New Mommy Files: Cloth Diapers Part III

Finally. 

My last post on cloth dipes.

I took a brief hiatus. 

Needed a little break from thinking about baby poo. 

But I have just a few more thoughts to add. 

You can check out what I've already had to say here and here. 

I definitely want to reiterate. 

I'm no poster-child for cloth. 

However, we've been using them for a whole year. 

And will continue until Ly is potty trained. 

And hopefully will use on babe #2 someday. 

(Because let's be honest, that's when you noticeably start to save the cash-monies). 

 Plus, it is nice to jot down everything I've liked.

And not liked.

*That's important too.*

So here is a quick snapshot list of our personal must-haves when using cloth. 

1. Diapers. Well. You obviously need those. Personally, I feel it's worth the investment to purchase a brand that provides reliability and quality. I've talked to a few people who scimped and bought cheaper diapers, then had to replace them. Doesn't that completely go against one of the main reasons to cloth in the first place? You get what you pay for is all I'm saying. We love Fuzzibunz Elite One Size. They typically run about $19 a diaper, and they will absolutely last with a second bambino + any others (whom are not currently in the plans). We really love them because they're sturdy, and you can throw them in the dryer. *Huge selling point for me*

2. On-the-Go Wet Bag. These are the perfect hideout for your dirty cloth dipes when you're on-the-go. I tend to stick with disposable diapers if I plan to be out for most of the day, however, I still need a place to put the cloth diaper Lyla is wearing. I always make sure to pack one of these guys. They're so handy because they fit in your diaper bag, and no wetness or odor leaks out. And you just throw them in the wash with the rest of your diapers. 

3. Bum Balm. Lyla has a super sensitive bum. So, she has gotten mild cases of diaper rash or chapped cheeks from time to time. (With cloth diapers, you can not use any kind of diaper rash cream with zinc oxide or cod liver oil, like Desitin. These creams will cause buildup, and your diapers will lose their absorbency and begin repelling/leaking.) So, we have to use something more natural. I prefer Thirsties Booty Love or Grandma El's Diaper Rash Creme. 

4. Pail Liner. Gotta have a place to put those stinkies. We use a "dry pail system". All that really means is that we throw our diapers into the diaper pail/liner and wash every day and a half. (Rather than a wet pail system...which is exactly how it sounds: wet). We throw all dirty diapers into this Planet Wise Dry Diaper Pail Liner and then throw the entire thing in the wash when it's time. So easy, it's embarrassing. 

5. Diaper Pail. Gotta have a home for the pail liner (see #4 above). We scored a super-cheap pail on Amazon. No need for fancy shmancy. Just need something to contain the odor. And in the case of a few major dirty diapers that tend to stink up the room, we just throw in a Scentsy bar or dryer sheet for an extra boost of freshness. 

6. Detergent. Cloth diapers don't mess around. They can start leaking if you don't use the right detergent. The one we've found to work the best and be the most economical is Charlie's Soap. Which again, we purchase on Amazon. *We're Prime Members, so we get free 2-day shipping. So much better than running out to Wal-Mart.* On Amazon, just $13.00 for some Charlie's Soap. And that lasts about 3 1/2 months or so. 

7. Diaper Sprayer. Highly, highly, highly recommend. Especially at the beginning. And especially if you're breastfeeding. We bought the Bum Genius diaper sprayer, and it's so simple! It hooks up to the waterline connected to your toilet, and it sprays any extra goodies away. It was so helpful when Lyla was exclusively breastfed and hadn't transitioned to solids yet. The dirty diapers needed some extra help really getting clean, and rather than the old days of swishing it around in the toilet, this sprayer does all the work for you. I don't use the sprayer as much these days though as I just plop everything in the toilet. But every once in awhile, I still need to sprayer. *Bonus: Can be used as a bidet as well. ;)

Well there you have it.
Hopefully you don't think I'm too weird.
Clothing really is fun.
And *gasp* not that hard.
And *double gasp* considered cool in big cities.

So that makes me cool.
Right?

New Mommy Files: Cloth Diapers Part II

It's funny.

Having recently gone on vacation, we exclusively used disposable diapers for two weeks. 

My best friend asked me, "Is it going to be such a pain to switch back to cloth?"

I really pondered on that. 

Because, man it was nice to not have to worry about cloth.

No need to launder diapers every other day.  

No fear of finding a stinky diaper lurking in the depths of my diaper bag.

Just change, roll up, throw away. 

But you know something?

I actually *missed* cloth. 

There was something quite comforting about coming home to cloth. 

I guess I'm a sucker for routine.

An intense creature of habit. 

And cloth diapering has become part of our everyday life. 

Well, anyway. 

If you missed the first part of this post, go check it out!

The Lazy Man's {Brief} Guide to Cloth Diapering 

Part II: Our Favorites and Daily Routine

Like I said in the last post.
We are probably not the poster children for cloth diapering.
But this is our personal guide.
Our favorites.
Our routines.
Our helpful tidbits.

So, let's just start from the beginning.

Cloth Beginnings. 
We didn't start out with cloth. Lyla left the hospital in a disposable, and we continued to use disposables for the next couple of months.
1). Because we couldn't justify purchasing newborn size cloth diapers when she'd only use them for a few months and
2). Because we'd never changed a diaper before in our lives. So we figured we should probably master the basics first.

But, we knew we wanted to do cloth.
We knew we wanted to save money.
Both of our mamas used cloth on us.
And some of my favorite bloggers cloth (a clear and obvious reason to make such a large commitment, right?)

And although cloth diapering may be super trendy in big cities, it is considered back-woods in Wichita.
*the irony*
I can't tell you how many, "You touch your child's poop?!?!" looks we get.

But we like to go against the grain.
Well, Gabe likes to go against the grain.
But I want to shout from the rooftops, "I'm totally normal. I don't touch poop, I swear!"

Anyway.
We did lots of cloth research leading up to Lyla's grand entrance.
And some of my friends graciously hosted a shower where we received a good cloth inventory.
Then we purchased a good amount with gift cards.

We used disposables until Lyla was about 11-12 weeks old.
We started using cloth one week before I went back to work.
*I really don't recommend that.*
Here I was trying to figure out how in the world I'd make it out the door with clothes on, let alone trying to figure out a cloth diapering system.
In hindsight, I should have gotten into a good routine about a month before going back to work.

But once we got into a routine, we actually enjoyed it.
It just became part of our day.

Our Favorites.
Sends me into a tailspin just thinking about all the decisions to make when it comes to cloth.

So we researched a lot.
Talked to friends who use cloth.
Experimented with different brands.

After reading hundreds of blog reviews and doing a lot of research, I was sure that we would stock up on Bum Genius All-in-Ones.
They are on the pricier end of cloths.

But well worth the initial investment.
Plus, so many in blog land raved about Bum Genius.
So we went to a local baby shop and bought two Bum Genius Freetimes to test out.

We loved them.
Sturdy. No hassel with stuffing. Adorable.
But there was a downside.
A *big downside* for this working mama.
They cannot go in the dyer.
And they take a long time to hang dry.
Especially when it's too cold/dark/wet to dry outside.
So, they came in at a close second for me, personally.
(We also tried Grovia and Bottombumpers brands.)

So our number one cloth diaper pick?
*Especially for working moms and dads*
Fuzzibunz One Size Elite Diapers.

Love at first wash (and dry).

They have all the convenience of Bum Genius AIO's.

But you can dry these bad boys in the dryer.
*Huge* bonus.
And in addition to multiple snaps to help properly fit baby, they have elastics on the inside that you can adjust.

However, they are technically considered a pocket diaper.
So there is an extra step that AIOs (All-in-Ones) do not have.

That "extra" step simply involves stuffing the diaper.

A step that literally takes 3 extra seconds.

The fact that they are a pocket diaper is exactly what makes them so easy to dry.
Because there isn't as much bulk and fabric attached like the AIO diapers.

How many do I need?

We have 17 diapers total.
12 of those are our beloved Fuzzibunz.
With 17 diapers, we do laundry every other day. 

Why 17?
Well, because we received most of our diapers as gifts.
I think we only bought an additional three.

We always talk about buying a few more.
Just so we could wash every two and a half to three days.
(I wouldn't go much longer than that to wash.
Yucky.)
*I personally recommend 18-20 diapers so there is a nice rotation.*

Daily Routine. 

Our daily routine is fairly straightforward.

We change Lyla's diaper probably about 7-8 times per day. 

If the diaper is wet only, we take out the insert and throw into her diaper pail.

If the diaper is dirty, we either shake off the poo (if it's solid) or rinse off the poo (if it's not solid).  

Then take out the insert and throw the insert and shell into diaper pail.

Every day and a half to every 2 days, we wash the diapers. 

*If we had a few more diapers, we could probably stretch to every 2 1/2 to every 3 days.*

We unload the diapers from the dryer.

Put the diapers in her drawer. 

And stuff right before putting on her sweet little bum.

Amazing stuff, huh?

So Fresh and So Clean. 

I know. I know.

For all you clean-freak skeptics out there, you really just want to get to the bottom line.

How do we clean these things?

Well. 

The steps are really quite simple. 

1). Take out entire diaper pail insert full of cloth diapers. 

2). Dump contents into washing machine (including washable diaper pail insert). 

3). Set washer to 2 rinse - hot cycle. (Any *ahem* residue left on the diaper is taken out after the first rinse).

4). Dry on delicate/low or in the sun. 

Easy.

Peasy. 

Another cleaning tidbit. 

I mentioned that we didn't start clothing (yep. totally a verb) until Ly was three months. 

And she was exclusively breastfed, which totally makes a difference in the "disposal" department. 

I couldn't believe how often a wee newborn could dispose of waste. 

It was a lot.

And it was runny. 

But luckily, breastfed poo's aren't stinky!

(Hey, I like to see the positives.)

So, at the beginning, we used a diaper sprayer.

It just attaches right to the water line for your toilet. 

You just hold your diaper against the side of the toilet.

Press the nozzle. 

And it sprays that nasty off. 

An added bonus?

It acts as a bidet as well. 

*Someone in our household has tried it out. 

And that someone isn't me. 

Hint: He likes to think we live in Europe sometimes. 

(Luckily, when baby starts eating solids, the poo comes right off into the toilet.

No spray necessary.)

A Few FAQs.

Handy Disposables. I always have disposables on hand. Just in case Ly has diaper rash (I mentioned before I prefer disposables so I can use Desitin to clear it up more quickly), or if we're out and about running errands or going to be gone for a long period of time. It's just cleaner and quicker to use disposables. 

Have Two Washable Pail Liners. We only have one right now. Only because I always forget to buy a second. But it would be nice to have two so that you always have a liner in the diaper pail. I can't tell you how many times I haven't had a liner in the pail and have had to just stack the diapers on top of the pail....wait, yes I can tell you how many times...this happens every single time I wash the diapers. So, just get two. 

Wipes. I started out using cloth wipes too. They worked just fine. However. It was one more thing packed onto my already on-the-verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown schedule. So, I eliminated the extra step. Now, we happily use disposable wipes. I wipe Ly's toosh, throw away into the garbage basket, and then put the cloth diaper in the diaper pail. 

Nighttime. Lyla's been sleeping 12-13 hours for a solid 8 months. And when I say solid, that means she doesn't wake up at all. Or if she does, she goes right back to sleep. That being said, she never receives diaper changes in the middle of the night. So, I put one insert inside the pocket of the diaper and another insert laying inside the diaper. Double the absorbency. Works brilliantly. 

Mmk.
I've been writing this post for way too long.
And you've been reading this post for way too long.

That is, if anyone is still out there. 

*Crickets. Crickets.*

I was planning to also share specifics on products we use. 

But this is your lucky day.
Because my wrists hurt.
So, I'm going to add on a Part III.
Lookie there.
Look at me being spontaneous and daring.

So more to come.
On the exciting world of baby waste.

Also, I linked up with Kristin for Baby Talk Tuesdays! Go over and say hello. :)

 

New Mommy Files: Cloth Diapers Part I

Name something cuter than a baby's bum.
Yeah.
I couldn't think of anything either.

Well.
I'm not going to be talking about baby bums per se.
But I do get asked a lot of questions about cloth diapering.

Some simply find it intriguing.
Others find it quite horrifying.
While many are interested but don't know if it's worth the hassle.

Regardless, I get asked a lot of questions.

Mostly about whether or not we touch our baby's poop.
So, let's just get that part out of the way right now.
*I have never, nor do I plan to ever, touch my baby's poop.*
More on that, later.
How excited are you?

Honestly, Gabe and I probably aren't the model cloth diaper users.
We like easy.
And convenient.
Mostly, we are much too busy to fulfill our lurking inner hippie.

That being said, I get overwhelmed with where to even begin on talking about cloth diapering.
I mean, there are entire websites and blogs completely dedicated to the topic.
So this is just a very brief encapsulation of my thoughts.
Spewed out onto the page.
The lazy way, I guess.

The Lazy Man's {Brief} Guide to Cloth Diapering
Part I: Pros and Cons

First thing's first.
Why in the world would we choose cloth?

I've said it many times before, I like a good challenge.

So of course choosing to diaper my child with something that involves somewhat-of-a-process seemed very well-fitting. 

Plus, the more I read about cloth diapers, the more I realized that it was totally doable. 

And they're nothing like the old school little square cloths with pins back in the ol' days. 

Right, Mom?
Cloth diapers have come a long way, my friends.

Why Cloth Diapers are Great (Pros)

Saves Money. This is the clear and obvious reason. I'm a Frugal Fran. Love to save me some pennies. I don't remember getting a weekly allowance as a child, but when I got money for any occasion, it went straight to my piggy bank. 25 years later, and it's still there.

Now people tend to argue, "but your water bill goes up", "you have to buy special detergent", "cloth diapers themselves are so expensive!" Yes. All true. But doesn't matter. You still end up saving money in the long run. And because I'm not a numbers person, I'm going to leave it to the experts like mint.com (whom we've used for personal budgeting) and I Heart Budgets (an expert budgeter) to show you some magic numbers. Depending on how you cloth (e.g. how many diapers, which brands, how often you launder, etc.) determines how much you save. But bottom line? You save. A lot. Especially over the course of time...and with any additional babes.

*Cloth diapering alone saves a lot of money. But, a couple of ways I pinch a few more dollars is by purchasing this detergent via Amazon Prime and by line drying the diapers outside when it's nice out. Now that I'm home more, I'm actually able to do this. {Bonus: The sunshine is a natural and complete stain remover. Seriously. It's like magic.}

No Blowouts. Ah. The infamous blowout. Of course they always happen at the most inopportune times. Church. Dinner with a friend (who does not have children). Smack dab in the middle of grocery shopping. One of the less adorable experiences of parenting. But the moment we switched to cloth, absolutely no more blowouts. True story. Lyla has never, ever blown out of her diaper while wearing cloth. However used to have them somewhat frequently with disposables.

No waste. Now. I love the earth. I do what I can to help our earth. And I may or may not have cried while watching The Lorax. But contrary to what one may believe, I am not an environmentalist. However, cloth diapering is pretty pat-yourself-on-the-back worthy in the environmentally friendly department.

Having a baby alone has increased our trash output exponentially, so I can't imagine what it would be if we used disposables. Yes, we use *a little* more water and electricity with CD's. But those utilities went up in general after having a baby. And I really like the idea that we're not adding to the mile-high mounds of waste in the landfills. That just sit there. For 1,000 + years. Plus it's two or three less hauls from inside the cubbard to the big trash can outside. *Hence "Lazy Man's Guide".

They're Cute and Comfy. Remember those cute little baby bums I talked about earlier? I love that Lyla is so comfy in her super-cute, cotton cloth dipes. Almost as much as I don't love the idea of her sitting around in chemicals all day. {Seriously, just google "chemicals in disposable diapers."} Plus, cloths are oh-so-soft. Not to mention oh-so-cute. Perfect for that sweet little bum. Plus, apparently some celebrities use them. An obvious reason to go run out and drop $300 to get you started.

But let's get real.
Like anything else, there are also cons to cloth diapering.

Why Cloth Diapers Stink (Cons)

Another To-Do on the List. Cloth diapering definitely isn't the most convenient. Especially for the working mama. It's not quite as easy as 1. take off diaper 2. close up diaper 3. throw away diaper. 4. never think about said diaper again.

Actually, I take that back. It is exactly that easy. But you just add another step in there. It's the other step that some moan and groan over. *Myself included*. It's washing and drying the diapers after throwing them "away". {Every other day in our case.} I can't tell you how many times last year I'd sit down to relax, only to realize that I needed to wash the diapers. Doesn't seem that annoying...but when you have approximately 17 other things needing your attention, it's not exactly a treat.

Not for the Faint of Heart. So, I mentioned that I've never touched my baby's poop. That's not entirely true. I did once. It was an accident (one would hope so), but it had nothing to do with using cloth diapers. Nevertheless. Cloth diapering can be a bit...gross. Because the poo does have to go somewhere, regardless of if you have to touch it or not. And dirty diapers do sit in a pail for a couple of days. So this can lead to some stink if you're not careful.

But you know what? Pretty much everything that goes along with having a baby can be a bit gross. *See previously mentioned "blowouts". Not to mention the multiple outfit changes (for all parties involved) caused by a slew of bodily fluids during the newborn phase. Need I go on?

High Maintenance. For something so earth-crunchy-granola, cloth diapers are spoiled little princesses. They have to use special detergent, some have special washing/drying instructions, some can't be dried at all, and you have to use specialty diaper ointment in the case of diaper rash. Kind of obnoxious.

Sometimes Leaky. Cloth diapers really shouldn't leak. At least all manufacturer instructions says so. But ours have had some minimal leakage during different phases. Most of the time, it's if Lyla has gotten too big for the current diaper size. So it's just a matter of releasing some of the elastic or going down a snap. Another time, Ly started having more wet diapers, so I simply needed to change her more often. One thing I haven't tried, which is often recommended, is doing an occasional stripping of the diapers. It's just finding the time to do that...

**Side note: One thing I do get asked somewhat regularly is if we've noticed more diaper rashes with cloth. And the answer is no, not more than with disposable diapers. Lyla has slightly sensitive skin, so sometimes gets rash-y with new foods, excessive heat, or being wet. I'm just more aware of her sensitivity. And when she does have diaper rash, I personally switch to disposables so we can clear it up with Desitin ointment. (Even though there are more cloth-friendly natural remedies).

So there you have it.
An introduction of sorts.
Into our personal world of choosing to use cloth diapers.
A world we love.
{And on the rare occasion hate}.
But those moments are fleeting.
Because we really do enjoy clothies.

Up next with Part II...
Our favorites, routines, how we manage cloth, and some helpful tidbits.

**I linked up today with Miss Kristin over at Busy Bee for Baby Talk Tuesday!

**Also, we said a sad goodbye to Google Reader this month. So go ahead and follow me on BlogLovin if you haven't already!