Real Diaper Week: Daycare + Cloth Diapers

So today's Real Diaper Week blog hop is on Daycare + Cloth Diapers. I don't have experience in this area since I am a SAHM. So instead I am going to point you in the direction of a resource instead! Just know that daycare + cloth diapers...can = harmony!

Check out this blog post by The Eco Chic for more on daycare + cloth diapers.

Mommy Talk Tuesday....err Wednesday!

Okay, so I am a day late getting to the Mommy Talk Tuesday. This week is on, what else during Real Diaper Week? CLOTH DIAPERS!!!

We made the decision to go with cloth diapers while I was pregnant with RC (our first and only...so far). My hubby was excited...well after the initial shock...that we were going to have a baby. We both were kind of thinking the cloth route from the very beginning, but we were sold on them when we looked at the cost of diapering just ONE child and we want at least two or more. After doing research, asking friends and family on Facebook, we finally decided to go with a pocket diaper. My husband wanted cloth just as much as me, but when I showed him the options, he opted for the ease of the pocket diaper (because he doesn't have to stuff and prep them!!!).  We decided to take a friend's advice and get the BumGenius one size pocket diapers. These diapers, in theory, should last us from newborn to potty training.

The downside, the version I picked, didn't fit RC during his first 2 months. He was just too skinny and while the manufacturer says 8 pounds, it really means more like 10 pounds. Unfortunately, we had to wait until RC was 8 weeks old before starting with cloth. Just those 2 months worth of diapers was enough to make me hate disposables. Between the cost and the smell...no thank you!

We have learned a few things along the way. For instance RC's nighttime diaper routine is totally different than daytime. He needs a Flip cover with stay dry microfiber and 2 hemp inserts to make the 10 - 12 hours. This creates a large diaper...which means, much bigger jammies than he really is in. In fact, 2 sizes larger! This also means certain types of jammies to fit over the diaper better as well.

Another thing we learned was our first mistake...nothing for newborn diapering. I now know better and will be prepared for number 2 with newborn covers and prefolds! In fact, I recently bought several covers and a stack of prefolds (thought number 2 is not in sight) for my sister in law to use for her son (due any day now) and then she will gift them back to us when it is time!

Other things I have learned is a good wash routine is key. We wash hot rinse, hot wash, cold rinse and dry only inserts, bags, and wipes. All diaper shells get line dried to ensure they last many many years.

You might think that handling a cloth diaper is gross, but it really is not any worse than a disposable. With the right tools and mindset it is simple, saves TONS of money, the environment, is better for baby, and are super cute!

I am a loyal shopper and my favorite cloth diapering store is Abby's Lane. They have a great rewards program, great customer service, and best of all FREE shipping on all size orders! They also have great giveaways which I love. Once I won one of my pail liners just for ordering on Winging it on Wednesday! They have a blog to with tons of information at Cloth that Counts. There are many other resources and shops out there. My favorite brand so far is BumGenius and Flip. I have tried Tiny Tush and Rumparooz as well. We will be getting a GroVia soon to try. Now that I am more familiar with cloth diapering, I am slowly branching out to a few other brands to test out.

Have questions? Just ask!
 

Real Diaper Week: Diapering on a Budget

Cloth diapering can be done on a frugal budget. Instead of me going into detail on frugal cloth diapering, I'm going to give you two great articles that do a much better job that me: Frugal Cloth Diapering, It All Started with a Snappi and How to Cloth Diaper Your Baby for only $50.

Instead I am going to tell you why we chose to cloth diaper. We chose to cloth diaper primarily for the amount of money we will save throughout the diapering years. We plan to have at least 2 kids which means we will save approximately $3,500!!! Our diapers can be reused for each child and will last many years if they are taken care of (which of course they are!). We can also sell our diapers when we are finished with them. The best thing about cloth diapers for resale is that they hold their value. We will be able to resell our diapers for just a few dollars less per diaper than we paid for them!

Cloth diapering is a great way to save money and the environment. Do your research ahead of time to decide what style diapers you want. If you can spend a little more money per diaper you will have more options. If you are on a super tight budget check out covers and prefolds.

Don't forget to find giveaways as well or when you place orders, most places have days you can get a free diaper just for ordering. My favorite retailer is Abby's Lane. They have giveaways all the time. Many you do not have to purchase to win. Their blog, Cloth That Counts, is also great to follow for giveaways and great diapering news.

RC at 1 month

Real Diaper Week: Save our Landfills

Day two for the Real Diaper Week blog hop is environmental awareness. Did you know the average child goes through over 5,000 disposable diapers. Just think, most families will go through 5,000 - 10,000+ diapers. A family with 4 children...that's over 20,000 diapers hitting our landfill!!! Disposables diapers can take 500 years to decompose.

Cloth diapers can be washed and reused, handed down from child to child, given to a friend or sold to someone that can't afford brand new cloth diapers. By using cloth diapers on just one child, you can keep 5,000 disposables diapers out of our landfills for the next 500 years!!!

Check out my Real Diaper Week: Cloth 101 to learn how to get started with cloth diapering. It's easy, economical, earth friendly, and they are super cute compared to disposables!

RC in a BumGenius Freetime in the super cute Einstein print

 9 months

Real Diaper Week: Cloth Diaper 101

This week is Real Diaper Week. Did you know there was one? Cloth diapers are a great alternative to disposables. I'll post more later this week on environmental. Today is about the ease of cloth diapering and getting started.

1. Do your research and ask around to see if you have friends, relatives, or neighbors that cloth diaper.

2. Find a local retailer or online retailer that is great for answering questions. My favorite is Abby's Lane. You will want someone that will help with upfront decisions and if you have issues later with fit, etc.

3. Decide if you are going to purchase everything at once or buy a few things at a time. When we started, we set aside a little money each week and then made one huge purchase.

Cloth diapers have come a long way. They now are much closer to a disposable for putting on your child, are made with waterproof materials to keep the wetness in, and come in super cute colors and prints!

So what the heck do you need to get started? The basics are some covers & prefolds, pocket diapers or all in one diapers. My favorite: pockets for daytime and covers at night. You will also want wet/dry bags for the diaper bag, pail liners & trash can for dirty diapers.

 My favorite cover by Flip and also my favorite pocket diaper by BumGenius

Another pocket diaper. This one by Tiny Tush.

Other great items: cloth wipes (can just use water for cleaning), disposables liners (for those that don't want to spray solids out of the diaper), diaper sprayer (for those that don't mind spraying out the solids and don't want to spend the extra money on the liners!).

When we first looked into cloth diapering we heard things like: "it isn't worth the trouble," "you'll probably give up soon after starting," "your hubby won't help with changing the baby. Today, a year later, we are still going strong and plan to continue with any other children that we have.

Happy CDing!

My RC in his BumGenius. 1 year