Looking for advice on using cloth diapers

[Anonymous]

I am a first time expectant mom and my husband and I feel strongly about conservation and the environment. We are contemplating using cloth diapers, but would have to use a diaper service because we live in a condo and do not have a washer/dryer in our unit (and do not feel right washing dirty diapers in the building's shared laundry room). The only diaper service I have been able to find is Modern Diaper in Alexandria, VA. I am looking for feedback from parents who have used cloth diapers and/or diaper services or are planning to, about what you have used, what your experience have been, and if you would recommend it to others.

[Anonymous]

There is a yahoo group called DC Area Cloth Diapering (DCCDers). You can join the group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DCCDers/. They have a listserve that is very active so if you post your question on there it will probably get a bunch of responses. Also, they are having a get together on January 26 where people from the group will share all of the different kinds of diapers they use and what they recommend. I'm pregnant with my first, and would like to try cloth diapers, too, so maybe I will see you there!

[Anonymous]

Don't bother. The waste generated from washing cloth diapers between water, detergents, and carting them around in diesel trucks etc to laudering service location is as bad for the environment as biodegradeable disposible diapers. Also take it from someone who started with cloth -- the smell is unreal (even with a good diaper pail and you can't use diaper genie with cloth) when you are waiting for the pick up date and you still have to remove solid waste before sending to laundry.

[Anonymous]

I really disagree with the PP. Disposable diapers certainly use plenty of water, detergents, and diesel trucking fuel - not to mention chemicals and bleaches which are awful for the environment. At least with cloth, you have nothing going off to the landfill (even if you are using biodegradable, it's still using up trash space). Yes, washing cloth diapers at home, where there is no transportation costs and you can control the degergents used, is the best environmentally; however using a service is still environmentally beneficial. Plus, no strange chemicals on your babies bottom (hopefully - check with the diaper service to find out what they use!).

And, as long as you are exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months, the diapers really will not smell. Breastfed poop simply is not foul - and certainly not solid, so there is no solid waste to dispose of. Between six and 12 months when your baby is still "learning" about solid food, the diapers will still not be so awful, as long as you continue breastfeeding. Obviously when your baby has switched to a more solid food diet, the diapers will be smellier and have more solid waste that will need to be dumped prior to putting in the diaper pail. But of course, using cloth diapers even for the first year is of huge benefit to the environment.

I personally don't know about the local diaper services, but hopefully the yahoo group mentioned about with be of help to you. Good luck and congrats for choosing cloth diapers!

[Anonymous]

I think its great that you are looking into cloth diapers. My husband who admittedly is more eco-conscious than myself, talked me into it and I ended up being very glad that he did. I wish I could give you good advice on services, but we have no experience in that regard. We just use fuzzi bunz and launder them at home. I couldn't disagree more with the arguments posed by the 12:44 poster. There's more than enough info out there to read that refutes her arguments. And smell was not a problem for us. We breastfeed exclusively for the first six months, so odor wasn't an issue. The #2s obviously smell worse once the baby begins solid foods, but prompt rinsing in the toilet does a huge deal to mitigate that. Good luck to you and congrats on your pregnancy!

[nabailey]

Thanks to the OP for posting this. We've been considering cloth diapering also, but not sure if it would be too much to take on.

I'll definitely look into the DCCDers.

[Anonymous]

OP: Have you considered gDiapers? I just learned about them through an article in the Post and am seriously contemplating getting them instead of the Seventh Generation Chlorine-free ones as originally planned.

I'd be curious to hear any real life experiences.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/10/19/DI2007101901385.html

[Anonymous]

I'm 34 weeks and planning to use gDiapers as well. We live in a small apartment and want to avoid having a diaper pail at all. I love the idea of flushing all that pee and poop down the toilet (where it belongs). The cost is pretty high, but I have a bunch of the flushable pads as part of my baby registry. I'm also going to try a bit of "elimination communication." I will be sure to post on this site to let everyone know how it goes.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to 19:35PP for bringing up elimination communication. I am all for that, too and would love to learn more.

In the interest of not hijacking this post on cloth diapers, I'll go ahead and start a new thread on EC.

Hang in there, all you expectant moms! I'm in my 36th week and barely hanging on by a thread.

[Anonymous]

I am also looking into cloth diapers.

I started out wanting gdiapers and have amassed a few in different sizes to get me started, but after reading the gdiapers yahoo group I see that many of the moms there use it as a stepping stone to cloth diapers. You can use cloth liners in the gdiapers so the cost won't be so bad as buying the flushables exclusively. It seems like a nice hybrid solution.

I've registered for a diaper sprayer (mini shower) to wash the solids away before tossing the cotton/hemp liners in the wash. Plus there are those biodegradable liners you can put inside the cloth diapers (or on top of the cloth liner) so you can just flush the poop without having to spray or scrape.

I'm also looking into composting the wet gdiapers. I've registered for a vermicomposting workshop (composting with worms) since you can compost that way in a small space with little to no odor if done properly. I'm starting my compost bin this week so that by the time the baby arrives I'll have a better handle on what I'm doing.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hijack - but are gdiapers still a good option (eco-wise) if I don't plan to compost? Honestly, I don't see myself home composting. And I was wondering if that is not the case, then perhaps it's better to go with cloth or a 7th gen diaper?

[Anonymous]

PP -- according to the instructions they can be thrown away, flushed, or composted. If you flush them you can watch them literally disappear. (Not that the matter ceases to exist but you know what I mean)

13:18 Poster -- regarding the diaper sprayer -- I was registered for one of these (by bumGenius) until I realized that I could get all of the parts at Home Depot for a third of the price. Either way you have to install it yourself. Just a tip.

OP -- sorry you haven't gotten any feedback yet on the actual diaper service in question. Wish I could help. FWIW -- if we didn't have a small washer/dryer combo in our apt. we'd absolutely be using that service. Their prices seem reasonable and you can still buy yourself some cute covers and wash them in your sink. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

nabailey -- Also check out the Diapering forum on mothering.com for a lot of great info and support.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=221