I have decided to use cloth diapers with Audrey. It's not really something I ever pictured myself doing, but I decided to give it a try and I really like it. So I will share my experience. But first...a picture of Audrey in one of her pretty ones:
More pictures below, so if you want to skip the reading, go right ahead.
First of all, let me just say that I don't feel as strong about cloth diapers as I do about
breastfeeding, the need to reduce unnecessary
cesareans, and making
world peace. I'm not trying to say "look how good I am because I use cloth and you should too". It's just something unique so I thought I could share my experience with it.
So why did I choose cloth?
I am a good candidate for cloth diapers because I've always tried to be environmentally conscious, I like things more natural, and I don't get grossed out too easily.
But really it was the influence of two friends that were using them, one of them being my best friend Michelle. We've been friends since grade school and I think we influence each other a fair amount. My other friend was a friend from church and I was also influenced by her baby wearing. She adopted a baby and came to church with this tiny newborn in a sling carrier that mimicked the womb--it was like her own pregnancy with the baby. I thought it was really cool.
So because of my two friends I started doing research on the Internet. Boy there are a lot of different kinds of diapers and it was very overwhelming at first! There's also conflicting evidence of which diaper is "better for the environment". Obviously I would not trust the studies done by disposable diaper companies, but it is valid that both types of diapers have a negative impact on the environment. Practically everything we do does. However, I believe cloth does less damage than disposables.
Disposable diapers are the third largest source of landfill waste in the US. Around eighteen billion are thrown out each year. The packaging, plastic and paper used for manufacturing disposables uses a lot of resources and energy. Of course, the pesticides and water used in growing cotton for cloth diapers takes a toll on the environment, and the energy and water used in laundering them does merit some warrant from the disposable side of the debate. But it is just common sense that reusing something is better than using something once and throwing it out.
(My mom's take on the issue: "I can't think of a better use of landfill space than for diapers". Okay, that has validity too. But I'm a tree hugger, what can I say?).
To counteract the impact of laundering my own diapers, I am very careful with how I do the rest of my laundry. I don't have a front loader (though I wish I did) but I do have a very efficient washing machine. I always run full loads of clothes. I wash all my laundry on warm, not hot, except for my diapers. I use a natural detergent called Charlie's Soap to make the cloth diapers more earth friendly. I feel that, overall, using cloth takes less of a toll on the environment than disposables.
However environmentally friendly I may want to be, I have a rule that it must also
save money if I am to do it. Cloth diapering past this test as well. While it certainly can be a big investment up front (probably around $300-$400 for nice diapers if you do it right), I have read that people can spend up to $2000 on disposable diapers per child! Even if you buy cheap diapers at Wal-mart (which I did for the boys), it pays off to buy good cloth diapers. It's so awesome to know that I don't have to buy disposables any more! And I won't have to buy them for my next kid either!!
Another big reason for me deciding to use cloth was the Wal-Mart issue. I really dislike Wal-Mart, but they do have the cheapest diapers, and I know that if I were buying disposables I'd be making bi-monthly trips there, with the occasional midnight diaper run. So it's nice not to have to support them or the huge companies that make disposables.
So, those are my reasons for deciding to do cloth, now let me share my experience.
After more than three months of usage, I love it!
I have tried several kinds of cloth diapers and my favorite are Fuzzi bunz and bumGenius. (There are also other companies with cute names like Happy Heinys, Urban Fluff, Haute Pockets, Bumkins, and the like). Fuzzi Bunz and bumGenius are both so soft and work extremely well. They are pocket diapers, which mean they have an outer water proof layer, a soft interior lining that pulls moisture away, and a pocket that I slip an absorbent liner into. I use the bumGenius on Audrey at night and she doesn't have leaks or blow outs. I used to use a disposable at night and on long outings, but to my surprise, even with a nice brand like Huggies, she was having way more blowouts then when she was wearing a good cloth diaper. I say good because a few of the kinds of cloth diapers I tried didn't work as well.
It's really not that much more work to do cloth. Right now Audrey has breast milk poop, which washes out very easily. I don't have to do anything special to a soiled diaper. I just take it off, throw it in a dry diaper pail, and wash them every three days. When she gets older I will put a flushable liner in her diaper so I can just flush her poop away. (By the way, you are supposed to flush poop into the toilet with disposable diapers--read the package, it says so right on it). Anyway, it's actually fun for me to wash the diapers. I love dumping the load of dirty diapers into the wash and having them come out clean! It's a weird little thing to like, I know.
I do a cold pre-rinse, wash on hot, and then rinse again on cold. I toss them in the dryer and an hour late I have a nice pile of fluffy, soft, clean diapers. It would be even better if I sun dried them, but I'm not that good. Plus there's no sun here in November!
The diapers are soooo soft! I love that Audry gets swaddled in softness every time I put a diaper on her. She never has rashes either.
I will still use disposables from time to time, like if we are out for a long time or on vacation. I have a little zippered bag that I put Audrey's used diapers in when we are out, but I don't like to pile up more than three used diapers. But we're rarely out that long so I mainly stick with the cloth.
When I decided to try cloth I told myself I wouldn't feel guilty if I didn't like it and went back to disposables. There were a few times when I didn't like it, mainly because I was still trying out which diapers I liked best. But now I just love it. It's almost like a hobby! An odd one, I know, but people who use cloth get a little obsessed with it.
The ONLY drawback in my mind is that it does make her bottom big and baby clothes are definitely made for disposable diapers. But Jason told Audrey, "Don't worry, I won't let them make fun of your big bottom" so now she feels okay about it. :)
And now, for a quick diaper fashion show:
Here's Audrey sporting her green bumGenius. Very chic and, she has such lovely rolls, no?
Notice the nice design that keeps messes in on both the top and the sides.
bumGenius has a Velcro closure that works really well, but Audrey's hiding it here.
bumGenius are one size and fit 7-35 pounds. Pretty cool eh?
Here's Audrey in her pink gingham Fuzzi bunz. Fuzzi bunz have snap closures that are adjustable and the size medium fits 15-30lbs, so that will last a while.
Lovely luscious Audery
Nice gussets on top of Fuzzi Bunz as well.
Here's a bumGenius expanded to full size
And here it is snapped down so it could fit a newborn. Ahhhh, so cute!
Here's my new pile of bumGenius I ordered. Don't they have fun bright colors?
So there you have it. Like I said, I'm not trying to convince anyone to use them, (but I wouldn't be disappointed if someone did decide to try them), I'm just showing how cute and fun cloth diapers can be. And they work so well!
http://www.fuzzibunz.com/
