Good poop karma

We cloth diaper.

I know, I know.  There is still a big debate out there whether it makes any sense, environmentally speaking. All the washing, the water, the detergents... yes. But the production of the disposables!

I guess you have to live with your decisions.  In any case, our reasoning goes thusly:  I don't think Armenia produces more trash than other countries - I'll say it's actually less. The age of superduper packaging hasn't quite made it here yet.  But the trash is much more evident than in the US or in Germany because, well, it's just lying around in the streets. I can't stand the thought of encountering one of Jacob's diapers in there one day. We try to live sensibly and I do not want to leave a pile of plastic diapers behind when we leave this country.  One thing that always appalls me is when I see how much more trash we create whenever we do use disposables.  The sheer amount is disgusting, and considering that it takes about 500 years for a disposable diaper to break down... well, for me, there just isn't much of a choice. And once that first step was done, I was sold.

Speaking of sold - there is also the cost factor.  Cloth diapers are expensive but think about how many times you reuse them!  Disposables are much more expensive in the long run, especially here in Armenia where they easily cost $30 and more for a box of 48.  Also, sometimes there just aren't any available, or only the wrong sizes, and then you have to run around...   So, for us, it makes a lot of sense.

(Yes, I am trying to convince you.  Now go and read the rest.)

We tried out quite a few different diaper styles.  And boy, are there a lot of styles!  From your simple "Chinese prefold", to complicated snap-in systems and "All In Ones" (AIO) - the multitude is staggering and confusing.  You need help! Which is the point where, as a seasoned Internet addict,  you go and hang around a diapering board for a while.  Where your eyes will glaze over.  Not only does cloth diapering seem to come with all sorts of other attitudes (like, nursing your 12yo, and I'm only being a little bit facetious here) but it also seems to come along with rudeness.  Whenever you don't subscribe to the entire host of, um, attitudes, you are one bad mommy.

Anyway.  We experimented a lot.  Every baby is different - this platitude has never been more true than when it comes to diapering. They also grow and then their needs change, so to speak.  We started out with a fitted diaper-and-cover system which Jacob outgrew very quickly (he's a big kid).  We tried some other diapers and had lots of leakage, and finally we ended up with the Fuzzy Bunz pocket diapers with Imse Vimse flushable diaper liners made of rice paper -- which has got to be the single most useful invention in the last ten years. For poop, I mean. We stuff the diapers with microfleece inserts (Jacob, um, is a heavy wetter).  For the night, he gets an additional hemp liner and a Stacinator fleece diaper cover. (I know. Don't you just love those names?)

I have to say, as yucky as it can be from time to time (dealing with poop on an intimate basis is not funny), I found there to be other advantages than the easing of my environmental and pecuniary concerns.  Jacob is two and has started using the potty.  Sometimes with success, sometimes without - but I appreciate the effort.  He also tells me when he's peed or pooped (OK, sometimes I have to ask him) and he knows the difference and he pats his front or back when he says "yes!". The only times he's had diaper rash was when he had those horrible diarrhea attacks and I thought he would do better in disposable as they wick away the moisture from the skin.  Well, wrong!  Somehow, they also induce diaper rash in him.  He never gets rashes in cloth diapers.

So, I'm happy. I like the cute designs and find that a baby in cloth diapers is just adorable.

[Have I convinced you?  Great!  I highly recommend Green Mountain Diapers - a site chock full of valuable and attitude-free advice and information, plus a store with great prices and wonderful service. Yes, I like Vermont.  So sue me.]

Our problem with cloth diapering is that we travel a lot.  On our trips, we usually  resorted to disposables.  I know, I know.  If I were really determined, I'd find a way?  Well.  Our trips are long.  We stay at other people's places and they might not find it so funny to have poopy diapers in their washing machines. We also sometimes don't have access to washing machines for long stretches of times -- and handwashing, well, it doesn't really work for poopy diapers.  Not to my satisfaction, anyway. Yes, I'm being defensive because I always felt bad for not being, you know, strong enough.

But now I think I hit the jackpot. Via Cool Mom Picks, which is my favorite site at the moment, I found gDiapers. Flushable inserts. You can even compost the wet ones! The world has been waiting for this.  I know I have. I mean, how cool is that!  They even thought of putting the velcroes in the back where the kids can't easily tear them open (because they will because they can).  I love it when I find a product that gives you instant good karma and is practical at the same time.

I ordered the diapers to be waiting for us when we arrive, and I got enough of them to last us for a few trips in the future.  Oh, the bliss.

So, those of you who think cloth diapers are yuck?  No more excuses.  None. Now go and get your instant karma.

Comments

[Kinuk]

We thought about cloth nappies before A was born, but started out with disposables. I like the disposables and, as much as I'd love to switch, I've become too lazy and too dependent on them. I admire your perseverance to keep going with cloth! Maybe once A stops wetting a billion nappies a day we'll change. And I really love the look of those gDiapers!

Friends of mine in the UK use ecological disposables, which they buy online. The nappies are totally bio-degradable. They come from Norway or Sweden and that's one way to get rid of the guilt. Sadly, I can't get them here in Poland.

[karoline]

Claudia,
Your blog on cloth versus disposable diapers took me back to 30+ years ago. When our daughter was born,I stocked up pre folded +stitched cloth diapers and I used them all the time. Our washer ran constantly and since we lived in Fla,I hung them outside to dry. I used disposable ones once in a while. I also used cloth when our son was born. My husband and I got very deft at pinning this huge cloth diaper on our premie 4.5 lb son.

When we took a long car trip, I did use disposable diapers.