considering the switch

kmhagan

Currently I use Pampers on LO but I really don't like them, and don't like the idea of disposable diapers. I am not as environmentally conscious as I would like to be and that is my new years resolution, so this is where I'm gong to start. 

What are your pros/cons to using cloth diapers? Is it hard to keep them clean and free of stains? How often do you wash them? Anything I should know before I switch?

TIA! 

emsrdh03

There's a FAQ link at the top of the board that will answer most of your questions along with giving you links to other helpful sites.

In a nutshell cloth is better for the environment, better for baby, less expensive in the long run, cuter, can lead to earlier potty learning, I've found WAY less leaks and no blowouts.  Cons:  Start up cost is higher, a bit more time consuming since you will have a few more loads of laundry a week vs just taking out the trash.

Not hard to clean at all.  Until baby starts solids all you do wash them.  Once solids start you will need to dump the waste into the toliet.  I've had little issues with staining, and the few stains I have had came out with one day in the sun.  We wash every other day.  Cold pre-rinse.  Hot wash, cold rinse.  Extra cold rinse.  Line dry all covers, machine dry inserts.

julygal

There is a FAQ button at the top of the board that will answer a lot of beginner questions. Here are my personal pros/cons...

pros:
1. saves money
2. when DS was an infant CDs were the only thing to contain his poop (blowouts were not an issue with my older DD when we made  the switch at 17 months, so I never understood that argument until I had DS)
3. when DD potty trained, she was horribly allergic to disposable pull-ups, so cloth was the best option

cons:
1. DH does not like them
2. took a bit of trial and error (buying and selling) to find what I like

Cleaning is not difficult once you get the wash routine down.  Stains happen and are not indicative of cleanliness, so I don't worry about them.  Stains fade with subsequent washing, and you can always lay them out in the sun to get them out.  I find lemon juice on the stain while laying in the sun is the most effective on resistant stains.  We wash every other day but sometimes stretch a little longer.

The last piece of advice as you consider the switch is it doesn't have to be all or nothing.  I am very happy with using cloth part-time.  It really fits our family's needs.   

 

Dr.Loretta

Ditto the FAQs. My responses:

Pros/cons:

Pros: Better for the environment, for baby, cute prints, can resell when you're done with them

Cons: not many, other than having to do a load or 2 of extra laundry a week

It's not hard to keep them clean or free of stains. You wash them like you wash other clothes. Stains happen, and I don't worry about them, especially since no one is going to see them. If they start to bother me, I put them in the sun after they come out of the wash and it bleaches out the stains.

I wash every 2-3 days

Check the FAQs and take some time to get comfortable with the idea. Then you're off and running!