G diapers??

[rclaz]

Anyone tried GDiapers? I'm interested in trying cloth with baby #2. DH and I are compromising with a throw out interior. I understand that the cover will have to probably be cleaned with every wash too. But, thought i"d check to see what others think of it? One concern I have with cloth is that we live in a condo complex. Our washer and dryer is out side, down the length of the building, down a short flight of stairs and into the basement. There are 3 washers and 3 dryers for the whole building. So, the point is that I don't have easy access to the W/Ds. How much trouble will that give me?

[nursingmom]

I tried the G diapers. It is very covenient in the fact that you just have to flush away. Howeve, I ended up clogging my toilet three times. I believe I was in a hurry and did not properly rip and dispose the flushable inserts. You must follow the instruction (watch the video on the g diapers website) carefully... or else it'll clog. And when it does clog, you need to get a snake, not just plunger, to unclogg the toilet. The plunger will not work.

It's a great concept... but I ended up giving up aftr 3 clogged toilet. I'm always in too much of a hurry.

[Ifluffedthree]

they contain the same toxins and gels as in a disposable, clog the plumbing and are very pricey in comparison to covers and prefolds.

for me, i would not consider them.

[Rowansmama]

I tried them for about two weeks and then sold them. They leaked terribly, the inserts were expensive, and they're not the environmental saviour they claim to be. The inserts come in plastic packaging and contain the same gel that's in disposables. I know some people use the covers with a prefold...but then you're still washing diapers. Honestly I'd get a pocket diaper or AIO system...just as easy to use as disposables.

[Talula Fairie]

I tried and liked them. I used them during a time when the pay laundry at my apt complex was seriously more expensive than actually buying diapers (we were literally spending $80 a month just washing our CLOTHES!).

I never clogged my toilet with them. They did not leak on me, not once, but I have heard from parents with younger babies that they did leak on them. I really liked that you can flush the diaper (and thus, the stink) down the toilet, that was nice. It was kind of a pain/gross to rinse the liners though, but not any more gross than using cloth and rinsing your diaper before you wash it.

They do not use the same gel as disposables, disposables (supposedly) use a synthetic version and the g diaper version, while still being the scary gel, is supposedly made from tree pulp or something like that. Their environmental factor is up for debate. I've seen that one go round and round. I think cloth is probably better for the environment, but g diapers are not as bad as many make them out to be. For a disposable product they are quite good.

The major drawback is that they're very expensive (the most expensive disposable you can possibly buy) and they didn't fit my average sized toddlers very well, eventually both of my kids grew out of them. The large size is not very large and it's pretty narrow in the hips.

In an apartment situation, g diapers are a good choice ime. As far as money goes, the cost of washing is probably close to equal the price of normal disposables, you may be spending a bit more to get g diapers. I'd be wary about using them on a newborn though, because of the leak factor. If you really want to do cloth, you can buy one of those sink washers and hang to dry (flats or prefolds are best for this), or just get a really cheap stash so you're not out too much $$ and suck it up to wash in the washers. I've done cloth when my laundry access was like yours (different complex than the expensive one) and while I wasn't saving any money, it really wasn't that inconvenient. You'll be doing laundry every few days anyway because new babies pee/spit up/poop on everything.

[sugareemoma]

I love my g-diapers. I got a few starter packs at my babyshower. I don't use the 'inserts' unless I am traveling. Inbstead I use prefolds. The gpants never leak poop and have only leaked pee if I don't have the cloth tucked in 100%. I think gdiapers are a great alternative to expensive diaper covers. Fred Meyer had the starter kits on sale for $20 one time and that was 2 covers with 4 washable liners. I think it came with 10 inserts but I don't use them so I'm not sure.

[rclaz]

Wow, LOTS to think about! Thanks everyone for our input, I really appreciate it!!

[Talula Fairie]

Really, if you can, do cloth. It's not much harder and it's generally a heck of a lot cheaper, plus healthier and better for the environment. BUT, if you're going to do sposies anyway, g diapers are not that bad of a choice.

And it doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. You can use sposies for outings or for when you're inbetween laundry loads.

[skolbut]

We tried gdiapers as an alternative to disposables but hate them with the liners (which we do use on some occasions and never had a clog). It's waaaaay to expensive IMO.

For us they work great if I stuff them with a prefold ahead of time, then dh puts them on as if they are an AIO, so it's really easy for him. For apt living this might be the best because if you had to hand wash or boil your prefolds and dry them to save $$ it would be really easy to do. You can really easily handwash the liners too and just throw the covers in with your regular laundry that you'd have to do anyway.

[Julia24]

don't forget about a diaper service - in your situation a diaper service with a combo of G diapers, covers, and pockets might be a perfect combo. Not adding tons of additional laundry, AND probably costing about the same.

[holyhelianthus]

Originally Posted by Talula Fairie

Really, if you can, do cloth. It's not much harder and it's generally a heck of a lot cheaper, plus healthier and better for the environment. BUT, if you're going to do sposies anyway, g diapers are not that bad of a choice.

And it doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. You can use sposies for outings or for when you're inbetween laundry loads.

:

gDiapers are at very least a semi-eco friendly and safe(r) product for baby. They may not be the best but it's nice to have something better than regular sposies

Not everyone can do cloth all the time. Oh how it'd be nice if we could all enjoy the same luxuries!

ETA- and BTW if you do do gDiapers and also cloth or decide to cloth later the gDiaper covers make great CD covers I hear.

[Ifluffedthree]

Originally Posted by magstphil

:
Not everyone can do cloth all the time. Oh how it'd be nice if we could all enjoy the same luxuries!

I agree not everyone can use cloth all the time. It is not always a matter of choosing luxuries. Why exactly is it a "luxury" to use cloth all the time? Please explain so we all can understand your little wink more clearly.

I used sposies for 7.5 month -- not because of money, inconvenience, waiting for a machine or too much of a distance to do laundry -- I used them due to emergency total colectomy, Paralytic ileus, pneumothorax, bowel obstruction & resection and nine months of life as I knew it stopping.
Honestly, I don't think most people could fully understand my understanding/respect needing to use sposies. - Unless you have walked it or are in the medical fields. As indicated by my experience above which I did not feel the need to mention earlier -- I will now back up my position -- I will agree that there are situations where the need be big or small where it does not need to be all or nothing. This has not been my approach to this topic of G diapers. I did not think the info was necessary at the time to include, since that was not where I was focusing my replies. However, clearly understanding what is being purchased IS my focus.
I don't agree with what the G-products bring to market and the leading of the heard their campaign is doing. A Parallel: The Soy market has had similar stuff happening for 10 years -- many think they are eating well when many don't realize they are eating the industry's junk leftover parts. Its the representation and the downward spiral it creates for a buck and distorting of good things.
If I were put into the position again of needing to use a non cloth diaper, I would choose 7th Generation Sposies. I see their product as fair in their marketing, not riding on the need for an emotional "jump on the green bandwagon fix" and they represent their product content imo clearly/ fairly to the general public.
I would/will support 7th Generation as a choice for those in between or needed sposie times.

[holyhelianthus]

Originally Posted by Ifluffedthree

I agree not everyone can use cloth all the time. It is not always a matter of choosing luxuries. Why exactly is it a "luxury" to use cloth all the time? Please explain so we all can understand your little wink more clearly.

Sure!

1) Cloth is an expensive investment. An investment, sure, but not everyone has the money upfront whether it be $200 or $50

2) Not everyone has easy access to clothes washing facilities or equipment.

3) Not everyone has the time or energy to take on cloth. Is it simple- yes! But not as simple as quickly wiping a bum and throwing the diaper out.

As for the wink- consider it a "shout out" to those of us with one or more of the above. Great if you can make it work but just because you can doesn't mean Sally down the street can.

I am wondering why you are taking on such an abrasive (snarky?) tone over cloth diapering. Of course you do have a product to sell, am I right? I'm just a little lost here as to why you can't acknowledge that for some parents cloth is a luxury/difficult/etc etc and leave it at that. It is what it is. Don't take it so personally.


As for 7th Gen vs gDiaper per a friend and from what I have seen 7th Gen is more expensive especially when you take into account that they leak like mad and you have to change them much more often. This is up to individual preference, methinks.

[Ifluffedthree]

As stated before, in some cases cloth does not fall under the Luxury category, it is a necessity.

[HeatherB]

Mamas, I just want to remind everyone to keep the thread on-topic and within our user guidelines. I realize this can be a hot-button topic. Respectful and courteous discussion is encouraged.