Cloth or disposable?

Once again, this blog post is geared to those Moms out there and soon to be Moms. I commonly get asked about my cloth diapering experience... so here goes.

The idea of handling soiled diapers may make you cringe. Assumptions from our own days of being a baby may come to mind. We think about having to deal with tri-folds, diaper pins, poop, a diaper service, smell of urine or more poop, hand washing & hanging, soaked diaper covers, and the list can go on.
You may be surprised that as a cloth diapering mama, I have hardly had to deal with any of these hurdles.
Technology has evolved and so has cloth diapering.
Do your research, and you may be surprised to learn that you too can be a cloth diapering household. It is easier than you think.

WHY I CLOTH DIAPER

1. Save $$$$

The average baby uses 8,700 diapers from birth to toilet training. If that baby wears name brand diapers it cost the parents an estimated $2,358 (@ $11.36 for a jumbo pack). If they use a generic brand it will be approximately $1,862 (@ $8.97 for a jumbo pack). And these estimates are based on the least expensive diapers.
Personally, I would rather cloth diaper and use the money toward a trip.
For me, i bought some new cloth diapers and some 2nd hand. Total, it cost an estimated $300. AND I plan on using my cloth diapering supplies for our next children as well. Which is another good point...

2. Reusable

You can use the cloth diaper supplies over the lifetime of all your children. You may have to buy a few new ones but it's amazing how little wear and tear covers and diapers have when you take care of them. Than, when you are done, those that are still in good shape can be resold.

3. Less environmental foot print

I am far from being an "environmentalist". But I am a person who gets annoyed with unnecessary waste. I like to think I am doing something to help contribute to being a greener society.

4. Hobby

This might sound odd, but it truly does become a hobby. Perhaps a weird one, but you will find yourself (like me) talking to others about it and sharing cloth diapering tips.

5. Less Diaper Rash

Very very rarely does McKinley get diaper rash. The experts say this is to be expected.

HOW TO GET STARTED AND ADVICE?

Needs:
4-6 Shells (based on washing every 2-3 days)
20-30 inserts (based on washing every 2-3 days)
Diaper pail
Diaper Liner (personally prefer "Planet Wise") Amazon to purchase
Bleach free, dye free detergent. I use Country Save. It's a bit more expensive so I only use this detergent for diapers.  Amazon to purchase

ADVICE:
When the sun is out, dry them outside. The sun is a natural bleacher. The stains are "sunned" away =)
Sprayer - attaches to your toilet. You can spray off the poop into your toilet prior to throwing it into the washing machine.
Don't need a diaper service, unless you truly desire one. To me it seemed simpler to do it myself. I simply throw the wet ones write into the washing machine. The #2 diapers I give a quick spray to in the toilet and than I throw them into the washing machine with the wet ones. I do give the diapers a double rinse. Sometimes a double wash.
Use a fleece liner when applying diaper cream. Protects the cloth insert.

WHY I CHOSE FLIP DIAPERS:

Next step is deciding on the system you want to use. This is where some research is necessary. I actually went to the local baby store "Fletchers" and checked out the different brands they had in stock. I was sold on Flips for a number of reasons. Here they are:

1. Snaps - as baby gets older they can potentially undo velcro. I get annoyed with washing velcro and having stuff stick to it. Snaps are more secure than velcro. Yet easy for me to take on and off the little one.

2. Grows with the Baby - The diaper gets larger as the baby gets larger. No need to purchase more covers as she grows.

3. it is NOT pocket style - A lot of the systems have a pocket that you slide the insert into. It just seemed a bit easier if you could lay the insert right into the cover and put it on. The flip diapers bypassed the step of trying to stuff something into a pocket.

Top left is the tri-fold Organic insert.  In the middle is the cover and on right is the "Stay Dry" Insert

4. The Stay Dry Insert is easy and clean up nicely. I recommend them over the organic inserts. They clean up nicely and are not a tri-fold like the organics. With the cotton insert you have no need to fold prior to putting them on your baby. The Organics are nice for bed time. They have three layers compared to one in the cotton that seem to lead to less leaking from 8 hours of wear.

They even have a disposable insert.  I don't use these too much.

McKinley, Diaper Cover, Stay Dry Insert

5. No leaks or blow outs. McKinley is almost 9 months old I can't even recall the last leaked or blown out diaper we had. The flips hold up nicely.

Flip Website

Easy Peasy... This is the diaper prior to going on baby

WHERE TO PURCHASE:

Local to Eugene is clothdiaperoutlet.com
She even has a great page title Cloth 101 If you want to do some more reading and research.

diaperjunction.com/used-cloth-diapers

kellyscloset.com

Fletcher's in Eugene.

and Amazon.

Good luck and have fun!

Happy Baby all snuggy in her Cloth Diaper