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I'm all about being resourceful & living a nice, simple, self-sustaining life, but I'll be the first to say that it isn't always easy. It takes extra effort & some hard work...but it's good for us & it'sa process. You don't just flip a switch & become self-sufficient overnight. It takes time & a willingness to learn, but it is so rewarding to make & do things yourself!
One of my biggest struggles, personally, has been with cloth diapering. I really want to do it. I know it's better, not only for the environment, but for my wallet too. It just all seems so overwhelming to me! I've bought expensive diapers to try & it didn't work out so well, so now I've decided I'm going to make them myself. The problem is...when am I going to get around to doing it? Eventually, I'm sure! I just need to set out some time for it.
Anyway, today, I want to share an interview with you from Autumn Beck of All About Cloth Diapers. Autumn is a SAHM to 5 children & she has a website, well, all about cloth diapers. She's tried many brands, she has reviews on cloth diaper products, & she has a wealth of information for newbies & seasoned cloth diaperers alike.
Today, Autumn is going to be answering a few of my questions about why you should use cloth diapers, where to begin learning how to do it, & what's the cheapest way to go.
If someone were struggling with the decision to cloth diaper or not, what would your best arguments to support cloth diapering be?
When deciding if cloth diapers are best for your family you need to ask yourself a few questions.
Do you need to save money and realize that with disposable diapers you are literally throwing away thousands of dollars?
Does the thought of millions upon millions of feces filled disposable diapers wrapped in a plastic bag and tossed in a landfill never to decompose (okay so maybe in 500 years) drive you crazy?
Have you seen tiny gel crystals on your child’s private parts and had your blood boil at the realization that you put this poison on your baby?
If any of these questions struck a nerve with you then I’d say the decision has been made. Now you need to act on that conviction, discover the facts and decide what cloth diapers are best for your family.
For more information on reasons why a family would choose to cloth diaper check out these articles: Why Choose Cloth Diapers?
Where would you direct a cloth diaper newbie to that would give them a thorough knowledge all about cloth diapering?
Almost 5 years ago I completed the Ultimate Guide to Cloth Diapers. It is an in-depth, specific look into everything one needs to know about cloth diapers.
In addition, I have written extensively to the new cloth diaper family about where and how to begin. The most recent article is titled 5 Simple Steps to Begin Cloth Diapering.
I’ve also compiled a sampling of articles on one page called New To Cloth Diapers? These links will help you to determine what system is best for you and really get you acquainted with what is out there.
Now we all know that there are MANY different types of cloth diapers out there, so in your opinion, from start to finish, what's the cheapest to use & the what's the easiest to use?
Yes, the options are numerous and very overwhelming. Cheapest option…hmm, well most would say prefolds are the cheapest. And yes, this is true but I can’t just recommend something based on price.
There’s more to a diaper than the cost.
When you combine cost with ease of use I’d have to go with Kawaii Baby pocket diapers. They are made in China and cost $10-$14 for a one-sized diaper. This is a very good price for a well made, one-sized, super fitting, versatile cloth diaper.
One thing that families don’t realize when looking into cloth diapers is that many systems and brands don’t work for nighttime. A pocket diaper is a great system to use because you can add as little or as much absorbency as your little one needs.
Prefolds, while cheap, can be bulky and don’t offer a stay dry feel against baby’s skin. This is a problem for many little ones like my baby Camden. He hates feeling any wetness and gets a rash. This can be remedied by making fleece liners out of an unused blanket if you needed to make prefolds work.
Also, buying used off Craigslist, Diaperswappers, Ebay or local parenting groups is a great way to save money. Of course, be aware of scammers and check feedback ;)
xo, Meagan
BTW...do you cloth diaper? How did you get started? Let me know in the comments below!
I saw one in a baby store realized they were way different than I had thought and super cute. Thought I'd look into it and 6 months later it's all we use. Unless we travel out of the country :( but what little we do helps the environment that much for my baby!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment & I totally agree with you. It just takes one step at a time to make a difference. Thanks for sharing how you got started!
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