Cloth diapers? Do you use them? Why?

Question

I'm only 20 weeks pregnant with my first so I'm jsut trying t be prepared. I didn't know anyone still used cloth. What do you do when they're real poopy can you put them in the washer?
Whats the pros and cons?
What do you prefer?

Answer 1

if the baby is breast or formula fed only, you don't have to dump the poo into the toilet. (did you know that you're technically supposed to dump out the poo in all disposables before trashing them?) you can get a sprayer to clean them out later.



other pros: cuter; better for environment & baby; cheaper; NO MORE PLASTIC PANTS or PINS! quite convenient to change; reduces incidence of diaper rash.

cons: more laundry (or pay for laundering service, which negates the economical aspect)

Answer 2

I'll never go back to disposables! Gross. It's funny how you hear a lot of CD moms say that, but you rarely hear someone say that they tried cloth and went back to plastic!



The only con I found to cloth was hauling dirty diapers around in my bag.



In addition to being less expensive, healthier, cuter and better for the earth, I actually found cloth to be easier. That's right! Who wants to haul a car full of sleepy kids to Wal-Mart for a pack of White Clouds before bedtime? It's so much easier to put on my pajamas while the kids sleep and the washing machine runs. Cloth diapers are also less leaky than disposables. My first baby needed a change of clothes every time she pooped, but after I switched to cloth, poop leaks were history!



When baby is brand new, you just throw the poopy diapers into the dry pail and wash them like that. When baby is older, you can purchase a sprayer for your toilet, you can use a spatula to scrape the poo off, or you can dunk the dirty ones in the toilet. Or, just plop what you can into the toilet and let the machine do the rest. It's not a problem.



Don't listen to anyone who says that cloth is a lot of work, or that you need bleach, pins, plastic pants or that you have to soak your diapers or dunk them in the toilet. They clearly haven't checked out real diapers in the last 25 years.



Cloth is awesome. Try not to get addicted--there are so many cute diapers out there!



Edit: Pocket diapers are not a brand name, and G Diapers are not pockets. Fuzzi Bunz and BumGenius one size are different brands of pockets. G Diapers are a cloth cover with disposable absorbent inserts.

Answer 3

I love cloth and wouldn't do it any other way. There are many reasons why I choose to use cloth. To sum it up: Cloth is cheaper, better for the environment, better for the skin, and much cuter! I just don't like the idea of all those chemicals in disposables sitting on my baby's skin. No thank you!



I use prefolds and flannel fitteds with wool covers. The prefolds I have to pin, but the fitteds have velcro that makes them easy to put on, as simple as disposables. Then the wool cover on over and you are good to go.



Washing isn't hard. If it is just a pee, then I toss it in a waterproof bag. If it is a poop, I shake the solids off into the toilet. Runny poo takes a quick dunk. Then into the bag. About every other day, I throw them all into the washer on hot with a little free and clear detergent. Hang dry in the summer, into the dryer during the winter. Easy. The covers don't need a wash unless they get soiled or smelly.



http://www.diaperpin.com/

This site is a great resource for information on cloth diapering.

Answer 4

I absolutely love cloth diapers. I have 3 sons and started using them with my third to save money because 3 in diapers was a little much.



I have put some disposibles on my son like if I am behind on the wash or something and they always scratch him up. He gets diaper rash only when I put him in disposables.



If the baby is solely breastfed, you can just throw the diapers right in the wash and it will not hurt a thing. If you are formula feeding and/or after you start solid foods you can purchase a diaper sprayer that hooks up to your toliet and spray the poo off into the toliet before washing.



I use AIO and Pocket diapers, no need for diaper covers. We chose these because they are just like disposibles and very easy for hubby to use. If they get stained up I just hang them out side and the sun fades all the stains.



Cloth diapers are expensive at first when you are buying them to begin with. I have started making my own and that cut down on the cost about half.



Over all, I highly recommend cloth diapering, it is SO worth it for the baby and for your budget.

Answer 5

We use cloth because all the nasty chemicals in disposables give my daughter a horrible rash. It's not like you are probably imagining it - most our diapers are all in ones or pockets. They velcro on just like a disposable, you just wash them. And they're cuter, healthier and more comfortable for baby, cheaper in the long run (I have $430 in my diapers, but I spent $100 a month on sposies), and better for the environment.



As far as washing, it's not that bad. Two extra loads of laundry a week is not the end of the world. We use a dry pail - dump any poop (before you start solid foods you can skip this), and toss in pail. If it gets stinky, I sprinkle baking soda in it. On wash day, I dump it all in, run a cold rinse, then a hot wash w/ a tiny bit of free and clear detergent, and an extra rinse w/ some vinegar in it. I line dry them on a rack - the sun gets out stains - then toss them in the dryer when they're damp to soften them up.



We absolutely love our diapers. There's no way I'll go back. Any cons are far outweighed by having to drive all over town to look for the best price (which is still too much) on Pampers.

Answer 6

Hands down I prefer cloth diapers. Every time I change my daughter and see her perfect little bum I am reminded why I love cloth! When I used disposables on her every diaper change revealed a red bum and the need for tons of zinc oxide cream. I was starting to think that diaper rash was just part of being a baby. It is not! It is only part of being a baby in disposable diapers!



Once I switched to cloth diapers she had a perfect, dry and pink little bottom at diaper changes. No more red! Some people say they have problems with diaper rash with cloth too. The secret is using very little detergent to wash the diapers and making sure they are well rinsed. Most cases of diaper rash with cloth diapers is due to detergent still being in the diaper.



The other pro is how adorable they are. I prefer to have my baby in a cute green diaper instead of an ugly disposable covered in stupid Disney characters.



Also, I use pocket diapers, which are super easy to customize absorbency-wise, something that you can't do with disposables. I like to use hemp in my diapers as it is super absorbent, grown organically and has antibacterial properties.



Savings is another plus. I was spending $100 a month on Pampers brand disposables. I spent $500 on pocket diapers that will fit my baby up until she is potty-trained, So I got 2-3 years worth of diapers for the cost of 5 months of disposable diapers. With those savings I can afford to buy a nice stroller and cute baby clothes. There isn't such a tight budget in our house like there used to be.



With modern diapers there is no need for plastic covers or pins or bleach, so ignore the misinformed people listing these things as cons. Also, you don't use a lot of water or detergent washing them, the savings are definitely NOT being eaten up with utility and detergent costs! Oh, and you don't need to swish and dunk diapers in the toilet! Diapers lined with fleece, minkee or microsuede let the soilds fall right off into the toilet. You can also buy paper liners to lay in the diapers and then they can be flushed once soiled. You don't have to worry about poopy diapers though until your baby starts solid foods. When they are strictly breast fed all the poopy diapers can go directly into the diaper pail and into the wash.



The cons that I can come up with are that cloth diapers are bulkier in the diaper bag and you have to do 2-3 more loads of laundry a week. I think that a little inconvenience is totally worth my baby's health and comfort though!

Answer 7

I really don't know what else to say about the wonderfulness of cloth diapers.



For the first four and a half months, we used disposable. It took me that long to convince my husband to switch. I thank God it didn't take too long to do so. I think one of the things that sold him was not always finding diapers at the store. With cloth, we don't have to worry about that. We do have some disposables left, partially for when we go out (we pretty much only go out for church on Sunday mornings, so it's maybe five diapers at the most) or when we run out of cloth.



As for using them as burp cloths, I don't even do that. I use rags, baby washcloths and bibs for that.



We also use G Diapers. They're like Pocket Diapers, I think. I think Pocket Diapers is a brand name; I'm not overly familiar with them, but I just did a search for "pocket diapers" and it appears so. However, the insert is biodegradable. They can either be flushed, composted or tossed in the trash and will break down, assuming they're not in something like a plastic garbage bag. My husband just tosses them into the Dumpster on their own. Before we take them out, we just keep them in a plastic shopping bag.



Thus far, we only have five cloth diapers from Kushies, which i found on Craigs List. Also, cloth can be found on eBay as well, as mothers/parents have sites of diapers that they make (one of the links I've provided shows how to make your own) or used ones. I'm pretty sure that children's consignment shops like Once Upon a Child might have them as well.



On the Mothering site, just scroll down to Natural Family Wearing, then to the subcategory of Diapering. There's a closed thread there that is essentially Cloth Diapering 101. If you want to ask questions, you will, of course, have to register. However, I have found the women there to be quite helpful. There is a section of women with cloth diaper stores that post their specials and their sites, as well.



http://www.buntingresources.com/diapercover.html#diaperpu

http://www.abbyslane.com/index.php

http://store.naturalbabies.com/store/Default.asp

http://www.motherease.com/shop.html

http://www.thanksmama.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y

http://www.nopins4baby.com/store/

http://www.bellabottoms.com/

http://www.wickeez.com/bamboo.htm

http://www.fuzzibunzstore.com/

http://www.fuzzibunz.com/

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/

http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5308,00.html





I hope this has been of some help. I found a few sites that I have been to in the past (I pulled up my history and typed in diapers) and am going to go to again.

Answer 8

Cloth diapers vs Disposables Article

http://www.diaperaps.com/home/dp1/myth_main.html

Answer 9

I really want to be successfuly using cloth diapers. I hate all of the trash and money I waste on disposable. It's just a little hard to get in the groove when disposable diapers are so temptingly easy. I'm recording my efforts to convert to cloth diapers at http://www.babykicks.com/blog. I have a few posts about how to fold diapers, different types, and my own blunders and experiements. I hope it helps.

Answer 10

in a breast baby the process if very easy.....yeah you can just put the poopy ones in there to wash.....if there is a lot of excess poop then you just wipe it off and put the extra poo in the toilet



i use hemp fitted snap diapers.....and I LOVE them.....so much in fact that in 8 months of cloth diapering i have not once bought or had the slightest desire to buy a package of sposies.......i even cloth wipe with hemp/cotton blend fleece fabric



i have experienced zero cons with cloth diapering personally



the wash process if soo easy

breast baby diapers don't stink

i am saving money

i am protecting the evironment

i am protecting my baby



the daycare gladly uses the diapers i bring to change my baby



i have not even seen my water bill go a damn penny......seriously



do a search engine for cloth diapers......look on ebay.....the world of cloth diapers is way bigger than you think



good luck mama!



have to edit the answer above me!......pins are not used anymore....some mamas prefer profolds but they use a snappi instead of pens



and diaper covers for cloth are soooooooo cute!.....i made some from PUL fabric i ordered online so my baby always has a butt full of butterflies and other cute girly prints

Answer 11

There's lots of pros. They are good for the Earth, and for your baby's skin and they are reusable. I never used them cause they are a lot of extra work, but if I still had a child in diapers I would use them at night for sure and I would buy Organic disposable diapers for during the day. They are easier and they are good for the earth, but they are pricey though. Search amazon.com if you want to get some.

Answer 12

Always did the Pampers disposable diapers.. all 4 of them!

But get one pack of cloth diapers they make great spit up rags for your shoulder and soft on the baby when you clean them up.

Disposables are not expensive when you get larger boxes at discount stores. When you add up all the hot water, multiple washings and the smell of ammonia in the house day and night you will thank Heaven for the inventor of disposables!!

Answer 13

I never found much use for cloth diapers. Unless you have a diaper service, they are a huge pain!



Pro -- money saver.



Con -- not at all convenient.

Con -- diaper rash.

Con -- plastic pants.

Con -- hard to change -- diaper pins!



You weigh it out for yourself -- but in the long run, the convenience of disposables usually wins out in the end. I don't think I could have ever convinced my husband to change a cloth diaper!