Yes, it saves a lot. I
have been doing cloth diapering for 2 years now. This is a subject I feel truly passionate
about because I feel if everyone would just try for a couple weeks to do cloth
diapering then they would feel the same way I do. That it is completely worth it. So this blog is for anyone that is interested
in getting started in cloth diapering and wanting to know more about it. I encourage anyone that is interested to read
the entire blog as it give reasons why you do certain things! There are many things that I have just found
out on the way and wished I would’ve done my research beforehand. I may update this from time to time as I
remember more and more things about it.
How are the diapers now different than your
grandmas?
The diapers now have inserts that you simply put in the
pocket diapers. You add a couple inserts
as the baby gets bigger. Once the diaper
is dirty, you put the whole diaper in a hanging diaper bag until you are ready
to wash them. There are no pins, big
cloths, or plastic pants. I could go on
and on but instead I am going to reference you to the below website:
How much should I buy and how much does it
cost?
I spent around $340 getting started with 22 diapers and 2
hanging diaper bags; however, I waited for Black Friday sales. I bought 22 diapers because I knew I wanted
another baby and bought enough for 2. Fuzzibunz currently has a starter kit for
$316. This includes 12 diapers, diaper
sprayer, diaper hanging bag, 1 bag of detergent, and some wipes which is an
awesome deal.
Where are the savings?
Everywhere! J You don’t have to buy disposables plus no
diaper creams or a diaper genie with expensive bags. The only additional purchase you make is the
cloth diapering detergent which lasts for months. Also, when it comes to washing, my water bill
never went up when I started cloth diapering.
I can’t say how much
you will save since everyone has their own brands of disposable diapers that
they purchase. Simply do the math, take
how much you spend on diapers per week and times it by how long your child will
be in a diaper then subtract your initial cost.
For me, the savings for the girs so far are about $1,000 and for Anna it will be a lot more since I don’t have any startup costs
with her.
What kind should I get?
I went with Fuzzibunz
One Size Diapers for the reasons listed below:
Snaps – They have snaps instead of velcro. Velcro can wear down after many washes plus
can get lint caught in it and make it not stick as well. I have not had a problem yet with my snaps.
Adjustable Elastic – They have elastic in the legs and back of the
diaper that you can adjust to fit the baby as your baby grows so you do not
need to purchase different sizes. This
is great because you can tailor it to perfectly fit your baby whether they have
chubby legs or skinny legs. Also,
Fuzzibunz has an extra set of elastic with each diaper so when the first wears
down, you can simply replace.
Why not perfect size? You
have to buy for each size (Small, Medium, and Large) By the time you spend the
money, the savings are not that much.
The One Size can be adjusted as the baby grows.
What about diaper cream?
Do NOT use diaper creams or ointments. The fleece will naturally pull the water away
from your babies’ bottom plus the creams can ruin the diaper. If your baby gets a diaper rash, use
cornstarch. I personally just bought
regular cornstarch in the grocery isle which works better and is cheaper than
baby powder.
Washing & Drying
This is a big section because how you care for the diapers
determines how well they will work. Some
of this I found out only after having diapers that smelled for weeks so this
section is extremely important. It’s not
hard to wash them but there are a few key things to remember. I have hard water so I include any steps I do
for the hard water.
Wash Cycle: I personally run
a rinse cycle first since I have an HE washer.
After that, run a hot wash load and hang dry them on a pop-up dryer
rack.
Detergent: Use a detergent that is recommended for pocket diapers
as they will not cause a buildup in the diaper.
The buildup will make them not absorb as well. I use
Hard Rock Rockin Green Detergent because it is for people that have hard water. I use 1 tbsp per load and wash my diapers
around every other day. Do NOT use
vinegar. This can cause the elastic in
the diapers to wear down quicker. Also,
fabric softener is a huge NO because it will cause the diaper to repel the
water instead of absorbing it.
Drying: I use a pop-up dryer
rack. Works great and saves even more
money. If you use dryer sheets in your dryer, do NOT
dry these in the dryer as the chemicals from the dryer sheets are on the dryer
drum. If at all possible, try to hang
them in the sunlight as this naturally bleaches the diapers. Days that are extremely hot are awesome for the diapers!
Maintenance: This is just a
section on what I personally feel should be done to the diapers from my
experience. Remember, I have hard water.
Bleach – Every 3-5 weeks, bleach the inserts only. If your diaper smells, this takes care of it.
Stains –
Sometimes the diapers will get dingy. I
just found this cleaner a few weeks ago and love it. Use a cleaner with 1 part original
non-concentrated dawn to 2 parts hydrogen peroxide. Spray on the fleece of the inside of the
diaper. This brightens the diapers.
Look below for more information on washing instructions:
What is a hanging diaper bag?
I bought these instead of the diaper genie. It is simply a bag that you put the diapers in and it has a zipper on the bottom so you can unzip it and let the diapers fall into the wash machine and not have to touch them. It has a handle on it so it can hang. I bought 2 and when I am washing diapers, I add the dirty bag to the wash with the diapers and use the other bag. How do the diapers fit with clothes?
How do the diapers fit with clothing?
These diapers are bigger.
Usually, the diapers upped my daughter an entire size. So, if she could wear 6 months in pants, with
cloth diapers, she wears 9 months.
Are there any cloth diapering accessories I don’t use?
The Sprayer – for me, I can clean my diapers out easily in
the toilet without spending 30-50 bucks on a sprayer to clean them.
The Liners – I don’t think it’s that hard to shake off
anything that’s on the diapers so a liner just seemed unnecessary, plus, it
costs more money.
Used cloth diapers?
Honestly, I know people that have done this. For me, I wanted brand new since I knew it
was for both of my girls. I will say
that people have used this and do like it.
Is there a downside?
If you want to even see this as a downside. I do use disposable diapers occasionally. If I am going to be gone for long period of
time or at night because my daughter still takes 3-4 bottles a night and 1
disposable will last her through the night.
Also, in regards to how often you need to change the diapers. I change my daughter’s diapers every 2-3
hours. With cloth diapering, you have to
change them every 2-3 hours or they will leak out.
Final Thoughts
Whether you think you
can or you think you can’t…..you’re right – Henry Ford
If you think that you can’t do cloth diapering then you will
always find a reason to not like it. If
you think that you can do it, then go out and get started! The biggest obstacle is overcoming the idea
that cloth diapering is outdated or too gross. That it’s just not for you or
you can’t do it. I was nervous starting
this; however, I found cloth diapering empowering because while everyone had to
remember to get diapers at the grocery store, I simply started a load of wash.
I pulled part of my information from the below website:
Stingily Yours,
Michelle
And remember, this is my recommendations from my experience. Check the manufacturers recommendations as there are some things that can void a warranty. I believe everything I did is ok with my brand.
And remember, this is my recommendations from my experience. Check the manufacturers recommendations as there are some things that can void a warranty. I believe everything I did is ok with my brand.
