- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Cloth Diapering
MrsNiner
member
I am still on the fence about CDing
MrsNiner
member
I have a stash large enough to CD part time, but honestly I'm not even doing that right now. I put DS in a few CDs a day to try out different types/brands. I have taken the initiative to start buying more used CDs so I can make an attempt at doing it full time for awhile to see if I really like it. But it all still seems so hard to me. The washing (not to mention my ancient washer/dryer), stink issues, stripping, special soaps, cloth wipes (which I don't use, not sure if I even want to), traveling with them, etc. I am almost ready to sell my stash and be done with it. Disposables seem a lot easier to me. I wanted to CD for the money saving factor, but I'm to the point where I'd rather spend the extra money and keep using disposables.
Does anyone have any kind words or advice for me right now? I have researched CDing for SO long and whole-heartedly wanted to do this. But now I can't push myself to committ to it. I spend so much time on this board and love the advice, stash pics, stalking craziness, and all things CD... but I'm not sure if I can do it anymore. Aghhh!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: I am still on the fence about CDing
I will say, there are things that make it difficult...
but for a lot of things, it's as difficult as you make it.
I *knocking frantically on wood* haven't had to strip. I haven't had stink issues. I haven't bought special soaps (arm and hammer). I use cloth wipes, the Mr. uses 'sposie wipes.
I use a combo of cloth and sposie when out--depending on what's convienet. I use sposies at night because I"m to lazy to come up w/ a cloth solution for night.
Honestly, none of the above is any harder than figuring out sposies.
I am *starting* to branch out my stash, but, honestly, that was part of what made it overwhelming--we tried a few things, found something we could afford that worked, bought a full stash of that thing, and I did NOT explore anything else for a good 6-10 weeks--until I was sure this was going to work with a simple (kawaii, if you want to know) stash...THEN I branched out to other things.
(and I dont' complicate washing. Washing is taking it to the basement, dumping it in, and turning it on. Then going back an hour later, putting in soap, turning it from cold/cold to 'cold/hot', and washing it again. Then going back an hour later and dumping the whole mess in the dryer. wallah...done. Once we had that down, I explored a little bit to, but...no need to make it harder than it has to be)
I have an ancient washer and dryer as well. Sucks... but we get through.
You probably won't have to worry too much about the stripping. Once you pick a detergent - and your LO doesn't have an allergy that is set.
If you are only doing is part-time, you could travel with sposies. Otherwise, I have found that the Flip system is SUPER easy to travel with.
Uhm... It is daunting at first. But, the long run is much easier once you get into a routine. That is my experience.
You're probably having issues with washing because you haven't gotten into a groove, just because you don't *have* to wash yet.
Also, for all the posts with problems here, there are 30 other posts where no one is having any issues at all.
Cloth seemed so intimidating at first to me, too. Like I had to THINK about diapering, whereas with disposables, I didn't. But I stuck with it through those first few months and then it became just part of my life. Now, I have to THINK about diapering when we use disposables while traveling
To address what is "hard"... washing is easy. I'd have to take out a pail full of dirty disposables anyway; it's no harder to throw a pail full of dirty diapers in the washer and start it.
Stink issues - this is the one part that I still struggle with a bit, but it's not an all-the-time problem. I ask questions, figure it out, and fix it. Then I'm good for at least a couple of months.
Stripping - I rarely do this.
Special soaps - I use Country Save, but I use that on all our clothes now, too. I like that I'm using a more eco-friendly soap and I love that it's cheap! But if that's too intimidating, just use Tide. Easy.
Cloth wipes - I was totally intimidated by these at first, and now I don't quite know why, because I find them so much easier than disposable ones. But if you prefer disposables, stick with disposables.
Traveling - This is also a non-issue. If I'm going somewhere where I have free access to a washer/dryer OR if the trip is short enough that I can get away without washing at all, I take cloth. Otherwise, I take disposables.
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
I haven't used disposables since DD was a week old. I have a stash of them that were given to me sitting in the closet in the other room. This morning I wanted to get everything clean for a "stash" shot - weird I know - so I thought she can spend a couple hours in disposables. I mean we have them here so I'll give them a go.
I put a sposie on her and we went to walk our dog. When we came back I took her out of the stroller and I found poop everywhere! Poop down her leg in the front, up her stomache and around her back. I immediately cleaned her up and put a prefold on her. I would be so paranoid putting a disposable diaper on her again. I feel so confident in the effectiveness of my cloth diapers. I would much rather clean diapers that are meant to be pooped in than have piles of stained clothing.
I think it takes some getting used to a regular routine. Once you're in a routine then those bumps in the road don't seem so big. Based on my experience this morning - disposables can be difficult - we definitely don't have leaks in our cloth. So I guess it depends on your point of view.
Hope that helps!
I am with Stellarstina26 on this. I was overwhelmed when I went to the cloth diaper store. I read a ton of reviews and a friend said after doing the diaper trial she went with the Flip system. I bought a day pack, a small wet bag and I started. After a day I was hooked. They became easier and easier each time I used them. Now I just don't feel right about putting all those chemicals that are on sposie's on DD's skin.
As far as washing I do a regular wash with Tiny Bubbles detergent and then at the end do an additional rinse. With the Flip system there is no stuffing and you really don't have to buy very much. I have 5 covers and 24 inserts. I do a load every other day. I also bought some prefolds just to have. I use those as back ups.
Cloth diapering has become just part of my normal routine. Keep trying, there are so many benefits.