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I know these are coming back into favor, for reasons of expense and ecology. My DIL is considering using them, but we don't know much about the options.
I do not have any fond memories of cloth diapering my babies and then dragging the diapers to the laundromat to wash. The invention of Pampers was a gift from heaven, when I was a young mother.
Anyway, for those of you who have used the cloth diapering system for a baby or two, what does someone need to know?
You will need to keep a bucket for washing daily, and you could have some leakage. Bucket, scouring sponge, clothline in bathtub/shower. Alot of work, but no diaper bills or extra garbage. You can have velcro/ buttons sewn in.
This leads to quicker potty training, for some reason. Also , quicker response to a soiled diaper.
We started to do it, after 6 months of diaper boxes.
Anyway, for those of you who have used the cloth diapering system for a baby or two, what does someone need to know?
She needs to get a diaper service. We had one child with disposables, another with cloth. (I'm embarrassed to think that I polluted the environment with those disposables). There's nothing to know, really....it's easy, about the same price as disposables, and convenient. The diaper company even gives you a travel pack with a deodorizer if you want to use cloth while away from home.
I cannot imagine her washing them on her own, though.
My youngest is 6 now, so it's been a while. But I used these and I loved them. I used the disposable linings for long days out and cloth the rest of the time. I had a regular diaper pail but with a liner for cloth diapers in it. Did laundry roughly daily. Dump #2 in the toilet and wash everything else.
Honestly I couldn't be bothered with them. I have known so many moms start out gung-ho about using cloth and only one of them kept it up through out their kids usage of diapers. And I know how much my mom adored disposables. They came on the market between her first and second child and she talked about them like they were the best thing since sliced bread.
But...and this is big. I believe what mom and dad want. Mom and dad get. Even if you don't agree. SO just go along for the ride, which it sounds like you are doing.
P.S. A close family member was the head engineer for a major city's landfill. I did consult him because I heard all sorts of stuff about how disposables are around for 15 years and are poisonous to our water supply. Even hearing they stuck around for 100+ years. He assured me that this wasn't true. He said that modern diapers break down rather quickly and are the least of a landfill's worries. I believe him because he did share about other products that are actually bad for landfills and for the environment. So he wasn't passing over all environmental worries.
A close family member was the head engineer for a major city's landfill. I did consult him because I heard all sorts of stuff about how disposables are around for 15 years and are poisonous to our water supply. Even hearing they stuck around for 100+ years. He assured me that this wasn't true. He said that modern diapers break down rather quickly and are the least of a landfill's worries.
Being the least of a landfill's worries is not exactly reassuring.
You will need to keep a bucket for washing daily, and you could have some leakage. Bucket, scouring sponge, clothline in bathtub/shower. Alot of work, but no diaper bills or extra garbage. You can have velcro/ buttons sewn in.
This leads to quicker potty training, for some reason. Also , quicker response to a soiled diaper.
We started to do it, after 6 months of diaper boxes.
I've heard that, too...I think because wet and dirty diapers aren't very comfortable. So it's much easier to train a toddler.
I know these are coming back into favor, for reasons of expense and ecology. My DIL is considering using them, but we don't know much about the options.
I do not have any fond memories of cloth diapering my babies and then dragging the diapers to the laundromat to wash. The invention of Pampers was a gift from heaven, when I was a young mother.
Anyway, for those of you who have used the cloth diapering system for a baby or two, what does someone need to know?
Like anything else regarding housekeeping, some women find cloth diapering no bother, others make themselves a martyr to the thing.
In this era of modern automatic washing machines and clothes dryers it really isn't *that* big of a deal. You just have to budget time to get the job done and stick with a routine.
First thing you'll need is a diaper pail with a lid. Preferably enamelware as it is sanitary and easy to keep clean/disinfect. Also enamelware does not hold odors like plastic.
Fill diaper pail with water about half way, to which you can add a bit of borax.
Used diapers go into pail. Those that are *soiled* should be flushed first to remove solids. This can be done by dunking up and down in toilet.
Wearing gloves (disposable latex) each day or night lift diapers out of pail and place into washing machine. You can give a gentle wring if you don't want dripping water. Do not dump pail of water and diapers into machine. You don't want that water in your washer. If you have a front loading washing machine thing is the same, just lift and bung diapers into machine.
Set washer for either short pre-wash or rinse cycle. You want to dilute soils and remove any left over solids before main wash.
Main wash cycle should be in hottest water recommended by diaper maker. If you have a front loader that self heats water a wash cycle of 140F to 160F should be fine. Use any detergent that is strong enough to clean but gentle enough not to harm baby's skin. Best avoid chlorine bleach and use oxygen instead. But if you are using a top loading washer, and thus must rely upon water as "hot" as it comes from your tap, then you may need to consider using chlorine bleach for both sanitation and stain removal.
Most front loading washing machines have several rinses. if you are using a top loader you should rinse diapers at least twice. Your nose will tell you when things are clean. Any whiff of ammonia (a by product from breakdown of urine), stains or whatever means you need to up your game.
After washing and careful rinsing chuck diapers into dryer until dry. The heat of dryer will to some extent further act to sanitize your diapers.
When dry start folding, put away, and rest before next day's batch must be processed.
Before automatic washing machines and or many mothers didn't have washing diapers yes, could be a huge chore that involved much work including boiling.
Commercial diaper services have access to tallow built soaps, which clean diapers but rinse clean and thus not leave harsh deposits. Ivory Snow no longer is a soap, and not sure where or if you can find such a thing on sale for domestic use. But if you want to know about that, just ask.
Thank you all.
To review:
Many or all disposables are biodegradable.
A cloth diaper service is about the same cost as disposables.
Washing your own diapers results in cost savings and zero impact on the environment.
Just remember unlike back in the day you may have to and wish to keep a supply of disposables on hand, even when using cloth.
Unlike years ago when even hospitals used cloth diapers, many daycare or similar places don't or wont'.
Also it may be easier when traveling, out and about, or even visiting grandparents or whoever to use disposables instead of cloth. If you go to grandmama's house for Sunday dinner, do you really want to keep and bring back home soiled diapers?
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