Since becoming a mom, I've gone from Geek to Mommy-Geek and one thing that I get to be all Mommy-Geeky about is cloth diapers. If given the chance I could ramble on about diapers for a very long time, but I'll try to keep it short and simple for you here.
Cloth diapers these days are oh so very simple, some are as easy as using disposables. You put them on and take them off when they're soiled. The only difference is that instead of throwing them away, you wash them. Gone are the days of using safety pins. Today's cloth diapers have snaps or velcro and elasticized waist bands to keep them in place. There are some that are one-size and will fit from birth to potty training, you simply make them bigger or smaller with a series of snaps. Simple and wonderful!
There is a lot of variety out there right now, which is wonderful, but it can also be a little intimidating if you're a cloth newbie. I knew I wanted to use cloth but I was so overwhelmed by all the different styles, patterns, types and brands. Luckily for me I have a couple of amazing cousins who helped me out, one even loaned me a whole bunch of different kinds to try out (thanks Liz!!!). My advice? Take it slow and ease in to the world of cloth. If you have a cloth diaper store near you go in and ask for a tutorial. Every retailer that I've dealt with has been super nice and helpful! They'll walk you through the kinds of diapers and systems that they have, how to care for the diapers ad help you figure out a system that will work best for you. Don't have a store near you? Don't worry! Many retailers use skype so even though you can't physically be there, they can still walk you through different systems. If you know someone that uses cloth, ask them about it. Most cloth mommas LOVE to talk cloth and are more than willing to help you out. There are also tons of videos on YouTube that demonstrate how to use and care for pretty much every kind of cloth diaper out there.
While the upfront cost of your cloth diaper stash may seem expensive, it is nothing compared to how much money you will spend on disposables in the long run. Plus, think of the waste that you are keeping out of our landfills. I found this article to be really informative (although long) http://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/dangers-of-disposable-diapers.
Some other benefits that I've found are: no more rashes! It seems that if I put my daughter in a disposable, she gets red almost immediately, not so with cloth!! I also became more responsive to her cues and therefore I changed her diaper quicker after she wet it. I also hear that it's easier (and quicker) to potty train cloth children compared to children wearing disposables (let's hope so!!).
Here are a few of my favourite retailers. Not only do they sell fantastic products, but their sites are full of great information!!
http://www.babybellhop.com/ - Great service and quite a large selection
http://www.theclothdiapershop.com/ - Offer great trial packages
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/ - Lots of fantastic information and the makers of Best Bottoms, my diaper of choice!
I encourage everyone to at least give cloth a try. Once you get into it, it becomes second nature and you wonder why you haven't been using cloth from day 1.
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