Wow.
I can't believe that it has already been 6 months since I embarked on my cloth diaper adventure.
I first started this adventure because of financial incentives and from a desire to live more providently, but over the last few months my reason for using cloth diapers has changed. I'd say now that the reason I use them is because they work so much better than disposables. Jon and I have actually gotten to the point where we prefer to use the cloth diapers because they don't leak, explode, or sag like the disposables do.
I really, let me emphasize really, love cloth diapers for infants. If your baby is exclusively breastfed you don't have do anything to the diapers besides take them off, put them in the diaper pail, and wash them. Breast milk stools are water soluble and don't stink so cleaning up after them is super easy. Also cloth diapers are incredible at preventing blow-outs. I could count on one hand how many times Rose has blown out a cloth diaper and those were times when I was just lazy and didn't change her soon enough. For that reason I actually prefer cloth diapers to disposables. It seems like every time we put her in disposable diapers (which we do when we go on trips) she blows out at least one diaper a day. That never happens with cloth.
I think it would be worth it to cloth diaper your infants and then switch to disposables, once they start solids at 6 months, if you didn't want to bother with swishing them out. Cloth diapers just work better than disposables for infants and are much cheaper in the long run. Newborns go through almost a pack a week at first and each pack costs about $10. That adds up to at least $80 by the second month of life. I've only bought 2 packs of diapers for Rose so far and that was because we were going on vacation. I estimate that we've saved at least $100 just on Rose's diapers and probably much more because I've only bought 2 or 3 packs of diapers for Asher since we switched to cloth.
I've also learned some valuable cloth diapering lessons in the last few months that I think might be helpful to anyone else starting out with cloth diapers.
Here is what I've learned the last six months:
1. Diaper pails belong outside, cloth or disposable. It is gross to have it in the house.
2. Don't use very much detergent or a pretreatment spray when you wash them or they will get soap build up and smell bad. At first I was using a whole cup of detergent and spraying them with Shout before I washed them. After awhile they really started to smell bad and I learned that you should only use about a 1/4 cup of detergent so that they don't get soap build up in them.
3. Cloth diapers smell different than disposables when wet. At first I thought something was wrong with my diapers but then I realized that pee just smells whether your kid is in a disposable or cloth diaper.
4. If your diapers start to smell like ammonia or mildew then a 1/4 c vinegar and a few hot water rinses usually helps a lot. I also found something called Bac-Out that is sold in health food stores (or the health food section of Smiths) that removes odors. It works great and just a few tablespoons makes my diapers smell great. I haven't even gone through 1/3rd of a bottle yet.
5. Wash them every other day. If you let them sit longer they get kind of gross. Washing them isn't really a big deal for me. I've found that I really enjoy doing diaper laundry. I look forward to folding and organizing my diapers. Weird... yeah... but if you have cloth diapers you probably understand what I am talking about. For some reason washing cloth diapers is really satisfying. Here is my diaper set up.
Rose's diapers and inserts are on the left, Asher's diapers and inserts are on the right. The big basket on the bottom is for cloth wipes that aren't being used. The other basket has odds and ends and the disposables we use for going on trips and church are on the bottom right. An old diaper wipe container on the top holds my wet cloth wipes. I've found a wide mouthed container works best for cloth wipes.
All in all I really love cloth diapers and will probably use them for all my future children. If you are thinking about switching to cloth remember that it doesn't have to be an all or nothing switch. You can mix and match disposables and cloth to your heart content. Don't be intimated by cloth, it is really a whole lot easier than it looks.
I am embarking on a new adventure soon... the toilet learning adventure. Help.
I think it would be worth it to cloth diaper your infants and then switch to disposables, once they start solids at 6 months, if you didn't want to bother with swishing them out. Cloth diapers just work better than disposables for infants and are much cheaper in the long run. Newborns go through almost a pack a week at first and each pack costs about $10. That adds up to at least $80 by the second month of life. I've only bought 2 packs of diapers for Rose so far and that was because we were going on vacation. I estimate that we've saved at least $100 just on Rose's diapers and probably much more because I've only bought 2 or 3 packs of diapers for Asher since we switched to cloth.
I've also learned some valuable cloth diapering lessons in the last few months that I think might be helpful to anyone else starting out with cloth diapers.
Here is what I've learned the last six months:
1. Diaper pails belong outside, cloth or disposable. It is gross to have it in the house.
2. Don't use very much detergent or a pretreatment spray when you wash them or they will get soap build up and smell bad. At first I was using a whole cup of detergent and spraying them with Shout before I washed them. After awhile they really started to smell bad and I learned that you should only use about a 1/4 cup of detergent so that they don't get soap build up in them.
3. Cloth diapers smell different than disposables when wet. At first I thought something was wrong with my diapers but then I realized that pee just smells whether your kid is in a disposable or cloth diaper.
4. If your diapers start to smell like ammonia or mildew then a 1/4 c vinegar and a few hot water rinses usually helps a lot. I also found something called Bac-Out that is sold in health food stores (or the health food section of Smiths) that removes odors. It works great and just a few tablespoons makes my diapers smell great. I haven't even gone through 1/3rd of a bottle yet.
5. Wash them every other day. If you let them sit longer they get kind of gross. Washing them isn't really a big deal for me. I've found that I really enjoy doing diaper laundry. I look forward to folding and organizing my diapers. Weird... yeah... but if you have cloth diapers you probably understand what I am talking about. For some reason washing cloth diapers is really satisfying. Here is my diaper set up.
Rose's diapers and inserts are on the left, Asher's diapers and inserts are on the right. The big basket on the bottom is for cloth wipes that aren't being used. The other basket has odds and ends and the disposables we use for going on trips and church are on the bottom right. An old diaper wipe container on the top holds my wet cloth wipes. I've found a wide mouthed container works best for cloth wipes.
All in all I really love cloth diapers and will probably use them for all my future children. If you are thinking about switching to cloth remember that it doesn't have to be an all or nothing switch. You can mix and match disposables and cloth to your heart content. Don't be intimated by cloth, it is really a whole lot easier than it looks.
I am embarking on a new adventure soon... the toilet learning adventure. Help.
9 comments:
I'm really glad you posted this. I've been thinking about switching to cloth AGAIN, but I still don't have a washer and that gets expensive to wash a few diapers every other day...oh well! Maybe with #3! :)
Wow, good for you - I don't think cloth diapers are for me, but I am definitely impressed with how you've switched over and the money you've saved! Good job. As for the potty-training adventure - I am so not ready for that! hehe. Good luck! Let me know if you find any good tips :) Also, I noticed in your picture that the disposable ones you have are the ones with Clifford the big red dog on them (can't remember what brand that is) - but I just wanted to mention that we have tried those kind and HATED them because blow-outs happened a LOT with them. Maybe that was Rose's problem, too. Just thought I'd mention it. We love the Walmart brand - they are cheap and keep everything in.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I have been contemplating the switch to cloth for a while and have just been stuck in the "researching which kind I want to try" phase. :-p I'm planning on getting some at least before the new little one is born! I like your diaper changing station set-up! I want one! :-p I'm thinking Jefferson would have fun playing with (read: messing up) the neatly piled diapers though, hehe.
so interesting. i would never think to use cloth diapers until i read your blog. not that we need to decide anytime soon, but i'm definetly going to remember this.
Great post! A really comprehensive coverage.
I started using cloth diapers with my oldest way back in 1991 and am still using cloth diapers (different ones, though) with my youngest now.
There is a neat product called the Mini Shower Diaper Sprayer that attaches to the water inlet on your toilet that makes even rinsing out the toddler or older infant diapers pretty easy!
Jenny, thanks for pointing out that the Clifford disposable diapers DO NOT work. They are junk... really. I usually buy Luvs for Asher, but got these ones instead. They work okay for a toddler, but are miserable with a newborn. I've found the only ones that really work even semi- good for a newborn are Pampers, and they are the most expensive :( I haven't ever tried the Wal-mart brand.
When Rose was first born I uses Pampers and Huggies and Rose still blew out a diaper at least every other day. I remember it being the same with Asher. I've found that I don't have to worry so much about putting her in a cute outfit if I know she has a cloth diaper on. Chances are she won't blow out. That isn't always true with disposables. But you are right-- it makes a HUGE difference what type of disposable diaper you use.
Ok that is too weird! I was changing Brooke yesterday and thought I am going to call Heather and ask her about clothe diapers. I still have some questions so I will be calling soon :). Thanks for the post!!
Brave women! I'm not good enough at keeping up my laundry to venture there yet....
But I have done the potty training thing a couple of times. I researched it a bit and talked to a lot of doctors and this is what they told me, "Wait until they are 3." Funny, I know. But I am a firm believer now. They're bodies and minds are ready at 3 and it's not a 'Mommy-potty-training." It took both of my girls a week (max) and they were good to go.
Also...here are a couple of other tips. When you are really ready (and please don't do it unless you are REALLY ready) tell Asher that he has 7 days left of diapers (I use disposable, so I told my kids this was their last box) and then he gets to switch to big boy undies. Take him to the store and let him pick them out. Watch some potty movies (available at the library). Talk about going potty on the toilet. When the appointed day comes you could even have a "big boy" party. Then put those undies on! And remember to be positive! The first day you have to really stay on top of it. Ask him a lot if his undies are dry. Have him feel. If they are, reward him, and cheer, and be excited! He'll figure it out.
I remember with Sierra, I took my little training potty everywhere for a day or two! She even went in the back of the Jeep once (in the potty) and then I dumped it at the park, I think. Ha ha.
Sorry so long! Good luck.
Oh and please BE CONSISTENT! Don't go back and forth between diapers and undies! It's a pet peeve of mine. :)
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