I Love Cloth Diapers

I wanted to use cloth diapers for my baby from the beginning for so many reasons: Disposables are expensive, for I’s first month, we spent nearly $70 on diapers; disposables leak, we went through 9-12 diapers a day, maybe I is a heavy wetter... maybe they just didn’t hold it all; disposables create excess waste, our landfills are so full already; disposables are paper products, environmentally, I wanted to be doodooful in reducing my diaper footprint!

My husband wasn’t so excited about the upfront cost of cloth diapers, but today, he’s a Cloth Diaper Fanatic too. They’re easy, their is less to clean up, and you are sparing the environment one diaper at a time.  When I was researching cloth diapers, I found a hundred different diapers- all claiming they were the best. So, I opted to purchase a few different kinds to decide for myself which ones worked “the best!”  We bought 2 BumGenius3.0 One-Size, 6 SwaddleBee Cloth Diapers, 1 Clover Fitted Diaper, 1 Happy Heiny Fitted Diaper, 2 Wonder Wraps, 2 Happy Heiny’s All-In-One, 2 Fuzzibunz One Size, and 2 Kushies Ultra Lights. Oh and I purchased a Swimmi too (for the pool). For 16 diapers, our investment totaled just about $320.00  I’m happy to report the following:

1. BumGenius 3.0 are The Best- Because they are so great, we save them for the night time. If I were to do it again- I’d purchase the Organic All-In-One Package- 18 diapers and everything you need for $437- at Kelly’s Closet.  This will easily last you through potty training! Beats roughly $1800 in the cost of disposables!
2. Chinese Prefold Cloth Diapers with the Wonder Wraps are my second favorite. Once you get the fold right (down in the front for boys, down in the back for girls) you are good to go!  I also use the Clover fitted diaper and the Happy Heiny’s fitted diaper with the Wonder Wraps.
3. Fuzzibunz- I like these, but we have had a few leaks- might be repelling d/t some recent diaper rash.
4. Happy Heiny’s- we go back and forth with these. The velcro on the front is a little cumbersome and if they aren’t sized right, they will leak. (Don’t go up to the next size too quick!)
5. Kushies Ultra Lights- if I could send these back.... I would! Therefor, I only use these when I know I can change him in an hour!
6. The Bummis Swimmi is great... we just took I in the hot tub. Besides him being so cute in this little tiny swimi, it did a great job of holding in the yuk!

With 16 diapers, we do one load of diapers every other day!  This usually allows us to get through two full days, two full nights, and one morning pretty easily. I’m sure you are saying- but that is a lot of water.... I agree. However, we have a High Efficiency washer that does a great job and infact, we only run them through on extra hot once! Drying the prefolds takes a little longer, but once the sun is out, we’ll use the line (more savings!). Plus, the sun is a natural whitener- it will help to get out those yucky stains.

A few of my friends are also using cloth diapers and loving them! Their favorites include: Motherease Diapers, Kushies Wraps, Bumkins, and Thirsties. Two I want to try are GroBaby and Econobum!  Do you cloth diaper?  What are the pros and cons of CD-ing in your house? If you haven’t tried it, many diapers offer Getting Started Packages too. Or even- a 21 day trial, no obligations only $10. Check em out...  You just might love them, and your baby’s bum definitely will!