Cloth Diapers

Almost 2 months ago I was contemplating making the switch when my mil bought me a bum genius 3.0 out of the blue. Since then I have completely made the switch and I have learned to sew so I can sew my own because they are so expensive. If you want to buy her some I suggest the bum genius 3.0 which is a one size fits all pocket diaper. You can get them online or locally at Cotton Babies in South County. There are tons of types though, all-in-ones, pocket diapers, fitteds and old-fashioned pre-folds which require covers. It’s really not that hard to keep up with the laundry either because you don’t need to fold them. I do a load daily because I only have about 13 diapers and I have favorites I like to use everyday but some get away with only doing laundry 2x a week. There is a ton of information online on the subject. I am the only one I know who does it so I have learned everything I wanted to know through websites and forums on the subject. HTH

I second all those responses, cloth is great, much easier to use these days and so much cheaper! If you are at all handy with a sewing machine, you can easily make some, there are a lot of free patterns on the internet (email me and I can point you to several if you are interested and can't find any). Also there are several places to look for good prices on gently used ones, like diaperswappers.com and ebay!

We used a local diaper service. They provided the diapers, diaper bin, deoderizers, and all. It was just as convenient as disposables -- no soaking, rinsing, etc. Back then we didn't travel far from home. I just kept a big, strong ziplock bag to keep old diapers in until we got home. We only used disposables if we were away overnight. We used the clippies, no pins. That was twenty years ago and it only cost a little more than $10 a week. It was great!

I always felt it was more comfortable for the baby and I still get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that we did not contribute thousands of disposable diapers to the nations landfills.

Ok. This is REALLY long, but I just asked my friend the same question for myself and here is her answer!! TONS of good info. I hope this helps!

I’m so glad you are considering cloth diapers! It is absolutely worth the extra time and effort – which is not really all that much trouble anyway – and it’s way more fun than taping plastic to your baby 10 times a day. Did you know that disposable diapers only came to be widely used in the last 30 years? And it was only after the diaper manufacturers claimed to be working on how to recycle them all. Well that never happened so every baby not using cloth is contributing thousands of diapers to just sit in our landfills for thousands of years. Gross! Changing your little baby’s diaper is the most frequent task that you will do daily, next to putting your baby to breast, so why not make it fun. There are so many cute, comfy diapers to choose from that buying them is very addictive and putting them on and seeing how cute your baby looks is really fun.

If you are looking to save tons of money and are not worried about ease of use, pre-folds and covers is the way to go. Washing them yourself is easy and almost free. Hanging them in the sun is a natural way to get rid of stains and keep diapers fresh. There is nothing wrong with this option. It’s what our mom’s used. You do not have to use pins anymore. They make stretchy grips to hold the diapers on or you can just place them inside the cover and attach cover with Velcro tabs just like a disposable. Gone are the days of yucky rubber pants! There are many different ways to fold the diaper depending on baby’s age and body type. Folding them can make you feel very artistic and talented even though it’s really not hard once you get the hang of it. Brenton’s sister, Alecia, uses this method exclusively. We have tried both hemp and cotton pre-folds and both are VERY absorbent. Plus you can double them up at night, or slip in a small one folded in thirds, or use a doubler or two for more absorbency as they get older. There are many types of covers to choose from: wool, fleece, PUL, hemp, some crafty ones hand made by moms, etc. Some people use pre-folds during the day when you can change more often, and pocket diapers like Fuzzy Bunz for night time because you can stuff them so full.

If you want to enjoy the convenience of not washing your pre-folds you can use a diaper service. The downside is the cost and the harsh chemicals used to wash them. The cost will be about equal to disposable diapering – but better for the environment! You can ask them to use less harsh washing techniques on your diapers, but they still may bother sensitive babies. I know several people who love their diaper service. You leave a bag of dirties outside the door. Next thing you know, they are gone and a bag of clean diapers is in their place. Cool. By the way, using pre-folds, is the only option (here anyway) with a diaper service. And you buy and wash your own covers.

If ease of use is your top priority, there are sooooo many options ranging a great deal in price. I can give you some websites and tell you what we like, just to get you started. Then it’s happy shopping to you!

Here is a good web page that recommends how many diapers to buy to get started. It is assuming you will be using mostly pre-folds and covers but you still get the general idea.

http://www.diaperpin.com/howto.asp

We started with 12 Fuzzy Bunz pocket diapers and 12 infant pre-folds plus 2 Bummis Whisper Wraps and one Bummi polar fleece cover. We had to wash diapers every day at first because newborns poop every time they eat. Eventually we ordered 12 more Fuzzy Bunz because Brenton liked them better than the pre-folds, and we washed diapers every other day. If you wait much longer than that, they really start to stink like ammonia.

At 6 months Braxton outgrew the smalls so we ordered 12 medium Fuzzy Bunz, 6 Grow With Me Mothereve diapers (I do not recommend!), and 6 premium pre-folds plus 3 more larger sized pre-fold covers. All of these diapers still fit today. This is enough get us by with washing every other day. I've read that if you have a thinner baby, you may be able to use the medium Fuzzy Bunz all the way through potty-training, and that will probably be the case for us. We have a friend with a very heavy boy and he hardly used the mediums before they were too small, but he has been in larges for a long time now. It depends on the size of your baby, but Fuzzy Bunz have worked for both Braxton (super skinny) and his friend who is a super chunk. They are our favorite diapers.

A good explanation of diaper types: http://diaperpages.com/cd_article.php

Good reviews of all types of diapers: http://www.diaperpin.com/diapers/itemlist.asp?subcat=POCK...

Now, do not think that you have to decide now, or it will be too late. You have plenty of time to try things after the baby is born and you can usually have diapers shipped to you pretty quickly. It might be a good idea to have one each of a few different kinds of diapers to try out, and then order more of your favorites later. But you get a discount when you order larger numbers.

We originally planned to use 7th Generation disposables just for the first few days so the cloth ones would not be ruined by meconium (not sure if this would really be a problem, just guessing), but we ended up using them for at least a month because Braxton only weighed 6 lbs at birth and the small Fuzzy Bunz don't fit until 8 lbs. We did start using cloth wipes right away though. They do make newborn sized cloth diapers, but most babies would outgrow them in a couple weeks or wouldn't use them at all if they are a really big baby, so it didn't seem cost effective to me. With the next baby, I will probably get some newborn pre-folds or flats because they are cheap, and avoid disposies altogether. You can always use these tiny diapers as doublers later on. Alecia used newborn size pre-folds for her baby and they fit for a couple months.

There is another kind of diaper that can save you money. That is the sizable styles such as Bum Genius. These diapers can be snapped so that they fit newborns and changed to fit every size up to toddler. This is nice because you don’t have to buy 2 or 3 different sizes over the years.

There is also a type called an all-in-one that are supposed to be the easiest to use. I personally would only use these if the inserts either remove or lift apart from the diaper for easy washing and faster drying. Some have the absorbency sewn right in, but they don’t get as clean and they take forever to dry.

There are 2 main types of inserts for pocket diapers, like Fuzzy Bunz, hemp – the most absorbent, and microfiber – the fastest absorbing. In our pocket diapers we use mostly Joey Bunz hemp (for lots of absorbency), with a top layer of microfiber (for fast absorbency of the initial flow). This gives us the best of both worlds.

I also want to mention that you can buy fleece liners for pretty cheap, or buy a piece of fleece and cut your own. These are just rectangles of fleece that you can use in multiple ways. They can be placed over a pre-fold so that your baby's skin touches the fleece which wicks the moisture away from the skin into the pre-fold. You can also use them to protect your fleece diapers (like Fuzzy Bunz) when using diaper rash cream. These creams will ruin your fleece. It doesn't wash out and makes the pee roll right off the fleece and out the legs. But you can replace the liners a lot cheaper than the diapers and protect your investment.

You asked if there was an alternative that you might be missing. Here it is: G diapers. They come in a box set of 2 cotton covers, 4 snap in rubber liners, a few starter disposable inserts and a swish stick. Then you buy more packages of disposable inserts. These inserts biodegrade in 7 days or you can drop them in the toilet, swish to dissolve, and flush them. They are pretty awesome. We use them for longer trips when we can't do the wash. Oh, and they are free from plastic and chlorine. We buy them at Whole Foods but you can order them online too: http://www.gdiapers.com/

More about cloth wipes. We bought about 50 cloth wipes made by a work at home mom (aka: WAHM) that are flannel on one side and fleece on the other. They are all kinds of cute designs, nice and thick, and work really well. I know some people who buy baby wash rags and use those. You could also make your own wipes. I just found this great website for wipe solutions! http://ezinearticles.com/?Make-Your-Own-Wipe-Solution&amp...

I don't know if this has been any help to you. It is just the tip of the iceberg! Hopefully you can search the internet on some of this lingo and get more info. There are still other options that I haven’t mentioned because we haven’t tried them, “fitted” diapers and “contours”, for example. It is a hard decision to make, but part of the fun is trying all different things, so take your time and enjoy! Don't feel like you have to buy everything up front. I'm glad you guys are considering cloth – you are awesome!
If you order only one parenting magazine, let it be Mothering Magazine. So awesome. It's totally about natural mothering. You'll love it. They also have a great website. Here's a bunch of cloth diapering articles there, but there are more!
Mothering Magazine Article: Joy of Cloth Diapers
A Mothering Magazine article on cloth vs. disposable exploring all points of view.
www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/diapers/joy-of-cloth....

Mothering Magazine Article: The Politics of Diapers
The consultant finds that laundering a cloth diaper over the course of its ... In addition, the study concludes that laundering cloth diapers produces ...
www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/diapers/politics.html

A Tale of Two Diapers by Peggy O'Mara - Editorials on Natural ...
Lehrburger concluded that each family that chooses cloth diapers prevents one ton ... Little concluded that laundering a cloth diaper over the course of its ...
www.mothering.com/guest_editors/quiet_place/138.html

Mothering Magazine Article: Getting Started with Cloth Diapers
If you launder cloth diapers at home, you can save as much as $1500 over the ... 3-5 dozen cloth diapers, or 5 dozen all-in-ones 5 diaper covers per size ...
www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/diapers/joy-of-cloth-...

I have used cloth diapers for both of my kids...a boy and a girl and it was the best decision I ever made. I suggest Kushies All-In-Ones cloth diapers. They have velcro closures, soft cotton padding, and a thick vinyl like covering that does not leak. In fact every time my husband snuck the kids into a disposable poop would shoot up their backs and it was horrible. They run $40 for 5 infant(lasts full first year) or $50 for 5 toddler(lasts until they reach 45lbs). The infant ones fit my kids by around 2 months old. I used prefolded diapers($25 for pack of 20 at Baby Depot or Wal-Mart) and plastic velcro close coverings from Babies R Us.

So, the poop factor. I buy on eBay the Kushies disposable liners. I put the liner in the diaper and when the child poops it allows me to lift it out and flush it. It comes in rolls like toilet paper. I have never needed a diaper pail or had a house that smelled of poop or pee. I through the diapers in the hamper and wash them with whites at the end of the week or when I am getting low. No poop clogs up your washer or stains other clothes. Occasionally, I have to wipe out the diaper with toilet paper because it was not as solid, but that is rare and not a big deal. No dunking, soaking, or special detergents.....SO

How to wash these? I have a front load washer that has a soak cycle and extra rinse. If she breast feeds then you can lay slightly stained diapers in the sun to bleach white without using bleach or harsh cleaners. That is the first year. Tide and softener with a 1/2 cup vinegar kills germs. The second year I use liquid tide, bleach, and softener. Sometimes I still use the vinegar because it cleans the machine and is great for removing and dissolving anything sticky. Now by my second child the bleach has started to eat a few holes in the coverings, but they still work just fine.

So, what did I do with the money I saved? I put it into their college funds...$75/month. My DD has over $4000 in hers and my DS age 2 has over $2000 in his.

Good luck and I promise you will never regret using them. A lot of people tried to dissuade me and tell me how awful it would be, but it has not been awful at all. In fact most moms tell me they wish they had used them because of the money they would have saved and the pollution. Even my mom told me I would hate them, but then she saw the Kushies and loved how easy they were to use.

K.,
Hello!!! Well, I did use them for a while for both of my girls. I really do think that they are better for babies skin and much cheaper.
The bad parts

having a diaper pale does get stinking. unless they have something new now for it.
the having to put your hand in the toilets to get the poo poos off is not always the funest part.

but over all I think it good for them.

but When I got tried of doing I would tell my husband the wiggled to much to try to get the cloth one on. HA! like he believed me.

We use paper ones when we went out.

Best wishes

I have used cloth for my boys, 3 and 1 and plan to for my third baby on its way. (Although I use disposables for traveling and the church nursery and so on.)
There are lots of fancy diapers you can get out there, such as "all-in-ones" that are nearly like a disposable diaper in ease of use, however the cost can be overwhelming when getting started, especially if one of your reasons for cloth diapering is to save money. I have found the most inexpensive and easiest method for me is using chinese prefold diapers (not the kind at walmart or target, but the kind you can order online) with a snappi (easier and safer alternative to diaper pins). You can also buy lots of fancy covers with velcro or snaps. They are probably worth the investment, but as far as controlling leaks goes, I have had the best luck with the cheap gerber plastic pants you can usually find at walmart or babiesrus. If they get a tear or rip, it's $2-3 for 6 pair.

As far as soaking and washing goes, you can find tons of tips and instructions on the internet with a little searching. But I found these pails at Baby Depot/Burlington Coat Factory (in Olathe) for $10 each. They have step/flip open lid and a pull out bucket which I fill halfway with cold water and a quarter cup borax. I just throw the soiled diapers in there to soak and drain the excess water in the toilet before washing. The pails are a bit small, so I use two. I don't dry the diapers in the dryer, but hang them out in the sun to dry, which removes any stains and helps the diapers last longer.

Finally, a new cloth diapering store just opened recently in Lee's Summit called Happybottomus. Even if you live in a different part of the metro, I think it's worth a trip just to get a hands on view of the variety of products available. Plus the owners are very knowledgeable about cloth diapering.

I fall in to the older group (parents, grandparents) and used cloth diapers for all four of my children. The only exception was that the youngest sons daycare required disposables.
I found it rewarding at the end of the day to fold a basket of fluffy white diapers. It was less expensive, I think more comfortable for baby,
With the use of diaper liners, poop just lifts out and can be placed in covered wastebasket. It reduces landfill tremendously.
Saved bread wrappers can be used as 'carry homes' for used diapers. I could control exactly which chemicals would touch my childrens bottoms. I did have a bad experience with an off brand disposable, baby got a terrible rash whenever I used them.
The wonderful residual benefit of cloth diapers is that one has an excellent supply of dustrags and polishing cloths long after baby is off to school. My husband nearly fainted when I asked him to buy me a dozen new cloth diapers when Junior was 14..................the old ones had just gotted too worn to dust with!!

Hi K.,
I've used cloth diapers for both of our little tots and plan on using them for our third! There are so many of them on the market right now, I'd hate to narrow your choices, as the type of cloth diaper you choose to use should depend on your preferences:)We chose a very user-friendly version of diaper called a "pocket diaper" - which has a waterproof outer cover that comes in many lovely colors and designs and usually a microfleece or microsuede inner. Along one seam in the front or back there will be an opening with which to "stuff" inserts into, that way you can adjust the absorbency to your baby's needs - more urine flow (older baby) and nighttime diapers would require more inserts. The inserts can be anything you want, from chinese prefolds (the kind of "bumpy" cloth our parents may have used on our skin) to a very soft microfiber to hemp fleece. The choices are endless, but these seem the most versatile and user-friendly. When there is a soiled diaper, I keep a wetbag attached to a nearby doorknob, and toss in the diaper snapped over unto itself. Of course, you'd knock the solids into the toilet, but they don't need to be soaked and can be stored for a day or two until laundering. The wetbag also has a little sachet inside onto which I drip a tea tree/lavender oil combo for stench and antibacterial. During laundering, you'd separate the inserts from the diaper cover and wash according to manf. instructions (usually a hot with normal or less-than-normal amt. of detergent followed by a cold rinse). I've tried a few brands, but Fuzzi Bunz are so far my favorite. The drawback to these is that they are not one-sized, so you'd have to order perhaps three different sizes by the time baby is done with diapers. I've heard that Bum Genius and Happy Heiny both have a one-sized pocket that are worthy. I also tried Wonderoos (which have been sold to a company in the UK) - they also seem to have weathered pretty badly) and Haute Pockets (which are nice, but seem a little snug on my 2 and a half-year-old). Hope any of this information serves to help rather than confuse. Just google cloth diapers, and the choices will start popping up. That way, you can see some of what I'm talking about. Take care, and happy diapering.
K.

We just bought a bunch of the Gerber prefold diapers and have used those since my daughter was born a year ago. They are much cheaper than the velcro or other newer brands. We use two at a time because one won't absorb everything and pin them on and then use one of the simple gerber vinyl covers over the top. It just takes an extra minute each time you change (and as they get older and start solids, you have to dump the poop into the toilet -- which is what people who use disposables should be doing anyway to be more environmentally friendly). We use the dry pail method, so we just have a diaper bin in her room with a big garbage bag in it. We sprinkle baking soda in it after each diaper change to help with the odor (which isn't bad). We wash the diapers every second or third day (I run a prewash and then soak for overnight with 1/2 cup baking soda, then run a prewash to drain and hot wash with 1/2 cup baking soda and unscented detergent (we just get a big generic jug at costco). Thhn we throw the diapers into the dryer and hang dry the vinyl covers. They say that if you hang dry the diapers they will last longer, but that was too much work.) We use the cheap walmart parents choice diapers at night and when we are away from the house or when babysitters are over. I've found they absorb better than pampers . Hope this helps.

I used cloth diapers with my now 16 year old son. I had a diaper service for his first 3 months. I did not pay for it, so I cannot remember the cost. The cloth diapers gives the babies bottom better air. Cloth has to be changed more frequently. After the 3 months, I used the cloth for 3 more months in the day and began using pampers at night. At 6 months, I could no longer stay home full time, so I began using papmers full time. I personally am glad that I used the cloth diapers initially. Some baby bottoms are sensitive to certain brands of Pampers. So I was able to recognize that very quickly. Check into the cost of a diaper service. The purchasing of the actual cloth diapers and washing them yourself can be a down side. Whatever you choose, congradualtions on your new bundle of joy.

I used cloth diapers with both of my boys. You'll be amazed at how far the cloth diaper industry has come! My biggest "likes" are the money saved, the low impact on the environment and how much better they are for baby's bottom. We used them daily with both kids and the younger one's day-care provider even used them for us with him. One tip I can share is getting an attachment for your toilet that will help rinse out the poopy diapers. We didn't have one of those for our oldest and I couldn't believe the difference it made when we got one before our youngest was born. We found ours at www.earthybirthymama.com. You can find all sorts of diapers and covers in all shapes and sizes on the internet. It really isn't about pins and plastic pants any more. I hope your friend seriously considers using cloth diapers! She won't be sorry.

Hi K. - my husband and I have been using cloth diapers for about 6 months now and our little boy just turned 2. We mainly got them to use with the new baby who will be arriving later this month. We try to wash the diapers every other day but sometimes it's every 3rd day. They recommend washing them twice, once in cold water and once in hot water. I wash the diapers by themselves in cold water, and then throw in other laundry with the hot water wash. We bought different laundry detergent to use to protect the diapers, and it's better for the environment, so we're okay with that.

We bought bum genius 3.0 diapers off of cottonbabies.com and they come w/ 2 inserts that you can put inside the diapers. For our 2 yr old, we need them both, but anticipate only needing the small one with the baby. The diapers are pretty much water proof and secure with velcro. With my 2 yr old, we put him in disposable diapers at night because otherwise he could leak thru the diapers if they get too wet. That website has recommended laundry detergents. When I can, I hang the diapers out to dry, only one diaper is stained, and that's from using diaper rash cream.

We just bought some diaper liners to try out, but haven't actually used them yet.

Hope that helps!
R.

I have not used cloth diapers, but I wish my husband would let me. The new cloth diapers are awesome!! There is a store in downtown Lee's Summit (can't remember the name of it but it is across from Bike America) they sell cloth diapers and can walk you through the wide variety of them. The new type of cloth diapers have velcro and are fitted for your child. You will love them. I think the store may be called Happy Bottoms or something, not sure.

I didn't have time to read through all of the responses, so I'm not sure if this is a repeat.

If your friend lives in the KC area, you must visit Happybottomus in Lee's Summit (www.happybottomus.com). Brookie-Lee (the owner) will show you everything you need to know about cloth diapering, and you can check out and buy cloth diapers there. She teaches a class every Saturday.

I switched to cloth when my daughter was 15 months old, and I couldn't be happier. I learned everything I needed from Brookie-Lee, and it is SO MUCH EASIER than I thought. The poopie diapers are hard to get used to at first, but they are totally manageable.

Good luck!

Yours in health,
Dr. Alyssa

K. -

I use cloth diapers and love them. There are so many options out there and they are TOTALLY different from what our parents used. I'd love to let you know what I think...use and would not use. You can email me at ____@____.com and I'll give you the lowdown. It's pretty lengthy to list here.

P.S. - I live in the Riverside, MO area...I'd love to show them to you or your friend also...it's much better to see them in person. There is also a cloth diapering store in Lee's Summit (http://www.happybottomus.com/) that I got some of my diapers from.

K.

Being old school, I have a lot of experience with cloth diapers and I am a firmly in the camp of disposables for a couple of reasons. First - you will go through many, many more a day with them. There's no absorbency like disposables that keeps the wetness away from the baby's bottom - so there is the chance of many more instances of diaper rash - especially if you're used to disposables. Second - You will do a lot more laundry, and depending on the sensitivity of the baby's skin, you have to be very careful that your laundry detergent doesn't irritate. To avoid rashes when my son was little, not only did I have to have a detergent only for diapers (I think it was Dreft) but I found I had to double rinse them. It was like doing 2 loads - one with the soap and one with only plain water - he tended to grow out of this as he got older - toddler age.
It's also very helpful if you pre-soak - I did it in the diaper pail - and the smell is not pleasant - there is always the smell of ammonia. I know disposables are not eco-friendly, but in the long run think about how many resources you use in washing and rewashing - not to mention the rinsing out before you put the diaper in the pail as you wait to gather a load. (By the way - it was very expensive for me in the first year because I didn't have a washer and dryer and had to do all this at the laundromat!! The only plus side I had was that I was given 3 mos. of a diaper service for shower gift!

My mother babysits my son while my husband and I work. He is almost 3 now but while in diapers, my mother preferred to use cloth diapers. She used those on my siblings and I and said she always thought they were better. The main upsides for us were not having to constantly purchase diapers and our son was changed more often because you can tell right away if they are wet which also helps prevent diaper rash. As far as the downsides to cloth, there is the constant laundry and risk of leakage and having to change clothes more often. My mother kept plastic on hand just for outings but still sticks to the cloth being the best and healthiest. As for at home, we chose plastic only because we lived in a condo when he was an infant and had to share laundry facilities. Hope this helps at least a little!

Hi K.,

I've used them and they are really pretty hassle free. The best thing to do is to buy good quality ones (lots of online resources there), as they'll hold up better, longer, etc., than the Gerber ones you can find at BRU or somewhere like that. Get a diaper pail to put the soiled ones in, run the laundry every couple of days and you're pretty much set. And, the bonus is that potty training will be such a breeze if you avoid "teaching" your baby just to potty in disposables, where they don't really feel wetness. Don't want to go on and on but if she wants advice, resources where she can buy, etc., she's free to contact me directly - ____@____.com and I'll be happy to help. I've had 3 in cloth diapers and am not a Nazi about it, but do know that if you can get over the idea that they are inconvenient (compared to disposables) they really are pretty cool.

Shelly

I've been using cloth diapers on both of my kids (almost 1 and almost 3) for several weeks now. I love them! I especially love that I'm not adding to the landfills with disposables that will take hundreds of years to degrade. I also love that my kids look so darn cute in them...they don't wear pants nearly as much as they used to!! There are tons of work at home moms that make and sell cloth diapers on ebay in the most adorable patterns and colors. My advice is to try a few of different brands or types (velcro vs. snaps, all-in-one vs. pocket diapers, etc), because you can always buy more of the kinds you end up loving. The washing is easy, too. I use some All Free and Clear detergent, sprinkle some baking soda over the diapers in the machine, and put a little white vinegar in the fabric softener cup. Those last two things are super cheap and work really well for getting stains and odors out. You have to figure out exactly how long it takes to dry them in your machine or outside...the velcro ones work best if you hang them out to dry (which I thought would be a pain, but ended up being a relaxing time to myself outside!!). I definitely recommend checking out www.diaperjungle.com for lots of info. My favorite diapers turned out to be bumgenius 3.0 for my daughter, and huggabuns (huggabuns.com) for my son. Good luck!!

I used them for a while with my daughter. I liked the idea of them and that they were ecofriendly. They really weren't a pain except for the safety pins. I'm sure they're better than that now...my daughter is 8 now! There were times we packed disposable along so we wouldn't have to carry or wet/dirty ones around with us.

I use cloth diapers exclusively and use pockets, pre-folds, fitteds, and gDipers depending on the outfit, travel, etc. It's really all about finding the right diapers for your little one and your lifestyle. Once you get used to using them, it's pretty simple. I know it grosses a lot of people out to think about having to rinse out a poopy diaper and in all honesty, I thought it would me too, but as with many things, when it's your kid it is different.

Every time I put any kind of disposable on my little girl (other than the gDiaper liners) she gets a rash. That's on benefit of cloth.

I do diaper laundry every other day like clockwork. I've got a HE front loader and have it down to a science so that I don't have any of the problems with odors, etc.

I'd highly recommend checking out some sites like Diaper Jungle, Pinstripes and Polkadots, and Green Mountain Diapers. They have lots of advice on everything from buying to laundry. Cloth diapers have come way beyond pins and plastic covers, if you want cloth simple, I'd highly recommend BumGenius that will take you from newborn to toddler. For travel, we have been using gDiapers which are cotton covers with a PUL liner that hold a liner that can be flushed.

If you want to PM me, I'd be happy to help with any questions r problems your friend might have. I LOVE to convert people to the cloth!!

I have been using cloth diapers for ten months now. I love them. We are using Crickett's fitted diapers, which are made of hemp and organic cotton. There are only two sizes, so you only have to buy a stash of diapers twice (instead of four times like with some other cloth diapers). I suggest checking out www.diaperpin.com, although the amount of information on the site is a bit overwhelming. We are using wool covers because wool is a natural fiber and because wool breathes (anything that is waterproof does not breathe). We used waterproof covers heavily for a couple of weeks, and our son ended up with a yeast infection. We use Imse Vimse flushable liners, which are washable if only urinated on, or flushable if there is poop involved. I don't think I would try using cloth diapers without using flushable liners.

You may want to look into the safety of disposable diapers. There are chemicals in them that really should not be touching the gentlest parts of babies - but we (Americans) really do want ultra-trim and ultra-dry kids, so we have no other option!

I love to talk cloth diapers, so feel free to email me (____@____.com) if you have more questions.

I used them for both my kids - for the frist 3 m. The wrap velcro diapers that go around the cloth are great! I had a clothes line put in the back yard. I heard using a service is even better. After 3 m I quit - too messy. Good luck

I used cloth diapers with all 3 of my babies (who are now teenagers) and looking back now, it was the best thing! We just simply did not have the money for diposable and they really are easy to do! Yes, you do have to change them more. Plastic pants will be your best friend. I put the wet diapers in a diaper pail and when soiled, I rinsed them out and put them in also. I washed them 2x a week in detergent and bleach followed with a cup of vinegar in the rinse water. You have to be armed with a sack of some sort to put the used ones in when out and about,(just one more use for plastic grocery sacks!) We had fewer rashes (according to pediatrician)and we saved TONS of money. It takes a little bit to get started, but you don't have to buy them again! I loved using them and they are easier than most moms think. I was at home everyday, and one more load of laundry a couple times a week just did not bother me at all....

K.,
I applaud any family who uses cloth diapers - especially in this "disposable" age. My kudos to your friend. I had 2 children and both wore cloth diapers. Diaper rash was not an issue because when the diaper was wet or soiled we knew it. Both were fairly easy to potty train, because they knew when they were wet and didn't like the feel. My daughter liked her cloth diapers so much that she preferred them to "big girl panties" and would tell me when I needed to undo the pin so she could go. However, I didn't launder the diapers myself. We had a diaper service which picked up the soiled diapers and dropped off fresh ones each week. At the time it was cost efficient compared to disposables and very convenient. I did not have to rinse diapers, but did need to remove the poop which I did with tp and flushed it down the toilet. Then I dropped them into the pail - provided by the diaper service. They also provided pail liners and deodorant. There was no odor and I put the bag of used diapers out on diaper day and the service delivered a bag of fresh, clean ones. Yes, I'm sure the "industrial strength" cleaning that took place used energy, but I couldn't provide that kind of clean in my own washer and drier, and diaper service saved me time and $. It's worth looking into in my opinion.
L.

I used cloth exclusively on 5 of my 8 children. Don't scrimp on plastic pants. The quality of the plastic pants greatly enhances the absorbability of the diaper. Soft plastic that does not get stiff with washings, and elastic around the legs that is nice and snug are imperative. Don't be afraid to "double diaper" if necessary. A toilet that does NOT have water saving features will work better for rinsing the stinkies. I found an open tub for the wet diapers worked better-the ones with a lid caused a lot more odor. My kids did not have high ammonia content, so there was no stink so long as I didn't use a lid. Of course I washed every other day as well.

i really like cloth diapers but we are talking 29 years ago when my babies was born. they are the best espically in the summer the disposable seem so hot. when at hoem i would just put the cloth diaper on with no rubber pants, i felt they may have been cooler. but maybe disposables have changed in the last decade? but in the long run it would be less costly to use cloth diapers. you would need a diaper pail cause you rinse the poopy in the toliets but then you put water and dreft or(some kind of a diaper soak) in the pail so they can be soaking i always hung mine out side and the sun would make them so white. the only timew i used papmers is when we was going somewhere for a few days cause you would not want to have diapers in a plastic bag for too long of a time !! hope this helped

I used cloth diapers. I believe they are the reason that my daughter was completely potty trained by 18 months, including at night. The kids can feel that they are wet and want to use the potty earlier. Besides that, they are much better for the world. Disposables have piled up in our landfills. In fact, throwaway diapers make up the third most common item in our landfill spaces, behind paper products and food containers. Since the average disposable takes about 500 years to break down in a landfill, the proportion of diapers there is ever-increasing. You don't have to use pins any more like our parents did. They sell washable waterproof wraps that Velcro over the cloth diaper. Some Moms say they will use cloth unless they are out somewhere. Well I just kept gallon sized zip lock bags in my diaper bag to keep the used ones in. I started with a diaper service and then moved to a rural part of the country where the service was not offered. So I just washed them myself. It wasn't hard at all. My daughter never had a diaper rash from them either. I even used cloth wipes. They were like small white washcloths that I kept in a small plastic box with warm water and baby oil on them. The only real rash she ever had was from using those disposable wipes. That's when I bought the natural ones from The Natural Baby catalog. I put them into the zip lock bags too. I wouldn't have done it any other way and would do it again tomorrow. I do recommend getting several of the diaper wraps though since stuff can leak on them and they may need to be changed as well.

I LOVE using cloth diapers! I bought some off-brands from e-bay and although they looked nice, they've started falling apart already (after only 3 months of use), so my opinion is to invest in the nice, name-brand ones. Othere moms on here may have better suggestions for you than I do, but I tried Kushies at one time and liked them. Fuzzi Bunz is another good brand, I think. All-in-ones are great and super easy to use. Washing them hasn't added any extra stress--just toss them in the washer--so easy! For breastfed babies, you don't even need to rinse out the poopy ones. Just toss them in the washer as is. Hope this all helps!

I just seen something on clothlike diapers they are cloth but the liner is washable. I love the fact they have gone greeen that helps. Disposable diapers are not earth friendly. I used only cloth when my kids where young. they were less convenient but less women worked then and you were always washing diapers unless you could afford a diaper service. Great Idea Come Back!

Check out this website they have cloth diapers, that are updated. Not like our parents used. www.iplaybabywear.com

Yay! I love it when mommies make the switch! And I'm so glad you've gotten so many great responses!

First let me say that I *love* using cloth. My little boy will get a rash half way through the day when we use disposables, so even when we go out of town I put him in cloth over half the time.

We love Fuzzi Bunz as well and we've tried all kinds of other types and brands but have narrowed our stash down to FB's and Whisper Wraps with prefolds and a snappi. It seems that whether a mommy goes the all in one route or uses prefolds is a matter of taste. We prefer prefolds honestly b/c we can use the same prefolds as he gets bigger and just buy larger covers.

I used Fuzzi Bunz and loved them! I didn't get into it until late and so I did not buy a big stock. I used them occasionally and when we have diaper rash flare ups.
I would use them again!

Whatever brand she chooses, use the "all in one" cloth diapers. Go to mothering.com and they have all sorts of info on diapering there.

Yet another CDing mama here as well. We use Bum Genius 3.0s on our daughter. They are one size and will/should fit her up to about 35lbs. Providing she stays as petite as she is.

I never thought of myself as someone who would want to use cloth diapers until I got pregnant...now I feel super guilty if I have to put a sposie on her for any reason.

I second the previous poster who mentions diaperpin.com. There are tons of options out there for cloth diapers and some studying can't hurt. I did much research and decided that pockets were the way to go for this family. I also purchased one of each type before she was born to tryout. Pockets were the clear winner.

Just remember that there are 3 components to a successful cloth diaper - 1. the wicking layer. This layer (usually fleece) will pull the moisture away from the baby's bottom making rashes a rarity. (If a rash does occur, you can't use most creams without placing a liner in the diaper. We use a piece of cut fleece as a liner if it gets so bad that we need a diaper cream. Most days, some naked baby time will air out her bottom and take care of the redness)

2. the absorbent layer - this will hold your moisture (duh). In pockets, this can be changed to fit your child's needs. Heavy wetter? Add a doubler or use a hemp insert!

3. the waterproof layer - usually a material called PUL (polyurethane laminate) Soft and breathable. This will keep baby happy and his or her clothes dry. (9.5 times out of 10)

HTH! I love talking cloth diapers.

When I had my first child I used cloth diapers. I used them because I was living at home, and desperately trying to save money. I did not have a diaper service, I washed them myself.
I never did warm up to using them. I was always afraid I would poke him with the diaper pins. I disliked the way the plastic pants made indentions on his little legs. I hated the smell of bleach from the diaper pail. I will say though that was 12 years ago and since then I know they have come out with diaper wraps that go over the cloth diapers so you do not have to use the pins, and if it was me and I was doing it over again I would buy the diaper covers and also ask friends and relatives instead of buying baby gifts that the baby doesn't really need to consider gift certificates for a diaper service. Wish them luck!
B. SAHM of 3!!!

I had four babies and the first wore cloth diapers exclusively, the second wore them most of the time, and the third and fourth wore disposables from birth. I chose cloth mostly for environmental reasons, and because of cost. My oldest is 18 now, and 18 years ago I was the only mom I knew who did this. People weren't really thinking green then. Cloth diapers have come a long way. We used cloth velcro diaper covers most of the time. You just place the dipaer in the cover and velcroe it together. We used a diaper service, so we didn't have to deal with washing them. At one point I cancelled the diaper service to save money and washed them myself, which wasn't that bad. (Considering my mother in law had six kids and no washer or dryer and washed all the diapers in the bathtub, I felt I could certainly handle one baby's diapers in my washing machine!)

The upside to cloth diapers are the money savings, the "feel good" factor (cotton on baby's skin rather than paper and plastic), and the good to the environment. It's good for the environment on both ends - no diapers in the landfills and no continuous manufacture of diapers.

The downside is the washing them if you have no diaper service, having to carry the dirty ones with you when you are out and about, some daycares won't allow them, and babysitters will be baffled by them - they have to be taught how to use them.

I think it's like anything else - if you make a commitment to it, it becomes pretty easy to handle. Of course it's not as convenient as disposables, but convenience comes at a price. I simply felt better about using cloth diapers and your friend will likely have a lot more support than I did. I enjoyed using cloth because it just felt like the right thing to do. I ended up using disposables later because I got lazy! I had four kids under six and had to work full time so I had to let that go.

Hi! I use them exclusively and actually just got back from our first road trip with them. We use fuzzi bunz when we are out of the house and for the sitter, parents, etc. At home we just use the cotton prefolds with the snappi's. It has been great.

We do one load of laundry a night and put our clothes in there also so we never do any other laundry than that. Also, you cannot use fabric softener with cloth diapers as it will slowly cause them to repel liquid. She will need to do a second rinse with her wash.

I would recommend buying fuzzi bunz used if you can because they are expensive. We are on our first child and plan to have 2 more so we will definitely recoup our investment, but even if this is her last child there is a booming market for used buy backs with some people paying almost what they cost new.

Some people will say that with the extra water used in washing they are no better for the environment, but one load a day is the equivolent of them flushing the toilet once they are potty trained.

Helpful advice. You don't need a sprayer on the toilet, the poop just falls off the diaper. Watch the clock, as you can't let you baby go more than 2 hours without a change. Buy wet bags because when you are on the go you can't throw them away. Go for a cloth laundry bag in a diaper champ, you can wash the bag each time and still have a sealed pail.

P.S. Bonus, no diaper rash! Con, if they get a diaper rash you can't use creams. However, since they get more air to their bums it heals quickly anyway.

Please wish you friend luck. She won't regret the switch!

I used Cloth with my kids (who are now teenagers). I just bought a box of good cloth diapers and plastic pants for my niece. I used cloth at home, but had disposable for when we went places. Cloth at home saved money. washing is a pain, but have enough on hand so you can put them in a bucket covered with water and a lid until you can get to them. I would rince them out every couple of days. poopy ones get dunked in the toilet a couple of times (need to keep the toilet fairly clean) and then rinced with running water in the bathtub, soaked again and washed with bleach in the washing machine and hung out in the sunshine when can (sunshine helps disinfect too). Wet ones do the same only skip the toilet.

I'm told the plastic pants are harder to find these days. I bought some online to go with the diapers. But you can't just go to walmart for them anymore is what I'm told.

Hope that helps.

Used cloth for 3 of 5 kids. The only reason the other 2 did not, was having them in daycare. most child care including church nurseries do not allow cloth, due to sanitary reasons. That said, I would use them again if I had my choice or more kids. We did diapers wash 2-3 times a week. I had about 4 dozen that way I would not ever run out during wash. Be sure to never use fabric softener because it keeps them from absorbing. Also, keep a dozen of unfolded diapers separate for burp rags. I did not find using anything fancy to be of benefit. Velcro diapers and covers tended to fall apart within the first year. Anyway if you are lucky enough to have parents who used cloth, ask for help from them. The only way I learned how to fold and pin the diaper and not baby was because of mom. You do change a lot more as the baby gets older but I found fewer rashes and was able to identify food sensitivities faster by using cloth. Hope this helps, and good luck!!
R.

We used a diaper service with our youngest child and I loved it. They provided the diaper pail and all you really need to do is dump out solid poop in the toliet and leave your used diapers out on your designated day and they'll give you fresh ones. My son never had a a rash with cloth.