Making A Switch To Cloth Diapers

     I have recently become INFATUATED with cloth diapering. I have seen so many moms these days using cloth diapers. My initial question was WHY would anyone CHOOSE to use cloth diapers on their child? I understood that some children have allergies to to the materials in disposable diapers and also that some moms are cloth diapering to do what they can for the environment, but to be honest, I felt BADLY for the women who had to deal with the burdens of cloth diapering. It just wasn't a very attractive concept to me AT THE TIME.

     I am a very curious, open-minded person. So naturally I do some research. I was actually surprised to find that my original idea of cloth diapering was squashed. Not only did I not feel badly for the women who clothed diapered, I actually envied them.

     In this blog I will be covering, mostly on WHY I am starting to cloth diaper my child, I will also cover a few types of cloth diapers, not brands but styles.
   
     I want to start off by saying

I AM BY NO MEANS AN EXPERT!

     I am simply a curious, RESEARCHED mom.

     OK, now with that out of the way- Lets talk about WHY I am choosing to cloth diaper my child at 12 months. There are 3 BIG reasons.

Reason #1

HEALTH

     Disposable diapers contain a carcinogenic chemical called Dioxin. According to the EPA, Dioxin is THE MOST TOXIC OF ALL CANCER-LINKED CHEMICALS. I even read that it is band in most countries.

Disposable diapers also contain a super absorbent polymer called SAP which turns into a gel like substance when wet. I don't know about you guys but I have gotten Caroline out of bed and her diaper would have crystals on it. This is that wet SAP. This same polymer was used in tampons in the 1980's and removed when it revealed that it increased the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome.

This information came from the link below. Check it out there is a ton of interesting facts.

Real Diaper Association

Reason #2

COST

     Yea, cloth diapers are expensive, but its more of an upfront cost. These diapers, if taken care of properly, WILL last through your child's diaper wearing years. There are even One size (OS) diapers that range from 7lbs-35lbs. The bigger the diaper stash the longer the diapers will last. Most moms spend $300 starting their stash with about 18 cloth diapers they will be able to use for 3 or more years. Caroline is 12 months old and we spend roughly $1,500 on diapers last year. If we started with cloth we would have saved roughly $1,200 on the first year AND THEN you have to think we can get at least two more years out of the cloth so if Caroline isnt potty trained until 3 that $4,500 dollars. I have 24 diapers in my BRAND NEW stash for under $200 by shopping for discounts. Nice pocket diapers!  It can be done but, even if you don't buy all your diapers on sale and you have a $400-$500 starter stash you are STILL better off than you are with disposable diaper costs.

Reason #3

Appearance and Simplicity

     This is what I immediately pictured in my mind when I first thought about cloth diapers:

     I was plesantly surprised when I saw diapers like this

     How cute is that? Notice the snaps that let you adjust to your baby's size. This is a one size pocket diaper. If you open it its has a pocket in the inside where you slide 1 or 2 inserts. After the baby goes in it you dump whatever in in there in the toilet, spray the diaper if you want, slide the insert out and throw it all in the diaper pail to be washed later. Not that complicated, right?
     Now you can still purchase diapers like the one in the picture above. They are called flats. But then you have to worry about pins and poking you baby and all. No thanks.
      There are also all in one diapers (AIO) which are basically like the pocket diapers except the inserts are sewn into the diaper, so you cannot remove them and you wash the whole diaper together. I chose pocket diapers because I assumed they would dry more quickly.
There are also all in two diapers (AI2), fitted, and other options to fit pretty much any moms needs if she decides to cloth diaper.

Well, that's its for now.
I'll be back in a week or so to talk about prepping my diapers, detergent, and cloth diapering accessories I think are necessary starting out.