Why We Cloth Diaper

Why We Use Cloth Diapers

Long before I got pregnant, my husband expressed an interest in cloth diapers. I had the typical initial reaction that many people have and instantly turned up my nose in response to visions of stinky pails, safety pins and poop everywhere. About mid-way through my pregnancy, the topic of cloth diapers came up again and I started researching, researching, researching.

I quickly found a whole new world out there related to cloth diapering. I read about numerous diaper styles and brands that provide all of the ease of disposables only they’re reusable, soft and cloth! I read about numerous cloth diapering families, studies comparing the impact of disposables vs. cloth on the environment, and read a ton of information on the various styles and brands. What I didn’t find in all of that research was a local resource. I was left to read, re-read and order hoping I made the right choice in preparation for our little munchkin. (Orlando-area parents, please visit our Central Florida Families page for local support and consultations.)

All of the information sounded great; these new cloth diapers would pull moisture away from baby’s skin, they would be easy to wash, super soft and yet still be waterproof to hold the big messes. We got our first six-pack and they looked like they’d work plus they were so cute. All we had to do now was wait for our baby to come and we could test them out. Both my husband and I practiced diapering a stuffed bear so we’d be somewhat familiar with stuffing and snapping. I must admit though I was still a bit skeptical.

Upon the arrival of our son, we discovered our size small cloth diapers were too big. He wore preemie disposables for the first month and when he was finally big enough for cloth we transitioned over. Diapering his tiny little body in something so soft and comfy really was (and is) a joy. My feelings about providing a cloth option for my son turned diaper changes into something to enjoy.

Not only did I feel great using cloth but they actually delivered on all the promises that I read about! They contained messes wonderfully (no more poop up the back or blowouts like we had in disposables). They were super soft and my son never experienced diaper rash.

We quickly increased our diaper stash so we were out of disposables completely. As our son's body has changed, we’ve tried different brands, got new prints, and have had a great time learning about this wonderful world of cloth diapers. We’ve met a lot of great families with similar experiences and it has been so fun to compare notes. When we decided to share all we’ve learned with others and turn our passion into a business, our testing increased and we discovered even more brands that we love (and some we don’t). Diapering is still a joy and finding a print to match an outfit or now seeing our son pick which diaper he wants to wear is fun for the whole family.

So my husband was right, I’m no longer a skeptic and I love cloth diapers so much that I’ve turned it into a business.

Why We Chose POCKET Diapers
I chose pockets because everything I read about them sounded wonderful – and it all turned out to be true! They are super soft, easy to use, don’t leak, they’re easy on baby’s skin and they wash well. Personally, we didn’t venture into prefolds or fitteds with covers because it just seemed like too many steps. We considered AIO’s but had always heard that they took a long time to dry (after washing). We've recently tested several AIOs but have found they do not have the same stay dry capability that pockets do. This caused irritation for our son.

Diaper Rash
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that diaper rash is caused by any of the following: too much moisture, chafing or rubbing, prolonged contact of the skin with urine, feces or both, yeast or bacterial infection or allergic reaction to diaper material.

They further state, “When skin stays wet for too long, the layers that protect it start to break down. When wet skin is rubbed, it also damages more easily. Moisture from a soiled diaper can harm your baby’s skin and make it more prone to chafing. When this happens, diaper rash may develop.” With pocket diapers, the fleece layer remains dry against the skin and the moisture is pulled through the fleece, into the insert and away from baby’s skin.

This system really works to keep moisture away from baby’s skin! When I first began using pocket diapers, I would check the inner layer of fleece to see if my son needed to be changed. Often times the fleece would feel dry even after a long time and, as I soon discovered, even after he had urinated. This was because the moisture went through the fleece and into the insert. Now I check the insert (at the upper edge) to see if it is damp and he needs changing.

Environmental Impact of Using Disposables
Quick facts:
~ Approximately 3.9 million babies are born every year in the U.S.
~ More than 90% of U.S. households use disposable diapers.
~ Each child will average a ton of soiled diapers before potty training.
~ Approximately 250,000 trees are used annually to meet the demand for disposable diapers.
~ According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 3.3 million tons of disposable diapers (and the untreated human waste they contain) were deposited in landfills in 2000 – this is the equivalent of over 20 billion diapers.
~ It can take up to 500 years for a single diaper to decompose.

Source: Knowaste, a private company dedicated to the development of innovative environmental solutions to the world’s difficult waste issues.

Cost Savings
For us the cost savings was the least of the factors when deciding to use cloth diapers. Our son`s comfort and the environmental impact were of the greatest concern for us. The cost savings of using the same stash of pocket diapers for multiple children is obvious. In the future, we hope to have further details to compare cloth vs. disposables over the first two years of diapering.