In the next up & coming months you will be seeing several cloth diaper reviews and giveaways for my Pregnancy Party / Baby Bash Event. I just wanted to post a few tid bits about cloth diapering.
Here some reasons to cloth diaper:
Health:
Disposable diapers are full of chemicals and are not actually sterilized during processing. For instance look at the recent Pampers issue – several babys getting chemical burns/rashes from the chemicals in the diapers. Disposable diapers are almost never dumped into the toilet (as required by law) before being tossed away. This puts millions of tons of human waste into our landfills, including the dozens of potential viruses and even more bacteria into the landfills where it can leach into groundwater. Disposable diapers take hundreds of years to decompose.
Over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum feedstocks and 20 pounds of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby EACH YEAR
Disposable diapers generate sixty times more solid waste and use twenty times more raw materials, like crude oil and wood pulp
I was cloth diapered as a baby but the diaper systems back when I was a baby 36 years ago where the standard prefolds, pins and plastic pants. Now there are so many different systems to choose from: all-in-ones, pocket diapers, fitteds, prefolds, wool, contours, one size diapers, diapers with hook and loop or snaps!
It costs less, especially if you use one size pocket diapers or prefolds. Your baby will be able to use them for awhile. Plus if you have or are planning on having more children, you pass them along.
I did not cloth diaper my 1st son but with my 2nd son at 5 months I decided to cloth diaper. I purchased a few cloth diapers and I was hooked! My baby now I started cloth diapering her at 2 weeks old after her umbilical cord fell off. Our baby due in December will be fully cloth diapered as well. My toddler is potty trained but still wets the bed at night so he wears pocket cloth diapers, my baby I tried cloth diapering her for night time too but the horrible urine smell I had to switch to disposables (1 time a night). I really hate using disposables for night time use and at times I feel guilty but sometimes as parents we have to do what is best and cloth diapering for her at night right now is not an option. There is never a right or wrong way, it’s what’s best for your family.
For some other great cloth diaper resources go to Diaper Jungle. You can even sew cloth diapers (it’s so easy) they have free cloth diaper patterns.
STAY TUNNED FOR OTHER TIPS ON CLOTH DIAPERING, SUCH AS: What detergents work best, how to wash cloth diapers, cloth baby wipes, making baby wipe solution + more!
Which detergent do you use on your diapers? I found that once I found the right detergent that rinsed out completely the urine (and ammonia) smells got much better. It might be worth a switch.
We made the “official” switch to cloth diapers just this week and I LOVE IT!!! We did a trial period (offered through Jillian’s Drawers)a little over a month ago and tried a few different types to see which ones we liked the best. Last week we were able to go ahead and order enough for both our kids (2 yr old beginning potty-trainee and our 9 mth old) As crazy as it sounds I feel like the kids are cleaner using the cloth vs. disposables and they just look so crazy cute too! Taking care of the diapers has been super easy too….as soon as I put the kiddos to bed at 8, I load the washer with their diapers and put them in the dryer/hang them to dry before I go to bed! Another added bonus with cloth, we now have $80 a month in our budget that can go for something else now instead of throwing it in the trash!
What’s your favorite cloth diaper? We use disposables at night too, because I just haven’t found a cloth solution for nighttime – so if you find one, please let me know?
Jolly Green Mom – I have ALWAYS used Purex Free & Clear – I have never used anything other than this brand & have never had any issues.
I will be doind a post within the month on caring / washing cloth diapers & in that post I will have the best detergents to use for cloth diapering.
Thanks!
Nicole
MaryAnne- I have several favorite brands – I really like pocket diapers: Happy Heinys, Bum Genius, Drybee’s are just a few of my favorites. Yeah unfortunately I do use disposables for my baby at night because of the stink factor!
I look forward to your upcoming posts. I’m not CDing with my son (18 months) but I’m already thinking about if for kid #2 (not even conceived…or ready to be conceived yet).
great post!! i love cloth diapers too. :0)
Check out this site: http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html
I recently started using Rockin Green http://rockingreensoap.com/ made by a cloth diapering mama. It had made a world of difference when it comes to getting a clean rinse.
Just thought I would let you know what works for us to see if maybe it can help you with overnights.
Nicole, I am just now seeing that you are pregnant! Congrats!!!! 🙂 Love the little pregnant mama at the bottom of the page! 🙂
I haven’t used Rockin’ Green (heard great things about it), but I tried Charlie’s Soap, Soap Nuts, and Planet. All had stink and terrible rash issues and I almost quit…until I read a forum on diaperswappers.com and MANY moms said to use Tide. I now use Tide Free powder and don’t have a problem. I also use Bac Out (by Biokleen). I just put it in a little spray bottle and spray the poopy diapers before I put them in the pail. I also wash my inserts once a month with non-chlorine bleach and it gets any stinkies out. Regular chlorine bleach (before I stopped using it in the house) didn’t even work for this.
In your picture on this post are Rocky Mountain Diapers. I have some and I like them enough, but we cannot use them when my daughter sleeps. No matter what, even if I stuff the heck out of them and make the legs tighter, they leak out the legs even during a nap. The snaps also aren’t positioned well and leave marks. Our favorites are Bumgenius, Fuzzi Bunz, and SmartiPants. I also like how Haute Pockets fit, but they fit smaller than the normal OS pockets. I keep going back to BG, they are our old faithfuls.
I make my own extra soakers out of microfiber towels from the automotive area. It’s very inexpensive. I use baby wash cloths as wet wipes and make my own solution.
We love cloth! Hubby was looking for a job for a few months and it was so nice not to have to buy anything!
I can’t wait for your giveaways! I use cloth diapers.
shawna-mygirls.blogspot.com
I am already a follower! I love your blog! Feel free to stop by my blog and enter some fun handmade giveaways! http://heavenlysavings.blogspot.com
Happy Friday! Hope to Blog with you again soon!
I just stopped by for Friday Follow & am your newest Follower . Have a great weekend!!
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Visiting from FF. I didn’t use cloth diapers for my first and not sure I would, but very impressed with the options out there!
These are great reasons for using cloth. With my 5 children I have used cloth during the day and disposable at night. This is mainly because I use towelling squares which I fold myself. I would like to use cloth at night too but I’ve found my baby doesn’t sleep as long because she wakes up wet. Do your babies sleep well at night in the pre-folds? I’m interested in looking into using them at night if my baby will sleep well in them.
Are their cloth diapers that you can use for before the umbilical cord falls off or is it not recommended?
I mentioned your post at Village of Moms
http://thevillageofmoms.com/2010/09/cloth-diapering-what-you-need-to-know.html
Great post–so many great reasons to cloth diaper!
I love your post… I am too addicted! Thanks for sharing.