A cloth diapering rave

[same_sky]

You know how you become more comfortable with something the longer you're exposed to it, until one day you can't remember what it's like to be apprehensive in the first place? When I was pregnant, you may remember that I wrote several times about deciding to use cloth diapers. There are lots of reasons to do it and yet, most people don't--is it because it really IS as hard and as awful as everyone is telling me? Maybe they just don't know about all the reasons it would be worth it?

Evelyn is nearly eight months old now and so I think it's time to follow up on those tentative cloth posts. We LOVE IT. There is just something wonderful about pulling a load of fresh-smelling cloth out of the dryer and putting soft squishy fabrics on my baby's bum. They smell MUCH less horrible than disposable diapers do--really! I didn't understand this until I smelled it for myself--I thought that was just how baby poo smelled. No, it isn't. They contain poo better than disposables. We're never out of diapers, and if we are, we can throw them in the wash without leaving the house. Trips to the store do not involve forking over insane amounts of money every single time. (We do occasionally buy disposables for when we're away--we wouldn't have to, but we usually do because they take up less space in the diaper bag and she can wear some of her smaller pants when wearing a trashy.) I can change her as often as I want (she has a real problem with being wet--in a disposable or in cloth, doesn't matter) without mentally throwing a quarter into the garbage every time.

I guess I worried, in the beginning, that I would be getting too involved with my baby's bodily wastes because of the cloth diapers. It doesn't matter what kind of diaper you're using, though, you are not going to escape babyhood unscathed.. especially with disposable wipes, but that is another rant/rave altogether. ;) It will get on your hands, and you learn to live with it pretty easily because it's YOUR baby. It comes off! No big deal! The diapers just get thrown in the pail and then dumped without touching again into the washer, so that really has never been a concern for me. Our pocket diapers need unstuffed after use, but even when there's poop right there where you have to stick your hand... it isn't that big of a deal. Really, it isn't. It is about as much of a big deal as getting your hands dirty changing the diaper in the first place. Of course, things change as they begin solids, which she's doing now. I think every stage of diapering involves a different set of techniques, but it's not like you have to start out knowing everything. You learn as you go, so it's not nearly as intimidating as it looks when you first start out.

I don't write about diapers nearly as much as I think about them. I spend most of my non-LJ forum time on a forum for sewing cloth diapers these days. It's kind of my baby-related internet activity, so to speak. Her next diaper stash will be almost exclusively Mama-made. She's outgrowing her medium FuzziBunz and her first batch of homemade fitted pockets by now. I stopped taking pictures of every one that I made, but I did post a couple of new pictures this week to use at that forum because I think they turned out to be pretty cute. M bought me dies to use for his drill press for Christmas so that I can do snaps now! I am really excited by that. ;)

You know what the best proof is, though? My husband will still sometimes randomly look over at me and rave about how much he loves these diapers. When is the last time you have raved about a diaper? When's the last time your husband raved about a diaper? :)

Comments

[reebert.livejournal.com]

I so appreciate you writing about your diapering experience. Nearly everyone I know thinks I'm a bit loopy for going the cloth diaper route. They think it's one of those things I'm excited about because I've never had a child before that I had to diaper on a constant basis. A naive first-timer. I remember cloth diapering my brother thirty years ago though, and that's when it was truly just a cloth that you safety pinned and pulled a horrible plastic pant over. Now the diapers are so much easier, and better.

I'd like to read what you have to say about the wipes because I'm a bit lost on re-usable wipes. How do you keep them wet and ready? Is there any soapy stuff on them? Do you use them while out and about? How does that work? etc. hahaha

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

I heard a lot of that, too. I got a bit sick of hearing that I would give it up once I had an actual baby to take care of. I'm sure you are too! Most people think of the old style of cloth diapers and the wet pails. I don't really care if a parent uses disposables but I do get excited that someone I know is planning on using cloth! :)

I personally change diapers on a mat on the bathroom counter (though I might have to reconsider that now that she is so WIGGLY.) The dry wipes are stacked nearby so I can just wet them as needed. Usually, I will wet a handful and wring them out, use one and stick the rest in a disposable wipe box, then I'll use the rest of them during the next changes. M won't use those because he only wants to use warm wipes on her.. haha. :) It's easier and it keeps me from wetting my super-dry hands twice per diaper change. You can make a solution of some type.. there are lots of variations from ready-made concentrated solutions to those you come up with yourself. I don't really think newborns need anything like that because their skin is so delicate anyway, and their poo is not sticky.. after the first few days anyway. I have made solutions (witch hazel and water in the one I used) in a jug of distilled water before, but I felt like it was a pain to wet them from the jug without wasting loads of it. There's a risk of mold if you let the already-wet wipes sit too long, so that's why I just do a few at a time.

Some people use a spray bottle of water or solution, and spray the wipe as they get ready to use it. I haven't actually tried that, but I keep meaning to. It might be nice to have something other than water occasionally, especially as things are getting a bit grosser than they used to be. ;)

I usually use disposable wipes when we're out but again, you don't have to. You can wet them and put them in ziplock bags, though, or carry a drinking bottle of water to wet the dry ones. I have a pile of disposable wipes that I need to use, though.. hehe.

Mine are 8x8 flannel/flannel or flannel/terry. I have WAY more than I *need* because I use them more than I would have to (they're free so I don't need to economize and fold and wipe carefully three more times per wipe!), and they're also good for other things than wiping bottoms, like runny noses and sticky hands. I probably have five or six dozen. Three dozen is a pretty good amount to start with.

E is getting REALLY bored with this comment so I don't have time to proofread, sorry. Anything I missed?

[reebert.livejournal.com]

So very helpful! Thank you for taking the time to write that out! I have lots of flannel in my stash so I think I'll whip some wipes up at least for using at home. :)