giving up on cloth....

Birgit - posted on 01/29/2010

I still switch back and forth between disposables and cloth. When we go out I usually put on a disposable and when my son sleeps, he gets a disposable. He's a heavy peer and he tends to leak out no matter what I do. I was getting lazy about our cloth diapers too but I think it was because I hadn't found a kind I liked. I tried the Gerber pull on vinyl pants. Hated them. They rip so easily and they are bulky and harder to get on a squirmy baby. Then I tried the Prorap basic covers. I didn't like those because they are velcro closures and my son constantly ripped them open, leaving the diaper trailing behind. Then I tried some from A better world. They have velcro and a fastener in the front. Both kinds require an insert so I used Chinese prefolds. It was awful though because he always leaked and now he's 15 months and getting him to sit still while I put on a prefold and a cover- yeah right! So I started depending on our disposables. Then I went online and started researching more about cloth diapers. I was curious about pocket diapers because they go on the same way as a disposable. So I found some on Ebay. They have snap enclosures which I was nervous about, but love! They snap on and once the diaper is on, it's secure! And with the pocket, you just pull out the insert when wet and throw the whole thing, cover and insert into the wash. I love them!! They operate the same as a disposable and you can get them with velcro closures if you want. So if people around you are frustrated using the cloth, these are easier to work with. You have them preassembled and then they go on just like any other diaper. And you can get them cheap of Ebay. I started with 10 diapers and 15 inserts so I have to wash every day and a half but I did that because I wasn't sure if I would like them so I didn't want to order a whole bunch not knowing. They are a Chinese brand, Sunny Baby and I was extremely nervous becuase I couldn't find out anything about them. Good news though, they are fantastic. They have cute colors and are super soft and keep my son extra dry. You can find lots of 30 or more diapers for cheap. I paid $45 for mine and that included shipping! Thats cheaper than I have found other for cloth diapers, especially pocket diapers . So I would look online and see if the diaper you have is the right one for you because for me, I am back in love with my cloth diapers and all it took, was trying a different brand and style.

Susanne - posted on 01/28/2010

I used cloth only on my third baby due to older son nagging about the enviroment. I used them until he was potty trained at 18 months old. The only problem i had was at night time they just wouldnt keep him dry no matter how many inserts i used so i had to put him in a disposable at night. Ive kept my nappies and plan to use them again when baby 4 is born in august. Yes its a bit more hard work than disposables but then again every nappy we put on a landfill takes a 100 years to rot. Nappies my mum used on me are still there ewww!

Kristina - posted on 01/26/2010

If you are looking to get cloth or disposables go to diapers.com I have a $10 off coupon you can all use!
Coupon code: SAVE-$10. I bought several bum genius dipes there and they deliver next day!!! (Free shipping on orders over $50)
Cloth dipes RARELY ever go on sale so this is a great deal to take advantage of.
Tell your friends!

Cheryl - posted on 01/24/2010

Susan, did you know about the chemicals they have in disposables? Firstly, they use bleach to get the paper in the diapers white and then, they have chemicals in the middle to hold the moisture in a gel. This is probably why your little one is breaking out. Also, the wipes have many chemicals too. Just use baby washcloths with water--it works just fine! Hope this helps!

Mandie - posted on 01/22/2010

I do it for the savings too! The environmental/ better for baby factor is an after thought for me and dosen't help me when I don't want to wash diapers! Now when I go shopping and I go down the baby isle, that's motivation! I've only once purchased a small package of cheap diapers because I didn't plan for how long i stayed. So in 10 months I've spent $3.50 in sposies. Every time i wash dipes I figure it's $.25-$.30 each diaper I'm saving. I wash about 40 diapers a week saving me $10-15. Over 10 months thats $400! Oh wow! I just figured that out for this post! I'm soooo happy I CD!

Justine - posted on 01/21/2010

thank you all for all your encouraging words! It worked you have transformed me. i went to walmart today and they had a pack of 6 vinyl panties for girls in the clearence section for ONE dollar. cause my other delm was that i only have one cover and now i have 6! but i am probably going to keep my one babysitter who gets her for only 6 hours a week use disposable for now and sooner or later make her use the cloth shes my aunt and i know she used cloth on her kids so its whatever. but thank you all again for all your words!

justine

Kristina - posted on 01/21/2010

What makes using cloth hard for you? That way we can help you trouble shoot. The wrong dipes and supplies can make or break it!

Megan - posted on 01/21/2010

I know cloth can seem harder, I have two in cloth right now. You HAVE to be happy with what you are doing. You change so many diapers a day that if you are saying frustrating things to yourself (in your head) or even out loud, it can really get you down. There is a lot of "psychological training" exercises I have heard of where you just say positive things to yourself over and over again, like "cloth diapering is easier". It really works, just like commercials on TV work. If that is completely down the wrong road from where you are at, go from the comfort of the baby. My 2 1/2 year old boy is almost potty trained, but still wears some of the trim cloth diapers without a cover. He will cry and say " I want nice, soft diaper" whenever I try to put a disposable on him. If you think about it, they really are so much more comfy, would you want to walk around in paper all day? For more encouragement, you could always search for cloth diapers online. All the cute patterns are so fun to look at and the sites usually have great arguments for cloth or blogs to read-nothing like shopping therapy! Also just think not only of your impact on the earth, but your kids will be more likely to use cloth as well, compounding the effects. And what the hey, go part time and give yourself a break so you can come back refreshed, or just maintain a happy medium between the two.
Hope that helps and good luck

Wendy - posted on 01/21/2010

Here's another idea that might help: try the new bumGenius Flip, which allows you to easily move back and forth between cloth inserts (microfleece or organic cotton, or you could use hemp ones you buy separately if you prefer), and disposable inserts (18 of them in a small pack for under $4). This way if you need to use disposables you're "disposing" of much much less than a regular diaper, and you can easily do cloth at home (say on the weekends or nighttime) -- and save money too.

Maria - posted on 01/20/2010

I am also struggling with cloth because despite trying different systems we still have frequent leaks. I can't afford to invest in a new system at this point. I'm tempted to start on disposable while we are out but I know my husband would just start using them all the time. What's keeping me going is the fact that she uses the potty several times a day (using early potty training method I read about in a book called "Diaper Free Before Three") and I think I can see an end to the diapers, hopefully by the time she is 2 and baby#2 comes!

Susan - posted on 01/20/2010

I took a break for several months, but have jumped back into it.

We do use a sposie overnight and when we're out and about. I have found one brand of sposie breaks out his bottom, I think because of the perfumes in it. We can only use one brand of sposie wipes or else he breaks out.

Cloth is better!

Susan

Aimee - posted on 01/20/2010

I totally know how you feel! My LO is in cloth at home but disposeables for a half-day every day at the babysitters. Sometimes I am too lazy--I look at my pretty stack of cloth and then grab a disposeable any way, LOL! It doesn't help that my 8-month-old is tiny and cloth looks so huge on her!! BUT...I am committing this month to get back to using cloth more consistently!! You can do it, too! Start small--one or two cloth diapers a day, and use disposeables overnight (that's what we do). It will make a difference in how many diapers you buy, and you will only be washing cloth every 2-3 days.

Jocelyn - posted on 01/19/2010

Everyone has already given you some great suggestions so I'm gonna do this....
*picks up pompoms*
"ahem"
"Yell for the fuzziebunz
They can't be beat
So watch out disposables
They'll knock you off your feet!
Woooo! " *jumps around frantically waving arms*

and just to reiterate.....

*starts to shake pompoms*
"Hustle (clap)
Get to it (clap)
Cloth diapers (clap)
Let's do it!"

And can you believe that I've never even been a cheerleader!? LOL :D

Cheryl - posted on 01/19/2010

Hi Justine,
I saw your posting and I feel maybe you're missing out on an easier way to do cloth diapers. I get the delivery service through Bear Bottoms and I don't do any laundry whatsoever with the diapers! They pick them up every week and deliver them straight to my doorstep. Don't give up! Try the service!

Sarah - posted on 01/19/2010

Check out cosmeticsdatabase.com. One look at the crap in baby products will have you doing everything you can to minimize chemical exposure.

Hannah - posted on 01/19/2010

I am also struggling to keep up with the cloth.... I used them religiously with my first baby, but with the second I am finding it harder to persevere. She seems more fussy about them and I think maybe a different brand would suit her better (using prefolds) but I can't afford another big initial spend out.

So I mix and match.... use them at home when I can, but out and about I have disposables. It's not perfect but it's a compromise, and I am still saving a bit of money and putting a little less into landfills.

Also this time round I have found I don't actually need to soak - they go straight in to the wash - a rinse cycle first, then wash them with the rest of my laundry! So it can be made easier.

Also babysitters have been let off the hook, it was funny seeing how they came home, people do struggle if they haven't had a chance to practice!

Any time you can still use them is better than nothing.

Kate - posted on 01/18/2010

i agree with u , it can be hard, but it really does cut costs. maybe u could use disposables part time, (i only use cloth when we are at home, if we go out and at night we use disposables), you could try this until the family leaves and u get on top of things again? that way your not completley giving up on cloth.,

Melanie - posted on 01/17/2010

Have you thought about a diaper service? I have one and it's still cheaper than disposals and you don't have to wash anything either. I think if I had to wash, I probably would have switched too. Another bonus is they are delivered fresh and clean once a week and I never have to remember to buy or get diapers from the store!

Yolanda - posted on 01/17/2010

Personally, I don't want to have to run to the store in the cold weather to purchase more diapers, I'd much rather pull out some warm from the dryer clean cloth diapers!! We have 6 adults living in our house, and we still have tons of washing machine time in the morning (all the men sleep in) and nobody minds having diapers in the machine. We are saving TONS of money already! (We do use disposables at Church, because people keep putting his cloth nappies on wrong!)

Nicole - posted on 01/17/2010

Well, if you are really committed, you can make your feelings known to your babysitters, and if they respect your decision, they should have no problem with the cloth diapers, too! Just think of the money you are saving with them, and they are so much better for your baby's skin.

Kat - posted on 01/15/2010

even using cloth part time is better than not at all, for money and for health. could you get your nephew on cloth? then It may be more "worth it" to run the washer.

Genevieve - posted on 01/15/2010

Look at it this way don't think about mother earth think of you childs health. Disposable diapers are filled with chemicals that can cause cancer, asthma, allergies among many other things. Plus they are believed to lower sperm counts in boys.

Jenny - posted on 01/13/2010

go cloth! :) Just think of how much money you save each time you use a cloth diaper instead of a disposable. :) That's why we use them.

Megen - posted on 01/13/2010

Here's a stat that made me think. The stuff they took OUT of tampons because it was linked to toxic shock syndrome is still in disposable diapers.

Amber - posted on 01/13/2010

right now i have no choice but my husband my son and myself live with my sister her husband and her 3 kids.... LOTS of clothes to wash and a small old washer and dryer... its not impossible just have to snag it when you can.... and i seperate my poopie diapers from just the pee pee ones bc they dont really have to soak... makes it a little easyer to keep up

Stefie - posted on 01/13/2010

All it took me to switch permanently to cloth was lugging one huge box of diapers to the car with the stroller!!!
Also, think about how cloth is nice for your babies bottom and does not have weird chemicals in it.
Then remember that cloth diapered babies are more likely to potty train earlier.

Justine - posted on 01/12/2010

i already have the cloth diapers and i used them this summer and almost as soon as i went back to work i stopped using them. i guess i work alot and i have 2 different babysitters one being my mom the other my aunt so its like i dont bother them with it and so on and so forth.



its so true about filling them with s*** and throwing them away. and i guess im kinda being selfish with it too cause she does have sensitive skin and i need to think about that. thanks for the advice everyone

have a great night!

Bethany - posted on 01/12/2010

I spend probably about 20 minutes every two days for my cloth nappies. It is that easy. One half load every two days, then hanging out and then folding. I use terry toweling squares folded, and I have also just bought some Pea Pods, and use folded up flannelette squares inside them.

Do your research, and make your choice. But if you want help working out how to have cloth with the least time spent, let me know, because it's so easy, I couldn't be bothered going to the store and buying single-use nappies when I'm just going to fill them full of s#*@ and then chuck them.

Monique - posted on 01/12/2010

look for used cloth diapers on craigslist or kijiji that's how I purchased most of mine. You can get the diapers for a fraction of the cost and as Brook said, just think of how happy you will make your baby from avoiding diaper rash and all those chemicals.

Brooke - posted on 01/12/2010

Just think about all the good you are doing for your baby by cloth diapering! There are so many chemicals in disposables, less diaper rash and irritation. Plus they will potty train earlier!