Cloth Diapering (Preparations)

Baby #2's imminent arrival has sparked a disposable diaper crisis. When Caia was a baby I tried 2 different diaper delivery services, tried G diapers and eventually gave up because of severe rashes. Despite very frequent diaper changes she would get a horrible rash and she never got used to them. I tried all different creams too. Nothing helped. So I gave up. I can't remember when but it would have been after 3 months or so.

I would like to do cloth diapers this time. But am wary to invest too much and have the same problems.

I was also lucky enough to recently acquire 4 brand new bamboo one size fits all diapers worth $100 from a friend. That plus some Bummi covers is incentive enough to try it all out. I wasn't sure whether to go for prefolds with the covers like they offer with the service or fancy all in ones (much more of an investment).

Did you know a newborn can easily go through 12 or more diapers a day at first? They have little feeds and little pees and poos. This will settle down to 8 and then less once they have bigger bladders. So that's a lot of diapers/ washing at first.

Also, I think prefolds are great at first when the baby really doesn't move too much. But a prefold on a crawler seems a little awkward to me.

And confession: I think I will use disposables from time to time, maybe even most nights.

What's my solution then?

Since there is a diaper service in Vancouver I could use it for the first 3 months. This means I only need to invest in a few more covers. I will also get biodegradable liners to help wick the moisture away. And some bum cream. After 3 months if all is going well then I could switch to all in ones and launder myself.

Here are the costs for the first 3 months:

• 3 newborn Bummi covers (have these but around $10 or 3 for the price of 2 with 4 week service)
• 4-6 small Bummi covers (need 4)
• $16 a week for 70 diapers and $1 for each 10 additional prefolds
• $4 a week if I want 50 cloth wipes
• diaper liners $20 for 300 (can cut in 2 for little ones)
• $8 diaper salve
• pail (I have 1 already)

So that's

1. $86 a month for the wipe and prefolds= $258
2. $30 for additional covers
3. $8 salve
4. $20 for liners (may last 3 months)

TOTAL: $316 plus taxes

Disposables would be $200 or so at the cheapest. Same or more for chlorine free ones.

Possible diapers saved from the trash: 903

Also: only need to launder the covers

Another option would be to invest right away in 1 size all in ones. These average around $25. But I see some on sale right now for $20! I think I would eventually need around 16 to last 2 days. Obviously at first this would not be enough. That's a $400 investment if I didn't have 4 to start me off. With the risk this baby is allergic too... I would still purchase the liners and the salve. And also I would get a bag to dump them in.

Other expenses include the detergent.

Wow, so the laundry service is a real treat when you think it is $300 I can't recover. Hmm, the jury is still out.

What about a compromise? $300 to buy my additional one size ones. I will have 16 all in ones. And then use the disposables to round it out just until babycakes gets his bladder up to speed?

Of course the other option is to get some used ones. That would make it even cheaper.

Wish me luck. I better decide soon. And I will post an update after I get into a routine.

Stop the press: I just found Hipkiddo Cloth Diapers. They have regular microfibre cloth diapers for only $8. Wow. And the bamboo/ organic cotton ones are $16. Since I didn't have much luck with microfibre and my daughter's delicate skin, I am tempted to go with the more expensive ones. And they are local! Hmmm.