With more and more people talking about ways to help out the environment, I'm sure we've all heard about using cloth diapers on our little ones. But for most people, the first reaction they have is, "There is no way I would have time to deal with that!" This is a very understandable and common reaction. Shoot, this is the way I myself thought of cloth diapers just months ago.
Do you know what changed for me? It was when I had my daughter when my son was just 20 months old. Suddenly, I really noticed just how many diapers were going into the trash every day, every week. And knowing that disposable diapers take at least 500 years to decompose in a landfill, well… that just made the decision easier.
I started out using gDiapers, which are cloth diaper pants with a flushable or compostable liner to catch all the "yucky stuff". Eventually, the cost turned me off and I started to investigate actual cloth diapers. I purchased three bumGenius diapers. I was amazed at how easy these were to use. And once I did some research online, I learned they were easy to wash too! The hardest part was learning the right routine that worked for me. Piece of cake!
Another intimidating factor of cloth diapering is the cost. For years, I had thought that if I wanted to use cloth diapers it was going to require an immediate outlay of several hundred dollars. That's just not true. I have purchased diapers here and there as the budget allows and worked my way up to using cloth diapers full time on my infant daughter and part time on my toddler. You don't have to buy all the diapers up front. You can buy them little by little until you have enough to do away with disposables for good. I would definitely recommend trying a little bit of everything until you find what works best for you and your baby before committing your entire budget to a certain kind of diaper.
Here are some cloth diaper basics for you to consider:
Types of Diapers
- Prefolds – these are the diapers you most often think of when you think of cloth diapers. They are rectangles of several layers of (most often) cotton fabric that have been sewn together that you pin or Snappi to your baby. These aren't waterproof, so they do require a cover so as not to soak clothes.
- Fitteds – these are a step up from prefolds. They also are not waterproof and require a cover. However, these do include elastics and either a velcro-like closure or snaps. Often they also include extra "soaker" inserts so they absorb better. Also, you can find some adorable fitted diapers out there as they come in a myriad of colors, fabrics and patterns.
- Pockets – these are very similar to disposables. They (like the fitteds) have a velcro or snap closure and a stay-dry liner with a pocket in which you stuff absorbant inserts (most often made from microfiber but hemp is also popular). The outer shell is waterproof meaning you don't need a seperate cover. Once the pocket is stuffed, you just fasten it to your baby and you're ready to go!
- All in Ones – these are very much like the pocket diapers, except they don't have a pocket and don't require stuffing with inserts. The absorbant part of the diaper is sewn in so these are the most like disposable diapers and are always ready to go at a moment's notice. However, since they are all in one piece, they can take a LONG time to after washing!
- Covers – you use these with prefolds and fitted diapers. They are made of either PUL (polyurethane laminate, a plasticated fabric that is soft on one side), fleece or wool. If you so desire, you can get covers in all the colors of the rainbow and different patterns and fabrics. Some velcro or snap on (like the pocket and all in one diapers) and some pull on like shorts. It's very rare anymore that anyone uses the vinyl pants that our parents and grandparents had to use back in the day!
- One-Size – you can find one-size diapers in virtually any variety; pocket, fitted, or all in one! These are great because you don't need to purchase new diapers each time your baby outgrows a size and often they will last clear from birth through potty training. Because of this, these diapers tend to be a little more expensive, but it is worth it in the end if you don't have to keep buying diapers!
Check out these sites for more information:
- Cost comparison between cloth and disposable diapers
- Cloth Diapering 101
- Diaper Swappers forum
- Hyena Cart (for the shopaholic in all of us!)
- Why choose cloth diapers?
- Common Abbreviations and Acronyms in Cloth Diapering
In the end, cloth diapering can actually be FUN. It makes diaper changes more fun (and I'm not even being sarcastic!), saves us some money and helps protect the environment. I can't ask for much more than that! If you'd like to talk more about cloth diapers, head on over to the Blissfully Domestic forums.
When she's not stalking Hyena Cart for the latest, cutest diapers, you can find Marilyn blogging about her life over at slackermama . com or about cloth diapers over Cloth Diapering Mamas.
Loading ...
Thank you so much for your encouraging article on cloth diapers! Especially the part about not having to do it 100%, because I think people get intimidated about the time factor. I did cloth diapers with my daughter as it was convenient for me, and only used disposables when we went out for long periods of time during the day and at bedtime. I used the Bummies covers over a mix prefolds and homemade cotton flannel fitted diapers that my aunt made a ton of for me. Not everyone is willing to MAKE their own diapers, but it was a great gift and the patterns were really sweet.
A lot of Mothers out there deserve cloth! Cloth Menstrual Pads that is! I use them myself and they are amazingly comfortable and so easy to care for: rinse, throw into machine!
I think more women need to be aware of this
!