Monday, June 20, 2011

My Cloth Diapering Adventure

     Before we started trying to conceive Zachary, I became very interested in cloth diapering. I don't have a specific reason why other than the fact that I wanted to give it a try. After we were pregnant, I told Bobby that I really wanted to cloth diaper this time around. He said there was no way that he was touching a cloth diaper. I tried to explain to him that they're as easy as disposables, but he didn't want to listen.

    I didn't let Bobby's disinterest get me down and began to research how to cloth diaper and all of the cloth diapering options that there are. I decided that I really wanted to hybrid diaper. Hybrid diapering allows you to either use a cloth insert or a disposable insert. You are also able to use as few as 2 covers a day. I felt that this would be the easiest for our family and I might have a better chance of convincing Bobby if there was a part he could still throw away.
   
     After seeing the starting price for cloth diapering, I decided to check craigslist for any "pre-loved" diapers. I found someone selling a 2 pack of g-diapers and a pack of disposable inserts and bought them. After I found out we were having a boy I posted a wanted ad and bought 3 FLIP diaper covers and an all-in-two diaper (an all-in-one diaper with a snap in liner instead of a sewn in liner) from one mom and 3 packs of disposable inserts for the g-diapers from another mom. I quickly found out that cloth diapering isn't very popular in Tallahassee, but I try to catch any posts that are offering diapers at a reasonable price.

     I continued to add to my little stash and I even decided to sew some myself. I found a site that sold cloth diapers that were already cut out and all I had to do was sew them up. I bought a few kits and did a decent job with them. I also tried making some of my own with a pattern and those didn't turn out too bad either. There are flaws, but overall I think they're usable. I still plan on making more, but I need to get motivated to cut out all the parts. :)

     After our little bundle of joy arrived, I anxiously awaited for the day when he was big enough to fit in the diapers. When he was about 2 weeks old I tried on a g-diaper and it fit perfectly. I didn't think that I would like the G's because there are 3 parts to the diaper, but they actually fit Zachary very well and I tend to use these first. A couple more weeks passed and Zachary was able to fit into his FLIPs. I like these as well, but I feel that they're too bunched up on the newborn setting.

     When I first started using the diapers, I only used the disposable inserts. As of last week, I decided to branch out and started using the cloth inserts. Now I find myself using them more and wishing that we had more inserts so that I don't have to do laundry as often.

     The other two types of diapers I have in my little stash are pockets and all-in-ones (AIO). The AIO diapers are as close to disposables as you can get. They're used exactly the same, only they're reusable. Pocket diapers are basically an AIO with a pocket in the back (or front) that you stuff the insert into. The downside to AIOs is that they take FOREVER to dry. I don't think I will be making or buying any more of those. Instead I will make more pockets because they don't take as long to dry.

     I've been using cloth diapers part time for a month now and I have to say that I'm sold. I wish I could say the same for Bobby, but he still refuses to touch them. In fact when Zachary is in cloth Bobby says, "You put him in one of those things didn't you?" My response is always, "I put him in a cloth diaper, if you follow me I'll show you how to use it." He hasn't followed me yet lol.

     I'll end my posts with Zachary in his cloth diapers. Ignore the fact that he's screaming in two of them. It's not that he doesn't like them, it's that he doesn't like mommy to put him down.

                                           His 1st G-Diaper
                                           His 1st FLIP diaper
                             His 1st Pocket Diaper by Kawaii Baby

No comments:

Post a Comment