1.26.2009

WARNING: Graphic details below. Read with caution.

Why I will never use disposable diapers anymore:

1.Kate has not had a SINGLE diaper rash in the 3 weeks that we have used cloth diapers! That alone is good enough! She used to have a rash (that we thought was normal for kids to have) about once a week. She also used to get a bad rash that would make her diaper area bloody at least once a month (and would last a few days), usually more than that though. Can anyone say, "OOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Yes, there would be screaming, tears, meltdowns, hiding, avoidance of parents, etc. No wonder she never wanted us to change her diaper before!

2. Kate now tells us when she needs a new diaper. And usually pretty quickly. She loves the feeling of a clean diaper, so she wants a dry diaper all the time. This obviously never happened before (see #1).

3. Kate is getting closer to potty training (see #2). She even told me BEFORE she went poo this week. I thought she was telling me she had just gone, so I went to change her. She kept squeezing her cheeks together and saying poo, so I took her to the potty. She has never done that before. She is aware of her functions now because she can actually feel when she goes.

4. There is NO poop factor. Actually, this was my WORST fear before starting with cloth. K would do several BM's a day and they were not pretty, so I had a valid reason to be fearful. BM's are actually EASIER with cloth than disposables. The cloth does not turn the BM's into that nasty whatever it is that you find in disposable diapers. AND, our house never smells like dirty diapers anymore!!!! HOORAY! She did have diarrhea one day, b/c she ate too many raisins the day before. Even that was better than disposables. I did put it into the wash immediately, though.

5. Huggies raised their prices (or rather decreased their box size). We would now have to buy 2 boxes a month for K. That's about $40 plus tax. She used to go through a big box in 3 weeks. With the new size boxes, she would go through them easily in 2 weeks. We have spent $35 total and have 17 diapers that will last us until she grows out of them. If I wanted a basic diaper that I could pin together, I could have easily cut the price down to $10. This includes enough elastic to make baby sister diapers when she is born.

6. I don't have to worry about running to the store at the last minute to pick up another box of diapers. I already have everything I need right here at home.

7. They are just so cute! I have used scrap material from old clothes/projects that I made for the kids, so the material is just adorable! I mean, what is cuter than a 2 yo with a bunch of ladybugs all over her bootie?

8. Kate LOVES them. And what can be better than that?

9. I actually enjoy diapering now. It's fun, not just a chore that I MUST do b/c I am a mother.

10. Can you say, "no leaks"?

11. Less diapers in our landfills and a happier, healthier earth!

I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons, I just can't think of them right now. I'm just upset that I did not discover cloth diapers before my 3rd child was 2yo! Think of how many bloody butts I could have saved Ethan from (his rashes were worse than K's, b/c of all his allergies).

Ok, since I am posting a bunch of reasons why I love cloth diapers, here are some reasons why someone might think twice about switching:

1. Yes there is more laundry. I am a clean freak, so I prefer to wash all the used diapers every night. Some people wait 2-3 days between washes, but I can't make myself wait that long.

2. You do have to stuff the diapers after drying them. This is just an extra step that some parents might not be willing to deal with. It takes me about 5 minutes to fold the inserts, stuff them in the diaper, fold the diaper, and put them away. Pretty quick, but some people hate folding laundry in the 1st place.

3. People give you funny looks and grimace when you say you cloth diaper. This is actually b/c of lack of experience on their part, but some people can't handle others thinking they are different than the "normal". I really could care less what other people think of me. Really, I'm sorry if this offends any of you, but it is so true. I do things b/c of me, not b/c anyone else tells me it is socially acceptable. I really do love all of you!

4. The extra laundry adds a little to the utility bills. Not enough to equal to even one box of diapers, though, so this one actually is still a pro of cloth diapering, not a con.

5. I don't know. Why else would you NOT want to cloth diaper?

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