Let’s go over some basics here. Some of this may surprise you.
- Disposable diapers are BAD for the environment. You won’t realize exactly how incredibly bad until you look at some statistics. It is estimated that it takes 250-500 YEARS for a disposable diaper to decompose. Over 1 billion trees are used worldwide in the creation of disposables, and nearly 5 million tons of human waste is introduced into landfills yearly in the US alone (imagine the bacteria?). Furthermore, human waste leaks out from these landfills into the soil and from there it dissolves into groundwater . . . maybe investing a good filtration system for your faucet isn’t such a bad idea?
- Cloth is better for your baby’s skin, especially for sensitive infants. Cloth is less likely to cause rashes, mainly because cloth diapers lack the dyes and chemicals that disposables require to live up to their absorbent nature. With cloth, the baby can feel the wetness after peeing/pooping (don’t underestimate the absorbent power of cloth though!) and they don’t like it, which leads to more diaper changes per day, and better skin for baby.
- As for these dyes and chemicals, they can be more harmful than helpful. Disposables release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) when poop is introduced into the diaper. These VOCs have caused cancer and brain damage in the studies conducted on them. Sodium polyacrylate is the main absorbent filler in many disposable diapers. This chemical alone has been linked to respiratory problems, like asthma, and is the main cause for skin rashes in infants.
- Cloth costs less. Name brand disposables can cost between $700-$1000 for the first year alone. (which could equal as much as $100 a month). Cloth diapers are reusable; that means that all you have to do is buy a basic 24 count laundry load and reuse, reuse, reuse. And when you’re done with them, save them for the next baby (saving even more money in the future), or pass them to next expectant parent.
Perhaps the #1 hesitation that usually keeps moms (and dads) from switching to cloth is the fear of cleaning them. No, you do not have to listen to your mother-in-law about ringing out a dirty diaper with your hands in the toilet before throwing them in the washer. You could do it that way, but I wouldn’t advise it. There easier, painless ways to handle a dirty diaper. Read on!
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To begin your cloth diaper journey, you will need:
- A bucket or trash bin equipped with a lid that seals or clamps to keep the smell from leaking (this will be your diaper bin)
- A ‘wet bag’ to line your diaper bin with. It’s nice to have an extra on hand for when you do laundry and need somewhere to put a dirty diaper while waiting for laundry to be done. (A wet bag is a fabric bag used to protect your diaper bin from getting soiled)
- A clothes line or inside drying rack for drying your diapers
- At least 24 cloth diapers (either the less expensive prefolds or the fancy, more costly All-in-Ones). 12-24 diapers makes a good laundry load.
- Detergent for your diapers (this gets picky – you’ll probably have to do research this depending on your diapers of choice. This topic is a totally new post in itself! One thing’s for sure – detergents must not contain enzymes, dyes, perfumes, residues, etc. Here is a link http://www.littlefornow.com/hh-detergent-scoop.pdf for more info!)
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A ‘How-to’ on cloth Diaper Duty:
- Have your next diaper prepared before you fetch the child (if using AIOs with inserts, make sure the insert is stuffed into the diaper and adjusted beforehand. All you should do is snap, pin, or Velcro and go)
- Make sure baby is on a secure surface (as always)
- Fold down the front of the soiled diaper and see what awaits you!
- Remove the diaper and set it to the side.
- Wipe the infant's booty thoroughly and apply the powder or cream of your choice.
- Put on the clean diaper.
- Let the baby go his/her merry way!
- As for the soiled diaper, it’s a pee diaper, all you have to do is throw it in the bin and shut the lid (if using AIOs, you will want to take the liner out to wash them separately). If it’s a poop diaper, there are options. If the poop is solid or semi-solid, take it to the toilet, dump as much out as you can, flush it, and return the diaper to the bin. If the poop is soft, leave it be and just throw it in the bin. It won’t hurt the diaper (or you!). If you prefer, you can purchase a high-powered diaper sprayer to get out any poop (bumgenius sells a good one).
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A ‘how-to’ for Laundry Day:
- Start your washer!
- Fetch the wet bag from your diaper bin (it should be full of diapers and liners). If using AIOs with Velcro, make sure the Velcro strips are attached to their catch tabs beforehand.
- Make sure liners and diaper covers are separated and throw diapers in individually. Throw in your wet bag as well.
- Add detergent and start the load
- Go back to your diaper bin and attach your extra wet bag (for diaper duty during laundry!)
- When washing is done, do not put the diapers in the dryer. This will not only shrink them, but repeated drying will shorten their lifespan drastically. Hang dry them inside or line dry them outside in the sunlight (hint: the sun will get rid of any staining!) You will want to flip them when one side dries to allow the opposing side to dry
- When diapers are completely dry, they are ready for use! You can return them to the diaper stacker, drawer, or storage place of choice where they can await diaper duty once again!
