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Hawaii Babies
redshoegirl
member
not sure we'll be CDing after all :-(
redshoegirl
member
I was starting to put together an order of CDs so my sister could bring them over with her at the end of next month (this way we can get USA prices without having to pay for shipping). I mentioned it to Ben, and he told me that he wasn't so sure he wanted to do it any more - that he'd rather just stick with disposables. 
The problem is that I don't think CDs will actually save us money, so I'm having a hard time using that argument with him. Ben only wants to do BumGenius OS 3.0s and fitteds - and YES, I know prefolds are easy and much cheaper, but I'm fine with his preference since it's the only way I can convince him to CD.
Anyway, the total cost to buy 24 BGs, 24 fitteds (looking at Mother-ease One Size Fitted) and 12 covers (Thirsties Duo Wraps) is about $1040AUD - then add on costs to wash them (water, electricity, etc.) and for a year's worth of diapers we're looking at about $1215AUD. It could be less if we bought used, but to be honest it would be a huuuuuge PITA for me to try to get all my CDs from different sources and in my sister's hands before she flies out here next month. So the savings I was counting on to convince him to CD aren't really there - a year's worth of 'sposies is about $1277AUD, so we'd be saving like $50 (if that, since we'd eventually have to buy the next size of Thirsties covers).
I'm really disappointed because CDs are so freaking cute...I suppose I could still talk him around because they're not more expensive than 'sposies, but the reality is that we'd still have to use disposables for 3 days a week starting in October, and then 5 days a week starting next June (for daycare - none of them will take CDs here), so we'd still be paying for those in addition to the CDs.
Ugh. Anyone see a side to this that I don't? (Yeah I know there's the environmental aspect, but that's not going to convince him all by itself.)
This discussion has been closed.
Re: not sure we'll be CDing after all :-(
No.... That was sort of the reality I faced. I was planning to do gDiapers. I even bought the covers (on mega markdown). But they didn't fit her when she came home from the hopsital, so we started using Pampers. Well, by the time they fit her, they were a huge PITA compared to the Pampers, so DH was immediately like no way.
THEN when I went to order more gDiaper inserts, I realized that the inserts, AFTER you already bought the covers, cost MORE than disposables, like double! Like 35 cents each to 17 cents each. If they aren't cheaper, then WHY would I use them? I don't get it.
So, sadly, we decided to forget about gDiapers and go with disposables. We started with Pampers. Now we are trying Diapers.com brand but I don't much care for them. All my friends rave about Target diapers, so I'll try those next. At last resort, we'll just go back to Pampers.
So sorry not to be of help... Just saying we did the same sort of calculation re gDiapes and came to the same conclusion.
Malia & Dave & Alexa
Happily married since 2-17-08! Three since 9-9-09!
Baby Blog
We're using prefolds and it's for sure been a ton cheaper for us. We've spent a total of about $300 and that's for the whole 10 1/2 months we've been CDing. That's for EVERYTHING (wipes, diaper pail, diapers, covers, diaper pail liners, wet bag for the diaper bag). So it's saved us money. We use CD when we go out and daycare uses them too.
I agree that once you start using sposies it's hard to make the switch. We used them the first 2 weeks she was home because the newborn diapers didn't fit her and we had to use preemies which we hadn't bought in the CD brand. It was HARD to switch over but once we did it was no big deal. Once we washed the first load, it was easy for us.
I think it's cheaper to use CD go for it, if it's not, the don't. It's no big deal. Same for breastfeeding, happy momma/family= happy baby!
Yeah, I looked at gDiapers as well as CDs and came to the same conclusion. Don't get me wrong, I totally understand how bad 'sposies are for the environment, but at the same time I'm also not made of money...so a product like the gDiapers needs to be at least of comparable cost (if not actually cheaper) to regular disposables. But it's like double what 'sposies are, and for the amount of diapers you go through with two babies, it's just not affordable for us.
I kinda feel like a bad person for saying "no way!" to them for that reason alone (I feel like such a freaking litterbug lol), but the cold hard fact is that it really does come down to money!
See, if any of the daycares around here would use them, then I think I could justify the cost - but since we'll still have to buy disposables for 3-5 days a week anyway, it will actually end up cheaper to do disposables than to CD.
I'm jealous that your daycare is OK with it!
I am sorry you're disappointed Lisa, but from what you've written, it sounds like not CDing is probably the best choice for you and your family. The ONLY reason you have left to do it purely environmental and possible for their health. But since it won't be cheaper and you'll HAVE to use them for daycare, the amount of time they're in sposies will be far greater than anytime not in them. If it were me, especially with two babies at once, I'd probably use sposies too.
That said, if Ben were open to using PFs and covers, it would be cheaper, right? Perhaps you can get a small trial pack and give it a go? His "man brain" may just think AIOs are easier, but if he's not ever tried it, he may just fine that PF+Cover is no biggie. We use pockets at night and J definitely prefers the PF+Cover...go figure! Especially if you do a newspaper fold (tri fold laid in the cover) it's not difficult in the least.
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This is my concern. I've already bought a few FuzziBunz, and was planning on buying some BumGenius, and some prefolds and covers this week so we could experiment with different types. MH was even on board with it (after much convincing).
However, we received soooooo many disposable diapers for shower gifts! I literally have over 500 diapers, and even more wipes. I fear that after using all of them (I'm certainly not going to waste them!), MH will no longer really be on board with the cloth thing. And maybe I won't, either! Now I'm not ure I want to buy more cloth just yet.
Also, our daycare situation looks doubtful about CDing, too. They told us they had never had a parent ask about it before (huh?), and that they didn't think they could do it, due to the fact that they don't have a toilet in the infant room, and therefore they wouldn't be able to rinse poops. That's when I, too, looked into gDiapers and grobaby, but with the liners, they actually cost more than disposables!
I'm still trying to figure it all out......
if it's not going to work out for you then not spending the money would be the best idea.
however, if this post is a reqest for more info and advice I would say skip the fitteds (those are not easy at all - I would rather use prefolds w/out a million snaps and DH would never in a million years reach for the fitteds now a days - he did use them at the newborn stage.. when they had less snaps and bulk).
How big are the boys these days?
If So if you did 24 BGs (there is a buy 5 get one free coupon) = $314 make these your daddy go-to diaps and for the ILs/other random babysitters.
then get 2-3 dozen prefolds and 6 thirsties duo size 2 wraps. the duo might be a little large to start but you can overlap the waist and b/c of the leg gussets it should work even if very large. I switched Jack to them pretty early b/c I had them on hand to fit over the very large one size fitteds. You can do these changes, and show ben how to just tri fold and lay in the cover.
For those ladies that are getting resistance from daycare - push back a little (VERY few states specifically don't allow CDs), take one in, show them how easy it is - they are watching you baby and should be open minded to do things your way, I'm sure like us you are paying them big $$ so they should try to be a little more open. I think at Jack's daycare only 2 of the 8 babies use sposies from looking at their personalized diaper cubbies. They have perfected it and even "allow" prefolds. Instead of an all day wetbag we bring in a bucket with a lid so each baby kind of has their own dry pail. There shouldn't be any reason to go rinse or soak.
Even after they start solids you can use a sposie liner or again just leave it, most moms say the poo kind of hardens as it dries and becomes much easier to plop out. There maybe some PB poo to deal with, but I figure if everyone else can handle it so can we.
Too bad they're so hard to get locally. Like Lori said, I would've suggested that you buy a small supply and do a little trial with Ben. DH was supportive, but skeptical, until he got to try his hand at it. A few tries with the prefolds and he was a pro... and we have BGs and AIOs too. He almost does PFs exclusively, since I save the pockets and AIOs for when baby and I go out. Zero complaints!
Another big CDing plus for us is that we haven't had ANY diaper blowouts or leaks. I had Adrian in sposies for a day when he got diaper rash and I got peed on within hours.
Anyhow, I think it's totally OK if CDing doesn't work out for you. If it's too much of a pain or too pricey, it's just not worth it.
Side question: Have you considered the savings past year 1?
This was us. I was nervous to switch, but honestly, we like cloth so much better. Like I said above, no diaper blowouts or leaks since switching. We got into some serious poo messes with sposies and now we have no worries!
I used up most of our supply and still keep some on hand for when someone's babysitting. I also just used them again since he had diaper rash and I wanted to lather on the ointment. I agree with you on not wanting to waste those.
lelekay - if you don't want to go through all those sposies you could return them to any store (walmart, target, etc) for store credit.
Lisa, i think Jack's mom gave you some really great advice there. i wasn't sure if you were aware of the buy 5 get 1 free promo? would help reduce the cost. plus 5% off at abby's lane on top of that (i think you can stack the coupon). plus you can still look on diaperswappers or diaperpin for used BG...sometimes i see people selling lots of 20+ at a time when they are done w/them. so, potentially not as hard as you would think. i think the idea of getting a stash for Ben and then a stash of PFs for you is good. lots of households do that. he may not want to do PFs but taking one off (that you've put on ) can't be that hard...and then he can put a BG back on them. that will help w/your cost savings a lot! but in the end if you decide it's not for you that is ok too. but i hope we've given you some other options to think about for now to make it more feasible for you
ditto melissa on the blowouts too... i hear of babies getting blowouts using sposies and we have yet to have any with CDs (knock on wood)
ETA: looks like you can't combine discounts but there is already a bulk discount on abby's lane for them...so buy 5 for $88.50 with free shipping and get 1 free = $14.75 each
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
My daycare is at my sister in laws in home care, she has other kids but we're the only that CD. We talked to her about and she said "whatever" so she's going with it. It's not she has to do anything except change her and stick it in a wet bag... this is what frustrates me about other daycares... what's the big deal? Why won't they? It's not your asking them to wash them!
Lelekay- I totally returned ALL of the sposies and wipes that we were given. It ticked me off that people bought them that KNEW we planned on CDing... they were against it and thought we were crazy so they bought us sposies thinking they'd change our minds... we showed them wrong! My step mom bought us sposies and later asked if we'd used them, I smiled and reported "oh no we took them back long before she was born, you knew we were CDing"... she didn't say anything
We've had like 3 leaks and one poop blowout... not much if you ask me and the leaks were at night when she actually slept through the night, we've since added doublers (even though she's not STTN) but just to be safe... as for the poop... she was constipated and then BLEW OUT! Now we've got the constipation under control so hopefully we're good
This. Or you can donate to a local women's shelter...I did that with ours as well as all of the free sample formula we got in my third tri and just after Libby was born.
Melissa made an excellent point about blow-outs and leaks...in CDs we just don't have them. Thank goodness! I'd rather deal with a poopy diaper and/or cover anyday over poopy clothes, bedding, carseat, etc. (Now that we're ECing I don't even have to deal with poopy diapers! In the one week we've been ECing we've only had to change 2 poopy diapers...all the rest of the poop went into the toilet! Yay!)
And I agree with Robbi that perhaps a day care might be "talked" into CDs if they're shown how simple/easy they are to use and they are provided with the proper wet bag/dry pail system. It might be worth asking beyond " do you allow CDs" and ask, "could we discuss some options when it comes to CDs?" Also, the majority of CD'd babies do not have diaper rash and also tend to learn to use the potty sooner than those who are in sposies.
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Honestly, no, just because it's too hard to calculate (not sure how many sposies we'd need, and having to buy different sizes of CD covers, etc.). I know the cost for both would go down, but it's just too hard to figure out by how much, and since the majority cost for both is in the first year, I've focused on that.
It was, but I talked to Ben about it again this morning and he's just deadset against using CDs now.
I've thought about this, but honestly he's gotten so resistant to the idea of using them at all that I'm not sure it would be worth the $$$ to even trial it - I think the judge has already decided, kwim?
I know, right?!? We've been told it's a "hygiene issue" and it won't be considered. I don't see how having them sealed in a wetbag or a bucket is any more unhygienic than a disposable sealed in a plastic bag and put in the trash, but whatever.
Interesting thread. Lots of great comments.
Just wanted to note that our daycare (Bright Horizons) DOES allow it, they'll do whatever you do. But NO ONE uses CD there.
Also wanted to note that aside from that one blow out that I think I mentioned here -- In the moby wrap, so it got all over the both of us, and I had NO wipes with me, but was saved by another mom who had some -- Other than that one blow out, there have been NO other blowouts with disposables. I still carry around an extra change of clothes but I have never had to use it. Daycare has also never had a blowout.
Crap. Did I just jinx her? :-P
Malia & Dave & Alexa
Happily married since 2-17-08! Three since 9-9-09!
Baby Blog
LOL oh you know there's going to be the mother of all blowouts now.
We've never had a blowout in disposables either...well, I shouldn't say that. We have had one, BUT I have to add that I saw the diaper in question and Ben hadn't put it on snugly enough (wriggling baby, sleep deprived man at 3am...you get the picture). So I don't count it as a true blowout because it wasn't the diaper's fault.
I never understood the point of gdiapers. Kind of greenwash if you ask me.
What is the point of a product that is more expensive, made of the same material as other sposies, don't fit well, and 99.9% of the time get thrown out anyways - and just because there is no outer layer doesn't mean they magically decompose faster in an airless garbage dump. I see no upside for daily use.
yes, me too. the grobaby brand (now grovia) i did understand b/c they have cloth soakers too....the disposable biosoakers are more for when you are traveling/on vacation and that makes sense to me (though not financial sense b/c like Malia said, they are more $ than sposies unless you get them on super sale)
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
I have a feeling this might happen to us. We told my mom last night that we were going to CD. She looked absolutely horrified.
It seems that, in Hawaii, we are less progressive than most other places. I tried to explain to her that CDs are different these days. She kept saying, "Yeah, but you're going to use disposables when you fill in the blank, right???" There are also a lot of moms in the office I work at and all of them will have an opinion (in the negative) about CD.
We plan to do sposies in the very beginning. If we get a bunch as gifts, I'll keep them for a little while as a CD back-up (in case, for whatever reason, CDs just aren't working for us). If CDs work out as well as I'm hoping they will, we'll return them.
Don't feel bad if you guys don't get to CD. I really wanted to CD and I did so much research and made all the calculations as to how much $ we'd save and everything and the environmental factors made it even better. Also, I liked the idea of having cotton against our LO's skin vs. man-made materials. But when I presented to MH, he heard me out but was still deadset against it because (1) he felt like the money saved wasn't worth the inconvenience of having to wash the diapers and (2) he was going to be doing most/a lot of the diaper duty since he works from home. So I gave up CDing since it wouldn't work out. Yes, sposies are more convenient, but I really hate how they felt against my skin when I pick up the baby =P but that's just a small pet peeve of mine.
But I digress. I think the main issue for you, IMO, is that daycare in Australia don't do CD. So I personally feel like it wouldn't make sense for you guys to CD unless you only do it for the smaller sizes before they go to daycare, then switch to sposies from then on out once they're in daycare. But would temporary CD save you any money? Also, if YH is really deadset against it, then it's hard to justify doing it unless you're set on doing all the diaper duty =/ but that's just how I felt about it which led me to my final decision to not CD. GL!
No, it wouldn't really save money, which is a major reason not to do it. There isn't the huge secondhand market for CDs here that there is in the USA, or I might still consider it - don't get me wrong, some are sold, but not with the reliability of the ones in the States. (So I couldn't, say, buy the smaller sizes and then resell them - it also means it's hard to find the diapers you want if you don't want to buy them new.)
And yeah, he's pretty set against it at this point. I think from his point of view, he's gotten used to - and is OK with - changing disposables and just doesn't want to make the switch. Which I can understand!