I'm not really a crunchy girl. I am interested in the environment and I do a little bit of ocean conservancy and eco activism. I'm a bit of a fish freak. I just found new packaging for my music company to try and reduce our environmental impact etc.
I've read a bunch about the wonderful new world of the modern cloth diaper. I've also been reading about the damage disposible diapers are doing to the environment (they take 500 years to break down and each child creates about 1 ton of garbage a year.) Normally when I hear that someone uses cloth diapers I assume they are a little crazy, a granola, or a masochist. Now I'm wondering if I'm just not trying them because I have a knee-jerk, judgmental reaction. What if they really are wonderful and easy to use? What if I could save myself a ton of money with my two little girls in diapers?
So here is my question. First - am I totally crazy for thinking about this? And if not (or maybe even if I am) is there a cheap way for me to test the waters with a great diaper? I will not be making my own. If I do this I want the easiest most fabulous of the cloth diapers. I'm not looking for more work. I'm a fan of making less work. Really I just want to dip my toes in the water. No jumping in. If anyone has a toe dipping solution for me let me know.
Gardening 2020
2 years ago
11 comments:
I've heard a lot of great things about cloth diapers, but I'm just like you, judgemental about them... If you go on babycenter.com they have a cloth diaper board where you can ask questions about them and they know everything. One thing though, I went to a playgroup where one of the girls were wearing a very wet cloth diaper and it stunk like ammonia...
B-a-c-k in mny day there were no options. It was cloth. Then came the fabulous LINER!! Yay! It was not that hard. Clorox saved the day. We had pails. We rinsed the didy's to keep the urine at bay....and washed, back when the machines took quite awhile, as did the dryers. travel might be the "challenge"...you may have to "bend" the rule for outtings and travel! I am sire you must be able to buy prefolds somwwhere!!
Try them...you might like them...or not...???
ummm... my option - love LOVE the idea of helping the environment... BUT cloth diapers are WAY more work.. and I am not a fan of more work! But hey that is just me :)
Plus with the water use, laundry soap, occasional bleach and electricity use - you might not be saving the environment or money! Even though I say all of this - I still think you should try them. Who knows you might like them.. and you might not... but you will never know until you try them. Right? Just keep some disposables at home just in case!
- helpful hint *my mom said she boiled them at least once a week - on top of washing them - it helped in less diaper rashes.
My mom used cloth diapers. For me being the oldest, I got to change a few. If you do decide to use cloth diapers, be sure to get the liners. They are a lifesaver. The type of cloth diapers that my mom used, they don't make anymore. I was going to use cloth diapers when I had Kristin, but couldn't find the type of material I liked. I do remember my mom using disposable diapers for traveling. But, to answer your question, no I don't think you're crazy. I think that it is great that you're entertaining the idea. Let me know how it all goes down for ya!
If you want to dip your toe, buy a pack with the plastic pants for your 72 hour kit and give them a whirl.
I am too lazy, but a friend loves them.
http://emmaelizabethjohns.blogspot.com/2009/07/this-week.html
She swears by
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=98&products_id=1827
I've thought about this a little and have a few friends who've given it a try and then given up. One of my friends was not so keen on giving each one a swish in the toilet before sticking them in a pail to be washed. I've also heard with all the water that's used up it's not any better for the environment and that they can be expensive. There was one girl in our ward was totally crazy about them. She used a snappy brand or something like that. She was a little crazy because she made her own "wipes" (she had this spray that she would spray on pieces of cloth). She also made her own toilet paper from cloth and would rewash it. She was a little extreme. As long as you don't go that crazy I think you're fine. Good luck! Can't wait to hear what you decide.
Ewwwwww.
You could always talk to Ilija's Wife, I think you have met them or have heard there name. They did cloth diapers for everyday but they also used the other ones for long trips and overnight visits. I really liked hers too I'll have to tell you what brand she used.
as for me... gross. I don't do Laundry that often anyway and it's not like you will be able to wash them with anything else.
there is also Diaper services, they clean and deliver =)
I used cloth diapers for Dallin, and I'm planning on using them again for the next one. They are a bit more work, but not "way" more. I never kept stats on the cost, but I believe they are cheaper than disposables unless you live in an area where utilities are extremely high. I can't see how they could not be cheaper.
Cloth diapers have come a long way since our mothers' time. They can be very trim and well-fitting, not bulky and ugly like they used to be. You don't need pins, most close with either snaps or hook-and-loop (like velcro). You can get diapers where the diaper and cover are all together (All-in-Ones). You can buy soft, flushable liners to put inside them to catch the poop. You can buy little sprayers to put inside your toilet to spray them off, instead of having to dunk them. You can put them into the diaper pail dry (no rinsing required) and just throw them into the washer. With Dallin, I did maybe 2 extra loads of laundry per week. It's less laundry if you buy more diapers, say 3 dozen, than if you only have 1-2 dozen.
If I had the money, I've heard really good things about a cloth diaper system called GroBaby. You could google it. Find a good cloth diaper website or two and just see what people are using.
My friend uses them and she likes them. She said that the kind with the velcro isn't as good as the kind with the snaps. She says the velcro wears out. I'll forward the email she sent me to you.
I say try it and let me know what you think. :) I can't believe you're almost due!...so exciting!!
I was also going to mention that same friend who made her own wipes also ate part of her placenta after her husband delivered their baby at home. Now that's crazy!
Post a Comment