cloth diapers or regular diapers?

realmamma · May 2015

We are going ro stocking up soon on baby supplies and Ive been debating this and I dont know what to use. Everytime I go to the store and look at the prices of diapers I think about using cloth but when I think about cloth I think of laundry. I live in an apartment complex where I have to walk to the laundry facility. So what do you ladies think cloth or regular diapers?

Peach&Dan · May 2015

I'm in the same situation as you with not having my own washer/dryer. My husband and I decided to go with disposable diapers because of the convenience, the amount of money it would take to wash the cloth diapers would be outrageous along with the fact that it doesn't seem sanitary in our opinion to use a laundromat to wash diapers. Disposable diapers are going to cost much more but it's not something that I want to stress over. Behold the power of coupons! Good luck to you!

realmamma · May 2015

Thanks @Peach&Dan and I am a couponer but I dont have a computer or printer at this point and time which sucks.

Peach&Dan · May 2015

You're welcome, realmamma.... my printers out of ink, lol.... this day can't end soon enough. I checked into a diaper service and they want $300 every 2 weeks to wash cloth diapers, WOW!

Peach&Dan · May 2015

@realmamma.... clip coupons on your phone and see about printing them at a friends? It'll all work out.... I tell myself this everyday.... I'm a first time mom.

JumpingJellyBeans06 · May 2015

We will be doing cloth diapers this time around. This will be baby #3 and #4 and can't imagine how much money we will be spending on disposable diapers for twins this time. The laundry part isn't a big deal for me. I'm one of those odd people that actually enjoy doing laundry.

I have heard some people using a diaper service. Someone told me it was one of their gifts from their baby showers.

Everycol0r · May 2015

https://youtu.be/dZRIW_ru658

realmamma · May 2015

@Peach&Dan im a military wife and in va with my hubby where he is stationed and I have no friends here. I cant work due to diabilities I got while I was in the service myself so I dont get out much. Right now I use coupons I can get from the mail and newspapers at this point cause of my situation.

Peach&Dan · May 2015

@realmamma, I'm very sorry to hear that you're disabled due to injuries. I wish the best for you, husband and baby. Thank you to you and your husband for serving and protecting our country. I'm friendless also and by choice.. there's too many fake people that I've trusted and who've done nothing but take advantage/hurt me. I hope you and I as well as others are able to befriend some moms in our area... we should all support each other. A coffee date would be so nice.

realmamma · May 2015

@Peach&Dan I feel the same about ppl too when I was in the navy I had a ton of friends then when I got out and announced my pregnancy none of them cared only one of them have even stopped by to say hi and c How im doing. And btw what state do you live in?

Peach&Dan · May 2015

I'm I'm the Chicago area. For those people to not be around while you're pregnant.... that's their loss and so incredibly rude. Some people amaze me..... sometimes it's the "if it won't benefit me," attitude.... then they don't want anything to do with it. I have health issues that keep me home and because of the pregnancy I'm being extra careful with my activities so I try to fill my day with as much positivity and laughter as possible. It's working because my daughter is healthy and super active lately..... OB is happy.

realmamma · May 2015

Congrats @Peach&Dan and me to myday I filled with chores and trying to pass time till hubby gets home

Alyllyra · May 2015

I use CDs and I'm very happy with it. Mind you, I have my own washer and dryer which makes it easier. I don't think I could do it full time if I had to use an external laundry facility just because I'd have to bring the baby with me every time I go.
I rented CDs for the NB period to try it out just to see if it would work for us - maybe that could be an option? If it's impractical then you can send them back and continue with 'sposies instead.

olga1311 · May 2015

Totally regular disposable diapers. I couldnt imagine doing all the associated laundry and i do have my own washer/dryer. Def wouldnt do
It if i had to walk to one out of unit. Diapers come on sale often and if you combine that with a coupon and stock up its really not that horribly expensive.

Peach&Dan · May 2015

@realmamma, thank you!

MrsN092714 · May 2015

We are planning sort of a combo of both! We have been really looking into the Charlie banana diapers which offer disposable liners or the pocket style liners. We will also have a small supply of disposables for times when we are planning on being away from the house for the day and do t want to carry around dirty diapers, or for when we have baby sitters or people who are not comfortable with the cloth. For the everyday use though cloth is the winner. A few reasons we have decided to do this is that we do have laundry at our house (this would probably change my mind all together) we are planning a second child and have read such great reviews that we are hoping most of our diapers will survive for baby #2 which will increase the savings huge! Another reason is that we do t have a garbage service. As we don't create a lot of garbage and have to go out of our way to take it to the dump we usually do this every 2-3 weeks and I really don't want a shed full of dirty diapers! Also, being in Canada, I get a full year for maternity leave, which I imagine makes keeping up with the laundry a little less stressful. Good luck with whatever you decide, there is no wrong answer!

NoSugarCoating · May 2015

Most laundromats won't even allow you to wash cloth diapers. We live in an apartment with coin-operated washers and dryers in the basement, and it costs us $3.50 to wash and dry one load. It's such a hassle to get quarters for the machines, too. We used disposables.

realmamma · May 2015

@NoSugarCoating we have the same thing 3.50 a load and quarter operated. When baby is six months we are hopefully moving out of state and into a house so maybe cloth diapers will b for baby #2 and disposable will b for this one. Thank you everyone for your opinions

Peach&Dan · May 2015

@realmamma, have you done your baby registrys yet? I'm registered at several stores and I'm getting a ton of coupons for all kinds of baby stuff in the mail. Today I got a nice coupon book from Buy Buy Baby. When I registered I was automatically signed up for coupons.

plumpous · May 2015

I saw a product in the NY Baby Show called Tidy Tots. The actual covers can be used for a few days in a row and you only wash the inlays. For poo, they have an additional layer called a flushie which you pick up from the sides and toss the whole thing to the toilet and flush. For pee, You pull out the inlay and toss in a special bag. The inlays are supposed to withstand about 3000-4000 washes.

Now that I explained the product, here's my dilemma based on my circumstance:

Pros:

1. Less environmental impact

2. Takes less space (I live in an apartment which is already crammed)

3. This product won't cause diaper rash like disposables

4. The ability to flush poo and not keep it in the trash, especially when I discard through a chute

5. Can probably reuse for next baby

6. Typically babies using this 'graduate' sooner from diapers

Cons:

1. More laundry in the building's facility (time, energy, money $1.75 per wash plus drying costs)

2. Upfront cost, this product is expensive

3. The pee bag- throwing pee soaked inserts could get gross

4. Not enough reviews online so I don't know how good it is

Thoughts?

realmamma · May 2015

@Peach&Dan I havent cause im not doing a baby shower nor do I expect any gifts I basically am distant from my family and my husbands is four hrs away. So we are going by what we need and going by prices online to budget and find the best deal.

Peach&Dan · May 2015

@realmamma, I'm not having a shower either because my family/husbands family is all over the country. We're not expecting gifts but I thought to do registrys anyway. I hope you find some great online deals.

lginnan · May 2015

We will be using disposables, but I applaud you all for attempting cloth diapers!

MrsN092714 · May 2015

I don't know if everybody does this but whenever someone is expecting all the husbands and their friends get together for a diaper party. All the boys smoke cigars or have a few beers and bbq and everyone brings a case of diapers in varying sizes. One of my good friends hubby had one, and they got enough diapers to diaper their twins for the first 6 months! It's like a shower for the boys! Good excuse for a boys night and great way to stock up!

Peach&Dan · May 2015

That's awesome!! My husband doesn't know it yet but he likes cigars, lol!

NoSugarCoating · May 2015

MrsN092714 said:
I don't know if everybody does this but whenever someone is expecting all the husbands and their friends get together for a diaper party. All the boys smoke cigars or have a few beers and bbq and everyone brings a case of diapers in varying sizes. One of my good friends hubby had one, and they got enough diapers to diaper their twins for the first 6 months! It's like a shower for the boys! Good excuse for a boys night and great way to stock up!

So tacky.

PreggersinParis · May 2015

MrsN092714 said:
I don't know if everybody does this but whenever someone is expecting all the husbands and their friends get together for a diaper party. All the boys smoke cigars or have a few beers and bbq and everyone brings a case of diapers in varying sizes. One of my good friends hubby had one, and they got enough diapers to diaper their twins for the first 6 months! It's like a shower for the boys! Good excuse for a boys night and great way to stock up!

That sounds like fun. What a nice way for the guys to celebrate. I've never heard of this before! In France, these kinds of pre-baby get togethers like showers don't exist (and I'm too lazy to be that American who introduces the French to them - I already had a hard time with the Electric Slide at our wedding) but it would be lovely if they did! I adore this idea.

Alyllyra · May 2015

@plumpous To me, it sounds very much like a regular prefold/flat and cover system.
You may get more answers if you ask this on the CD board, although I don't know how active it is nowadays.

All CDs can be used with flushable inlays for poop. In fact, you are supposed to scoop out and flush poop from 'sposies too, although noone ever does that. But if you are concerned about poopy diapers in the trash you can absolutely do it.

Also, using any type of CD system doesn't guarantee you won't have diaper rashes. It's true most CD kids have less diaper rashes but you still need to make sure the baby is dry and comfy.

laurasuzanne2006 · May 2015

Cloth diapers all the way. The cost savings isn't even so much with your first but the subsequent kids.

PhoenixRyuu · May 2015

I use cloth menstrual products already, so obviously I'm planning for cloth, but I don't put my pads right in the laundry. You don't want to let them sit around dirty, be they pads or diapers, you want to rinse them out immediately and then often I just hand wash them with Bac-out or another gentle cleanser, wring them and dry them in the bathroom. When you let things like that sit around they get gross, stain and are generally more difficult, but if you just take care of it immediately (or as soon as you get home if you're out) you'll find it's much easier, they stay much fresher for longer and you never get backed up. There will probably be times when you really want disposables, and it's fine to pick up a pack here and there to mix in for times when you're going to be out for a long time and the idea of carrying a poopy diaper for hours is just too foul. Too many people look at it as an all or nothing choice and end up being put off of cloth products entirely because of occasional situations where they just don't make sense. Even by primarily using cloth with the occasional disposable, you'll be doing your wallet and the environment a huge favor.

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