cloth diapering 411

even though i've alway been pretty intentional about caring for the earth, i was extremely skeptical when jim first suggested cloth diapering.

it sounds pretty disgusting, right? but the more i read, the more do-able and appealing it became.  let's be honest:  having a baby means dealing with poop. throwing away diapers doesn't get you out of that, so why not choose cloth?

it's really not that complicated (even with two kids in diapers), and we're thankful to radically reduce our household waste, protect our kids' skin from harmful chemicals, and save money in the process.

we use a combination of cloth diapers, including prefolds, fitted diapers, and a few all-in-ones. we purchased prefolds at green mountain, a fantastic wealth of information on cloth diapering. prefolds are flat diapers that are pre-folded and sewn thicker in the middle for added absorbency, and they are the least expensive diapering option. i have a handful of prefolds from other places and can say that green mountain's are the best.

these aren't your mama's cloth diapers; you don't need to pin them anymore, because a little thing called a snappi secures the diaper similarly to how you'd secure an ace bandage. when you get the hang of it, prefolds are very reliable, and you can even put in a liner for added absorbency.  cotton diapers are really great on baby's skin and will never retain odors.

our one-size-fits-all mother-ease diapers have snaps and fold up like a disposable. they are very convenient and reliable, but any fitted diaper is going to be significantly pricier. the mother-ease are especially great for overnight, away from home, and babysitters.  they are made with synthetic fibers, which makes them absorbant and long-lasting, but they can retain odor after a while and may need to be "stripped."

we use mother-ease rikki wrap covers on both the mother-ease diapers and the prefolds. they are fully adjustable and don't leave marks. i like them too, because the medium fits a 10-20 lb baby, which is a better size range than most other covers. we wipe down and air out the covers between uses and probably use them 4-5 times before washing, unless one happens to get soiled.

we also inherited four wool diaper covers from a woman who used them on her daughter (30 years ago!), and they are still in great shape. wool covers are expensive, but they are breathable, natural, and won't ever wear out.

we also have three all-in-one mother-ease diapers, which means that they are water-proof without needing a separate cover.  they are nice for diapering away from home, but i prefer the diaper/cover combo, because it seems less messy--and it's cheaper.  all-in-ones (AIOs) also take longer to dry, on the clotheline or in the dryer.

all told, we spent over $400 on diapers, covers, and cloth wipes, which sounds like a ton of money and certainly is a lot to spend up front, but try this math on for size:

8 diapers/day x $.20/diaper x 365 days/year x 2.5 years = $1460 to diaper one kid in disposables, and that doesn't even include the added expense of wipes (or pull-ups.)

now that we're diapering james, too, with the same diapers, our $400 looks like a pretty decent investment. if you used prefolds exclusively or bought used diapers on craigslist or elsewhere, your investment would be a fraction of that.

you change a cloth-diapered baby more than a babe in disposables--around every two hours or sooner, during the day--but i consider this a good thing. disposable diapers have a chemical in them which holds a lot of urine, which can lead to infrequent changes and rashes, and we don't even know the long-term impact of that kind of chemical exposure on a child's body.  cloth is definitely the gentler pick compared with chlorine-bleached, chemical-filled disposables.

we soak and wash diapers every 2-3 days, and if you're interested, check out how we keep ours clean and white, without bleach.

helpful items that make cloth diapering easy:

1. a spray bottle of water and a bar of olive oil soap for use with cloth wipes.  truthfully, we still use disposable wipes for many "yucky" changes, but cloth wipes are also great for making sure baby is dry (or wiping hands and faces.)

2. kissaluvs diaper lotion potion: this stuff is great. it's a concentrate of natural essential oils that you mix with witch hazel in a spray bottle. i spray (and dry) them at changes to keep bottoms clean.

3. a diaper sprayer (like a bidet) attaches to our toilet and makes rinsing dirties simple.

4. a washable water-proof diaper pail liner keeps the pail clean and makes it easy to dump diapers into the washer.

5.  a small, zippered water-proof wet bag makes it easy to change and stow a cloth diaper while away from home.

6.  charlie's soap washes cloth diapers clean and doesn't leave residue for odors to cling to (like most traditional detergents will, over time.)  it's safe for sensitive baby skin and good for the environment.  (recently we've started making our own soap.)

please email me if you have any questions about cloth diapering. i'd be happy to answer them or direct you to resources.



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