Cloth Diapering: Day 1

If you have no interest in my latest adventure (aka cloth diapering), just enjoy the pic of Lucie. If you're interested, read on....

So, yesterday was the first day that I used cloth diapers. My first impression of cloth diapers? Bulky. There’s no getting around it. To absorb, the diapers need several layers of microfiber terry cloth unlike disposables which have a synthetic something or other to do the job. So, there is going to be bulk…I’ll just have to get used to it. ....

As for doing what they’re supposed to, I think they do a good job containing the mess. So far, the BumGenius! diapers (BG) have not leaked and have kept in the mess…unlike the disposables that we used this past weekend. (Just ask Uncle JJ about that one – he was holding Lucie while she had a blowout and quickly put her at arms’ length to keep from getting slimed. I think she dirtied at least 3 outfits during our 2-day visit!) I didn't try using them overnight, but Lucie did wear one for at least 5 hours without a leak -- she fell asleep for a long nap before I changed her!My guess as to why they are so good at containing the mess is that they have great elastic both around the legs AND along the back. Plus, the tabs are stretchy just like a disposable so you can make a pretty tight fit. So far, it doesn’t appear as if the elastic bothers Lucie in any way. Surprisingly, the BG’s also feel dry next to the skin even when they’re wet (not poopy). I read that the microsuede lining does that, but I didn’t really believe it until I saw it. ....

Overall, BGs seem just as easy to use as disposables -- they go on exactly the same way, velcro tabs and all. But, the real hard part about cloth diapers is that they need to be cleaned. Since the machine does the work, it's not THAT difficult...but, it does take a little monitoring. Each load needs to be washed twice -- one in cold and once in hot and then dried in the machine or on the line. Since I only have 6 of them at the moment, I needed to wash them last night to use today. So, I did find myself staying up to wash them when I really wanted to go to bed. I could see how this would be a bummer if I were close to running out of diapers and needed to clean them. I suppose that is remedied by buying enough that I'm never strapped for a clean one and by having a wash routine that works with my schedule. As for the yuck factor (and my gag reflex), it wasn't terribly gross. In all honesty, once you're diapering a child, you get a better tolerance for all of that stuff.....

It's too early to make a verdict on it...but the way I figure it, right now it is the most work it can be since I'll have to wash daily to keep using them. If I can handle it with only 6 diapers, I can handle it even better with a larger stash. I'll keep you posted....