Cloth vs Disposable

Teresa - posted on 07/24/2011

With my first 4 I started with cloth at about 6 weeks because we were given sposies in newborn size. With the 5th we started cloth diapering right away. Be warned, even sposies leak. Breastfed newborns can have some explosive poos let me tell ya...lol.

I totally suggest using sposies at first if you are gifted some and until you are back in the swing of things since cloth does equal a couple more loads of laundry per week.

Prefolds laid in covers are the easiest way to go for the novice cloth diaperer but make sure you get a really good cover with gussets at the legs to hold in poos. Imse Vimse organic cotton covers are my favorites. The contain a poo like nobody's business.

Suzanne - posted on 07/23/2011

I have used cloth since my DD was about 6 weeks. I have had way less leaks with cloth, no nasty runny blowouts with cloth. I started with the cheep prefolds from Wal-mart and my Mom made some fitted ones out of Hubbys old flannel work shirts. I now have prefolds from Cotton Babies, Happy Hines one size and Bum Genius one size pockets.

I do use disposables during long trips because I don't want to haul home dirty diapers. I also use disposables at night. DD is VERY sensitive to being wet and the disposables help keep her dry, which helps her sleep. I haven't noticed any rash from switching between the two. When I do get a rash, I use Earth Mamma Angel Baby Bottom Balm.

Melissa - posted on 07/20/2011

I have heard that they are for 8 lbs and up so you would have to wait a bit. I use disposables for trips and I think that works best. I don't ever have leaking problems and I love using them!

Erica - posted on 07/01/2009

Leaks happen but as long as you change them more often (at least 2-3 hours) you should be ok. I don't like to use them when we are out for long periods so we use G-diapers. They are sorta like cloth diapers with a disposable liner that is biodegradable. That way I don't have to carry around wet diapers!

Ann-Marie - posted on 07/01/2009

Cloth! There are so many reasons. Yes, some cloth diapers leak, but so do disposables. Especially if you get some of the modern cloth diapers like pocket diapers (bumGenius, Fuzzi Bunz, etc) then most of my customers think that they leak LESS than disposables. Usually babies can go back and forth between disposable and cloth, but that's often more work than just sticking with cloth. Using cloth diapers is so much easier than most people think - and washing them in the washing machine really isn't that hard.

Laura - posted on 06/27/2009

I used all disposables on our first and had so many blow outs it was ridiculous. OUr second we started cloth diapering right after she lost her cord stump. We have yet to have any major blow outs and the few minor leaks we have had were user errror (Diaper left hanging out of cover). If I would have known what I know now, I would have used cloth with #1.



And switching beween the two isn't a problem. Some mom's do it all the time. For daycare or nighttimes.

Mary Ann - posted on 06/27/2009

Hi, I usually use cloth diapers, but am in a situation for the next three weeks where I don't have reliable access to a washing machine so am using disposables. In the 9 months that I have used cloth diapers I amybe had two leaks. I have on average a leak every two days with disposables - I hate them!

As well, my little girl never had problems with diaper rash, and now that I am using disposalbles, she has a rash.

I would definitely recommend cloth diapers - I waited until my girl was six weeks - just to give myself sometime to adjust to having a little one and not taking on too much at one time.

Good Luck!

Vilate - posted on 06/25/2009

I have a web page that I set up to answer some CD questions. Feel free to check it out and ask any questions you want

http://www.niftynappybyvilate.weebly.com



I did use cloth from the first on a couple of my little ones. My diapers are made to fit from newborn to training! Love them!

I use wool covers and we have had no leaks since we started using them! :) LOVE wool!

When we stay at others homes I don't want to inconvenience them, so I use disposables. We haven't had to many probs with the switching either.

Good luck and I hope you decide to go cloth! You will be happy you did! :)

Andrea - posted on 06/25/2009

oh sorry i forgot to finishing answering the rest of your question...if i have to stay at someone elses house i buy disposable diapers just because i dont want to ask if i can wash her diapers in thier washer and dryer and its just easier while you are traveling....yhou have enough stuff to carry around...there were no skin reactions for my daughter with switching back and forth...you know also my doctor told me that it was better for my daughter to be in cloth diapers because it holds thier legs farther apart and it gives thier hips a change to really form in the socket,...

Andrea - posted on 06/25/2009

i too had the same questions as you...this is what worked best for me... i started using cloth diapers after my daughter was one month old.. i went to cottonbabies.com and bought bum genius 3.0 they are a one size diaper so you can use them all the way up until your little one is potty training... i bought 18 of them and my total was about 317.00 but i bought them 6 at a time just incase i didnt like them. This is what I have found using cloth... sometimes when you use disposable diapers when they poop it goes all the way up thier backs... with these cloth diapers there is elastic around the waste so that never happened...that elastic waste band really saved me from a lot of mess!! on the down side when i have my daughter in a toy like a jumperoo or a toy that she has to sit in i noticed that her diapers do leak a bit then but nothing real bad just a little damp around one leg... you will save over 1200.00 a year with these diapers and they look just like disposable ones no pins they are super cute and you can even pick your own color... please let me know if you have any questions i hope this was helpful!!



andrea

Meagan - posted on 06/25/2009

I hadn't considered using cloth, in fact, I'd sworn against it, until about a month ago when it occurred to me how much money I would save (I like the environment and all, but that's not enough to make me go through the extra work). We were given a year supply of free diapers for Christmas, but I decided that if we switched now, we could use the rest of those diapers for emergencies and outing and stuff for our next several kids. We've been cloth diapering for about 3 weeks now (since my daughter was 10 months old), and my she's had more rashes than with disposables, but I'm working on figuring out why that is. I also think they are way more bulky than disposables, which I don't really like, but they do contain messes better. I'd say they're worth it.

Temeeka - posted on 06/24/2009

I personally am not a fan of using them from NB! Not sure why- But about 4 months- I think they are a perfect start for Cloth :)
Unless you want to use Terry Flats(which is what I did)

They don't usually get a rash from switching- But you'll need to keep an eye on what Fabric is being used for the Liner of the Cloth Nappies- as they can cause pretty good rashing(easiest Solution is to make your own Liners :) )

Heather - posted on 06/24/2009

My daughter is potty trained now (she's 2. ^_^) but we used clothe diapers from her birth until March. (that's when we started night time potty training and she hasn't been in a diaper since) I loved loved loved my clothe diapers and have no intention of ever using disposables ever. The first time I flew with my dd, when she was 5 months old, I put her in disposables thinking it would be better and easier...really wasn't. And she pooped and it stank more in the disposables than she did in her clothe. lol I can still remember her kicking her legs during take-off and wafting the poop smell to me. lol I always took her clothe diapers with me when I would go and visit my parents although I can't tell you how nice it was on our most recent trip to go out there without her diapers....1 less bag to take. hehe I also used clothe wipes. I belong in an AP Playgroup and a fair majority of us use clothe diapers but few besides me use clothe wipes as well. I always figured what was the point? I'm washing diapers anyway I can wash the wipes at the same time. ^_^

Kate - posted on 06/24/2009

I used disposables for maybe 2 months and have used cloth since. DD is 17 months. I would NEVER switch back, ever. There are far less leaks and messes with cloth, they fit better, they are nicer on DD's skin. They easy to travel with, I've never used disposables for traveling, no matter how short/long the trip. With my next baby (due in a few weeks) we will use cloth from birth. Some people do use disposables on trips but I definitely don't think it's necessary.

Rhonda - posted on 06/23/2009

I started using cloth after about 10 days - once the umbilical cord was gone. I have disposables in the diaper bag for emergencies, but rarely use them. The only time I got a true blow-out leaking diaper was in a disposable - the covers I use seem to keep the poo contained pretty well. I took a 7 day trip to my parents and took cloth diapers since I knew I had laundry available, however, if you are only gone for a day or two, you can bring enough supplies and a big enough wet bag to hold the soiled dipes. My DD has never had a reaction switching between cloth and disposables.

Anitra - posted on 06/23/2009

You can get leaks from cloth diapers, but you will get some leaks with disposables, too. Newborn poo is really runny and can come out with a fair bit of force - most cloth diapers/covers will actually keep it in BETTER than a disposable would.



I've switched to disposables every time we're out of the house for more than 24 hours. (Except for one 4-day trip to my mom's, where I knew I would have laundry access.) My baby's skin gets slightly rashy when we do that, but I just slather her up with rash cream and give her naked time when possible.