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Cloth Diapers!
- Mar 26, 2008 at 1:20 PM
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- Comments (44) Total Views (2319) Everyone can see this journal post.
i thought i'd write a little ditty about CDs. people ask me all the time about my cloth diapers, so here's a place i can refer them to! there are many many many websites to buy cloth diapers from, but i like cottonbabies.com
first let me start with a few reasons to cloth diaper:
Cloth diapering used to be the only option until the late-50s. Hmm, the 1950s. Many inventions in that decade changed the mind-set of Americans. New modern “conveniences” were marketed, such as birth-control pills, baby formula and disposable diapers. Many parents switched to disposables, believing that easier and faster equals better.
Now, decades later, we are realizing drawbacks to disposables. They are the third largest single consumer item in our landfills, and once there, they last about 500 years before decomposing. They also carry health risks. Namely, dioxin: a carcinogenic bleaching chemical, banned in feminine hygiene products, yet still used in making disposable diapers.
here's an unbiased article about disposable diapers versus cloth diapers.
top ten reasons to cloth diaper:
#1. Your baby's comfort.
Would you like to wear stiff paper (and/or plastic) underwear 24 hours a day? The comfort of cotton and knowing I was providing the best possible comfort for my daughter was the #1 reason I switched to cloth diapers, and why I still love them so much today.
#2. The environment.
Leave a cleaner world behind for your baby, and your grandchildren. Disposables leave behind an average of 2.7 tons of non-biodegradable waste (not to mention the waste produced by manufacturing them alone) per child. Compare that to a few dozen cotton diapers, and the responsible choice also becomes an easy one.
#3. Save money.
With disposables, some estimate you spend an average of $2000 per child. Cloth compares at only an average of $150-$350 per child (with the added but minimal cost of electricity and water to launder them). What a great excuse to start a college fund for your baby now, and you can rest assure that your money is being well-spent and not going to "waste" in a land-fill!
#4. Potty training is easier, and happens earlier.
It's a little-known fact that cloth diaper children potty train earlier, and with less effort on their parent's part. This has mostly to do with the fact that when a cloth diaper is wet, they can feel the sensation. Chemical laden disposables can feel so dry, your baby never gets a chance to understand what their body is doing.
#5. Cotton diapers are gel free.
Polyacrylate gel in diapers is a relatively new phenomenon, and no one really knows what the long term effects are. It also leaches moisture from your babies skin. Additionally, disposables are full of dioxins. While non-organic cotton cloth diapers can also have dioxins, they typically are washed out within the first few pre-washes (before your baby will ever wear them), however one-use-only disposables are never rid of them. Additionally, and perhaps the most compelling reason to use cloth diapers, is that disposable diapers containing polyacrylate gel are suspected of exacerbating, and even causing, asthma.
#6. Cloth diapers are so much better looking.
Photographers still traditionally photograph diapered babies in cloth diapers, simply because they are so much cuter! Today they are available in as many prints and colors as there are fabrics available, not to mention the combination of choices you have with twill, bamboo, flannel, hemp, terry and more. Imagine how many classic baby photos would suddenly become less "quaint" with a baby wrapped in a disposable diaper. I prefer to bring my groceries home in paper and plastic, not my baby!
#7. More fun for Mom.
While not every mother (or woman, for that matter) is a born "shopaholic", most moms I know just love how fun it is to shop for cloth diapers. There are unlimited choices today in cloth diapering, like all-in-one, terry, flannel, contour, prefold, fitted and other contemporary-style cloth diapers. And when you are on a budget, swapping is a great, and economical, way to try the latest new "rage" in cloth diapers.
#8. Better cushioning for baby's bum.
We all know that babies and toddlers have their fair share of bumps and spills! Cushy cotton provides a much softer "landing pad" than a flat paper diaper.
#9. Convenience.
Convenience? Yes, convenience! You'll never have to worry about making another late-night trip to your grocery store for a package of disposable diapers.. You'll never have to hold your nose while emptying and re-bagging one of those complicated "Diaper Genie®" contraptions.. And you'll have approximately two bags less of garbage to haul to the curb every week!
#10. Being a leader is much more fun than being a follower.
Stand out from the crowd and show you care to give your baby the very best, including the way you diaper. It's so much more fun to share the joy of cloth diapering with other mothers (who are usually very curious!), than to waste time clipping the latest coupons for the cheapest disposable paper diaper.
top ten myths about cloth diapering:
#1. You have to toilet-dunk.
This was the #1 reason I went with disposables (yes, I confess!) with my daughter when she was first born. The belief that you must dunk your diapers in the toilet and flush repeatedly or use a "diaper duck" to clean them is simply not true. Toilet dunking is for the birds! Diaper services don't require you to dunk your diapers, so why should you? Let your machine do the work for you -- most moms these days do. If your baby or toddler has well-formed solid poops, sure, you can toss the solids into the toilet -- but for messy jobs, don't fret it. If we can do it, so can you!
#2. Cloth diapers don't keep your baby dry.
Disposable diapers have helped proliferate the myth that "a dry baby is a clean baby". Disposables use the super-absorbing chemical polyacrylate (why disposables often feel like a squishy "gel" inside the inner panels), which makes the diaper "a wearable toilet" of sorts. Parents are supposed to change their baby's diaper when they soil themselves, however with the advent of these super-absorbent and many times dry feeling chemical-laden disposable diapers, they get changed, typically, much less frequently. I have actually heard of parents who feel changing a baby five times a day is adequate! Sad, but true. With cloth, not only is it easy to tell when your baby is due for a change, they also potty train much sooner because toddlers can actually feel when they wet themselves (imagine that!). The gel in disposables also will draw moisture from your baby's skin! I remember when my daughter was in disposables (yes, I confess, I was a disposable user!), I would actually find these gel "beads" on her diaper area.
#3. You have to change cloth diapers more often.
With disposables, babies sadly don't always get changed when they soil themselves (because they "feel" dry, see myth #2, above). However the American Academy of Pediatrics states, "Regardless of which type of diaper you use, diaper rash occurs less often and is less severe when you change diapers often." Changing your baby's diaper when they wet themselves seems an easy and common sense enough approach for all parents to be able to adhere to.
#4. Cloth diapers, and diaper pails, smell.
Cloth diapers smell no worse than disposables, in fact many new-to-cloth moms have told me that their disposables smelled far worse than their new cloth diapers do (I guess that's why the Diaper Genie was invented...). And a good air-tight diaper pail that uses non-toxic deodorizer disks like "Deodisks ®" keeps an unwanted odors at bay.
#5. Cloth diapering is more difficult.
Doing my diaper laundry one or two times a week is much less trouble than having to get dressed, get the baby ready and make a run to the store for disposables when I suddenly realize I am out. In a pinch, you can even use doublers as a diaper subsitute while you do your laundry. You are truly never out of diapers. Imagine never having to leave your living room for diapers in the middle of the night!
#6. Cloth diapering is more time consuming.
I can get my diapers washed and dried while me and my daughter eat our lunch and play around the house. There is no need to run out to the store or waste time in the car when we could be playing or learning! Folding diapers, while not necessary (many people use a decorative basket in the nursery for this purpose), is a fun activity for me and my 17 month old to do together. It makes her feel important as she helps Mama with the folding, and we practice her numbers by counting as we stack the diapers.
#7. You have to use diaper pins.
While some moms still love the art of pinning with the quaint appearance and snug fit it provides, others, including me, were frightened by it! If you are scared of pins or simply don't even want to try, fear not, CuddleBuns has your answer! Snap and velcro fitted diapers are as easy to put on as disposables, and prefolds folded in thirds and then layed down the middle of a snug velcro wrap are as easy as 1-2-3! There are also clips and other fasteners available as diaper pin subsitutes.
#8. You have to use a diaper service.
...and aren't they expensive? Yes, they can be. In fact in some geographical areas, they are more expensive than disposables! Though this is rare, you can still save significantly over disposables and cloth diaper services by home laundering your own premium quality cloth diapers. Diaper services for the most part only offer prefolds, and not the attractive and convenient fitted diapers that many moms today have grown to love, and some can't do without! Home laundering is simple and easy.
#9. Cloth diapering is more expensive (after factoring the cost of detegerent, water and electricity).
Not even close. Disposables cost an average of $1000-$2000 (depending on brand and geographical area) over the course of one child's diapering years. Cloth diapers not only cost an average of only $150-$300 , but they can be used over and over on subsequent children with only a handful of replacements from wear and tear. The water usage equals the same amount they would use as a potty trained child who was toilet trained, and the electricity usage is minimal. Add to all this that it takes more water, per diaper, to produce a disposable diaper than a cloth one!
#10. Cloth diapers are bulky.
Snug fitting wraps and covers with a prefold folded in thirds down the middle, a dense flannel or interlock ("t-shirt") fitted diaper (flannel tends to be trimmer than terry, with interlock being the very trimmest) can actually be quite thin -- and rival even the trimmest disposable!
now on to the fun part!
One-Size Pocket Diapers:
my favourites: bumgenius 3.0 one-size diapers!
these diapers are awesome! they are a pocket diaper, which means they have the shape of a disposable, with the waterproof outer layer and the cloth inner layer that wicks away moisture, and then i can put my inserts in the pocket between those two layers. this allows me to adjust how much absorbancy i'm going to need. for instance, if its an over-nighter, i'll use either two inserts, or an insert with a newborn insert (which is smaller). these diapers have snaps on the outside so you can adjust how high the rise is, allowing them to fit from birth to potty training. (the inserts have snaps too so you can make them shorter). they have velcro on the outside, and the velcro tabs overlap so if you have a skinny baby, it will still fit. another great thing about these diapers is if you have more than one child in diapers, there's no need to worry about separating which child wears which size diapers, etc. just one stash for all the babes! here's a picture:
(you can't blame me, i wanted to add a pic of my son in his BGs...)
Pocket (AI2 (all-in-two)) diapers:
These are the one-size diapers, but without the adjustability to make them fit any baby. They have the waterproof outer layer, and the fleece inner layer, and you put the inserts inside to whatever level of absorbancy you need.
All in One (AIO) diapers:
these diapers are just like the pocket diapers, except the insert is permanently sewn inside the diaper, and there is no pocket. these are nice because they are the most simple and user-friendly diapers. no stuffing necessary, but at the same time, you are not able to adjust the absorbancy. these diapers are not available as one-size, and they take a little longer to dry. however, to many people, the convenience of these make them more than worth it! these are probably the most dad (and day-care) friendly. here's a few pics of these:
Prefold (PF) diapers & covers:
these are similar to what most people think of when they hear "cloth diapers". however, diaper covers have come a long way! prefolds are squares of fabric either with a few extra layers, or the extra layers can be just sewn in a line down the middle. these need to be folded before being put on the baby. there are several options from here. you can either use the good ol' fashioned pins to keep it in place, or they now have snappis. also, some diaper covers allow you to just place the prefold inside and not need to secure it at all. here's a picture of a prefold diaper, and then a few of different kinds of diaper covers, and then a snappi.
indian prefolds:
proraps covers:
bummis super whisper wrap:
snappis:
Contoured Diapers: these are prefolds that are already shaped like a disposable diaper, so no folding necessary. they still require a diaper cover.
kissaluvs contours:
Fitted Diapers:
these are like the contours, but they have elastic legs and back (and sometimes front) and are fastened with either velcro or snaps. these still need a diaper cover.
kissaluvs fitteds:
Gdiapers:
for many people, these are the ultimate in cloth diapering. they provide the reusable outer diaper, with the reusable plastic lining, but then they have a flushable/compostable/biodegradable plastic-free insert. extremely convenient, because you can reuse the diaper covers and liners (just rinse off the liner if necessary) and put in another insert. they velcro in back which helps keep little hands from taking off their diapers (but don't worry, it doesn't make it more difficult to put on!) the only problem i have with these diapers is they are not a one-time purchase, you have to keep buying the flushable liners. however, many people have had success using a prefold inside the gdiaper covers.
there are also WAHM (work at home mom) diapers! check out diaperswappers.com. many women who make their own diapers sell them from there, or have an etsy store or something along the lines. you can have custom made, cute cloth diapers :) or, if you're sewingly-inclined, you can make your own CDs! there are starter kits available if you're interested! This site has a bunch of links to patterns for diapers and covers.
Cloth diapering websites
www.diaperpin.com
www.cottonbabies.com
www.diaperswappers.com
www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com
www.babyworks.com
www.clothdiaper.com
www.kellyscloset.com
Diapering Extras:
A wet-bag: these are convenient to take with you (or use around the house). they are waterproof and usually have either a zipper or a drawstring to close them. they contain moisture and smells.
Deo-disks: these are little disks that are scented, put into the diaper pail or anywhere else, to provide a nice fragrance :)
diaper sprayer: these connect to the plumbing of your toilet, and you can use them to help spray the poo off the diaper and into the toilet. a modern convenience! but i have yet to have one... i've heard great things about them though. 
Some cloth diapering tips and tricks!
- tea tree oil is an amazing thing! put a few drops in a load of laundry, add a drop to your wipes solution, etc. it is a natural disinfectant, and helps keep diaper rash at bay (even though with cloth diapers, you rarely see a diaper rash anyway!)
- make your own cloth wipes! here's how i do it: find some cute flannel fabric, cut it into whatever size wipes you'd like, and sew a quick stitch around the outside to help prevent fraying (it will fray up to the stitch, but doesn't beyond that. so, do expect a few strings). i have a little spray bottle that i use to wet each wipe as i need them. letting your wipes soak in a solution can cause mold to grow. here's the solution i use: water, a splash of coconut (or olive) oil, and a drop or two of tea tree oil. works wonders!
- do NOT use dryer sheets! they will make your diapers/inserts really ... unsoft (haha is that a word?) and can affect the absorbancy.
- if you find your diapers are getting stains, stick them out in the sun for a few hours to bleach them naturally! works wonders :)
- make sure your laundry detergent does NOT have dyes, brighteners, enzymes, etc in them. here's a website with a long list of detergents and how each would perform in washing cloth diapers: pinstripesandpolkadots.com
if you have any tips, tricks, or diapers that i forgot, please do let me know and i will happily add them!!
Tags: cd, cloth diaper, cloth diapers, diaper, diapers, disposable, environment, sposies
Comments:
GREAT POST!
I LOVE My Bummis Covers and Prefolds there are (IMO) None better! Way to Go Momma YOU ROCK
This is THE best Cloth Diaper Post I have seen Yet!
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