Cloth Diapers: A Few Close-ups of My Stash

This is the 5th and final post in the cloth diaper series. 

Here are links to the previous posts for quick reference:

Part 1: Why Would You Even Bother?

Part 2: Not Your Grandmothers's Cloth Diapers

Part 3: Diaper Care and Common Myths

Part 4: Sew Your Own

In this last cloth diaper post, I will simply share a few photos of the actual diapers that I use.  Throughout the series, I refer to some of my favorite diapers.  However, the available stock photos don't give alot of detail so that a person is able to see and understand how that particular system works and thus make an educated decision if limited to online shopping.  I aim to help solve this problem.  I am showing photos of a plain ole cover (Bummis Whisper Wrap), a pocket diaper (BG 3.0), a hybrid system diaper (Flip), an all-in-one (BG Elemental). 

Here is a plain ole diaper cover (w/ snaps):

You can see that there is no "shiny" side to the diaper.  It is made with sandwich PUL which simply means the waterproof laminate is sandwiched between two layers of poly fabric.  So, that is why traditional covers (used with prefolds) are not reusable between washes per se, though some people do it anyway.

This is a pocket diaper:

I basically just wanted to show the pocket opening.  This is where you would stuff your insert in after washing.  Note the "shiny" side of the the PUL is exposed underneath the pocket.  This diaper's pocket is sham style so a flap of fabric covers the pocket opening.  And by the way, despite what you have been told, I do not "unstuff" my pockets prior to washing - they come out on their own in the wash. 

This is a hybrid style diaper, the Flip:

(Remember, hybrid means it has a disposable insert as well, but I don't have any of those pictured.) 

And my sweet Smooch when she was liiiiiiittle. :-)

Do you see the "shiny" side exposed on the inside of the diaper?  This is what makes it wipe able and reusable throughout the day for wet diapers.  (Pssst: I don't even wipe mine unless the insert is overly saturated and it does great. As in, not stinky.)   See how it is just like a pocket diaper with the soft poly inner layer removed?  And that insert is just a prefold that I folded into thirds.  (Fold it a different direction depending on the size of your baby.) 

The insert tucks nicely underneath the flaps on both ends, and it does a surprisingly marvelous job staying in place.

The photo below shows how trim this particular diaper is, even with a tri-folded prefold insert.

Check out the stretchy tabs on the Flip (above) as well.  That is, in my opinion, one of the things that makes Cotton Babies (the maker of BumGenius and Flips) diapers a notch above the rest. 

And finally, here is an all-in-one diaper (the BG Elemental):

Note the soft organic cotton and the unique way the soaker layers are sewn in so that they do not have the long dry time for which most all-in-one diapers are known. 

This concludes the (long, exhaustive) series on cloth diapers.  I hope it has been helpful to those who are interested in diapering their little one in fluffy, soft cuteness and save a wholelotta money doing it.  As always, feel free to pass this along to those who might find it helpful.  

Disclaimer:  No, Cotton Babies (or any other company) neither pays me nor gives me free product or anything of the like in exchange for showcasing/saying nice things about their products.  But they totally should.  ;-)   I just so happen to be a happy customer who really likes the diapers that I use, and I don't mind sharing that information with the blogesphere.  For free.

Cloth Diapers: Sew Your Own

As I mentioned in one of the previous cloth diaper posts, people usually react strangely when they discover that we use cloth diapers.  But boy do the eyes pop when they find out I have sewn some of my own diapers.  Like super freak.  So if you didn't know, now you do. ;-)  In this post, we'll talk about the pros and cons of making your own cloth diapers (all from my perspective of course), and I will share some excellent resources with you should you decide you'd like to give it a whirl.

But first, please check out the first three posts in the cloth diaper series if you haven't already:

Part One: Why Would You Even Bother?
Part Two: Not Your Grandmothers's Cloth Diapers
Part Three: Diaper Care and Common Myths

I know I know.  Brevity is not my gift.

The biggest reason that many people choose to sew their own cloth diapers is pretty obvious: it's cheaper.  It's especially cheaper once you enter the world of pocket diapers and all-in-ones.  There are some other advantages to sewing your own diapers as well.

Pros

1.  More cost-effective
2.  Options to customize (read: cute print fabrics!)
3.  It's fun, if you like to sew

Cons

1.  Finding a pattern that works for you (your baby's bottom) can be a pain and result in a bit of trial and error.
2.  Quality sometimes suffers as access to the best materials is sometimes limited.
3.  Time-consuming.  (As in an hour or two to make one diaper.)

My Diaper-Sewing Saga

When princess was little, and we were using a combination of prefolds and BumGenius pocket diapers, I thought the pocket diapers were to die for (they are), so I thought I'd save us a load of money by learning to make my own.  Of course I wanted to make my own pattern and took some of my favorite features from different diapers and put it into one diaper.  Maybe someday I'd even make them to sell.

I purchased all the necessary fabrics, elastic, and velcro and went to work.  I ended up wasting a lot of time and some money as well in my experiments, although I must admit it was fun.  It was a "waste" at first because 1.  My sewing skills needed...refreshed and 2. My diaper pattern needed vast improvements.  Here is a link to a post I wrote way back in 2008 about those first diapers.  Oh I loved them at the time.  Until I realized that they sucked. :-)  The legs were sewn too loose, the aplix (hook and loop) looked ratty over time, and the design was faulty.  They leaked a little bit.  :-(

Then I learned more, practiced like crazy, obtained the tools needed to do my own snaps, and came up with these delightful one-size diapers.  Aren't they nifty?  My design this time (still my own pattern) was good, the snaps held up like champs, I finally perfected the trick of sewing in the elastic tight enough on the legs, and they fit really well.  I used those diapers with Princess until she was potty trained at age 2.  In fact, I still use those diapers occasionally with Smooch-a-roo.    The only problem that I discovered is that my "one-size" actually only fits a child up to 25 lbs. or so.  That, and my microfiber inserts (which are actually auto cloths) eventually lost their absorbency as they were not meant for such intense/frequent washings.  However, the diaper shells are still excellent almost three years later (I just use a prefold for the insert nowadays).

It was fun.  I enjoyed sewing my baby's diapers, choosing my own fabric colors and that sort of thing.  However, in the end, with all the trial and error included, I think I hardly saved a penny over what I would have spent on buying them from the pros.  Well maybe a few pennies.

And I determined that at an hour or two per diaper, I would hardly find it worthwhile to make my diaper-sewing "hobby" into a little side-business.  I'd have to charge nearly as much as the name-brand cloth diaper manufacturers to make it worth my time. 

By the way, with snaps, the diapers cost me anywhere from $4-ish to $8-ish to make, just depending on where I bought my PUL (waterproof outter) fabric.

Finally, here is a more recent post of a diaper I made. This time, I literally traced a diaper that I really love to make a copycat pattern. Did I mention that I never intend to start that little diaper-sewing business?  And the moral of my diaper-sewing story is that it can save you lots of money, if you don't waste a lot of precious material figuring out what in the world you're doing.  

Here are some tips if you're interested in sewing your own diapers:

1.  Start with a "tried and true" pattern before you experiment.  In other words, learn from my mistake.
2.  Talk to other moms who have sewn their own diapers.  You might learn something.
3.  Find the highest quality materials - do your homework.  You would sure hate to spend hours making diapers, only to have your elastic fail after a month of use.  Even though my first diapers were a bust, it was because of pattern issues rather than materials.
4.  Make your first couple of diapers using cheap old t-shirts or something until you are confident in your diaper-sewing technique.
5.  Buy cute fabrics. :-)  This is a must.

Diaper-Sewing Resources

In this section, I will point you to my favorite diaper-sewing resources including helpful groups and vendors.

Sew Your Own Diapers Yahoo Group  - This group was a lifesaver for me.  From it I learned all the lingo, sewing tips, pattern tips, answers to laundry questions, and anything else you can think of.  The "files" section of this group contains a wealth of information, from general tips and tricks to free downloadable diaper patterns.  You can also search the messages by keyword to find the answer to just about any cloth diaper.

PUL Purchase Power Yahoo Group  - This group is an excellent co-op through which you can purchase regular solid colored PUL and fun, cute prints.  If purchased through this co-op, you will save 40 - 60% of what you would pay at a "retail" PUL seller.  Remember, PUL is the waterproof material from which virtually all waterproof pieces of cloth diapers and covers are made.  Even diapers that are "all natural" probably still have a hidden layer of PUL if they are waterproof.  PUL is usually a polyester fabric that has a polyurethane film bonded to it on one side.  (It is the shiny, wipeable side of  covers like the Flip.)

Currently I am sitting on a princess, two Hawaiian (one pink, one blue), and a giraffe print from this co-op.  I keep thinking I'm going to whip a couple more of these puppies out.  Just because they're so adorable and all.

Diapercuts - This is a retail shop for diaper fabrics, elastics, etc.  Actually, I see they're currently not open, so I hope they get up and running soon or I will have to find a new supplier for some of my goodies.  In the past I have purchased PUL (in a pinch b/c the co-op has a long turn-around time), elastic (lastin, fold-over, and polybraid), Aplix, and - just for fun - cute little tags.  Beth only sells the highest quality diaper-making materials and she only charges actual shipping costs, which is refreshing.  Seriously, I hope she re-opens the store.

Photo from Diapercuts

Very Baby  - This is also a great supplier of fabrics and notions.  Be aware that their prices are a smidge higher than Diapercuts, as are the shipping costs.  I have had great luck with them though, and would use them again.

The Snap Store - This is where I buy all my snaps, size 16.  The snaps are excellent in quality, and you can order a color card with one of every snap color on it so you know exactly what to get.   I also got my snap die set from this store, which I use with a drill press (instead of buying a snap press).  This is required to properly put snaps on your diapers. Yep, I love me some snaps!

Well that's about all I can think to share at the moment. 

And, as always, please know that no person or company has given/is giving me anything to mention them here.  I am giving you this info from my real life favorites by personal preference and experiences.  To make your life easier.   You know, if you want to sew some rockin' cloth diapers of  your own. 

Cloth Diapers: Diaper Care and Common Myths

photo credit



This is part three of our cloth diaper series!  Please read parts one and two before you read this post, as they build on one another:

Part One - Cloth Diapers: Why Would You Even Bother?
Part Two - Cloth Diapers: Not Your Grandmother's Cloth Diapers

Today we will be discussing how to care for cloth diapers, as well as dispel some common myths about using cloth.  This information has the potential to be overwhelming, but do not despair.  It's really pretty simple - I'm just telling you everything I learned over time in one blog post.  Let's get started.

Caring for Cloth Diapers

One of the big selling points for using cloth diapers is the fact that you get to use them again, at no cost, for your future child(ren).  However, like anything, cloth diapers need to be properly taken care of in order to last.  There are several "dos and don'ts" that people who are new to cloth must be aware of.

1.  Storage.  After you change your little one's diaper, instead of throwing the diaper in the trash, you need to have a place to store your dirty diapers until washing time.  Most people these days prefer to use what is called a "dry pail."  All that means is that you have a bucket, like a trash can, with a loose-fitting lid to store your diapers in.  No water, no solutions, nothing.  Many people prefer to line their bucket with a wet bag, which is basically a washable, waterproof bag with elastic at the top.  When it is time to wash, you simply toss your wetbag and diapers into the wash.  I, however, am gross never bothered to get a wetbag so I just rinse out my empty bucket with vinegar each time I throw the diapers in the wash.

Solid waste can be shaken into the toilet. What does not shake off will clean up fine in the wash.  Something I have never bothered with, but many people swear by, is a handy dandy sprayer that you connect to the water line feeding your toilet.  This way, waste can be sprayed off directly into the toilet.  Click here to see one.

2.  Laundry.  This is a big one.  This is the number one reason that I hear people say that they absolutely could not use cloth diapers.  Well guess what?   There are some specifics you have to follow, but it is actually quite simple

First of all, you should know that most cloth diaper users wash their diapers just once every two or three days.  That means, you are only doing 2 or 3 extra loads of laundry per week.  Yes, it is one more thing to think about, but I personally don't think that laundry should be the reason to shy away from cloth diapers.

Here is my fine-tuned laundry routine:

1. Toss diapers in wash and set washer to largest load
(diapers are only a small load, but you need the rinsing power of lots of water to a little bit of diapers)

2. Cold rinse, no detergent.  This gets solids off w/o staining.

3.  Hottest, longest wash 1 to 2 T of detergent free of brighteners, additives, etc.

A list of how detergents rate can be found here.
I have discovered that my homemade laundry detergent works wonderfully!  I get my recipe from the Duggars, here: Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap (scroll down, it's the 3rd recipe), or my cousin has a very similar recipe (same ingredients, different amounts) found on her website Living on a Dime.

4. Rinse

5.  Rinse

6.  Maybe rinse one more time for good measure. :-)

7.  Dry in dryer (no fabric softener or dryer sheets), or hang dry.

The most important thing - and the thing that people are most likely to cut corners on - is making sure all of the detergent is rinsed out of the diapers.  This why you should never use more than 2T of detergent and why you must rinse 2 to 3 times.  Your diapers will smell like water when they are done.  If they still smell like detergent after the last rinse, you can be sure that you are using too much soap.  Cut back next time.  If you do not get all the detergent rinsed out of your diapers, you will get detergent buildup (guess what's in your clothes!) which will eventually cause the diapers to 1. smell weird when in contact with urine 2. be less absorbent, causing poor performance such as leaks, 3. lose softness and even become a bit stiff, and 4. cause diaper rash.

Yes, even though I am now a "pro" at this cloth diaper thing, I still always, always smell them before they go into the dryer.

Some other notes on laundry:

Even if you perfectly wash your diapers, and they always smell like water before you put them in the dryer, you are still bound to get some buildup slowly over time.  This is where the difference between natural fabrics (like cotton) and synthetic fabrics (like micro fleece) can really come into play.  Synthetic fabrics are just harder to get as clean and adequately rinsed in comparison to cotton.   With cotton, I have to "strip" the diapers of accumulated buildup about once per year.  With synthetic fabrics (which I used to use for Princess), I had to "strip" my diapers once every 3 months or so.   Before stripping, you could even try an extra hot wash w/o using detergent to help with this issue.

photo credit

If you find you need to strip your diapers, I recommend using RLR.  To be perfectly honest, I'm not quite sure what it is, but you can read about it here: RLR.  I use as little as half a packet for a load of diapers.  Just put it in the wash with your diapers in place of detergent, and when you are done rinse, rinse, rinse, maybe 10 times or so until you don't see any more suds in the rinse water.  This part is a pain, but like I said, with natural fabrics, and proper laundry techniques, you should only  have to do this once a year.  We are about due for an RLR treatment at our house, since it has been over a year since our last one, and I can tell it is time because we are getting the stinkies...   And by the way, RLR can also be used for your regular laundry.  (I like it to help with deodorant buildup in shirts.)

3.  Rash cream.  Never use rash cream with cloth diapers if your child develops a diaper rash.  There is one exception:  if you use a barrier (such as a wash cloth) between baby's bottom and the cloth diaper so that no cream comes into contact with the diaper.  If my baby has a rash bad enough to require diaper rash cream, I will occasionally just use a disposable insert (for the Flip diaper) or a disposable diaper for one to three diaper changes when the rash typically clears up.  If you have reoccurring rash problems, please see the section on laundry (and RLR) or consider consulting your child's doctor regarding possible food allergies or a yeast issue.

4.  Stains.  The cold rinse prior to the hot wash should prevent most staining from solid waste.  However, some staining is bound to occur, especially with natural fabrics.  To get stains out of your diapers simply thoroughly wet the stain and set in the bright sun.  It is like magic!   This is one of the reasons some cloth diaper users love to hang dry their diapers outside.   If the stain is bad, you might have to repeat this process.  Re-wet and do it again.  (Side note: cloth diaper care has taught me so much about the care of clothing in general.  This idea of "sunning out" stains has worked time and time again for my daughters' shirts as well.  Sometimes, I can even convince a stain that has accidentally been through the dryer and is "set," to fade away.  Try it!)

photo credit

(I kind of want to try the above diaper.  Looks so cute, and is similar to the Flip in theory.)

Common Cloth Diaper Myths

Myth:  Cloth diapers don't really save much money because the extra laundry costs add up enough to cancel out any money saved. 

Truth:  People who say this usually think that cloth diapers must be washed daily, creating 7 extra loads of laundry per week.  The fact is that 2 - 3 loads of laundry per week does not add up nearly as quickly as daily disposable diaper use.  That is about the amount of water that a potty-trained, toilet-flushing toddler uses each week.  If you're really concerned about the electricity, hang-drying with just a "fluff" in the dryer will help with that. 

Myth:  Cloth diapers are unsanitary.

Truth:  Hot water (make sure your water heater is turned up high enough) kills bacteria better than most people realize.

Myth:  Storing cloth diapers in a "dry pail" is a terrible idea because of the odor.

Truth:  Storing any diapers is a terrible idea because of the odor.  Having experienced both, I can attest to the fact that disposables - even in a Diaper Champ or Diaper Genie - smell like death.  In fact, because of what is in disposable diapers, I think they smell even worse than cloth.  Sometimes when we travel, if I have Sunshine in a disposable diaper, I think she pooped when she did not just because the urine smells more offensive in a 'sposie to me.  With cloth, at least it gets washed every 2 to 3 days.  I don't think the odor is really noticeable until day three - it smells like ammonia - which is the latest possible wash day anyway.  If this really bothers you, using a sachet of baking soda in or near the pail can be a good idea.  Or just wash every two days instead of three.  Just like you can take the trash out early in the case of a terrible, explosive diaper, you can always wash the diaper laundry early if your child has had an extra-offensive diaper.  We keep our diaper pail in the laundry room rather than in the bedroom or bathroom, and I think that helps too.



Hopefully after reading this, someone considering cloth diapers has a very accurate idea of what is involved in diaper care, and has also had some of their cloth diaper fears alleviated.  I think the hardest part is all the unknowns involved in trying something new.  I hope this helps you move forward in confidence.

Cloth Diapers: Not Your Grandmother's Cloth Diapers

Photo from Zoolikins.

Welcome to part two of the cloth diaper series.  If you missed part one, please click on the following link to read that post first:  Cloth Diapers: Why Would You Even Bother? .

Back in the day, cloth diapers consisted of a flat cloth diaper that had to be folded just so, pinned in place with what looked like giant safety pins, and covered with rubber pants for not-so-effective waterproofing.   This is what most people still picture when they think of cloth diapers.

Today, there are several ingenious cloth diapering systems to chose from, most of which are a far cry from the cloth diaper of yesteryear.  In fact, there are so many that the choices can be overwhelming to say the least.  In this post, I will highlight the main cloth diapering systems available, mention some pros and cons of each, and list cost information.

Prefold (flat) diaper with a waterproof cover

Prefolds, as they are called, are quite similar to what your grandmother used.  However, instead of sharp pins, there is a nifty little object called a Snappi that fastens your diaper easily in place by stretching over the front of the diaper, gripping the prefold's cotton fibers in three places.  Prefolds are by far the cheapest way to go, but there is a learning curve to getting them on well, which turns many people off to them.  Once you have mastered it, the extra steps are no big deal.  My husband quickly became a pro at putting on a prefold. 

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 Photos from Zoolikins.

After putting on the prefold, you will need to secure a diaper cover over the top of it.  The cover is what will make the diaper waterproof.  Prefolds are made of pure and simple cotton, and while you could technically allow your child to run around the house without a cover, I personally would not. 

 Photo from Zoolikins.

Photo from Zoolikins.

Note that covers (as with pretty much any other diaper) are available with either "velcro" (hook and loop) closures or snaps.  I prefer snaps for their durability as hook and loop tends to wear out over time and multiple washes.

Some people find the multiple steps required for the prefold system to me overwhelming; however, some of those same people find that it is still worth it because of how cost-effective they are.

Cost

Prefolds come in several sizes - preemie, infant, premium and even toddler. In my experience the preemie ones are useless to anyone who does not have an actual prematurely born baby, and toddler ones are giant - like for ages 4 and 5.  So if you had a supply of both infant and premium prefolds, and you got one-size covers like these Econobum covers, this would be your cost break down. (Note: using size-specific covers such as some of the ones I picture in this blog will increase your cost as you would need a set of covers in each size.)

30 infant prefolds @ $2 each = $60

24 premium prefolds @ $3 each = $72

8 one-sized cover @$9 each = $72

Total = $204

And as I mentioned in my previous post, it can be done for even less, but I am trying to be very realistic in my examples.

Prefold 

Pros:

most cost-effective

can re-use covers several times

cotton is best fabric for sensitive skin

cotton washes out the most easily

Cons:

multiple steps to put diaper on

bulkier fit than some other systems

Fitted diaper with a waterproof cover

Similar to the prefold system, is that of fitted diapers.  Fitted diapers are not waterproof by themselves, so you will still need a cover for them.  You simply snap the inner diaper on, and then add a cover over the top.

 

Photos from Zoolikins.

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Cost

Unlike prefolds, fitted diapers range widely in cost.  They are high enough in price that I would recommend a one-size option, such as this Kissaluvs diaper.

30 one-size fitted diapers @ $12 each = $360

8 one-size covers @ $9 each = $72

Total = $432

Fitted

Pros:

can reuse covers several times

cotton is best fabric for sensitive skin

cotton washes out the most easily

Cons:

multiple steps to put diaper on

expensive for being very similar to prefolds

bulkier fit than some other systems

 

Pocket diaper

The pocket diaper is what we first tried with Princess, along with prefolds and covers, and at the time, pocket diapers were my hands-down favorite.  Basically, it is like a cover that has a pocket you can stuff with an insert, an absorbent layer made of either a microfiber terrycloth or cotton.  What I love about pocket diapers is that you can stuff the diapers as soon as you take them out of the dryer and then it is ready to go in once piece for easy diapering when your little one needs a change.  No extra steps at the time of diapering.  Pocket diapers are one of the most popular cloth diapering systems out there.

Photos from Cotton Babies.

Cost

Pocket diapers also vary in cost, and again, some are one-size and some are not.  Most of them are in the $20 range.  My favorite one for both fit and quality, are the BumGenius One-Size Pocket Diaper, so that is what I will use in my example.  BG often has a buy 5 get 1 free deal, but I'll do my calculations without taking that into consideration.

30 pocket diapers w/ insert @ $18 each = $540

Pocket

Pros:

Can "stuff" diapers ahead of time for one-step diaper change

"stay dry" microsuede fabric against baby's bottom

trim fit

Cons:

Some kids (like my Sunshine) react negatively to synthetic fabrics

Need a whole new diaper every time - cannot reuse the shell

Expensive compared to prefolds

Hybrid Diaper

The hybrid diaper is a bit of a more recent phenomenon.  Perhaps you have heard of Gdiapers?  They are a hybrid diapers.  The diaper below is similar in theory, but actually a little more simple and a little more cost effective.  This particular brand is called the Flip, and this has been my go-to diaper since Sunshine was a tiny infant.  It is like a strange cross between the prefold/cover and pocket diaper systems.  It is like a pocket diaper without the pocket, so that you simply lay your prefold in place and fasten the diaper.  Very easy.  And if you're a bargain shopper like me, you will find that an inexpensive prefold works just as well - just tri-fold and lay in place.  Another pro is that the polyurethane (PUL) coated side of the fabric is exposed when the insert is not lying on top of it, so that urine can be wiped off, and the cover can be reused several times.  This means that you only need a fraction of covers compared to prefold system or the pocket system, where you really an entirely new diaper each time.  

So what makes it a hybrid?  If traveling or for convenience while running errands, you can use disposable inserts that are environmentally friendly (will biodegrade easily and can even be composted if only wet, not soiled).   So you are like half cloth diapering in those scenarios.  So. Cool.

Photos from Cotton Babies.

This particular brand is called the Flip, and this has been my go-to diaper since Smooch was a tiny infant. It is like a strange cross between the prefold/cover and pocket diaper systems. It is like a pocket diaper without the pocket, so that you simply lay your prefold in place and fasten the diaper. Very easy. And if you're a bargain shopper like me, you will find that an inexpensive prefold works just as well - just tri-fold and lay in place. Another pro is that the polyurethane (PUL) coated side of the fabric is exposed when the insert is not lying on top of it, so that urine can be wiped off, and the cover can be reused several times. This means that you need fewer covers compared to prefold system or the pocket system, where you really need an entirely new diaper each time.

So what makes it a hybrid?  For convenience while running errands or whenever, you can use disposable inserts that are environmentally friendly (will biodegrade easily and can even be composted if only wet and not soiled). So you are like half cloth diapering in those scenarios. So. Cool.  If you have the sort of baby whose bottom reacts to the chemicals in disposable diapers (like both of mine did as infants), this is a great solution for travel - when many cloth diapered babies will wear regular disposables.

Cost

With Flips, there are a lot of options, so bear with me here.

3 day packs with stay-dry inserts (6 covers, 18 inserts) @ $50 each = $150

6 additional stay-dry inserts @ $5 each = $30

Total = $180

3 day packs with organic cotton inserts (6 covers, 18 inserts) @ $60 each = $180

6 additional inserts @ $8 each = $48

Total = $228

OR

Another cotton option would be to use prefolds instead of their organic cotton inserts.

30 infant prefolds @ $2 each = $60

24 premium prefolds @ $3 each = $72

6 Flip covers @ @14 each = $84

Total =  $216

Hybrid

Pros:

very versatile system

covers wipe off for possible all-day use

can choose stay-day or natural cotton inserts

Almost as inexpensive as basic prefolds and covers

trim fit

Cons:

disposable inserts (if desired) are expensive

multiple steps for putting diaper on (lay insert in cover)

All-in-one diaper

And now we have the cream of the crop, in my opinion.  The all-in-one diaper is wildly popular because it can be put on and taken off exactly like a disposable.  There are no extra pieces, inserts, etc., so it's just one easy step.  Some challenges with all-in-ones is that, since the absorbent layers are all sandwiched together in one piece, they can take ages to dry after washing.  

photo from Cotton Babies.

My favorite cloth diaper maker (Cotton Babies), recently solved that issue when they made the absorbent layers sewn down on only the front and back, allowing for air to get around them for much faster drying.  With this excellent solution for the "dry time" problem, this is my all-time favorite cloth diaper. However, they are quite expensive, and you need a new one for each diaper change (unlike Flips where I can use one to three covers per day, depending on poop habits), so that can really add up. I do have two of these wonders in my stash, and I usually save them for the church nursery or any other time someone uncomfortable with cloth may need to change my Smooch's diaper. They are by far the most like disposables as far as convenience goes, and they are also the most trim-fitting on my little one's bottom.

Cost

30 BG Elemental diapers @ $25 each = $750

Total = $750

Buuuut

Cotton babies gives a quantity discount which helps a little.

2 - 12 packs @ $265 = $530

1 - 6 pack @ $135 = $135

Total = $665

All-in-one (Elemental)

Pros 

One-step to put on just like a disposable

Organic cotton inner

Most trim fit of all

Cons

Expensive compared to other cloth systems

longer dry time

Some notes on cost comparisons...

You will notice that I did my calculations for a minimum stash of 30 diapers.  The reason for this is because some people claim that newborns go through 10 - 12 diapers a day and a diaper stash should carry you through 2 or 3 days between washes.  I personally think this is a pretty high estimate, but I also realize that some infants are overachieving poopers, so perhaps this is accurate for many people.  All that to say, I think a stash of 24 diapers is plenty since most babies by age 4 or 6 months only need about 6 diapers a day. You can see how the costs for each diaper system will change when you take the number from 30 down to 24. 

Some people even *gasp* make their own cloth diapers.  But that is another story for another day.

As you can see from this exhaustive diaper system comparison, there is something for just about anyone and for any budget!  In the next post in this series, we will be taking a look at the "how to" of cloth diaper care aka laundry, as well as dispelling some cloth diapering myths.  Soon I will also be writing a post on frequently asked questions.  If you have a question about using cloth, feel free to ask away.  It might be included in that FAQ post! 

Cloth Diapers: Why Would You Even Bother?

photo credit

When people discover that I cloth diaper our kids, they usually either think that I am a freakish hippie (which I would not deny), or they look at me with wide eyes as if I am suddenly shrouded in mommy mystery.   This second group of people secretly wishes they were hippies too I suppose.  Strange reactions aside, I am here to tell you all about how and why we started using cloth diapers.  Frankly, we have never looked back.            

Since we made the switch when Princess was 8 months old, I have received multiple inquiries from friends, and friends of friends regarding cloth diapers, and I have spent hours over the past few years responding to questions, compiling my research and listing great resources.  I love serving as a resource to others in any way that I can, and now, once and for all, I am writing this cloth diaper series so that in the future I can be lazy and just send links to my blog posts instead. ;-)   Because, honestly, when we have another child or two, I may accidentally become non-responsive to such inquiries.
            
To be clear, my goal in writing this series is not to try to "convert" people to using cloth diapers.  Nor do I hope to make anyone who prefers to use disposables feel guilty about their choice.  This is one of those "each to his own" issues, as I completely understand the reasons for using disposables, namely less work.  And as a busy momma, everyone wants a piece of you and it's sometimes all you can do to even change those diapers in a timely manner.  Please know that I realize those things and that "mother guilt" is not what any of us need around here.  I do aim to educate those who might appreciate having options, to demystify the modern cloth diaper, and to point those who are considering cloth to some excellent resources.  Now that we are clear on that, let's begin.

In this first cloth diaper post, we will cover the following:

1. Why we decided on cloth for our family.

2. Cloth Diapers vs. Disposables: personal preferences, resources, and cost comparison.

Why we decided on cloth for our family.
(photo credit)
When our Princess was about 6 months old, my husband worked extremely hard as both a contractor and a youth pastor.  Since I had finished my master's degree, my student loans were coming due, and we had already been paying on my hubby's for a short time.  I am sad to inform you that the minimum payments for those loans combined were mighty close to what we currently pay each month for our rental home. So even with My Stud's two wonderful jobs, and my gig providing childcare in our home, this question always arose every month or so as the stack of diapers shrunk away to almost nothing: "How are we paying for diapers this month?"   Having had terrible luck with most off-brand diapers (poo leaks, etc.), we settled on the giant Costco box of Kirkland diapers, but forty bucks was not easy to dig up. We were budget cheaters back in that day.
Honestly, I just got really sick of scrimping to pay for diapers, which I would soon throw in the trash...so that we could buy more.

Another factor to consider was that Princess had very sensitive skin and regularly struggled with diaper rash no matter how often I changed her. I began to wonder if the diaper itself was irritating her skin. Thus began my journey of research.

Switching to cloth was not a decision we were willing to take lightly, and it was not something that I was going to get My Stud on board with unless I had lots of compelling arguments to back it up.  Because let's face it, poop is gross and who wants to regularly wash stuff that is covered in it.  I mean, is that even sanitary?!

In my research, I found cost comparisons, info about the weird stuff in disposables that alarmed me, and I learned that cloth diapers had come a long way since our grandmother's day (more on that in my next post).  A few cost comparison sheets later, I was convinced and set out to convince My Stud as well.  It did not take as much convincing as I had thought.  Numbers speak loudly to my husband. 

The debate: cloth vs. disposables
(photo credit)
Since we began using cloth, I have my own set of reasons why I love them.  And even though I was raised in a part of the country where you earn can actually earn salvation through recycling, this particular point will not be one of my main focuses. Nor will I detail health concerns (though there are several). All of these reasons are compelling, but for me they were secondary reasons - fringe benefits - of using cloth rather than my main motivators for making the switch.  If you are interested in more info on those things, please read this well-cited, informative article series found here.  You will learn things like what in the world that gel stuff is that they put in diapers.


                          

This is what I like about cloth vs. disposables:

1.  Drastically reduced diaper rash. As I touched on already, my babies so far have each had extremely sensitive skin, specifically during the first year.  Princess reacted to disposable diapers, acidic food in her waste, and other things.  Smooch reacted to disposable diapers (used them during our move to another state when she was two weeks old), and even synthetic fabrics that Mommy wore.  Cloth diapering, especially using unbleached cotton fabric against baby bottoms, has been a life-saver for our sensitive-skinned girls.

2. No blowouts.  Since we used disposable diapers for Princess for the first 8 months of her life, I am well acquainted with the infamous bf poop blowout.  I thought blowouts were just a way of life.  Until we cloth diapered baby Smooch.  Blowouts?  What blowouts?  Her covers held in that runny breast milk poo wonderfully so that I never had one blowout while using cloth, and trust me there were some doosies.  Oh the time I saved by not having to coax the stains out of all those tiny baby onesies and pants.  No stains.  What a discovery!

3.  Cost.  As the reason I began my research in the first place, this was the big deal-sealer for us. When you first begin to look at cloth diapers, especially some of the fancier ones, it may seen outrageous to think of spending upwards of $20 for one diaper.  I understand!  It is shocking to shell out the entire cost of diapering up front, even though it is cheaper over time, rather than to buy diapers little by little over the course of the diapering life of your child. 

photo credit

Let's break it down.
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I will use conservative figures here, not overestimating diaper changes per day, and assuming potty training is completed by age two.  I am also using cheapo off-brand diaper pricing info: 150 diapers for $20.  I am using a median diaper size for the 2 years of diaper to simplify things.  My theoretical numbers are certainly lower than most families' actual figures.

Disposables:

10 diapers/day (0 - 2 months) = 600 diapers

8 diapers/day (2 - 4 months) = 480 diapers

6 diapers/day (4 -24 months) = 3600 diapers

Total of 4680 diapers...

if this kid is potty trained by his 2nd bday.

That equals $624.

If the child is potty trained by age 3, you're talking another 2160 diapers

and a total of $912.

$912 diapers in the trash.  Start all over for a new sibling.  Woo hoo!

Remember, I'm using cheap 13 cent diapers, and I know many people do not.

If your diapers cost 25 cents a piece, you're spending $1170 by age 2 and $1710 by age 3.  This does not count pull ups by the way.  Those things are robbery.

Now let's look at a two cloth systems: a lower end one as far as cost is concerned, and one of the most expensive ones you can choose.  This assumes you do one load of diaper laundry once every two or three days.

Less expensive, but easy system:

30 infant prefolds: $2.00 ea. = $60

24 premium prefolds: $3.00 ea. = $72

8 Flips one-size cover: $14 ea. = $112

3 Snappis: $8 pkg. = $8

Total = $252 from birth to potty trained, whenever that may be.

I use this exact system for Smooch, but I only have only 24 infant prefolds and 6 covers (which has been plenty for me), so I diaper her for $140 for her entire diapered life.  I don't think I will ever need the premium prefolds because I think she'll be potty trained before I need bigger inserts.  If I need them, I already have them from Princess' stash.

If someone needs cheap cheap, I have seen good, basic diapering systems for as little as $100. Total.

Most expensive, most convenient system:

24 BG Elemental one-size diapers: $25 each = $600

These ones work just like disposables - just slap it on and go.

And there are a lot of options in between.

The best part?  Subsequent children are essentially diapered for free because you can reuse your diapers for several years...unless you're like me and you just want to use a different system for a different kid.  I think we spent about $350 to diaper Princess, so adding $140 to diaper Smooch still puts our total for two kids far below the total cost of disposables for one child. 

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Hopefully this gives you some good things to think about if you're considering using cloth diapers for your baby or toddler.  In the next post, I will be giving an overview of the different cloth diapering systems available with some pros and cons of each.  Feel free to pass these cloth diapering posts along to others if you know of someone who would like to learn about making the switch.