Cloth diapers?

[TheWoman]

I have used cloth a lot because my first 2 kids got rashes from disposables. I even had to take cloth when we went on vacation--I don't reccomend this. With #4 I haven't even pulled out the cloth. I have enough laundry with 4 kids, I don't want to have to wash diapers as well.

Both cloth and disposables have advantages. Generally cloth cost less in the long run, but that depends a lot on the type you buy (I made mine, so they were cheap), how well you shop sales for laundry soap, and the price of water and electricity/gas in your area. It also depends on how many kids you plan to use the cloth diapers for. For most of us here, if you can get rock bottom prices for disposables the difference in price probably isn't that much.

As far as convienence goes, disposables are hands down the winner. Not only can you just toss the mess, but if you don't change baby for several hours the diaper isn't going to leak. They also are less likely to leak or need changing during the night.

Some kids get more rashes with disposables, some get more with cloth. I would try cloth out before you spend lots of money on them because you may have trouble this way.

One major advantage of cloth is that kids tend to potty train earlier. I think this is because they feel the wet diaper more, so they understand it better. That can aproximated with disposables by switching to cloth when they are nearing the age to be potty trained.

If you are concerned with the environment, cloth is the better choice, but there is still water, soap, and electricity used.

Doing half and half didn't work well for me. Since I didn't want to let the diapers sit for a week until I had a full load it was just as much laundry to do cloth part time as full time--which means almost as much water, soap, and electricity. Once I figured that in, I am not sure that half and half are better for the wallet OR the environment than only disposables.

[Mom2my3sons]

I have used cloth diapers on all 3 of my boys. I even made and sold diapers through my own website for some time. I am an oddity. I HATE pocket diapers. I hate stuffing them, I hate unstuffing them. I hate the polyester next to my baby's skin. I like plain old prefold with a snappi and a Bummi's cover. It's cheap, it's easy, I never had a blow out. I never dunked them in a toilet for the poo. I just tossed them in a pail and then into the washer. No different than any other laundry, except I puth them through an extra long wash with an extra rinse and they were the only load I used hot water for.

You can get 3 bummi's covers for what one Fuzzi Bunz will cost you. And you only need a few covers because you can use them a few times before they need to be washed. A couple dozen prefolds is super cheap too. But be sure to order them online, the ones at Walmart/Target etc are garbage.

[patcheskitty]

Thanks for all the info!! The more I'm reading (here and elsewere) I'll probably start out with some prefolds (they kinda scare me, but it'll be okay, hahaha!) just because of the upfront cost and to see how all the laundry, etc goes. My water is free with the rent, and if I'm allowed to hang a line here, the sunshine is free too, so my main cost would be soap and diapers - not too bad IMO. I dont have much $$ for the upfront cost and I blew thru my stockpile of sposies a long time ago and that crunch is kind of hurting too, it'd be nice not to have to worry about buying them when the week comes up short, =/

Karen (or whoever) do I need to pin or snappi if I use a bummi? Or does it kind of hold everything together? There'd been some on craigslist 4/$10 but someone else beat me to them, lol!

I'm getting a chance to check out several different styles from other moms in my area, there's a group meetup in a few days and everyone's bringing their different stashes/styles, so I'm sure that'll help too, to see before I buy anything.

[Mom2my3sons]

If you use a bummi, you do not need to use a Snappi or pins. But I like the Snappi because it helps keep the poo in the prefold and off the cover.

The group meet up sounds like a lot of fun. I've done one of those and I think everyone learned a lot.

Hanging diapers in the sun to dry is a great way to keep them stain free. The only problem is they can get a bit stiff. So one great trick is to toss them in the drier for about 2-3 minutes before hanging them. Then give them a good 'snap' (like if you were going to snap a towel at someone) when they come off the line.

[mom24stinkers]

Originally Posted by TheWoman Both cloth and disposables have advantages. Generally cloth cost less in the long run, but that depends a lot on the type you buy (I made mine, so they were cheap), how well you shop sales for laundry soap, and the price of water and electricity/gas in your area. It also depends on how many kids you plan to use the cloth diapers for. For most of us here, if you can get rock bottom prices for disposables the difference in price probably isn't that much.

I agree with you with the water/electricity but again a lot depends on the washer and whether or not you use a dryer. We bought a front load energy efficient washer 2 years ago when I was pregnant with #4 (our old washer died on us and we chose to "splurge"). It has extra large capacity so what used to take two loads now takes one, with less water and electricity used than our old washer. I hang dry my diapers so energy from the dryer isn't an issue. Also you're only supposed to use a tablespoon or so of laundry detergent with diapers, so really it's not that much more wash soap you're going to need to buy.

[DiannaK]

we changed over to cloth diapers when DD#2 was about 18 months old. We used Fuzzi Bunz, and I love them.

I have a pretty large stash, because I did not want to have to wash daily. Most of these I bought used, from diaperswappers.com, or from Ebay. I do have about 14 that I bought brand new as well.

I use cloth wipes with them as well ... baby washclothes, and ordered a baby wipe solution from Booty Cubes.

It's expensive upfront, but the longer you use them, the cheaper the cost. You could also use them for more than one child. The resale value is relatively high, if they are well cared for.

It took me a while to get into a washing routine, so we started out just part time with the diapers. Now, I have it down pat, so we are full time CD folks. I will CD the new babies, but not for a few months.

Wash routine for us:
cold water soak over night .. I usually put in a capfull of bleach.
Next morning, let water drain, then do a hot water wash with Oxyclean, and Arm and Hammer Essentials (green liquid stuff)
Off to the dryer, and we're done. I usually stuff them after they come out of the dryer .. saves me from having to do it when I'm ready to change Rachel.

I use a kitchen size garbage can with lid, for my dry pail. I have 2 WAHM ies diaper pail liners, and 2 WAHMies wetbags for carrying dirty/wet diapers home. This way, you always have one clean and ready to go.

[mickee311]

I just started cloth yesterday and I have to say, I LOVE it! I'm using BG pockets....I'm still using my sposies I have for night tho for right now....I'll be getting some BB AIO next week, stimulating a gal on my Jan birth board's wallet...lol She only used them once, I'm getting 4 and extra stuffers for $50!! Great deal, considering they sell for 20 bucks each! Woooo!

I can already tell this is going to be an expensive little habit, buying cute dipes....

[dalkambo]

I loved using cloth. I stopped when I moved, and just never went back to it because I am totally lazy. But, like some others mentioned, I hated pocket diapers. I really liked the aio's, and i liked using the soakers with a cover.
Some good info I obtained when clothing was to not use conventional soap. I got one of these places that sells the "green" non-soapy stuff (I'll have to find you the website) to send me a sample bag. The bag was a quart size ziplock bag, and it lasted washing baby dipes for 8 months and I have about half left - so that is definately worth looking into. There is supposed to be some big difference in extending the life of the dipes, but what I found that I liked about it was that there was no smell left. No pee/detergent smell that sometimes gets left (even after 3 rinses). If you are researching, you will find many different takes on this, from using no detergent to using this or that.

[cmdevidal]

We used Fuzzi Bunz on our oldest and switched to disposable because my parents would buy him a huge box from BJ's just to be nice. I also have some MotherEase in my stash but totally prefer FB's to anything else. You might try getting a few used on an auction site before investing in tons of money so you can try and see which ones you like.

[oscamaya]

I am a lot like you. I hated throwing diapers away and thinking that I was just throwing money away.

I like the pre-folds with the Bummis Super Whisper Wraps. I think this is the cheapest diaper package you could probably get. Up front I paid around $80 for 4 covers and 3 dozen pre-folds. We started DS on cloth in December when he was 19 months and because we got so many disposables when DD was born we didn't need to get a different size for her. By the time she was through the disposables she could fit into the pre-fold/covers that we got. We also got some contours with soakers from freecycle for her. We had to invest in some more covers for her as well.

I made some wool soakers out of old sweaters that I got at Goodwill and they are the best for at night because they don't leak. These do require pins or snappis though. Buying them already made were too expensive and they are really easy to make. Even for a non-sewer like me.

I absolutely love cloth. True I have to wash a load of diapers every other day, but I am already doing laundry anyways so what is an extra load. I haven't noticed an increase in my power bill with the extra laundry either. We did a lot of other things around the house that actually cut our power bill so it is hard to tell.

More diapers does not mean less laundry. If you have a whole lot, you could probably go longer without having to wash them, but you have more loads and I personally don't like having stinky diapers sitting around that long.

DH doesn't like cloth so he uses disposables when I am at school.