I have recently decided to try cloth diapers! I know many of you are thinking I've gone off the deep end...but I will assure you I have not!!! I used to think cloth diapers were that triangular cloth (I use them as burp cloths) and you had to use pins and "rubber covers", like my mom had to use with my youngest brother...boy have they come a long way! I am in no way trying to convince anyone that they MUST use cloth diapers, I decided to blog and share my experience to help inform others!!! I waited to post about them until I had used them myself for a while, we are on week 4 of using them and I love them!!!
Let me give you a breakdown of the diapers I have chosen to use.
Bum Genius 3.0 one size all in one. It looks like a disposable diaper, with velcro tabs. I chose the one size diaper which fits most babies from 7-35lbs. How do they do that? There are snaps on the front that allow you to adjust the size. I was extremely skeptical about this and actually put them on Lizzy (she's 29lbs vs Jack at 11lbs) for a few days to see how she did and they worked great! The outside material is waterproof so you don't have to worry about leaks or a "rubber cover". They come with super absorbant inserts that come out during washing so you don't have to touch it dirty. The inside of the diaper, the part that touches the baby, is a super soft fleece.
Cost. The cost is definitely up front when it comes to cloth diapers. But the average baby requires 6-8 diaper changes per day, 7 times on average. I usually buy the Luvs diapers for both Lizzy & Jack, which cost around $8 for a package of 58 (size 1) or 30 (size 5), breakdown $.14 (Jack) or $.26 (Lizzy) per diaper. Basically 18 days worth of disposable diapers for Jack (size 1) or 13 days for Lizzy (size 5) equals the cost of 1 Bum Genius 3.0 cloth diaper. Now there are many different options for cloth diapers, so the cost can vary. The Bum Genius was recommended to me by several cloth diapering moms because they are easy to use and the most like disposable diapers. Since we received funds from family members in honor of Jack's birth, we were able to purchase 6 diapers up front (I also received a discount for purchasing them in a 6 pack) for me to try out and recently 4 more (also a discount for purchasing multiples). The diapers I chose I will use from birth until he is potty trained which will end up saving us a ton of money in diapers!
Washing. Washing cloth diapers is diaper specific. My diapers are to be washed in hot water then cold water and a second rinse, using detergent free of colors and dyes, which they recommend for newborns anyway. My kids and I have sensitive skin so I have to use these detergents on a regular basis, I haven't had to buy any special detergents. I wait until Jack goes through all his cloth diapers to wash them and sometimes I'll wash my whites at the same time. I put him in a disposable diaper while the cloths are washing (I received many disposable diapers as gifts too). You simply throw them in the dryer at medium heat until they are dry and re-stuff the insert before use! I have not seen a dramatic increase in my laundry since using them either.
Ease. Since they look similar to disposables they are very easy to use. Many of you are thinking what do I do with the dirty diapers, isn't it more of a hastle than to just throw them in the trash? Always when they poop you will have to dump in the potty, since I breastfeed I haven't yet had to dump, consistency is all I'll say. You wrap them up like disposables then I throw them in a diaper pail, when the pail is full I wash them. They make pails specifically for cloth diaper use with charcoal for the odor. I have a special bag with compartments that came with a diaper bag that I put the dirty diapers in while I'm out until I get home. Less trash too!
Cloth diapers aren't for everyone so do your research and ask other cloth diapering moms for their advice and decide for yourself!
"Wanka" reading to the "middle childs"...
Uncle Matt and the girls...
Bum Genius 3.0 one size all in one. It looks like a disposable diaper, with velcro tabs. I chose the one size diaper which fits most babies from 7-35lbs. How do they do that? There are snaps on the front that allow you to adjust the size. I was extremely skeptical about this and actually put them on Lizzy (she's 29lbs vs Jack at 11lbs) for a few days to see how she did and they worked great! The outside material is waterproof so you don't have to worry about leaks or a "rubber cover". They come with super absorbant inserts that come out during washing so you don't have to touch it dirty. The inside of the diaper, the part that touches the baby, is a super soft fleece.
She has always been scared of the "big potty" and wouldn't go on it until we got her a Dora the Explorer seat! She also did not like the little potty that Emma used. She is the most stubborn Livingston and we've tried a few times to potty train with no luck. Anna was so easy that we were hoping she would follow suit, looks like she'll follow Emma who was 3 before she was trained!!!
Our precious baby boy is 2 months today...I can't believe 2 months ago I was pregnant! I found some pictures on our computer while we were in Tennessee of my HUGE belly, hard to believe you can be that large! He has moved into size 1 diapers and has outgrown many of his newborn clothes, at least the ones that have feet!
