The Information Available is Endless... Update 9/25
Aug 23 '00 (Updated Sep 25 '00)
On the spur of the moment, I decided to write an editorial on the cloth vs disposable debate. I've read many of the reviews, not all, and there is a lot of information presented on Epinions alone, even if you don't search the entire internet. Many people do a lot of research on this topic, and others don't give it a second thought. Here's my story:
When I was pregnant with my daughter, we began to buy disposable diapers in my second trimester. This way we wouldn't have to worry about having diapers available when she was born. My husband and I both agreed to use disposables without much thought. Our main deterant: washing diapers. Neither of us really thought I was up to the job of washing diapers. I still don't think I am.
In my daughter's first year, we tried many, many different brands of disposable diapers. We settled on Pampers Premium or Rash Guard for exclusive use when she was about 6 months old. Why? The other ones either leaked on us or were plasticy. The plasticy outside of diapers irritated her belly and thighs and my skin as well when I carried her with just a diaper on. Nobody likes irritated skin, and seeing it on my infant really annoyed me.
Now, I naturally parent in the "attachment parent" style: I exclusively breastfed, delayed solids at my daughter's cues, and am extended breastfeeding. I carry/wear my daughter and share a family bed that holds 3 humans and 2 cats. I pretty much follow the "checklist" in Dr. Sear's The Baby Book. As I talked with parents who also parent similarly to me, I found many who cloth diapered. Most of those who do cloth diaper feel quite strongly about it.
Have you done research over the entire internet? Cloth diapering became a possibility to me, so I started to research it. From the beginning I felt we had chosen the inferior type of diapering, but wasn't prepared for the work of cloth. However, as I read and read, I found a lot of support for cloth and less for disposable. I must admit, some of what I read turned me off. I, like any parent, get defensive when someone demeans decisions I have already made for my child.
I still was slightly interested in cloth diapering. I asked my husband if he thought we should. He outright said "No." OK. I rationalized our continued use of disposables. Right up until last Sunday.
Last Sunday I had to buy diapers. It's been a year since I've bought diapers without a coupon or not on sale (and usually both). Last Sunday, nobody in town had Pampers on sale (I checked and checked) and I had run out of coupons! I had to buy a full priced package of size 3 Pampers Premium diapers.
Now for the second ouch: I'm pregnant with a second child due in March. It is so unlikely my daughter would be potty taught by March, I can't even fathom it. So, I'm about 99.9% certain I will have two in diapers. The cost of diapering two in diapers in our preferred brand is staggering. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I must: the cost of cloth vs disposables is causing us to switch. I've known all the other environmental and health reasons for a long time, but cost is what it came down to for us.
I still cannot bring myself to wash cloth diapers. Thankfully, there is one diaper service in my town. From the information from them and my friend who uses them, they are pretty good. The cost is comparable to have my 1 year old in cloth diaper serviced as in disposable. But, to have a toddler and newborn in disposable is twice as much as we currently pay. To have both in cloth is only a couple dollars more. We will be saving 45% using cloth with a diaper service compared to having both in disposable.
We haven't started service yet. My friend loaned me some plastic pants (which I hate, so I can guarantee I'll try the cloth covers) and snappies to try. Our service sends out a mom who cloth diapers to show us the ropes. When our newborn comes, she'll come out again to see how to cloth diaper a newborn if we wish. Our plan is to start the service next week. I very much want to use cloth for environmental, health, and cost reasons.
Update 9/25: We've now been using the cloth diaper service for a month. We've decided to keep it. I wrote an editorial about the transition of using disposables to cloth for a 13 month old. Please read it if you are interested in how our transition went or if you are considering switching.
I am very happy with this decision. The cons do not outweigh the pros for us. We are using Nikky Diaper Covers with Waterproof layer. These are expensive, but I really like them. We also switched to using cloth wipes. We are slowly building up our supply. Currently, I wash however many are used whenever I need to throw covers in the washer (usually after a big poopy.) This is does not feel like any extra work, except when my daughter has blowouts several days in a row and I'm constantly cleaning covers. I still do not want to wash diapers. I like our diaper service.
I recommend that anyone interested in trying cloth, but afraid of the initial purchase of diapers or washing, try a local diaper service if it is available. I also recommend anyone try using cloth wipes. They work so much better than disposable wipes! They clean my baby's rump much more efficiently and my daughter appears to like the feel of them better. You can make your own or buy them from catalogs or WAHMs.
We'll keep using cloth diapers and wipes until our last child is done with them.
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Epinions.com ID:
adrienne10
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Location: Omaha
Reviews written: 209
Trusted by: 28 members
About Me:
Graduate Student
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