The Diaper Dilemma
macimiller posted 4 weeks 2 days ago — Okay, so you've all heard me mention my preference for cloth diapers. A few think I am completely crazy for it. I may be. But while I hear your concerns, let me explain why I think cloth is such a great choice.
1. Better for baby. Soft and gentle cotton or fleece next to babies skin. Very unlikely to get diaper rash with cloth. Chemicals, gels, chlorine, and leaving a diaper on too long cause diaper rash.2. Better for the environment. I don't have the exact stats here, but if you google it there are something like 16 BILLION diapers dumped into landfills EACH YEAR. It's a horrific waste and terrible for the planet. It takes thousands of years for them to break down. 3. Better for the wallet. So much more cost effective to wash and reuse the diapers then throw away your money on disposables. Cloth diapers often last for 2-3 children & many have resell value. Sound crazy? I thought so too, but check out www.diaperswappers.com.4. Babies tend to potty train much faster when using cloth. Diapers actually feel wet when wet (and should be changed often) so baby gets to know that sensation and knows when they are going. Disposables wick it away so they are content to stay in them longer. Diapers are often not changed enough with disposables because mom and baby don't realize they are wet. This goes back to another reason for diaper rash. 5. Not really a big deal to clean. Now you could argue that I haven't done it yet and you would be right. You could also say you don't have time because you have to work, have 3 kids, etc. I totally understand and am not judging anyone who doesn't have the time or stomach for it. I am just sharing MY reasons and since I'll be a stay at home mom, I think I can handle it.
There are some modern new diapers out there that make changing as easy as a disposable. There are sprayers to wash the undesirables right down the toilet. Drop the wet soiled diaper in the pail next to the toilet and do a load of wash at the end of the day. How hard can it be? Some say they wash only a few times a week but I'm not sure I could let the soiled diapies just sit there. Still, what is one load a day? When we travel we will carry extras, a change of clothes, and a couple wet bags that zip to keep in odor. I also may keep some chlorine free/environmentally friendly disposables on hand for such an occasion. Have to see how they hold up. I appreciate those who are looking out for me, but honestly, I don't think it will be too much. We'll see. I promise to keep you posted and give you an honest report!
For those thinking about going the cloth diaper route, check out my DIAPER REVIEW on my other blog, FashionBabyHotMomma. I searched long and hard for the best, most efficient, and cutest cloth diapers out there and you may be surprised to see the wide array of styles and colors. I have only bought a few so far - the ones that are one size fits all. Waiting to see exactly what size she is before getting the others.
For more information on cloth diapering benefits or to learn the ins and outs of it, here are some resources. www.mothering.com, www.clothdiaperinfo.org, www.diaperpin.com, and www.realdiaperassociation.com. For those of you NOT interested in cloth diapering, I hope you were not too bored with this whole diaper dissertation!
