Diapers. Cloth vs. Disposable

[TheSmpsns]

What is your opinion and why ladies? I have been looking into each, and think that cloth diapers sound like a great idea! I do worry about the time to clean them with a newborn, but I would like to hear from you. For those of you who have used either or both. What is your opinion on ease of use, cost, "blow-outs", diaper rash, etc. Pros and cons please! Thanks!
Also: do you clean your cloth diapers at home, or use a cleaning service?

 

[aragornlover8]

We were really strongly considering cloth diapers, but there's no cleaning service around here that's very reliable. If I'm in a better area for the next baby, I will definitely strongly consider cloth again.

 

[patch2006uk]

We use cloth, and they're fab! I've found they catch the pop much better than disposables and they're much much kinder on LO's skin. We wash them ourselves-just throw them in nightly with our regular laundry!

I personally wouldn't use cloth on a newborn, just because the meconium is horrid and they grownnso quickly I decided it was worth waiting 6 weeks until we could use nappies that would last longer.

If you head over to the natural parenting section, you'll find tons of info about cloth-different brands, materials, distributers, patterns, etc.

 

[peanut56]

We tried cloth. At first it was great. It wasn't as much work as I thought it would be...I had a wet bag to keep the soiled ones in, and just had to do an extra rinse or two. But then my LO kept getting a rash, and nothing I tried (other than putting her in a disposable for a day) would get rid of it. I tried everything the sales reps told me to do - I used the detergent they suggested (plus a few others), the amount they suggested, I did more rinses, I "stripped" them, but nothing would stop the damn rash! So I finally gave up and went back to disposables (after about 3 months of trying). I was sad about it though, and will try it again on the next baby.
I know a few other cloth diapering moms and it seems some of them had no problems whatsoever, and some had a really hard time finding the right washing system before the rashes stopped.
But after all that, I would still recommend trying it if you want to. It was great before the rashes started (lol). They have some really cute prints, and it's definitely easier than you would think. Plus, I never had a single leak with them, which was great.
I have heard that they don't work so well on newborns though, but I didn't try that myself (I bought my cloth when LO was 3 months old).
To answer your last question, I bought my "stash" of cloth...I looked into the cost of diaper services and found them to be really expensive!
Disposables are definitely easier and more convenient...but there's definitely pros and cons to both cloth and disposables.

 

[scooterchick]

I use cloth and love it. It's a couple of extra washing loads a week and that's about as far as the extra work goes. The containment is amazing, no poo uo the back and down the legs, and my baby has never had a rash other than when I had thrush in my nipple. Have saved a fortune as I'm on my second baby in cloth. Plus I have the peace of mind that my baby's bum is wrapped in his own poo and urine, not poo, urine, plastic, paper and a whole load of horrible chemicals.

 

[punk_pig]

I used disposables for first 6-8 weeks then switched to cloth,now I can't go back as I feel physically sick at the chemically smell of disposables. Some peopledont notice it (and some brands are worse) but im almost phobic about that gross smell now. I also found breastfed poo containment to be much better in cloth. I have had a few bad rashes but that is more cos I can't tell she has pooed cos it ain't running down her leg and have left her sat in it!!

I had a sudden freak out when we went to stay with relatives cos I wasn't sure how to go about my washing system in someone elses house but in the end it was a lot less drama than I'd anticipated.

 

[marinecrazy]

I use cloth for my LO and love them. Way cheaper and just as easy, just an extra load of laundry every other day. I started mine as a newborn with no problems, the mecconium cleaned right out. There are no blow-outs or diaper rash for my baby girl! My sister is switching after watching me use the cloth diapers, we both thought they would be way harder.

 

[bumpy_j]

I use a mixture of the two, sposies at my OHs, cloth at mine, personally I love how easy a disposable is cos I struggle to find nappies that fit Joel properly but I like the eco factor of cloth so do still try to mix it up a bit

 

[Cangaroo]

We use cloth nappies. We used disposables for the first week until the meconium had cleared and Isabella's cord had dropped off, then switched to cloth. We wash them ourselves, which is fine and I easily find the time.

 

[pinkie77]

I love Fi's fluff so much I'm currently hand-washing nappies cos my washing machine has died! Like punk_pig, I really can't stomach the idea of using disposables now.

 

[kate.m.]

we use cloth full time, and they arent half as difficult as some ppl make them out 2 b! Instead of emptying ur nappy-bin into the trash, you empty it into the washing machine! They are cheaper (as long as u dont get addicted & start loving custom made/designer nappies!!) and look soooo much cuter: i love his big fluffy bum! He didnt have any nappy rash till 10 months old, but once he got it we struggled to shift it. Turns out he had a yeast infection, so i stopped using cloth until it cleared up & now we're back to normal.
I dont see much point in a cleaning service, unless u have to use a laundrette for all ur regular washing too? its really no bother & i wouldnt wanna spend money paying someone else what i can easily do myself!
x

 

[TheSmpsns]

Thanks everyone! Any recommendations on where is the best place to buy?

 

[lozzy21]

We used dispoables for the first 5 months and then switched to cloth. Cloth really arnt that much hard work, a load every 3 days. You never run out, i find them better for keeping in poo and then there is the cost. Im not sure what it is in dollers but in pounds to have your child in disposables for 2 and a half years using premium brands it will cost you around £2500. My cloth stash cost £200 and it will last till shes toilet trained and then i can sell them on or use them for the next baby.

 

[lori]

I was nervous about using cloth diapers but I'm so glad I tried it. We tried a bunch of different brands (Happy Heinys, Bum Genius, BG Flips, Dream-Eze, Bumkins, and Fuzzibunz) and Fuzzibunz are my favorites hand down.

Some of the others leak or stain easily, but after almost 10 months of use, the fuzzibunz are still nice and clean-looking and I'm able to leave them on overnight (12 hours) with no leaks. It's a pocket diaper, which is nice because you can decide how much absorbancy you want depending on the situation. Simon has had 2 minor diaper rashes ever since birth, but both cleared up quickly (within a few days) just using a diaper liner and barrier cream. I thought that washing them would be disgusting and time consuming, but it has only worked out to an extra load of laundry every 3 days and it's really not bad I love both the fitted and one-size diapers. The fitted really are an awesome fit and they look so cute, while the one-size expands to fit your baby as he grows so you don't have to keep replacing them.

I can't recommend cloth diapers enough In addition to being better for the environment (I don't even have to wash them with detergent, I use the SmartKlean laundry ball), it's much easier on the pocketbook. The initial investment feels like a lot, but you definitely save money over time.

 

[x__amour]

I use disposables. Have thought about cloth, especially for swim diapers and I really like them but... I'll probably just continue using disposables.

 

[EllaAndLyla]

This might sound dumb but how do you use cloths? do you literally have to buy a million different nappies and change it every time like you would a disposable? because that would put me off, even though i want to try xx

 

[jackiea85]

I've used cloth for both of mine. With Joseph he was a few weeks old but Toby was about 3 days old. I don't find them hard work really, just stick liner and wipes in nappy bag in bin (or flush liner), stick nappy in mesh bag in bucket, when full stick mesh bag in washing machine, wash! I do about 3 loads a week, it's not like the olden days of soaking for hours any more. I have mainly One Life nappies and pre-folds with Blueberry Coveralls (wraps) and then a few cute nappies like Mini LaLas and Cushie Tushies, but I find my others more reliable! They rarely leak, boys rarely get nappy rash, only problem is they hold the smell in much better so I don't always notice poo straight away lol x

 

[membas#1]

we use your basic prefold diaper with a variety of covers. we do use a diaper service that provides and washes the prefolds, DHs work paid for 6 months service for us as a gift and we will likely continue using the service instead of doing it ourselves out of ease. the service is 50 dollars a month and they pickup dirty and deliver new once a week. we wash our own covers and reusable wipes. i started cloth at 3 weeks with no probs but i still use disposable at night and when we travel. i am hoping to transition to cloth at night too soon. have only tried that once recently and she leaked horribly in 3 hours.

we have had 1 minor rash that went away in a day due to a poop diaper i didnt catch right away.

 

[punk_pig]

This might sound dumb but how do you use cloths? do you literally have to buy a million different nappies and change it every time like you would a disposable? because that would put me off, even though i want to try xx

If using from newborn you'd need between 24 and 30 nappies depending on how often you want to do a wash. I didn't start till about two months in and have only ever had 18 day nappies and 4 night nappies (which are hemp with separate wrap and last 12hrs+). At first that was a wash every 2days but now she's 6 months I can stretch that to every 3 or occasionally 4 days.

You can either have the style where you change the whole thing or ones where you just change the inner absorbent bit but reuse the wipe clean waterproof outer layer.

 

[Seity]

Disposable - cheap, convenient, very little work, don't need to change often, never had diaper rash.
Cloth - too much work for me.