Now that I've firmly established a pattern and habit making it possible to use cloth diapers, I feel it's time to move on to the next step. And the next step is cloth wipes. I'm already washing diapers, so why not?
Before approaching this I posted a thread on Ravelry, asking for tips and tricks on using cloth wipes. The replies I recieved were varied but all very useful. Some people buy cloth wipes at the same time as they are buying their diapers. More it seems make their own, out of flannel, terry cloth, micro fiber and more. I also got several suggestions for solution to soak them in though most were very very similar. Water with a tablespoon or two of baby wash, a tablespoon or so of oil (baby oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, bath oil) and some times a few drops of an essential oil for fragrance.
Eventually I felt that I had gotten enough information to take this plunge. I took an empty container from some disposable wipes and made my own wipes solution secented with lavendar. Then I tossed in the disposible wipes I always end up washing when I was the diapers (most of them hold up in the wash for at least one more use), I also wound up saving some disposable wipes that had dried up. Once I can get my hands on some cheap flannel I'll make some more that will last a bit longer by just top stitching a couple pieces together.
I'm already starting to see the fiancial benefits of cloth diapering. If I were still using 'sposies I would have had to buy diapers for both the kids a week ago! And it looks like I wont need to buy diapers for my daughter for another week, and a full month for my son. Whoo hoo!
Showing posts with label Cloth Diapers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cloth Diapers. Show all posts
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Green Baby Bottoms
My babies' bottoms are now green. And no, it's not some funky rash. We've made the switch to using cloth diapers 95% of the time.
Now I have to admit, this was an easy one for me. We already had the cloth diapers, I used them about 50% of the time when my son was an infant. But I had let things slide over time, only using them occasionally in favor of the convenience of disposables. I blame my backslide on my distaste for laundry. I hate it and I always forget about it. But no more, I now have a schedule for washing my diapers. Every Monday and Friday, no matter what size the load is, I wash diapers.
Cloth diapers can be a great way to reduce your environmental impact as well as your grocery bill. Invest $400-$1200 once in diapers, covers and pins or snappies and they'll last you for months, possibly years. I currently have my daughter in covers I used with my son, and some of those were purchased at a second hand store. In contrast the cost of diapering with 'sposies can be upwards of $2000 over an average diapering period of two and a half years. And they most certainly cannot be reused by younger siblings, or passed on to another mom. The thing that really changed my thinking was watching the diapers pile up in the garbage can from changing my daughter. In one week, she filled the medium sized can we keep in the bedroom! Talk about an eye opener. Some people have questioned the water use required to wash diapers, but the average water used weekly (50-70 gallons) is equal to a potty trained toddler or an adult flushing the toilet 6-7 times a day over the same week. Not to mention the water used in the manufacture of the 'sposies.
There are many many many reasons to switch to cloth diapers and I would encourage anyone interested to look into it. Check out retail websites, see if your town as a diaper service, even just pick up some cheapies at the local big box store. It can take a little disipline, but in the end it's soooooo worth it.
Now I have to admit, this was an easy one for me. We already had the cloth diapers, I used them about 50% of the time when my son was an infant. But I had let things slide over time, only using them occasionally in favor of the convenience of disposables. I blame my backslide on my distaste for laundry. I hate it and I always forget about it. But no more, I now have a schedule for washing my diapers. Every Monday and Friday, no matter what size the load is, I wash diapers.
Cloth diapers can be a great way to reduce your environmental impact as well as your grocery bill. Invest $400-$1200 once in diapers, covers and pins or snappies and they'll last you for months, possibly years. I currently have my daughter in covers I used with my son, and some of those were purchased at a second hand store. In contrast the cost of diapering with 'sposies can be upwards of $2000 over an average diapering period of two and a half years. And they most certainly cannot be reused by younger siblings, or passed on to another mom. The thing that really changed my thinking was watching the diapers pile up in the garbage can from changing my daughter. In one week, she filled the medium sized can we keep in the bedroom! Talk about an eye opener. Some people have questioned the water use required to wash diapers, but the average water used weekly (50-70 gallons) is equal to a potty trained toddler or an adult flushing the toilet 6-7 times a day over the same week. Not to mention the water used in the manufacture of the 'sposies.
There are many many many reasons to switch to cloth diapers and I would encourage anyone interested to look into it. Check out retail websites, see if your town as a diaper service, even just pick up some cheapies at the local big box store. It can take a little disipline, but in the end it's soooooo worth it.
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