So many people picture cloth diapers as pins and rubber pants like your grandma used, but thanks to parenting in 2014 there are so many EASY options. Snaps instead of poky pins! Velcro! DIAPERS THAT LAST OVERNIGHT! OH MY!
Pros of cloth diapering:
Overall savings- you can save upwards of $1500 during your diapering experience. It does not matter if you start at birth or 10 months you will still most definitely save money going cloth. Depending on which cloth diapering system you purchase, and how many diapers you get – you could spend as little as $100-300 to cloth diaper one child from birth through potty training.The savings are even greater with a second child if you have everything you need from the first child and only use water and detergent from there! There is no exact calculation here, though, because of the varying cost of disposables and cloth diapers. It is estimated that disposables cost somewhere around $2000 from birth to potty training. One family may only spend $150 on cloth diapers by purchasing them secondhand; while another family may spend $500 on a big stash of brand new diapers. But comparing even the high-ish $500 on a total stash, birth to potty training,-- it still beats the $2000 plus on disposables. It can be hard to realize how much you are actually spending on disposables since the cost is spread out, unlike the upfront cost of cloth. However you look at it though, --cloth will save you money over time, guaranteed.** (see CON #1)
Resale value- YES! You can SELL cloth diapers you don't like, don't want, are done with, or if your baby has potty trained. You can get back anywhere from 25% to 50% (OR MORE) of your money depending on what brand or style you go with (some, like bumgenius or moraki have a HIGH resell value) as well as the condition of the ones you're selling. With disposables, money goes right in the trash with the diapers.
More natural, less chemicals on baby's bum- consider the fact that over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum and 20 pounds of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for just one baby EACH YEAR. That is so much waste and chemicals against baby's sensitive skin!! I have cotton or silk against my bum, why not my child?!
Environment- disposables end up in landfills, the real numbers are unknown since disposables are relatively new decade-wise, but it is estimated that it takes 250-500 years for a disposable to decompose (your great, great grand kids will most likely be gone by the time a disposable you use TODAY breaks down) Also, if you look on almost any disposable diaper box, it tells you to dump the poop out of the disposable before throwing in the trash. I swear!! Look on there. I know for a fact every box I've lookad at minus Pamper says so. NO ONE dumps the poop out of disposables before throwing away, but you're supposed to!! Which means people would be WAY more comfortable with cloth if they would read the box and realize they're supposed to be doing that ANYWAY.
CUTENESS FACTOR- this was the biggest factor for me when I started, honestly, and that just goes to show how much of a hassle it ISN'T. I wasn't in it for the savings, or other factors, but JUST because it makes my son's bum look cute. lol. Now, I'm more into the other aspects and pros of CD'ing and I absolutely LOVE it. Some may call me "addicted."
No blowouts!- yep you heard me right. as long as you have the diaper on correctly, they will not have blowouts unlike with disposables, you have MANY from birth to potty training.
Cons and myths of cloth diapers:
Initial cost can be daunting**- some people are scared away by spending $100++ to build an intial stash and do not believe they will see savings from there, however, that isn't true. The initial cost can be daunting, but the overall savings are worth it, and you can find ways to build your stash for less or little by little. This is all preferential.
A lot of information- Sure, there is but I am here to help! I almost didn't go cloth because of the amount of information was seriously scary! I did as much research as possible and finally just bought a couple cloth diapers to start with and figured it out from there.
They're gross- Not any grosser than dealing with a disposable blow out and poop covered clothing. I'm not squeamish when it comes to my kid's bodily functions, but I hear from many moms who ARE, and they successfully cloth diaper. There are ways around this, see: liners in "cloth diaper accessories."
It doesn't come out cheaper after using the washing machine and electricity to run it- we have not seen a noticeable increase in our bills, they vary, as do our habits but nothing that raises an eyebrow. Maybe a few dollars, if that.** Just saying that as a disclaimer because it could be cents.
Not as easy for long travel- I will admit this is a con of cloth diapering. I recently traveled to Kansas from Texas and went ahead and used disposables because I didn't want to lug around a wet bag or worry about diaper laundry while I was gone or while we were in the car. However, if you are going somewhere with a washer/dryer and you feel comfortable traveling with cloth, it IS totally doable. For a trip that you will be returning home after 2-4 hours cloth is JUST FINE. I'm talking about a vacay.
They leak- I have found a few brands starting out that my child did leak out of. Once I found the right diaper for us, we don't even leak over night. Most parental choices require trial and error to find what is right for you and your baby, as does cloth diapering. I consider it a small hiccup or learning experience.
You need expensive, special detergent to CD- No, you don't. In fact, basic Tide is all I use for my diapers. I highly recommend joining the group "Fluff Love and CD Science" (FL&CDS) on Facebook, they map out everything perfectly, in great detail in the files.
Pants do not fit as well in cloth- I'm telling you right now, skinny jeans aren't ideal for your cloth diapered baby. BOOTY BOOTY BOOTY BOOTY ROCKIN 'ERRWHERE. It's true, might have to move a size up depending on brand of pants.
Different types of cloth diapers
When beginning cloth, the first variable to think of is your budget and what diaper is right for you. There are a few different types of diapers with different costs.Prefolds, which is a largeish piece of cloth folded and secured with a snappi, also referred to as a pin, is probably the cheapest way to go. You can use burp cloths, receiving blankets, t-shirts to diaper in this way if you are really struggling financially. There are also sites
Instead of explaining that here, I will link a couple sites who explain it better than I could.
Here is a website telling how you can cloth diaper for cheap to almost free if you have no money to work with:
http://www.cottonbabies.com/blog/2011/04/jenns-thoughts-almost-free-diapers-how-to-diaper-your-baby-when-you-cant-afford-disposable-diapers-or-cloth-diapers.html
OTHERWISE, here is a link displaying all different types of diapers and their pros and cons ------READ IT!! Scroll down under the chart, you can click on each type to learn more.
http://www.kellyscloset.com/Basic-Types-of-Cloth-Diapers-and-How-to-Choose-the-Right-One-for-Your-Family_ep_211-1.html
(copy and paste since I don't know why it won't come up as a clickable link...)
Here is a YouTube video where she shows in detail the different types of cloth diapers: helpful if you're a visual learner..
http://youtu.be/OvZG6LSWtpM
PERSONALLY, I have a super wiggly baby who hates diaper changes so I have opted for pockets and all-in-ones because it seemed quicker and easier than folding a prefold and then adding a diaper cover. I have still found these diapers to be affordable despite the '$$$' tag related.
*Disclaimer: This is my experience and what works for my family.*
Pocket diapers are like covers, but they have a flap where you put inserts inside. The inserts are what absorbs the pee. If your child is a heavy wetter, you can add more inserts to boost absorption. Most companies give microfiber inserts when you order their diaper. These are the most general basic inserts, they work well, especially starting out. You can combine them with different types for maximum absorbency and effectiveness. People will also recommend Charcoal Bamboo Inserts, hemp, cotton, bamboo, minky, etc...some of these tend to be more expensive than microfiber. Hemp and bamboo etc, tend to be more absorbent than microfiber, but again, try different things out and see what works for your baby. Microfiber works fine for us, but I'm always eager to try out new materials.
**My favorite brands of pockets are: BumGenius 4.0, RumpaRooz, Fuzzibunz
The All-in-one (AIO) is the closest thing to a disposable. You literally just put it on your baby, you don't have to stuff etc. Its good for starting out, laziness, daycare, dads, or grandparents. These can be a little more expensive, however. I like these because I don't have to do anything except put it on, take it off, and wash it... no other steps.
My favorite AIO is the BumGenius Freetime diaper. These are my go-to.
I did an inventory on my diapers the other day and discovered I had 95...YES, you read that right. I got a little carried away. I have about $1800 worth of diapers at retail cost, but have only paid $500. (I have sold some and given some away since then, so not sure how many I have now, maybe 80, lol) I buy mostly used. In my experience, moms who cloth diaper tend to take really good care of their diapers, so a simple bleach soak when you receive them is all you will need to do to properly disinfect. The Fluff Love and CD Science group on Facebook has detailed instructions on how to do that. Basically, you fill your bathtub 1/2 full of cold water and 1/2 a cup of bleach and put the diapers in there for at least 30 minutes. Rinse with hot water.
**You can also strip your cloth diapers before using, but I would recommend doing quite a few diapers at once, not one or two.*** Find that info on FL&CDS group's files.
The wash routine is important because there are many variables that go into getting it right: do you have a front load washer or top loader? Do you have hard water or soft? How many diapers are you washing? etc etc. Again, know that you don't need to have a special "cloth diaper safe" detergent, that is a myth. Plain old Tide works just fine!! All of this is just details and will matter more once you get your diapers. More on washing in a bit.
BUILDING YOUR STASH
Most likely, you are going to need a PayPal account connected to your bank or card of choice to complete any transaction on any of the suggestions below. It's free, easy and secure to do PayPal. I've never had any issues.
If you are just starting out and wanting to build a stash for cheap, I recommend Alvababy.com. Diapers are about $6 a piece on there and you get free expedited shipping on orders over $49. Alva comes from China, so if you just order $20 worth with regular shipping, it could take quite awhile. If you want to buy more high priced brands NEW, there are many, many options. Kelly's Closet, Nicki's Diapers, or Cotton Babies are good places to start. These sites carry different brands and styles at different price points. Just look through there and identify what brands or prints you like based on your price range. Buying new is the most costly option, that's why Alva is a nice, cheap option to decide if cloth is a viable option for your family. Some people love Alvas, and some people find they do not work for them. They worked fine for us; I later found we preferred other brands, but it definitely doesn't hurt to start with to try out. When you buy NEW, all you need to do is ONE hot wash with detergent to get the manufacturing "crud" off before you put it on your baby's skin. This is called "prepping" your diapers.
Another way to start your stash, is to scour Craigslist. I found 12 Fuzzibunz and a Bum Genius (all with inserts) near me for $100. I gave them a bleach soak and boom good to go. When buying from Craigslist, take someone with you or meet in a public place, and always let someone know where you are going. Basically: use common sense when meeting a stranger for a good or service. I have not had a bad experience using Craigslist.
A 3rd way is the Buy Sell Trade groups on Facebook for cloth diapers. The moms here 99% of the time know what they're talking about and will not screw you over. All purchases are made through PayPal as a way to protect buyer and seller. You can buy many or just a few on here. I love the BST groups because I can be in my PJs scrolling through Facebook, make a deal, pay through PayPal and move on with life. Easy Peasy.
Another place to buy is eBay, just be aware of the sellers feedback and if in doubt, don't bid on it. I've never had a bad experience with eBay, but I know of people who have. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don't be afraid to ask me, or someone else if it sounds fishy. You're not going to get 30 diapers with 30 inserts for $10. Again, I've found many good deals through eBay, just use common sense.
Lastly, if you're just wanting to try one buying local, go to BuyBuyBaby or another cloth store in your area. BuyBuyBaby has a far better selection than BabiesRUs. SimpleBaby is on Camp Bowie in Fort Worth. I've never been there but I'm sure they're knowledgeable. There is also a store in Plano called The Nappy Shoppe you could buy from. They have a CLOTH 101 class every Saturday at 10 am for $10 ...i REALLY want to go but I haven't been yet. I'd just like to learn more if I can. That might be helpful and more in-depth and hands on if you have time!
**Anytime you're buying used, some good things to ask:
how are the elastics? - if they are relaxed, they won't hold up well. Diapers need elastic to stay conformed to your baby, as well as keeping leaks at bay.
how is the PUL?-PUL is short for polyurethane laminate. It is the waterproof material used to make outer shells of diapers and diaper covers. It can feel shiny or sticky. If it is cracked, it won't be waterproof. Make sure it is not cracked.
any stains or stinks?- these can be taken care of by you, but it is nice to be aware of what you're buying rather than have it show up looking like it was just pooped in!
It is also good to be aware of the retail cost of a diaper you're looking to buy used so you know if you're getting a good deal. For example, you probably wouldn't want to buy a used Alva for $5 when you can buy a new one for $6. But you probably WOULD want to buy an excellent used condition BumGenius for $10 because they retail for anywhere from $15-$26. If the seller says it is in "excellent used condition" all of the above are all likely to be fine, but, if you're in doubt, ask!
How many diapers do you need to start?
This answer can vary with different people. If you're using prefolds and covers the answer will be different than if you're using pockets and AIOs. Covers for the prefolds can generally be reused before washing, while pockets and all in ones can only be used once before washing. Cloth generally needs to be changed every 2 hours. (Disposables should be changed that often, too, but people get by letting them fill up completely, sometimes) In general, newborns need around 12 diaper changes a day, while older babies only need 6-9. So you could get by diapering your older baby with 24 diapers, washing every other day. You can always alternate or do part time cloth til you get enough to cloth diaper full time. You don't have to dive right in, unless you want to! You can mix and match all different types and use them at different times! It is all about finding what works for you and your baby, but don't ever go longer than 3 days without washing soiled diapers.
What else do you need?
Cloth diaper accessories
A pail liner- We have a medium sized trash can with a pail liner, aka a bag lined with PUL, to hold dirty diapers until you wash. (found on any cloth diaper site). When you're done changing a cloth diaper, take the inserts out of the pocket or off the cover, and throw it in the "pail". If you can't afford a separate trashcan at this time, you can hang the bag or leave it on the floor. Find something that works for you.A wet bag- this is also a bag (with pockets) that can be used on the go, or as a storage solution for dirties til laundry day. Sometimes we use our wetbag to store dirties, while the pail liner is being washed, so we alternate. You can have just one, or both, or 5 of each. It is up to you.
Diaper Sprayer- this is like a shower head connecting to your toilet to spray off poo. The WORST poos are the peanut butter consistency... sprayers can come in handy for these that are not able to just be plopped in the toilet. Diaper sprayers are a necessity for some, and not at all for some. We have one. I rarely use it because now that my son is on all solids, his poos are much more ploppable and a lot less peanut butterish. (Isn't it weird how once you become a mom, you can talk about ANYTHING?!) But yeah, sprayers can be kind of pricy so you have a few options if you ABSOLUTELY need one.
1)Buy a sprayer made specifically for cloth diapers and get upcharged for the fact it says diaper sprayer,
2)buy a "bidet" from Home Depot which is the same thing almost but without the heavier price tag, or
3)find a DIY your own diaper sprayer tutorial online, which is what we did, for a quarter of the cost. I don't think I personally would have been able to DIY it by myself (I'm not too handy) but Taylor did, and it was easy for him.
Until we got a diaper sprayer, I kinda scraped it off or "dunk and swished" in the toilet (not recommended for the squeamish!) OR used a liner. Now, we don't really need it.
Liners- liners have nothing to do with absorbency. They are thin (think of a dryer sheet when you take it out of the dryer after a load of laundry) and are mainly used to catch poop, so you're not stuck with a huge clean-up. They can also be used to keep your babies skin dryer or protect the diaper from rash creams, too. After your diaper is completely ready to put on your baby, you lay a liner on top and boom good to go. If your baby poops, you lift it out and flush or throw away. These can be found on any diaper site or you can make your own reusable ones out of fleece material, even receiving blankets you're no longer using. What we are using now is a plain ol Viva paper towel and I actually like these more than the liners we were using because they don't bunch up!! So there you have it! If your kid is a "predictable pooper" aka goes at about the same time everyday, you can use the liner at the time you know he will poo. If he's unpredictable, like mine, we pretty much use them at every diaper change.
WASHING/DOs & DONTs
So lets walk through a "wash day" for us-Tucker wakes up, he's a feisty little fella so I get him a drink to occupy him so he doesn't wildly thrash around during diaper change. I grab a ready to use diaper (we stuff our pockets fresh out of the laundry so they are ready to go) wipe him down, and lay a Viva paper towel (our makeshift liner) inside of it and put the diaper on Tucker. Dispose of the liner from the dirty, overnight diaper and the wipes I just wiped him with. Take the old diaper and remove the inserts and toss it in the diaper pail. (Hope I am making sense here!) Let's say 2 hours later he poops. I grab a ready to use diaper, lay a Viva paper towel in it (I probably don't need one since he just pooped, but he is a wily coyote, you just never know!) Then I dispose of the poopy liner-- if I can plop the poo into the toilet, I can throw the liner and wipes in the trash. Throw the dirty diaper in the pail. Let's say I have a day and a half worth of diapers and I have time right this second so I will toss all the diapers, covers, inserts, whatever into the washer. I usually don't have to touch them all because I take the diaper pail and pour them in. (*IF YOU BUY ANY DIAPERS WITH VELCRO FASTENERS, MAKE SURE YOU FASTEN THE VELCRO TO THE LAUNDRY TABS LOCATED INSIDE THE DIAPER...you will know what that means if you have any diapers with velcro, but the reason for this is that the velcro can get attached to other items in the wash and mess them up), turn the pail liner inside out, throw that in too, and do a cold rinse. This gets all the excess YUCK out before washing. Then I do a hot wash with a heaping scoop of Tide and 1/2 cup of Borax. When that is done, throw everything in the dryer on medium. In between all that, I've probably changed another diaper at some point, in which I will throw the dirty dipe in the wet bag this time, since the pail liner is in the washer or dryer. IF you can't afford both, just put it somewhere til your main diaper storage bag is ready to use. It will be fine. But since I have both, I'll fill up the wet bag before washing again. When everything is dry and I feel like it, I will kick back with a beer and Pretty Little Liars or WHATEVER and stuff the diapers. Then boom, we are set for another couple days. Stuffing is probably the most time consuming thing, but I honestly like it because I like looking at all my clean, pretty diapers. Yes, I am a weird one. Remember, this wash routine is probably not one size fits all, you might need to adjust yours specifically to your machine or water type (we have hardish water, hence the use of borax). Again, Fluff Love and CD Science is by far the most clear, concise help you will receive on that subject.
HANDY TIPS-
*You really want to avoid using regular diaper creams on cloth diapers because many creams leave a barrier on the cloth diapers and will make your diapers repel liquid and leak. I generally use coconut oil, because it is always at my house. If your kiddo does get a rash, you can use Grandma El's, California Baby, the green tube of Boudreaux's Butt Cream or coconut oil.
*Don't ever use dryer sheets with cloth diapers.
*Don't pull on the elastics of diapers while they are still HOT as this can cause the diaper's elastics to prematurely relax. Just let them cool down before messing with them. In my case, I usually forget they're even in the dryer so that works out perfectly.
*Don't use bleach if you have iron hard water. One way to tell if you have iron hard water is by getting a cup of water and put some bleach in it, if it turns a rust color, your water is iron hard.
*Remember when buying new, do a HOT wash once with detergent to prep.
*Remember when buying used, do a bleach soak. Your bleach should have at least 5.25% of sodium hypochlorite (the main active ingredient) to properly disinfect your diapers.
*Never let microfiber touch your baby's skin. Follow the bleach soak with a hot rinse and wash. *see FL&CDS FOR EXACT INSTRUCTIONS.*
*Join cloth diaper chat groups and buy/sell/trade groups on Facebook so you can see some discussions and other topics in the CD world. You will learn a lot.
**My BIGGEST advice is to try a few different brands and styles to see what you really like. I tried a prefold and cover once and knew it was not for us! We tried a couple brands that leaked. What works for me may not work for you, but it MIGHT! Just try a couple different things before settling down and buying 30 Fuzzibunz! Ya know?
There is soooo much information out there and it can really be scary, but I promise once you get started and you see the cloth sites in your Facebook newsfeed each day, it really helps with getting the hang of it. It is second nature now, and I know most of this information off the top of my head. I almost didn't go cloth because it just seemed too hard. Then I bought my first one from BuyBuyBaby with a $20 bill i had and boom, never looked back!! Remember, this isn't a ONE SIZE FITS ALL SITUATION. Everyone is different, every baby is different, and preferences are different. If there is anything I can help you with, don't hesitate to ask!
Loooooooove,
Danielle
Ps. Sorry if this is poorly organized, or ridden with punctuation mistakes! It is past midnight and I knew if I didn't sit down and do this NOW it would never get done!
