Thinking about cloth diapering?

I get a lot of questions about cloth diapers. I have written a cloth diaper 101, but I figured that would be long and tedious. So, I asked some questions of some sweet mama's on www.diaperswappers.com, an interview of sorts, to help you navigate the world of cloth and decide whether it's right for your family.

Poppan
Why do you cloth diaper?
I think it's better for my LOs skin.

What cloth diapering system do you use?
Fitted + wool (for breathability) and pocket AIOs (for convenience).

What do you love about cd'ing?
I love doing laundry. There is something magical about getting stains out, putting dirty clothes in and getting clean clothes out. Washing CDs is much more rewarding than washing regular clothes, and I get to do it every day.

What is your least favorite thing about cd'ing?
Feeling like it's my fault when rashes happen.

What detergent do you use to wash?
I have tried several but keep having to go back to Tide HE powder. The others just haven't cut it for me.
If you had to tell a new cd'er just ONE piece of advice... what would it be? K.I.S.S. (keep it simple)

Mrsallary

Why do you cloth diaper?
I cloth diaper for many reasons: 1. it was a financially cheaper choice for our family 2.cloth diapers are healthier for baby 3.cloth diapers are healthier for the environment…no disposable-polluting here 4.cloth diapers are just plain cuter than disposables!

What cloth diapering system do you use?
We use prefolds and covers, fitteds and covers, pockets, and AIOs.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of your cloth diapering system?
Advantages for us: saving lots of money, cuter diapers, healthier bottom for baby.
Disadvantages: I hate washing laundry, so washing dipes every 3 days is a chore, but it’s beginning to be less bothersome to me.

What do you love about cd'ing?
I love that my son has a cuter tushie than most other babies. LOL. I also love sewing, so making dipes is super fun for me!

What is you least favorite thing about cd'ing?
Laundry day. LOL

What detergent to you use to wash?
We use Sun free and clear…it’s cheap and it gets the dipes super clean.

If you had to tell a new cd'er just ONE piece of advice... what would it be?
Prefolds and snappis get easier with practice! I promise!

Parkers Mom

Why do you cloth diaper? Better for the enviroment is my number one reason, closely followed by cost.

What cloth diapering system do you use? A little of everything. We mostly use pockets, but also have some AIO's, and prefolds and fitteds with some fleece and PUL covers.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of your cloth diapering system? I love having options when I am picking out a diaper. For instance, if we are just hanging around the house, prefolds are great with fitteds for naps, if we will be running around, I love Pockets or AIOs. I like having a little of everything. The disadvantage to me would be having to learn a little about all the options we have. For instance, DH just sticks with pockets because once he has learned one way of doing things he doesn't want to have to learn all about another.

What do you love about cd'ing? Mostly everything. I love knowing I am doing something to help out the environment my son is growing up in. I love not having to waste money on a disposable that I will just throw away. And mostly, I love the fun, cute diapers there are around. Nothing beats a cute CD bum.

What is you least favorite thing about cd'ing? The learning process for washing diapers. I am still trying to figure out what works best for us and I have spent more money and time on detergents/other additives than I care to think about. I really wish there were a way to make it a more simple process altogether.

What detergent to you use to wash? Purex Free and Clear at the moment, which is working okay, but I have tried several of the other popularly suggested detergents. I am still looking for the right one for us.

If you had to tell a new cd'er just ONE piece of advice... what would it be? Don't give up. It won't be the easiest thing at first, but its worth it. Don't expect that what you had completely planned on using will be what actually works best for you. Practice makes perfect so to speak, so if one diaper doesn't work, give another one a try. You will eventually find what works best for you.

twolittlebeans

1. Why do you cloth diaper? To save money and for the environment
2. What cloth diapering system do you use? Primarily prefolds and covers with a few fitted diapers and All in Ones for going out
3. What are the advantages/disadvantages of your cloth diapering system? Prefolds with a snappi are not easy for everyone to use (my mom can't get the hang of the snappi!)
4. What do you love about cd'ing? Knowing I am saving money and my daughter's diapers aren't sitting in a landfill for the next 500 years!
5. What is you least favorite thing about cd'ing? Having to carry a bigger diaper bag
6. What detergent to you use to wash? Tide HE original
7. If you had to tell a new cd'er just ONE peice of advice... what would it be? Keep it simple....remember it is just a diaper!

marcidpa

Why do you cloth diaper? no chemicals, less waste, fun
What cloth diapering system do you use? AIOs and pf fitteds w/wool
What are the advantages/disadvantages of your cloth diapering system? wool can be expensive, AIOs can take long to dry and fitteds need a snappi and a cover
What do you love about cd'ing? I love the softness of the dipes - I use mostly cotton, colors and prints are fun too
What is you least favorite thing about cd'ing? when I forget to use a liner and have to dunk and flush to get poo off
What detergent to you use to wash? Charlie's Soap and OxoBrite
If you had to tell a new cd'er just ONE piece of advice... what would it be? Find one thing that works well and buy that as your bulk - for me it was pfs and now pf fitteds, then have a few of some other types of things that work but give you some variety like I have a dozen of different types of AIOs and in different colors too.

marrsgirl

Why do you cloth diaper?

Economical reasons, environmental reasons, and NO diaper rash, EVER!

What cloth diapering system do you use?

We use mostly PFs and fitteds with covers, although we have a handful of AIOs and pockets that DH prefers. We use AIOs for outings because they're easier to change, but NEVER at night. I've made almost every dipe in my stash, and love trying out new fabrics and fine-tuning my pattern to fit my DS perfectly.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of your cloth diapering system?

I love cloth so much! DS #2 had terrible raw diaper rashes with sposies. I travel a LOT for work; 150 days a year, so we didn't even consider cloth as an option back then, but if I'd known how EASY it is, I would have at least used cloth when I was not traveling. Until DS #3 I thought all CDs were the PFs with pins and seriously yucky rubber pants. I had no idea cloth had been through such an evolution. The only disadvantages would be using cloth away from home (although not as bad as the rash that ensues from sposies), and the fact that DH can't seem to learn which dipes need covers, which ones AREN'T okay for night time, etc.)

What do you love about cd'ing?

Knowing how much money I'm saving, how much better it is for the earth, how much more comfortable DS must be. Also, the one week we used sposies at MIL's we found that every third one leaked all over his clothes, and of course he developed a rash.

What is you least favorite thing about cd'ing?

It is more work. But not that much. It's one extra load of laundry every other day. Rinsing off poo is no real thrill, but not such a biggie. When people ask me: "Isn't it more work?", my answer is yes, but so is separating the recycling from the rest of the trash, and we all do that without even thinking about it.

What detergent to you use to wash?

We've used Purex Free and Clear from day one with no problems. I've never used anything else. It's inexpensive, I can use it on the rest of our laundry, and I don't have to go to Whole Foods to buy it.


If you had to tell a new cd'er just ONE piece of advice... what would it be?

Don't go out and buy a whole stash worth of one style and brand before you've tried a few different things. Not every style/brand works for every baby so try out a few options before you invest heavily in one thing.

geminimama61709

Why do you cloth diaper?
-We choose to CD because of cost and environmental issues. The idea of spending hundreds of dollars on something you throw away really bothered me, and since we're on a single income right now, it really helps to not have that be a worry.

What cloth diapering system do you use?
-We are currently using a very mixed stash. Mostly GMD pf's and covers, with some fitteds (BG bamboo), pockets (cloth diaper wholesale stuffed with hemp babies little weeds), and AIOs (BG and Sposoeasy). I intend to add some BG organic AIOs and start using the flats I have once DS is bigger.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of your cloth diapering system?
-Advantage: It's pretty easy- since it's mostly natural fibers, the wash routine is simple, and since it's so varied, we don't get bored!
Disadvantage: pfs can get bulky at times, and jelly roll folding on a squirmy, screaming newborn can be challenging!

What do you love about cd'ing?
- I love that I'm doing something good for DS- no rashes, no horrid perfumes, no gel, no chemicals! I also love that our diapering routine is a little "unconventional." And even so, no one who's come to visit has even noticed that he's got a fluffy bum!

What is you least favorite thing about cd'ing?
- Probably the fact that people who don't do it don't get it. Members of my family are totally grossed out by it and say some pretty rude things about our choice.

What detergent to you use to wash?
-We are currently using Planet Ultra powder detergent. So far, so good... although I've only washed 4 or so times.

If you had to tell a new cd'er just ONE piece of advice... what would it be?
- Simpler is usually better when it comes to cloth diapering. You don't need to have the latest and greatest of everything IMO. If it works, stick with it!

heather8183

Why do you cloth diaper? I cloth diaper to be different But really, a big advantage is that we save money and my baby's butt is healthy!
What cloth diapering system do you use? Mostly Fuzzi Bunz pockets and BGOS at night
What are the advantages/disadvantages of your cloth diapering system? Some people don't like using pockets because there's an extra step of stuffing them after they're dried, but I don't mind.
What do you love about cd'ing? Everything! I love knowing it's better for my baby. I love the colors and prints. I love not buying a box of smelly disposables every time I go out!
What is you least favorite thing about cd'ing? It's hard to find a good detergent that works with your dipes and your water and your LO.
What detergent to you use to wash? Purex F & C
If you had to tell a new cd'er just ONE piece of advice... what would it be? Don't give up, just keep trying til you find what works for you