And now for a post that’s a bit more “living” than straight up “home improvement” related. When people ask what question we get here at YHL most often, they’re probably expecting it to be about paint or demo. Not so. It is, without a doubt, some iteration of the following:
How are you liking cloth diapers? How many do you have? What brand are they? Did you get the kind with the liners/inserts? Do they work? Does Clara like them? Are they difficult? Do you regret it? Is it annoying to wash them? Do they really get clean? Are there times when you don’t use them and opt for disposables? How long will they last? Are they bulky? What do you do when you’re out running errands? How exactly do you wash them? What colors did you get? How do you store them when they’re dirty? Does Clara have a lot of blowouts with them? Do they give her diaper rash?
Who knew it could be such a hot topic? But we’re happy to address the many (many) questions that we’ve received right here in this surprisingly exhaustive post. So fasten your seat belts and get ready to read the word poop at least once. And by all means, if you’re not a parent and have no interest in hearing about baby bodily functions, skip this post and stay tuned for more house-related fare tomorrow. You have been warned…
After a lot of research and chats with family and friends who went the cloth diaper route, we settled on the Bum Genius Elemental One Size All In Ones – the ones that are organic with snaps instead of velcro. They’re so easy to use and should last us through multiple kiddos. We’ve heard that velcro can wear out after tons of washings but snaps are good for the long haul so that’s why we opted for that feature. As for inserts or liners, the ones that we chose don’t have them. We figured if we were going to have to wash part of the diaper we might as well get all in ones and wash them all (instead of dealing with liners/inserts). It seemed simpler and so far we have found them to be extremely easy. Plus we love that they’re one-size-fits-all, which will save us a ton of money (they adjust with some easy snapping to accommodate Clara as she grows).
The dozen that we purchased should not only last us through Clara’s potty training days but we expect to use the same dipes for future bambino(s) as well. We picked up 12 and have never needed more than that thus far but we wouldn’t mind 18, which seems to be the magic number for many other cloth diapering parents. We might grab six more someday, but we’re definitely getting by with 12 so far. Oh and as for diapering duty, you might be shocked to hear that John changes way more diapers than I do around here. He sweetly decided that if I would be feeding her multiple times a day, he could be the go-to diaper guy, which is such a big help and actually really cute to watch (Clara loves to pee on him from time to time).
And as for washing them, we’ve found that with a baby you’re always doing laundry anyway. So tossing in one big load of diapers every day-and-a-half or so is no trouble at all. Really, we anticipated the switch from disposables to cloth diapers to be waaay harder (Clara didn’t fit into her cloth diapers for the first 9 weeks so we had some time to get used to disposables and were shaking in our boots about making the switch). Thankfully it was really easy and fun. They’re just so darn cute on her, and she seems really comfortable and happy in them too. Speaking of the aesthetic factor, we got three orange ones (clementine), three green ones (grasshopper), three light blue ones (twilight), and three yellow ones (butternut). That way they’re gender neutral for any bambinos down the line.
How has our experience with cloth diapering been so far? In short: we love them, they’re no harder than disposables (the time we spend tossing them in the wash seems equal to the time we used to spend trudging out to the store to buy disposables before Clara could fit into her cloth dipes). Clara seems to love them more than disposables too (she sleeps longer at night, never appears uncomfortable, etc) and she has experienced 95% fewer blowouts and zero diaper rash since trading up from disposables (where those occurrences were a tad more frequent). Oh and the only time we don’t use them is when we travel overnight somewhere, since it’s more of a challenge to wash them while road tripping.
And have we mentioned that they’re hugely cost effective? Especially thanks to our Energy Star front loading washer and dryer (which make the cost of cleaning them negligible and keep our water/energy usage extremely low). We also often line dry our diapers out in the sun to save even more energy and keep them looking mint (more info on that in a minute). For around $265 (for a 12-pack of cloth diapers) we have unlimited dipes on hand for the rest of Clara’s diapering days. Plus we’re not sending tons of disposable diapers to the landfill so that makes us feel good. In retrospect, the only thing we would have done differently is purchase some newborn sized Bum Genius diapers as well. The one-size-fits-all versions are a bit loose on most newborns, so they also make cloth newborn-sized dipes, which we opted to skip since we didn’t know how big Clara would be at birth (the doc estimated she’d be 10lbs (!) but she was only 7lbs 10 oz in the end). So since we skipped the newborn sized cloth diapers, Clara’s first nine weeks were spent in Seventh Generation disposable diapers- and we learned just how expensive the non-reusable diaper route really was.
We’re actually happy we experienced life with disposables so we have some point of comparison. If we hadn’t relied on them at first, we never could have kept track of the money we spent on them (and the money that we would thereby be saving moving forward). After nine weeks of disposable diapering we had spent more than $180. That’s only a bit less than we spent on our entire stock of Bum Genius diapers that will easily last through the end of Clara’s diaper days and hopefully through future babies’ as well! And by our $180 for 9 weeks estimation, we could have easily spent another $3000+ on disposable diapers to last her until she turns two. Crazy, right? We also hope to make the change to cloth wipes sometime soon for even more savings in the future (we’re currently using Seventh Generation ones, which we like a lot).
As for our dirty diaper system, we have a pail for dipes and a smaller pail for wipes in the nursery (we snagged both pails at World Market). We rinse the dirty (read: not just wet) ones with the diaper sprayer that we mentioned a while back (pictured above). Some people say that you don’t need to spray dirty diapers when a baby is exclusively breastfeeding but we have found that a quick spray helps them come out a lot cleaner and less discolored so it’s worth it to us (and for what it’s worth, our friend Katie Bower also had the same experience). What can we say, we’re pro-spray kinda girls. And it only takes a second. It’s kind of fun too (but I won’t get into that as I’m probably one of the weirdest people on the planet since I get an inordinate amount of joy from cloth diapering).
After spraying the dirty ones, we place them in the larger pail, while only-wet ones go right into the same pail without a spray. The dirty wipes go straight into the smaller pail for disposal (both pails are lined with “recycled” plastic bags that we have laying around from places like Target when we mindlessly forget our reusable ones). Note: we hung the pails off of the hard-to-see corner of the dresser with coat hooks and anchors, which keeps them much easier to reach than placing the pails on the floor. Then we added small strips of weatherstripping on the bottom edge of the pails (where they meet the dresser) to keep them from scratching the wood.
We haven’t experienced any issues with odor thanks to the lids (of course we hear that things can get stinkier once we transition to solid foods but we have a few family friends who still use the pail method so we don’t anticipate having a problem as long as we continue to wash our diapers every day and a half or so). Which brings us back to dirty diaper laundering. As recommended by Bum Genius, we prefer to launder them at least every other day. We usually wash 11 of them in one big load every day-and-a-half while Clara wears the remaining 12th diaper- that way we’re not washing just a few at a time.
And as for our detergent, we use Seventh Generation Free & Clear (update: we learned our diapers would last even longer thanks to Charlie’s Soap Laundry Powder so that’s now all that we use) and we just wash them once on the warm heavy duty setting and either machine dry them or lay them out in the sun. We have heard that you can do a cold pre-wash before the warm heavy duty wash, but so far that hasn’t been necessary (possibly because we pre-spray the dirty diapers into the toilet as soon as they come off).
Oh and we learned that occasionally one may come out of the wash with a slight orange tinge (very rarely, this isn’t an everyday thing). The good news is that it’s 100% clean and sanitized, sometimes one every few weeks is just a bit discolored from breastfeeding poop (since the pure organic cotton liners are awesomely absorbent). It’s kind of like how old tupperware containers can get stained from tomato sauce and even if you run them through the dishwasher and they’re totally clean they can still have that tint. Luckily we learned if you lay them out in the sun while they’re still moist from the washer it bleaches them white again- it’s like magic! Seriously, you might want to cross your fingers for that tinge every once in a while just for the fun of seeing the sun undo it in a few hours. We wish Clara was old enough to watch in wonder like we do. She’d probably make this Zoolander face:
Oh and they’re also pretty easy on the go (we only use disposables when we’re traveling somewhere overnight, but for day trips and errands and things we stick to cloth). If we have to do a diaper change while we’re out – at Home Depot for example, haha – we just slip the dirty cloth diaper into a plastic bag and rinse it when we get home. We hope to upgrade to a reusable zippered wet bag for dirty diapers while we’re on the go (we currently just reuse Target bags and stuff that we have laying around) since we’ve heard those work well and contain everything nicely (no smells or leaks).
Now for the bulkiness question. They’re definitely a bit bulkier than disposables but nothing too terrible. In fact we think they’re super cute! Clara can still fit into a few newborn sized outfits with them on and she’s almost three months old! So they can’t be that huge, right?
So there you have it. Over 2,000 words on cloth diapering. Can you tell we’re enthusiastic? Of course this is a completely personal parent-how-you’d-like-to decision, so we’re just sharing our experience when it comes to diapering. And we’re not anti-disposable by any means! Tons of our family and friends opted to go that route because it worked best for their household and we still rely on disposables when we travel. If there’s one thing we’ve learned in three months of parenting it’s that there’s no right way to raise your wee one, and it’s all about sussing out what works best for you and your family. So go forth and diaper your beans and beanettes any way you’d like with a smile on your face. Or am I the only weirdo who grins every time I snap a fresh diaper on those cute little buns?
UPDATE: We switched from diaper tins to wet bags a while back (since they’re super easy to toss into the laundry with our diapers too keep things smelling fresh – here’s that info for ya). As for how cloth diapering is going, we still love and use the same 12 cloth diapers that we purchased over a year ago! That’s it (we haven’t purchased any more or tried any other brands). They still look mint, work well, and don’t smell or anything. Best money we ever spent.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Our cloth diapers are still holding up really well two years later. Check out the update post here.
Tricia says
The diaper snaps are adjustable for growing baby, but they still have smalls, mediums, and larges. What size or sizes did you choose?
YoungHouseLove says
We got the one-size-fits-all ones (they also sell smalls, mediums, and larges, but the type we got does not have sizes as it accommodates all babies except for very small newborns). Sounds like you figured that out. Anyway, we love them! We actually get frustrated when we travel and have to use disposables because we prefer cloth so much more now!
xo,
s
Tricia says
I guess they don’t offer different sizes? the photo they used confused me. So I guess you don’t need to answer that question. Anywho…how do you like your diapers? My midwife told me that cloth diapers can also encourage potty training at an earlier age. One more reason to make the switch!
Michelle Slagle says
Very helpful post! I am new to cloth diapering and loving it! How much of the Charlie’s Soap Laundry Powder do you add to each washing load? When cloth diapering, how do you handle a rash? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Just a tablespoon. It lasts forever! As for diaper rash, Clara nearly never gets it with cloth diapers (she sometimes gets it when we travel and she’s in disposables at which point we use California Baby Calendula Cream). Works great.
xo,
s
Michelle Slagle says
Great! Thanks!
Eva says
I just bought a small stash of bum genius elementals (same ones you got) and I was wondering if you need to “prep” them before the first use.
Do you have to wash them a bunch of times or is once enough?
Also, I use Seventh Generation free and clear, is it safe for the diapers? I plan to switch later but have about half a jug left, so I need to use it up.
I don’t want to mess them up right from the start, especially since my hubby is not really on board with the cloth diapering :(
Our baby isn’t due until Jan, so I really hope he’ll change his mind….
Thanks you guys for an awesome post!!!
YoungHouseLove says
We used Seventh Generation for months and they’re still mint. As for prepping them, we followed those directions to the letter- it’s definitely worth the time to make sure they’re extra absorbent and ready for a nice long life of use!
xo,
s
Maureen says
A friend told me about your blog a few days ago and I’ve enjoyed checking out several of your posts this weekend. Anywho, just want to share an idea for detergent for cloth diapers. We’ve been cloth diapering our little guy for a year (we use Fuzzi Bunz, which I believe are really similar to Bum Genius) and we recently started making our own laundry detergent. It works just as well as Charlie’s Soap (what we used to use) and it’s cheaper. Here’s a link to the recipe: http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Laundry-Detergent/
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds like fun! Thanks for the link!
xo,
s
Melissa says
Ok, so through a somewhat bizarre series of events that I won’t explain here, I did some research on Mennonite culture recently (conservative religious groups, often confused with Amish) and was fascinated by a laundry product many groups use: Soap Nuts! I haven’t tried them out yet, but I thought I’d share the idea and see if anyone has used “the nuts” yet. Try googling “organic soap nuts” for more info!
Melissa says
After re-reading that, I realized I should have perhaps tried a little harder not to sound like a spam-bot! I’ll also share that I love your blog, and like posters above am fascinated by the cloth diapering – even though I’m not a Mom!
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve actually heard amazing things about soap nuts but have yet to try them! They sell them at a lot of eco stores so they definitely appeal to us though!
xo,
s
Lindsay says
hi guys- just a quick note to let you know that I used the BG3.0 organics with my son since he was about 3 months old (used pre-folds before that). I too, started with about 12-14 and they are pretty worn out now (he’s 18 months). My advice is to buy twice as many as you have now so you can rotate them out more (and wash less). My thinking is that they would not last for our second if we didn’t buy more. Specifically, the edged have holes in them. They still work, but it will probably just get worse. I added the new BG w/ inserts since as he got older I needed diaper that would hold more.
And thanks for talking so much about cloth diapering. So many people are doing it now, it’s definitely a good “trend.” Hope more people start doing it!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the tip Lindsay! We’ve always meant to add more to our stash, so although there aren’t any signs of wear after over 6 months, maybe we’ll add a few more in just in case.
xo,
s
Angela says
Hey, I remember reading somewhere on your blog awhile back that you wash your clothes with vinegar, is that right? My first baby is due in 2 weeks and I’m really wanting to get her clothes washed but having a hard time deciding what detergent, etc. to use to make her clothes as clean and chemically free as possible. What is the rationale behind the vinegar? Also, I know you’ve switched to Charlie’s Soap. As with anything, some of the negative reviews I’ve read have made me hesitate following your lead. How has that soap been working for you? Lastly, have you ever tried Norwex laundry detergent? That’s what we use currently and I’m wondering if it’s similar to Charlie’s Soap. Thanks for all your advice! LOVE your blog!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Angela,
We wash all baby clothes and blankets in a cup and a half of vinegar when we get them since it’s supposed to strip them of the chemical dyes and make them as close to organic clothing as possible. We just do that for the first wash, and then we use Charlie’s Soap for the rest of their washes (we figure once that stuff is stripped, there’s no need to keep doing it). We have really loved Charlie’s Soap (no issues at all with it) and have never tried Norwex but have also heard great things about that- you probably can’t lose with either one. Hope it helps! And good luck with your little one on the way.
xo,
s
Angela says
Thank you so much! It just amazes me how you guys take the time to reply to all of us! OK, so just to clarify, do you wash with vinegar and then wash again with detergent that first time around? THANK YOU!
YoungHouseLove says
Just vinegar the first time (doesn’t smell or anything when dry). Then she wears stuff and the next washing after that is detergent. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Rooma says
Hi, do you use bum genius with snaps or aplix/velcro? Any particular reason for choosing whichever?
YoungHouseLove says
Ours have snaps, and we really like them. As we mentioned in the post, we’ve heard that they last a lot longer with all the frequent washings that diapers get (apparently the velcro wears out and needs to be replaced or the diapers no longer can be used). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Stephanie says
Thanks for all this wonderful info. Question on the diaper spraying: Is there a drip issue after the spraying such that you need the pail right next to the toilet post-spray or that you need a waterproof pail to hold the diaper until wash day? I’m just trying to figure out where to locate the diaper “pail” and whether I can get away with using a wet bag (that hangs and may or may not drip depending on the amount of spraying) vs. a pail? Thanks in advance and congratulatiosn on the domino closing!
YoungHouseLove says
Nope! Surprisingly there’s no drip issue. We just holster it back and it’s fine. We now store our diapers in waterproof wet bags though (since they’re wet and a bit drippy, wet bags are easier to throw in the wash and clean than tins were). We have one big bag and one medium bag from Planet Wise that do the trick. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kara says
These are our go-to diapers too and we love them! They are so easy and cute.
Jennifer says
Your blog is great! Thank you. Have you had any problems with a smell yet?
YoungHouseLove says
None at all! And we worried once Clara started solids but it hasn’t been an issue. We did switch to storing things in wet bags (they’re easier to toss into the laundry along with the diapers to keep things smelling fresh). Here’s that info for ya: http://blogs.babycenter.com/life_and_home/diaper-tins-out-wet-bags-in/
xo,
s
brooke schaefer says
We need a cloth diaper update post! How is it going? What things have you learned in the process? Anything you wish you had known before starting? Any word on homemade laundry detergent that is good for cloth?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Brooke,
We haven’t tried our hand at homemade laundry detergent at all because we love the one we upgraded to (Charlie’s) and a little goes a looong way so it’s very inexpensive. We did post about the best method (by far) that we have learned to deal with wet & dirty diapers here. As for how it’s going. We love it! Love it love it. We have learned that the method we outlined in this post works for us and we don’t stray from it at all because it does. The only thing we wish we had known before starting was how easy it would be (we worried it would be really hard or something) and the only real update would be that our bank accounts have thanked us for making the choice (we’re a lot less broke than we thought we’d be about 8 months into having a baby (thanks to being able breastfeed and work those cloth dipes). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lindsay says
thanks for all the helpful information! My son is almost 1 and ive been thinking about switching to cloth diapers until hes potty trained. I cant believe how much i’ve spent on disposable diapers since he was born! one question, do the bum genuis diapers NEED inserts? are inserts optional for heavy wetters/poopers? (lol) or can i just go to babies r us and grab a few packs and i’ll be set? thanks so much!
YoungHouseLove says
Not the ones we got. We have all-in-ones and have never needed to use inserts at all (even with Clara sleeping for 11-12 hour spans at night without diaper changes). I think you can add them if you’d like them, but after almost 8 months of use we haven’t needed a single insert yet. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Heather says
Just wanted to say thank you for posting all this wonderful information up on your blog!!! I’m a new mommy to be and my husband and I have been thinking and talking about cloth diapers, and all that. We’ve been trying to see what the prices for stuff like that is, and actually I’m now looking into making my own cloth diapers… being the “professional seamstress” that I am. I’ve been checking out patterns for cloth diapers, and I’m getting more and more excited!
My hubby actually got kind of excited about the toilet upgrades page! Wonderful stuff I never even knew about!
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw good luck Heather! Have fun with it! Cloth diapers are totally addictive…
xo,
s
Kate says
We ordered some BumGenius dipes too. The same company makes another kind called EconoBum. Do you think they are purposely referencing the phrases “Smart A..” and “Cheap A..”? Haha, I just had to share that after hours of cloth diaper research!! :)
Annette says
Hi there,
I only found your blog recently and I’m still catching up on all (moste of/some) of your old posts. (Love the blog!) I’m not a mum (yet) but I still found the subject really interesting as there will be a time when I need to think about this. Thanks for the comprehensive information.
BTW:I was cloth-diapered as a baby as I reacted allergic to disposable diapers. These modern cloth-diapers look a lot more practical though. And they’re probably a lot better. My mum tells me that I was very eager on potty-training early (which is good) as the cloth diapers wouldn’t soak up the wetness very well and I was often uncomfortable (which is not good).
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Annette,
We’ve heard cloth diapered babies can potty train more easily since they identify the feeling of being wet more than babies who wear disposables (which absorb moisture more thanks to additives) so that’s definitely a perk! As for being uncomfortable, Clara really hasn’t had that issue at all, at least not yet. Thank goodness! Perhaps the way they’re made now (with absorptive thick cotton liners) is somehow less soggy feeling than those thin cloth diapers of yore? Either way we’re very thankful that Clara is loving cloth dipes as much as we are!
xo,
s
Sarah says
Thank you for posting – this has helped us decide to go cloth! youravon.com/sarahkbrown
Sarah says
Thanks so much for this post and the faithful comment replies! I’m expecting my first baby in June and am excited to give cloth diapering a try. It’s not very common among my friends and family, though, so I’m a little nervous. It sounds like you’re loving cloth as much as ever. Are you still pretty happy with BumGenius (no regrets about going with that brand versus another)? Has it been easy for babysitters/family/friends to deal with the diapers if they’re not used to them?
YoungHouseLove says
Love love love our diapers. No regrets. We don’t understand why everyone doesn’t do it! As for others dealing with them, once we show them our system (how they snap on, where dirty diapers go, etc) they usually say the same thing: “I wish I had these with my kids!”
xo,
s
Vickie says
Where did you buy your BGEs. I am in the hunt for some myself and thought you may have some ideas re: getting them on the cheap.
YoungHouseLove says
We got them through a local vendor called Monkey Grass (she specializes in green kid’s stuff) but we have heard they’re really cheap in bulk on cottonbabies.com! He have also seen green kids stores selling them secondhand (most of them are like-new because someone bought them and didn’t end up using them more than once). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
PV says
Congrats on the new house! And thanks for this post. I’m due in June and have decided on these diapers as well, thanks to your recommendation.
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Good luck! We’re still totally loving them. Hope that you do too!
xo,
s
Stephanie says
Hi Petersiks!
I am just about to start using my cloth diapers on our two month old daughter Ella and I am beyond excited! I have the same kind of diapers and am curious about the whole grocery bag thing…Has the printing on the bags ever bled??? I have had spill/leak incidents with groceries in the past and just want to make sure they won’t stain my diapers. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, we never had an issue with it- but we do use wet bags no instead of grocery bags (click the update link at the end of this post for more info). So easy!
xo,
s
Denise says
Hi! I am due with my first baby in April and I am planning on using cloth diapers as well! I was just wondering if you use charlie’s soap on all of your laundry or just with Clara’s diapers and clothes? I was not sure if using other detergent on our laundry would be an issue with the washer. Also how is your new washing machine with the cloth diapers? Thanks for all of the advice!
YoungHouseLove says
We just use Charlie’s for everything. Works really well. And our new washer is the twin of our old front loaders at our first house so it’s great! Highly recommend it.
xo,
s
Stephanie says
I just washed mine for the first time and they are stained…What do you do for stains? I’m in Colorado so the sun/outdoor thing won’t really work for me. I also have the sprayer, how long do you spray them?
YoungHouseLove says
We noticed that the first few weeks they seemed extra absorbent so there were little yellow stains in dirty dipes (which completely disappeared if we put them out in the sun). But even when we didn’t after a few more weeks of using them they went away and seemed to be a lot more stain resistant. Hope it helps! We spray them probably around five seconds. Just to gwet things down and then we toss them into the wet bag. And remember they’re totally clean even if they look a little discolored, and it’ll hopefully fade as you go. Clara’s 9 months old and ours look mint. Seriously not a stain to be seen (and she’s eating solids now, so that’s pretty darn amazing to me). I thought it might get worse, but it’s still great!
xo,
s
Corinne says
How long do they take you to dry now its winter? Or do you tumble dry them?
YoungHouseLove says
We hang dry them inside sometimes (takes about 5-ish hours or so) or we run them through the dryer for about 20 mins if we’re in a pinch. Our energy efficient front loading washer spins things super fast before stopping the wash cycle, so things are a lot less wet than items that are usually fresh out of the washer- which definitely helps a lot when it comes to speeding up drying time!
xo,
s
Morgan says
Hope your cloth diapering is going well! Have you ever tried the biodegradable diaper liners in your cloth diapers? I’m thinking of purchasing a pack to make cloth diapering even easier…
Take care,
Morgan
YoungHouseLove says
We did try those but they seemed to bunch up and make Clara a bit less comfy so after one or two tries we just decided to skip them. Thankfully cloth diapering really is pretty easy without them!
xo,
s
Morgan says
Thank you for the feedback!
YoungHouseLove says
Sure! Good luck!
xo,
s
Kandace says
holy goodness…sorry i’m just now writing on this, but i get so excited about cloth diapers! and i just found your blog recently so i’ve been spending my free time catching up.
we use the exact same diapers on our 16 month old and they’re still going strong. he’s only using about 6 a day though so i sometimes forget to wash every other day. they are such a money saver though!
also if you are at all interested in splurging on a cute little diaper for the beanette you should check out goodmama diapers. they’re hand made by a woman and her family and are super adorable. expensive, but we’ve splurged on 2 just because they are so darn cute :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the suggestion! I’ll definitely check them out. And it’s so great to hear that the exact same dipes are holding up so well for your 16 month old. Wahoo!
xo,
s
Deborah says
Thank you so much for this super informative post!! I have a four month old, and I’m thinking about starting to use cloth diapers. I was wondering how they are working now that Clara is eating “real food” as opposed to just breast milk. Are the diapers still working well for you? Have you had any issues with smell? (I’ve heard that their poop smells alot more when they start eating food.) Have they been able to resist staining or are they beginning to look worn? Thank you so much for your super informative. . . and fun. . . posts!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Still love them! No smell issues at all (thanks to the wetbags we linked to at the bottom of this post). They still look like new. Not kidding. Mint condition diapers, and we’re almost 10 months in!
xo,
s
Jennie says
Hi Sherry and John,
You probably answered this somewhere, but where do you get Charlie’s Soap Powder? Thanks so much!
Also, thanks for all the cloth-diapering encouragement. I also read a number of reviews on BG diapers on the Cotton Babies site and most were very positive. I can’t wait to try them!
YoungHouseLove says
We got it from an organic baby shop in Ithaca (named Momma Goose or something?). It lasts forever. Maybe you can find it online?
xo,
s
Stephanie says
I just ordered some on Amazon last night for around $11 if you’re still looking. Hope this helps!
Jessica M. says
I know I’m a bit late on discovering this post but since I’m staying home now I am looking into CDing, etc. I recently stumbled upon a book called ‘The Diaper Free Baby’ by Christine Gross-Loh and know it sounds nuts but I wanted to see if you had heard about EC (elimination communication). This was a whole new concept for me but once I started reading the book I was hooked.
I put it into practice 2 days ago when I was feeding my 7 month old solids & she showed a poop face & I thought let’s run to the toilet to try it out. I hadn’t seen a full diaper of poop in a while & didn’t know if it was from eating solids (was getting only little solid poops). So I sat on the toilet with her & grunted like the book said & lo & behold she pooped quite a bit straight into the toilet! It made me wonder-how would she have gotten all that out if I hadn’t helped her? Now I couldn’t be a prouder mama and never thought I could get that excited about poop ;D I know you are into the green thing & wanted to let you know about it. I am already getting feedback about potty training at a young age but that’s not what it’s about-it’s reading their cues so they don’t have to sit in soiled diapers. Check it out if you ever get a chance-I immediately thought of you!
Thanks for all the tips & posting as you go!
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve heard of it for sure! It just never seems to work out with Clara since she poops while breastfeeding almost 90% of the time. Which makes it really hard to know when it’s coming and get us both over to the toilet in time! But we’re LOVING cloth diapers, which they also say are good for potty training down the line since it’s easier for a child to feel a wet diaper when they’re cloth (and grow annoyed at that feeling). Good luck with EC!
xo,
s
Ashlee says
Hi John and Sherry! I’ve been a big fan of your blog since I discovered it a few months ago, and I haven’t commented yet until now. I just discovered this post, I wanted to say THANK YOU for showing all your many fans that cloth is a better option. More people need to know about cloth and that it doesn’t have to be the oldschool ones with the rubber pants and sharp diaper pins, and especially need to know that it is EASY and soooo much better for the environment (and saving $$ is pretty awesome too!). You rock!
natalie says
hey john and sherry, i was wondering about the water temperature. does it have to hit a certain number in order to sanitize the dirty diapers, and if so do most washers get this hot? i’ve heard that it can be hard to get odors out of cloth diapers, especially with front loaders since they use less water, and that some people have to run the diapers through three separate times in order to get them clean and not smelly? have you guys experienced this, and either way, what is your washing process? i appreciate it…. i definitely do not want to use disposables, but in order to get my husband to come around on the cloth, i’m going to need as much info in the next few months as possible to convince him. thank you
YoungHouseLove says
I’m not sure about temperatures, but we have been using the same 12 diapers (and washing them just one cycle in the machine after spraying them in the toilet) and we’re happy to report that we have zero odor or staining issues after 10 months! And we have used a front loader the entire time (with Charlie’s Soap, which is great for thoroughly cleaning them without build-up, which can cause odors). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Tracee says
What a great blog. My husband and I are currently trying, and I have been in a kinda research type mode. I have heard of diaper services and how expensive they can be. I am so glad you wrote this it answered all of my potential questions about reuseable diapering. I love all the money that we can potentially save with reuseables. Thank you soo much for sharing!
lilkunta says
Hello. So cloth diapers are cost effective bc a lifetime of 12 of them is $265 vs you spent $180 for jsut 9 weeks. BUt…
What about the cost of washing them? If you were washing them in cold water I know the cost is lower, but you use hot water. I know you have hi efficient front loader, I still have two old maytag top loaders. How does one figure out the saving with top loader vs front loader?
We wash clothes every week, Im always surprised when I hear people was clothes evry other day. What is you water bill like?
Thank You.
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I really think it has to do with the efficiency of your washer but also the cost of water vs. diapers. Our guess would be that diapers are a lot more expensive per month than any amount of water you’d use (even hot water) when washing -sort of like how a gallon of water is always less expensive than milk – but I guess if your washer uses a ton we could be wrong. Our water bill is something like $30 every two months, so that breaks down to $15 a month for all the laundry, dish-washing, drinking water, garden watering, cooking water, showering, etc that we do. Which is definitely cheaper than most people spend on diapers per month (and it includes all that other water usage on top of diaper washing that everyone else uses as well). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Krystina says
Hey you two- do you have any cloth diaper updates? We started with them but had to take a break as they got uber stinky now that we don’t have much sun to sanitize- any helpful hints?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no! Our update is that we still love them and they still look and smell like new. Maybe try Charlie’s Soap if you’re not using that? And we love our front loaders so maybe that’s another reason it’s going so well for us? Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Natalie says
Thank you for this post-it’s super helpful in learning everything about cloth diapers!
Just one question-with the Bum Genius One size diapers, can you put a liner in them? I don’t plan on having a sprayer and I’m thinking they would be easier, especially for when the baby switches to solid food.
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, I think you can always add another liner to bulk them up, but we haven’t done that. Maybe call them just to be sure? Good luck! You might actually find a sprayer easier than adding extra liners though- ours is easy and our diapers still look new 10+ months later!
xo,
s
Courtney says
Hi – I love your post. It gave me & my husband some tips for when our first little one arrives in August. We are pretty certain that we will be using CD, the BumGenius ones that you guys use. We have had several other couples recommend that brand and the all in ones w/snaps.
My questions is – I see that what detergent you guys are using, but what made you decide to use that instead of the manufacturer’s brand? (the bum genius detergent) All the other couples that we have spoke to just purchase the bum genius detergent at a wholesale place – Like BJs or Costco. Is there a difference – or is it a cheaper alternative? I was under the impression that if you don’t use the manufacturer’s brand of detergent, the diapers wont either last as long or clean as well. Also, what made you decide to wash it different than what the product manufacturer recommends (not doing the cold wash in the beginning, then the warm wash).
Sorry if this was already asked – I gave up looking through all the comments on page 3 :)
Thanks :)
YoungHouseLove says
The Bum Genius detergent probably works just as well so definitely go with that if you have access to it. We ran into Charlie’s soap first so we grabbed it and have loved it (10+ months in our diapers still look like new). Hope it helps! Oh and as for skipping the cold prewash, since we have a diaper sprayer that seems to work just as well and save time/water for us. Good luck!
xo,
s
Jessica M. says
I am intrigued. I keep hearing about Charlie’s Soap-did you buy it locally from a store or is it available online only? (Sorry if this was already answered.) Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We found it in an eco baby shop in Ithaca NY while there for my brother’s wedding. I think you can definitely find it in shops, maybe just the green ones. Good luck!
xo,
s
Michelle says
I just bought some of these dipes to add to our stash. My little girl is 7 weeks and just big enough to really fit into these even though they are still a bit oversized :) My question for you, how do you fold the inside cloth for a Clara? I read for little girls to fold the fabric in the middle of the diaper. What have you found successful? Thanks! I’m looking forward to your one year in cloth update (hopefully) soon!
YoungHouseLove says
We do extra fabric folded in the back. We’ve heard boys in the front, girls in the back. Has worked out well in 11 months of use. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
B says
I loved reading this post! Before I read this post I wanted to purchase SoftBums cloth diapers. I have a little one arriving in August! Does anyone have an opinion on which way I should go? SoftBums? or BumGenius? It really got me stuck after reading such a great experience about BumGenius :(
YoungHouseLove says
Anyone else have advice to offer B? We can say that 11 months later we’re still loving our BumGenius dipes. We have the same 12 that we started with (never needed more and they still look mint). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Stephanie says
I just stumbled accross this post; I didn’t start reading your blog until a few months ago. How are the Bumgenius diapers holding up? I’ve been debating making the switch since my 6 mo old was born and your post inspired me to finally go for it. Would love some advice on what diapers you have tried and which aren’t worth the cost. There are way too many options out there!
YoungHouseLove says
We still have and use the same original 12 Bum Genius diapers that we mentioned in this post. Never ordered more or any other brand and they still look mint. Love them!
xo,
s
Tiffany says
Hi J,S,C,&B….
We are cloth diapering (love love love bum-g) and wanted to know if you oxibleach them per the washing instructions they send you. If so, where do you find oxybleach?
THANKS
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, we don’t. We just rinse them right away after changing them if there are solids with the diaper sprayer and just wash them regularly with Charlie’s Soap like we outlined here. Almost a year later they still look and smell mint (the sun bleaching definitely works for us)!
xo,
s
Stephanie says
Question: When washing the CDs how much Charlie’s Soap do you use? Also do you put it directly into the washer or into the dispenser?
YoungHouseLove says
I just use the recommended amount on the container (a teaspoon) and I put it into the dispenser since I have a front loader. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Henna says
Hi! YinThanks referred me to this link on your blog since I’m starting to cloth diaper – great post! :) Thanks for writing it.. it is so helpful to hear other people’s experiences with this sort of thing.
Question for you – for the Charlie’s soap, how much do you use for each load? And do you do the order of: Cold Rinse, Hot Water Wash?
Thanks so much!
Henna says
oh god, i’m sorry, ignore.. i just scrolled up and saw you just answered the same question above!!! didn’t see the last comment. but love your blog anyway :)
Ali says
Hi! Thanks for the post. This helped a lot. What wipes do you use with your BG diapers? Are you using their flannel wipes or something else?
YoungHouseLove says
We use Seventh Generation disposable wipes. We love them and find that it’s not a lot of waste like a big old bag of wet and dirty disposable diapers (and we use coupons to get them affordably)! We planned to switch to cloth wipes but just never have gotten around to it.
xo,
s
Jordan says
Please keep this post up! Our baby is due in August and we desperately need the tips!