I have gotten a few questions over the months so I've compiled them in a simple Q&A below:
Q) Are they hard to use?
A) Not at all. I generally use the prefold+diaper cover method. When using a prefold you need to use something to hold it in place like safety pins. These days there is this wonderful fasteners called a Snappi - and it beats using safety pins any day.
Q) How often do you wash them?
A) About 1-3 days, sometimes she'll have an exceptionally poop-filled day and go through a bunch of diapers. Somedays we can make it to day 3. What's great is that if she poops just a little bit after you've put her into a new diaper, you can change her diaper again. Then toss the slightly soiled diaper for cleaning without feeling the guilt of wasting a diaper since you'll be washing and reusing them anyway.
Q) My husband won't know how to use them!
A) Trust me, the prefold+diaper cover method is soo easy. My husband changes her diapers better than I do. Any man that can fold a tie can fold a diaper.
Q) How do I start using cloth diapers?
A) There are tons and tons of videos and websites discussing every single aspect of cloth diapering. At first, it was very overwhelming, but I'm the type of person that needs to try it first before I truly understand what everyone is talking about in these videos. So my suggestion is to buy prefolds and a few diaper covers on Craigslist or a second hand shop. Try it out for a little bit, and then explore other cloth diapers such as all-in-ones, one-sized, pocket diapers...etc. A great website is Kelly's Closet.
Q) What kind of wipes do you use?
A) I actually bought a 12-pack of re-usable fleece wipes at BuyBuyBaby, and then made a few fleece wipes from fabric I bought at JoAnns. I keep the wipes dry and leave them at the changing station. When I need to use them I wet them with plain water from a squirt bottle and wash them with the rest of the diapers. I use the Grovia Magic Stick to prevent diaper rash or dryness.
Q) What kind of diaper do you use when out of the house?
A) I still use cloth diapers, but I'll use wet wipes from Huggies or Pampers. I put the dirty diapers in a wet bag until I get home.
Q) What do you use when you're traveling?
A) The only time the baby and I went out of town is during Christmas break. I went home to my parents house in Atlanta. I ended up bringing our whole stash of cloth diapers since I knew we were staying for a week and we would have access to a washing machine. This might not be best option for people that have limited space in their check-in luggage, but we ended up driving so it wasn't a problem.
Q) Any major cons?
A) Cloth diapers are naturally going to be larger and bulkier than disposables. You'll get diaper butt, there's no way around it. You will most likely have to buy a larger pant size or onesie to accommodate. And unfortunately, you will be using a lot of water to wash the diapers...
Q) Any major pros?
A) Besides preventing your baby's excrements from floating around a landfill in a chemical ladened, non-biodegradable diaper for the next century? Yes, there are more pros:
For one, my little girl rarely suffers from diaper rash. My baby has never endured the painful diaper rash (knock on wood) because using cloth allows those netherregions to breathe better. We never had a crazy poop explosion. You know, the kind that drives poop all the way up to the baby's neck or the one that forces a lot of good moms to take a scissor and cut the bottom half of the baby's onesies to prevent poop from getting over the baby's face? You get the picture... Nope, we've done poop explosions out of the sides of the diapers but only because of operator error, i.e. I did not put the diaper on properly. Also, they don't smell as bad when they are soiled because they don't have any absorbent chemicals. And lastly, the diapers and diaper covers have the cutest little designs. Lookie!
Q) Do have a favorite brand?
A) YES! Green Mountain Diapers make wonderful prefolds. Also Sustainablebabyish makes the best overnight diapers.
So that's my two cents about cloth diapering. I am an advocate, but I am no way poo pooing any mom who decides to use disposables; to each is own. If cloth diapering is the next to last thing on your agenda because of xyz reasons, then so be it. There are more important things like keeping your baby happy, healthy, and loved!
