Last summer at the State Fair, I happened upon a booth selling cloth diapers. My idea of cloth diapers was the kind my mom used. Fold, pin in place, and finish with a plastic pull-up cover. Then there was the rinsing in the toilet and storing in a bucket of bleach water. NOT FOR ME! However, the new "high-tech" cloth diapers are nothing like what they used to be. There are numerous types of cloth diapers: all-in-ones, pocket diapers, fitteds, and pre-folds to name a few. And for each type, each brand has its own variations.
The more I researched, the more interested I became. The cost savings alone made cloth diapering a very appealing option. The apparent ease of these new cloth diapers was also very encouraging.
After much research on the part of both me and my mom, I decided to go with Fuzzi Bunz pocket diapers. Pocket diapers do not require a cover. They have an external water-proof shell lined with fleece. Absorbant inserts are stuffed into a pocket between the fleece and external shell. I use the Fuzzi Bunz one-size diaper, which means that with 8+ size settings around the legs and 4+ around the waist, these diapers will fit from birth through potty training. There are also multiple snap settings.
Ok, but they're a lot of work, right? Nope. Granted, I nearly always have a laundry basket sitting around with diapers ready to be stuffed, but that is due more to my lack of motivation to stuff than to any difficulty in doing so. Basically, after I take the wet or soiled diaper off Kyla, I separate the insert from the diaper and put both in my mess-free diaper bag. It hangs on a door knob and has a zipper in the bottom. When it gets time to wash diapers, I unzip the bag, shake the diapers into the wash machine and throw the bag in as well. Then I wash the diapers as directed, using an incredibly tiny amount of soap. "What about the poop?", you ask. Since I am breastfeeding and there are no solids, everything just goes right into the wash. It's not as gross as you might imagine. :) After they come out of the wash, I hang them out on the clothes line to dry, if at all possible. The sun takes care of any lingering stains and makes them smell nice and fresh. The inserts can be thrown in the dryer, but I've read that it is best not to dry the diapers themselves. Once dry, simply stuff the inserts back into the diapers; and you're ready to go!
Benefits: Obviously the cost savings is huge. They are an investment at the beginning, but it's an investment that you will recover in no time, especially if you use them nearly exclusively. Second, Kyla is nearly five months old, and she has never had a diaper rash. Yep, never. I can't say I even know what one looks like. Lastly, the negative effect of disposable diapers on the environment is enormous! For those interested in reading more, visit http://www.diaperjungle.com/why-use-cloth-diapers.html.
Now, I realize that cloth diapers aren't for everyone. I still put disposables on Kyla when we are away from home, though I eventually may use them on the run some too. It's just a matter of bringing them home to wash, which really isn't that inconvenient. Also, since she is so small, they are a bit bulky on her at this age.
Overall, I rate my experience with Fuzzi Bunz so far at a 9.5. I experienced some leaking overnight for a time; but now I double-stuff her night diaper and have had no more leaking, even when she is in it for up to 12 hours.
Now, you can't tell me those aren't the cutest diapers you've ever seen!
http://www.fuzzibunz.com/
1 comments:
way to go Heather! I was just reading another friends blog and she is also using cloth diapers. . .she said she liked Fuzzi Bunz and the bumGenius 3.0's :)
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