers, we are not filling up landfills with thousands of diapers by using cloth. In fact, once our children are finished using these diapers it is very likely that we will be able to pass them on to another family. Additionally, cloth is so much gentler on a baby's skin. Right before switching over, Liesl had such a bad diaper rash she was actually bleeding from the burns. I followed all of our pediatricians instructions about using wet cloths to clean, a blow dryer to dry, and a barrier cream to protect her. However, after 5 days of using cloth diapers her rash disappeared. While we still use a balm to protect her skin we have not had any more issues with a severe bleeding rash.
What do you use?
We use the bumGenius 4.0 diapers with snaps. These diapers grow with your child and utilize the pocket system thus eliminating the need to buy multiple sizes. The pocket style allows us to modify the type and amount of inserts we use within the cover easily. During the day, the insert works sufficiently to keep baby dry. However, at night, we double the stuffing by using the standard insert as well as the infant insert. Using the double stuffing method has worked so far to keep baby girl dry for the night. As she grows older, we can purchase additional inserts to ensure that she stays dry on all occasions.
We also use Grovia cloth wipes. We keep a stack by her bed with a container of water that we use to wet the wipe prior to use. Additionally, Grovia makes a Magic Stick which is an excellent way to keep moisture from giving baby girl a rash. The Magic Stick smells wonderful and uses essential oils like Lavender. We like to say that Liesl has the best smelling diapers.
What cleaning process works for you?
We were given a Diaper Genie Elite as a baby shower gift and it has been wonderful. I love the look of the diaper pale as it is thin and sleek. We initially used it with disposable diapers as it was intended for along with the disposable bags. After switching to cloth diapers, I purchased a Grovia pale liner and was able to figure out a way of using it in the diaper genie. First, I turn the wet bag inside out. Next, I take the old disposable bag dispenser ring and put it in the bag. Then, I draw the strings in tight around the ring and pull the bag thru the middle of the ring. This then fits snugly in the Diaper Genie and can be thrown in the wash with the dirty diapers at the same time. While on the road, we have a small wet bag to contain any stink as well as keep the diapers from leaking into the diaper bag. This wet bag can also be thrown in the wash with the diapers.
After much trial and error, I have found a cleaning schedule that works for us. On average, we can't go more than 3 days without washing diapers. We have 27 cloth diapers and can wait until the fourth day to wash the diapers in an absolute emergency (but that is really pushing it and risking leaking babies). I typically start a load of laundry right after changing the baby in the morning when she wakes up. I wash the diapers Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in order to leave weekends as free as possible for whatever family adventures we have planned. We have a front loading washer so I do a quick rinse cycle, a wash cycle with a scoop of bumGenius cloth diaper detergent, and then a final rinse cycle.
After the diapers are washed, I remove the covers and hang them on a drying rack. The covers can be dried in the dryer but they will wear out much faster and leak. We purchased the Frost drying rack from Ikea for $14.99. The nice thing about this rack is that it is metal and durable, folds flat for easy storage, expands to be as large or as small as is needed at the time, and is cheap. I lay the diapers white side out so that when drying outside the sun can bleach away the stains instead of fading the pretty exteriors. The inserts, cloth wipes, and wet bag are thrown into the dryer to be dried. Once everything has dried, I stuff the covers with the inserts and put away for easy use.
What is your least favorite thing about using cloth?
While Liesl was exclusively nursing we never had to worry about "solids" when cleaning her diapers. Everything got thrown into the washing machine and came out clean. After starting her on solids, we then had to start worrying about the other kind of "solids". Essentially, we have to scoop and flush the poop down the toilet. Luckily, it usually falls right out of the diaper without any help from us. Occasionally we have to use a small bit of toilet paper. Some people buy special sprayer systems but we found that the sprayers just seemed to make a bigger mess in the end.
What is your favorite thing about using cloth?
I love how I don't have to buy diapers every month (or every other week). I love how adorable they are on my daughter. I love how I am saving my family so much money. But, I especially love knowing that I am keeping my baby's skin as protected and comfortable as possible.
So, that is our experience with cloth diapers. It has become a very natural part of our life and we love using them! What is your experience with cloth? What kind do you prefer? Any funny horror stories?
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