Considering using Cloth Diapers for first time?

Brenda - posted on 04/19/2010

Go to Mother's Haven at 2112 N. Government Way in Coeur d'Alene, or check out their website at www.mothershaven.com. They have a great selection of cloth diapers and a knowledgeable staff. They also have a free cloth diapering class once a month where you can learn about the different types of diapers and how to care for them.

Tessa - posted on 04/19/2010

If a babies bum is constantly damp in cloth it is either because the nappy isn't absorbant enough or it isn't changed soon enough. You can also add certain material liners inside to be certain there is no moisture against the skin.

Heather - posted on 04/18/2010

rent some? didn't know there was such a thing, but hey, what can't we do these days! lol, I think I might at least seek out a mom through our church who uses/used cloth diapers & see if I could borrow just 1-2 to play around with/try out at home to see how I feel about them. I've heard so much about the environmental benefits of cloth I guess I didn't think too much about their little tushies... I just always think of cloth as being so "breathable" that I wouldn't have considered that the disposables are quite effiecient in not just absorbing moisture, but drawing it away from the skin. I appreciate all the feedback!

Gillian - posted on 04/18/2010

i agree with the benefits of cloth nappies - and i started using them on my first child. however it didn't last long as i found they did not good for their bums! say a child pees in a disposable - the pee is taken away from the skin - however with the cloth ones it sits against their skin - i was changing them constantly - if you think a child pees non stop as they have no control.my sons bum was always damp. also if i was out for the day anywhere i hated having to carry 4/5 dirty nappies in my bag or under the pram. i have a friend who has had a great success with them - though now her son is wanting to walk she has moved off them as they are restrictive. best to maybe rent some and see how you get on before investing loads of money.

Shanna - posted on 04/17/2010

go to madebymama.com they have different variety of cloth diapers plus more

Johnny - posted on 04/17/2010

I've been using fitted organic cotton cloth diapers with covers for almost my daughter's whole life (20 months). I love them. They are easy for diaper changes, the diapers have snaps and the covers have velcro. They wash very well, dry quickly and I can just hang them out in the sun to bleach any stains that are needed. I use biodegradable, unbleached, flushable liners to keep the poop from sticking to the diaper and make it easy to dump in the toilet, which really lessens any staining and means you don't have to rinse or use the wet pail method.

The brand I use are Mother-ease http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mother-eas... I started using the one-size diapers when she was about 10 lbs (until then I used a diaper service) and she is now 30 lbs, is still in the same diapers and has lots of room to grow. The only time I've had a leak was when her grandpa forgot to put the cover on over the diaper. They are sooo absorbent. I have also only had one or 2 poop blowouts in the cloth, but I've had several when I have been traveling and using disposables, so I think they have been way better in that department. My daughter also never had a diaper rash until she was about 14 months.

I spent about $500 on 30 diapers and I've spent about $75 on the covers. Given the amount of time that she will be using them for, it has been a HUGE cost savings, although it is a big upfront cost. There is no way I could have diapered her in disposables until she was potty trained for that kind of money.

We use them all the time (except when we are traveling by plane - too bulky to pack). Otherwise, we never have the need for disposables and it has been super easy. My husband has found it great to do as well, and we all know how keen men can be on these kind of things, lol.

Tessa - posted on 04/17/2010

I'm personally using Baby Beehinds now after so many positive reviews by other mums.



I started with flannel flats that need folding and pinning.

I have tried Bumgenius but wasn't happy with the fitting. They leaked out the sides of the legs. They are a pocket nappy. I have tried BBH's All In Ones and they are good because they just go on and off, no cover required but not as absorbant as my new BBH's.



My new Baby Beehinds are Bammboo Fitted nappies that have plastic snaps and fit from newborn to toilet training. They do require a cover but I'm most happy to use one as they are much more absorbant than the All in Ones I have tried.

They are also more natural because they dont contain as many synthetic materials/components as the others. I prefer to use wool covers for the same reason. the bonus with wool is you don't have to wash it after very use and is a naturally antibacterial and breathable material.



Modern Cloth Nappies are so simple to use. They're just as easy to use as disposables just with the added washing. Such a small price to pay considering the environmental damage manufacturing disposables causes.



Each disposable uses 17 ltrs of water in it's manufacturing. that's 170 ltrs for 10 nappies. I can fit 10-12 in my front loader and it uses ony 80 ltrs to wash and rinse the whole lot. That equates to 8ltrs per nappy I use... less than half of disposables :D



You can order one nappy from each company you are interested in and see which you like best before buying your stash.



I hope this info helps you to make your choice. There are Cloth 'diaper' communities on COM's with loads of info. Try looking up "Cloth Diapered Munchkins"



Good luck in finding the right product for you and your lil man :)

Tessa

Lexie - posted on 04/17/2010

I think I am going to start trying it next month when I start to stay at home with my daughter. A friend of mine uses SmartiPants, and they are one size fits all. She says that they do not leak much...but I know that some people say they use covers and stuff...I don't know...but I want to see where this conversation leads.