Cloth Diapers

Disclaimer: I don't really think cloth diapers will save you any money if you don't have a washer and dryer.  They may actually cost you more if you have to use a laundromat.

We started using cloth diapers when Vidalia was 1 or 2 months old.  It wasn't a complete cold-turkey transition, so I don't remember.  It's really not hard to do, but I do think if you're really going to, you have to commit yourself to doing it (at least until it's habit).

Why People Use Cloth Diapers
There's lots of reasons to use cloth diapers.  Obviously one is to save money or I wouldn't be writing this in the first place.  It's said to be more environmentally friendly.  May or may not be true.  I suspect it is.  Some people have to because of allergies to disposable diapers.  Some people do it as a hobby.  And about a billion other reasons.  I'm sure you can find several.  A lot of the stuff I read when trying to decide what we were going to do was written by people who are very (read overly) passionate about cloth diapering.

Why I use Cloth Diapers
When Vidalia was born we had some nursing issues, actually strike that, we had almost no nursing issues, but I had milk production issues.  This was quite unexpected and landed on top of us a monthly formula bill we were not planning on.  We hadn't really considered cloth diapers, but had a few that were given to us as a gift, at my mother's request, to be what she called "food storage diapers".  I was curious and started looking into it.  It didn't take me long to decide that we could cut some baby costs out here, so we tried it.  Unfortunately, the money saved by cloth diapers was not equal to or greater than the money lost to formula.  At least, I don't think so.  I don't actually know because I never purchased disposable diapers.

Pros of Cloth Diapering

• ability to custom fit to your baby (both size and how absorbent)
• lower cost over time (if you have a washer and dryer)
• fewer blow-outs (this was definitely the case for us)
• decrease of diaper rash (I've heard this.  I haven't had much experience to really compare though.)
• baby doesn't destroy wipes or diapers by playing with them
• cute designs (I just use white stuff, but I've heard this listed as a pro before.  People really get into it.)

Cons of Cloth Diapering

• you have to rinse them out and wash them
• more expensive up front
• way way way too many choices (at least, this can be a little frustrating when you are trying to figure it all out)
• more bulky

Why I'm Completely Sold on Cloth Diapering Now
When I went to visit family in Utah last July, my Dad really didn't want me to use cloth diapers at his house.  (They did them when we were young and he apparently was disgusted and hated it so so much.)  So, they bought me a big box of pampers.  I think Vidalia may have been allergic to them because she had a terrible rash.  And that would be my only experience to compare rashes with the different types of cloth diapers.  Anyhow, it seemed like every time I changed her diaper, I was changing her clothes.  I know she is a baby, but she was 7 months old.  She was past the constant blow-out stage.  Pee is not so annoying, just wash the clothes, but poo blow-outs are super annoying.  Washing out clothes and often soaking them trying to get the stains out (by-the-way oxi-clean is amazing).  You may think, but what about the actual cloth diapers?  Well, mine are stained, but noone ever sees the diaper.  It's really not an issue.  And they are not as stained as you would think.  I occasionally wash them with bleach and that pulls out a lot.  So that's why I'm completely sold on cloth diapers.  I've had more blow-outs with disposable diapers, which we've used for a maximum of 3 months out of her whole life, than with the cloth, which account for her other 10+ months of life.  That's a big deal to me.

Ryan is 100% with me on the cloth diapering.  I don't know if I would do it otherwise.  Or at least, I wouldn't solely do it.

What I Use
Note: Not all of these things are necessary.  Feel free to ask me about any of these things.

I tried to think of every last thing we use.  Let me know if you have questions about any of these.

• Green Earth Prefold Diapers (I bought mine from a local baby boutique for $2.50/diaper.  There are different sizes.  No such thing as one prefold fit every baby for life, but I wish.  I've tried some other brands of prefolds and this one comes highly recommended by me.)Snappi Diaper Fasteners (Instead of safety pins.  These things are amazing.  Bought them from the same local boutique for who knows how much.  We have been using the same pack the whole time.)

• Dappi Nylon Diaper Pants (Bought online through this link.  They are a little more expensive than vinyl diaper pants, but they don't shred into pieces if you accidentally put them through the dryer (or on purpose, I did a lot of experimenting at first).  Totally worth the extra $1 or whatever it is.  You need different sizes.  We have 8 for each size.  I think you can get away with 4 pretty easily though.  I just like to be overstocked.)

• Flat Diapers (I use the ones from Mandalay International.  $0.75/diaper.  I've cut some up and used them as wipes.  Sometimes I use them as a changing pad when I forget mine.  We currently use them as extra absorbency in her diapers.  We didn't always, but it became necessary.  There are stores in Ogden, Provo, and China or you can order them by phone (I don't think online.)  I used these ones because I used to work for these people and they are super cheap.)
• Ecover Fabric Softener (completely unnecessary.  I use it because the diapers were getting rough and it bothered me, but the baby didn't seem to care and it wasn't making her body raw.  It was simply to appease my conscience.  Oh and p.s. never use ordinary fabric softener on your diapers.  It apparently destroys them.  I didn't even experiment with this one, it seemed like I would be super upset with myself if I did.)

• Wet Bag (a wet bag is good to go in the diaper bag.  You put your dirty diapers in it, zip it up or pull the drawstring closed, and you don't smell hardly a thing and there are no leaks.  This things are awesome.  They say not to dry them in the dryer.  Believe them.  You can make them out of PUL fabric and cotton fabric.  It would be super simple.  It's just a bag.  Note on making things with PUL fabric though.  I suggest running them through the dryer at least once to ensure no leaking.  I know I just said don't, but I have an untested theory that if you leave the bag zipped up, you won't have delamination occurring, which is what will ruin your bag.  This are kind of pricey, in my opinion, but totally worth it if you don't want to make one.)
• Small Garbage with lid  (I think ours came from target.  It was the cheapest small garbage with a lid they had.  It is plastic.  It works great.  In hind-sight I would get the same garbage; it is super easy to clean out.)

• FuzziBunz One Size Pocket Diaper (I was (and still am convinced) that I signed up for cloth diapers and babysitters did not.  As part of figuring out cloth diapering, we tried to figure this out too.  They have a pocket and you stuff it with your whatever you want.  These things are pricey $20/diaper new.  Used you can probably find much cheaper.  I have 2.  The one in the picture with the snaps and one I made out of PUL fabric and velcro.  The velcro is so much better, p.s.  This diaper is good because it is basically like using a disposable.  It's much easier.  I still think they are more prone to blow-outs than prefolds though (since you wrap that diaper around your individual babies little bottom).  If you want to use cloth diapers and husband isn't into it, this may still work.  People call these kind of diapers husband-friendly.  I'm telling you though, if you can make your own, you will save yourself probably $19/diaper.  Not exaggerating.  I stuff mine with prefold diapers.  They come with their own stuff, but I find it less absorbent.  I've never had a babysitter need more diapers, so the 2 have worked great.  I still think it would be wise to have more, just in case.)
• Old cotton clothes that were going to be disposed of.  (We cut them into squares and use them as wipes.  Cost us nothing.  I wouldn't suggest buying clothe wipes.  They are made from things like microfiber and although very soft, will not have much grip, if you can imagine what I'm saying.)
• Water + baby soap + baby oil = wipe solution!  (You actually don't even need to add the baby soap and baby oil.  I know people who don't.  Or you could add one or the other.  I use all three because I like to think I'm actually washing the baby's bottom and the baby oil is so nice to their skin.  I haven't always used the baby oil, but I will never go back now that I have.  You can also buy wipe solution.  I'm guessing at least $10/bottle.  My suggestion is don't.)

I like to have 24 diapers and 8 diaper covers of each size.  It's more than you need for one baby.  I don't know how many flat diapers I have, but way way more than I need and they only come in one size, as far as I'm aware.

Some (but not all) other options
I never tried most of these other options because I am cheap and they are not as cheap as me.

• fitted diapers (most similar to disposable diapers.  They come in sizes the same too.  NB, 1, 2, etc.)
• all in one diapers (as it sounds, all in one piece.  You don't need to add absorbent cloth.  They can be fitted or one-size fits all, I believe.  I would discourage these because I think you would have to dry them a billion times to get them dry.)
• all in two diapers (also as it sounds, has two pieces. similar to a pocket diaper, but you generally snap the absorbent stuff into it instead of stuff a pocket.  I think pocket diapers are better because you can stuff them with whatever you want rather then having to get another insert that snaps and fits your snap if you were to ever need to replace it.)
• so many other kinds of diapers and things.  If you are interested we can talk more or you can do some of your own searching.

P.S. If you decide to use cloth diapers, please talk to me.  Then you can take some of the things I've learned (dos and don'ts, because there are many) and not have to take forever learning what I've already learned.  And sorry...so many words.

P.P.S. I think it is unwise to invest in a lot of stuff upfront.  Figure out what works for you first, then invest in that.  You would hate to spend $100 on fancy diapers that don't fit your baby well and thus you hate them and never use them.  You could have figured that out for less.