WWND? Re: Cloth Diapers vs Disposible

MrsSwanie

So my MIL just called me and told me that her cousins want to buy us a years worth of diapers.  We were talking that instead of using disposible, maybe using the money on cloth diapers, then we would have diapers through potty training.  I've always wanted to do cloth, but am nervous about the extra laundry and using them with our on the go life style.  Please tell me using cloth won't be that much more extra work.  TIA! 

schoolsoutbride

It's really just 2-3 loads o f laundry a week.  Just ask yourself if that is more than you're willing to do.  I don't mess with folding it or anything fancy.

Sunflower22

We did cloth and I didn't find it to be time consuming or difficult. Like schoolsout said, 2-3 loads of wash a week. Plus, they'll last thru PTing

Mrs.Greeko

Cloth is easy.  A couple extra loads of laundry a week, and they are easy to take with you on the go.  And honestly you will probably be on the go a little less with a little baby anyway... 

btrflypoet

We CD and LOVE it!  I don't feel like it's that much work.  I wash typically every 3 days.  There have been some learning moments with stink or yeast, etc.  On the whole I despise doing disposables vs. cloth (and we have had to do disposables a few times).  If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't buy any pockets.  We use prefolds that just tuck easily into the cover ( http://weehuggers.com/).  It's nice because PFs are very forgiving and it's nice to not have to restuff the diapers.  We made the switch back to PFs (which we did when she was a newborn) because her legs are so skinny that we had huge leaking issues.  

 I have a very on-the-go friend -- like crazy traveling all over the place, etc.  She CDs and loves it too.  I think she got a lot of GroVia's 

AnneEB

I agree with pps, I do diaper laundry every third day and it's not a big deal once you figure out a good washing routine. I would suggest trying different kinds of diapers, babies fit different brands in different ways, or you may learn that you have a preference for one over another. I think some online place will do a trial pack, but if I were you I'd go to Giggling Green Bean in the Higlands to see all the types and get an idea of your options.

maddie80

I am currently debating the same question.  I keep going back and forth between cloth and sposies.  I CD'd my DS until he was one, but stopped after that because his daycare didn't take cloth and it didn't make sense to do it just at home for us.  I don't know if I want to do it with DD because I'd have to buy a whole new stash of diapers (I sold my old ones) and I can hardly keep up with laundry for our family of 4 as is.  BUT, cloth is super cute, and if you can find dipes that agree with your baby's skin, it's awesome.

RyanandManda

We love cloth.  DD never has a diaper rash despite having very sensitive skin.  We have a few diapers that secure with velcro so when anyone other than DH or I are doing diaper changes, they're as easy as disposables.  I do diaper laundry every 2-3 days and it's not hard.  You get a system down and it becomes second nature.  Diaper laundry is easy laundry, it doesn't even need to be folded, really ; )

I suggest going to a local store where they sell CD's if you can so that you can see the different types in person (Naturally Loved holds a CD class every once in a while which is free).  You never know what's going to fit your baby until you try so a diaper trial might be nice.  

 Since they want to give you a gift, perhaps you could do an online registry of a few different kinds to try and then have them get those to begin with and add to it later after you decide what you like best??  I will say that we used disposables for the first month of Emma's life (learning how to take care of a baby was hard enough, I didn't feel the need to pressure myself into learning how to cloth diaper at the same time) and it was nice to not have to worry about diaper laundry during that time.  Perhaps ask for a box or 2 of NB or size 1 diapers so that you have time to experiment with CD types and build a stash without having to do diaper laundry every day! 

smilelari

schoolsoutbride:

It's really just 2-3 loads o f laundry a week.  Just ask yourself if that is more than you're willing to do.  I don't mess with folding it or anything fancy.

this.  the diaper laundry is the easiest.  wash, dry, remove from dryer, done.  we stuff diapers as we need them