I’ve had a few pregnant friends ask me for the low down on cloth diapers, so I thought I would do a post about my experience with them accompanied by some links to good resources if you’re interested in cloth diapering. And local business, Ecological Babies has offered a GroVia AIO in the brand new Woodlands print (which is just adorbs) as a giveaway for you. Hurrah!
When I was pregnant with my firstborn, Benjamin, I considered cloth diapering. I even went so far as to get some covers and prefolds. But when the world’s most colicky and refluxy baby arrived and I had to go back to work at five weeks (criminal, I know!) cloth diapering was just one of those tasks that got tossed out the window in order to maintain my crumbling sanity.
For the second round of motherhood, I decided to give cloth another try and my dearest childhood friend (maid of honor in our wedding) threw me an amazing cloth diaper shower that almost completely set us up for all of Baby Lucy’s diapering needs.
I LOVE CLOTH DIAPERS. Is it weird to love diapers? Well, too bad. I love them. Every time I have to use a disposable now, I cringe.
Here’s a quick run down.
Benefits:
Cloth diapers are cheaper. WAY cheaper, especially if you use them for more than one child. Daniel and I examined our utilities costs and estimate that we spend $5 a month on electricity and water to wash them. I don’t even want to think about how much money we spent on disposables every month for Benjamin.
They don’t contain nasty, toxic chemicals that will be touching baby’s skin.
You’ll get fewer leaks and blow outs. If you’re not yet familiar with this phenomenon, congratulations. A blow out is when poop explodes out of the sides or back of the diaper….charming, I know. It just doesn’t happen much with cloth diapers that fit well. But every time I use a disposable…poop shoots all the way up Lucy’s back, I’m not even kidding. Gross.
Apparently, disposables aren’t great for the environment. Surprise!
Cloth diapers are adorable. Really. Adorable. Big fluffy bottoms!
I have several different brands, but my favorite are probably the GroVia AIOs and Hybrid system.
Generalizing, there are three kinds of cloth diapers:
1. All-in-Ones (put it on like you would a disposable, one piece, no hassle, takes longer to dry)
2. Covers and Prefolds (water proof cover over a traditional prefold, the square fabric you think of with old-timey diaper pins…except nobody uses diaper pins anymore, they use these nifty little things called Snappis. Cheapest, most hassle)
3. Pocket Diapers/All-in-Twos, etc (A waterproof outside with an absorbent part that you either stuff into a pocket or snap in)
Inserts/Doublers/Liners/Boosters: At nighttime, I add a bamboo or cotton with fleece on the outside insert and I have NEVER had a leaky diaper by morning. In fact, I’ve started using them more often during the day because they seem to help with diaper rash and they are easy to remove from the rest of a poopy diaper so that I can easily dump the poop in the toilet. Which bring me to an important point:
The poop: Honestly, I feel like I deal with less poop when using cloth because there’s fewer blowouts. But, there’s still some poop issues. As long as baby is exclusively breastfed, the poop is water soluble and doesn’t have to be sprayed off the diaper before washing. Once solids are introduced, though, the poop needs to go in the toilet. (Apparently, you’re supposed to put disposable diaper poop in the toilet, too, but I don’t know anybody who actually does that.) Basically, you just dump the poop into the toilet and if it’s sticking to the diaper, use one of those handy-dandy diaper sprayers. Not a big deal.
Wipes: I use cloth wipes that were gifted to me when I was pregnant with Benjamin and I use this recipe for my cloth wipe solution. Cloth wipes work so much better and I adore them.
My Washing Procedure: So, I’m not sure if I’m doing it exactly right but this is what I do and it seems to work just fine. I prewash in cold. Then I wash with warm water and Rockin’ Green detergent. Then I rinse twice with warm water. After 4 months the diapers started to smell stinky so I used the Rockin’ Green Funk Rock to soak them in and rinsed several times in hot water. Problem solved. This is a good post at Raising a Green Family (the Ecological Babies blog) with more information about “stripping” your diapers when they get smelly and leaky. Now, some gals I know have been using cloth diapers for months and there’s not a stain to be seen. Mine have poop stains all over the place, so I don’t know what kind of magic they used to keep their diapers from getting stained. The thing is…I really don’t care if there’s poop stains because the only thing they’re going to touch is…well, more poop. I’ve heard that line drying them in the sun helps bleach the stains out, though, if you want to go to the trouble.
As for drying, I dry all my inserts and GroVia AIOs in the dryer on low. I line dry my GroVia hybrid covers and my other AIOs. The less wear and tear cloth diapers get from the dryer, the longer they will last. It’s just hard to really get a super absorbent insert dry in the insane Florida humidity.
The only downside has been that Lucy has struggled with diaper rash a good deal. But, her skin seems to be more sensitive than Benjamin’s in general so it could be unrelated. Any suggestions? GroVia’s Magic Stick was working for awhile but I think we need to try something else.
Cloth Diaper Links:
Katie of Kitchen Stewardship just did a great series on Cloth Diapering that will answer most questions in-depth.
Raising a Green Family has tons of great cloth diapering posts as well as other green living info. Here’s a good one to start with: Diapers–How Many?
Molly Makes Do’s Cloth Diapering – The Down and Dirty explains Molly’s awesome method to buying used CDs from ebay.
Simple Mom’s Series on and Resources on Cloth Diapering (This is the best, most extensive series and and list of resources I’ve found)
And now for the giveaway!
I am dedicated to only promoting products that I have or would purchase myself which is why I’m so excited to mention a few things about our giveaway sponsor, Ecological Babies, a local company I get all my cloth diapering products from. I seriously love this business and wouldn’t have started cloth diapering if not for them. I went to one of their local cloth diaper workshops then spent a good hour with Claire who helped me figure out what brand of diapers and how many I would need to set up my baby shower registry when I was pregnant with Lucy. I also just threw a cloth diaper shower for a friend who registered with them. So, I’m very familiar with their products and customer service. Jen (founder, now in South Bend, Indiana) and Claire (Tallahassee representative) are both delightful and so helpful in educating about cloth diapers and assisting their customers. In addition to having great products and great customer service, I love that they are concerned about the ethical practices of the companies they buy from and do their homework about the products they sell so that I don’t have to research each one myself. Jen recently wrote a great post about why they are no longer stocking Fuzzi Bunz due to their sketchy business practices since relocating production overseas. Long story short, Ecological Babies is splendid.
For the giveaway, Ecological Babies has graciously offered a GroVia All-in-One cloth diaper in the brand spankin’ new Woodlands print. It contains a super absorbent, organic cotton inner with a soft layer of water resistant TPU outer. Look how cute!!!
This giveaway is open until May 27 (Sunday night) at 10pm. To enter, please leave a comment telling me who you would diaper with this adorable AIO (your child, a child-to-be, a friend’s child, etc).
For additional entries please leave a separate comment telling me that you:
Subscribed to Carrots for Michaelmas (via email in the sidebar or via an RSS reader like Google Reader)
Liked Ecological Babies on FB
Liked Carrots for Michaelmas on FB
Subscribed to Raising a Green Family (The Ecological Babies blog)
Shared this giveaway on your FB Timeline, your blog, or on twitter
(6 possible entries total) I will announce the lucky winner next week! May the odds be ever in your favor 🙂
Thank you, Ecological Babies for this fantastic giveaway!
…And the winner is: Lindsey! Congrats, Lindsey! Email [haley.s.stewart(at)gmail(dot)com] or FB message me your address and I will ship you your adorable diaper 🙂
Have you tried fleece liners? They wick away moisture from baby’s skin, good for those diapers that don’t have that moisture wicking layer like most pocket diapers. May help with her rash. Also, I don’t know where you’re putting the microfiber, but keep in mind it isn’t supposed to touch baby’s skin. It can dry out the skin extremely fast because they absorb so much moisture. We use California baby for jax, but if it’s a stubborn rash I have to switch to disposables for a day and use desitin. It’s the only thing that works for him.
I just looked up exactly what’s in the booster pad liners I use and they’re cotton covered in fleece. Why was I thinking they were microfiber? And yes, those do seem to help. Her rash isn’t terrible, it’s just barely there but I’m having a hard time getting it to completely go away. I tried switching to disposables (I did it for three days) and it didn’t clear up all the way. Is the California baby diaper cream ok for cloth dipes, Jeni?
Ah gotcha, yeah those should help keep the moisture from her skin. Yep California Baby is cloth diaper safe. Maybe she just had a sensitive little bum. 🙂
Well, my brand new baby will be here in a few weeks and I can’t wait to try cloth diapering for the first time. She would be my GroVia guinea pig 🙂
Fingers crossed for the big win!
I’m subscribed to your blog via email!
I’ve liked EB on fb.
I’m a fan of your blog on fb, too.
I just tweeted the giveaway!
I did #1
I did #2
I did #3
I did #6
I’m not sure who I would use this one-either Hannah or gift it to a friend. If I won I probably fall in love with it and not be able to give it away….
Since I currently have a child in diapers they would be used for him and then be moved on to the next kiddo to arrive 🙂 I use prefold clother diapers and LOVE them. I feel like it is much easier to clean them well and they dry quicker. I do like to have a few AIO diapers around though for when we have a babysitter since I consider it a bit cruel to expect a 14yr old to use prefold diapers when that is no longer the normal diapering routine of this generation 🙂
I am also subscribed to your blog via Goodle reader 🙂
I used MotherEase cloth diapers with my daughter and LOVE Them. They’re all one size and we only had to buy different size covers (small, med, large & XL), which lasted a long time. As for poop, I used Imse Vimse flushable rice paper liners (you can get them on amazon, among other places). They held the solids perfectly and are biodegradable, so flushing them isn’t a problem. I washed them if they only had pee and after 3 washes, they started to break down, so I knew they would truly biodegrade in the sewer with no problem.
We never EVER had a blowout with cloth diapers… only when we traveled to grandma’s and used disposable would we have problems! 😀
I would say I would use it to diaper my daughter who is adorably asleep on my lap at the moment, but she is 19 months and grew out of the GroVia hybrids we have awhile ago. So I will say I will use it for the next little one whenever he or she happens to come along!
I would be putting it on my adorable 12 week old baby. Here is a video of her, if you’re interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ZUUgxslH8 Her name is Adela (“Ah-DE-la”) and she is a Leap Day baby 🙂
I liked Ecological Babies on FB
I liked Carrots for Michaelmas on FB
I signed up for Carrots for Michaelmas
I subscribed to the Ecological Babies blog
I shared this on FB
I would put it on my 17 month old cotton baby
I “like” Carrots for Michaelmas
I “like” ecological babies
I subscribe to Raising a Green Family
Use th diapers for my twins… Always use more.
Liked ecological baby on face book.
Shared on facebook
I am an email subscriber of Carrots for Michaelmas
I subscribe to raising a green family
I like ecological babies on FB
I like CFM on FB
I would be diapering my 10 mo old daughter
I’d like to say I’d use it to diaper my newborn in November, but I’d probably break it in with my 21mo old even though she’s started potty training!
I like Ecokogical Babies on FB
I like you on FB
I would use this with our 8 month old little girl and then pass it down to the hopefully many more children to come.
Subscribed via email.
Like you on fb. 🙂
Like Ecological Babies on fb.
I am also subscribed to the ecological babies blog. 🙂
Subscribed to Raising a Green Family.
Oh… I’d use it on my skinny 1-yr-old for now. 🙂
I would use this diaper on my first child (due August 31st)!
I liked Carrots for Michaelmas on Facebook!
I already like Ecological Babies on Facebook.
I am subscribed to Raising a Green Family (The Ecological Babies blog) via Google Reader.
I am subscribed to Carrots for Michaelmas via Google Reader.
i cloth diapered both older boys very consistently, but cant seem to get it together with titus. i cant keep the laundry clean with three enough to find time to wash diapers. so i suppose i would give this one away to one of my many, many pregnant friends!
also, if you ever want to try another laundry detergent, my photograph of gabe’s butt is on this one!!
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=62&products_id=2152
also, i think the rash could be a yeast infection if it is really persistant?
I would love this diaper for my new little girl. I hear such great things about GroVia diapers!
I subscribed to your emails.
I’m a Facebook fan of Ecological Babies (Jodi J)
I subscribed to the Ecological Babies blog.
I tweeted about the giveaway:
https://twitter.com/jdeemarie/status/205460275749601280
My sweet daughter Mady would be rocking this diaper well if we won it. We love our grovias but don’t have any AIO grovias so that would be a maiden voyage for us:)
Thanks for the share! I’d love to add this to our current stock (we actually added a GroVia shell and two liners to our stock from a CD resale in April) for current baby and “babies yet to come”. =D
Also I liked Eco babies on Facebook
Also I shared the blog post/ giveaway on my timeline 🙂
I’ve used the same 20 organic Bum Genius AIOS for 3 YEARS, through 2 babies (though I did need eventually to buy 10 more since I’ve had two in diapers for the past 16 months). I can’t even imagine how much money I’ve saved, even though I think I bought one of the more expensive (but convenient) cloth diapering systems. I lived with stains for the first 2 years and totally didnt care, but then we bought a washer with a “sanitize” cycle, and voila, no more stains! Not the most energy efficient cycle, I know, but I do love my squeaky clean diapers. I am thinking of finally making the switch to cloth wipes, it makes so much sense. My boys have sensitive skin, but their rashes are always much worse if they are in disposables for some reason, so I’m sure Lucy is just extra sensitive. Yay for cloth diapers! (though I wouldn’t mind if my brand new 3 year old statrted to show a leeetle bit of interest in the toilet . . .)
I would love to try the GroVia AIO on my little girl. We love their hybrids!
I also liked Ecological Babies on Facebook, love the status updates they send!
I also subscribe to their blog!
I would diaper my toddler in that adorable printed Grovia!
I like EB on FB:)
I liked Ecological babies on FB. Yay!
I’ve liked C for M on FB.
I’ve subscribed to C for M. Love your blog!
I would use that a-dorable diaper on my 12 month babe. She’s wearing her big brother’s old cloth diapers (thankfully still in good condition!), but we’ve lost a few to a higher dryer setting.
This would be so cute on Sam! He doesn’t have any AIO’s, just hybrids.
I just subscribed via email ; )
I likes your page on FB…can’t remember I’d that counts for anything…
Ok, I know this post originated over two years ago, so I imagine that your current cloth diaper/diaper rash woes are over. Or maybe not. I must recommend lavender essential oil! Not just any brand, but a good one that is what they call “certified therapeutic grade.” I mean, it’s touching your baby’s bottom, so you want the pure stuff. It has cleared up rashes, redness, burns, blisters, and soothes itchy bug bites for both of my kids, and it’s cloth diaper friendly. You just put a drop or two right on the skin, smear it about, and it absorbs right quick. Plus, it makes them smell like flowers. Way better than poop.