I don't know why it's taken me so long to post about diapers...I have mentioned them before, but now that it's been a few month of using cloth diapers, let me give an update.
We LOVE them :) The other afternoon I went to change Rose, and as I'm putting on the new diaper...poo. Ok this has happened before, no biggie, I take it off and put on a clean diaper...and POO. Wow, so ok, we put on another clean diaper...I wait...it seems ok. We are playing on her mat and (you can guess) POO :) Ah, 4 diapers in about 10 minutes. You know what I thought? Ok, my first thought was: Rose knows exactly what she is doing and thinks this is funny, but then: I am soooo glad these are cloth diapers, because every time I change one I am SAVING money. If these were disposables that would just be more money to spend on more diapers that would end up in a landfill (it is estimated that it takes about 200 years for disposable diapers to decompose). BUT with cloth I just throw them in the washer and keep using them.
So this might be where people say they would like to use cloth, but there's no time to wash them or they don't want to deal with poo or won't the whole house smell. Well if you have a baby you are going to deal with poo like it or not (and breastfed baby's diapers can go straight in the wash, in another month or so we'll have to tackle poo, check back later for a post about that). Dirty diapers are kept in a bag that is waterproof and zips closed. I assure you my house does not smell like dirty diapers!
As far as washing goes here is my routine: after I get home with Rose I throw all her diapers in the wash on a 'quick 25' with an extra rinse (no detergent), then I make sure all the pockets are unstuffed (but since they went through a cycle already there is no mess I am touching) and put them on a 'hot' wash with an extra rinse and detergent (be careful not to use too much detergent). This is the best process I have found for my washer a Bosch Nexxt. As far as detergent goes I REALLY wanted to find a detergent I could get locally and not have to order a special cloth diaper detergent. We use ECOS for all our clothing and it is working great on the cloth diapers. I get it at Walmart and have seen it at some other stores too. I do use Rockin Green cloth diaper detergent about twice a month just to give the diapers a really deep clean. So if I get home by 5 the diapers are done and hanging on the racks by about 6:30. I have enough diapers that these can stay out and get some fresh air and sun for a day (sun is the BEST way to get stains and any smell out). So while the load is in the wash, the diapers that were on the racks from the day before get stuffed (you put the insert inside the pocket of the diaper...hence 'pocket diaper').
This brings me to the type of diapers we use. They are mostly pocket diapers: Fuzzi Bunz and Rumparooz. I do also have Gro-via which is a hybrid system; this means I can use them with a snap-in cloth insert OR they have biodegradable disposable inserts (I honestly have not even used the biodegradable inserts yet!). They are also one-size snap closure diapers except for two of the Gro-via which are aplix (think velcro). Here is my thought on why I picked what I did...I wanted to have one diaper that I could use from birth to potty training. So one-size pockets with snap closures got the best reviews for durability and that's what I got. I did really like the aplix when Rose was a newborn, but once you figure out which snaps to use I think it is just as quick and easy. Plus snaps are much more difficult for kiddos to take off and they won't get fuzzy like the aplix. I also like the pocket type of diapers because while they come with inserts, you can purchase other inserts to customize the absorbency of the diapers. Right now Rose is doing fine with the inserts that came with the diapers, but if they start to not be enough, I will get some hemp or bamboo inserts.
These are the Fuzzi Bunz. Unlike most one-size diaper they do not have snaps in the front to adjust size, but buttons in the leg pullout and you can get a really awesome custom fit. The only time these leak is when clothing seems to work its way up Rose's leg and get stuck in the diaper...so not very often.
Here are the Gro-via. Right now we mainly use these just here and there. I think when we start to take Rose out on farther trips we will use these more with the disposable inserts. We have had a leak with these, but it was with the aplix version and I think it was user error.
These are the Rumparooz and my personal favorite. Notice that there are two leg gussets. I have never had a leak with these diapers and think they have the best colors and prints.
Honestly we change Rose's outfit more due to drool than due to a leaky diaper.
Side Note: We rotate 3 BumGenius aplix diapers as our overnight diapers stuffed with a bamboo g-flapper and the BumGenius insert (Rose sleeps around 10-11 hours at night and I can't remember the last time we had a leak!). I think we will eventually switch these to snap diapers, but this is what we got in the beginning and they are still working fine.
There are also cloth swim diapers...I have no idea how these work! Rose was too little this year to go swimming (we didn't feel she had enough body control to really enjoy the pool and we didn't want her in all those chemicals). So I am sure there will be an update next year after we can try different swim diapers out :)
Let's talk wipes. I also use cloth wipes. It just seemed like the next step with using cloth diapers. I use either just plain water with some baby soap in it or a diaper area wash. The wipe goes right in the bag with the diapers and get washed with the diapers, that's it. Justin, gramma, and nanna all use disposable wipes and we also do when we travel.
It is VERY important to be careful what type of diaper cream you use with cloth diapers. Some creams can cause repelling on diapers which would cause leaks. There are cloth diaper safe creams, though, most cloth diapers still say to put a liner between the cream and the diaper. I have been using California Baby products and have not had a problem yet. We use all California Baby products on Rose's skin and love them.
My diaper changing area :)
Ok so what does all this mean...give cloth a TRY! If you ask 10 different cloth diaper users about cloth you will probably get 10 different wash routines and 10 different favorite diapers, BUT they will all say the benefits of using cloth (savings, reduced environmental impact, gentler on baby) and the fun (with the colors and prints) make this an option more people should try!!
Still not convinced...well how can you argue with this cute bum?
