Cloth Diapers?

**MaggieMay** · 09-22-2009, 12:00 AM

My daughter just announced her pregnancy. YAY!!

Anyway, I'm posting to get info about people who have used cloth diapers and their experience with them.

They seem like a pretty big initial investment, but I'm sure they save a bundle of cash (as well as the environment) over time. Since I'm the one who is suggesting this to her, and who offered to buy them, I need some opinions.

I used them on my children, many moons ago, but it doesn't seem like a very popular option today.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

**arlee** · 09-22-2009, 12:19 AM

Cloth diapers are hugely popular today. There are a ton to choose from...way more than one would think, actually. They weren't an option for me because I didn't have a washer/dryer and there was no way I was willing to to make that investment, but a huge amount of my friends use cloth diapers on their kids. I suggest doing some Internet research on it. And congrats!

**arlee** · 09-22-2009, 12:19 AM

Try diaperswappers.com

**MaggieMay** · 09-22-2009, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by arlee

Try diaperswappers.com

Already there! Thanks arlee.

I'm getting bleary eyed reading all the different types and systems on this site and others selling the diapers...yikes!

My daughter is early in her pregnancy (Thank You, arlee), and being kind of smell sensitive, so the thought of having stinky diapers sitting around in a diaper pail is not appealing to her.

I'll research it further, to show her the exact savings of cloth vs. disposable...after she's out of the first trimester and queasiness

Cloth diapers are hugely popular today.

Why is that? Savings, softness/comfort, environment, trendy?

**arlee** · 09-22-2009, 02:22 AM

All of the above, really. Honestly, I think it's a very trendy parenting choice these days. I don't doubt that is a huge reason why a lot of parents use them. However, a lot of the parents I know that use them like them for the lack of chemicals against the baby's skin for starters. When I was pregnant, we did a lot of looking into it, and they seemed to be pretty much neck and neck with disposables as far as cost went. Adding the fact that I'd have to lug dirty cloth diapers to a laundromat/laundry room really canceled out any positive aspects for me. If your daughter has her own house with a washer and dryer, cloth diapers are definitely an option she may be interested in.

**macdaire** · 09-22-2009, 08:25 AM

Cloth is great but if your daughter plans to have her child in a daycare they would not be a feasible option. Just something to factor in.
Congrats!

**Burnt Cheese** · 09-22-2009, 08:27 AM

The Maternal Wellness Center in Mt. Airy has a nice intro to cloth diapers seminar. I believe the next one is Oct. 17. Maternal Wellness Center - Home

**gte917f** · 09-22-2009, 09:25 AM

Cloth diapers have come a long way and are much easier than when we were kids. In addition to being good for the environment, they reduce diaper rash and theoretically make potty training easier. I was told early on that some daycares are okay with cloth, as long as they are the all-in-one variety; but, when I talked to the daycare where I was orignally planning on sending her, they were not all that willing to use them. I guess it depends on the daycare.

I have my daughter in Bum Genius all-in-one diapers and they have been really easy. I have to do a lot of laundry and buy clothes a little bigger than she would otherwise need cause the diapers make her butt huge. If your daughter is unsure about cloth, she could start with prefolds (about $1/each) and see if she is willing ot make the commitment before buying the more expensive all-in-one diapers. I originally got my diapers from Green Mountain Diapers (google it) and I think they had some starter kits to make it seem less daunting. I've also heard the maternal wellness classes are very helpful.

Good luck!

**Dolemite** · 09-22-2009, 11:00 AM

We used cloth diapers with both of ours and they worked out great. We used the kushie all-in-ones and used a flushable liner. Since I was the one that insisted on cloth diapers I cleaned them. My one piece of advice would be to not 'push' them onto your daughter if she is not motivated to use them because they are more work.

**OldMama** · 09-22-2009, 02:42 PM

I was the oldest of 6 kids and by the time I was 4, I had three little brothers. My first chore was folding the cloth diapers everyday (I don't know if any other kind existed). I used cloth for my son 22 years ago. All my ex-hippie mama friends did it as well. To be fair, I have a washer and dryer in the house; don't know if I would have done it otherwise! We washed about every other day. We kept a diaper pail with disinfectant/water in the baby room. It had a tight fitting lid. Wet diapers went right into the pail. Solid waste in diapers was flushed and diapers were dunked before going into the pail. If that sounds gross, remember you are NOT SUPPOSED to put disposables with solid waste in the trash anyway. I know most everyone does it, but that's pretty gross. I would take the pail to the washer, dump the whole thing in and rinse. Then I'd wash with an extra rinse. I had only the prefolded cloth diapers and used nylon waterproof pants. The one-piece was not readily available at the time.The child never once had a rash. I carefully stored the diapers and, ten years later, used the same batch for my daughter. I was home more for her since I took a sabbatical leave and I know I saved money with cloth. I did send disposables into day care for both of them. Even if I broke even or cloth cost more, I'd have gone with cloth. My husband taught environmental science and we tried to be green.

When my son was born, he weighed less than 3 pounds and came home from the hospital at 4-6. Our cloth diapers could have dressed him from head to toe. The hospital gave us an 800 number to order preemie Pampers. They were outrageously expensive. I called a diaper service and asked if they had preemie cloth diapers. They did so I used the service for about six weeks until my son could fit the regular diapers. Are there any diaper services around anymore? A month or so of diaper service would be a great gift for a new mom.

Congrats on becoming a grandmother! I hope I'm around to see my grands. When my own grandmother was my age, I was 14 years old!

**MaggieMay** · 09-22-2009, 06:10 PM

Many thanks to all who have posted their congrats, experiences and opinions.

This will actually be Daughter's second child. With the first, she used disposables. She left her career to be a stay at home mother and they continuously find ways to make one income stretch as far as possible. That's why I was thinking of *gifting* them with the cloth diapers. They do have a washer/dryer.

Daycare doesn't factor in and I am the primary babysitter who certainly wouldn't mind using the cloth.

I've been looking at the Bum Genius all-in-ones.....man o man, I would have killed to have these back in my diapering days. I like the idea that you can use bleach on this brand, once a month. (old habits die hard)

I'm reading that many daycare center's will use these as you can close them up the way you would a disposable. I suppose it depends on the daycare center. It may be that they need an education about cloth diapers!

OldMama: These cloth diapers are sooo much different than the "soak in the diaper pail" days! Been there, done that, and I used to hang them on the line to dry! Not tremendously soft on the tush as I recall, but the babies NEVER had diaper rash that I see with the disposables. Also, NEVER had the blowout's and leaks either, unless they were really sick.

Dolemite: Kudos to you! No, not pushing it...just making an offer that they might not be able to refuse

gte917f said:

I have my daughter in Bum Genius all-in-one diapers and they have been really easy. I have to do a lot of laundry and buy clothes a little bigger than she would otherwise need cause the diapers make her butt huge. If your daughter is unsure about cloth, she could start with prefolds (about $1/each) and see if she is willing ot make the commitment before buying the more expensive all-in-one diapers. I originally got my diapers from Green Mountain Diapers (google it) and I think they had some starter kits to make it seem less daunting. I've also heard the maternal wellness classes are very helpful.

Good info. I remember the huge butts. We used to pin the diapers to the undershirt, which made the toddler with a fully wet diaper, look like a queen ant about to drop her egg sack!!

How many diapers did you have to buy and how often did you have to do laundry?

Anyone?

I've seen the starter kits and it may be a good idea, along with an intro to cloth diaper class to help debunk preconceived notions about cloth diapers.

*This is a good trend IMO as these diapers can be used from birth through potty training and on to the next child. They actually have resale value!!

**klk197** · 09-22-2009, 06:23 PM

We used a great diaper service from August 2008 to July 2009, and I definitely recommend them. Welcome to Baby's Choice Diaper Service They pick up in Philly on Thursdays. If you aren't home, just leave the dirties on the steps (if you're in a rowhouse) and the clean ones are left in return. Apparently, the chances of someone stealing dirty diapers is slim. They use prefolds and recommend a 'snappi' and a cover over them. I found covers that I liked at The Best One Size Cloth Diapers, Cloth Diapers Supplies And Diaper Covers but there are dozens of options out there (probably too many choices!). I would have loved to continue with prefolds, but my little guy is a maniac and keeping him still for more than 3 seconds is nearly impossible--I just don't have the dexterity and agility to get him changed in and out of them without a disaster.

There may be times (traveling?) that disposables will just be easier, so its good to be well versed in them as well. We've decided to use a brand called Nature Babycare. They are the most eco-friendly that I've been able to find--but that doesn't mean there are better ones out there.

**arlee** · 09-22-2009, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by MaggieMay

*This is a good trend IMO as these diapers can be used from birth through potty training and on to the next child. They actually have resale value!!

This is very true. Also, if you buy a bunch of diapers with one type of fastener (Velcro, etc.) and you want to switch it out to snaps, that can be very easily done as well. Those kids are tricky, and their little fingers are pretty nimble.

**macdaire** · 09-22-2009, 09:20 PM

do you remember those pins?- I still remember my now deceased dad trying to pin my niece's diaper back in the 80s and being petrified incase he pricked her!

**OldMama** · 09-22-2009, 09:23 PM

Two of my dearest possessions are a large pin with a pink top and a pin with a blue duck top- one for each child.

**macdaire** · 09-23-2009, 08:30 AM

I am sure they love you when you pull those out in front of their dates!

**gte917f** · 09-23-2009, 09:34 AM

I think I have around 25-30 bum genius diapers. I do laundry every third day, but it does start to smell a bit by then..probably would be better to do them every other day. Traveling is definitely an issue. My diapers practically take up an entire suitcase for a three day trip. The bum genius diapers are the easiest to put on a squirmy baby. I have some fuzzi bunz too. They are much more difficult to snap closed, though easier to deal with in the laundry. For newborns, prefolds with snappi's are fine. The snappi is a brilliant invention!

What other kinds of eco-friendly diapers do people use/like? I'd like to have a backup option if we ever do end up in daycare.

**girlfiend** · 09-28-2009, 09:32 PM

For a newborn I like prefolds because they are cheap and you change so many of them, but for babies I prefer pocket diapers.We mostly use bumgenius (don't like the velcro) and fuzzi bunz with a few other varieties of pocket diapers mixed in. I hate all-in-one diapers (different from one size) because they take forever to dry.

The velcro is definitely an issue once a baby is old enough to take off their own diapers. Snaps are a pain with a wriggly baby, but I'd rather pin down a wriggly baby than clean up the unexpected mess when the baby figures out how to take off their pants and everything else.

For two kids I had about thirty diapers and did laundry every other day. We use gdiapers for travel, which aren't ideal, but I picked up a ton of them cheap on craigslist and got another 3 packages for free from someone who was moving. They work, but cloth diapers are better. I haven't tried any of the other eco friendly diapers for real, but I have used a 7th generation and it seemed to work okay. I just prefer cloth. Like Maggie May says you don't get the blowouts, you get with disposables.

**Queen Villager** · 09-28-2009, 11:55 PM

As a disposables user who sometimes had to almost throw a diaper on a squirmy toddler and hope the Velcro tabs would meet and stick, I often wondered how my own mother fared with diaper pins and couldn't imagine how I could have managed with them.

**theWatusi** · 09-29-2009, 07:47 AM

As someone with a 4-month old at home, using cloth diapers sounds like a huge waste of time. All that rinsing, washing, folding...who needs that?

When I see my supplies are running low, I just order up a case of pampers on diapers.com and they show up in front of my door 2 days later. When they're full of poop or pee in the trash they go. Easy as pie.