Cloth Diapers: Earth Friendly Baby Bums

Another Earth Week inspired post…
I discovered cloth diapers when my 1st son was 6 months old. It was his Pediatrician (who is a very mainstream, non-crunchy doctor) that suggested I look into the cloth option; my poor little guy was forming an allergy to disposable diapers! I never in a million years thought that disposable diapers could cause an allergy (nor did I think cloth diapers were still around) but after learning what was actually in disposable diapers, it made sense.
The Real Diaper Association has a great page called why choose cloth diapers?
The chemicals, the landfills, the allergies, the costs… all up for debate when it comes to diapers. Disposable or Cloth? That is the question.
What I didn’t know, and quickly figured out, is that there are so many options when it comes to cloth diapers and it can become very overwhelming. Like most things in life, you can “go big” or you can choose to go economical. The easiest and most economical route is to use a Diaper Service or if you are in San Diego, here is another service not listed- Beach Bums Diapers. The other economical route is a supply of prefolds and waterproof covers. Prefolds (also known to be used as burp cloths) can be purchased in bulk and separate from kits; same goes for the waterproof covers. The One-Size option is by far the most economical way to go since it grows with your child. If you have a gargantuan baby, like I do, you will be moving up a size every few weeks.
If you decide to buy your own supplies and not get a service, you will be washing the diapers yourself. It’s not really as nasty as it sounds, especially if you have a baby that has poo blow-outs all the time, like my baby. Baby poop gets on everything (clothes, nursing pillows, mama’s clothes, sheets, you name it) and just like the diapers; those poopy items get washed in your washer. It’s a different story when you are no longer dealing with breastfed (or formula) only poos but then you do the *shake and flush… which I suggest you avoid doing while pregnant, especially if you experience morning sickness as badly as I do.

shudders with horrible memories

When washing cloth diapers, you want to use a mild, dye-free, fragrance-free detergent.
The Diaper Jungle has a great list of detergents and a glossary for additional help on washing your own diapers.

There is a whole world beyond prefolds and covers and that’s when it starts to get overwhelming. The next step is a Hybrid Diapering System like the Flip One-Size Diaper System or the gDiaper Hybrid System. Both have the option to use a disposable (minus the chemical additives) insert or a reusable/washable insert. Many moms I know choose this route because it’s the best of both worlds.
After the Hybrid comes the All-In-One (and Pocket) Diapers. All-In-One diapers are just that, a complete diaper that you place on baby’s bum just as you would a disposable. bumGenius makes a great All-In-One Diaper as well as a One-Size Pocket Diaper. Happy Heinys also makes a wonderful One-Size Pocket Diaper.
Overwhelmed yet?
Then, if you want to get deep into the Cloth Diapering World, you can go to places like Hyena Cart and support Work At Home Moms who make and sell cloth diapers.

Feel free to contact me with any questions, need for suggestions or for links to our favorite diapering items. We have been doing cloth on and off for 7 years now and have learned quite a lot.

*Shake and flush= shake the poop off a cloth diaper, into the toilet and flush.