I'm Too Tired To Title This One
I have a new obsession. Though I'm sure it will offer no shock value. :) Cloth diapers. I want to try every possible combination there is! When we go to Utah for a visit, we were considering using disposables to "make things easier." I see now that no way is easier than the other. Cloth diapering does require a small amount of dedication and a few more trips to the laundry room. But no extra trips to the dumpster! Having experienced both sides of the coin, I feel I can offer a fair (but short! I'll add more later) pros/cons list for those interested.
Disposable:
Pro - Easy. Everyone can do it.
Con - Expensive with no return.
Pro - The "norm." (No one calls you crazy.)
Con - It's the "norm" which means everyone and their neighbor uses disposable diapers. Which means more waste in our landfills. (And yes, being the "norm" can be both a pro and a con!)
Cloth:
Pro - Versatile. More combinations of absorbency to play with.
Con - Bulky. You have to size up on most pants and onesies. (Doesn't seem to affect the sleepers.)
Pro - What fun colors! (I'm just waiting for someone to notice Kellie's cute cloth-covered butt while I change it on the restroom changing table.)
Con - Some are intimidated by the cloth diapering system in general. (I have to attach what to where and make sure it does huh??) There is a definite learning curve.
Pro - Save money in the long run. Especially when you consider that you can trade diapers with other Mommas. Or sell your diapers. Or use them on your second, third, fourth... babies. Think. If you bought enough diapers to last one kid and then had a second child, it would cost you nothing to diaper your second child.
Con - The upfront inital cost can seem daunting. But that's why companies have come up with awesome packages to save you money! You can start your baby on cloth diapers for as little as $52! Other companies offer packages to diaper your child from birth through potty learning for $289.90!
To give you an idea, if you went with the $289 company:
You will break even in 22.02 weeks or 5.07 months.
You will save $53.37 in 6 months.
You will save $282.22 in 10 months.
You will save $396.65 in 1 year.
You will save $739.92 in 1 1/2 years.
I'm very for cloth diapers. I enjoy diaper change time because I never get bored with all the patterns and colors available. It's like every diaper change is a chance to play dress-up and Kellie's butt is my doll. Well, kinda. A little less creepy and you've got it.
So please feel free to offer your experienced pros and cons. I really want to know!
Disposable:
Pro - Easy. Everyone can do it.
Con - Expensive with no return.
Pro - The "norm." (No one calls you crazy.)
Con - It's the "norm" which means everyone and their neighbor uses disposable diapers. Which means more waste in our landfills. (And yes, being the "norm" can be both a pro and a con!)
Cloth:
Pro - Versatile. More combinations of absorbency to play with.
Con - Bulky. You have to size up on most pants and onesies. (Doesn't seem to affect the sleepers.)
Pro - What fun colors! (I'm just waiting for someone to notice Kellie's cute cloth-covered butt while I change it on the restroom changing table.)
Con - Some are intimidated by the cloth diapering system in general. (I have to attach what to where and make sure it does huh??) There is a definite learning curve.
Pro - Save money in the long run. Especially when you consider that you can trade diapers with other Mommas. Or sell your diapers. Or use them on your second, third, fourth... babies. Think. If you bought enough diapers to last one kid and then had a second child, it would cost you nothing to diaper your second child.
Con - The upfront inital cost can seem daunting. But that's why companies have come up with awesome packages to save you money! You can start your baby on cloth diapers for as little as $52! Other companies offer packages to diaper your child from birth through potty learning for $289.90!
To give you an idea, if you went with the $289 company:
You will break even in 22.02 weeks or 5.07 months.
You will save $53.37 in 6 months.
You will save $282.22 in 10 months.
You will save $396.65 in 1 year.
You will save $739.92 in 1 1/2 years.
I'm very for cloth diapers. I enjoy diaper change time because I never get bored with all the patterns and colors available. It's like every diaper change is a chance to play dress-up and Kellie's butt is my doll. Well, kinda. A little less creepy and you've got it.
So please feel free to offer your experienced pros and cons. I really want to know!
posted by CrunchyChick @ 11:46 PM
5 Comments:
At 6:55 AM,
Bagley Briefs said…
Sounds like cloth diapers are a slam dunk! Savings to your pocket book and savings to Mother Earth. A win-win scenario.
The cost savings is amazing, based on your calculations.
Love you!
At 7:21 AM,
Anonymous said…
Kellie's butt is your doll!? Hilarious! But seriously, you know I'm all about the money saving. But duuuude cloth diapers scare me! We'll talk when I have a baby. :)
At 9:51 AM,
Anonymous said…
i honestly love cloth diapering. when we have traveled, we have used disposables (walmart white cloud which isn't dyed or perfumed) and have found it eases our travel. we dont have to worry about doing laundry while we are worrying about visiting those we would like to. i can imagine that you could do it though because you are superhuman!
At 10:29 AM,
Anonymous said…
Why not mail a certain amount of cloth diapers to an address in Utah and just use disposable ones while on the plane. Then mail the diapers back to yourself when your visit is over. That way you don’t have to pack them on your trip.
At 8:23 AM,
Anonymous said…
Back in the OLD days(can you see my toothless gums a-flappin' and me all bent over and decrepet? Well, on SOME days!), disposables were a luxury and cloth was the norm. Even back then, debates went on regarding the damage to the environment. (Along with plastic shopping and grocery bags-)
We used hot water and soap (alot of us used Borax clothes soap) and clorox bleach. We double rinsed, smelled them to see if they still smelled "bleachy" and rinsed again if needed. All in hot water. (Oh and Downy) On a nice day we line dried them. Dozens of diapers flapping in the wind. There weren't eco-friendly soaps mainstreamed till around Phil was born and Seattle is an eco-friendly community to a fault. We have a big store right down by the Center that opened just to save the planet! And in our grocers we carry eco-friendly products right next to Johnson&Johnson type brands.
It's wonderful that families today have another choice that actually is economical. Disposible diapers fall into the old saying of being "Penny wise but Pound foolish...". Not only in the longterm cost of purchasing them, but also in the cost of disposal and maintaining full landfills!
Tell your friends not to be afraid of cloth. With liners and no pins and cutie booty covers they are a walk in the park...or is it a piece of cake!!!
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