No pins necessary.

I've been wanting to write about how awesome cloth diapers are, and some of my friends have heard me talk about it.  I have to say I'm proud to have influenced at least one friend to go the cloth route.  I realize most of my friends have already had babies and they are, for the most part, all around the 1 year mark.  It's not too late to make the switch, especially if you plan on having more. 

Cloth diapers rock.  Seriously.   They are expensive up front, but once you have them, that's it.  No more buying diapers.  Ever.  You use them then wash them.  Unless, of course, you become an addict-which is very easy because they're cute.  Another plus- one set of diapers for one kid = one set of diapers for the next kid, etc. They come in super cute colors and styles.  They are SO much better for the environment, and you WILL save money.  They come in sizes or one size (adjustable), a complete all-in-one unit (the disposable equivalent) or parts- a diaper/prefold and a cover.  These aren't your grandma's, or even your mom's cloth diapers.  No pins necessary.  Did I mention they are cute?  Also, no chemicals being produced or coming into contact with baby's skin, or going into the landfill.  There is also decreased likelihood of developing diaper rash.

I've mentioned in another post how I feel about our society today and products made for our laziness -I mean, convenience.  Disposable diapers are another one of those products.  The manufacturers make them more and more absorbent, meaning more and more chemicals, so we don't have to change the baby as frequently.  Now, that really doesn't make a lot of sense to me.  Why would you want to leave your child in a soiled diaper for that long?  The instructions also say to dispose of poo in the toilet before putting the diaper in the trash.  How many parents actually do that?  I know I didn't, before I used cloth.  

So.  Why should parents use cloth diapers?  Disposables utilize harmful chemicals which can come into contact with baby's skin.  Did you hear about the Pampers Dry Max controversy? I heart Z Recs.  Here's a bit more from them on that.  Disposable diapers pile up in landfills- each child goes through approximately 2500-3000 diapers in the first two years.  Now multiply that by each child.  That's a lot of dirty diapers piling up.   Disposable diapers will cost you more in the long run: $1,500 to $2,000 or more per child, according to Consumer Reports (and that doesn't include disposable pull-ups if you use them for potty training-hint: they don't work to help potty train).  A good stash of cloth diapers will run you about $400.  Cloth diapers aren't looking so expensive anymore, are they?  Disposables also cost much more to produce, and have much more environmental impact during production.  For more on this, please see Cotton Babies and the Real Diaper Association.

On to the specifics of cloth diapering.  First, there are so many kinds and brands to choose from.  It's actually pretty overwhelming when you're first starting out, so I recommend just doing some internet browsing first (the previous Cotton Babies link is one I recommend), and reviews are available at Diaper Pin.  There are what we call all-in-ones, which are the disposable equivalent.  Other options are a cloth shaped or fitted diaper, which needs a waterproof cover, pocket diapers (covers with a sleeve where you add as many inserts as you need for absorbency), and traditional flat/prefolds which also need covers (they make nice covers these days, not those rubber pants).  Here is one example of my happy little guy at a few months old:

His is a sized all-in-one diaper.  I tried a variety of cloth diapers.  This one above wasn't absorbent enough for my little one to wear much, but other parents had good success with it.  I found I preferred all-in-one types or pockets.  I had a mix of sized diapers and one-size (they have snaps to expand the length, it's pretty brilliant).  Also, different brands fit babies differently, so it's important to read reviews and if you can, talk to some people in online groups or at a local store if one is available.

I loved that I never ran out of diapers, unless I didn't do the laundry.  We did use disposables sometimes, on trips and such, but I never had to buy more diapers.  I know that is one drawback that usually turns off a lot of parents.  Can't do any more laundry?  I didn't think it was that big a deal, really.  Again, I mention the part about the earth being bigger than your issues.  I know, I know.  I fussed about it sometimes too.  But suck it up.  Cloth diapers are pretty easy to care for if you follow the instructions.  Don't use any fancy soap- it must be free and clear of everything, and I mean it.   Commercial detergents use petrochemicals (which I will discuss further in another post), and their ingredients, especially fragrances, cause buildup in cloth diapers, and the diapers will repel liquids, causing your diapers to leak.  They also encourage stinkies.  Just a couple of runs through the machine, then toss in the dryer or line dry in the sun for added economical goodness and sun-bleaching power.

I have to admit, there is a bit of a learning curve.  It's a change from what we're used to seeing since the only advertisements we see are pushing disposables.  They are a huge business.  I didn't cloth right away because being a new mom was enough for me the first few months, but if I have another I don't see any reason why I wouldn't do it right from the beginning.  That said, it's never too late to switch, unless your little one is about to potty train.  Using cloth is supposed to help them potty train earlier, too.  Cloth rocks!