Cloth Diapering Newbie

About three weeks ago, my husband and I began using cloth diapers with our seven month old baby boy. We did it mainly to save money, because we are really starting to batten the hatches on our budget. I am a stay at home mom, so we have made some financial sacrifices in order to keep me at home.

cloth diaper on baby

Why didn’t we cloth diaper from the beginning? It’s kind of a long story, but the short version is that our housing and work situation was pretty uncertain until after our son was born. We lived someplace without an accessible washer and dryer for almost six months, which wouldn’t have worked very well! Our switch to cloth corresponded with the next size of diapers, so it really was timed quite nicely.

If you know anything about modern day cloth diapering, you know that there are many options for cloth diapering. There are fitted diapers, pocket diapers, all-in-ones, prefolds, as well as other types. Many parents choose to use several types of diapers and find that different types of diapers are best suited for different situations. For instance, a mom might use prefolds with covers during the day but use a more absorbent pocket diaper at night. In addition to the many types, there are large variations in pricing. Most would agree that prefolds (used with covers) are the most economical option, while all-in-ones are pricier but offer excellent coverage and leak protection.

I give you this primer in a paragraph to give you a little background on my decision-making process. We decided to go with prefold diapers with fitted covers (using a Snappi fastener) because of our budget. We have been using disposable diapers at night and during our very hectic move.

I’ll be sharing more about my cloth diapering experiences as we go along, but at this point, I can confidently say that we made a great decision by switching! I love how resourceful I feel, knowing that I’m not generating so much waste. I really enjoy not having to buy so many diapers and I love how cute my little baby’s bum looks in his diaper covers! I was really nervous about the whole washing process and how it would go with really dirty diapers, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the simplicity of it all. Now that the weather is warming up here in Kentucky, I plan to line dry the diapers to extend their life.

While I am by no means a cloth diapering pro (I am barely an expert on cloth diapering my son with the tools I have), I would be happy to answer any questions that anyone has about using cloth diapers. There are tons of very helpful websites out there for general as well as specific cloth diapering questions. If you are cloth diapering, I would love to hear your words of wisdom!

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9 Comments »

I am a cloth diapering momma too. My daughter is nearly 2 now but I have been using cloth since she was 6 months. I too use Chinese Prefolds with a snappy and Bummis Super Whisper wraps. I have not ventured out much to find a good nightime solution so we use disposables at night. Sure wish I knew of something that would keep her feeling dry and not leak over night. If you have any suggestions on that, I would love to hear.

Cloth diapering is fun and a rewarding experience. I know that sounds crazy but it really is. Babies are so cute in them and it does feel good to be producing less waste and to just be smart with money especially on one income. We are there too.

My only complaints are that they are bulky. (We’ve just tried to purchase roomier bottoms to accomodate that) and you do have to change pretty often. That is ok though and small prices to pay. Overall, I have loved it and am due with my next baby in July. This will be #3! I am going to cloth diaper her as well and already have a great stash just waiting for her.

Good luck and happy diapering!

Comment by rebecca — March 19, 2009 @ 11:21 am
Hi,

I’m due in September with my first baby and we’re planning to cloth diaper. My major concern, however, is that we live in an apartment building in New York City with a laundry room in the basement. That’s certainly better than a laundromat, but I’m still wondering how it’s going to work. You can’t just put it through for another rinse cycle, we would have to pay for another whole wash, so that cuts down on the money saving possibilities. I’m also not sure if it’s sanitary enough, since I have no way of knowing what the person before me put in the wash. If you could address cloth diapering without your own washer and dryer, I would really appreciate it. I’m also interested in different storage methods – wet pail vs dry pail? Can you use a Diaper Champ and is it worth it?

Thanks!

Comment by Heather — March 23, 2009 @ 11:00 am
Hi Heather!

I just did a quick Google search on cloth diapering in a laundrymat just to see if there was anything that could help you. I came across this blog entry:
http://www.clothdiaperblog.com
And this one:
http://www.diaperjungle.com
And this one:
http://www.cottonbabies.com

There are others but I liked those

I use a dry pail. That second site has a good explanation for why wet pail methods have become less popular.

Diaper Champs are not recommended for cloth because the diapers can get stuck in the top.

I hope that helps!

Comment by KristaRae — March 23, 2009 @ 11:19 am
I am also considering cloth diapering. I am due in September with our first child. I am not really sure where to start with the cloth diapers. I have listened to the podcast about them, but not sure which is the best to go with and what all i need to go with them. I was looking at the one size ones that grow with your baby, but wasn’t sure if I needed a cover to go with those or liners or what. Thanks for any help I can get!

Comment by Jamie — March 29, 2009 @ 8:22 pm
We are using cloth diapers and I love it! I have a 21 month old and we started using bumGenius 3.0 when he was about 12 months old. I chose bumGenius because I knew we would be having more than just one child and that they would grow with the kids. And a friend tried them first and approved of them! I like the 3.0’s the only thing that I’m not thrilled about is that the Velcro doesn’t really stick to the laundry tab very well in the wash, so it sticks to the other diapers. However, I’ve called with washing question to cottonbabies and they have always been very helpful! I spent more money in the beginning with the one size, but feel as though one diaper gets more than paid for each month by not buying disposables. By the time baby #2 comes in June the diapers are free!!!

We use a dry pail. I used the Diaper Champ in the beginning because I had it and it was already there. The diapers did get stuck and it was really stinky and wasn’t easy to get the smell out of. I switched to a simple trash can from KMart that has a lid that snaps down and pops up (touch lid). I didn’t like the idea of having the step on open lid, because I thought my little guy would figure that out pretty quickly. I used plastic grocery bags as liners for quite some time but finally broke down and got a pail liner. Both have pro’s and con’s.

A possible added bonus to cloth diapers that I’ve found is my 21 month old is pretty much potty trained with the exception of night time!! Oh, and the 3.0 work great at night. He has had a few leaks but they are more from us giving him too much to drink before bedtime than we really should. Hopefully they will work just as well for the next little one!

Comment by Jennifer — April 7, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
Jamie – I would suggest diaperpin.com as a great place to start when looking at cloth diapers. They give you the rundown on types of diapers and what gear you need for each kind. I think you’re talking about All In Ones or a One Size Pocket Diaper. Both of those do not require a cover with them, which is a nice feature!

Jennifer – I am currently looking for a really good deal on BG 3.0s for nighttime and outings. I’m a dealhunter, so it’s got to be a rock-bottom price! I hear so many good things about the BG 3.0s, I am anxious to try them out!

Comment by KristaRae — April 7, 2009 @ 5:55 pm
KristaRae — for BG 3.0 deals, check the cottonbabies website. They often sell seconds and repairable diapers. If you are willing to fix a little velcro or elastic, you can get BGs at a steal!

Comment by eribeth — April 8, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
We’ve been cd’ing my 2-yo since the beginning with a mix of prefolds, Bummi’s WR’s, bg 2.0’s and 3.0’s, Motherease and Kissaluv’s. Lately we’ve been using a wool wrap from Loveybum’s with a hemp insert for night-time and it works great! I am now in love with wool!

For washing issues and comparisons also try http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com. Have fun!

Comment by SaraFaye — April 29, 2009 @ 6:56 am
Hello everyone,
Thanks for all the comments and great information. Saturday, May 2nd we will be interviewing Tamara from Parenting By Nature. If you have any cloth diaper questions you would like us to include during this recording (episode # 137) please email us at info@pregtastic.com

Comment by royce — April 29, 2009 @ 10:44 pm