We've been cloth diapering for about four weeks now. I thought I would post about what has been working around here.
My stubborn refusal to even consider cloth diapers had to do with:
- The jargon - I couldn't figure out what the acronyms meant. PUL, AIO, prefold. It was all gibberish to me and I just tuned out.
- The initial expense.
- The smugness. I felt if we were to cloth diaper I would become so smug and trendy I couldn't bear to be around myself. This was the only legitimate fear.
What has sold me on cloth diapering:
- Fewer trips to Target. I don't have to buy diapers. I don't have to make emergency trips to the store and watch my tiny subtotal jump from a friendly $40 to a far less pleasant $70 with one swipe.
- Cuteness - her bottom speaks for itself. But also, every morning I take the clean, fluffy pile of diapers and fold them into a tidy little stacks. It's just pleasant. It's my favorite laundry to wash - and um, this is probably TMI, but I like the challenge of getting them clean. It's like a science experiment! What combination of detergents and soaking will be ideal for our water type? So exciting! Commence mocking me.
- It's not all or nothing. Because my husband bought a big box of Pampers right when we made the switch, we use disposables at night.
So here's what I bought:
- A pack of snappis to fasten the diapers.
- 6 Green Mountain Diapers Cloth-eez Prefold Diapers. I'm very pleased with these diapers. They are easy to clean and absorb nicely. I also think I learned most from the Green Mountain website.
- Two Thirsties covers. They work nicely and fit well. Two thumbs up.
I have some bird's eye burp cloths I converted for extras (good sewing info here). If not, I'd need to order a few more from GMD. I could have very easily just stopped here.
But then! Someone linked to a seconds sale at Cotton Babies and before I knew what happened, three BumGenius One Size Cloth Diapers arrived in a little box on my doorstep. It was the cute colors and sale price, I admit. So, I see the appeal of these diapers. They are easy to use and the fabric stays dry feeling on the inside, which is nice for baby. However, I hesitate to use synthetic fabrics. We had a romper that was a poly-blend and we could not get the spit up smell out of it. I've heard similar stories about the microfiber used in diapers. Right now, my inserts for these diapers are some cotton flat fold diapers and that works just fine. I don't regret buying the BumGenius because they are my husband's preference and they work well for going out, but they are not used on a daily basis. They also tend to leave red marks on her little thighs.
I go through all six prefolds in a day and then, when she's down for the night (ha, ha!) I wash the diapers on hot with a double rinse. I hang them to dry overnight, fluff them in the dryer for a minute or two in the morning. No big deal.
The whole thing has really been no big deal. I thought it would be disgusting but there's no getting around dealing with your child's output, no matter how you diaper. And for all the systems and brand names and money, you really just need something to absorb tinkle and a way to keep it from getting on everything else.
As for expense - let me add it up here.... I spent $22.00 at Green Mountain Diapers, including shipping, I think. $33 at Cotton Babies, including shipping and about $30 at Amazon for the covers and snappis. I think. So under $100. I think you could spend a lot more than that, but you could also spend less. I could easily have done without the BumGenius diapers. I may eventually order more prefolds but I prefer to wash them every night anyway, so there's just no need right now.
