Cloth Diaper resources

violetmarie61516

Okay ladies, I really feel like I want to save money and cloth diaper among other reasons.  When you started looking into it, where did you start?  I'm finding a ton of options but they are so confusing to me.  I know everyone keeps saying it's so easy but it just seems so complicated to me.  Disposibles are dummy proof!  Where should I look for references?

Yoda923

We are going the cloth route this time around ... I just looked on people's blogs on the topic and then found some you tube videos comparing them and explaining them ... As of now I among on going with the Charlie banana brand all ages ... I love the pockets and the adjustable straps (I hate the other brands with all those snaps up the front) and the option to use a disposable biodegradable insert for traveling .. But maybe try you tube and narrow down your thoughts on the features you like and go from there? Sorry I'm not more help --- cloth diaper newbie here ...

goldie987

There's a ton of info in this thread from a little while back. Not sure if its quite what you were looking for but I found it super informative.

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12644128/cloth-diaper-mamas/p1

nicolesmith0624

greenmountaindiapers.com has a couple packages you can try to see what you like.

If you're looking more for ease of use (like you'd have with 'sposies), go with an AIO or pocket dipe.

We used Bum Genius with our first two (youngest is almost 6), so I need to buy a new stash. cottonbabies.com has a couple cool styles.

BLM10

Youtube has a ton of Cloth 101 videos. And greenmountaindiapers dotcom has pictures of various diapers on babies of different ages and sizes. Love it.

NicknShan

*** questions below ***
For those that have cloth diapered - if you were to only use them in one child, do you still find it saves money?

nicolesmith0624

NicknShan said:

*** questions below ***
For those that have cloth diapered - if you were to only use them in one child, do you still find it saves money?

I spent about $350 on our stash that diapered our daughter for almost 40 months (she was a fun one to potty train!). It TOTALLY saves a ton.

goldie987

nicolesmith0624 said:

NicknShan said:

*** questions below ***
For those that have cloth diapered - if you were to only use them in one child, do you still find it saves money?

I spent about $350 on our stash that diapered our daughter for almost 40 months (she was a fun one to potty train!). It TOTALLY saves a ton.

Okay, now I've got a question. You saved a bunch on diapers themselves which I get, but with doing so much more laundry, did you find your water/electric bill went up/you were going through a ton more detergent to keep the diapers clean and free of odors? I like the economic side of CD up front but I can't help but wonder what it would do to those things.

NicknShan

Yes @Sgoldberg247 !! I am totally curious about that!

nicolesmith0624

Sgoldberg247 said:

nicolesmith0624 said:

NicknShan said:

*** questions below ***
For those that have cloth diapered - if you were to only use them in one child, do you still find it saves money?

I spent about $350 on our stash that diapered our daughter for almost 40 months (she was a fun one to potty train!). It TOTALLY saves a ton.

Okay, now I've got a question. You saved a bunch on diapers themselves which I get, but with doing so much more laundry, did you find your water/electric bill went up/you were going through a ton more detergent to keep the diapers clean and free of odors? I like the economic side of CD up front but I can't help but wonder what it would do to those things.

It actually only adds up to about four-five extra loads per week. You do a cold rinse, hot wash, then cold rinse per load, so only using the same amount of detergent. I honestly didn't notice a change in our electric or water bills. We're charged per 1000 gallons, so who knows I would think the small amount of electricity used by the washer wouldn't add up very quickly, and since it'll be summer, it's actually best to hang them in the sun to naturally dry and deodorize. Sunning them is FAB for getting rid of any odors!

nicolesmith0624

Plus, I think whatever extra you'd spend on detergent/electricity/water would still override how much you'll save vs buying disposables. If I remember, you can expect 10-12 diaper changes at the newborn stage and it gradually decreases from there. That's like a box per week at $40/box. And the super nice thing about CDing is that if you change them and they immediately poop, you're not out anything

nicolesmith0624

Sorry, I love cloth using the math I stated above, you'd cover the cost of the diapers themselves in about four months, and think how long you'll still use them until the kiddo is PTed!

BLM10

Yes, you still save with water and electricity. And, even if you only used them for one baby, the resale value is so high when well-kept you can easily make 50-90% return on investment.

nicolesmith0624

BLM10 said:

Yes, you still save with water and electricity. And, even if you only used them for one baby, the resale value is so high when well-kept you can easily make 50-90% return on investment.

Totally forgot about that part!

m8881

I use bum genius littles and all in ones. You can find very nice fitteds and hybrids too. Cloth is great for the skin and once you start educating yourself on your options it will seem easy

likeabel

Sgoldberg247 said:

nicolesmith0624 said:

NicknShan said:

*** questions below ***
For those that have cloth diapered - if you were to only use them in one child, do you still find it saves money?

I spent about $350 on our stash that diapered our daughter for almost 40 months (she was a fun one to potty train!). It TOTALLY saves a ton.

Okay, now I've got a question. You saved a bunch on diapers themselves which I get, but with doing so much more laundry, did you find your water/electric bill went up/you were going through a ton more detergent to keep the diapers clean and free of odors? I like the economic side of CD up front but I can't help but wonder what it would do to those things.

Our electric bill hasn't changed at all since DS was born and our water bill maybe fluctuates up to $10 a month. (We have a time of day use and I'm maybe just more aware of the correct hours now) As far as detergent, I buy a $25 box of powdered Tide at Costco every 3-4 months and that's all the detergent we go through for all of our clothes and diapers. I've never needed to do anything extra for cleaning diapers.

MynaBird

Water isn't metered where I live, and we noticed no significant change to our electric bill after our daughter was born. Especially if you get good deals on your diapers and line dry when possible (I'll admit we are not great about it), cloth is undeniably more economic, especially once you figure in multiple kids or reselling or both.

jerseybroadwaybaby

I'm a CDing mama! When I first started I used the trial through Jillians Drawers. They send you a little of each and if you want to keep anything you can buy it! It was great!

gray51015

To answer OP's question, I have found Pinterest to be a great source for finding blogs and forums about CDing. We are seriously considering trying cloth out with this LO.

******Question to those who are experienced******

Is the smell any different than with disposable diapers? Everyone I ask about cloth always says "OH, your baby will smell like pee all the time, disposable is better because it masks the smell of the urine..."

I understand that it might have more of a smell when the diaper is dirty since there are no chemicals in cloth, but is it really that bad/different?

nicolesmith0624

gray51015 said:

To answer OP's question, I have found Pinterest to be a great source for finding blogs and forums about CDing. We are seriously considering trying cloth out with this LO.

******Question to those who are experienced******

Is the smell any different than with disposable diapers? Everyone I ask about cloth always says "OH, your baby will smell like pee all the time, disposable is better because it masks the smell of the urine..."

I understand that it might have more of a smell when the diaper is dirty since there are no chemicals in cloth, but is it really that bad/different?

I actually HATE the chemical smell from disposable. They don't smell like pee all the time- not even close....unless they've been sitting in it for a long time. There are so many misconceptions about cloth!!

nicolesmith0624

And obviously if they have a huge buildup of ammonia and the dipes haven't been stripped, then they'll smell all the time. But that was hardly an issue with my two kids.

gray51015

Thanks @nicolesmith0624 ! I had a feeling I was getting a lot of opinion with no real first hand experience.

nicolesmith0624

gray51015 said:

Thanks @nicolesmith0624 ! I had a feeling I was getting a lot of opinion with no real first hand experience.

Yeah, a lot of people write them off because "they're so gross," but I've actually found it smells 48288484 times worse to have a pail (like a diaper genie or whatever they're called) with disposables sitting there forever versus having cloth that's washed every other day.

likeabel

gray51015 said:

To answer OP's question, I have found Pinterest to be a great source for finding blogs and forums about CDing. We are seriously considering trying cloth out with this LO.

******Question to those who are experienced******

Is the smell any different than with disposable diapers? Everyone I ask about cloth always says "OH, your baby will smell like pee all the time, disposable is better because it masks the smell of the urine..."

I understand that it might have more of a smell when the diaper is dirty since there are no chemicals in cloth, but is it really that bad/different?

Disposables smell way worse in my opinion. If your kid smells like pee, change their diaper. You might get an amonia build up smell but only if your detergent sucks

gray51015

likeabel said:

Disposables smell way worse in my opinion. If your kid smells like pee, change their diaper. You might get an amonia build up smell but only if your detergent sucks

Haha! Common sense and all that jazz.

 Thanks, It is a relief to hear from ladies that have done it that it isn't as bad as others make it sound.

nicolesmith0624

@gray51015- it's seriously easy! And can be addicting if you like getting all the latest prints. We just bought our stash of 24 and were done

MynaBird

likeabel said:

To answer OP's question, I have found Pinterest to be a great source for finding blogs and forums about CDing. We are seriously considering trying cloth out with this LO.

******Question to those who are experienced******

Is the smell any different than with disposable diapers? Everyone I ask about cloth always says "OH, your baby will smell like pee all the time, disposable is better because it masks the smell of the urine..."

I understand that it might have more of a smell when the diaper is dirty since there are no chemicals in cloth, but is it really that bad/different?

Disposables smell way worse in my opinion. If your kid smells like pee, change their diaper. You might get an amonia build up smell but only if your detergent sucks

Agree -- disposables smell way worse. We have never had any kind of smell problem. We spritz Bac-Out on dirty diapers, so that helps. My cousin uses the same trash can for disposables that we use for cloth diapers, and when you walk into her kid's room you get absolutely smacked in the face with a wall of stink. 

ETA: I think a lot of people who use disposables just roll their kids' feces up in the diaper and throw it away rather than flushing it. I'm sure that's a big part of the smell problem. When you flush the solid waste right away as you do with cloth, that definitely helps control the smell.

ufsandra85

I don't think i saved any money cloth diapering but that wasn't my goal. I buy every diaper i like and have a huge stash. We love bum genius, flips and smart bottoms. I think cloth diapers are super easy. If you want to save money covers and inserts are a cheap choice and are my favorite anyway, they are much easier than pockets and aio

TheHauntedHauswife

Im pregnant with my first and havent actually CDd a baby yet, But i have been researching it for about 2 years.

Facebook groups have been a lifesaver! I feel like i have gained so much information that way.

I will share some of my research, hope this helps!

I hightly recommend this one for getting your wash routine together and also troubleshooting problems.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FluffLoveCDScience/

Another group that is an off shoot of that one, great for general questions like fit and just fun stuff:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/flufflovephotostream/

..and here are some groups where I have purchased diapers from WAHMS (work at home moms), after getting reviews on their quality before hand.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Shaddaimadeit/ <-most reccommended

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheStache17/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSizzle/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/515964058475682/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SassybumzBST/ 

(there are tons more)

..and you can go the cheaper route with some of these brands

https://ecoclothdiaper.com/

https://www.alvababy.com/usa-section-c-144.html

...and this is a good option for doing prefolds or fitteds

https://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/

...and most people reccommend FSTs (flower sack towels) as another cheap prefold or insert option.

I hear that walmart has the cheapest.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Flour-Sack-Towels-28-X28-2-Pkg-White/24660651

I also hear that using Viva paper towels are a great option for liners.

Additionally you can cut up microfleece to help with liners.

[Liners seem to be used during the later poop stages to just sort of lift and dump or toss]

MynaBird

I feel like the best advice I could give anyone considering cloth diapering is don't overthink it. At the end of the day, it's a thing you're wrapping around your baby's crotch to catch waste. Try a few different kinds, find what works for you, and go with it. CD groups and message boards can be helpful, and they can also be super intimidating. There's a lot of jargon. Personally, I've never had to strip a diaper, deal with stink, replace a snap, etc., so my advice is to not worry too much about troubleshooting unless you come across trouble in need of shooting.

violetmarie61516

@mynabird  I really think that's exactly what I needed to hear!  Thank you!