The Case for Cloth

Rob and I have been using cloth diapers nearly exclusively since Ezra was two months old. We only waited that long to start them because he was too tiny for the diaper wraps.

Here is why I love them.

I had fun making them. My mom and I spent two hours sewing and we made 43 diapers. We laughed a lot.

Also, it was not as big of a start up cost as I thought it would be. I spent $65 on flannel, and probably $150 total on water proof diaper wraps. I have 18 pairs that he currently fits, and 30 more that are too big. I have had to throw away about 18 of the really cheap ones so far- they get worn out in the wash. They're made of vinyl.

Our bills went up, but not by much. My average monthly cost of water/electricity went up by $23/month. This also includes the extra water and electricity I use just by being in the building now that I have become a stay-at-home mom.

I am doing laundry anyway. I am using kite fold diapers. They are just a big square of flannel that you fold according to how big your child is, and it's also a different fold for a boy or a girl. It is super easy to do, after you've done it once or twice, and it takes no time at all.

They make disposable liners now for dirty diapers. They are flushable and take all the yucky stuff off with no scraping, or getting messy. And they are good for the environment because they are biodegradable. They cost $9.00 a roll, with 100 on each roll. And they often go on sale. Once your child has a bit more of a routine, you can predict when you want to put a liner in. Or, you could just use them in every diaper.

You CAN take them anywhere. People are amazed when I am using cloth while we are out. Just put it in a bag once you change them, and you're good to go. I also have a water proof pocket of my diaper bag (it's a LUG) so that is convenient as well.

While the cloth diapers do leak more than disposables, I found that once Ezra was a bit older, and I was a bit better at putting the cloth on, they hardly ever leaked. I think they've leaked once in the last 4 months. You just have to make sure you change them regularly. I change Ezra's cloth diapers every 2 1/2- 3 hours, regardless of what he's done in there.

Pinning is no problem. I was worried that I would stab him with a diaper pin, but as long as you're careful, it is actually hard to do (stab them, I mean). This did become more difficult when he learned to roll away. I have to work hard at keeping him distracted most of the time, but usually he is pretty good about staying still. Or at least mostly still.

Ezra is a small boy. He has virtually no bum, and he is short. Most of the pants on the market today cater to larger children, and they don't fit him- unless he is wearing a cloth diaper. This makes dressing him and finding clothes for him WAY easier.

Lastly, they make me feel special. Like I am doing something great. It is silly I know, but oh well.

All this said, and I think I am ready to throw in the towel- or diaper- as it were. Here's why.

He starts daycare in one month. Daycare doesn't do cloth so we will have to start disposable soon anyway.

I am tired of changing him twice as often as I would have to with disposables.

He has diaper rash. I am convinced this is unrelated to the diapers themselves, as the rash stays if we put him in disposables. However, the cloth diapers make the rash feel worse for him.

They ARE more convenient- faster to put on, easier to get rid of, AND 2 less loads of laundry a week.

I am not giving up forever. Just for now. We shall revisit the situation once I'm back at home.