Diapers.

[CoffeeSnob]

For a big pack of the Wal-Mart *dri bottoms* it costs $10 and with a newborn or size 1 there's a LOT in there-- we used to get huggies and they were twice as much-- they are a bit better quality, but it really wasnt worth twice as much $$!

I think now that we are in a size 5 with our 2 year old, it costs us about $15/month to keep up his diapers.

I am actually interested in this diaper liner thingy I just saw above-- Ive never heard of it before.

Cloth naps here are not only expensive initially but they dont look that great of quality-- plus Im not too keen on sticking my hand in the toilet to get the poop off before you wash them...

 

[mamaneenie]

I've been to some peoples' homes where they use cloth diapers, and everytime you walk into the bathroom (or wherever the big pail sits) you get bowled over by some pretty toxic fumes. Bleah.....

So my advice is to keep that pail pristine, or out of the common rooms if you're unable to keep up regularly.

I find that hard to believe. I have used cloth nappies for 3 years, and have never had a nappy bin that smelled bad (until you opened the lid) I kept mine in the laundry and it only smells when you open the lid. Also soaking nappies in the pails makes it smell worse.

You can add a drop of lavendar oil to make it smell prettier.

 

[mamaneenie]

I used cloth nappies for my son during the day, and disposable at night and on long outings. (just a short trip to the shops he was in cloth) I never had any problems washing them. You don't have to do prewash as someone else suggested, in fact you can get by without buying nappy soakers and things like that too. I used the paper liners that you can just flush the poo in the toilet with, and most of the time they could go in the bucket as is, or they needed a rinse in the laundry tub. That wasn't too bad most of the time. And by the way, technically you are supposed to get the poo off a disposable nappy before you put it in the bin.

I put the nappies in the washing machine with soap flakes, and a tbsp of bi-carb, you can also use eucalyptus oil. I wash on hot and soak in the machine. When the nappies are looking a bit grotty I soak them in nappy soaker, but generally that is not very good for the fabric, neither is bleach. Fabric softener can limit the nappies absorbency. (I am talking about the terry squares here)

I do find that cloth is much cheaper in the long run, we looked at the cost of our electricity and water and they didn't go up by very much, whereas when I have had him in disposables i have worked out that it would cost me $20.00/week to have him in disposables all the time (mind you that was the toddler sizes - newborn sizes are cheaper) Also, there have been many studies done (the only ones I have read are done by Australian CHOICE magazine) which usually come out that cloth nappies are cheaper.

There are some good sites where you can get some of the more modern and quite cute designer nappies. I know the UK has some really good ones. I have also seen them on E-bay. Mostly what is available here is terry squares and the PVC overpants.

 

[Ruhama]

I'm fascinated by these disposable liner things. I went a-googleing to see if there were some that looked good and I found a few, but what kinds did you guys use who said you used them?

 

[blueskys]

We are using Huggies convertables. We are getting ready to start potty training and the convertable are getting him use to standing up and putting them on.

 

[yeshuaskid]

I wanted to go cloth but, my husband was totally against it. Around my neck of the woods, it's hard to find good thick cloth ones, anyway. I've had experience with cloth diapers and there are pros and cons to them. Unfortunately, the only diapers that work for me are Pampers Cruisers. My 16mth old is very tall and thin. Pampers Cruisers work for her because their stretch sides make for a perfect fit. We tried all the brands but nothing would hold her from leaks because she drinks tons of water, constantly. Most of my friends use the Walmart brand and really like them. One other great savings is having a wholesale store close by. We save a lot by buying diapers and wipes in bulk. Don't even get me started on wipes...

 

[mamaneenie]

I'm fascinated by these disposable liner things. I went a-googleing to see if there were some that looked good and I found a few, but what kinds did you guys use who said you used them?

A generic store brand which was really cheap. Just a little note, I did find them rather useless with newborn poo that is really runny. They are better for babies who are on solids that have solid stools.

You can actually buy (I don't know what you guys call them) but here they are called Chux, it is a thin dishwashing cloth that you can use (when they are clean of course) in the nappy and dump the poop in the toilet and wash the cloth with the nappies.

 

[RedTulipMom]

try motherease.com
diaperpin.com
babyminestore.com
naturalbabies.com
mtdiaperstore.com
cutest-cloth-diapers.com

 

[mafiedler]

What a blessing! Cloth! Yes! I have fuzzi bunz which can be a little expensive, but really grow with baby. They are pocket diapers, there's a little pocket in the back that you insert liners into. A few smalls and mediums is all you'll really need. They wash and dry fast. They are made of a material called PUL which is cloth on one side, and a waterproof back. For newborns though, I'd go with prefolds and covers. You'll need about 2 dozen prefolds, and maybe 5-8 covers. The prefolds will be about $20, the covers, it depends on where you get them. For those, you just lay the prefold in the cover and velcro it up! No pins! Now, the prefolds you can get at Target, they say Diaper Service Quality on them. Never get ones that don't say that. Gerber makes some DSQ's, but mostly what you see out there is birdseye made for burp cloths only. A few sites:

katieskisses.com--sells prefolds by the diaper at 1.00-1.75 ea. also has polar fleece liners to make diapers more absorbant, and fuzzi bunz, motherease, etc.

fuzzibunz.com--the best place to get a good deal on fuzzibunz. big sales.

ebay--used diapers, but wash w/ a little bleach and ta-da!

daiperpin.com-lots of good companies can be found thru this site.

Also, there are several types of cloth diapers. Prefolds, and covers, the covers come in pullon, snaps, or velcro. Pocket diapers, like the fuzzi bunz I told you about earlier, come in snaps, or velcro. all in ones, or AIO are a diaper all stitched together. Just like a disposable, only you wash it. Well, I hope that helps you out! Congratulations on your new baby. (You should be able to get quite alot for between $40-200. The cheapest is prefolds and covers)

 

[Leanna]

We tried the Walmart brand this last week and he leaked almost every time!! So I think I will stick with Pampers....

 

[Kiwi]

I worked out that we saved NZ$600 over a year of using cloth nappies. That was taking out the initial cost of buying the nappies, the liners, water, electricity etc. As it was we used disposible at nights and when we went out. Electricity has gone up though.

 

[ScarletRubies]

Well, this is one of my pet rants, so I won't say much....! I a totally on-fire, committed, sold-out cloth-using mum! My beautiful baby's beautiful bottom has never been wrapped in disposables. I love cloth, and I don't understand why people think cloth is so hard. I actually wrote an article for a Childbirth Education Association newsletter (it's a 4 page Word doc... I tend to talk/type a lot when I get excited!) and I am happy to email you a copy if you want to know how cloth nappies work for us. Just send me a PM.

Cheers,
Ruby

 

[Saint2be27]

Huggies Supreme

 

[mamaneenie]

Well, this is one of my pet rants, so I won't say much....! I a totally on-fire, committed, sold-out cloth-using mum! My beautiful baby's beautiful bottom has never been wrapped in disposables. I love cloth, and I don't understand why people think cloth is so hard. I actually wrote an article for a Childbirth Education Association newsletter (it's a 4 page Word doc... I tend to talk/type a lot when I get excited!) and I am happy to email you a copy if you want to know how cloth nappies work for us. Just send me a PM.

Cheers,
Ruby

That's great. I am commited to cloth at home, but don't think I could do it going out all the time. I have done it on occasion to the shopping centres, but the odd looks I got were enough to put me off.

I used to do it going to my families and all that, so long as I didn't mind bringing home a wet bag of nappies, it wasn't too bad, but on trips away, yep, disposable for a few days.

 

[mafiedler]

Scarlet Rubies, that is so wonderful! I guess what really brought it home for me is one, the cost of disposable. depending on what diaper you use, it can be alot of money! Also, the environment. Trees are cut down to make some of what goes in a diaper. The disposables from when I was a child haven't even biodegraded yet. (25 years ago, thank God mom was a cloth user!) Also, what those dipes are treated with to make them more absorbant. Have you ever wondered how those itty bitty Huggies hold so much water? And what that gel stuff what is that? Well, you know when you buy shoes, or something boxed up and it comes with that tiny package that says "do not eat"? Thats gel silica. Thats whats in those diapers. Do you know why it says do not eat? Because its TOXIC! And I was putting that on my precoius babys bum? No way. Also, you know what causes TSS in tampons? Bleached cotton and treated paper? Its in there too! I used to buy the disposables w/out even thinking about it. But I don't now. Also, disposables are treated to pull moisture away from babies. People lose moisture through their skin all the time as sweat. But tiny babies don't sweat much. So they don't lose much. Unless their diapers help pull it out of them. Its a sad thing but true.
I am not saying disposables don't have benefits. But, I'd rather do lots of laundry and know the baby is okay, then pay way more money to wrap him in hazardous materials.

 

[AmposGirl]

My SIL used cloth diapers for a few months, BUT eventually she had to buy bigger diapers and in the long run it was about the same amount of money. Those cloth diapers are really expensive as well. The only thing is you don't have to buy them as often, but personally i think you spend just as much money in the long run buying cloth. You could do as some others said though and use cloth while at home and buy some of the cheaper brands for when the cloth ones are all dirty or when you go somewhere.

HOWEVER, If you are interested in buying the cloth diapers my SIL has a bunch of newborn-6 month sizes she will sell. She doesn't have internet access anymore, but you can email me and I wills end you a lit of what she has, pics, and a price. I know she has a few covers, tons of the white cloth doapers and even some of the snappies someone talked about. AllieMariesMom@aol.com is my email address is anyone is interested in them.

 

[mamaneenie]

I just use the flat towelling squares that you can fold to fit newborn through to a rather hefty 3 yo. (my son was trained just after his 3rd birthday) All you have to buy are the covers that go over the top, just a few in each size you might need. You don't even have to use pins any more, you can buy those snazzy looking plastic clippy things. (although pins worked better for me)

 

[ScarletRubies]

Thanks for the positive comments. I feel a real joy with dorta's nappies, and I totally agree with mafiedler about the contents of disposables... BEFORE your baby adds a thing!

The "cloth is expensive" argument just doesn't wash. There are hundreds of "designer", styled cloth nappies, but that is a whole separate issue! I guess it depends a lot on your bottom line (no pun intended) philosophy. If you want to reduce your environmental footprint, you aren't going to want to by 5 dozen brand new fancy pants, IMO.

(Ruby, what did you say about keeping your mouth shut?????)

Cheers,

Ruby

 

[mamaneenie]

What are Dortas nappies? Never heard of those ones.

 

[Katydid]

With our first, we were in a very bad financial state (I had stopped working), we kept cloth and used them when we had no money for diapers. But, whenever my mom stopped by, amazingly about 3 or 4 packs of disposable showed up. She was amazing. Now with our baby, we use disposable but are considering going back to cloth because we are having problems with potty training. Our 3 yr. old can't tell when he is wet so he doesn't care to go potty.