Bekah talks to us about how cloth diapers cost less than disposables. But, I think she also shows us how using cloth diapers is not hard and you don’t have to make yourself nutty following all the “rules.”
Cloth Diapers Cost Less than Disposables
She lives in Colorado with her super sweet little girl, Indie. Bekah has been using cloth diapers since Indie was 6 weeks old. Her easy attitude about using cloth is obvious, and, I hope, a little contagious!
How many children do you have and what are their ages?
One daughter, she is 10 months old.
How long have you been cloth diapering?
8 1/2 months.
Why did you decide to use cloth diapers?
I got started with cloth diapers when my best college friend sent me infant prefolds and covers (it was free!)
What are your favorite types of diapers?
I haven’t tried all of the brands, but I’ve really like the BumGenius 4.0 (only used for 1 month) and the Thirsties covers are fantastic (used for 7 months). The FuzziBunz suck, but I think that’s because they’re past their prime.
Tell us what’s in your diaper stash?
I have three systems:
- Prefolds with Thristies covers and snappi (the majority of my diaper stash due to cost—Qty 12)
- Bum Genius 4.0 (new ones) for overnight (pocket diapers with inserts that came with them)—> by far my favorite, but these cloth diapers cost too much to use exclusively—Qty 5
- Third-hand beat down Fuzzi Bunz, pocket diapers, old style. (stuffed with hemp and infant prefolds—Qty 8
What does your washing routine look like?
–Wets get draped over the edge of my diaper pail next to the table
–Poo diapers go in a plastic tub and washed out some time that same day
–I wash every 2.5 days
–I throw everything (incl. colored Thirsties covers and colored pocket diapers in the cold rinse only with ~1/2c. bleach)—> I know this is frowned upon but has not caused any problems w/ diapers or skin
–Next, hot wash with ~2 Tablespoons of Oxyclean and 1/2 the usual amount of free-and-clear generic detergent; extra final rinse used
–Dry on normal in the dryer except Thristies covers which air dry, usually with 1/2 of a free-and-clear dryer sheet (I know, I know!!!)
What problems or issues have you had while using cloth and how did you fix the problem?
Problems…..hmmm….I wish I didn’t have the staining that I have if I leave out the chemicals (bleach, oxyclean). I’d love to be all-natural about it, but I’m a little neurotic about having things super white. I don’t know whether it’s detrimental to Indie to have the chemicals, but I hope that the extra rinse and the breakdown over time/exposure to air (both Oxyclean and bleach react with organics and air and are broken down easily)keeps her safe.
If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I’m fine with my choices. I LOVE that prefold cloth diapers cost so little, and if you start with that, you won’t get spoiled on AIO’s or pockets. 🙂 I also think that giving ourselves until she was 6 wks old was really good. We had a very rough start with her, so adding the pressures of learning a new system weren’t there at the beginning. Now that I’m wise to the ways, we’re sure to start from Day 1!
What’s the best advice you have for someone just starting out?
1) See if you can borrow some cloth diapers before you drop a whole lot of $. Cloth diapers cost less than disposables, but not if you end up not using them. Try cloth diapers exclusively for 2 weeks. If you can make it 2 weeks, you’ll never look back.
2) Recognize that for the most part, ANY system will work, just some are a little better and you don’t know until you’ve tried it. Don’t stress about having THE right kind from the get-go.
3) Buy from someone who will be honest with you if you can.
4) Start with prefolds!!! That way you can impress all of the other cloth diapering mamas with your SKILZ!! 🙂 It’s also much much cheaper.
5) Get buy-in from your DH and make sure he knows how to do it so you’re not the only one.
6) Don’t be hard on yourself if you have to use a sposie once in a while. Or for a day or two because of sanity.
Final thoughts. Hmmm. The number one reason I use cloth diapers is seeing that soft wonderful skin against a nice white piece of cloth rather than nasty plastic!! I think that if you get over the idea of the poopy diapers and recognize that it’s like 2-3 extra loads of laundry a week, period, then that seems totally do-able. Also, it’s hard to shuck out all of that money up front, but it is TOTALLY saving my butt money-wise now that things are really really tight for us. No money out the door for three months for diapers!!! Cloth diapers cost so much less than disposables!
