The truth about cloth diapers

It has been a year since learning of our pregnancy. A full year of ups, downs, and in betweens. I remember being ecstatic to share the news and soak in all of the congratulations. It was only a few weeks in to my pregnancy when I realized we wouldn't be able to afford damn near anything for this child, no matter how much we wanted to raise our little nugget.

Out of the blue one day, my aunt asked me if we planned to cloth diaper or disposable. My face wrinkled with thought as I shrugged my shoulders. I never even considered either idea. I was just hoping and praying my husband found a better paying job to afford anything and everything for our child. 

After spending a whole day researching what was behind cloth diapering, including the ugly (the really ugly) I brought the idea up to Josh and he seemed like he was on board! I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Who knew we would have to make so many decisions?

Fast forward to delivery and a whole month of disposables later and we still hadn't put one cloth on our little girls bum. To be fair, we were using up all of the diapers from the baby shower. We bought most of our own cloth and only got a select few from family. Most of the family gave us disposable after disposable. My own grandmother even made the comment about buying me disposables because she didn't think we would stick to cloth.

After Lilys second month in disposables and a huge hit to our bank account I decided to try to put one of her fuzzy bums on her. Disaster to the fullest. The leg holes were way too big and even with the top snapped all the way over her tummy, the waist was too big as well. Our child was just small. She only weighed 6lbs at birth. I went out on my day off and purchased a newborn cloth diaper (which took all day to find) and snapped her in the minute I got home. Still with no luck. The waist fit and the leg holes were still too large.

I was beginning to think we would be using disposables forever and those expensive cloth diapers would become fancy dust rags. 

By month five of Lilys life we tried yet again. Success! Leg holes fit, waist fit, and my bank account grew just a penny richer that day. It took five whole months of fattening my chunker up to get her to fit in a one-size fits all cloth. 

We are starting week 3 of full time cloth and I don't know that I could ever go back to full time disposables. My bank account, even with couponing, couldn't handle it. Nor could my trash.

If I could give expectant mothers anywhere some advice on cloth diapering...here it is;

The skinny on fuzzy:

I use a snap button style with Lily. Literally looks like little britches on her butt. Except,sometimes those   britches are fuzzy and sometimes they are bright colors or have lady bugs etc. there is no limit to the cute factor.

I change her just about every two hours. There is no magical "I'm wet" line. I'm perfectly okay with that because the only use for that line is for lazy parents. Sorry, someone had to say it.

I wash her diapers every other day

Poop goes in the toilet, where it should be in the first place, not my trash. 

Diapers and liners stay in a smell proof bag. I like to make everyone who comes over smell it, consider yourself warned.

The only "disgusting" part of the washing process is smelling the stench after unzipping the smell proof bag. Let's be real for a minute, if you are having a kid because their butt smells like roses all of the time, then you are in for a heap of trouble.

No rash! 

Most kids get a diaper rash due to their pee activating the "special" chemicals in a disposable diaper. Lily only ever got one when she wore publix brand diapers.

We still use disposables for overnight use. Let's be honest, they do hold a lot more pee. Even if we double line her cloths, the pee finds a way to seep out during 8 hours of sleep. You try waking a sleeping princess in the middle of the night.

Happy bank account. Even with couponing, we were spending a good $80 per month on disposables. We already have to pay for a can of formula at $16/week. You do the math. It only cost roughly $250 for 25 reusable cloths which last 2.5 days before needing to be washed.

Happy baby. Lily's mood has improved big time. She just seems to be generally happier. The cloth is soft and squishy on her tushy.

I'm glad we are finally able to put the cloth to good use. Saving the enviroment is cool, but knowing we will always have a diaper and never run out due to a financial situation, is even better!

-Nystroms and Nugget