Cloth diapers -- why did you choose them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rashes, money, environment, smell of disposables (blech) when wet, both of my SIL's did it (so a little peer pressure), cuter than disposables (except those new Honest baby ones are pretty cute)

I do pocket diapers for daytime, all-in-ones at night, wash at home, and am a WOHM with an in-home day care provider.

Oh and I forgot blowouts. I was planning to do cloth, but the constant blowouts finally made me take the plunge with my BF newborn.

[Anonymous]

Before having kids, I was disgusted (like gag reflex) being around kids in disposables, with that stinky, pissy, saggy bum look. Ughh. I am still grossed out by it. Combine that with my hippy environmentalism, I was sold on cloth. I did the lazy version: nothing we tried worked on overnights, so we switched to disposables; i never did all three cycles in the wash - just one long hot water cycle with a prewash and extra rinse; and I always put them in the dryer. We knew we were only having one kid, so they only had to last to 2.5 years. We did have regular pee leaks at the three hour mark every morning when son was older, but whatever. Also probably related to my non-commitment to following the exact washing directions. Never had blowouts. I washed them myself for all six months of my maternity leave, but have to admit i was pretty stoked when i went back to work and had a nanny take over.

[Anonymous]

A million thanks to you all for your replies! The 'better-for-baby' reasoning is interesting to me, because so many all-in-ones are petroleum-based synthetic fabrics these days.

Is anyone willing to go "on the record" and talk with me in a bit more detail and on a named basis?

If so, please reach out by email: [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

I don't cloth diaper and I don't think people who do are insane. It was a logistical issue for me - I didn't know if we would be with day care or a nanny. And working FT, I didn't think I'd have the ability to be sure we had a supply. So I amazon prime our diapers and we never run out. I applaud moms/dad who can and do CD, especially since they can be a major cost saver after the initial investment. It just wasn't the right choice for us.

[Anonymous]

[e-mail] seems to be a blogger or journalist.
If she is actuallly pregnant, then I am incorrect in pointing out that she is a blogger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[e-mail] seems to be a blogger or journalist.
If she is actuallly pregnant, then I am incorrect in pointing out that she is a blogger.

She may be both but she's clearly out to write another story that's been written and blogged about over and over again.

[Anonymous]

Less expensive, better for the environment, better for baby.

It is a little more work because of the laundry, but it's really not that bad.

[Anonymous]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-cloth-diapers-might-not-be-the-greener-choice-after-all/2015/05/08/32b2d8dc-f43a-11e4-bcc4-e8141e5eb0c9_story.html

Here's her story.

[Anonymous]

That was a unique slam on cloth diapers. I am so tried of bloggers pulling quotes off the internet and calling it a news article.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:That was a unique slam on cloth diapers. I am so tried of bloggers pulling quotes off the internet and calling it a news article.

I think the author is this case was pretty forthright. She started a thread in which she identified herself and her intentions (well, might have been a bit clearer about her intentions). I'm glad she thought to come to DCUM as part of her research. Ironically, the editor of her article uses cloth diapers. As for me, the roof we recently put on our house partially consists of baby diaper production remnants.

http://www.ecostarllc.com/Content/13

Cloth diapers wouldn't work for that

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was a unique slam on cloth diapers. I am so tried of bloggers pulling quotes off the internet and calling it a news article.

I think the author is this case was pretty forthright. She started a thread in which she identified herself and her intentions (well, might have been a bit clearer about her intentions). I'm glad she thought to come to DCUM as part of her research. Ironically, the editor of her article uses cloth diapers. As for me, the roof we recently put on our house partially consists of baby diaper production remnants.

http://www.ecostarllc.com/Content/13

Cloth diapers wouldn't work for that

Jeff, read the comment section in the article. Look at the organization she is affiliated with. She also had her baby and was not accurately representing herself if she claimed she was pregnant. She basically slammed cloth with a strong slant and has never actually tried them. Some of her article statements wre very slanted. While you are right and some stuff can be recycled I would much rather have more water usage with a load of laundry than all that trash being thrown out. We used ours for 4 years and passed them on and are still being used. I am sure your roof is lovely but having looked into those and metal, which I really wanted, most of those roofing systems are not affordable to many of us. I am glad for you and your wife she gave credit to your site since you both clearly work hard to keep it up for all to enjoy but she was not really accurately representing what she is doing.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was a unique slam on cloth diapers. I am so tried of bloggers pulling quotes off the internet and calling it a news article.

I think the author is this case was pretty forthright. She started a thread in which she identified herself and her intentions (well, might have been a bit clearer about her intentions). I'm glad she thought to come to DCUM as part of her research. Ironically, the editor of her article uses cloth diapers. As for me, the roof we recently put on our house partially consists of baby diaper production remnants.

http://www.ecostarllc.com/Content/13

Cloth diapers wouldn't work for that

Actually, it might. The PUL is pretty water resistant. If he used real cloth, he could get a really colorful roof that his neighbors can come here and complain about.

[Anonymous]

Part of the article is a false premise in that even if the world stopped using CD, cotton will still be grown and produced.

Regardless, there is no way anyone will ever convince me that a product I reused for years and can pass on to someone else for another several years of use fir its intended purpose which also is good for other stuff when it stop being good as a CD is WORSE than a single use product. Basic Commercial diaper service quality prefolds are simple woven cotton cloth. No petroluem base. Wool diaper covers come from sheep. Regular diaper covers do have a petroleum base but again, they are reused for YEARS.

The article is crappy, IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Greener choice and fewer chemicals on the baby. Aren't those the only 2 reasons?

I didn't care about either of those things, I'm not particularly crunchy or environmental. I ran the numbers and found that cloth diapers were way cheaper. Especially if used for two, which we were planning on having close together. I was very budget conscious at that time and doing anything I could to save money.

We did end up having 2 children less than 2 years apart and used the same set of diapers for both. I forgot the exact numbers, but it was around 1.5k-2k considering both kids were potty trained by 2 1/2, still used the cloth diaper at night until around 4 for both boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of the article is a false premise in that even if the world stopped using CD, cotton will still be grown and produced.

Regardless, there is no way anyone will ever convince me that a product I reused for years and can pass on to someone else for another several years of use fir its intended purpose which also is good for other stuff when it stop being good as a CD is WORSE than a single use product. Basic Commercial diaper service quality prefolds are simple woven cotton cloth. No petroluem base. Wool diaper covers come from sheep. Regular diaper covers do have a petroleum base but again, they are reused for YEARS.

The article is crappy, IMHO.

+1

I don't see people arguing that we should wear disposable underwear, or socks, or dishes... But cloth diapers are so environmentally unfriendly because you wash them? GTFO.