Before you go saying how gross it is (isn't all poop gross?) or how I can save money using coupons on disposables (which I do and I am pretty sure I am the most savvy diaper shopper on the planet), consider the savings with me for a minute. For 24 diapers (which is enough to diaper your child the entire time they are wearing diapers) it is $240. Disposables are about $50-$80 a month. If you only keep your kid in diapers for two years you would spend $1200-$1920 a year. Only $240 for cloth. I realize I will be spending more in water to launder said diapers, but also consider that when I am done using cloth, I can sell them. You can't resell disposables. I could likely save my family at least $1000 by using cloth diapers.
HOWEVER, I don't know that I am ready to pull the trigger quite yet. I want to hear from moms who have tried cloth diapers and can tell me their experience. My mom used cloth, but as you can probably guess, they have come along way since the days of safety pins and plastic pants. I want to hear from parents who have used diapers like fuzzi bunz, or other snap type of diapers with inserts and such.
The thing is, I am a little intimidated by the idea of switching to cloth. I have used disposable with both Belle and Molly and truthfully those are gross also, but it is a gross I am used to. Diapers are gross.
The upside besides savings is the no diaper rash thing. Belle and Molly both suffered with diaper rash and supposedly cloth diapered babies don't, or so I have heard.
So what do you think? Good idea worth trying, horrible idea that I will regret (which I still maintain that if I hate it I can just resell them!).
And lastly, while saving the earth may be a benefit of using cloth, that IS NOT at all part of my decision. Sorry if I offend any green mommies. I am just more concerned about the real green....$$$$$.
I am old like your mom, but I used both cloth and disposable diapers. When Ryan was born they mainly had pampers and he was allergic to them. So I mainly used the cloth and then Krista had lots of diaper rashes so out came the old cloth again. Even then the cloth had changed from the big square gauze type to a rectangle that had more padding in the center. They can still get a rash with cloth, if you don't change them often enough and keep plastic pants on them. I had to not use the plastic pants on mine except when we were going out somewhere. I also hung them out on the line so the sunshine and fresh air could get to them. Now I didn't do it all the time, but I did it some. The grossness isn't really all that bad...you just dump it in the toilet. I don't think that the diaper pail is as bad as the ones with the disposable. I think these new ones look way easier than what we had. I think you should try it and like you said, if you don't like it....sell them. OK, there is my two cents for what it is worth.
ReplyDeleteI use diapers - and have no desire to switch to cloth. However, I have a few friends/family who have used and are using cloth diapers. The biggest complaint that I've heard is getting a snug fit so there aren't any leaks.
ReplyDeleteOh - and they can get diaper rash with cloth diapers. At least my littlest cousins can!
The math is almost convincing...almost. I don't think I have it in me, but it sounds worth a try - nothing lost if you can sell them!
ReplyDeleteerin, the cost savings is actually more...i am probably on the very low end of the cost of disposable diapers. i am debating trying it with molly before i make a huge investment!
ReplyDeleteJust sharing - I thought of doing cloth this time. I was even given about 10 diapers and inserts! Howeverrrrr, I have three children now, and I hardly have the time to even start playing around with them. I have two close friends that love them! But their water bills are significantly higher than mine too. To each his own are my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteJust the money saved you mentioned is making me want to try them with Haven. But I think I'd need to meet this lady and have her convince me and Dave :)
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about this topic for our little Surprise Girl -- I saw GroVia bioliners on diapers.com and thought they could make the job a lot easier for not much additional cost (200 flushable liners for $10!). It has been a while since I crunched these numbers, but I thought this would be a good middle ground, since it is the notion of a "heftier" diaper that really grosses me out. Of course, I'm interested in the greener side, too (I'm sure you're shocked!).
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I'm enjoying following along with your research. I'll let you know once I get to the test run stage (in the last trimester now)!
stephanie, i actually bit the bullet and am trying them out with molly. i figured i would make a small investment now and see if i can follow through. i actually think my numbers are a little off as disposable diapers are a little more than what i estimated. the cloth ones i bought are very similar to fuzzi bunz and bumgenius. i will be posting about my experience as we go along. first have to get the right detergent and wash them all and then i am getting started!
ReplyDeletemama, i totally know what you are saying! i have two and my third is due in jan, so it will be a big adjustment, but i figure i will give it a try if it can save me some money!
you will all have to follow along to see how it works!