Cloth Diapers: - Are they worth the effort?

Kila wrote: Hi guys! I have a question to ask. My mother-in-law approached me a couple of weeks ago and said that when Sydney is born, she would pay for diaper services if we used cloth diapers. She said that she feels so bad about using disposable diapers with her 3 kids and would like to see us use cloth diapers if at all possible. Well, I'm starting to do some research and I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to ask you guys what you thought. I think my biggest concern is going to be the convenience factor and the fact that we are on a budget. I could use some input from experienced Mom's. Thanks so much! Hope everyone is doing well

mama3x replied: OMG if someone is offering to pay for diaper service for you GO FOR IT!!!!!

I used a service for about 6 months with DS and for over a year this time with DD. I intend to use it again with my 3rd.

I don't know about the service in your area but this is how it worked here:

The first visit brings a bill for 4wks (of course), a 1-wk supply of cloth diapers, a diaper pail, plastic bag & a deodorant disk. I did have to purchase diaper pants and found the best ones for my kids' body type to be Diaperaps (about $8/pants here). You can also get them on eBay. Each week on a certain day, they pick up the bag of dirty diapers and drop off another week's supply. I didn't have to rinse or anything, just dump into the pail.

Honestly speaking, the cloth diapers are most convenient and economically beneficial when baby is BFing/bottlefeeding. You don't need to worry about dumping solid waste in the toilet before putting it in the pail AND if you put a clean one on baby only to have it messed in a minute later, it's not a waste. However when they start changing to solids, I have found that disposables work better for my kids.

Good luck!

p.s. I forgot to mention - the diapers our service uses come in 3 sizes: preemie, infant, and toddler (20+ pounds) and are sewn into thirds with the middle section the thickest...need to be folded. I believe if you have your own washer/dryer it's cheaper to wash your own but for the first 3 months, the service is great to free up time.

MomToMany replied: Ahhh, cloth diapers! One of my favorite subjects! Yes, you do save lots of money with cloth. But it does cost more up-front to get set up for it. Then you don't have to worry about buying dipes anymore (unless you want some of the cute ones ).

Hope you don't mind me posting some links :

This link explains what's what:
Types of Diapers

Some FAQ about CDing:
Comparing diaper costs

More FAQ:
General Cloth Diaper Info

If you want to do the cheapest route, I would recommend prefolds and wrap covers. I'm not sure what a diaper service would cost, but it would be cheaper to wash them at home yourself.

Here's a great "package deal" to get started with. I would recommend the Bummis Super Snaps for covers over the Velcro ones. They work much better.

Great Package Deal



You would also need a diaper pail (a garbage can with a lid from Wal-Mart would work), a pail liner, and some Snappis. Then you should be all set! To wash (and everyone has their own way), I put everything including the pail liner in the washing machine and do a cold water rinse with no detergent. Then I wash everything in hot water on the highest water setting with just a 1/3 cupful of detergent. Then I rinse in cold water. The covers shouldn't go in the dryer, so they should be laid out or hung to dry. It sounds a lot harder than it is. I wash every other day with 2 in diapers. Since Kayla (almost 5 mos.) is BF, I just throw all her wet & poopy diapers right in the pail. Hannah is 2, so I have to dump her poop in the toilet before her diapers go in the pail.

CDing is a LOT of fun and very rewarding (well, to me anyway). It's so much better for the environment too.

Here's a link to some pics of what I did to some of my diapers:
My pretty prefolds

I hope this helps you somewhat. It's a good start with info. Let me know if you need info on anything else.

Feel free to ask me any more questions! I love talking about cloth diapers !

mummy2girls replied: I dont use them BUT the daycare jenna is in is using them on jenna .... Its a free service and i agreed to give it a try. Jenna used to get so much awful rashes where her butt would scab and bleed. And ever since using the cloth during the day and only disposable at night has helped and jenn hasnt gotten a rash since. And i save a ton of money on diapers:)

give it a try!

Kila replied: Thanks guys for all your help. I'll compile the info for Dad and see what he feels. He's going to be watching her while I'm at work so I have to make sure that it's soemthing he's willing to do. Really appreciate the advice.

Boys r us replied: Hmm..I don't like cloth diapers.
But that's just my opinion! I don't think they are as good for babies skin as a GOOD disposable. Babies pee constanly, they're virtually always wet and with a cloth diaper, when the diaper is wet, so is the baby's skin. However, the disposable diapers that are ultra absorbing and pull the moisture away from baby.
I don't know..if I had my kids in cloth diapers, I would have to change them constantly b/c no way would I want them to be sitting in their wet diaper for any time frame, much less sleeping all night with wet material all over their little bodies!
I personally can't imagine!

Schnoogly replied: Don't want to get started on a debate here, but do you know what awful chemicals are in "good" disposables? Formaldyhyde? Those nasty perfumes? Ick!!!

Cloth diapering isn't what it used to be. Many diapering systems use a layer of microfleece that wicks wetness away from the baby's skin into the absorbant cloth inside. So baby's skin stays dry--your main complaint--and no nasty chemicals!

mama3x replied: I just wanted to note that there are diaper liners for cloth and that pulls moisture away from baby's skin as well. I also wanted to say that diapers are supposed to be changed every couple of hours at the most, cloth or disposable. Either one kept on for too long is going to cause troubles.

I did use a disposable on both my kids at night and when we went out to places like the mall because they both didn't like to feel wet. Neither ever had diaper rash or a hint of bother.

BUT the main reason I am so supportive of a diaper service (especially if someone else is paying) is that it is so convenient in the first months of baby's life.

MomToMany replied:
Exactly what I was going to say, Steph! You took the words right out of my mouth!

I don't want this to turn into a debate. Everybody has an opinion. It's just a choice every parent makes.

MomToMany replied: But in case anyone was wondering, here's a link to what's inside a disposable:

Disposable vs. Cloth

I think that says enough.

Heather replied: I used cloth on Alison and even got so into, I started making my own. I haven't used with Holly just yet. BUt I am considering it again. I have gone through so many diapers...OMG...Holly is a poopy monster. LOL Breastmilk poopies don't make it any easier either...LOL!!! I say go for it..there are soo many fun things out there as far as cloth is concerned. It has become more of a fashion statement these days..almost an obsession...LOL

My advice: Tri pre-folds first and take it from there...it is the cheapest way just in case they aren't for you.

My2Beauties replied: I have never tried cloth diapers and I have heard nothing but bad things about them. I know the other moms on here are saying they're nice so I would try them, just telling you that they are alot more to deal with then disposables and you can buy disposables that are perfume free and what not. Usually the cheap store brand kinds have less perfumes and stuff, Hanna has no problem with disposables and has never had a rash from them. IMHO I think they're gross, because they don't absorb as well and you have to put a poopy stained diaper in your washing machine. Not trying to say antyhing for those who use them, to each it's own I'm just telling you in my experience, people that I know that tried them....absolutely hated them!!!!!!!!!!!

MomToMany replied: I don't think that's really fair to say that they are "gross". You're probably thinking of the diapers your grandmother used. There are so many options out there today. Maybe you should read some of the links I posted. Don't judge something you haven't tried.