Showing posts with label cloth diaper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cloth diaper. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Cloth Dipaper Misconceptions

I've been cloth diapering for over 3 years now, and still enjoy it! I have a clothes line now too so I can use the super powers of the sun and wind. (Those super powers include removing stains while drying clothes without effecting my energy bill). You can check out some of my other posts about cloth here.

I'll agree that cloth diapers aren't for everyone. If you are as passionate about disposable diapers as some are about politics and religion, then cloth is not for you. But otherwise, its worth considering.

First, I want  to clear up a few misconceptions. Then I'll share some other details in another post.

"I don't want to deal with poop"

If poop grosses you out that much, you might want to reconsider having children. Unless you have a full time nanny or you are really good at elimination communication, you will be dealing with poop. And whether you cloth diaper or not, raising children will include a fair amount of various bodily fluids, including poop. Just accept the fact that there will be things like pee, poo and throw up on clothes, in beds, and on you. Or cover your house, furniture and floor in plastic and wear a rain coat all the time.

That being said, cloth diapering has not increased the amount of poop I have to handle (unless I'm doing the flats and handwashing challenge). Breast fed poop is water soluble so it goes straight from babies bum to the wet bag to the washing machine. And since EBF poop is also more prone to blow outs, I highly recommend cloth diapering for as long as the baby is breastfed, even if you don't want to after. As far as dealing with more solid poops, there is a multitude of ways to do that.

"Cloth is too much work"

That's completely a matter of perspective. Choose the system that's best for your needs. You have to deal with the diapers before and after the baby wears them either way. Would you rather have more trips to the store(or online orders) or a bigger up front purchase and more laundry? Would you rather have more stinky garbage or laundry? And if laundry is your nemesis, there are cloth diaper washing services available, and probably neighbors that would be willing to do your diaper laundry for some extra income.

"Cloth smells funny"

This may be true if the wash routine needs tweaked. Otherwise, I prefer the smell of cloth over plastic but that's personal preference.s

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Gratitude for Flats and Handwashing Challenge 2014


Well, I did the Flats and Handwashing Challenge again this year, this being the 3rd year in a row. I obviously haven't been good about blogging about it, but I was really good last year! So, this is my final (and only) post for the challenge this year. I've been enjoying lots of other stuff like learning more about things related to Foot Zoning so blogging hasn't been a big priority.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge 2014

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Flats and Handwashing 2013: What Did I Learn?

Even though I already use flats all the time and did this event last year, I still learned from it. The Flats and Handwashing Challenge has been a great experience and I'm glad I participated.

I learned (in no particular order):
  •  that I can do hard things
  • to be grateful for the resources I have
  • that while it really isn't that difficult to hand wash diapers, it can still be one more thing that is just too much. Many times this week, my diapers have been clean but my house has not.
  • that children deserve clean diapers, and there are plenty of alternatives to what is considered "the norm"
  • I would rather use cloth diapers and hand wash than use disposables
  • that I have a great deal of respect for moms and caretakers that do this full time
  • I am extremely grateful for a supportive and helpful husband
  • to appreciate my own parents more. Caring of children is hard work, regardless of the resources you do or don't have available.
  • washing by hand is quicker than a machine
  • drying in the house is a lot slower than a macine
  • planning ahead and staying on top of things makes everything much easier
  • the simplicity of going back to basics can be refreshing, even if it is also challenging
  • I am most effective when I'm rotating through about a dozen diapers
  • I'm grateful to have spare diapers available when I get behind on washing or want to take a trip or a day off
  • I'm grateful for the "splurges" I have of a bamboo flat and nice covers (although the covers were more important last year)
I'm taking a day of rest from washing my diapers, so here is the pile I get to tackle tomorrow.
Other posts from the Flats and Handwashing Challenge 2013: 

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Flats & Handwashing 2013: Baby vs. Toddler

I enjoyed doing the Flats and Handwashing Challenge last year too. Of course the experience was very similar in a lot of ways, but there are a lot of differences too. There were some differences in our overall situation too. We lived at a different place last year, and we have a cooler showerhead this year.

Baby

Baby
Of course, there are plenty of obvious differences in babies and toddlers. I was just getting used to  taking care of a baby and the whole diaper thing last year and this year I know what I'm doing. Here are the highlights of last year:


  • Little babies are squirmy, but not as wiggly as a toddler
  • Flats are still trim, but bulkier on a little baby
  • Lots of diaper changes
  • I could usually just fold the flat in quarters and wrap it around
  • Breastfed poop is water soluable
    • Don't need to pre rinse
    • Lots more (and messier) poop to deal with

Toddler

 

I mentioned yesterday how Critter likes to "help" more this year. It is nice I can have him entertained nearby, but sometimes not so convenient. Here are other high lights.

  • Less diaper changes! 
    • More potty time
    • Less frequency, more in the diapers
  • Wiggly baby, but at least he is used to it. Sometimes he is half way across the room by the time the diaper is folded.
  • I'm using different folds, ones with wings seem to work best
  • Poop goes in the toilet now - hopefully his toilet :)
Either way, we are still enjoying the flats, and it is fun to see baby playing with the flats too :)


Other posts from the Flats and Handwashing Challenge 2013: 

Friday, May 24, 2013

Flats & Handwashing Day 5: How Goes It?

Today, for the Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper laundry, I get to write about what is working and what isn't. 

Like I mentioned yesterday, there are certainly things I would change if I were doing this long term, but overall, I think things are going well. It takes some time, but that is OK. In fact, this week it has been good because then my baby can breath in the steam to help his congestion.

Rinsing in the tub (free toys included with toddler help!)


Thursday, May 23, 2013

Handwashing (Flats Challenge 2013, day 4)

Handwashing diapers is definitely the biggest change to my normal routine since I already use flats. Like I said yesterday, the simplicity and back to basics approach is kind of a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the world. Even so, I think I would make some changes if I were to do this long term instead of just for a week.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Cloth Diapers Can Save The World! (Flats and Handwashing: Day 3)

What do George Orwell (author of 1984, Animal Farm and other satires) and I have in common? We both like to write (although in completely different styles) and we both believe that cloth diapers can save the world!

Ok, I know that sounds like a pretty grandiose claim (but I caught your attention, didn't I?). Let me explain how I believe this is all possible. Today's post for the Flats and Handwashing Challenge is going to take a step away from the logistics of it and talk about the beauty of cloth diapering!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Flats and Handwashing 2013: Day 2

For this weeks Flats and Handwashing Challenge, I have a variety of diapers and other tools I'm using. The diapers are ones I already use full time.
  • 21 osocozy flats (we keep 3 in emergency storage) = less than $60
  • 3 Walmart flour sack towels = less than $5
  • 1 bamboo terry flat = about $13
  • 4 covers = less than $40 
  • 20 wipes = about $20
  • Snappis = less than $5
Diaper & wipe total: less than $145
 
This is my stash. In case you were wondering, that is a BUM-ble bee on top. Tee-hee.


The bamboo flat is new, but I've been using everything else for quite some time. Most of the flats were used for the challenge last year too. We have a handful of prefolds we often incorporate, especially for nights.

I could get by with less if I wanted, but it is pretty awesome to realize that ALL my diapers from birth to potty training (and we can use them again on the next kid) cost just over $100. And I use the diapers and wipes as burp cloths, snot rags, nursing covers and whatever else is convenient at the time!

If I had sewing skills or really wanted to save more, I could easily save more money, but I think this is still a pretty good deal! My son is over 14 months old now, and we have only spent a little over $100 on diapers (I often found better deals than the prices listed above) and about $26 on wipes (I keep some dollar store disposable wipes on hand for traveling).

Usually I use a wetbag as well, but this week I'm just tossing stuff directly in the tub. There are also a few other items I'm using for hand washing that I use more than just this week, or for more than diaper purposes. You can see some pictures of them in action in yesterday's post.
  • A super awesome showerhead that doubles as a diaper sprayer
  • Mini plastic washboard = about $7
  • Small green pail = $3
  • Froggy Potty for conserving diapers a few times a day (and when we are lucky, making #2 easier to clean up)
  • Clothes drying rack
  • spray bottle with water + Essential Oils
  • Country Save detergent
Even with splurges like a nice cover (I have the "Hoot" pattern), or a bamboo flat, I still feel like we are saving a lot of money compared to disposable diapers, plus I love that I don't need to ever go to the store to get diapers.

Airplane fold (just learned it on facebook) for our night time diaper!

Other posts from the Flats and Handwashing Challenge 2013:


Other posts from the Flats and Handwashing Challenge 2013: 

Monday, May 20, 2013

Flats And Handwashing Challenge 2013: Day 1


Part of what I love about cloth diapering is the community aspect. I can be surrounded by total strangers and some random mom sees a diaper peeking out of my son's pants and says "Oh! You do cloth! What type of diapers do you use?" We make a special trip to go and buy diapers and I'm friends with the person I buy from. How many parents do you know that look forward to buying diapers?

Then of course there are big events like the Great Cloth Diaper Change (So far I haven't been able to go because of scheduling, but I want to!) and the Flats and Handwashing Challenge. These sort of events make diapering a fun activity instead of just a drudgery to be endured. This year I'm excited to be participating in the Flats and Handwashing Challenge and to be blogging about it!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Considering Cloth Diapers? Points to Ponder


Before Critter was born, we decided to look into cloth diapers. My husband wanted to save money, and I was pretty sure I wasn't interested in the idea, but I would look into it to make him happy.

I had no idea what I was getting into.