How did I get started?.... with cloth diapers.

I hadn't given it much thought. My little man was born prematurely in Feb 2007 at 36 weeks. When we brought him home, he weighed a little under 5 lbs. He was so tiny, it was hard to get anything to fit him. Diapers were an issue. He was using Pampers Swaddlers Preemie size in the hospital so we stuck with that. Then he moved onto size Newborn. and eventually size 1/2. Well after that size Pampers stops making the Swaddlers. I didn't care much for any of the other diapers out there.

It occured to me that some of my online buddies had been using cloth diapers. I thought it was ridiculous when I first heard them planning. Who could fold, snap/pin, soak, wash etc. Esp as a working mother, it seemed impossible. First I should say, I met these remarkable women at http://www.babyfit.com/ - I highly recommend any prenatal women to get over there and sign up.

So, I started a thread asking them to tell me about cloth diapers. I got so much information that it was overwhelming. All these names getting thrown about of types of diapers. So I bought a sampler package. I will say that it took awhile, and buying many different diapers to figure out what I liked. My little guy was 5 months old at the time. So I figured it would be financially better to go with the ones that are "one-size".

I'm going to tell you what I settled on.. so I can save many of you considering it a lot of money. The best types were the Bumgenius One-size diaper and Fuzzibunz. Now these are pocket diapers. There is the diaper, with an insert that you put into it. Both get washed after use.



Bumgenius - They are one size diapers with snaps on them to adjust the rise (or size.. S, M, L). They have velcro tabs, so they really resemble your basic disposable diaper.

http://www.bumgenius.com/ - for more info

I should apologize for this picture. Obviously the diaper is turned on it's side. And above the diaper is the insert.




Fuzzibunz - These diapers come in different sizes. Small, Med, Large (I think XS, and XL too). They too, have the insert that you put in them. These only snap. One advantage to these are that the color selections are incredible.

http://www.fuzzibunz.com/ - for more info.




Cloth diapers don't really require more work. You just wash them all together in one load. I store my dirties right in my regular diaper pail and you don't need to soak them. I have about 15 or so and I do a load every 2 days.

For traveling, or when I send him to daycare (my mom's), I send a "wetbag". This is just a bag, with a liner in it to put the dirties in. The bag stays dry and there is a tag you can add scented oil to cover the smell. (Although I stopped doing that, it just doesn't bother me much.)

Here's a picture...

http://www.wahmies.com/

The polka dotted one is a "regular size" and the purple one with turtles is an "all day".
They open and shut with a zipper.

I loved cloth diapering the moment I started. It became an addiction sort of, buying fun diapers and accessories. The price is well worth it and I can save them and use them if there is a future baby. My small contribution to the environment makes me feel good. I think about all the disposables I've kept out of landfills. I'd be happy to answer more questions about them, or if I can take a different picture, just let me know.