Diapers
When asked what type of diapers I use I proudly say cloth! There was no question that we'd use cloth diapers with our baby because I use cloth menstrual pads. Why would I use cloth for me and not for my baby? They are healthier for the baby and for the environment. Yes, they are a little bit more work but I think the benefits out-weight the cons.
Cloth diapers are better for baby. Babies who wear cloth diapers have significantly lower rates of diaper rash. Case in point, during our trip to Oregon last month we used disposables because the logistics of using cloth while traveling was not something I wanted to deal with. After only two days, Dominic developed diaper rash and it only got worse as the week went on. We've been battling it ever since our trip. Diaper rash is feisty and takes every chance it can to get a hold and stay there. :( (Sadly it was basically gone until he developed the cold and fever on Thursday - I was using disposables during his illness in an effort to keep him cooler (he had a scary high fever so getting him cool was VERY important) since the cloth is so bulky). Also, babies who wear cloth diapers generally potty train at a much younger age because they feel the wetness and can tell much faster that they've leaked and need to use the "real" bathroom.
Washing them hasn't been bad either. We wash diapers every other day (you can go much longer but I don't want any smells to develop in the diaper pail). I do a cold water rinse in as little water as possible to get all the gross stuff, then we do a hot water wash with soap, and finally dry. We've been drying them in the drier so far since he was a winter baby and line drying clothing when it's snowing outside just doesn't work. Now that the warm weather is here I'm trying to dry them outside (I don't have a proper laundry line so it's been weird - hopefully soon I'll have a proper laundry line outside). I try to put them in to rinse and wash in the evening and then dry them first thing in the morning.
Now, I do have to say that we do use some disposables. When we go out I put him in a disposable diaper. Cloth diapers are bulky and the logistics of carrying 4-5 extra diapers, covers, and bags to dirty ones home in again mean that I needed a second diaper bag. We don't really go out that often and when we do it's hardly ever that long so we only go through a handful of disposables a week for outings. We are still using disposables at night which does make me sad. The cloth absorbs much less that the disposables because the disposables have a super absorbent gel in them (see more info on that below) which meant he was leaking a lot at night. I have heavy wetting night time cloth diapers for him but he doesn't fit in them yet - he's tall and skinny for his age so the leg holes are too big on him when compared to the average baby his age. A few more pounds and he should fit into them and then we can stop using the disposables at night.
As far as brands go, we use Seventh Generation and Tushies disposables. Seventh Generation and Tushies are made from some recycled materials and are processed without the use of chlorine and dyes. I would prefer to only use the Tushies brand but we got 6 cases for free from Amazon.com as part of our baby registry and I wasn't about to turn down $250 of free diapers. I prefer the Tushies brand because they are the only disposable diaper on the market that does not use the absorbent gel.
The gel in almost every disposable diaper on the market is a Super Absorbent Polymer or SAP (the exact blend/type of polymer depends on the brand). These chemicals are what make disposables bad for babies. The diapers absorb so much more urine so that you don't have to change the baby as often but this means they stay on the skin and make it easier for the bad germs to grown and cause diaper rashes and yeast infections. (When I have Dominic in disposables I automatically change his diaper every two hours to keep this risk down.) What makes it really scary is the fact that these chemicals were banded from use in feminine products (pads and tampons) in the 1980's because of the increase risk of toxic shock syndrome. And yes, 20+ years later it's still okay to be in diapers.
Hopefully, more people will use cloth diapers in the future or at least choose safer and more eco-friendly disposables for their children.
Cloth diapers are better for baby. Babies who wear cloth diapers have significantly lower rates of diaper rash. Case in point, during our trip to Oregon last month we used disposables because the logistics of using cloth while traveling was not something I wanted to deal with. After only two days, Dominic developed diaper rash and it only got worse as the week went on. We've been battling it ever since our trip. Diaper rash is feisty and takes every chance it can to get a hold and stay there. :( (Sadly it was basically gone until he developed the cold and fever on Thursday - I was using disposables during his illness in an effort to keep him cooler (he had a scary high fever so getting him cool was VERY important) since the cloth is so bulky). Also, babies who wear cloth diapers generally potty train at a much younger age because they feel the wetness and can tell much faster that they've leaked and need to use the "real" bathroom.
Washing them hasn't been bad either. We wash diapers every other day (you can go much longer but I don't want any smells to develop in the diaper pail). I do a cold water rinse in as little water as possible to get all the gross stuff, then we do a hot water wash with soap, and finally dry. We've been drying them in the drier so far since he was a winter baby and line drying clothing when it's snowing outside just doesn't work. Now that the warm weather is here I'm trying to dry them outside (I don't have a proper laundry line so it's been weird - hopefully soon I'll have a proper laundry line outside). I try to put them in to rinse and wash in the evening and then dry them first thing in the morning.
Now, I do have to say that we do use some disposables. When we go out I put him in a disposable diaper. Cloth diapers are bulky and the logistics of carrying 4-5 extra diapers, covers, and bags to dirty ones home in again mean that I needed a second diaper bag. We don't really go out that often and when we do it's hardly ever that long so we only go through a handful of disposables a week for outings. We are still using disposables at night which does make me sad. The cloth absorbs much less that the disposables because the disposables have a super absorbent gel in them (see more info on that below) which meant he was leaking a lot at night. I have heavy wetting night time cloth diapers for him but he doesn't fit in them yet - he's tall and skinny for his age so the leg holes are too big on him when compared to the average baby his age. A few more pounds and he should fit into them and then we can stop using the disposables at night.
As far as brands go, we use Seventh Generation and Tushies disposables. Seventh Generation and Tushies are made from some recycled materials and are processed without the use of chlorine and dyes. I would prefer to only use the Tushies brand but we got 6 cases for free from Amazon.com as part of our baby registry and I wasn't about to turn down $250 of free diapers. I prefer the Tushies brand because they are the only disposable diaper on the market that does not use the absorbent gel.
The gel in almost every disposable diaper on the market is a Super Absorbent Polymer or SAP (the exact blend/type of polymer depends on the brand). These chemicals are what make disposables bad for babies. The diapers absorb so much more urine so that you don't have to change the baby as often but this means they stay on the skin and make it easier for the bad germs to grown and cause diaper rashes and yeast infections. (When I have Dominic in disposables I automatically change his diaper every two hours to keep this risk down.) What makes it really scary is the fact that these chemicals were banded from use in feminine products (pads and tampons) in the 1980's because of the increase risk of toxic shock syndrome. And yes, 20+ years later it's still okay to be in diapers.
Hopefully, more people will use cloth diapers in the future or at least choose safer and more eco-friendly disposables for their children.