I SWORE I'd never ever ever even consider cloth diapers but I just read one mom's post asking about them and I'm SERIOUSLY considering :) Our water bill is SUPER cheap already (so an extra load every couple of days is nothing) my 2 year old has been in disposables and they've been ok, she's always needed the pampers swaddlers then cruisers (baby dry did NOT work) and I heard a mom mention the benefit of cloth is that they potty train sooner. I figure it can't be too much worse to go cloth you have to wipe poop anyway so an extra step can't be too bad right? The only thing I'm concerned about is diaper rash.. is it easier to get with cloth? Do you have to change the diapers more frequently? I looked online and there's SO many kinds and I don't know if I want to try an AIO, pre folds, fitteds.. it's all greek to me! What's the best for a newborn? Are all of them basically two pieces (a liner and waterproof cover)? What brand has the best performance (regardless of price) as far as no leaks, adjusting size, easier to change..? I want to take the leap with this one but I'm feeling SO overwhelmed and I'm SO over buying disposable diapers.. any help would be great as well as any negative experiences you've had.. I've decided to make my own baby food so cloth diapering isn't too huge a leap..
I loved the Mother Ease diapers.
Look into Elimination Communication as an assist to cloth diapers. My kids almost never pooped in diapers. Wet diapers are a breeze to clean.
I prefer the all in one (AIO) with extra inserts as needed. I'm new to diapers too (with my 2nd soon to be newborn) and I bought TWO diapers of like 7 different brands. I want to try them all out first before committing a heavy purchase for just one brand. I've been told it depends on the body type of your infant... so that is why I wanted to try out a few kinds first.
Hi - I just responded to another post on cloth diapers. Copying/pasting below. We are out of diapers now but I did use cloth almost always (I kept disposables on hand if I was a little behind in the wash etc). I am one of 3 kids and my mom used cloth on me (not by her choice) but apparently I was allergic to every disposable she tried. Both of my brothers were not cloth diapered. She could not believe I was going down this path. In her experience, cloth meant pins and annoying plastic covers. All I can say to that is they have come a long way in recent years and they are probably a whole lot easier to use than most people would guess. I did not notice any change in my water or electric bills due to the extra wash cycles after having my son/washing cloth diapers. I've read that the washing of cloth diapers is equal to a few extra toilet flushes a day...just like when that baby grows and eventually potty trains. My son had two diaper rashes ever. Both times were following stomach flu and both times they were gone the same day after I applied A&D ointment. Yes I did use disposables during these couple of days of the rare stomach bug...I did not want that much to wash :-) (Earth's Best are chlorine free). There is a LOT of stylish, sophisticated cloth diapers on the market today. All in One (AIO) resemble disposables for example. Pocket diapers are covers with an open side that you use to slide in a cloth insert. I actually used the cheapest/least sophisticated option...a prefold diaper with snappy covers (Bummis). I heard of these and ordered them before fully researching all the other types. They worked well for us so I never ventured into the other styles. I bought a few dozen prefolds in several sizes as he grew and several covers. When he was an infant I believe I had about 6 covers and two dozen prefolds (you can reuse covers until they are dirty – any used were washed with my every other day wash cycle). Wet diapers went straight into the washer. I rinsed dirty diapers in the toilet before throwing in the wash. Some folks are really grossed out by this but I always said it is like a few extra seconds of dealing with the dirty diaper all moms deal with. I always did a pre-rinse before wash and an extra spin before removing from the washer to help them dry faster. Use a detergent recommended for cloth (I used Charlies Soap but there are others) and less soap/more water works well in getting them clean. Oh and yes, since they are not filled with chemical gels to suck up urine, you do have to change them more often than a disposable. I usually changed him about once per hour (and whenever dirty of course) during his waking hours. At night, I doubled up and used a hemp liner (hemp is even more absorbent than the cotton). Good luck with whatever you decide.
I'm so happy to hear you want to try cloth! If you're like most of us cd-ing moms, you'll never go back. :)
First, what is your budget? If you want to be save the most money, get flats or prefolds and use covers for them. Fitteds (which still need covers) and AIO's are more expensive. For newborns, it seems like the moms I know either bought newborn sizes (the one-size are for about 10lbs on up) or just used disposables until the one size's fit. I personally love Bumgenius (BG) for my 2 yo, and for the one on the way, we borrowed some BG xsmalls and Green Mountain workhorse fitteds w/xsmall covers. You can buy them used to save even more money and they wash well so it's not gross or anything. :)
If I were you, I'd go to a cloth diaper website and try one of their trial packages so you can see what kind you like best and what kind fits your daughter best, etc. And, with cloth, you typically tend to see less diaper rash. There are types of fabric too, that wick moisture away from baby's skin so they don't feel the wet as much. But of course, just like with sposies, you need to change them as often as they need it.
You will need a pail (I just used a regular trash can) and a liner (you can use trash bags until you get a couple that will wash with your dipes). You will also need to use certain detergents. Some are good, others are not. Go to www.diaperjungle.com--they have a great chart for detergent.
It's overwhelming at first, but so much better for baby, the environment, and your bank account!!! I've spent a lot more than I needed to on cloth (around $400) but that has lasted me a whole year!!!
You can do this, and you'll be so glad you did!!! Good luck Momma!!!
Hey you spell your name how I spell it! It's rare to find an M-e-a-gan
Welcome to the unknown world of cloth diapers!! It is so much fun and you'll end up loving it. Don't let the negative Nillies get you down. Cloth is easy. I'm a single mom that works and goes to school. If I can do it, ANYONE can.
Here is my post on my transition to cloth diapers for Rockin Green.
http://rockingreensoap.com/?p=897 (if it takes you to the newest post, mine is only 3 back and it's called From Disgusting to Obsession)
As for your questions:
Water bill. Ours has stayed pretty low. Water is cheap. I think I did my math correctly when I did a report on cloth diapers, and I calculated and extra $15 a year for the extra washings. Don't quote me on that though.
Cost of diapers: some are really expensive but you don't have to get those kinds. There are some called Kawaii and people go banana's over them and they are fairly inexpensive. I have yet to try them, but I want to. So just keep looking and you'll find some really great deals. You can also buy used diapers. Sounds gross, but they are easily cleaned. Oh don't buy cheap brands from China that you find on ebay. 99% of the time I hear they don't work. Not worth the money.
One size is best for when babies have some chub to their legs. Since their legs are so skinny you need a very customizable fit. Prefolds or flats and covers are most recommended for newborns if you want to go 100% cloth from the get go. These would be the "hardest" cloth diaper type, but this is what I started out with, and I love them. The only reason why I even started using pocket diapers was because my daycare required us to have pockets.
As for the poop there are a couple different things you can do. There are these flushable liners that you put on top of the diaper and when they urinate or poop you just flush them taking the fecal matter down with it. Rarely it gets on the actual diaper. There is also a diaper sprayer that you can get to spray off the diaper so you don't have to dunk and swish. Which dunking and swishing is hard or to bad to do. If you do get the sprayer, angle it downwards towards the toilet. I can't tell you how many people I have had to help correctly spray the diapers. lol.
Diaper rash. My son doesn't get rashes anymore. He used to all the time. I assume that is from the chemicals. Since there is actual air flow with cloth, the likelihood of a rash is very rare. If you leave the diaper on to long, you probably would get a small minor one.
Changing the diaper more often? Yes, actually you will. Not going to lie. You are technically supposed to change a disposable the second they get soiled. But with all of the absorbing nasty chemicals, most people don't know how often their child actually pee's. With cloth if you leave it on for to long, it will leak. No lying there either. But you will soon learn you babies rhythm and it will be a piece of cake.
Here is a post from my blog about the different kinds. There are also newer posts with videos too :D
http://largebummies.blogspot.com/2010/09/question-form-fr...
If you have anymore questions please PM me or any of the other mom's. I'm sure we all would be glad to help. Also like this group I'm a moderator for on FB. We love and welcome newbie cloth diaper-ers!
http://www.facebook.com/ClothDiaperingMommies
M son is 11 months old and I knew from the moment we got pregnant that we would cloth diaper but in researching it I found that I needed to outlay quite a bit of cash so I stopped researching when I came across Bambino Mio birth to potty pack. It is a pre-fold and comes with an assortment of waterproof covers, with two dozen each of size one and size two cotton pre-folds and pre-cut liners. Initially since my baby was so tiny and also he pooped so much that I just used disposables but around 6 weeks I switched to the cloth and used it all the time. Around 4 months when he stopped getting up all the time I switched him to huggies night time diapers. I also use a disposable when we go out. If I had do it again I would still choose cloth but I would definitely get AIO. From 4 months old my son would pull the velcro tabs so now in the hot weather I can't put him in a t-shirt as he can take his diaper off. He can also do this with disposables at times too. Also with him being so wiggly when I change him putting his cloth can be tricky as I try to hold him in place and keep the prefold in place too and making sure the liner doesn't come off. That's why an AIO would be good.
You can also purchase used cloth diapers as well as resell yours when you're done with them. Also I never use diaper cream with cloth and the two times my son had diaper rash was when he was on antibiotic one of which he was in disposables. One great thing is when they poop you just flush the liner in the toilet and I soak the cloth in the Bambino Mio Clenser which I think is the best because it is an antibacterial powder which works at 40 degree so no need to hot wash. It is also great at removing stains. With this power you can also wash baby's clothes and diapers in one wash since it sanitizes as well.
See if there is a cloth diaper store near you that you can go to and look at the different types out there. If you're buying for your next baby and are pregnant then you could buy a couple every month. Oh and I love the fact that you never get that bad smell of poop diapers sitting in the diaper genie/trash.
Good luck!
I use these and love them:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11604713...=
PM me if you have questions!
Whatever you decide, buy some used on eBay (yours would be used soon enough anyway). Each baby is differently shaped, so what works for one might not for another. At least second hand isn't such a big investment!
Personally, I would go for a one-size AIO or AI2 (or pocket) system. I use one size pocket diapers myself and I love them.
If you get them now, you can finish up with you 2 year old using them and *probably* she will be out of them by the time your second baby arrives.
I like Happy Heiny's and a WAHM brand named "cheeky diapers". That said... I have heard good things about fuzzi bunz and other brands as well.
I got LESS diaper rash with cloth than I did with disposables. If you do get a rash in cloth, chances are you can fix it by 'stripping' your diapers, 'sunning' them, or changing to a milder detergent. I never had a rash that wasn't gone after 2-3 days (and those usually were rashes that she got from having a stomach bug or something)
I definitely recommend a "one size" system because they last the longest (your whole diapering time) - most of them are very adjustable, look online for reviews for whatever brand you are considering... you'll probably find that certain brands fit babies with a certain "body type" better than others. MY daughter is a tall-skinny type.
Anyways... I hope this helps! I am sure that you won't regret switching to cloth!
-M.
