Here's The Dirty On Cloth Diapering

So, I have been cloth diapering exclusively for almost 9 months now.  I wanted to document my routine so that when I'm done with diapering days, I can recall easily for friends or family who may be interested in using cloth too.

WHY CLOTH:

For me, I decided to try cloth diapering because I wanted to save money, avoid paper diaper chemicals, and be more environmentally friendly.  I have to admit, I don't like extra work if there's an easier way around something...especially as a mother of three boys.  Easy is my preference.  Lucky for me, cloth diapering is a LOT easier than I thought it was going to be.  Honestly, I thought I was going to fail miserably at using cloth.  So much so, that I didn't even buy any disposables for Jude before he was born because I didn't want to be tempted by the "easy" way out!  I used the disposables in the hospitals...and that was it!  With about two other exceptions...when I had to borrow a diaper from a friend because I forgot to put a diaper in my bag and another time when we went to Covington for a visit, I forgot to bring my load of diapers I had just dried in the dryer on our trip.  Other than that...it's been cloth all the way!  Even at night!!!

BUYING DIAPERS:

So, let me begin first with what diapers I use.  The first diapers I bought were from Fuzzibunz Diapers.  There was a special of 5 diapers, get one free.  So, my 1st 6 diapers averaged out to be $15/diaper.  Yikes!  This seemed a bit expensive to me.  But I was determined to search for more deals throughout my pregnancy.  The Fuzzibunz diapers I bought are one-size pocket diapers.  They adjust in the leg elastic and the wait elastic.  It is lined with snaps across the waist for a snug and secure fit.  According to other cloth diaper (CD) users, snaps are better than elastic because they last longer in the wash.  I agree.  Fuzzibunz are a very high quality, adorable diaper, in my opinion.  An added benefit to Fuzzibunz is that it's a Lafayette, Louisiana-based business owned by a Louisiana mom!  Love that!  Below is the link to Fuzzibunz.    

shop.fuzzibunz.com

Another mom-based business located in China is called Sunbaby Diapers.  This is where the rest of my diapers come from (24 of them).  At $5/diaper (including shipping) for decent quality pocket diapers, including the inserts, you just can't beat that!!!  Since I've ordered, she has made a size 1 and a size 2.  The diapers I bought from her before she implemented these two sizes is comparable to size 2.  Jude wore these as soon as we came home from the hospital at 9lbs 3oz.  So, I would suggest size 2 if you'd like them to fit longer.  After 9 months of use, I am very pleased with the quality of the diapers.  I've had no wearing problems.

Here is the link to Sunbaby Diapers:

http://www.sunbabydiapers.com

CHANGING DIAPERS:

I'll start with the diaper pail I bought.  I purchased it from Amazon (I love Amazon for most diapering stuff).  It's perfect for cloth diapering.  The wet bag I use to line it fits it perfectly. See pail link below.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009A4FBQ/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00

The diaper pail liner I use is this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0039G7YII/ref=oh_details_o03_s01_i00
I bought two so that while one is washing, I can replace the pail with the other one.  It works perfectly!

Here's a video of the diaper pail and the diaper pail liner:

When I change Jude, I do it just like a regular diaper...only instead of throwing it in the trash, it goes in the pail.  There is no need to put water in the pail.  If there is urine or poop from a bottle fed/breastfed baby, just throw it in the pail (no need to rinse).  If your baby is older and the poop is more solid, you'll want to remove the poop and place it in the toilet first (I treated myself to a diaper sprayer http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004G6NOYI/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00).  Then just throw the diaper into the pail.

Here's a video of me changing Jude (at 8 months old):

In the video, I forgot to show what I do when I take the diaper off.  I simply remove the diaper, then pull the wet microfiber insert out of the pocket and drop both pieces of the diaper into the pail.  Easy peasy!

Here's a video of the diaper sprayer:

You can even use cloth wipes.  This sounded disgusting to me.  But, if you think about it, when you change a baby with a disposable diaper, you stick the wipe inside the diaper, wrap it up and toss it in the trash.  With cloth diapers, if you use a disposable wipe, you can't just wrap it up in the diaper and toss it...you have to throw it away separately in the trash.  Remember, if I can make my life easier, I will...with cloth wipes, I can just wrap it up in the CD and toss it in the pail!  Surprisingly, it works so much better than disposable wipes too!  And saves more money!  And is more environmentally friendly!  YAY to all of that!

You can buy cloth wipes.  But I chose to just cut up an old flannel receiving blanket into several squares.  You can load the wipes in a Huggies dispenser container and pull them out just like disposable wipes.  The solution you use to make the wipes wet is up to you.  Here's a link with a ton of homemade solution ideas: http://www.zany-zebra.com/cloth-wipe-solution.shtml  You can either add the solution to your stack of wipes, or you can put the solution in a spray bottle and spray a dry wipe (or baby's bottom) with each diaper change.  Here's a video of my routine:

Here's another video of how I store the diapers.  The containers and shelf are from Target and they really are a perfect fit for the diapers.

WASHING DIAPERS:

To wash the diapers, see video below.  I usually do diaper laundry about every 3 days.  Typically if I wash on Sunday, the next time I wash is Wednesday.  It's really not that much more of a commitment.  What's another couple of loads a week amongst the 1-2 loads/day of clothes I already do!?!  Haha!  Here's my diaper laundry routine below:

You do need to use a specific diaper laundry detergent.  It prevents build-up from regular detergents on your diapers.  If your diapers get build-up, they lose their absorbency.  We don't want that to happen.  Since you do diaper laundry separately, this isn't a big deal.  Here's what I use: http://www.amazon.com/Rockin-Green-Classic-Naked-Babies/dp/B003N0JXUW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340648316&sr=8-1&keywords=rockin%27+green

Here is a video of how to stuff/fold the diapers:

Side note:

You should always strip your new diapers after you receive them.  Through manufacturing they can have build up.  Stripping is basically just washing them several times before your first use.  I did 3-5 washes on my new diapers before using them.


NIGHT TIME DIAPERS:

A night time diaper is a more absorbant diaper for overnight.  For me, a night time diaper is just a Sunbaby Diaper with an extra insert.  The insert I use (along with the microfiber insert it comes with) is a hemp insert.  Microfiber is fast absorbing, but holds less than hemp.  Hemp is slow absorbing, but holds a lot more than microfiber.  So, the trick is to layer the two inserts.  The microfiber should be layered on top (closest to baby) and the hemp goes underneath the microfiber.  Makes sense, right...since hemp absorbs slower?!  The night time diapers are a bit bulkier, but they hold that wetness in perfectly!!!  Here is the insert I use. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FB7FLY/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00  I bought 4 hemp inserts.  I think 4-6 is a good amount to have when considering how many you'll need.  I like to have a few night time diapers prepared ahead of time and that also allows a few days before having to wash again.

COST:

I figured the cost difference between cloth and disposables and it's pretty significant.  I averaged a baby wearing disposables for 3 years, 6-8 diapers/day at $0.22/diaper to be $1445-$1927.  I didn't include the cost of disposable wipes in this.  On the other hand, the cost of my 6 Fuzzibunz diapers and 24 Sunbaby Diapers, diaper pail, two pail liners, hemp inserts, 3 years of diaper laundry soap and splurging with the diaper sprayer...comes out to $533!  Of course there is the extra laundry water costs...but not enough to make up the difference between the two costs.  And if you use the cloth on future children...just imagine the savings!!!

Did you know you're not supposed to put poop in the landfill?!  Kind of crazy to think millions of people put baby poop in the landfill everyday!  I was guilty of it too!  The other crazy thing about disposables...is they can take up to 500 years to decompose!  That's downright depressing when you think of the number of diapers out there.  

And I forgot to mention how cute cloth diapers are too!!!  I love Jude's little fluff butt!

I hope this helps anybody who is thinking about cloth diapering.  As I've heard other CDing mama's say, "today's cloth diapers aren't your mama's cloth diapers!"