Diaper Service vs Washing at Home

i used the old fashioned ones with number 1 and she was potty trained (totally) by 14 months. She did it on her own. I would rather have had her in diapers a little longer to avoid rushing to the bathroom every few minutes. I laundered at home, but back then I had a housekeeper.

With number 2, a boy, I use fuzzybunz. No housekeeper now, I still launder at home. Its not a big deal at all. He's a year old and no where near out of diapers yet.

Do what's right for you and don't listen to anyone else.

Also, are you sure you have access to diaper service where you live? I ask b/c I don't.

Hi,
I clothed my first (3 years old) and now my 2nd (9 months old). I never had a service and it has been pretty easy. Laundering them is easier than people think. My suggestion is to try it yourself...then if you feel like you need a service get it. Better than getting into a contract and paying, then deciding.
Good luck and good for you to be doing something great for your baby's bum as well as the environment!

I've cloth diapered my second baby since she was 1 week old. We use BumGenius one-size diapers. They wash great for breast-fed babies who aren't on solids; it's only a little more work (shaking solids into toilet) once your little one is on solids. So, given the great products that are available, I'd say skip the diaper service.

Cloth diapers are no harder to wash than the baby clothes. You just rinse them out good when you take them off especially the poopy ones. I had an insert that I used so that I could just take it out of the diaper and flush it. This prevented the diaper from being stained. Also if you rinse the diapers first before you wish them in HOT water you will do fine. Just wash in hot and follow the manufacturer's washing for cotton. Also you have lots of burping cloths and later down the line you have an abundant supply of dusting and auto cleaning cloths all nice and soft. I did diapers three times a week usually 4 to 6 dozen and they were always clean and fresh smelling. Just fold them when dry and put them the size of the baby's bottom and put them up in a diaper stacker and they are ready to use again. You can't do that with plastic. You guys do the math. On an occasional trip I would use disposals to child care and back. Otherwise they were in cloth. It lets your kid's bottom breath and cuts down on the rash issue. But you decide.

I cloth diapered both of my kiddos (7 yrs & 3 yrs) and washed them at home. I think the older generation has no idea how far cloth diapers have come.....they envision the flat diapers w/ pins and plastic covers!! Things are soooo different now!!

I know there are tons of options out there for cloth diapers...the ones I used were the all-in-ones from www.clothdiaper.com I also used their flannel wipes...just wet them with warm water in the sink and tossed them in the diaper pail with the diapers.

I do know what you mean though about the reaction from others....when I was cloth diapering, I didn't know one other mom doing it! My friends all thought I was crazy! However....I was NEVER out making an emergency run to the store at 10 pm for diapers....they were only a washload away!

You can do it & you will feel so much better for it!!

:-)

We used a service for #1 until she was about 4mos old, then I decided to try to launder myself. With #2, I just did it myself. I really don't think it's that big a deal. My guess is since you're doing something different than your mil she think's it's nuts. let her think it. If your husband is supportive, go for it

hth
K. H, mama to
Catherine, 4yrs
Samuel, 1yr

If you have the time and the patience, do it yourself. If not, then diaper service it is. You're not idiots and you're not insane. I personally would never use cloth diapers, but that is just me.

I truly admire anyone who uses cloth diapers. I don't have the stomache for it--no not even when it's my own kids' messes! I would probably use a service, but I have no idea how much that costs--it might be just as cheap to buy disposable diapers. So--you should check into the service!

First of all I LOVE THAT YOU USE THEM! GOOD JOB!
Second of all, just keep doing what you are doing.
They are better for your child AND WAY BETTER for our Environment.
THANK YOU!

We use cloth diapers. I make them, launder them myself and have NEVER had any issues. It's really really easy to wash them.

Diaper services are expensive. I believe it's about 80-150 a MONTH.

I bought some name brand diapers for DD. I spent 120 dollars on her mediums. When she moved into larges I sold her mediums for 180. Can't beat a deal like that. I now have enough diapers to last her until she is potty learned. She started wearing mediums at 5 months. So you figure 2 years worth of diapers cost me 120 bucks out of pocket. Beat that!

Diaper services also use harsh chemicals to clean the diapers. The purpose of cloth (in my house) is

a) help the environment
b) keep chemicals off my baby!

I noticed you want to cloth diaper for ground water purposes also, think of the chemicals they use to clean cloth diapers. it's not organic. Where do you think the waste water goes? You can help by doing the laundry at home with a detergent like Charlies or such.

J.,
I used a cloth diaper service for the first 6 months with my first born (17 years ago). You still have to empty the cloth diapers of waste (poopy) by dumping it in the toilet. Diapers should only be washed with diapers and you need to follow directions...there's plenty of on line directions.

http://www.diaperjungle.com/washing-cloth-diapers.html

But more importantly... cloth diapers come in sizes! I didn't realize this, even with the service, and called them up when I had trouble fitting my son and they said "well, he's ready for the next size!".

So if you're going to buy diapers, you should buy different sizes.

Personally, I think the first 6 months is really a huge adjustment and babies grow alot then, so why not have a service?

Then go to your own diapers.

I went to disposible. I was tired of the cloth issues, but now they have better diaper covers that don't leak. I think the diaper covers were not as good 17 years ago.

Good luck!