Should I attempt to use cloth diapers?
I’m considering using cloth diapers for our baby. I’m concerned about the expense of disposable diapers, chemicals in disposable diapers and wipes, the possibility of more diaper rash/infections with disposable, and of course, adding tons of waste to landfills.
But.
I’m well aware the cloth diapers simply don’t work for everyone. Some babies have crazy blowouts that simply can’t be contained by cloth, no matter whatcha do. I’d hate to invest all that money in cloth diapers, to only have them not work for us.
The other thing that makes me hesitate? We don’t have a washing machine or dryer in our apartment.
Is cloth diapering too insane for me to even think about? I might be getting in a bit over my head, so I need you moms out there to tell me if I’m nuts.
Most cloth diapering sites have suggested running diapers through at least two washes. I don’t have the option of doing an extra rinse, so it’s an additional load or nothing.
I don’t have access to an outdoor clothes line, and most sites that I’ve read encourage line drying in the sun or drying the diapers in the hot dryer to further kill bacteria.
Cost break-down of exclusive cloth diaper use in the first two years
There is a W/D unit in our building’s basement. It costs $1.25 per wash and $1.25 per dry.
So assuming the prices don’t go up, it will cost $3.75 per load (two washes and a dry).
Is it a fair assessment to say one load can fit about two dozen diapers? Would that include cloth wipes tossed in as well? If that’s the case, then in the early stages, I could be washing diapers every two days or so, depending on how many I have.
That’s about 3.5 loads of diapers per week. $3.75/load X 3.5 loads = $13.13 ish per week to use the machines.
Say I keep up with that wash pace for six months or 26 weeks. That’s $341, or about $56 per month in washing, and that’s not including detergent costs.
The next six to 12 months of Baby’s life, let’s say I can get away with washing twice per week. That’s $7.50 per week, and for 26 weeks that’s $195.
Tallying up the first year’s totals of estimated washing costs, and that’s $536 in washer and dryer use. Only uh, 2,144 quarters for the machines! Heh.
For Baby’s second year, I’d expect we’d have fewer diaper changes, so that would give me even more time between washings. But, let’s say I wash a load of diapers twice per week anyway. For 52 weeks, that’s $390. Not bad.
If we tried cloth and decided it works well for us, I’d probably want three dozen diapers on hand at least. A quick look at Diapers.com shows that Fuzzi Bunz cost $20 each, and bumGenius cost $18 each. These are the all-in-one style diapers, so no rubber pants covers are needed. Ok. An average of that cost would be $19 each X 36 diapers, so $684 in diaper costs.
Grand total for two years of cloth diapering one baby? $1,610. If you look at it per year, it averages out to $805 annually.
We hopefully will have more than one child, and if we make the initial investment on those cloth diapers, they should last for several more children. So after that first baby, we’ll just have washing costs to consider. Assuming we’re still paying per wash (I hope not!), two years of washes and drys would cost $926, or an average of $463 per year. Definitely cheaper than disposables.
If we do decide to go the cloth diaper route, we probably won’t use cloth exclusively. We’d use disposables in the first few weeks of Baby’s life, when we’re traveling or out all day, and possibly at night. So, we would need a few packs here and there of disposables. I’m just guessing a number, but I’d doubt it would be more than $100 per year.
If we exclusively used disposable diapers, my best guess (from sites I’ve been able to find) is we would be spending at least $1,500 per year, if not more.
The bottom line (lol):
If y’all don’t convince me that I’m nuts for considering trying cloth without my own washer/dryer, than I think I’ll pick up a few (say, six?) different types of cloth diapers to give it a trial run. If it goes well, then I’ll buy more of the kinds we like. If it doesn’t, well whatever. We wouldn’t be out a ton of money, and could hang on to those diapers and try them on baby #2.
After looking at my cost estimates (I realize these numbers could be way off. Feel free to help me out), it looks like cloth will still be a lot cheaper for us.
But, I know that I’m going to be exhausted. I can only imagine the kind of attention and energy I’ll need to expend trying to figure out how to raise a baby. Instead of trudging up and down two flights of stairs with diapers every few days, maybe my time would be better spent doing other things. I’m not completely sure.
So, let’s hear it! What have been your experiences with cloth diapers? What advice do you have for me?
59 Responses
to “Should I attempt to use cloth diapers?”
4 Trackback(s)
- Jun 17, 2008: 12 weeks | Sense to Save: Other Blog
- Jun 20, 2008: A link round-up for the 1st day of summer | Sense to Save
- Jul 11, 2008: 5 Questions With The Money Life Network Members: Sense to Save | Prime Time Money
- Jul 21, 2008: Stocking up on diapers before baby is born | Sense to Save
Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.
Subscribe to RSS Feed
I never used cloth but if you really want some great advice check out Keeping the Home at
http://myblessedhome.blogspot.com/
She has some super info and she explains how she stores and cleans her diaper as well!
Julie’s last blog post..Line Dry Clothes
I have not done much research on cloth diapers…so the whole chemical issue I have no opinion of.
money wise….before I understood coupons and cvs, I would say worth a try, but i have a washer an dryer. With out one I would never consider it, as a new mom, I can hardly remember having time to do laundry I can’t imagion having to go down stairs with a new baby and pay to wash and dry diapers.
With Cvs and your wise shopping you should be able to spend almost nothing on diapers. Unless, I found major evidence regarding the chemical thing, I would use disposable.
I would go for it.
I think its smart to try it on a small scale by buying a few of each types and seeing if they work.
If it doesn’t work, you’re not out much and you won’t have to worry about running out in a snow storm for disposables cause you have that half a dozen to rely on.
Dirkey’s last blog post..Frugal Friday-Just Wait
While I admire your thriftiness and desire to help the environment, YES I do think you are nuts. I mean this with all due respect.
Once you have a baby, you will have more laundry to do than you ever thought possible.
I have changed a LOT of diapers, and never had a problem with rashes or irritation from disposables. Of course, every child is different. Cloth diapers do not pull moisture away from the skin the way disposables do, so you can actually end up with more rashes.
I would say go for it if you had easy access to a washer and dryer. But once you become a mom, simplicity and time savers become your new best friend!
Good luck with the decision!
Alyssa @ Keeping the Kingdom First’s last blog post..My Week of CVSing: June 8-14th
I would NEVER attempt cloth diapers without a washing machine and dryer within reach.
I used cloth diapers, not exclusively, very few people use them exclusively. But it definitely makes a huge difference financially.
I used some of the regular old fold and pin cloth to begin with, then I bought some Kooshies velcro diapers and covers(these days they have them all in one) from Sears as well as both fabric and flushable liners and ended up using them for both kids. I know there are many many options out there these days, but honestly to do it over again I would probably go with the Kooshies again, they were inexpensive and I was more then happy with them.
I used cloth at home and if we were just going out for a short time, but if we were heading out for a longer period of time I used disposables.
All I did was take them off baby, rinse them in the toilet, store them in a diaper pail, then washed them in a normal wash load with hot water, and dry them. Don’t use fabric softener though, it takes away the absorbancy in them. Basically using cloth was an extra load of laundry every 2 days.
And another huge benefit to using cloth is potty training! Everyone told me boys don’t potty train until at least 3, well mine were both potty trained by the time they were 2 and I’m sure a big help was the fact that I used cloth diapers, others I’ve talked to who used cloth said they had a much easier time with the potty training then their friends who didn’t use cloth as well. So if using cloth helps you get them out of diapers sooner, that’s even more money saved!
Tough decision. We cloth diapered our second, and he got more rashes with cloth than disposables. But I’ve had friends who have had the opposite experience.
I think you should buy a few cloth diapers and give it a try. Don’t go crazy at first. Just use the few you have to gauge whether or not your baby will get rashes with CDs. Find out what doing your regular laundry with baby is like before committing to the extra loads of diaper laundry. Then decide.
Lynnae’s last blog post..Being Frugal.net Feed
Check out the great money-saving idea here: http://heather.covblogs.com/archives/025242.html
Kacie: This is a tough question, as you’ve probably noticed from your mixed responses. We have a 2 1/2 year old daughter, and have used cloth her whole life.
I love cloth. Absolutely love it. The only time my daughter has had a rash is when we’ve been traveling with her in paper diapers. And blowouts? The only time (seriously) she ever had a blow out escape the diaper was when she was in paper. The cloth diapers held everything in where it belonged every time.
I do agree that once you’re a mom, you are gonna be so tired, and the easier the better…but there is a simplicity in having cloth diapers, too: you never have to run to the store late at night, never have any “what the heck is in this thing, anyway?” moments of what you’re wrapping around your baby’s body, and it is less expensive overall (even if you manage a lot of good CVS deals).
Our families were not at all supportive of our choice. They all thought we were crazy as loons to even consider it, and my mom and his mom had a bet as to how long we would last using cloth: his mom said a month; mine said 2 weeks. For me, this was the hardest part, but we did it and I’m very proud.
I’d gladly discuss this more with you via e-mail, if you like. I don’t mean to fill up your comment column with my ranting…
Best of luck!
Jennifer’s last blog post..Daddy
I am a grandma, and have done both. At one time there was such a thing as a “diaper service”–believe it or not. You stored your dirty diapers in a pail, which they furnished, and 2 or 3 times a week, the “diaper man” picked up the pail and left you a stack of nice. fresh diapers. Times really have changed. This was pretty much before the days of disposibles–but even some new moms with washers used the service for a while. No, I would not try it without a washer, and at least a clothsline. You might look into an apartment sized washer and dryer–even if you still use disposibles. There is just nothing like the conveinence of your own washer. A couple dozen cloth diapers are nice to have on hand for an emergency and make great wipe and burp cloths. Old worn ones are wonderful dust cloths. Some things are just necessary–besides, you don’t want to be so stressed over diapers that you can’t enjoy your baby.
I have to admit I didn’t read everyone’s comments, so if I repeat them, sorry.
I wouldn’t consider using cloth without a washing machine, Unless I was going to use prefolds and use a diaper service, I’m sure in Pitts they have them. The other thing is you have to wash the diapers every other day, or it will mess them up- according to the people who sell them. So you couldn’t get away with only doing 2 loads a week.
We use cloth, we started with prefolds and covers, then discovered pocket diapers. The only issue we are having is the smell of them. I can’t get them clean no matter what. I’m having to do a cold wash, hot wash then extra rinse, THEN i take the inserts for the diapers out and do two more rinses. I am starting to think about going back to prefolds. Only because after I switched to cloth I research what was in disposables and I can’t bear the thought of putting my baby in them. Not all the time, if we go on vacation we use disposables.
So, although I think using cloth diapers is a great idea, i don’t know if it would be worth it having no washer or dryer.
Actually, if you use prefolds, you should check into the cost of a diapering service. It might be more worth.
Hi,
I’ve never posted a response before so here goes….I have a 2 1/2 year old son. Yes, the expense for disposable can become a bit of a burden. I would discourage cloth – like the others have said, getting your own clothes washed will be chore enough. A newborn easily goes through 10 diapers a day if not more. No washer and dryer or drying line? Ugh. I do not disagree with you on the impact on the environment. Try to go green in other areas to ‘make up’ for your disposable diaper use. If you belong to a warehouse store (Sam’s Costco) you can get diapers, wipes, and formula for a great cost savings – and there are ALWAYS coupons for them. As far as diaper rash goes, my son had a bad go with a stomach bug, the nurse said to sit him in lukewarm water with nothing but baking soda in it. FORGET the Balmex. It cleared him up in two five minute sittings. I have never again used diaper rash ointment. That little tip alone saved you some money! Rest easy – you and your baby will do just fine.
We had great luck with cloth diapering, and have enjoyed it (well, as much as one can enjoy diapers, that is). But I don’t personally know that I’d do it without our own washer/dryer. But that’s just me.
Tenille’s last blog post..1930’s Marital Scale
love love love my cloth-use sposies for out and about and nights-have 2 in dipes-wash every other day at least-and can’t imagine not having w/d or clothes line to do so…so really i’m no help to ya except to say i think my boys definitely prefer/feel more comfy in cloth, i love my FBs (but i have lots of kinds and use all) and yes, a load could be 24 dipes and assoc. wipes…
Kelly’s last blog post..Score!
I’ve used both with my kids and have weighed in previously on Trent’s blog The Simple Dollar. There are actually 2 or 3 posts there about cloth diapering and lots of advice.
I like your idea of trying a few types of cloth and seeing how it goes. You can always switch very easily to disposable, but I doubt you’d ever switch in the other direction.
One thing you should know, those explosions that very young babies often have are not well-contained by either cloth or disposables. However, they outgrow them in just a few months and have more reasonable bowel movements and generally fewer of them. (Often new babies have a movement every time they eat, while older babies tend towards once or twice per day or even less.)
One last thing to think about, if you’re trying to save money washing and drying, do you have a patio or balcony where you could put a retractable clothesline? You could even put a retractable line in the bathroom if you’re prohibited from hanging outside.
Shevy’s last blog post..Book Review: Stop Working, Here’s How You Can! Part 2
You are going to be dealing with a lot more laundry once the baby arrives–spit up covered clothes and burp cloths and exploded diaper clothes!!! I can’t imagine having to also deal with washing cloth diapers–and without having you own washer and dryer!?!? I am a mom of three, and I wouldn’t do it. My youngest is 10 months–the only one in diapers. I don’t really do the CVS thing so we spend $40 a month on diapers (and that’s slowly decreasing) and we use a box of wipes ($8) every month and a half or so. I also start potty training around the first birthday.
If you are doing it for the environment, you should know that the British government did a study that found that cloth diapers are no better for the environment than modern disposables due to the hot water and chemicals necessary.
Do you pay for hot water? Cloth diapers may increase this bill as you will need a lot of hot water to rinse them out.
Also, you should know that cloth is more likely to leak so you may stain or ruin more clothing/bedding; so that should be factored in as well.
I think your numbers may be a bit high. I buy my diapers on Amazon. There is no tax and free shipping. I buy a box approx every 2-3 weeks for $30. Plus, we buy Luvs. They have been invaluable for us. My baby is currently 18 mos. Our diaper cost per year is ~$780.
Thanks for weighing in, everyone! Keep the comments coming.
One of you asked if I had a balcony. Nope. We do line-dry a bunch of our clothes indoors, but from what I’ve read, diapers need to be dried on high heat or in the sunshine.
Sounds like most of you are saying “DON’T DO IT! YOU NEED YOUR OWN WASHING MACHINE!”
Makes enough sense to me. I figured I’d at least put this idea out there.
Since there seems to be just one commenter who has attempted cloth diapering without a W/D in their home, it really does seem like it might be more hassle than it’s worth.
I might try to do cloth anyway, once the baby is a few months old. Maybe it will be a bit easier once we get a routine down, and I can re-evaluate things.
And, if we move to a place with a W/D, I’m definitely going to give it a shot.
Also, you can buy organic/natural cotton disposable diapers. Seventh Generation makes them but so do others. They are EXPENSIVE but if the chemical content worries you (as it does me) then this is an option to supplement CDs and give you convenience.
By the way…am I going blind? Where is your EC widget?
castocreations’s last blog post..More Good News
We haven’t had much time lately to drop EntreCards, so we took the widget down. Didn’t think it would be fair for people to drop cards here, but us not reciprocate!
We did it. We cloth diapered my now nearly 6 year old while living in a one bedroom apartment with no washer and dryer.
I can’t say I would recomend Full Time Cloth diapering to anyone without awasher and dryer. But it was well worth it to have them on hand when we needed them. We had a few times where getting to the store to get diapers just wasn’t an option, as well as when we had some irritation issues.
Having a baby increases the laundry load a lot, and cloth diapers don’t make a huge dent in the laundry when you have your own machines, but making those trips to the basement to take care of it was tiring, we ended up only using them during the day during the summer (when she wasn’t wearing much other than a diaper anyhow) and using the disposables the rest of the time til we moved and got our own machines.
Charlotte’s last blog post..Happy Fathers Day
Hey, I love that you’re considering cloth. It’s totally doable in an apartment w/o washer/dryer. And, right off the bat, I’d say cut half your washing/drying expense fund and cut out the dryer. Line dry your dipes on a wooden drying rack. Point a fan at it and they’ll dry overnight. That’s what we do!
And second, sounds like your washing expenses are going to be more than the cost of a washing machine. You don’t need a fancy hook-up for a washing machine. My husband hooked ours up under our kitchen sink. And he ran a drainage hose from the washer to sink; I just stick it in the garbage disposal. (Make sure the disposal is empty!!)
Third, I’d look into a one-size diaper. And if you want to use it for more than one kid, I’d look into snaps instead of velcro. BumGenius dipes are awesome (it’s what we use) but the velcro just doesn’t hold up for multiple kids. There’s a great online store – http://www.onesizediaperstore.com – that offers all the different varieties. There’s one particular, Baby Kangas, that looks like the perfect dipe for us. I’ve never tried them, but it’s what I’ll get when our velcro dies.
Fourth, you don’t need two full washes to clean your dipes, especially if you get a diaper sprayer. But that extra rinse cycle IS nice to have to make sure all the detergent gets out. My typical wash is: cold rinse (to remove excess waste), hot wash w/ 1/4 c detergent, cold (extra) rinse. Most quarter machines don’t offer that. And they typically are not the best at cleaning clothes, let alone diapers. So I really recommend looking into setting up your own.
If you want more details on how to hook it up, email me and I’ll have my hubby give you the step-by-step. Oh, and I blogged about it here. There are some pictures, but I’m not sure you’ll get all the info you need from that post alone.
Beth @ The Natural Mommy’s last blog post..So We’re Moving
I have used both cloth and disposable and I agree with a lot of the posters who say that cloth won’t be so great at containing the blow-outs so therefore you will have more laundry to do. Actually with a new baby there is just a ton of laundry what with spit up, wet sheets in the morning and the blow outs, you will probably have at least a load a day not including diapers. As far as purchasing cloth diaper s though you have a couple of frugal options. First, diaper services sell used premium quality diapers by the trash bag full, they may be just a tiny bit freyed (sp?), also of course there is always e-bay and consignment stores.
One thing I haven’t seen adressed is how you will do laundry with a baby? If it is in your basement you have to think about lugging all the laundry up and down the stairs while either holding a baby (and they can get heavy) or leaving him/her with hubby while you nip down.
Frankly, you are going to be tired enough what with night feeds and getting over the birth and all, I think I would recommend disposable for the first 4 months. Newborn size is much cheaper and you get more per pkg. Then when baby goes on solids and the bms get solid, change to cloth diapers that you have been accumulating second hand of course! and give it a try, if you don’t like it you can always resell them and you probably won’t be out of pocket too much.
Oh yes, you are most definitely insane. And I mean that in the nicest way. ;)
Most of my “mommy friends” use CDs and that makes me want to us them. I mean, there’s nothing cuter than a little butt covered with a CD. But we don’t have a washer or dryer either. Our laundry room is quite a walk away and it was easy to do laundry when I could put my newborn in a sling and take him with me. But now that he’s 16 months I can do that. And I can’t trust him to be good in the laundry room while I’m filling washers. So I can only do laundry when the husband is home. That is a PITA and I definitely wouldn’t want to add to our laundry by using CDs.
I know laundry seems like no big deal right now but believe me, it’s tough finding time to get it done once you have a toddler.
Amanda’s last blog post..Barefoot Bloggers – Pasta, Pesto, and Peas
I think I’m a glutton for punishment. I’m now researching a hand-cranking portable washing machine. Seriously: http://www.lehmans.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1600&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C127%2C284&KickerID=77&KICKER
If I decide to get it, I’ll get it soon and I’ll be able to test it with regular clothes (though no poopy baby clothes).
Karen, I have no idea how I’ll deal with going downstairs to do the laundry with the baby. Maybe put him or her in a sling? Or wait until Shane gets home.
Today I looked into moving to a different apartment. I can’t find any in this area (and we don’t want to go to a new area) that have W/Ds in the apt., dishwashers, AND are affordable.
Completely disagree with claims that cloth doesn’t contain blow-outs. I use prefolds+snappie+bummis cover (the most economical cloth setup) and have never had a blow-out. Our blow-outs were restricted to when we’ve used disposibles while traveling.
There are many cloth diaper sites and communities out there that offer great advice on cloth diapering, and the savings are considerable. If you just invested the difference, you’d have a great head-start on college funds for baby, and be kinder to the environment.
I am so glad you wrote this. Hubby and I just found out we are expecting our first, and I really want to cloth diaper, but we also live in an apartment and have to go downstairs to do laundry. My mom’s advice was to get a baby sling to carry baby in while I carried laundry down (I can’t wait for hubby to get home… he’ll be in Iraq). She also mentioned one of those Lehman’s washers. I may get one. It would save money on all the laundry, not just diapers. No one I know has one, though, so I can’t recommend it or anything. I’m glad you posted your quandry, though, because now I know that someone is in the same boat I am in.
Well, if you do CVS and there is one close you can get diapers for very cheap provided that you work the deals. I just bought a Jumbo pack of Huggies for $2.99.
Having said that, I use cloth mostly. You don’t have to do anything fancy or wash twice. I use the AIO (All-In-Ones) mostly, but I have used them all even the prefolds which are the cheapest but also the most work.
People might freak out here, but I have bought my diapers used on Craig’s list. I wash them in hot and then dry them in the dryer. I have only bought about 4 used so they were $7.00 for Fuzzi Bunz and $10.00 for Bumkins.
I always, always look for clearance. I just google Fuzzi Bunz clearance. I have bought off of Ebay.
Haute Pockets are one size all in ones and they are good. I have two of those.
I highly, highly recommend disposable liners (you can get biodegradable ones).
I also read (I think it was from the Keeper of the Home post) that you can wash the liners and reuse them – which I have done now for a week and they work very well. I don’t dry them though.
Anyway, I simply throw my diapers in my Bummis Tote bag that I hand on the laundry room door until I am ready to wash. If they are really bad I soak for about 20 minutes in cold. If not, then I just wash them with regular detergant (I try to use all natural). I do use Oxy Clean spray on the poopie diapers which you are not suppose to do because it lessens the life of them but it works soooo good. My diapers are so clean and not stained. I have not used it and they still come out really well too.
I then dry them for about 40-50 minutes and refold and you are good to go.
I also have started using cloth wipes but not for poopies – I still use regular wipes for those. I just spray baby’s bottom with a water bottle and wipe. Done there you go!
Sorry this is so long. I posted about this on my blog (Cloth diaper post) to and have a link to another post.
Gretchen’s last blog post..Deals for the week of June 15-21
I agree. I never have a big problem with leaking with cloth. And it is so great to not have to run to the store when you are out. You just have to wash them!
Gretchen’s last blog post..Deals for the week of June 15-21
I’m considering using cloth as well but we have a washer and dryer and a clothesline. I’m going to get a few to try them out and probably mix with disposables in the beginning. I found some AIO diapers on ebay that were a little cheaper and my family is pretty supportive (my mom and mil both used cloth on their kids) so I know they will give them to me as gifts if I ask. I’m going to do some research as well. Thanks for the good info!!
Well I certainly don’t think you are crazy. I have a LOT of customers who use cloth exclusively and do not own a washer and dryer. Yes, it is a bit of a pain to lug extra laundry to the laundromat, but in the end completely worth it. You are going to have to wash your clothes there anyway, right? I would advise getting a diaper sprayer. That way you could make sure all the poop is off of the diaper before it goes in the diaper pail and makes washing a little easier. The bonus about the laundromat is that you can get a SUPER hot wash which is great. So skip the cold wash, just do a hot wash and make sure you don’t use too much detergent.
In terms of containing blowouts, I find that cloth contains them better than disposables.
The financial bonus of using cloth diapers is huge as is the chemical factor of disposables. You can see: http://www.simplewondersdiapers.com/diapers-101.htm for more info. on that.
Sultana
http://www.simplewondersdiapers.com
Oh, honey. NO. NO, NO, NO!!! I can only nth what everyone else has said. Having to go up and down, up and down, up and down to wash and dry those diapers…no. Take it from a mom who knows- those first days and weeks and months are very, very hard. Yes, they’re amazing and wonderful and fantastic, but they’re very hard. You won’t believe how taking care of one tiny baby can be so time-consuming. About the 10th time you’re going up and down yet again (and who will watch the baby while you’re doing all this? Will you lug him in a snugli? Or make your husband do it all after a hard day at work?)
I’ve changed about 5,000 diapers, all were disposable, and my babies never really had bad diaper rashes. A little rash once in a while, but nothing a little Desitin didn’t take care of in a day.
I admire you for wanting to try this, but once the little one has been around for a few days you’ll laugh at yourself for even considering this. Not your fault, there’s no way you could know!
I haven’t read all of the comments, but if you decide not to use cloth and go the disposable route, you can get your diapers free by incorporating them into your CVS trips. I haven’t paid for diaper since I started CVSing last Oct. Both of my boys have each only had one diaper rash with disposables and it was not due to the diaper.
Michele’s last blog post..Giving From the Heart
We cloth diapered our daughter (she’s 2.5 and now potty trained) and are now cloth diapering our 2 month old son. With #1, we used the cheapest cds… prefolds with proraps covers. With #2, we’re using those and some bumGenius diapers. Honestly, in terms of doing the job, the prefolds have worked as well as the bumgenius diapers do… the bumgenius diapers are way cuter and a lot handier, but the prefolds work just as well.
Considering that you don’t have a W/D in unit, though, I’m not sure that I would do cloth if I were in your position… in terms of cost, I think you’d probably do all right if you just CVSed your diapers…. the unknown factor is how your kid will do in sposies… mine seem to instantly get a diaper rash as soon as we put one on them, so obviously, for us, cloth is the only option.
Anyway, I feel like I’m just repeating what others have said, but I also wanted to mention that I do have some extra no-name diaper covers that I’d be more than willing to send your way.
When I was pregnant with my first, I also contemplated using cloth diapers… mainly because I was concerned about the impact of disposables on the environment.
But I ended up going with disposables anyway simply because I really didn’t think I was going to be able to hold myself to the schedule of doing so much laundry.
And I am thankful each and every day that I made that decision. There just was absolutely no way I could have kept up. It’s hard enough with all the extra laundry you have anyway…. between baby’s clothing, crib & basinett sheets, your own clothes (extra clothes since you will be spit up on, etc.) and then covers to bouncy seats, strollers, car seats, boppy pillow, etc. Oh and then there’s the birp cloths, bibs, washcloths and towels.
It’s just alot of laundry and alot of energy and time needed. So if I were you, without the washer & dryer in your apartment, I would probably not attempt the cloth.
Oh and by the way, I have 2 little ones in disposables and they’ve rarely had diaper rash issues. And when they did, it was very minor and alittle cream cleared it up in no time. Not saying that’s everyone’s experience, but just thought I’d share.
Good luck and sorry to ramble for so long, lol.
I’d just like to make a point that I don’t think has been addressed here. What about the other tenants who have to use the same machine after being used to wash baby poop? Using a personal family machine is one thing but I’d be so grossed out if I lived in an apartment where someone was washing diapers. BTW- I posed the same question to my friends when I was pregnant with number 1 and they shot me down. I really wished I would have given it a try. Now the same thing is happening because we’re going to homeschool. I think I need new friends… :) Kacie, this is but the first of SO many decisions where you have to do what is right for you and YOUR baby! You’ll make the right decision.
We use cloth 100% all the time with our 18 month old daughter, and I am expecting our fourth child in Dec. I am going to cloth diaper our new baby too, but we do have our own washer and dryer.
I know someone that uses a portable washer and a drying rack, and they cloth diaper full time. So I know it can be done, but whether you want to go through all the extra trouble is up to you.
Our daughter hardly ever has a leak in cloth diapers, other kids have more leaks in disposables. I know cloth can contain newborn poops every bit as good if not better than disposables. I went to Joann’s Fabrics and bought a yard of fleece, and cut it into liners for my diapers. I now put the fleece liners on top of most of our diapers to pull the moisture away from our daughter’s bottom. The chemicals that pull the moisture away and makes disposables so absorbent are disgusting. Why would anyone want to put chemicals on their newborn baby or toddler, I’ll never know.
I would also like to add that doing a few extra loads of laundry a week really isn’t that big of a deal. I don’t even think twice about the extra laundry, having kids alone will increase the amount of laundry you have anyways.
When my daughter poops in a diaper, I rinse all the extra poop off. I then put the rinsed diaper in her diaper pail. So when wash day comes around, there is never poop going into our washer. So if you do decide to cloth diaper and use your buildings washer, there shouldn’t be poop floating around in it. I think washing diapers in a public machine is no different than washing nasty washcloths or sweaty boxers in it. Of course I am basing this off of the way I rinse and wash my diapers.
I’m not a mom, but sorry, I have to say this: The discussion shouldn’t just be about what’s most convenient or affordable or comfortable. Parents should also be thinking about what they’re doing to the environment their children will inherit.
I can understand your reluctance to do cloth with no washer and dryer, and I hope that you’re factoring in the $1.25/load cost for all that additional laundry (even without cloth diapers) when you weigh it against the cost of a different apartment with a washer/dryer. In the long run, a more expensive apartment with washer/dryer would probably be cheaper and more sane.
Most of my friends who have kids used cloth diapers (this was about 15 years ago). Some used diaper services, but either way they seemed to think cloth was a better choice. The one friend I have who used disposables is someone who seems to think that the environment is everyone else’s problem.
And I’m betting that the British study that was mentioned in one of the other comments was funded by the makers of Huggies or Pampers!
I would not recommend cloth diapering without an in-house washer/dryer. (And I’m an AVID fan) The cost and the hassle of the laundromat would outweigh any benefit. AS for the chemicals – have you considered G-Diapers? I think they are flushable and biodegradable, so you get the “disposable” part of disposables, but not the chemicals and environmental concerns.
Well that’s just silly. :) People still get credits for dropping their cards and I LOVE to drop cards and let people know that I’ve visited even if I don’t comment. Put it back!!! *grin*
castocreations’s last blog post..Pre School Valedictorian?
I love my cloth diapers, but then again we have a washer and dryer in our house. It would be a bit of a pain to do it without one, but it’s doable I think. It just depends how much you want it, but if it were me… I might just get natural disposables or g-diapers. With the g-diapers you don’t have to wash the covers every time, and you could probably get away with not doing two washes (the real mess would be in the insert). I met a lady who bought g-diapers and then sewed her own cloth inserts to use with them. Maybe you could do that if y’all move later and you get a washer and dryer.
Ok, here’s my take:
Look at resale shops [ie Once Upon a Child]. Try a few different styles [used] before you buy any. Same with diaper covers. Do you like messing with it all? You’ll probably get a good haul of disposables at baby showers to start off with. My niece, just had her baby two weeks ago–I’m watching to see how she does with cloth [she DOES have a w/d and clothesline.] Also, put something on Freecycle looking for diapers. People often get these, then don’t use/outgrow/don’t like a brand and just want them OUT of the house. A diaper bucket and vinegar will help with the # washes needed. There are tons of “recipes” for wipe mixture to add to baby wash cloths [again, check resale/ garage sales Freecycle]. Is there a diaper service in your town? Not only for service, but they often sell off old diapers.
I’m also laughing [nicely!] thinking of my best friend, with her first in ‘77, washing the diapers in her tiny enlisted man Army-wife mobile home bathroom and hanging them to dry in the shower stall on a “Christmas tree” made out of coat hangers!! And of another lady I know who, in the 50s, pulled her diaper bucket and 3 kids to the laundry mat in a little red wagon–one child shaking the change box all the way there!! It just depends what you are willing to put up with! Then there’s the folks who say you can “listen and watch” you baby to know when they, ahem, NEED to use a diaper….right…..you’ve got time for that!!
I would never use cloth diapers…. just too much of a mess and too much cleaning for my tastes. I have about 40 packs of diapers sitting in my pantry waiting for baby #2 to use and I paid less than 20$ for all of them. If you use your coupons and sales right, disposable diapers are much cheaper than cloth and save so much trouble.
Coupon Diva’s last blog post..How Do I Get So Many Coupons?
I have cloth diapered both my children at least part-time, but I have had a washer and dryer. If you really want to cloth diaper, I don’t see how it would be that hard to incorporate washing the dipes into your regular washing schedule, which will increase with just regular baby clothes anyway.
I’m going to cloth diaper the baby that we are expecting in September as well, but maybe not the first week or so. My last baby pooped 20 times per day (not an exaggeration) in the first week and I would have never been able to keep up with the washing! I would say to just plan to use disposables for the first few weeks and
focus on cloth whenever your schedule gets more into a routine.
http://www.abbyslane.com has a lot of cloth diapering information
You are crazy for even considering cloth diapers without having a washer/dryer readily available. There. I said it. I know it’s not a green attitude; however… you would just make so much more work for yourself at a time when you are going to have less time available than you can possibly imagine. CVS has terrific sales on diapers so you can stock up using ECBs. Also, I have tried the CVS brand of diaper and found them to be of great quality! They even go on sale sometimes, B1G1 free. How can you say no? You can do better for your baby by breastfeeding rather than worrying about diapers.
This is an interesting discussion, and Kacie, I did laugh out loud when I read “hand cranked washing machine…” that would make you glutton for punishment.
For #1, I couldn’t get my mind wrapped around cloth diapers–the whole thing grossed me out. I even threw out a few onesies that were super-pooped on during a bad week. Now that I’ve seen the whole process from start to potty-trained, I’m ready to give it a go for #2. Mind you, my w/d is right next to the bedrooms though–the amount of laundry a small child can generate is crazy! It wasn’t too bad for my daughter until she started on solids–then the bibs and the food stains nearly did me in.
I wouldn’t make any more work for yourself unless a w/d was readily available. Seriously. The absent-mindedness that comes in the first few months would just be compounded by the trips up and down the stairs and the constant quest for quarters.
Very weird that you can’t find an apt with a w/d for the right price!
Michelle’s last blog post..Fun in the Sun
Kacie,
If the expensive of disposables is your main concern then don’t be. You have been able to work the deals at the drugstores before and you can do it now to build up a stock pile of diapers and wipes.
My baby Camryn is 5 months old and I have not “paid” more than $1 per jumbo pack of diapers just using CVS. You will probably receive some diapers as gifts also. Trust me, disposable diapers don’t have to cost much.
Camryn has been such a frugal baby! I think we’ve spent maybe $30 on everything we’ve had to buy because so many people were generous in giving us their gently used items. Just pray and ask God for His provision.
Hugs,
Angie H.
Thrifty Florida Mama
We have been using cloth diapers for 2.5 years, and they are no trouble at all. We went with the cheapy version – just covers and diaper service quality(DSQ) Chinese prefolds which are less than $2.00 a piece online. BTW, microfiber auto cloths work very well for overnight soakers. We use no pins, just lay out the diapers in the cover, and put them on – easy!
I keep a open weave plastic rectangular laundry basket in the garage where I toss the dirties. I don’t pre-rinse, just roll the solids into the toilet. We don’t use a extra rinse cycle. If you use half the detergent, you should not have to rinse twice. Also, use vinegar during the rinse cycle every once in a while to get out soap residue.
To save on electricity, dry them on a rack or on a line outside. If you can get them in the sun, it’s a free stain fighter; the sun bleaches all the stains away. I can get one load of diapers on one rack.
You can get two children through diapers with one group of diapers. A one time purchase of the Chinese pre-folds and adjustable covers, will take you through five years of diaper usage. It’s cost effective if you keep it simple, and buy the least expensive options. We also use cloth wipes – bought a group of handmade ones on ebay. We just wet them with water.
You can check my blog category under cloth diapers if you’d like to take a peak at our cloth diaper regime. It’s really not a big deal at all, and I never have to buy diapers or wipes which is great. It’s an extra load of laundry every week, but I think it’s worth it.
Alexandra’s last blog post..Proverbs 31:17 ~ when I am weak, then He is strong!
Hi Kacie,
Well I think you know how I feel about cloth diapering, because you already read my post. :) I LOVE cloth diapering, and I would never, ever go back. In fact, yesterday, for the first time in over a year, I ran out of cloth diapers (didn’t get them in the wash soon enough). So I still had a couple of old disposables around so I put one on him. Well, I HATED it. I hated putting that paper and plastic on my baby. And when he peed, the diaper sagged almost to his knees, and was squishy and gross. It was a lovely reminder of how great cloth is. :) I know I sure wouldn’t want to wear paper underwear!
Anyway, I know you’re facing a bit of a challenge with the whole washer/dryer dilemma. I think that if your instincts are telling you to do cloth, then you’ll find a way to do it. You can put the baby in a sling, or wash diapers when your hubby is home to stay with the baby (you might enjoy the escape! lol). I let people talk me out of cloth when I had my first baby, and I so regret it now. I knew it was the right thing to do, but everyone thought I was nuts, so I gave up. When I did make the change, with my 2nd baby, I realized it was exactly what I had wanted to do all along.
You can definitely buy cloth second-hand. Technically, eBay forbids the sale of used cloth diapers, so you may not be able to find them there, but there are plenty of sites where you can get them. There are also lots of WAHMs out there who make cloth diapers, and you could buy them cheaper, while supporting a WAHM. You might even consider buying 1 or 2 diapers a month now, before the baby comes, so that by the time the baby arrives you’ll have what you need. I haven’t used prefolds myself, but I know that lots of people use them with success, and they’re relatively inexpensive. And if you’re worried about the first couple of weeks, you could always get some disposable Seventh Generation diapers while you’re recovering from childbirth. They still end up in a landfill, but they are chemical-free, so at least they won’t cause any harm to your baby.
Anyway, you seem very intelligent, and I’m sure you will make the decision that’s right for you and your family. :)
I look forward to coming back to visit.
Alissa
Alissa’s last blog post..Attachment Parenting
Oooooh… I just had another thought!
If you haven’t heard of it, it may sound bizarre… but have you heard of Elimination Communication? (Also known as Infant Potty Training). I honestly don’t know much about it, but I’m intrigued by it, and would probably look into it more if we were going to have another baby. I know it’s common in Attachment Parenting (which I’m just now learning more about). It’s basically what it sounds like – coming up with a communication system with your infant so you know when they have to pee or poop, and then you take them to the toilet! From what I’ve read, people who do this use cloth diapers as back-up, but rarely have to wash them because the baby doesn’t soil them. I thought it was ridiculous when I first heard about it, but now I think it’s neat. Apparently in many other cultures it’s widely practiced. Anyway, I really know nothing about it, but might be worth looking into.
:)
Alissa’s last blog post..Attachment Parenting
Regarding a sprayer, I don’t have one yet because they are about $40.00. But, a person that I bought some cloth diapers off of said they got a shower sprayer from Lowe’s for under $10.00 and hooked it up in their shower and used it in the toilet to spray off poopie diapers. It was very cheap, but your toilet has to be close to your shower and I am unsure if you could install that in an apartment. But it is worth asking about!
Your diapers shouldn’t actually have much poop on them or any because you would either use a disposable liner or spray them off above the toilet before you washed them. They may have some stuff on the sides, but I just wipe that off with a disposable wipe and throw it away and then I spray my diaper with OxyClean Stain remover and there you go.
It is easier to do cloth as the baby gets older because you have much less poopie diapers to deal with but it really is not that bad. If people tried it, they would see how truly easy it can be!
I skimmed some of the comments and wanted to add: I live in a small city in PA and I have a diaper service. They still exist and I LOVE IT. It’s about $25/week and last time I did the math, it’s about the same price as disposables. But it’s SO CONVENIENT and so much better for the environment.
I also made my own cloth wipes – bought a knit sheet at Goodwill and cut it into squares. I soak them with water and a little babywash and baby oil, stored in a closed container. Then when I have enough, I wash a little load in hot water and Oxyclean. Pretty easy too. I have a toddler and an infant, so I always have plenty to do and plenty of laundry, but I highly recommend a diaper service if you’re considering cloth. If you have more questions, feel free to email me!
Cloth diapers are wonderful and so, so easy. Go for it!