* Before I begin, I'd like you to know that this post is in no way passing judgement on any mom who uses disposable diapers.
I know cloth diapers are not for everyone!
I chose cloth diapers for me and I just want to share my experience with all of you. :)
I know cloth diapers are not for everyone!
I chose cloth diapers for me and I just want to share my experience with all of you. :)
When my husband and I were just beginning to talk about expanding our family, one of the first things I knew I wanted to do was invest in cloth diapers. Why? Because...
Let's start with brand. I've only tried two, so let me tell you about both...
- I want to be environmentally friendly. I LOVE whales and all marine life. Like, I'm a bigger fan than anyone who grew up in the desert should be (I didn't see the ocean until I was 19!). You know what the number one threat to whales' survival is? Man. Man hunting whales and trash. Plastic trash that falls in the ocean chokes, entangles, and drowns a lot of marine life every year. Knowing this I try to avoid using disposable plastic as much as possible.
- $$$$! People who use cloth diapers only have to invest in the diapers once, and never again. Doing some rough math based on how many diapers I change in a day, I think I save over $700 a year not buying disposables! I have used my cloth diapers for almost a year now, and they still look new (I'll share how I care for my diapers later). I expect to use them until Josiah is potty trained, and probably continue using them on a future addition to the family.
- Cloth diapers are better for a baby's tush than disposables. It's easy to see just by feeling them how much more comfortable they are for a baby and why they produce less diaper rashes.
Let's start with brand. I've only tried two, so let me tell you about both...
Bum Genius
The most popular and recommended brand I found when I began researching cloth diapers was Bum Genius. I was hesitant about investing in these though because they seemed to be the most expensive. However, when I found out I was going to be a mom, an extremely generous friend bought me a kit of 18 Bum Genius diapers, along with some other cloth diaper necessities. I am SO thankful for this! They are durable, easy to use, and hold a lot of moisture. The only thing I wished for with the Bum Genius diapers was more printed ones (they sell mostly solid colors). (I have the "Albert" pictured on the right. It's my favorite!).
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Alva Baby
As I said earlier, I received 18 Bum Genius diapers as a gift, and I only used those for Josiah's first 6 months of babyhood. I then got 6 printed Alva Baby diapers to try out. I was told that Alva Baby diapers are a lot like Bum Genius, but a lot cheaper. And they definitely are! I love both brands. To be a little unfiltered for a second though... Josiah pees a lot. Like, it took me months of trying things with the cloth diapers at night to keep him from peeing out of them! Alva Baby diapers do not hold as much in as the Bum Genius, so I use them as daytime diapers. I actually found the best trick for Josiah at night is to use a Bum Genius diaper with a Bum Genius large insert, and an Alva Baby insert stacked on top of that.
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I hope that all makes sense! I'll tell you more next time about cloth diaper necessities and how to clean and care for them.