Question for CD pros - Washing Machine

welly01

I am trying to convince DH that cloth diapering is cheaper and better for baby.  However, he is putting up a major resistance to putting poopy diapers in our washing machine.  I think his concerns are mainly "contamination" with our regular clothes (even though I would wash them separately, duh) but also extra wear and tear on the machine. (I think he also thinks they would be way more messy and smellier than a disposable diaper).  Did anyone have any trouble convincing their hubby to use CD and how did you finally change their mind!!?

 Also, I plan to stay home with the baby for 3-4 months.  If I am only able to CD for this time period is it still worth it?

Thanks!!!  

monkeyqueen

We do about 2 loads of cloth diaper laundry a week - not a whole lot of extra wear and tear.      Also, babies clothes get poop on them.....it happens.   There will poop in the washer regardless.       I find cloth diapering less stinky than disposables.   

He's really going to have to get over the whole "poop in the washer thing."    It's going to happen.....maybe not a bunch, but it will.    Besides, you can rinse off the clothes diapers before you throw them in the washer. 

amberry

EBF or EFF poop is water soluble so there won't be poop left in your washing machine. If he's that freaked out about it, you can spray or dunk and swish the diapers before putting them in the pail. Once you start solids, you will have to remove the more solid poop because it is no longer water soluble.

When you wash CDs, you shouldn't wash more than 15-18 diapers at a time. If you overstuff the washer, there will be more wear and tear on the machine as well as your diapers. Plus the diapers won't get fully clean.

Sposies stink a whole lot worse than CDs. I can tell the moment DD pees or poops in a sposie b/c it smells so bad. And it's a chemical smell too. If CDs smell, you most likely just need to refigure your wash routine.

Dr.Loretta

DH let me do what I wanted. So no problems there. Some things to point out to him:

1. Your child will likely pee, poo, and/or vomit on some item of their or his or your clothing. And it will be washed in the same washer. Might as well get over that nonsense right now. DD just peed on DH last week.

2. Washing machines are for washing. An extra 2-3 loads of laundry per week isn't going to kill it.

3. Disposables REEK. We use them on occasion and have a pail for them in DD's room. OMG it's awful.

Why would you stop CDing after 3-4 months? Find a CD-friendly daycare, or do it when you're at home and on weekends. It will still save $.

welly01

The only reason I might stop CDing after 3-4 months is if the daycare won't accept them (we may end up using the DC at DH work, so it would be more convenient and cheaper, so if they don't accept CD then we are out of luck).  If I can convince DH to CD, then even after daycare starts I would CD on the weekends.  

Maybe I should just plan on CDing and let him use disposables so he can smell the difference and see that CDing is WAY better!  

Also, very good point that vomit, poop, etc. will probably eventually get all over baby's and ours clothes.  

tct1219

My husband thought my decision to cd was just my being weird and a "hippie" but after just a month or two, he started telling me how it was the best idea I've ever had. I would mention to your husband that blowouts happen frequently with disposables, so you'll still be putting poop in the washer. FWIW, we've never had one in cloth and my daughter is almost 11 months old. If your baby is going to be in daycare, you might consider all in ones because they are just like disposables for the person changing them. If you show them how it works (and mention that leaks are much less likely than with disposables), they might change their minds. In any case, you can still save a lot by using them at home and any other time your baby's not at day care. Good luck!

a.bartholomew

My DH is kind of off the wall so when he suggested CDing I sat down to do some serious research to make sure it was going to feasible and we haven't looked back since.

We have a very inexpensive washer from Best Buy that we bought without doing any research and it works great.  The extra loads have caused no problem and we have a diaper sprayer and sprayed everything and have never dealt with left over poo.

Even if you end up going to a DC that won't use them you can CD in the evenings and weekends.  My only suggestion is also be smart about what you buy in case you end up trying to resell it.  Stick with the more popular options then.