Cloth Diapering - Q & A

We have decided to try cloth diapering with our little girl.  I know a lot of my friends and family have questions, so here are my answers.  All of these are my own personal opinions, as this is my blog, and pertain to my own experience and situation.  What is right for one family can be completely wrong for another, and I honestly don't know if this is "right" for ours yet.  We're going to try it out and see!

Why?

I have several reasons for wanting to try cloth diapering.  First, I like the idea of reusing things that can be reused, rather than just throwing everything away and creating unnecessary waste.  I also like the idea of saving money, especially since we will be living in Europe where things are generally more expensive.  Also, cloth diapers are SO SOFT.  If I was a baby, I think that's what I would want on my bum.  They also make them "stay-dry" now, so the baby doesn't feel wet just like with a disposable.  I've used them before, when I used to take care of my nephew, and I feel that that experience gave me the "boost" I needed to TRY.

But what is wrong with disposables?

Here's the thing: I don't have a problem with disposable diapers - AT ALL.  We're planning on using a combination of both cloth and disposables, because we both agree that there are some situations where the CONVENIENCE of disposables just flat out can't be beat.  Also, while Andrew is completely on board with trying out cloth, he is MORE on board knowing that there will still be disposables in the house.

But aren't cloth diapers a lot of extra work?

Honestly, I don't think they are.  Modern cloth diapers are VERY different from what cloth diapers used to be.  Now they actually look a lot like disposables, but with snaps or velcro at the closure.  No pins, no folding, and generally no more leaking than disposables.  Yes, I will have to do some extra laundry (1 extra load every 2-3 days) and you do have to change them a little more often (I've never liked the idea of keeping a diaper on super long anyway), but I'm going to be staying at home.  If I was going to be working full-time, my thoughts and feelings would probably be very different than what they are now.

What about the poop?

Yes, babies poop - I know that.  This is the part I would be most worried about if I hadn't already done it - so thanks Susan for that experience!!!  With cloth diapers, you just spray out the poop into the toilet and then throw the diaper into the diaper pail.  At least while the baby is breastfed, it's really not a big deal because the poo dissolves in water.  I've done it before, it takes about a minute, and then you go about your day.  When it's solid you just toss it out into the toilet and flush.  Even for pee you generally rinse them so they don't stink up the diaper pail.  With a sprayer, it's super easy.  You don't get poop on your hands any more than you do with a disposable (so generally not at all unless there is a huge blowout, which still happens occasionally because, well, babies poop).

To minimize the poop issue even further, we have purchased liners that go in the diapers that are disposable.  When the poop is solid, the liner catches the majority of it and then you just throw it away.  Liners are about $6 for 100, so they are much cheaper than disposable diapers.  I'm not sure how well the liners will work before she starts eating solids, because the liners are very breathable and I think that at least some of it will go through the liner.  Either way, we have them, and we'll see what works best for our family.  Most people don't use them in every diaper - they just put them in when they think the baby will "go". (Which admittedly, with a newborn, is every diaper. Ha. But once they get older there's usually a pattern.)

Do they really save that much money with all that extra laundry?

Short answer, yes.  Thanks to the generosity of friends, we have spent very little and have accumulated a very nicely sized stash of cloth diapers as gifts.  Because of this, we only have to use the diapers for about TWO MONTHS to make back the entire cost we have put into them.  Considering that children are in diapers for at least 2 years (and usually closer to 3), that's at least 22 months of significant savings if we stick with it, and that's only for the first kid!!!  We have very good quality diapers, so they should last through multiple children.  Because our diapers will be FREE after two months, the extra laundry cost does not even compare.  Also, the military gives us an allowance for utility costs, but does not give us a "diaper allowance".  So again, if our situation was different I may feel differently, but it's not.  (The savings would still be significant as water is much cheaper than diapers, so on this particular point I doubt that my feelings would be different.)


If you have any other questions feel free to ask and I'll edit the post.  I've done a lot of research but I am no expert, so this is just what my own plans and opinions are.  Plus if you ask me something I haven't thought of yet, I'll just have to do more research!!!