yes.
that's right.
we're cloth diapering Penny's adorable little bum...
I mean, how cute is that?
pretty cute. right?
right.
when I first heard of cloth diapers years ago I was baffled at why anyone would want to use cloth diapers. I didn't ever think it was a decision I would choose to make when the time came... well, I am the first to admit when I am wrong [I was wrong] and I am a cloth diaper convert!
there are many reasons we're choosing to cloth diaper - cost [bigger cost up front but definite savings over time, especially if you use the cloth diapers for more than one baby], environmental benefits [we're contributing less diapers to landfills across america], and of course - for our sweet pea's health [no chemicals on her nether regions and we have been diaper rash free from day one, hooray!]... oh, and I think they're pretty adorable!
clearly, it's not right for everyone - but it's right for us... [no judgement if you're using disposables - we use them in between wash cycles and currently for overnight!] So, in case using cloth diapers is something you've been toying with here is "our system" - I'm not a pro, but posts like these were SUPER helpful to me when I was figuring the whole cloth diapering thing out so I figure I'll try and help "pay it forward" - so here goes....
A lot of people start with "one-size" cloth diapers but I decided I wanted to diaper PJ from day one so I started with a newborn stash. This was for a few reasons - first, I didn't want her to spend her first month or two in disposables since I know babies go through so many diapers during that timespan [I'm cheeeaaaap!] and I wasn't sure if we'd be able to cloth diaper fulltime once I went back to work because of daycare (still up in the air) so I wanted to cloth diaper "fulltime" while I was home on maternity leave...
Our "Diaper Stash":
First, I got a total of 24 newborn diapers...
[so cute, huh?]
[equally adorable]
Penny's been wearing her cloth diapers since she was around a week old... here she at just 8 days old in her first cloth diaper!
She just outgrew her newborn diapers this past week so they lasted around six weeks - not too shabby considering we'll use them for another baby (or two). Now I'm on to build our one-size stash (we currently have six bumGenius 4.0s and 2 bumGenius elementals -- clearly, we need a lot more one-size... I plan on just getting more of these two bumGenius types because I LOVE them).
anyways, in my opinion - almost as important as the diapers you get is the "system" you use with them. So, for us here's how it goes...
Our "System":
we have a tight lidded trashcan ($39.99 from Target)...
...in the trashcan we have two Munchkin Arm and Hammer Nursery Fresheners (just throw them right in the bottom of the trashcan)
...then we put a Kissa's Pail Liner
in the trashcan (we bought two so when one is in the wash, the other one goes right in)...
in the trashcan (we bought two so when one is in the wash, the other one goes right in)...
...so after we take off the "dirty diaper" ever diaper is sprayed with (2-3 squirts) of Bac-Out w/Foaming Action Sprayer
...
...
viola.
no diaper stink and our diapers come out of the wash fresh and clean!
we're also using cloth wipes -- so we give Pen's "nether regions" a spray or two of California Baby Diaper Area Wash
and wipe with the cloth wipes and toss them in the "bin"
and wipe with the cloth wipes and toss them in the "bin"
Washing the Diapers:
As far as washing goes, I've heard and found it's trial and error - what I've come up with is this -- first, I run a normal cold wash (no spin, soiled heavy, no detergent) then a normal hot/cold wash (with a spin, soiled heavy, Ecos detergent, extra rinse). Our washing routine combined with the Bac-Out has left our diapers smelling nice and clean with no stains! AMAZING.
Cloth Diaper Love:
...so we're all big fans of cloth diapers around here - even Ollie...
Oh Ollie... silly diaper thief.
...and of course - some more pictures of our adorable cloth diapered baby...
let me know if you have any questions!
clearly, not an expert but happy to help and give my [limited] perspective...
lastly, here are some super helpful links where I got a lot of my cloth diapering information/ideas:
