It’s Time for a Change….Considering Cloth Diapers?!

I pondered using cloth before I had my first child back in 2006. Let me tell you that it was not an easy feat to convince Dear Hubster – he thought GROSS….EWWW….poop, mess, etc etc. I wish I could tell you how easy it has been, and also how rewarding!!

I initially bought my diapers off of ebay, the flat cloth diapers that our mothers and fathers more than likely used. I know my mom used cloth with me when I was little, and all the way until my sister was out of diapers.  Cloth diapers have saved me some mega bucks when I look back, and it really was not all that hard!

Using cloth diapers is definitely a decision you’ll want to speak with your spouse about. I did, and eventually he agreed that we needed to give it a shot. I started with Kushies for my daughter – which I got from a lady off of Craigslist. I believe around 40 diapers for just $60.00 ~ I then watched Craigslist carefully over those several months, and got a lot of great deals from other “mammas” that cloth diaper their kids. I invested in Fuzzi Bunz, which if I recall were 20 for $80.00 (toddler size).  I then came across the last of my deals last year, when a mom was selling all 25 of her infant-size Fuzzi Bunz for just $45.00 – a STEAL, considering these diapers can be $15.00 each brand new.

Why buy used?  Used diapers are actually MORE valuable than new – why you ask? Because the more you wash the diapers, the more absorbent they get! So if you buy new, you will have to wash them 8-10 times in hot water just to get their absorbency up there. Don’t know about you, but used is better to me. Plus, they’re cute :)

You can use a dry pail or a wet pail – I prefer a dry pail. I keep it in the garage, and I have a waterproof bag liner in there (an Army one!)  I change my son just as frequently as I would if I had a disposable on him ~ every 2-3 hours or so. Sooner if I know he has an accident. :)  I simply remove the diaper (just like I would if using a disposable), wipe him, and then put the diaper and wipe (cloth too!) in the pail. Easy! TOO EASY!  I then dump the diaper pail in the washer every other day. This is how the washer works:

1. Rinse on cold
2. Wash hot – 1 Tablespoon of Detergent. **No fabric softener!! No Dryer Sheets!!
3. Rinse twice, cold water.
4. Take out! 
5. Hang outside on the patio in the sun- a natural bleach agent!

I have gotten comments from people that say “oh, yuck-o..I would not want poop in my washer with my clothes, it smells.”

No it does not………..the washer is stainless steel! And for the record, four years of cloth diapering and I definitely DO NOT SMELL LIKE POO! ha ha! Nice try fellow friends….

I did purchase flannel fabric for wipes at JoAnn Fabric in 2006, and sewed them into blocks, and I use those in lieu of wipes also. I just keep a solution of water + baby shampoo nearby in a bottle and spray the wipe, wipe the bum, and then toss into the pail! No extra trash to toss.

Those of you out there who have not considered cloth diapering may ask me tons of questions. So let me get started on answering the questions I hear most often:

1. Doesn’t it take too long? I don’t have that kind of time. 

Um, no it does not take a long time. When I started, I worked FT, out of the home, from 6 am – 6 pm. I was on travel 3 weeks/month. My hubby did a great job at working the diapers. As did my daycare. Tossing the diapers in the pail is the same length of time it takes to toss into the trash. Washing the diapers takes the same amount of time as going to the store to get them and drive back home. It’s only 2-3 extra loads a week, and I don’t fold the diapers ~ I merely toss them into a huge basket when I’m done – so I don’t have to “fold”.

2. That’s wasting water.

I have a washer that is an Eco-Cycle machine. It uses 3/4 less water than the average top loader. My water bill has not gone up. It only uses a fraction of water and electricity – much more than it takes to actually make the disposable and let it sit in the landfill………think about the garbage truck that has to come and get your diapers, and take them to the trash. Ew. Yucko.  My water bill last month was $51 – actually $12 less than the month before.

3. My kids are in daycare, they won’t allow that.

Wrong! Have you checked? My daycare will allow cloth diapers! As long as I bring a waterproof bag for them – which you can get on ebay or make yourself!

4. I can’t go anywhere if my kid is in a cloth diaper.

Wrong again! I take my kids out to the mall, to the restaurant, etc tec. Diapers are diapers – you toss the disposable in the trash, but with the cloth diaper you simply bring a waterproof bag and take with! My waterproof bags are cute, they fit 3-4 diapers and they velcro on the top. Super adorable, pops back in the diaper bag and then when I get home I toss into the pail.

5.  Cloth diapers leak.

No they don’t! Have you seen the latest cloth diapers? They have leg gussets and all! They have definitely changed. When people see my son out in public, they are shocked to see the diaper on him – this is what I usually hear “Oh my gosh! What is that? That is SO cute!! OMG, it’s soft! Feel it feel it, his diaper is SOOO soft!”

6. Do I need those ugly plastic pants to cover the diaper?

Diapers now are different than they used to be.  If you see most of the cloth diapers out today (Kushies, Fuzzi Bunz) you’ll notice that they have a waterproof shell, and a liner inside. No need to have the plastic pants that used to come with the flat folds of diapers.

Why Cloth Diapers?  There are so many reasons to chose 100% cotton diapers for your baby.


An estimated 18 billion disposable diapers enter landfills each year worldwide. Disposable diapers contain plastic, wood pulp, fecal matter, urine and biohazards (such as live vaccines). This waste sits in landfills and contaminates groundwater and has been linked to the spread of viruses.

Disposable diapers produce 60 times more waste than cotton diapers. Disposable diapers are the third largest source of waste in landfills (behind newspaper and food/beverage containers) and take an estimated 500 years to decompose.

Disposable diapers have up to 60 known chemicals in them…….

A baby’s skin is less than one fifth the thickness of an adults, which makes it far more sensitive to chemicals. The heat (caused by the chemicals reacting to baby’s urine) and the chemical absorption from disposable diapers have been linked to diaper rash, male infertility and asthma.

The cells supporting sperm production are laid down in the first two years of life. Their development and sperm production in later life is very dependent on temperature. Boys whose testicles descend too late in adolescence are often infertile because they have been kept warm for too long.

Researchers have discovered that mice and rats exposed to the chemicals released by disposable diapers fresh out of the package and wet with urine experience irritated airways, eyes, nose and throats. As well, as bronchio-constriction. The diapers actually caused “asthma like” reactions.

 
Diapers are one thing I refuse to buy – as cheap as they are, I prefer to put that money in my kids savings account. Think about it – even if you use a coupon to get diapers, you’re still spending money – money that you could have used for other things. Granted we all will buy wipes once in a while (I do have a pack in the car for emergencies), using cloth is not only better for the environment, it’s better on your budget!! 

I did recently have someone ask me:

Why are you buying diapers when you can get them for practically free?

Two reasons ~ first, just personal choice. I don’t like throw-away stuff. I can understand the typical “throw away” items, but I can’t comprehend the amount of diapers sitting in a landfill. Then again, remember that this is my personal choice.  Second, I highly doubt that every pack is free or cheap. I would prefer to invest $200 (for me it was less) to buy cloth diapers and re-use them from child to child.

 
Do you have questions for me on cloth diapers? You’re welcome to ask!! I’m no expert…just an opinionated mom who ♥ cloth diapers!!!