It's My Earth Too

We are making the diaper switch.  Disposable to Cloth. 
There are a few fellow hippy mom's that are on board with me, that are pioneering me through the change.  Muchos Gracias to them! 


Many have varied opinions on it.  A lot of the unsupporting people fall into two categories.
A.) My parents' generation. 
They have the horrible image of dunking and swishing diapers in the toilet, late night diaper changes of poking baby in the side with giant diaper pins, and laundry.  Loads and loads of laundry.
or B.) Don't have children or are the parent of children that never really changed diapers. (I'm sorry, but those opinions don't count for much to me.)


I have heard- Disposables were made for a reason... That's disgusting!....   The water and energy used to care for cloth is more damaging to our Earth than disposables... It's SO much work... Can't wait to hear when you change back... on and on our spectators go...


So I will plead my case one last time.
(I will also include unsighted facts I've learned along the way as true as I recall them.)


My number one reason is savings. 
The average child from birth to potty training goes through about 7,000 diapers.  That's roughly $2,500.

This is what 5,000 diapers looks like.

 

Thus far for 12 diapers, 2 Swim diapers, 200 biodegradable inserts, 2 laundry bags, and detergent, my total is approximately $270.  Ideally that will take us through our next children as well, adding more detergent, of course.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I will spend more money.  I know I will.  Especially when we have a girl.  I will have to outfit her w/ the tons of adorable prints offered for girls.  I'm sure I'll even buy more for boys, though there are far fewer selections.

Second, the Diaper Genie.
I DESPISE that thing.  No matter how many times you scrub it with bleach, leave it outside to air dry, spray it with disinfectant, that thing smells.  Horrible, gagging, disgusting, baby-poo-stench smells.
Diaper Genie was actually reason #1 for a couple weeks there.

Lastly, cute and comfort. 
They are so much cuter than 'sposies.  They make SBR look like he actually has a booty.  I'm no longer eager to put a pair of shorts on him to hide the ugly dipe and let him run around (in the house) in just a diaper.

And if you felt one of these things.... you too, would want that on your butt. 

Have you ever changed a completely full diaper and seen those little clear gel balls on baby?  That's horrible.  Did you know that the abosorbency chemical in disposables was removed from tampons because it was too dangerous to be in a product that grown women use for 5 days a month?  But yet it's okay for a diaper that our babies wear 24 hours a day for, on average, 2-3 years?! Sure the difference is that the diaper doesn't go inside the baby, but still...

Saving the earth was low on my list of reasons to switch.  I know that many people will try to say that the maintenance of a cloth (manufacturing, water and energy usage) is just as or more damaging than disposables.  I'm sorry, that's simply not true.  Typically those articles (I am told) are put out by disposable companies.  The care for cloth is no more than adding a person to your house to use your toilets, use your shower and energy.  And really, isn't that what we have done?  I know my SBR is very much a person.

Did you know it takes 9 generations for sposies to biodegrade?  NINE.  That's insane.

In the end, although it wasn't a reason of mine to make the switch, I am very proud that our family will not be leaving that carbon footprint.

About the diaper:

We went with the pocket.  They are the middle of the road on price.  They have a nice microfiber fleece that goes against baby's skin.  You then stuff the absorbent insert in the pocket. 
You can select snap or Velcro to fasten around baby.  We went with snap, since they tend to last longer and I plan on doing this for subsequent children.

How it works: 

It really is not that much different than using a 'sposie.  To change the diaper-  If it's just urine, you remove the insert, place it on top of the diaper and toss it in the laundry bag. (that does not stink, mind you)  If it's No. 2, you can take it to the toilet, toss in the deed.  If it's not 'solid' you can use a sprayer attachment, scraper or whatever you've decided will work best for you. 
SBR is pretty regular and predictable, so we opted for the biodegradable liners.  This will go between baby and diaper, once the diaper is soiled, you can just strip out the liner, toss into the toilet and flush. (Not recommended for septic tank users)

Maintenance/Care:

I will do a load of laundry a night; I've hung a retractable clothes line in the garage to line dry.  It will prolong the life of the diaper and I live in the desert... I should've had one a long time ago!

So there you have it.  With Mr. Husband very on board, as well as that cute little waddling toddler, I am very happy to have made the switch.

I mean, just look at that diaper butt... how cute IS that?!

Help!! Missing Baby!!

I just looked away for a moment.  
Mr. Husband was there. 
A girl, I thought I could call Friend, was there.


You just can't trust anyone but yourself anymore. 
And I know better. 


So I take the boys to my Lovely Stylist for haircuts.
I said 'you know, cute, short, summer'




I certainly did not say, 'Give me a different child.' 


But she distracted me...  by asking me questions about me, and of course I get all caught up in answering her. So when I looked back, it was too late.  
They had made the swap like some kind of magic trick. 


They Stole my Baby. 

Who IS that little bruiser?

So seriously, Lovely Stylist... I'll take my baby back now.

Don't worry, we'll keep this kid too. But really, it's getting late and you shouldn't keep a momma & her babe apart.