Pros and Cons of clothe diapers?

Question

I finally decided to do something I would never do but I am deciding (sort of) to buy some clothe diaper. Totally something I don't want to do but when you have sextuplets on the way I can't be picky.

So anyone who has used them please tell me the pros and cons and what are some good brands!.

Thanks add any additional info

Answer 1

WOW, sextuplets!!  Good luck!  :)

I use Bumgenius 3.0s, which are pricey to start off with compared to prefolds, but they are adjustable from 8-35 lbs, which is so convenient!  It's really up to you.  There are also fitteds, which are cheaper than the 3.0s, and most come in sizes, though I recently ordered an adjustable bamboo one.  

Whichever way you go in cloth you'll spend less than disposables.  Your children won't be exposed to the nasty chemicals as well, and it's better for the environment!  Also, you can resell the diapers on many websites once you're done, and make a bit of the money back.

This site really helped me begin cloth diapering:

http://www.cottonbabies.com/clothdiapers...

Hope I helped some!!  :)

Answer 2

Contact a diaper service. I never used cloth diapers but my sister did, and she loved them. Find a service that washes and delivers- and good luck with sextuplets!  

Answer 3

Pros: You only have to buy them once.

Better for your baby's skin.

Better for the environment.

Cheaper.

Cuter.

You never have to run out to the store for more diapers, you just do a load of laundry.

Cons: More laundry.

I use Fuzzi Bunz from here: http://www.fuzzibunzseconds.net/store/De... ) with inserts from here: http://www.cottonbabies.com/ .

They are very easy and even my husband likes using them!

Answer 4

I would contact the diaper companies.  If you are truely having sextuplets they will give you disposable diapers.  

You will not have time for cloth with that many babies.  Are you crazy?  You would have sooooo much laundry.

Answer 5

i use cloth diapers at home with my son and disposables when we go out and at night because if he goes p**p it gets all rubbed around and it grosses me out..during the day i can change him as soon as i smell it.  I use Kushies Ultra All in Ones because they are easy to use as they work like a regular diaper and you don't have to use pins or covers or anything and they were the cheapest I found..under $50 for a pack of 5.  I haven't had any problems with them the way I use them but some people say they are not good for skinny babies.  read some reviews at www.diapers.com  on all different types of cloth that is where I started and then I went from there

Answer 6

I currently have my second child in cloth diapers.

Pros:

I currently have a second child in cloth diapers. I have found them to be quite easy (contrary to what everyone thinks!)

There are many reasons why you should use cloth diapers on your baby. First and foremost, cloth diapers are the best for your baby's skin. Consider the following statistics:

"In 1955, 100% of babies born in America wore cotton diapers and only 7% of them experienced diaper rash. However, in 1998, with 90% of American babies in disposable diapers, the occurrence of diaper rash increased to 78%."

As you can see, as single-use diapers became more popular, the incidence of diaper rash has been steadily increasing. What can you do to reduce the likelihood that your baby will suffer from diaper rash? Use cloth diapers. There are two reasons why cloth diapers are the better choice for your baby's skin:

1. Unlike single-use diapers, cotton diapers "breathe" to prevent a skin-stressing buildup of heat under the diaper.

2. Unlike single-use diapers, the breath ability of cotton diapers also provides an escape path for the ammonia that's formed after a baby wets. Instead of trapping this potential irritant on or near the skin, cotton helps ammonia evaporate.

You must also consider all of the chemicals that a single-use diaper contains:

"A study published in the September/October issue of the journal Archives of Environmental Health indicates that the emissions given off by some disposable diapers cause "asthma-like conditions" in mice."

Single-use diapers release tolune, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene and other chemicals that are considered bronchial irritants.

Do it for your wallet...

Granted, the initial investment in cloth diapers may seem like a lot of money, but when you consider that this initial investment will last you years, you'll realize that you can save a lot of money by using cloth diapers. Even accounting for the cost of laundering the diapers yourself, cloth diapers are still ultimately the most economical choice.

The cost of cloth diapers will vary according to the type of system you decide to go with (prefolds & wraps, all-in-ones, etc, one-size). Various studies indicate that even with the cost of laundering included, cloth diapers will save you upwards of $1,500 compared to disposable diapers over a 2.5 year period:

    * Home-laundered $550 to $950

    * Diaper service $1,500 to $2,000

    * Disposable diapers $1,750 to $2,400

Furthermore, well-made, well-cared for cloth diapers can be used with multiple children, and you save even more money! But what about your time, isn’t that worth money too? Of course it is, but when you consider using single-use diapers to 'save time', don't forget to factor in the extra 1,200 diaper changes you'll have to do --- those take time too!

Do it for you...

Another advantage of cloth diapers is the fact that babies will become aware of their bodily functions at an earlier age --- they will know when they wet themselves. This awareness leads to earlier potty training in cloth-diapered babies. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal:

"...babies who wear single-use diapers do not potty train until they are approximately 36-42 months (on average). On the other hand, babies who wear cloth diapers are potty trained a full year earlier."

What a big difference! Wouldn't it be nice to change 1,200 fewer diapers than you had to?

Do it for the environment

It is really ironic that society has labelled single-use diapers 'disposable.' In fact, they are anything but. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong! Diaper manufacturers claim their products are biodegradable, but in truth, they are not. The paper in the diapers must be exposed to air and sun to decompose. Thirty percent of a disposable diaper is plastic and is not compostable. Even if the rest of the diaper could be composted, waste processing plants could only handle 400 of the 10,000 tons of diapers tossed in landfills EACH DAY, assuming they didn't have to process any other compostable garbage.

Not only are single-use diapers themselves harmful to the environment, but their contents are also harmful. Most single-use diapers ultimately end up in landfills, creating an immediate public health hazard. Leachate containing viruses from human f***s can leak into the ground and pollute underground water supplies. In addition to the potential of groundwater contamination, air-borne viruses carried by flies and other insects contribute to an unhealthy and unsanitary situation.

Finally, you must also consider all of the resources and energy that go into making single-use diapers. 3.4 billion gallons of oil and over 250,000 trees a year go into manufacturing single-use diapers.



Cons:

Can be very pricey if you are planning on using them in conjunctions with disposable. Fuzzi bunz- a very popular brand are about $17 a diaper!!

You will be doing quite a bit of laundry, plus the extra time spent shaking out the diapers.

I really think you would need help to do it all!

   Check with shops that sell cloth diapers--they usually have packages to let you try different system, and see if you like them. They are usually pretty helpful.

Answer 7

honestly i lovee them but i am really bad with laundry- i do always use them when my son has a rash because they are much nicer on the skin and they don't have all those chemicals in them

http://www.clothdiaper.com/