"You can't handle cloth diapers." [Archive] - AmityMama.com

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qtkitty
12-14-2004, 02:14 AM
Those are the words i hear out of my fiance's mouth when i tell him i want to use Cloth Diapers when ever we have kids.

More like he couldn't handle them *lol* He said that if we go cloth he will not change any diapers. ARGH!! I think that when he thinks of diapers he thinks squares of fabric folded in half to make a triangle. He's had 3 girls so hes seen disposable diapers before. Is the whole i am not using cloth a guy thing or what?

He said that when one of older brothers had a baby that his mother got them an up front full time in diapers prefold diaper service. He said that the baby was in prefolds for the max of 3 weeks.

I have to admit when i thought of cloth diapers i thought of the squares folded into triangles too. But i think that Covers are soooooo cute and of course being of curious nature as i am i explore and research. I am leaning more towards ( sorry i don't know names here yet ) the fitted diapers that you can use tri folds in and then just snap with covers. To me that sounds so much easier then disposibles with little plastic flaps.

I talked to my mother in law to be and was talking to her about diapers and she was glad that i was thinking cloth instead of disposables. We talked and talked about cloth. She said that she used cloth on all 3 of her sons and never had diaper rash, except for once when she used disposables on a long car ride.

I think i know all the bad points stinky diaper pail ( which yah would have with disposables right ), washing, drying... Uhhhh what's different i don't get it.

If i would go to buy cloth diapers how much would it cost me about? what if i would want to make them myself.. including the machines and tools i would need to make them ( most likely snap)?

*lol* Yes, i know i am totally insane to think of all of this before i am pregnant, but as i see it the more you know the better choices i can make later... AND the longer i have to get things together :eek:

lisahas2cats
12-14-2004, 08:08 AM
Cloth diapering can be as economical or expensive as you make it...LOL. There are tons and tons of super-cute products out there, and lots of different types of diapers for every need (prefolds, all-in-ones, fitteds, woolies, the list goes on).

When the time comes, don't waste your money on the prefolds you find in WalMart or other retailers (usually Gerber brand). They are thin, non-absorbant, and are what give cloth a bad name. Spend a little extra money and get Chinese or Indian prefolds online if you're going to use prefolds...they are absorbant and nice. You can get good quality inexpensive covers in either Proraps or Dappi. Also, buying used saves money.

Fortunately, my DH got on the cloth wagon as quickly as I did, and he changes all the diapers when he's home from work! Baby crying and wiggling so I can't type well, but I'm sure others will chime in with more/better infoo!

Lisa :)

Barb
12-14-2004, 09:21 AM
i just had this conversation at church with a dad of a newborn who thought iw as nuts. then i showed him my diapers...i use pockets. they got on like a sposie, they're trim and cute.
I pay new $20 for a fuzzibunz and joey insert (free shipping). and i like to have 30 diapers, so thats $600
that $600 will take Roman from 12mos old (11mos actually cuz he was a big boy) to when he's potty learned most likely in a size Large Fuzzibunz.
I spent probably $200 on newborn diapers/covers which i was able to resell to buy smalls which i resold to buy mediums which i resold to buy larges. I bought some of my diapers gently used, and most new. I have 9 new wonderoos from the big sale a while back, 6 new happy heineys for dh who prefers velcro, 2 new wahm made appliqued pockets i traded for, a custom mudpie babies i had made for us and a dozen fuzzibunz. probably half are new, half are used.
once you hit a size large you're pretty much set for two years on the same $500-$600 (and thats if you buy new, no trades or used diapers)
a package of disposable diapers is approximately $10.
My friends baby is 5 months old. They go to costco twice a month for big cases and still spend $60/mo. So they've already spent $300 on diapers (or more) and she's 5 months. If the stay in disposable diapers they will spend approximately $720 on diapers each year. She will most likely be in diapers till she's about 3 years old so thats another 2 1/2 years
thats about $1750 in diapers plus the $300 she's already spent. About $2000 to diaper a baby from birth to 3.
That doesn't account for the fact that its probably more cuz they usually go a bit longer then 3 years old
I know for a fact that we've not spent nor will we spend that much on our son. lol. Cuz of the resale ability of cloth and the fact that larges last 2-3years on many babies (from 18-30lbs)
the laundry is an extra 2 loads a week. i wash 2 hot cycles and a cold rinse. the water bill hasn't even gone up
its better on our wallets, my babys bum and for the enviornment.
i think you should get one or two to show him. lol

My hubbie was skeptical when we moved our 4mo daughter to cloth. She's 4yrs old now, and ds is 16mos and he tells the other dads about cloth! LOL

check out the diaperpin
and borntolove for lots of great info on cloth diapering

JZDmama
12-14-2004, 11:59 AM
You could start with some AIOs, and then they would be just as easy as sposies. In fact, IMO they are easier. No ripping tags. LOL. As far as the stinky pail issue, we use a regular trash can with a button that makes the top flip up. I put a little baking soda in a dry pail. Its in our bedroom and we don't have any smell issues. When we used sposies, we had a diaper genie which stunk to heck, and a diaper champ which didn't smell too bad, but got dirtier than my bagless cloth pail. I also rinse the pail with the hose each time I do diaper laundry. HTH!

PS My Dh is so into cloth diapering he even has a fave dipe!:heart:

qtkitty
12-14-2004, 01:19 PM
Yeah .. and since i REALLY want to have more then one baby ( NOT AT ONCE hehehe ) then i could save them and use them again, by just making them rather neutral.

I would love to make my own ... once i get my sewing machine going .. *sneaky look * so i have a reason to get gadgets .. AKA GOOD Serger, snap press, and maybe if we could wing it an Embroder machine ( can't spell today) ... and LOTS AND LOTS of .. * gets all excited * FABRIC .. ohh i am sooooo bad!!

Sustainer
12-14-2004, 10:19 PM
I suggest that you buy one AIO now, and possibly (if you don't already have one) a doll about the size of an infant, and show him that it's just as easy as disposables. Then explain that all you do is drop it in a pail, which is no different from dropping a sposie in the trash, except that all you have to do is wash them later, instead of having to haul the trash outside and drive to the store and buy more sposies.

When you buy all your diapers, buy a small stash of AIOs for dh (probably with velcro rather than snaps... my dp prefers velcro), and then get covers and prefolds or fitteds or whatever you want for yourself.

oceana
12-14-2004, 11:37 PM
I dont know about you but whenever someone tells me I cant do something that is the moment I decide to succeed no matter what.

My uncle said I wouldnt last cloth diapering my son past 3 months. I take great pride that he has never even looked at a disposable or a disposable wipe.

Seriously washing the diapers every other day is far better then taking the garbage out. I have a friend who tossed her diapers in my kitchen garbage, even turned into a football and ziplock bagged 24 hours later I cannot go near my kitchen. I asked her to take them home from then on.

Goodluck
julie

qtkitty
12-15-2004, 12:39 AM
Exactly .. i LOVE a "challenge" although i don't see cloth as a challenge .. and cloth isn't like it used to be.. reusability being a big factor ...

Sustainer~ i will have to try that .. cause i don't think he gets it




the only thing about disposable diapers that i would like to design into diapers would be Suzies Zoo .. the little ducky is SOOO cute .. thats one thing that i would Love

Ifluffedthree
12-20-2004, 02:43 PM
:) I wanted to post here now that I am enabled. Just so you know my reply was legit. Sounds like you have a good game plan. I too, asked for cloth diapers for my shower (pre-fitteds) and I received 6 doz. prefolds. I was thrilled. You could really get a nice newborn/starter stash for shower and figure out from different kinds what you like in each variety before sewing.
As far as cloth pads go, to the best of my knowledge, Freshies.ca and Butterflykisses.com both carry them. I am sure there are a few more easily available I just am aware of these two and understand them to be good customer serv. & good product. For pattern ideas try Fern & Ferries (sp), she sell patterns. This may help you get jump started. Me, I love my fabric too. A trip to the fabric store is like the hardware store for a guy. Good luck with your ideas, sounds like you will enjoy this.

simplespirit
12-20-2004, 05:48 PM
I loved cloth diapers. I love the feel of them as I fold them, the warm soft cloth on my babies' bottoms... I miss having a reason to use them! I hope my future grandkids are lucky enough to be "green" in cloth.

I would just swish the poop out and soak them in vinager. People make such a big deal out cloth. It the whole disposable society-thing.

I remeber my mil making the comment about my "choosing to work harder for no reason"

My baby's skin and the health of our planet are very good reasons!

qtkitty
12-21-2004, 01:18 AM
Ifluffedthree~~ Actually .. i was thinking after i got some cloth together that i would try and make a patern from my fav. "cut" of store bought pads .. either that or maybe make underwear with built in pads .. i have agrivating problems with pads .. so *lol* .. i often think i should just wear a diaper my self hehehe ... okay i am starting to think thats TMI

simplespirit~ Yes expecially letting their tushes breath .. they keep saying diapers are more and more breathable *rme* i don't see how with all the plastic thats in them.

kylenseansmom
12-21-2004, 12:15 PM
My dh's Aunt said the same thing when I first started with ds 1. I was using gerber cheapos and dappi covers, but I always made sure to change his diaper in front of her after that. She was right, those sucked, but I am still cding 6 years later :)