I always planned on using cloth diapers, and when i found out i was going to have a baby i started the search for the diapers i wanted to use. I scoured the internet, trying to learn as much as i could. There are so many gd options! Prefolds, fitteds, all in ones, all in twos, pockets, flips.... They range in price from $2-$25 per diaper. The more expensive diapers sure are cuter, but are they necessary? Pre folds are the cheapest, but you have to either pin or snappi them to keep the diaper on, then put a diaper cover over the whole thing. Fitteds have velcro or snaps so they are easy to secure but you still need to put a waterproof cover over the whole thing. I discounted the all in ones/all in two's and pocket diapers from the beginning due to the price.We went with pre-folds from the start. We wanted to make sure we would actually use them before investing a boatload of money. Then you have to buy covers, and liners for extra absorbency (overnight etc) In total we spent maybe $100 to get started. We have enough diapers up until he is 18 months, or longer, depending on how big he gets.
I was also concerned about the extra laundry. Turns out its really not a big deal, 2-3 extra loads a week ( and they are medium loads) and a little bit of time to hang them on the line, and let the sun work its bleaching magic. All in all it maybe is one extra hour of work per week to wash and line dry them. I was never really concerned about the "gross factor" (putting poopy diapers in the washing machine), i figure if i'm having a baby there'll be a little poop to deal with. (and you shake any access poop into the toilet once they're on solids.)
The best part is the waste we are saving from going to the landfill. An estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers are used each year (in the US alone!), resulting in about 3.4 million tons of diapers going into the landfill. I figure this earth has to be here for my kids, and their kids, and their kids' kids' etc.
If you are interested in using cloth diapers, give it a try! Don't be scared off by the people that say it's gross, or too much work. If they can't handle poop, and a little work, they shouldn't have had children. Plus a cloth diapered bum is so freakin' cute!
My son in a prefold diaper with a cover, at three weeks old.
1 comment:
Aaaaaaaand....very little diaper rash!
As a clumsy, oafish man with fat stumpy fingers, I find the cloth ones just as easy, if not easier to put on. They are also less apt to allow poop up the back or firing down the leg hole.
Yaaaaaay! Cloth Diapers!!
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