Cloth Diapers Update

5/8/12

I bet you're DYING to know how I'm doing with the cloth diaper venture....maybe....well, I'm going to tell you anyways. Actually, it is going pretty well. I did have a little trouble the other week because Abby pees a lot at once. She goes on her potty throughout the day so she can hold it decently well, which means more pee. Plus she drinks a lot of liquids so she was leaking through her diapers and pants. My solution without throwing in the towel? Doubled up on the inserts. Here's a picture....

The white cloths on the right are inserts. So instead of putting one in the diaper I put 2 in. Now no leaking. Yay!! 

These are the diapers I use, if you're curious. I am using Sunbabies. This is the same diaper, but as you can see, it changes size with the snaps. It's for a 7 pound to 35 pound child! Great way to get your money's worth. 

If you're thinking of switching but not sure, I would say it's worth the money.....especially if you aren't spending a fortune on brand new diapers. DiaperHq is pretty awesome and it's in the Michiana area. You can get good deals on stuff. Also, there's a huge network of selling used cloth diapers. Just type in Used cloth diapers on Facebook and you'll find several groups. 

Let me explain the process of diapering I do. Put the diaper on Abby. Change when she is wet. You take the insert out and put them in the bin/trash can just like you would throw away a disposable. If they poop, just rinse off the poop. Sometimes if it's in a ball (I know gross) you can just toss in the toilet and the diaper might not really be dirty other than pee. So no rinsing. Otherwise I'm just going outside and rinsing them with our hose (in a spot where we don't walk and in the landscape). Then place in the bin/trash can. You really DO NOT need a laundry room....just a trash can/bin....same as having disposable diapers.

For washing I just put all the diapers in the washer (inserts and diapers but separate, which was already done). I do one cycle NO detergent and on COLD. Then I do a heavy cycle with HOT water. This does an extra rinse for me. I use the All Free and Clear detergent (or whatever is acceptable on the list). Then I dry the inserts in the dryer and line dry the covers. Sometimes I stick them outside on chairs. Then back all over again. I wash them about once every other day....sometimes every night but not usually. I assure you, IT'S NOT THAT HARD. Once you figure it out for you, it's pretty simple and I don't think it's too much different than using disposables. 

If you're interested in saving money, do it. So you might have to clean poop off a couple diapers a day (for older kiddos). But if you exclusively breastfeed you don't have to rinse the poop off at all.....not sure why but I've been told multiple times this. For ME, I see it as, my husband is working all day to make us money, so if I can do something to save us a SIGNIFICANT amount of money (which we need), I can suck it up and clean a little poop out of a few diapers. It's really not that bad, I promise.