how many people on this board use cloth diapers?

GretchenlovesMichael · July 2009

i am reading up on EC (elimination communication) and i'm thinking of giving it a try.... (this is in the very preliminary stages though, idk if i'll really end up doing it...) anyway, i think i'd like to consider switching to cloth diapers in the meanwhile as i move in that direction. DH thinks i'm crazy, and says he will "change but not wash or in any other way engage with" CDs lol

anyway - just wondering how many ladies here use them and what you think about switching to them at this point?

TIA!

Dr.Loretta · July 2009

We plan on doing it, and I'm researching it. One SIL did it from the get-go, the other waited until kid #3.

There are a lot of gals on the EFF board who started a few months in and had no problems.

smiles4ya · July 2009

part time user here

ela81 · July 2009

I don't use them, just wanted to say your siggy pics are so cute! I can't believe how old M&D are! They are just sooo stinkn' cute I had to butt in:)

Kim777 · July 2009

We do. We used them from the very beginning, but I know lots of people who have started around 3-4 months because that is the perfect time to start if you want to avoid buying a whole stash of newborn diapers for them just to use for a short time. One size diapers often fit best after about 10 pounds or so, depending on babies' body styles, so you may be able to just start out straight off with one size diapers. I love cds and my DH prefers them as well. Granted, he also does not do the washing, but he was fired from any laundry duty a LONG time ago because he doesn't understand that different types of clothes are washed on different settings, which is especially important with cds (he does dishes, which I detest, so it is a fair trade for us). Although he doesn't wash, he is very on-board with using them. I rarely see him put Rhett in a disposable diaper. I never got into finding a night time solution that would work for us, so we use one disposable diaper overnight, full time cd during the day and it works great for us!

travelbug · July 2009

We do! I think you are at a great time to start. We are working on early potty learning and if you are thinking about, I think cloth is a great choice.

eriness` · July 2009

We do! We did sposies for a few weeks until the cord fell off, and then only pocket diapers. We love them. I use Happy Heiny, Drybees, Bum Genius 3.0 and "grandma specials" that my mom sews. Daycare even uses them.

I have an extremely helpful DH, so he does CD laundry, plops poop, etc. He doesn't stuff the CD's as his hands are too wide for the pockets, and he can't get them to lay flat without putting his hand in. But he tried, and he'll do the rest! We even use cloth wipes. Terry washcloths get poop off butts so much better than wipes. One washcloth works in place of multiple wipes. We just get them wet with water, so much gentler on bottoms as well.

They're really not gross at all, no smell. Well, I mean poop stinks after a while, but that's a given. you do need special detergent, but it's not hard to find, isn't expensive, and usually lasts forever.

I don't have any expereince with twins, but I bet it'd be doable. I know there are some eco nesties who have twins or at least 2 of differing ages in CD's.

Ask any question you can think of over on EFF, they're all super nice nesties.

firsttogo · July 2009

We use them, and love them! We use BumGenius 3.0s. they are one sized. We will use them still with new baby as well (not one sizers, but still)

PM me if you have questions, or concerns on how to get started!

Mrs.Meg&Jay · July 2009

we use cloth and I love it! We switched around 8 months.... definitely get a diaper sprayer. That helped my husband with the transition, and he doesn't mind it at all now

Check out the EFF board, they are extremely helpful when it comes to CD'ing!

alison43 · July 2009

we do!

your babies are so little i can't come up with one negative from switching now. the nb stage is a funky fit so you're lucky you missed it!

briebert · July 2009

We have 24 BG 3.0's (for one baby only, granted) and do laundry for them every third day or so. I have been using them for 16 months and have no complaints about them. Ditto the diaper sprayer; it's the best!

kittylove · July 2009

I am a PT user. I CD at home and when going out for just a hour or two but when we do day trips or overnight we stick him in a disposable. I started when he was 2-3 months old and had no issue switching over.

Oh and my DH only does changes and I find it no big deal. I do make him drop it in a sink of water if it is poopy and I am not there. But I do everything else, and have no complaints, then again I only have one baby.

alchris · July 2009

Big Smile

I think you know that I teach CD classes and 90+% of the families in my classes used sposies to start (and/or with their first child if they have more kids or are pg again). Many switch due to issues with sposies such as having poop escape, diaper rash, etc. Many switch just b/c they never thought about it while they were pg. If anything, in my experience, switching is the norm! A surprising few switch when their little ones are already toddlers. Since I had more time while I was pg (!), I was able to do a ton of research then, and I like to spare people from having to reinvent the wheel like I did as I knew *no one* else who CDed until Kira was 3ish months old though she was CDed from birth.

I don't think you touch any more poop than with CDs (and possibly less as none escapes AND cloth wipes are thicker...the messy part is the wiping and not the washing). DH loves them as well and hypes them to other daddies. The extra laundry is worth it given ALL the benefits. And most people I know actually enjoy doing diaper laundry, as strange as that may sound before you do it.

If you want me to e-mail you the handouts I use for my CD classes, let me know!

rispergirl · July 2009

I just had to LOL at "otherwise engage with" CDs!!! Too funny!

raisingarizona2008 · July 2009

We cloth diaper full time now. Started about 2-3 weeks ago since they are now bigger and can fill them out more. ?And we are currently using pre-folds which are the cheapest, but hardest to use. My DH doesn't mind cleaning them, in fact he just did some last night. The nice this is that you can put them in the sun to dry and it also bleaches the white part so it isn't stained. I just broke down and bought 12 bum genius 3.0($200) for night time because we only have a nightlight to see and it is just easier to not have to deal with the pre-folds. ?We only spent maybe $150 on the pre-folds, dappis(diaper covers), snappis(they are in place of the old fashioned pins) and reusable flannel wipes.

?

HTH

Melissa ?

efooey · July 2009

we cd too, ditto everything the pp's said!

E

mybobble · July 2009

Dh and I plan on using CD. Im starting my research now.

talentedgirl · July 2009

DS has been in cloth diapers since birth. Mostly I use prefolds and I have a few pockets that I use for trips away from home. It is so easy if your babes are just breastfed because you can throw them in the wash and not "engage with" the poop! Once DS started on solids I started buying disposable, bio degrading liners, makes the poop clean ups so must easier. We do use a disposible at night, it is the only way DS doesn't wake up for a change in the middle of the night, and if we are travelling.

roaringrock · July 2009

we do! check out the EFF board for lots of advice and tips. those ladies are awesome!

avann · July 2009

We are using them and we love them! We are using BG 3.0 right now and they are great and super easy to use!

sweetpea18 · July 2009

I've used cloth diapers since dd came home from the hospital. I used prefolds at first because she was so little. Now, we use pockets (mostly Bum Genius). We also use cloth wipes (cheap baby washcloths that I got at target). We have a spray bottle on the changing table that we spray the wipes with and they go in the diaper pail with the diapers. CDing adds 2-3 extra loads of laundry a week, but it just becomes part of the routine.

You can do a cloth diaper trial from jilliansdrawers.com for $10. You try out different diapers for 3 weeks and when you're done, you send them back.

dejavu · July 2009

we CDed since the beginning and love it. ?I know you were on the eco board asking about EC, if you?have?other?questions?about CD i would suggest you go there. ?there are so many different types (pockets, AIO, fitteds, prefolds), you can do a trial if you want to see what works best for you.

GretchenlovesMichael · July 2009

thanks for your replies!! so cool how many CDers there are here!!

E_Squared · July 2009

We just started CDing about three weeks ago, and I absolutely love it! It just feels so much more "natural" than using (and throwing out!) a disposable. I've invested in several different brands (BumGenius, Happy Heiny, Fuzzi Bun, Monkeysnuggles, GroBaby and Swaddlebees), just so I can see what I like. I'm also trying out pocket and AIO/AI2. I didn't want to plunk down a ton of cash and find that I didn't like a certain brand right from the start.

Good luck :-)