Anyone planning to cloth diaper?

JenJar · December 2010

We didn't with our first, and I'm so clueless, but I want to learn more and try it with this one. I've been lurking on the cloth diapering board, but it's so overwhelming!

TheGregory's07 · December 2010

We have with Ian and I plan to again. Now we use sposie in public it is easier after over 7 months of exclusively cloth I am now a hybrid mama,

littlepoppyseed · December 2010

I have thought about it... but haven't looked into it enough to make a final decision. Definitely need to do some more research about it! Would love to see input from other cloth-diapering mommas!

lob · December 2010

I want to look into those hybrid diapers.

Jessie*J · December 2010

We started buying Bumgenius 3.0 diapers but I still have quite a ways to go on building a stash.

I think I want to try it first, then see how well I like it. I bought these when we were working with our adoption agency. I have money put back for more so we shall see how it goes!

ETweet · December 2010

We really want to cloth diaper. It seem like everyone who does it raves about it. However, I do agree that it seems overwhelming. I need to see a demo or something before I commit.

Shaynnon · December 2010

I really want to cloth diaper too, I can't seem to find any cons on it - but do agree that it does seem a bit overwhelming. Guess it's a good thing we have awhile to figure it out!

desmerelda317 · December 2010

We use exclusively cloth with DS (both in and out of the house) except when we take long vacations (not really worth it to pack a whole extra suitcase for the diaper stash and then have to search for laundry facilities at our vacation spot). We have really enjoyed it. Seems weird, but I never actually expected to ENJOY diapering and I really do. Cloth diapering is WAY easier than you'd expect it to be. The washing really isn't a big deal - all it takes is the time to carry a load of laundry to the washer and push some buttons lol. And the best part - we NEVER have blowouts in cloth diapers. I mean that literally. Never. All of our blowouts have occurred when DS was in a sposie. Go to www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com They have a tutorial section with tons of FAQs and information - I really think it is one of the best info sights when it comes to cloth diapering. As far as online purchasing, I prefer nickisdiapers.com

desmerelda317 · December 2010

Shaynnon:
I really want to cloth diaper too, I can't seem to find any cons on it - but do agree that it does seem a bit overwhelming. Guess it's a good thing we have awhile to figure it out!

I just want to give a response as far as it being overwhelming. The upfront cost can definitely be overwhelming. What we did was shopped the blueberry/swaddlebees online outlet store and saved bunches. And we slowly built up our stash over the course of my pregnancy with DS - by the time he arrived, we had everything we needed and it never felt like we put down a thousand dollars for it. I later added it all up and it wasn't even close to that amount total because we were smart and shopped outlets and sales.

As far as the actual diapering being overwhelming - not at all! You need a bit larger of a diaper bag because cloth diapers take up more space than sposies. In the beginning it is super easy if you breastfeed because breastfed poop is water soluble - no dunking in the toilet, just throw 'em in the wash and run an extra rinse before the wash cycle and that's that! Once baby starts solids, you do have to rinse them in the toilet first - but that's super easy these days with a sprayer attached to the toilet line (you can buy the fancy bum genius one or go to Home Depot and buy the supplies yourself to DIY - we did the DIY thing, worked out fine and saved us some money). And just think, with sposies, your'e throwing them in your diaper pail and that poop is staying in your LO's nursery and in your house. With cloth, you put the poop where it belongs - in the toilet and thus into your city's water treatment system where it is properly handled.

As far as washing, we have enough to was every 2 -3 days now. When DS was a newborn, we washed every other day because our newborn stash of prefolds was smaller than our pocket-diaper stash (plus he went through more diapers a day when he was new as well). We take the diapers, wet bag and all and put them in the wash - wash them on hot with a diaper friendly detergent. Then we dry in the dryer with no fabric softener. You can fold them/stuff them back together if you want or just put the laundry basket of diapers in the nursery and that's that. If you're interested in line drying, the sun is a great way to get stains out of diapers (or anything for that matter)! Seriously, it really is way easier than most people imagine it to be, and it isn't overwhelming at all

HTH!

NithyaV · December 2010

Thanks for the tips! I'm thinking about it but it kinda grosses DH and I out to have poop remnants in our washer (we don't even have it with the dog). I'll have to do more research.

lorelei11 · December 2010

I have been looking at the hybrid ones, GDiapers, and that looks like a good balance to me. You can toss the liner but the outside part is resuable. You can even flush the liner part, or put it in a composter! Also they sell them at target so they should be easy to find. It seems like from what I've seen that it is way cheaper in the long run to do cloth, as well as better for the environment, which are both big for me so I plan to at least try it!