should i use cloth diapers?

Question

opinions?

Answer 1

I love cloth diapers! Some of the advice you are receiving is outdated. Washing machines are better now, and disposables are no longer more convenient, but the diaper companies want you to think they are. I love having the freedom to just put in another load of laundry and have fresh, clean diapers in a couple hours while the kids sleep. I hated all the rash that came with disposables (no air circulation, lots of chemicals). Laundry is no longer an all-day bleach-fest like it was when we were in cloth diapers, and toilet-dunking and pails full of bleach water are over. I only use half a dose of detergent and some baking soda in my wash (rinse, warm wash cycle, warm cycle, extra rinse if needed) and I usually use the dryer in the winter. You can get pocket diapers like BumGenius that are shaped like disposables, or you can use the good old prefold (my favorite). There are endless choices out there, and they're all great. Cloth is:
**healthier (no chemicals or rash)
**easier
**better for the Earth
**cheaper
**more fun and waaaaaay cuter
This is where I keep links to my favorite articles about cloth diapers. I love reading the one about diapering a baby for free!
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=93314081&blogID=226763673&Mytoken=676A3A61-F6BB-4E6B-BE1549DCA154EF84549542

ETA: RachelJ's answer is awesome. I've read about the testicular cancer too. Remember, when those plastic-wrapped packages of poo sit in the landfill, they absorb rainwater until they are soaked, then that runoff goes into our water supply! The wash water I use goes into the water treatment facility--where sewage belongs.

ETA again: And cloth doesn't leak unless you forget to change in time. Paper diapers leak whenever baby poops. If you know you won't change the diaper for a while (overnight), you can just use more absorbent material.

Answer 2

I've been using cloth diapers on my baby boy and while it is not as convenient as disposables, it's actually very easy. He wears disposables when we go out and when he's with a sitter.

You will have to change diapers more often though because babies don't like to sit in cold wet diapers and boy, will they let you know. This is actually *better* than disposables that just absorb the urine. Although it's absorbed in the diaper, the urine is still held right there by the baby's skin and that is one of the main causes of diaper rash.

I purchased my diapers, covers, and cloth wipes online. Some online stores have a trial package that should get you through one day so that you can test whether it's right for you. It's pretty expensive at first, but compared to the price of disposables, it's worth it.

Our cloth diaper total was $250 and we probably go through a 40-pack of disposables (~$7-$10 depending on the brand) in about a month.

Answer 3

That depends what is important to you, (the enviroment?? health concerns?? convinience??) both have advantages. here are some pros. of both

Some things to keep in mind: Both claim they are better at preventing diaper rash. Diaper rash is caused by moisture against the skin, the biggest factor in this is how often you change your infant, not the type of diaper you use.

Cloth:
Way better for the enviroment. Conventional diapers are not biodegradable and 18 billion disposable diapers are thrown away a year (18 BILLION)

Cloth is soft and flexible

Cloth is cheaper then name brand disposables (but may not be compared to some generics depending on who you use)

cloth diapers make potty training easier as the child can feel when they are wet.

cloth diapers have been used successfully for centuries.

cloth diapers have become more convienient. With diaper services who pick up and clean all your diapers (you won't even have to look at them once they are in the diaper bin) and velcro diapers instead of pins they are easy to use then ever before.

Cloth diapers are softer and less likely to irritate a babys skin. There is no strange chemicals like fromaldahyde in them and disposable diapers are very scratchy/rough.

disposable:
they prevent leaks better through the night.

They are not as bulky (you can tell a cloth diaper baby because they have a big butt)

They are easier to carry around and dispose of when done with (no toting a dirty diaper back home in a plastic baggie)

They stay dry longer, after two pees you may not even notice they are wet yet.

Answer 4

Well, I have been using both and am now using cloth diapers unless I go out. I haven't found it difficult to use them or change them and as yet I haven't had poop or pee leak through. I do have to change my daughter more often, but that hasn't been a bother since a diaper change only takes about a minute. As for extra laundry, I have enough to be okay for a couple days so I can build up a decent load size first.
The really great thing is that I am saving money and since the diapers where I live just went up in price by about 30%, I think I'll be sticking to cloth.
Try them out it won't hurt anything

Answer 5

I use both kinds. I found that while cloth diapers are great for baby bums, great for the environment, and hella cute, they don't really fit under any clothes lol. I know, I bought like 200 $ worth of them, and Teagan only wears them at home. I only use prefolds now, but I tried a bunch of kinds. Prefolds are simple, efficient, and easy to clean.
They save you alot of money, so if your short on money, I would get some prefolds and snappi's and use them. I use disposables when we go out though. Check around though, I found quite a few websites that had great info on cloth diapers. Also, on pregnancy weekly.com, they have a board there especially for cloth diapering mommy's. Check it out, they are always willing to help!

Answer 6

Well, from the standpoint of ease and reliability, disposable are certainly the better option.
From the standpoint of being ecofriendly, disposable diapers do fill up the landfills HOWEVER, cloth diapers increase the amount of water used (for pre-washing and then washing-washing) so it's kind of a moot point.
And as far as expense, while disposable diapers are pretty expensive, I also have to pay for water where I live so, having an increased water bill is on the horizon if I were to use cloth diapers.
Also, my Mom tried using cloth diapers on me at first and she said it was a nightmare! She had triple "bagged me" - 2 cloth diapers AND rubber pants and I STILL peed through everything...and don't get her started on loose stools and the mess that made. Needless-to-say, she very quickly switched to disposable.
So, in the end, it comes down to personal preference and philosophical standings. What will work best for you, your view points and your family?

Answer 7

Hi,
I have 3 children and used disposables with the first 2 (aged 9+7 now) but with millie who was 1 yesterday, we have used cloth since day one and they are fab. It's hard to know in the beginning what type will suit you, baby and lifestyle but after a few weeks of trying out different ones you'll settle on the ones you like.
We use shaped terry's and a fleece wrap for night times and an all-in-one during the day. These are as easy to put on as a disposable, just as leakproof etc.. and come in such fab colours and patterns they are great to show off in the summer!!
The are thicker than disposables but you'd be suprised that it doesn't make much difference to the clothes - except designer jeans! Millie never did get in her DIESEL ones!!

We choose to use these for the health issues and money plus the enviromental benefits. We have spent maybe £60 max and this will be it til she is potty trained, if using disposables this would have been spent in the first 3 mths. All disposables contain bleach, formaldahyde and gel crystals so toxic if digested you would have to call an ambulance (as advised by 1 nappy manufactuer) Also , tests prove that baby boys are at a higher risk to testicular cancer from disposables nappies due to a certain chemical found in them. Clothie bum baby's don't get nappy rash either.
Enviromantally (and i'm no hippy!!) 1 disposable takes 500 yrs to decompose, how disgusting to think of all of them sitting in landfill sites....ughhh!
All in all, you and baby have nothing to loose by trying them seriously for a few months. They can be stored in a bucket with lid - no solution as yrs ago - for 3-4 days then stick them in the wash, most can then be tumble dried - whats the hassle??
If you want to have a bit more info or just to chat, email me (on profile) it makes a difference if you have someone to talk to

Hope i've helped you a bit and not bored you!!

Best of luck

Rachel x

Answer 8

I used cloth with my son, and plan on using them with my next baby. I did not use them exclusivly, if I was going out I would put him in disposables, and if he was being babysat I would use disposables too. It takes alot of commitment to cloth diaper, and if you have to use a laundromat its impossible. I also had a diaper service for the first 3 moths (a gift from grnadma) and it was a lifesaver! I only used cloth until he was 18 months, he got too big for them really quick.

Answer 9

I did for all four of my kids. They are only a couple of extra loads of laundry per week and they are MUCH cheaper than disposables. You can also use a diaper liner with them, which will keep the baby drier. For night, I usually used one prefold with two flat diapers, which I folded to the proper size.

Answer 10

I never used cloth for a few reasons. They are much harder to deal with than disposables. The new disposable diapers are more eco-friendly than they used to be. Don't believe all the talk that cloth is better for the environment, the chemicals they use to clean them end up in the water supply, can't be a good thing.