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

Sultana

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.