Cloth diapers -- why did you choose them?

[Anonymous]

Hi there, I'm 9 months pregnant and also an occasional journalist. I've been researching the merits of cloth v disposable diapers, and I'm interested in the perspectives of DC moms. Is anyone on this forum game for a 15 minute interview on why they chose cloth, and what option they picked (diaper service, all-in-ones, hybrids, prefolds, etc)? Thanks! [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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

No, we did it for those but more importantly, our kid got a horrible burn from the chemicals when I accidentally bought the wrong kind.

You aren't going to find one specific answer. That is why they make so many choices with cloth. I was lazy. I liked AIO's and pocket. I washed them in my washer. No big deal.

[Anonymous]

Stupid desire to make extra work for myself.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

No, we did it for those but more importantly, our kid got a horrible burn from the chemicals when I accidentally bought the wrong kind.

You aren't going to find one specific answer. That is why they make so many choices with cloth. I was lazy. I liked AIO's and pocket. I washed them in my washer. No big deal.

like i said

[Anonymous]

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

Cheaper over time, especially if you are using them for more than one child.

[Anonymous]

Cloth fit much better then disposables for our little one

[Anonymous]

Greener and cheaper. Designs/patterns are more fun too, but that's more of a perk than a reason.

[Anonymous]

I started for greener alternative, realized how much cuter and cheaper it was. Huge bonus which I didn't realize until later, cloth diapers ever leaked on me and blow outs. We're contained

[Anonymous]

Hated the idea of disposables. Hated the chemical smell.

Used a diaper service (modern diaper) for a year. Wonderful. Went through various sizes w/out having to buy them all.

Later bought the same style they offer (diaper service quality (dsq) chinese/Indian prefolds in the largest size (which were the right size for my kid at that point and fit through PT at 25 months). Green mountain diapers . Com. 'Nuff said. Plain awesome.

Benefits:
"Natural" cotton next to delicate baby skin
You never run out... Clean diapers are a load of laundry away
Requires no special treatment (despite what people think/tell you). Never had to strip them. Never had build up. Etc. Wash/dry. Easy peasy.
In 2 years of CD I had 5 minor pee leaks (not enough to get outer clothes wet) and no blowouts. CDs (IMHO) fit and work better than disposables.
If I wanted to I could sell mine on a lively used market. But they make great cleaning cloths.
There is an emotional quotient. Nothing is cuter than a baby in a cloth diaper and a plain cover. I loved my CDs.
Never ever had diaper rash.

Cons:
People who don't do it think you are insane.
Many daycares won't support it. Many will though.
You do have to plan ahead a bit. Wet clean diapers aren't of much use to anyone.
You will have to train people who babysit. Even older folks who used them themselves.

Tricks people don't know:
Use flushable diaper liners
Snappis
The diaper has to be 100% inside the cover. If not you get wicking ...it isn't leaking...you just didn't do your job right
You can double up the diaper at night for heavy wetters. Or add a "doubler" that is just an extra piece of absirbsbt cloth. Or do both. I never had an overnight leak even with a giant kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hated the idea of disposables. Hated the chemical smell.

Used a diaper service (modern diaper) for a year. Wonderful. Went through various sizes w/out having to buy them all.

Later bought the same style they offer (diaper service quality (dsq) chinese/Indian prefolds in the largest size (which were the right size for my kid at that point and fit through PT at 25 months). Green mountain diapers . Com. 'Nuff said. Plain awesome.

Benefits:
"Natural" cotton next to delicate baby skin
You never run out... Clean diapers are a load of laundry away
Requires no special treatment (despite what people think/tell you). Never had to strip them. Never had build up. Etc. Wash/dry. Easy peasy.
In 2 years of CD I had 5 minor pee leaks (not enough to get outer clothes wet) and no blowouts. CDs (IMHO) fit and work better than disposables.
If I wanted to I could sell mine on a lively used market. But they make great cleaning cloths.
There is an emotional quotient. Nothing is cuter than a baby in a cloth diaper and a plain cover. I loved my CDs.
Never ever had diaper rash.

Cons:
People who don't do it think you are insane.
Many daycares won't support it. Many will though.
You do have to plan ahead a bit. Wet clean diapers aren't of much use to anyone.
You will have to train people who babysit. Even older folks who used them themselves.

Tricks people don't know:
Use flushable diaper liners
Snappis
The diaper has to be 100% inside the cover. If not you get wicking ...it isn't leaking...you just didn't do your job right
You can double up the diaper at night for heavy wetters. Or add a "doubler" that is just an extra piece of absirbsbt cloth. Or do both. I never had an overnight leak even with a giant kid.

Agree with all the above. My kids are older now (ages 8-15) but there was a HUGE market for moms who sewed to make their own diapers and sell them on various websites when my kids were in them--not sure if it's still like this. So another reason was I liked being able to support the small "mom run" business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hated the idea of disposables. Hated the chemical smell.

Used a diaper service (modern diaper) for a year. Wonderful. Went through various sizes w/out having to buy them all.

Later bought the same style they offer (diaper service quality (dsq) chinese/Indian prefolds in the largest size (which were the right size for my kid at that point and fit through PT at 25 months). Green mountain diapers . Com. 'Nuff said. Plain awesome.

Benefits:
"Natural" cotton next to delicate baby skin
You never run out... Clean diapers are a load of laundry away
Requires no special treatment (despite what people think/tell you). Never had to strip them. Never had build up. Etc. Wash/dry. Easy peasy.
In 2 years of CD I had 5 minor pee leaks (not enough to get outer clothes wet) and no blowouts. CDs (IMHO) fit and work better than disposables.
If I wanted to I could sell mine on a lively used market. But they make great cleaning cloths.
There is an emotional quotient. Nothing is cuter than a baby in a cloth diaper and a plain cover. I loved my CDs.
Never ever had diaper rash.

Cons:
People who don't do it think you are insane.
Many daycares won't support it. Many will though.
You do have to plan ahead a bit. Wet clean diapers aren't of much use to anyone.
You will have to train people who babysit. Even older folks who used them themselves.

Tricks people don't know:
Use flushable diaper liners
Snappis
The diaper has to be 100% inside the cover. If not you get wicking ...it isn't leaking...you just didn't do your job right
You can double up the diaper at night for heavy wetters. Or add a "doubler" that is just an extra piece of absirbsbt cloth. Or do both. I never had an overnight leak even with a giant kid.

Agree with all the above. My kids are older now (ages 8-15) but there was a HUGE market for moms who sewed to make their own diapers and sell them on various websites when my kids were in them--not sure if it's still like this. So another reason was I liked being able to support the small "mom run" business.

Yes, there is still a lot of this! And I agree, it's great to help to support fellow moms.

[Anonymous]

I just felt it was the right choice for my child and the environment.

[Anonymous]

Cheaper and more natural. I agree with the PP above who said people who don't do it think you are insane. I have spent more time defending my choice, or being over-complimented on my choice ("that is amazing!"). Honestly, it just becomes a part of your routine and you don't even notice it. We have disposables as back ups if for some reason we get behind on the laundry but that almost never happens.