Forget baby pins and scraping poo, that's old school. Today's cloth diapers rock!
Cloth diapering today is easy, will save you money and is generally mess free (as mess free as disposables anyway.)
Good reasons to make the switch:
1) You can save lots of money (up to $1,500+) on just 1 child, depending on potty trained age. More than one child saves even more (up to $3,800+)
2) You can keep literally thousands of diapers out of the landfill
3) I feel better having cotton against my baby's skin instead of chlorine washed plastic. Chlorine creates dioxin - a carcinogen - which leaches into the body.
4) One study noted: "In 1955, 100 percent of American babies wore cloth diapers, and 7 percent experienced diaper rash. In 1991, 10 percent of American babies wore cloth diapers, 90 percent wore disposables and 78 percent experienced diaper rash."
5) It is estimated that disposables take 500 years to degrade in the landfill.
6) CD babies tend to potty train earlier than babies in disposables. They are more aware of the difference between wet and dry.
7) Less petroleum use anyone?
8) CDs are so stinkin' cute!
Mess free? Well at least they aren't as messy as you think. Today, flushable diaper liners are widely available for $5-6 per 100 liners. When you diaper baby, lay a liner on top of the cloth, closest to skin. For a wet diaper simply toss the liner with the wipe. For a dirty diaper, the liner contains the poo. Pick up the sheet and flush it all down the toilet. Toss the diaper in your diaper pail. This eliminates the need for scraping or spraying. Toss the cloth in a waterproof diaper bag or pail - no need for soaking in liquid. When the pail is full, dump it all in the washer, including the bag.
The basics: Diapers are either flats, prefolds, fitted diapers or All-in-Ones (AIO). The flats, prefolds and fitted diapers need a waterproof cover over them. AIOs have the cover sewn on, hence the name.
Flats have rock bottom prices (~$2/ea). These are the cheapest out there. They require folding before placing around baby, which never interested me, so I haven't tried them. But if you are on a really tight budget, look into these. They do require waterproof covers.
Prefolds are inexpensive (~$2-4/ea). They are very absorbent. These are my go to dipes for overnight, nap time and long car rides. You can simply fold them in thirds and lay them in the cover, wrap them loosely around baby, snappi (see below) them in place or even use diaper pins. Simply folded and laid in place is the fastest. It's also bulkier this way, but great for overnight. Cover required.
Fitted (~$10/ea) are sized diapers that snap/velcro around baby like a disposable and then require a cover over them. This makes them nice and trim, they won't move around under the cover and they are less expensive than AIOs. We really like these. They are easier than prefolds because you just snap them in place instead of wrapping around or using a snappi. Then add a cover. It's probably just personal preference but during the day I find these simpler than using a snappi on a prefold. My husband is more likely to grab these too!
Liners: These cost $5/100 for the small 5"x12" size and $6/100 for the large 7"x12" size. Small worked for us until little man turned 1. Place the liners over the cloth to collect poo. Fold in the edges if needed/desired.
Material: Material matters. We prefer to use diapers with 100% cotton interiors. Microfiber is generally petroleum based. One reason we switched to cloth was so weren't wrapping our baby's bum in so much plastic/petroleum. Microfiber will stink more when wet and require more frequent stripping (spending the day washing and rewashing your diapers to remove any kind of build up that is affecting absorbency or causing stink. Not how you want to spend your Saturday.) Cotton works beautifully and we love it! Microfiber diapers are cheaper to make so there are many more of them available and they are less expensive. Cotton diapers are around, there just aren't as many brands.
Cost: I didn't go the cheapest possible route. You'll find numbers online for diapering your child until potty training for around $500. That means you have the fewest possible number, the cheapest CDs, only 4 covers and you wash everyday. I wanted to be able to wash every other day, have covers in 2 sizes so they fit better and have some variety, like AIOs for outings. Having enough diapers for about 2.5 days lets you go two full days before washing. There is a lot of room as far as costs go. What's best for you? Cheapest? Easiest?
The disposable numbers:
(This is figured using 7th Generation diapers which are chlorine free.)
NB (0-2 months): 12 dipes/day - 720 diapers changes, $215 Pampers: $160
Sz 1 (2-4 months): 12-10/day - 660 changes, $160 Pampers: $120
Sz 2 (4-8 months): 10/day - 1,200 changes, $325 Pampers: $243
Sz 3 (8-24 months): 8/day - 3,840 changes, $1,180 Pampers: $864
Sz 4 (24-30 months): 7/day - 1,260 changes, $450 Pampers: $328
Total Cost: $2,330, 7,680 dipes in the landfill OR $1,715 for Pampers
We keep these on hand for when our guy is in the church nursery or we take extended trips. We love 7th Gen. as a back up.
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The Prefold CD numbers:
*Using prefolds, 6 covers for sz 1 (0-6mths) and 6 covers for sz 2 (6-36 mths) and liners to collect poo. This is enough diapers for washing every other day.
NB (0-2 months): 28 prefolds, $56
SM (2-5/6 months): 24 prefolds, $66
Sz 1 covers (6): $80
MD (6-12 months): 20 prefolds, $60
LG (12-24 months): 20 prefolds, $67
Sz 2 covers (6): $80
Liners (sz SM and LG): 6,420 changes, $409
I am assuming CDs will allow potty training 6 months earlier. Up to 1 year earlier is pretty common.
Total Cost of prefolds and disposable liners: $818
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The Fitted CD numbers:
*Using fitted diapers, 6 covers for sz 1 (0-6mths) and 6 covers for sz 2 (6-36 mths) and liners to collect poo. This allows enough diapers for washing every other day.
NB (0-2 months): 28 fitted, $154
SM (2-5/6 months): 24 fitted, $240
Sz 1 covers (6): $80
MD (6-12 months): 20 fitted, $200
LG (12-24 months): 20 fitted, $200
Sz 2 covers (6): $80
Liners (sz SM and LG): 6,420 changes, $409
Total Cost of fitted with disposable liners: $1,363
I primarily use a combination of fitted (bc they're my fave) and some prefolds (bc they're cheap and absorb so well.)
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The AIO CD numbers:
*Using sized swaddlebees AIO diapers with liners to collect poo. This is enough diapers for washing every other day.
NB (6-12 lbs): 28 AIOs, $532
MD (12-25 lbs): 24 AIOs, $552
LG (22-35 lbs): 20 AIOs, $460
Liners (sz SM and LG): 6,420 changes, $409
Total Cost of Swaddlebees AIOs: $1,953
*Using BumGenius AIOs (not cotton) and liners
NB (6-12 lbs): 28 AIOs, $364
One Size (12-35lbs): 24 AIOs, $480
Liners (sz SM and LG): 6,420 changes, $409
Total BumGenius AIOs: $1,253
You can see that even AIOS can save you money over chlorine-free diapers. It's pretty close, if you use the chlorine-bleached Pampers. AIOs just have a higher initial cost. If you CD 2 kids, the savings add up! If you have twins, they are probably worth it just for the time savings. :)
Sized AIOs aren't as common, but they're out there. Now most AIOs are a one size (OS) diaper for 10-35+ lbs, so they claim. Most people find that they are way too big for 10lbs or even 12 lbs. I would start them around 15lbs/5-6 months. We do really like them from this size up, but I wouldn't expect them to be the only CDs you need from birth to potty training.
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Extras:
*Snappi fasteners cost $3-4 and should last the whole diapering time. I own 3 and they have held up great. They attach just like an ace bandage and hold the prefold diaper snugly in place, making it nice and trim.
*You can use a sprayer/scrapper instead of liners. This will save money, not time, and might be a better choice for a septic system.
*Some people prefer wet pails for their CDs. Soaking might be good if you worry about stains and dry in a machine. It also acts as a presoak so the dipes spend less time in the washer. BE CAREFUL. Babies can drown in these, so use common sense and keep them locked up far from adventurous little ones.
*You will have to pay for water (not a big difference) and soap (we make our own and it's super cheap, about $5.50 per 60ish loads). Hanging the CDs outside to dry not only saves energy and money but the sun will naturally bleach out stains.
Cloth diapers are so cute and easy I think you will fall in love with them if you give them a try.
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