Getting the Hang of Using Cloth Diapers

After the baby was born, my Dad, Step-Mom and Grandparents all went in together and paid for two months worth of diaper service for me.  I have attempted to use cloth diapers in the past, but the laundry became too much for me and I gave up.  Wanting to give it another shot, this was a great gift so that I could get the hang of using cloth diapers without having to worry about doing laundry every day.

The diaper service dropped off 80 prefold diapers for me and the two
Thirsties Diaper Covers that my Step-Mom also purchased for me.  It took some practice and coordination, but I finally figured out how to fold a prefold, snappi it, apply a diaper cover and make sure everything is tucked in.  The baby kept leaking around the legs and after much research, I’ve discovered he is just a heavy wetter.  I’ve tried a few different combinations, but most of them are too bulky for my little guy – so I’ve just started changing him every hour to hour and a half.

Now, every Tuesday night, I throw my bag of dirty diapers out on the front porch and every Wednesday morning – like magic – they are gone and a fresh bag of diapers appears!

Since I’ve actually had a positive experience this time, I’ve decided I’m going to continue using cloth diapers even after the diaper service ends.  I’ve started purchasing bumGenius Organic One Size Cloth Diapers because I feel they are the most cost effective since I can use them until my baby is out of diapers.

So why have I decided to go through all this trouble?  The reason is three-fold.

1. I want to do my part in helping the environment by reducing the amount of disposable diapers I put into the trash.
2. I want to save money on diapers.
3. I want to protect my baby from the junk that’s in disposable diapers.

I think in the coming weeks I’ll share some of the tips and tricks I’ve learned about all aspects of cloth diapering.  Everything from how to organize them to how to use them to how to wash them.  Plus some troubleshooting tips regarding leaks and stinky diaper pails.