visiting my parents for a month this summer - what to do?

[gilamama]

So my ds will be abt 7 months this summer when we will be visiting my parents. I am not sure what to do abt diapers. at home i use trifolded prefolds and fleece covers almost exclusively ( i have 2 fitteds abt per size.) now we are in infantsize pfs.

i am not sure what to do when we visit this summer. there are several issues

1) someone has to go down to the laundry room 3 times to wash the diapers put in the load, put it in the drier and take it out. i wont have energy i am sure. (oh... it is an apt building) but we are a family of 4 now, doing clothes laundry every 2 days will probly be neccesary anyway. oops i can count really.. we are a family of 5.

2) the cost of the extra laundry machine and drier load

3) where to keep the dirty diapers. the 5 of us sleep in one bedroom all summer. it is crowded. there isn't really room in the bathroom for a laundry pail... maybe under the sink buyt there is a trash there so i am not sure.


4) it is an overseas flight. the diapers will take up extra room in the luggage.

5) how will buying 2days worth of dipes and covers instead of bringing mine and washing them be compared to the price of using sposies for a month? if it is cheaper then i would probly do it.

what do you girls think? i just feel bad making everyone else to the laundry work so *I* can use cloth diapers. YK?

[Michigan Mama]

When we fly to see my inlaws, usually only a week or two, I always just use sposies. Like you, it's a pain to wash, and takes up too much space in the luggage.

I love my cloth, but when we travel for a long period, the sposies just work out better for us. I wouldn't feel bad about it.

I'm sure you can make it work if you want to, just depends if you want to!!! : )

[Vancouver Mommy]

Normall when staying with family I use cloth, but in your case it seems like a real hassle. Having to use a communal laundry facility will be difficult. Also you will have enough to pack without worrying about filling half a suitcase with diapering supplies.

I had a recent experience that was very expensive. We were travelling American Airlines to Phoenix, which apparently charges for all luggage. Since our suitcase was five pounds over the weight limit we paid a whopping $65 to check one bag. If we hadn't brought the dipes, we would have only paid $15. The joys of modern air travel.

[brietta]

I would probably just us disposables if I were you.

[Ruthla]

If you were driving down to your family, and they had their own washer and dryer, I could see bringing your own CDs. Although, honestly, I had that exact situation when my daughters were babies and I still didn't bother with cloth while travelling- I only had so much energy, and figured I was still doing a great thing for the Earth by using cloth when we were home or only going on day trips.

It's probably going to cost you less money to use disposables for the month, when you factor in both laundry and luggage costs. Even ONE of those costs might make sposies cheaper.

Since you'll be there a whole month, maybe see if there's a diaper service available in the area you'll be staying? Then you'll only have to pack your diaper covers, which doesn't take up too much space (and then I'd probably hand wash them when they get soiled, rather than lugging them to the washing machines.)

[sagemomma]

we went to florida this past summer for vacation we used cloth exclusively . maybe you could get some g-diapers and a few packs of inserts to suppliment your stash and cut down on laundry .
we did laundry at my dads, i bought a cheap nylon laundry bag fromthe dollar store and hung that on the door in the bathroom which is where we stored diapers.
and it's not inconveniencing everyone so "you" can use cloth. as i see it that is just how it is, you use cloth diapers, it's a non issue and just part of the family schedule. i don't ever think of it as an inconvenience, it the right thing and the best thing and your baby deserves the best even if you'r enot at home. i'm sure you will get it down and be able to figure out a schedule that will work for you guys.

[sagemomma]

you could always use it as an excuse to buy some more diapers and buy some have them shipped to the address you're going to and then mail them home...thats what i'd do

[rightkindofme]

I've brought cloth on a week long trip out of state and a two week trip out of the country. I'm kind of devoted.

If you don't think you are up for it then do whatever you think you will be able to handle best.

[Magali]

I would buy sposies.

[hrsmom]

I would find out if there is a weight limit and charge for the checked luggage. I took an airplane trip when my dd was 7 months old (only for a long weekend!) and at the last minute I decided on sposies. It would have cost I think an extra $75.00 round trip for me to have packed her diapers. I would take sposies on a one month family visit like you're describing. You could also do a combination of both. I like the nature baby care ones from Target, they're not too horrible!!

[gilamama]

wow, i am so surprised that i got so many responses suggesting i use sposies. the thing is i really dont like sposies. i hate putting them next to my babies bodies. (the environment thing bothers me less). so if we go out for the day or away for the weekend I use sposies, but for a whole month to put my baby in sposies, i feel so bad for him. they are so rough and ugly and they have that weird smell.

Ho many dipes and covers do you think i would need for 2 days and 2 nights? (for a 7ish month old?) I really think we'll be doing clothing laundry that often anyway so it is not such a hassle. but i would not bring mine i dont think. i would buy new from there. i will look into the diaper service idea thanks.

[jrabbit]

if you opt for disp. diapers, you should get flushable liners - they will help with the 'next to the skin' issue. I personally like the kind from tinytush.com better than bummis brand. plus, by using these, you will not be contributing poop to the trash can

i really like the idea of looking for a diaper service or using g-diapers.

it's a tough decision, i agree. i haven't used disp on my babies at all - and we travel a lot and use public washing machines when necessary. the flushable liners would help with cloth diapers, too, since you could keep the diapers 'less messy' with them.

ETA: with flushables, beware of using them in public septic systems - if you do flush, leave it soaking in the toilet for as long as possible first

--janis