Sunday, January 8, 2012

Cloth Diapering is the Easy Part About Having a Baby

Get the chance to win 12 bumGenius All-in-Ones by leaving a comment below the post! Scroll to the end of the post for details.


If you did any kind of research before you had your baby, you probably decided long before your baby was born where the baby was going to sleep, what brand of car seat to buy, what outfit you and your baby would wear home from the hospital, and whether you were going to breastfeed or give your baby formula.

But when it came to diapering, were you overwhelmed? Do you remember all the choices that were available and how impossible it was to remember the difference between a pocket and prefold, all-in-one or all-in-two? If you ended up cloth diapering, now you probably spout out terms like that just as easily as you say slice of pizza or cup of coffee.

You were probably also overwhelmed by the thought of having a newborn in the days and weeks before your due date. What would you do all day with a helpless infant in your arms? Would you bond with the baby? Would the baby cry all the time? And now, looking back at those early days, you remember some challenges, but you wonder why you worried so much.

Change is overwhelming. It's hard to wrap your mind around a completely new experience like having a baby or cloth diapering. When you only have a few options to choose from (bed, crib, or cosleeper; breast milk or formula), it's easier to make a decision than when you have a multitude of options (prefold, pocket, cover, hook and loop, snaps, snappi, microfiber, organic, etc.)

So when it comes to cloth diapering, the thought of the unknown can make you shut down. When faced with a tough decision, it's easy to decide to do what's familiar.

Let me tell you, the process of cloth diapering is much easier than making a decision to cloth diaper. In other words, it's the decision that's hard. But putting on a cloth diaper, taking it off, and tossing it in the diaper pail--that's just as easy as using a disposable. By the time you've reached that point, the hard part is over.

So how do you get over the hurdle and decide whether cloth diapering is for you?
  • Get information from a good resource -There are thousands of cloth diaper resources out there. Forums where cloth diaper addicts (yes, once you start it's hard to stop) discuss everything from cute colors to stain removal can be helpful, but everyone has an opinion, and they may contradict one another, leaving you just as overwhelmed as you were when you started.

    Stop into Green Baby and ask Liz any question in the book--I can assure you she can help you out with any cloth diapering challenge you have!

    If you're looking for an online resource, my favorite is Cotton Babies. It's a little more streamlined. It has several different styles of diapers to choose from--just enough to give you a wide range of options when it comes to style and price, but it doesn't leave you feeling like a kid in a candy store. Cotton Babies also has a comprehensive How-To page where you can easily look up the answers to any question you may have.
  • Borrow a stash - Do you have friends who have used cloth diapers? Ask them if you can borrow some of their stash. Try out different styles and types of diapers. Get firsthand experience with them. Once you've seen how simple the process is, become addicted to the adorable prints and colors, and witnessed how cloth holds in poop explosions like nothing else, you'll be donating your disposables and starting your own stash. Because I started my own stash this way, now I've become a pro at using all kinds of cloth diapers. Give me a prefold and a snappi and I'm good to go, but I prefer to leave all-in-ones when I'm leaving my babies with Big T or a babysitter. I loved Fuzzi Bunz for the adjustable leg elastic when my newborn was having breastfed-blow-outs. I have a stash of one-size pocket diapers that I could quickly adjust to put on Baby T or snap to a smaller size when diapering Little M.
Once you've started cloth diapering, it's hard to go back to disposables. Many people start in an effort to help the environment and reduce their level of household waste. By the time their kids are out of diapers, though, they will likely tell you that they cloth diapered because it was cheaper and easier than disposables.
Look ma--no pants! (See how cute cloth diapers can be?)

Easier?
Yes! 
 I can't tell you the number of times I've had to change Little M's entire outfit because he leaked while wearing a disposable. In fact, that's one of the main reasons I started cloth diapering him so early. He hated getting his clothes changed, so blowouts were a miserable experience for both of us. When I go out, whether I'm traveling by airplane or just going to the store, I know I'm not going to have a mishap if I throw a cloth diaper on him. If I'm using disposables, I feel like I'm playing Russian roulette.

Cheaper?
Yes!
I still have to send the kids to daycare wearing disposables, so I have to buy a box periodically. I can't tell you how much I cringe when I have to pay money for disposables, knowing that I'm basically investing in crap--something I'm just going to throw away. If you wash your own diapers, you may spend extra money on your water bill, but you're saving money by avoiding weekly diaper runs. If you use a diaper service, you may be spending money weekly, but at least you're saving on the cost of buying disposables, gas, and laundering your baby's clothes every time there is a "pooplosion." And you have all the cute covers to sell when your baby has begun to use the potty. (Not to mention the tons--yes, literally tons--of diapers you are saving from ending up in a landfill over the course of your child's diaper "career.")

Still undecided? That's because change is hard. It's a new year. Take the plunge into cloth diapering. Once you try it, you'll be hooked. The hard part is making the decision. The easy part is doing the cloth diapering. Yes, there are some challenges. But isn't showering, doing laundry and vacuuming challenging once you have a newborn? Isn't washing every outfit that's on the receiving end of a disposable "pooplosion" challenging? Parenting has its fair share of challenges, yet we love it. Cloth diapering is much easier than parenting!
Little M wearing cute wool soakers


I received no compensation for this post, but I have entered it in a contest at http://jenniferlabit.com/2011/12/12/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-to-tell-the-world-about-cloth-diapers/. You can be a part of the contest, too! Leave a comment below this blog post telling me why you think cloth diapering is so much cheaper and easier than using disposables. If this post is chosen as the winner, one commenter will win 12 bumGenius one-size cloth diapers!

24 comments:

  1. Cloth diapering is far easier than most people think out is! The benefits for your baby, pocket and environment are amazing!!!

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  2. Cloth diapering is far easier than most people think out is! The benefits for your baby, pocket and environment are amazing!!!

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  3. I was so intimidated with my oldest, we didn't start CDing him until he was 8 months old. My second there was never any question - I knew I would CD. My intentions were so good I even brought CDs to the hospital (which did cross the line of too much, LOL - his first diaper was a fitted, then we did sposies until meconium passed). He is 8.5 months now and happily CD'd, adn I wouldn't have it any other way!

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  4. I was intimidated by the washing process, which is what took me so long to start cloth.. I didn't become active in cloth until my son was 8 months old, and I am pleased to say that y'all helped me a lot in choosing certain diapers to try.. My favorite purchase (and first diaper put on my son) was the BG 4.0 pocket.. I wished I knew how simple it was when my little guy was a newborn, because I think it is super easy.. It is just as easy as normal laundry, just with an extra rinse or two.. And we have already saved so much money from not buying disposables or rash cream.. I used.to need rash cream when he was in disposables, but since being in cloth, he has hardly needed cream, because he doesn't get rashes often at all.. When he does, I know it is time to strip them, and then we are good to go again :-).. I am a cloth diaper addict now, and wished so many more people would choose cloth.. If for nothing else, just.so their babies booties were not stuck in horrible chemicals all day long.. AND there is NOTHING cuter than a fluffy bum :-)

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  5. My first cloth purchase was the BG 3.0. I would love it but I'm trying to let my newborns umbilical cord to fall out and when I use them it seems to make it soggy bc it doesn't have a cut out. I can't wait to use them though! I only got 5 bc of our budget but will be any easy diaper change! I would love to add more to our stash especially scone the new ones grow with them! Being a military family cd was the best! Since Ive stopped working, knowing we don't have to worry about formula and diapers helps out a lot! We currently use prefolds until his belly button heals!

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  6. Great post! I love CD! I was apprehensive about the extra work but another load of laundry every few days is nothing. Plus its makes feel great that my baby is chemical free with here cloth dipes. Liz at greenbaby has been a huge help!!

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  7. For us, there was no question as to whether or not we would use cloth diapers that decision was easy. We were overwhelmed with the choices of cloth diapers. We researched for months prior to stopping into Green Baby and actually trying to diaper a teddy bear. I couldn't believe how easy it was.
    When we were in the hospital after our sweet baby was born, I wanted to start using my cloth diapers. We had to wait until we got home, but after using disposables in the hospital, I knew cloth were much easier. I know that this is a strange proclaimatiin, but I love diapering now. I love that I am starting my baby off in a healthy, environmentally friendly way.

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  8. Ginger Norris ThompsonJanuary 9, 2012 at 7:29 AM

    Cloth diapering is so much easier! I think if more people would just give it a chance, they would LOVE IT!!

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  9. Could definitely use these with #2!! jbranch002@yahoo.com :)

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  10. The financial savings got us into cloth diapering, but I also quickly found that disposables leak SO often. I love my cloth!

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  11. Those wool soakers sure are adorable! I hated how much disposables leaked with my first two, but with my daycare I had no choice..now I'm home and with #3, I will be doing CD. There were so many poop-splosions I was probably cleaning more poop out of clothes then than I will be now!

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  12. We've been CDing our daughter since she came home from the hospital. In those 2.5 years, we've made only 3 cloth diaper purchases and maybe 5 or 6 cover purchases. So easy! I like not having to think about it. On the occasions we've used disposables, they've often leaked. It's not like the old days when diapers were washed by hand and boiled on the stove... I just throw them in the wash a couple of times and dry them. Really nothing to complain about!

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  13. Cloth diapering (aside from breastfeeding) has been the best parenting decision Ive made so far. It turned a dreaded task my husband and I fought over into the most addicting hobby Ive ever taken up. Especially when baby number two came along just 14 months later! I think this is the only way diapering two babies at one time could be pleasant. :)

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  14. Cloth are so much healthier for their skin. Thank you Green Baby for showing us the way and ending our horrible irritation and rashes!!!

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  15. yep we love cloth diapering! doing it out and about is a challenge though. i'd be happy to win those diapers since pockets would make it easier on a mama diapering 2 littles under 16 months....i heart green baby :)

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  16. My older kids used disposables. I can't even count how many blowouts we had, especially when they were younger and exclusively breastfed. With my youngest, we're using cloth. We've had occasional pee leaks, but we have never, ever had a poopy diaper blow out. Not even when he was exclusively breastfed. Not even when he didn't poop for several days so I fed him prunes. It just doesn't happen with cloth. Love our cloth!

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  17. I was scared when I was first deciding if I should use cloth if they would leak all the time. I got a hold of one of my friends who used cloth and thankfully she eased all my doubts. I started cloth diapering my first when he was 3 months old, he is now 24 months old and still in cloth full time:) I also cloth diaper my now 7 month old and have since he was 1 week old. Love my cloth diapers, they work so well and are so cute.

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  18. Cloth diapering is cheaper, easier, and safer for little ones! We never have to go to the store to buy diapers, and after a one time out of pocket expense, there are no future payments to worry about. AIOs are the exact same level of ease as putting on a disposable too!

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  19. I'm expecting twins in 15 days, and I am super excited to start my service with Green Baby!! The saving alone were enough to draw me in, but to know that I will leave this world a better place for my children make it even sweeter! :)

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  20. I just started cloth diapering and I LOVE IT!!!! The Bumgenius Free-Times make it so easy!

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  21. I used disposables with my son. I had friends that used cloth and I scoffed at them for "dealing with all that." When we found ourselves unexpectedly pregnant again, money was a concern so I decided to research ANY way to save money. We realized that our biggest baby expense with my son was not clothing, or food or even health care, it was diapers. Reluctantly, I started to look into cloth diapering. Instead of a baby shower, we had a diaper party and received a good start on a stash. We used disposables for 4 weeks because we had been given some, and during that time, we purchased what we needed to have a full diaper stash.
    Someone told me a long time ago that cloth diapering was addictive and I laughed. Now, I tell other people the same time. I have convinced several friends to cloth diaper as well. Sometimes I wonder why I even waited the 4 weeks at the beginning with my daughter. I love her little fuzzy bottom!

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  22. I'm a FTM and I want to use cloth. Its encouraging to see so many mom's using the and loving them :)

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  23. I'm a FTM of twins and use cloth. It doesn't take much more time than disposables yet the lack of waste and lack of chemicals on your baby's skin is priceless. I don't think the average person realizes how much money you save.

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  24. I agree, its overwhelming trying to decide which cd route to go, especially when you don't know anyone personally using them. Once you've made up your mind though, it seems like you'll try every brand to keep your LO out of disposables! I get a little sad everytime I see big bulk diaper boxes sitting out in our neighborhood on trash day. One small step closer to a cleaner planet for our son to live in is our number one reason for using cloth diapers. And a BIG thank you to everyone else out there doing the same :)

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