The diaper works just like a disposable diaper, put baby in it, velcro to size to close. Ta da! Baby is all diapered. Used diaper gets folded up and put in wet bag to wash later.
I feel so earth friendly using cloth diapers and I feel like the cutest Mom ever wrapping my little babies bottom in super cute pastel colored diapers. It all just feels so sweet and natural. I have so many diapers so I only have to do a load every other day and the outside part of the diapers line dry in like...an hour. So far, I find these just as easy, or easier, then disposable except I'm doing a few extra loads of laundry a week. His clothes are staying stain free and his little bottom is avoiding baby rashes.
I also purchased a few of the Flip diapers, which are fabulous (snaps instead of velcro!). They are a bit clumsier to use then the bumGenius, but once you get the hang of it, they work just as well and you don't need as many since the liners are changeable in between diapers (as long as the cover doesn't get any poo on it)
I have two of the cool wahmmies wet bags one for my diaper bag and one for my babies room (found one in a nautical print for Cutters bedroom). They hold the stink in and the lining keeps the bag dry...so you can keep it in your diaper bag while you are out and about.
Oh, I also purchased some of the flushable liners for when/if I need to put baby cream on his bottom. You don't want to use baby creams by themselves with cloth diapers, as the build up on the diaper reduces the diapers absorbency.
Anyway, unless the following weeks show me otherwise, I'm totally sold on cloth diapering.
For any Mom who doesn't mind doing a few extra loads of laundry (I mean, come on, how many of you already do a few loads a week?), and loves to save money on diapers and wipes every month (not to mention tons of room in the trash can) you may want to look into cloth diapering. Granted, like all things in life...cloth diapering isn't for everyone so this post isn't to say everyone should do it...I just think IT'S GREAT!
6 comments:
Missi, I've been looking to switch to cloth myself, but so far haven't made the switch. How much was the initial investment? I know it will save lots once I get started, but I'm not sure we have the funds to make the jump yet (I know, sounds crazy, since we'll start saving when I use cloth...). Anyway, if you don't mind sharing, I'd appreciate it!
Hey Missi, so you have me interested, but like Kerin, I'm curious about initial investment... also, most wash instructions recommend a double wash - cold first, and then a hot wash - do you do this? I'm concerned about how much extra water this would use, since we're metered, and water conservation is something to consider too.
Hey Kerin and Camille,
The initial cost is big. I mean, buying two of the Flip diapers with six inserts, 12 cloth wipes, a wet bag and 200 of those flushable liners cost me $100. Most of my bumGenuis diapers were given to me as part of my baby shower. I knew i wanted to use cloth so I registered for them for my baby shower. My Mom also contributed, my sister and my husbands work.
Each diaper costs nearly $18. If you buy them in a pack then you get a discount, but to buy about 18 diapers your looking at around $300. Simplecloth.com currently has a 10% discount if you buy 24. They recommend 18-24 diapers if you are using them exclusively. Mostly so you are able to rotate the diapers well so they won't wear out as fast.
I have 16 bumGenuis diapers and two Flip diapers. I plan on added to this if needed, right now it's plenty for how much he goes through diapers.
As far as washing goes, so far doing a cold wash cycle with a second rinse, has made my diapers very clean. I ordered Planet detergent online at cottonbabies.com and got free shipping. I haven't found it necessary to do the hot wash, but maybe it will come to that. You line dry the outside part of the diaper and you could also line dry the inserts, I just throw them in the dryer to get laundry done quicker.
Another point to add is my diaper loads aren't as big as a regular load, so I change my water levels accordingly, Camille you may find you still are okay even with doing a load or two extra of laundry a week.
Hope that helps.
Oh, and Mom...I think you'd find these cloth diapers to be A LOT easier then what you used on us as babies. But thank you for wanting to do the best for us and your family:) You are an amazing mother!
Great Missi, Thanks! I'm definitely going to look into it all! Another question - would having a bucket with lid full of oxyclean water to soak diapers in throughout the day help make them easier to clean in wash, without having to do extra cycles... or is that a cleaning agent recommended against to keep the integrity of the diaper?
Camille, not sure about the oxyclean, the diapers have recommended detergents you can use, but I know they say if your diapers stain you can use a tiny bit of bleach on them from time to time. I haven't had any staining issues or cleaning issues yet, so I'll have to see what happens when I cross that bridge and share my thoughts.
Right now I just keep them in a large wet bag and then give them a wash every other day. So far that's working:)
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