5 MORE Reasons We Cloth Diaper

I posted that last post and immediately thought of several more reasons why we do it.

6. The eco-friendliness of it all. I'm definitely not a tree-hugging hippie or something like that, even though my BS is in environmental science, but I do believe in being a good steward of the earth. When we transitioned to cloth diapers, all of a sudden the only thing we were throwing away per change was a wipe or two (and I'm thinking about moving to cloth wipes, too). It makes a big difference in trash generation. Again: I'm not a hippie. But I do like being wise with our resources.

7. I read that diapers contain the same stuff in them as tampons did that cause Toxic Shock Syndrome. True, diapers don't go up inside a person, but it's still gross. This is what one source states:

With the exception of the pricy natural disposables with extremely limited availability (we only know of the Tushies brand at this time), disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate which absorbs liquid and turns it into gel. Many parents who use disposable diapers will recognize the polymer as the shiny gel-like crystals that often make their way onto your baby’s bum. It was banned from use in tampons in 1985 after it was linked to toxic shock syndrome*. Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals.**

So basically when you diaper with disposables, you're putting toxic pollutants right on your baby's skin. Which, eh. We disposable diapered our baby for a month and a half before switching. And everyone I know, including myself, pretty much wore disposables as babies. We all turned out awesome. So there you go.

8. To go along with #7, disposable diapers are bleached white with dioxin, which is apparently really gross and bad for people. Here, just read this blog post about the random stuff they use to make disposable diapers. Gross.

9. To go back to #1--what I forgot to mention is that not only will the diapers eventually be basically free after we use them to diaper our future children, BUT THEN we will be able to resell any diapers still in good condition, for almost as much as we bought them for. Even used cloth diapers can command a good price.

10. They're easy. At least the brand that we use is easy. If they were harder to use than disposables, I might let my inner laziness take over, but actually these Best Bottom diapers are super simple, and easy to use. They maybe add an extra 5 minutes/day of diaper change time, just from me rinsing pooey diapers. But over time, that will save me thousands of dollars, so it's like getting paid thousands of dollars to spend 5 minutes a day rinsing diapers. I'm willing to do that.

5 Reasons We Cloth Diaper

1. The math dictates it: cloth diapers are FAR cheaper than disposables. We use Best Bottom Diapers. By my calculations, we will end up paying only $0.05 per diaper change with our first baby alone. When we have more kids, that number will go down. Disposable diapers cost an average of $0.36/change, to compare.

2. They are so CUTE! Just look at this Blue Giraffe diaper:



3. My baby likes them.

4. I love not ever having to worry about diapering. If we run low on clean diapers, I just toss the dirty ones into the wash and I have a fresh supply two hours later. If I'm super desperate, I can use the small inserts I have left over from when he was smaller, or I can try and use the large inserts he'll need when he gets a little bigger. Either way, no worries.

5. This kind of goes along with #4, but they are a great emergency resource. If, say, a blizzard came through this winter and we weren't able to get to a store to get new diapers, that would be okay. It's nice to know that bad things can happen but my baby will still be able to have fresh diapers.

best bottom diaper giveaway!

As some of you know, my baby LOVES his Best Bottom diapers from Nicki's Diapers. This week they're giving away a free diaper in a cute owl print. What I haven't blogged about on here is my adoration of owls and all things owly. I've still been unpacking all my owl paraphernalia, but once it's all out, my house will be owlicious indeed.

So, even though I've blogged a million times today, here's one more time. Nicki's Diapers is having a giveaway and I want that owl print! :o)

i guess baby d likes cloth diapers

Baby D HATES hates hates to be wet. The minute he pees, we all know it because he screams like the world has ended.

Strangely enough, he enjoys hot showers, warm baths, and cold rain.

Anyway, we've been out and about all day, and I packed 3 diaper shells and maybe 7 inserts. We use Best Bottom diapers and I for one really love them. They are so easy and so cute.

I have been a little bit worried, though, because I've read accounts of babies not liking cloth diapers because they are too thick.

Well, today the baby and I were out and about. We visited my mom at her work to help her set up a facebook page for her business, and then came home to take care of my handicapped older brother. We went through just about all the diapers, and I decided, what the heck, I'll use a disposable diaper, rather than go home to pick up another insert.

I diapered up my little boy in his Size 1 disposable, and that lasted, oh, maybe 3 minutes. I had just enough time to feed one cat, and on my way down to feed my parents' other cat who lives in the basement, the screams began.

At first I assumed he was hungry, because that kid decides he's starving to death and all hell breaks loose. But he wouldn't nurse.

So in a moment of inspiration and happy fortuitousness, I dug around in my diaper bag and found a final shell and insert to use. I stuck them together as quick as I could and got to changing this kid.

The second the 'sposie was off, he calmed.

When I snapped the final snap on his Double Chocolate diaper shell, he stopped crying altogether.

All was well in the world once again.

So, I guess that's the end of sposies for him. I'll admit I'm pretty relieved. Cloth diapers were a bit of an investment but if he genuinely prefers them AND they save us money in the long term, I'm happy with it.