Reasons for Using Cloth Diaper?

Updated on April 03, 2011
M.T. asks from Saint Paul, MN
7 answers

Hi, We're using cloth diaper for our 18 months son. We use simple prefolds with a vinyl cover. I usually dunk the poopy diapers in the toilet, and when the pail is full, my husband starts the wash. My husband is getting tired of cloth diapers - it's more difficult and more trouble to put on our son, who is getting very active on the changing table, and washing them is a hassle. He asked me maybe we should just switch to disposable altogether (we use disposable over night, for naps, and for outings).

I think we started to use cloth diapers because we thought it was better for the environment and would also save money if we washed them ourselves. Are these reasons really true? I wonder how much we're saving. Is the environmental benefit significant enough that would convince my husband who's tired?

Cloth-diaper-using moms seem to really like them. Could you tell me why you started using cloth diapers and what the benefits are? If you think you're saving money by using them, do you have an idea of how much? We're not sure how much dunking and washing them are costing us so it's kind of hard to guess if and how much we're saving. We must be saving about 30 dollars per month from not buying as many disposables, but clothes diapers themselves are not that cheap either (36 prefolds, went through 2 sizes already, 6-8 covers, now in the third size).

Thank you!

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K.K.

answers from Austin on

I used cloth diapers with my first because she had really sensitive skin and disposable diapers made her break out. As far as protecting the environment by using cloth diapers you are at least doing your part.

And look at the financial impact this way; if you save just 600.00 over 2 years and take that money and put it in a mutual fund for your son and never put in another dime and let that money grow until your son is 65 and ready to retire he will have $949,123.49. Almost 1 million dollars!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

I don't know how much we saved by using cloth, but it was substantial. I read once that if you do about 3 loads per week in hot water you spend about $100/year on gas and water. By the time we started potty training it was only 2 per week. I got almost all of my diapers as shower gifts, but even if we'd purchased them ourselves it would have been about $500. So for under $700 we diapered our baby (I didn't use disposables at all, even at night). He's now 23 months old and totally potty trained during the day. In only had 2 blowouts the entire time he was in cloth diapers, I have a whole set to use for our next children, I feel very good about the environmental impact we left, I never had to put any of that weird gel stuff next to his sensitive little butt and he's potty trained years before some of my friend's kids. I washed all the diapers myself and line dried them (so we didn't have dryer costs) and I found it to not be so bad as far as convenience. We used a combination of prefolds with covers and also bumgenius one-size diapers for convenience. However, for I also worked part-time until my son was15 months old and then went back full-time, so maybe I had more time than you. I think you have to do what you can.

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K.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Lots of cloth moms just like them better, the no chemicals and less blow outs and cute prints and what not. I think the true savings comes in if you use the same diapers for two kids. Then there is no cost except washing for the second kid and you save lots. I also feel like regardless of any cost saving there may be I like that we are not putting tons of diapers in the landfill. we used disposables for one vacation and I couldn't believe how much trash we produced and how many things of diapers we went through. It made me sad.

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

I used them because they were cheaper and better for the environment.

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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I like Linda P.'s idea and wonder if you had to wash the diapers, maybe you might be tired of it, too? :)

J.J.

answers from Pittsburgh on

r :)

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L.P.

answers from Pittsfield on

Why not compromize and use disposable when he will be responsible for the diapering, and if you want, you can use cloth when you're the one doing the diapering?

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