Cloth Diapering

Going from a double income family of 2 to a single income family of 4 is going to be tough.  So, in addition to my "Stay At Home Mom" title I have officially taken on the title of "Penny Pincher" as well.  While a lot people choose to cloth diaper because of environmental reasons I will openly admit that my reasons are entirely monetary.  Sure, it happens to be awesome that I'll end up helping the environment by keeping a few thousand diapers out of landfills, but the "greenness" of my choice is not my driving force.

A quick google search tells me that diapering an infant can cost around $80 per month.  Considering I'm having twins, that amount would obviously double, totaling $160 per month.  Then you take into account how long it will take your children to potty train, usually they say 3 years is the average.  Now we're talking nearly $6,000 to diaper twins until potty training.  My purse strings are recoiling!

I started researching cloth diapering about 3 months ago, and so far everything I know is only theoretical because the girls aren't here, yet!  There are a LOT of options these days in terms of cloth diapering.  I'm still learning most of them, but I can explain the three major types that I've figured out; flats, pre-folds and hybrids.  I will preface by saying that in no way am I an expert, this is just what I have found from my research!

Flats:  The most traditional form of cloth diapering, it's a large piece of absorbent material (usually cotton or hemp) that has to be folded properly and then secured on the baby.  This type of diapering requires the flats, fasteners (safety pins or Snappi's), and diaper covers.  Flats tend to run about $1 per flat and covers can range from $9 to $15 per cover.

Pre-folds:  Absorbent materials (like hemp or cotton) that are pre-folded and sewn so there are several layers of absorbent material in the middle.  This type of diapering also requires fasteners and diaper covers.  Pre-folds range in price, depending on the material, from $1.50 to $3 per pre-fold.  Covers can be used over and over as long as it's not dirty.

Hybrid: These are the most convenient forms of cloth diapering.  There are several options with hybrid diapers; All-in-Ones, All-in-Twos and pocket diapers.  Hybrid diapers combine the absorbent layers with the cover so there are no extra pieces required.  As babies get older a soaker (an additional absorbent layer) can be added for heavy wetters or for overnight use.  Hybrid diapers are the most expensive option ranging from $17 to $26 per diaper.

Now that you have a little background on cloth diapering I'm going to share my plan of action for cloth diapering the twins.  I have chosen to start out using pre-folds and covers.  Not only is it a nice compromise between the most expensive and the least expensive options, I feel it's going to give me the most bang for my buck in the long run.  I have found a lot of reviewers of hybrid diapers claim they had to use disposables until their babies were big enough to fit into the hybrids; one reviewer actually said she spend $150 on disposables until her baby was big enough!  I have spent $200 on pre-folds and covers which will enable me to diaper them from the day they come home until their little butts are too big for the pre-folds.  Now here's how my pre-fold plan will help me in the long run: As the girls get bigger and I transition into hybrid diapers I'll be able to put my already-purchased-and-used pre-folds to use again as a soaker!

Now on to the pictures, I decided to take a few pictures showing exactly how prefolds/covers will work, just to clarify for anyone who was curious.

 This is my "stash" The pre-folds are a newborn size, I only got 12 because I know they'll be outgrown quickly ($1.50 ea).  I'm waiting on the 4-dozen pre-folds I bought from another company in a small size that will last longer than the newborn size.  The white covers with pink trim are Econobum OS (one size) covers ($9 ea), the pink covers with white trim are Thirsties size 1 ($13 ea), and the all pink covers are Flips ($14 ea, but on sale, buy two get one free).  Right above the Econobum covers are three packs of Snappi's, which are the fasteners ($15 for 6)

 This is what is needed per diaper change: one pre-fold, one Snappi and one cover (which can be re-used if it's not soiled).

 There are LOTS of different ways to put on a pre-fold, so far this is the easiest.  The bottom portion gets folded into thirds while the top stays fanned out, the "baby" is placed in the center of the diaper.

 Then, just like any other diaper, the center portion comes up through the legs and the flaps on the backside are brought around to the front.

 The Snappi fastens everything in to place, and keeps it there with little teeth (like the metal clamps on an Ace bandage).

 The last step is to cover with the water-proof diaper cover, which just snaps on over the diaper.

Viola, a perfectly diapered "baby"!

Once I get some hybrid diapers in the mail I'll update again to show how those work.  For the time being, though, I'm going to be sticking to pre-folds and covers.  A lot of moms LOVE pre-folds and rarely complain about blow-outs because the diaper is custom folded to the baby.

A few other notes,

Prep: All cloth diapers need to be "prepped" before using.  For pre-folds this means 4-5 cycles in the laundry on the hot setting.  Prepping the diapers does a few things, makes sure they're clean for the baby (everything is supposed to be washed before you put it on a baby, though) and strips the fabric of natural oils that are still in the cotton.  A few cycles in hot water ensures the diapers are the most absorbent they can be.

Washing: Obviously cloth diapers have to be washed.  With the stash I have, I'm hoping to only have to do a cycle of diapers every other day.  This tends to be the only place where people have problems, trying to get the right wash routine which results in clean, stain-free and stink-free diapers every time.  There are a lot of variables here, which is why it's really important to stay flexible and not get frustrated.  My plan for laundry is rinsing poopy diapers before they go in the laundry bag, washing a hot cycle with Tide and then an extra rinse cycle to make sure nothing is left behind.  I'm planning to hang-dry the covers (which helps them last longer) and dry the pre-folds in the dryer.

Rash creams/ointments:  Most rash creams and ointments, like Desitin and Butt Paste, are made with really thick and heavy ingredients designed to create a barrier between the wetness in the diaper and the baby's skin.  These types of creams and ointments can NOT be used to cloth diapering because they reduce the absorbency of the cloth (and a non-absorbent diaper is NOT good!).  There are all sorts of DIY creams that are safe to use with cloth diapers, so more research will be done if and when a rash rears it's ugly head.

Wipes:  Initially I was going to use disposable wipes, however, I've realized if I'm already doing the work for the diapers, wipes aren't much of a stretch.  I'm going to be using some baby washcloths from Walmart and a spray bottle with a homemade wipe solution.  Wipe solutions vary and seem to be based on personal preference.  When it's time to clean up a mess, spray the solution on to the wipe, clean it up and then toss the wipe into the laundry bag.

I understand how crazy this sounds to some people, but it's the route I've chosen for numerous reasons. Yes, I know it's going to be a lot of work (on top of having newborn twins which is already going to be a lot of work).  The thing is, I have no idea what it means to have a newborn, let alone two... which means I have no idea what it means to diaper a newborn, let alone two.  Just like any other new parents (one baby or otherwise) I'm going to have to change my expectations and struggle until I get my routine down.  I've just chosen a routine that differs from a lot of people.