So, Joe and I have talked about the possibility of using cloth diapers, if not exclusively, then at least in conjunction with our disposable diapers. If you have ever googled “cloth diapers” then you will know that there is a lot of information out there and lots of choices these days. My friend, Jessica, cloth diapers and has written about it on her blog. But, I’ve been more motivated the past few days because Jude has horrible diaper rash on his inner thighs due to the elastic of the diapers rubbing on him. I already have mom guilt for letting that happen, but being a novice mom, things like that are going to happen. So, I hear that cloth diapers are much gentler on baby’s skin.
So, I wanted to start with gDiapers, which are flushable diapers. That’s right folks, flushable. They’ve gotten mixed reviews on the internet, but the starter kit is only $25 and you can pick it up at HEB, so that was my main motivation for starting there. I was just worried about making a big financial investment of the higher end cloth diapers and deciding it was not for us.
But, then I found this on the internet at Baby Cheapskate. Jillian’s Drawers has a program where for $10 (plus a $115 deposit) they will send you their top 5 cloth diaper products to try for 21 days. Then you mail them back and get your deposit back. So, I think I would like to try that next to see if cloth diapering is for us.
So, if you’ve been thinking about cloth diapers, too, you should go over to Baby Cheapskate and enter their drawing for 12 free bumgenius diapers. All you have to do is post a link to the contest and you get an entry.
July 26, 2008 at 8:36 am
I kept 4-5 newborn cloth diapers to have on hand for baby #2 (whenever that might be.) I have a BG one-size, BG AIO, happy heiney’s pocket and a kissaluvs fitted. If any of those aren’t in your starter package, I’d be happy to lend them to you to test out. I also started out with one of the samplers; it’s a nice way to experiment and find what works best for you/Jude.
When Cameron an irritated bum during the newborn days, we’d give her lots of “naked bum” time and that seemed to help. I also would use the lanolin wipes in the purple package if she was irritated more than normal.
Good luck! I’ll be interested to hear about the gDiapers.
July 26, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Poor baby Jude. He’ll be fine I’m sure so no worries Miss Christy. ;o)
July 27, 2008 at 2:00 am
Hi! I found your blog when I was doing a google search on cloth diapers. I know there are a LOT of choices out there and I would be happy to help you navigate the cloth diapering maze. You can check out my site at http://www.simplewondersdiapers.com. A large part of what I do is to help folks figure out the best diapering system for their situation. So please let me know if I can be of some help.
Sultana
July 27, 2008 at 3:49 am
You are making this too difficult. If you have the commmitment, cloth diapers are well worth the effort. All this “high-end” diaper talk I see here is ridiculous.
Get good ole cloth diapers at your local Walmart/Sears/Babys-Kids R Us/Target stores, the plastic (training) pants to go with them or some cute snap-sided “pretty” plastic pants, and diaper pins/fasteners. There are a hundred ways to fold the fit of the diapers so experiment to see what works best for you and your child.
When you’re home, give the baby some no training pant time and loosely fasten the cloth diapers to give the baby’s bum some air time. A cruising toddler with just a cloth diaper is not a danger or inconvenience if you are paying the proper attention. Such will even promote potty training as you will be better able to notice the baby’s subtle actions before a “break”. Also, a capable babe observes the disposal of the contents of a dirty diaper into the potty helps make the connection sooner.
I wouldn’t flush ANY diapers, ‘green’, flushable or not. Water systems have to process waster water and like so many other biodegradeable products will not disintergrate as fast or well as advertised. And if it doesn’t degrade well enough you will be calling the plumber before it gets anywhere near the treament center. Green diapers for use by your daycare or babysitter may be a nice substitute for the landfill, but think of the cash you’ll be putting out.
Nearly all daycares require disposable diapers so if you are going to daycare your baby, be sure if they’ll use cloth diapers. Some home daycares prefer dd’s but often you can find those who will. Mine was great–she allowed cloth and I saved a fortune with cloth for both my kids for the couple of periods I worked during their babydom. Just be sure to provide a decent storage container for transport.
I used cloth diapers on two babies, 1989 to 1993. Only recently I had to toss the last few which had been used over the years for everything from burp cloths to dustcloths to dishrags. Don’t get the oooeys–the dang things properly washed and maintained can be used for most anything. I never had any ’stains’ until those retired from diapering gained them during their second life (dark Old English will stain anything, rust, deep dark kool-aid and red wine).
DD’s are now nearly a necessity here and there. If this is true of any or all of the time baby is not at home, use them. But then switch to the cloth diapers at home covered or not.
It’s all about commitment girls. Cloth diapering is not as hard as you are making it. Use a little more common sense. Beware of the gimicks. If you must get the ‘high end’ cloth diapers, they will still save you oodles of money, and pay for themselves within a very short time. Then use that extra cash to spoil that little one as much as possible.
Don’t blink ladies. Before you know it your wee ones will be college sophomores and high school juniors. Love ‘em, hug and squeeze ‘em, teach be example, and promote curiousity for learning. They are your “lumps of dough” (not bread but play dough) to mold into happy, healthy, loving people.
gkp
July 28, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Wow! Lots of feedback on cloth diapers.
) I applaud you for even thinking about using cloth diapers. (I don’t know that I could do that.) My sister in law had to change diapers when her oldest was getting diaper rash from trying to use some diapers she was given… if you don’t end up going to cloth diapers, you could always try a different brand of disposable diaper. It’s weird how some people like different diapers. You’d think that one diaper would work the best and that would be it. But, I guess everyone has different body chemistry – so that would explain why some people don’t like some diapers. Anyways. I love you and I’ll talk to you later. Sorry I haven’t returned your returned call yet.