One of the best decisions I feel like we have made for our newly GROWING family is our choice to use cloth diapers.
WHAT?!?! Cloth diapers??
Yes, we are using cloth diapers. And we absolutely LOVE them (and yes, I say we! Husband loves them as well!) For oh so many reasons.
1) We are saving SOOO much money over disposables.
And not only are we saving money on this baby, but any and all future babies as well, as we will not need to buy any more diapers later. This article gives a great break down on the costs of disposables vs. cloth. So far we have spent maybe a little over $300 on diapers. I would say we might spend maybe another $100 or so on bigger diapers as she grows. I have also made reusable wipes out of cut up pieces of flannel and a few drops of nutritive oils (jojoba, chamomile, lavender and tea tree) mixed with lots of water.
2) I believe it's healthier for my baby.
There are a lot of chemicals used in disposables. I feel better keeping them away from my baby. This article (see also 2) breaks down some of the chemicals found in disposables and possible effects. Cancer? Asthma? Infertility in boys? No thank you!
In addition, much of diaper rash is thought to be a product of the chemicals, lack of air (due to the plastic) and changing diapers less often since they do not feel as wet and hold more. A study conducted by Procter & Gamble (who manufactures Pampers) showed that diaper rash has increased from 7% to 61% with the use of disposables. And the Journal of Pediatrics has stated the 54% of one-month old babies wearing disposable diapers had diaper rash and 16% had severe diaper rash.
3) It's so much better for the environment!
It is predicted that disposables will stay in the landfills for upwards of 500 years. Since disposables have been around for around 50 years that means every disposable every baby has worn is still sitting in landfills. This brings more problems than just taking up space. While many states have laws stating that solid waste is supposed to be dumped out from the diaper before disposal, many people do not do this. This means that the human waste is leeching into the water table.
A lot of paper, water and chemicals go into the manufacturing of disposables.
The water used to clean cloth diapers go to water treatment plants and the amount used to wash is said to be about equal to one extra person using the bathroom (pretty reasonable I would say?)
For more research, here are some websites:
http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/diaper2z.htm
http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php
I hang my diapers to dry to help conserve energy (and $!). My diapers will also make great rags when we are all done with babies and diapers!
Those are the biggest reasons we have chosen to cloth diaper. Other benefits include a slightly less known fact that children in cloth diapers tend to potty learn easier and earlier than children in disposables. They also don't stink like disposables (really!!). I also have not had one blowout or diaper leak with my cloth diapers.
Ok if you're still with me I'm going to show you some things that are new in the world of cloth diapering since my mom used them with me (ask your parents, you might be surprised that they may have with you, too!)
There are many different types of cloth diapers! I will list the main types.
1) All in One diapers - These function just like disposables. You put them on and take them off, wash and repeat. EASY EASY! These are a little pricey (ranging from $15-30 per diaper), but again can be reused with subsequent children. There are also many "one-size" versions that can fit babies from birth until potty learning so you don't need to keep buying new sizes.
Here's one popular brand - bumGenius
2) Pocket diapers - Similar to the All in One, but has a pocket in which you stuff an absorbant insert into the diaper. After it is stuffed, it functions just like a disposable. The beauty of pocket diapers is they dry much faster than the all in one, and you can add as many inserts as you want to add absorbancy to the diaper. Very customizable. I like these diapers for at night so I don't have to wake baby for middle of the night diaper changes. They are similar in price to the All in One (depending on the brand $15-30). There are also many "one-size" versions that can fit babies from birth until potty learning so you don't need to keep buying new sizes.
Here is another popular brand: FuzziBunz
3) Prefold/Flat diapers and diaper covers: This is closer to the "old-fashioned" type of cloth diapering. Although instead of pins, people usually use "snappi's" and cute covers that either velcro or snap like the above diapers. This is by far the most economical way of cloth diapering and thus what we do a majority of the time (pockets at night, plus we have a few of the others sprinkled in here and there). It seems like more work, but it's really not especially when you get used to it!
A baby with a prefold diaper and snappi:
And a popular brand of cover Thirsties:
Washing really isn't a big deal. I wash two more loads per week (3 if you count baby's clothes too!). I don't have to "swish" or "dunk" my diapers, just toss them in. And no, I don't have skid marks in my washer! This comment always makes me laugh... you would have to have a pretty poor washer to not get things clean - I wash puked on clothes and sweaty soccer jerseys in there too... I wouldn't be happy if those didn't get clean either!
Some people who cloth diaper use disposables when they are out. I find it just as easy to cloth diaper while out. I have a "wet bag" in my diaper bag that holds the dirty diapers and keeps in all moisture and smell. This is the one I use.. it is made by Planet Wise. I just unzip and dump the whole thing in the wash with the rest of my diapers.
I guess that's about all I'll squeeze into this blog. The world of cloth diapering can be pretty immense. I'm still learning more and more every day. It's fun though, and I know that I'm doing a good thing for my baby and the world that my baby will live in when I'm gone. I don't mind being slightly "inconvenienced" for the health of my child and the planet. I love the quote by American Pediatric nurse specialist Kittie Frantz "You're not managing an inconvenience, you're raising a human being." So true! Oh! And let's not forget how much fun it can be buying some CUTE diapers! This is the cover I just ordered this week for baby! I can't wait to put it on her! (Right - the one pitfall? ADDICTION!)
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