Cloth diapers?
Cloth diapers.
Yep. I went there.
Since I am not working, I decided to take the next step in SAHMdom.
This step included cloth diapers.
A lot of money is spent on disposable diapers. So, I did all the research.
How much is the initial investment in cloth?
How much could I expect to save?
Is the savings worth the investment, time, etc?
So far, I'm thinking they are worth it. But, let's compare the pros and cons.
Pros of cloth
Cloth are more environmentally friendly
Cloth are more cost effective in the long run
Cloth can help with diaper rash
Available in tons of colors, styles, materials, etc
Cloth are more organic/natural (no dyes or gels)
The ones I bought are adjustable, so he can wear them until he potty trains
Babies who wear cloth potty train sooner since they notice wetness sooner
Cons of cloth
Cloth dont absorb as much as disposable (the reason that babies notice the wetness sooner), so you have to change more often typically
Cloth are a BIG initial investment (depending on the brand/type)
Cloth are messy at times (because they don't absorb as much, they can leak)
Cloth are a bit bulky (especially the ones I got, since they are adjustable there is extra material you have to fold down to fit it to him)
Cloth are cumbersome to change (takes a bit longer)
You will be doing more laundry (super stinky laundry)
You will spend more on electricity, water, and detergent
You may choose to use disposable when out (unless you want to carry super bulky stinky diapers around in your diaper bag- thus needing plastic bags to prevent leakage onto everything in the diaper bag and also needing a huge bag to carry everything)
Pros of disposable
Convenience
Easy to change
Most daycares will only do disposable
Simple clean up (just toss and go)
Fewer diapers to change (they absorb more)
Less leakage
Cons of disposable
Even thought there is nothing wrong with it, there are dyes and gels (if you are worried about it)
If they get wet (water park or accidentally in the laundry - yeah my older kids have put diapers in the wash and tub), the gel explodes and gets EVERYWHERE!!!!
Some babies have an allergic reaction to disposable diapers
Disposables easily rip (nothing more frustrating then accidentally ripping off a tab while changing a diaper- the only one left while you are out and about)
Horrible for the environment (they don't decompose by the way)
Makes potty training harder (since they never feel wet due the super absorbency)
I'm not trying to convince anyone either way. Everyone is different. Different lifestyles, budgets, etc mean different choices.
This is what we did:
I bought 20 cloth diapers with inserts for $75 on dhgate (best price I could find anywhere) here:
http://www.dhgate.com/product/babyland-cloth-diapers-10pcs-with-10pcs-insert/154513802.html#myaccount_orderdetail-1-null
They look just like the photo and you can chose your colors
Later, I bought more inserts to add more absorbency (for night time) but haven't used them yet. Since my baby was 2 months early, he is still very little for being 3 months old and doesn't really need the extra inserts. Once he starts sleeping longer at night, I will be adding the inserts.
I use disposable whenever we go out and about or if we have friends come over. I don't want them to have to deal with the stink. And, I don't want to carry around stinky diapers. Plus they are so bulky that I can't fit his onesies on (which is all I have for him to wear), so I can't use them when I go to run errands (since I can't really take a baby out in public naked except for a diaper).
What do I think?
Likes:
Saving money (biggest like since we I don't work anymore and we have a budget)
Saving the environment
His bum is much clearer (he had bad diaper rash before- I think it may have been some sort of reaction to the disposable diapers)
Dislikes:
Stinky (urine and the materials they used to make the diapers together make an interesting smell sometimes - just means I need to wash and change frequently)
More laundry (which I don't really mind since I do laundry every day anyway- I got a family of 5 so there's always something to wash)
Bulky
Can't wear his clothes with diapers on, so he spends all his time at home with just a diaper on- not a bad thing, but still a con.
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