Cloth Diapers Revisited

My last blog on cloth diapers was a little flat and didn't really provide useful information so hopefully this one will be more helpful to those interested in cloth diapers.

I am not an expert on cloth diapers but I can certainly point you in the direction of resources with expert info and those who were and continue to be very helpful in our cloth diaper journey.

Lets start with mommy vloggers on YouTube which is where I was first introduced to cloth diapers. If you are remotely interested in cloth diapers I suggest you check out these channels:

Thebubblelush

ObbsandLala

The Cloth Diaper Channel

Information Mommy

Then there is the aspect of buying cloth diapers. Where do you go? If you have a cloth diaper boutique or store that sells cloth diapers in your area then you are fortunate. You have the opportunity to touch and handle the diapers before purchasing. If you are like me and don't have any in your neighborhood you have to depend on the internet to do your shopping. It can be annoying but oh what fun it is to receive fluffy mail. Here are a few online retailers that I use:

Diaperjunction.com
Cottonbabies.com
NickisDiapers.com
Kellyscloset.com

How much does it cost? Diapers can be very expensive. It's what almost turned me off however there are ways to purchase diapers without breaking the bank. The name brands can run anywhere from $20 to $30 dollars each from what I've seen. There are brands like Doopsy, Kawaii, Imagine and Econobum that are more affordable just to name a few. Now most people think with lower cost you sacrifice quality. In this case I don't agree. You have to find what works for your family. For example I'm not a fan of minky diapers (fur on outside). For some reason the texture freaks me out. Also I'm okay with the fabric on the outside of the diaper being a little rough as long as the inside, which actually touches the baby, is soft. There are those that want high quality materials on both the inside and outside of the diaper. So there may be a cheap diaper that has all the qualities you are looking for but it takes some trial and error. It's like finding that perfect pair of jeans. You know the one that has the perfect wash and length and hugs your curves the right way, accentuates the positive and hides the negative. Its like that! So before committing to cloth diapering I suggest doing a trial run with many different types and styles. All of our diapers are one size which means they fit from birth to potty training. So far we have invested around $400.00 and that is because I have developed somewhat of an addiction :).
A number of cd retailers offer a "love em or leave em" program where you pay one rate for a number of diapers and get to try them out for a specific amount of time. If you don't like them simply return the diapers and most times you get your money back minus a small restocking fee.

Another option is to buy used. Yep, at first I felt a little weird about it but don't be afraid to buy used, irregular or seconds. Check the "gently used" or "seconds" section of the cloth diaper websites. They come to you washed and you of course will wash and prep the diapers before putting them on your baby. You can also purchase used diapers from Ebay, Craigslist as well as the websites noted above. BabyCenter.com and Facebook have cloth diaper swap/sale groups. Also the website clothdiaperswappers.com is a great resource for used diapers. Because of these options I don't pay over $14 for a diaper including shipping. Also check out Hyenacart.com and Etsy.com for cloth diapers made by WAHMS (Work At Home Moms). I find the WAHM diapers come in the most unique prints and Moms know exactly what you need in a great cloth diaper.

What do you need? Really all you need besides the cloth diapers are:
Diaper Pail - we use a trash can with a lid Purchased from the 99 cent store.

Pail liner - in the very beginning we used plastic bags which worked fine however we now have a pail liner. It is best to have two so you when one is washing you have a clean liner in the pail.

Wet bag - needed to hold soiled diapers whole out of the house. Zip lock bags will due until you get a wet bag

Diaper sprayer - we used a spray bottle and disposable liners for months before investing in the sprayer now I don't know what we would do without it.

Biodegradable liners - great option for those who don't want to deal with the poop, you just dump and flush.

Cloth Diaper Safe Laundry detergent - must use one free of additivies that can cause build up on your diapers and affect absorbancey. We use Rockin' Green but there are tons more, here is a list of all cd safe soaps. Remember you have to find the right one for your family and it may take going through a few brands.

Cloth Diaper Safe Rash Ointment - necessary to protect the absorbency of your diapers. Using non safe ointment will cause a film buildup which will reject the liquid from soaking into the diaper which means leaks for you. Plus the cloth diaper ointments are all natural which lets face it is better for baby. You can also make your own ointment.

Patience - because my husband and I both have older children we have loads of experience with disposables. Converting to cloth has been a learning experience. Trying to navigate the diaper snaps, deal with leaks and finding the right fit for our baby has caused more than a few tense moments in our household. After a little time we got the hang of it and cloth diapers have now become part of our lives. I like that our children see us using cloth diapers and hopefully one day will do the same with their babies.

Oh and just in case you are still on the fence about cloth diapering use this calculator to compare costs.

Cloth diapers are not for everyone but it's great to explore new or less traditional ways of doing things.