Cloth Diapering Experience: Day Two

It is becoming the “norm” quickly. The Velcro pads are unfortunately scratching our little speed crawler’s thighs. I’m trying different fastening techniques to hopefully help. So far, not much luck. She pees so much! I never knew! I can’t say how thankful I am that someone invented snappis, Velcro covers, and good quality (and cheap!) prefolds. BabyBestBuy.com Total cost for the diapers, covers, and snappis: $45.00. So…for it to be comparative to the cost of disposables, I will need to use the cloth for THREE FULL WEEKS (ironically, the same length of time it takes to make or break a habit). Everything beyond that is just money in the bank (Cha Ching!) Honestly, if it weren’t for the Internet, I’d not even be using cloth diapers. There is just a plethora of information about cloth diapering on here. The only people I’ve ever known in real life to use cloth diapers are my mom, aunts, grandparents, and such. Now, if I were to ask them, or even just go to the store myself, I would end up buying what they sell there: 12pk Gerber Birdseye diapers (12.97) plastic pants (4.97 for 6) and diaper pins (.97 for 4). Total cost: $36.00 (tax incl). And I would hate it! Diaper pins and pulling off plastic pants 20 times a day??? Plus, I would have no idea what the best methods for washing are, which detergents work (and don‘t - for non absorbency issues), how to store and dry the diapers, or even the “best tricks” for color and odor. I have yet to meet a cloth diaper user here in Clarksville (that I am aware of). I’d be so excited if I did! I feel like a lone struggler. But also a trailblazer. I feel frugal and less off. But also like I’m a part of earth conservation awareness. Giving a message for the younger generation to give too: learn; and then just try something different that is for the better of relational society and environmental responsibility (and a budget!). It may not be the easiest thing ever, but it’s worth trying for!

By the way...I can't figure out which one of these diapers was the poopey one! That is a GOOD thing, right??? :)

Two things I never thought I'd say

Two sentences I thought I’d never type: “I think I may plant a garden in the Spring” (something I thought I’d never consider until Brielle was say…four?) But, inspired by the produce and the natural relationship between human and earth (thanks Phil and Tiff) I’m considering it. They have already been harvesting from the Harvest Network Garden, and have shared with us many potatoes, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a green pepper. There were also yummy blueberries there! It was so exciting to pull weeds and dig up potatoes (even when it was really HOT) and the prospect of feeding my family healthier produce for less cost is really very appealing! If you want to know more about the economical reasons to garden: ask Phil!

On to sentence #2: “I think I’m going to switch to cloth-diapers.” I know, I know, it seems like an insane statement. I’ve actually read about it here and there on the internet…then one day I was reading some nice lady’s breastfeeding BLOG (I can’t find it again for anything) and she did a whole breakdown on the cloth diaper business. And it made sense. At least at the moment when the $$ savings were calculated! Since then I’ve been reading, reading, reading about cloth diapering and here is how I’ve come to see it:
There are basically three economical ways to cloth diaper: the expensive way, the cheap way, and the in-between way. Some GENUIS CALCULATED it all for us! The cheap way is to buy a bunch of prefold cloth diapers (the kind mom used) and basic covers, maybe a few snappis, and call it a day. The in-between way is to learn how to make those really cute diapers yourself! Hey, and once you do that you can even keep right on making them and sell them on hyenacart.com as many moms do. Regardless, with any of these systems you have to have a pail to put them in, dry or wet, with a washable liner. You can have a sprayer (this is cool) that connects to the back of your toilet for solid-fed babies. You also have to wash them every few days, and from what I’ve read there is a PROCESS involved.
But here is what really got me: the environment. It takes 500 years for one diaper to decompose!!! I think of all of the thousands of diapers I threw into landfills when I ran daycare (a 13 gallon bag a day usually) or worked in the 2 yr old preschool classroom. I feel bad. But hey, I didn’t know, just like I never thought of recycling or the fact that breastfeeding uses so many LESS cans of formula (um, 0) and since Brielle likes table food over jarred baby food, we just keep on with the roll (okay the last two were unintentional). But maybe that helps, one step at a time, to preserve our beautiful earth. And maybe it will encourage others to consider it as well (here’s hoping!).
Then, after researching, reading, and reading more… I began to kind of chicken out. It just seemed like so much more WORK! However, when I told my mother-in-law about my idea, she was so supportive. She said, “I give you one month.” ???? What ???? She challenged me! grrrrrrrr….. J So, now I’m on mission.
My parents offered to start us out with the basics: 24 pre-folds, and 6 diaper covers. Cheapest place we could find: babybestbuy.com. Total cost: 32.18. While I think those are the only necessities we need (I’m using old cotton cloths for wet wipes) the other items mentioned would be SUPER great to have (i.e. the sprayer, the snappis, the pail liner, or even more diapers) if you are feeling donatious. I’ll keep it posted on this blog what we have/get and how it goes for REAL once we get the cloth diapers delivered!