traveling w/ cloth... do you?

[~Mom2thhts~]

Our family will be traveling to the states for 9 weeks for the holidays. I really really want to keep cloth diapering but Im not sure how it will work. We have twins, a toddler, and a 4 yr old(only at nighttime), in cloth. Thats a lot of nappies!! I cant imagine not having my spray hose attached to the toilet! I love that thing! Im the most worried about poo nappies! We will be traveling from Ok to Tx, visiting our families. We will be staying between 2 houses. So here are my questions...

1) have you traveled w/ cloth? and how did you do it?
2) did you take your toilet hose w/ you?
3) are there any suggestions or tips you can give me?

tia!

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

I did - but only had one DD!

With that many, you may well need to have a whole suitcase just for diapers - unless you want to wash every day, and when you're on vacation that's probably not feasible.

I packed DD's in a small suitcase, along with a wet bag to use as a diaper pail. I have never used a sprayer, so didn't miss it - I did rely on flushable liners a lot when traveling.

The other thing to consider is whether the houses you are staying at will have compatible detergent - you may need to ask them to pick some up before you arrive.

We ran into a situation where one in-law in particular was very grossed out at the idea of using "his" washing machine to wash diapers - luckily he was overruled by his wife, but something else to consider...

It was doable, though. DD has always protested against paper diapers so I'm glad we didn't have to resort to that.

[~Mom2thhts~]

Originally Posted by Perdita_in_Ontario

I did rely on flushable liners a lot when traveling.

oooh I didnt think about flushable liners!! Are flushable liners all the same? Like do they contain chemicals or do they need to be organic?

[chase_mommy]

I have traveled quite a bit while CDing but only with one LO. I do pack a suitcase full of diapers and covers. I always have to much but thats better than not enough. I also pack my CD detergent (I use soap nuts) so that not that big of a deal to pack it along in the suit case. I bring a large wet bag with me to keep all dirty diapers in. If I run out of room I use large ziplock bags until I get to a washer. I have a sprayer at home but never took it with me. That would be a total PITA, our sprayer required additional parts and I could not imagine hooking it up to multiple toilets not to mention I am not comfortable messing with other peoples plumbing. I managed without it just fine. I have never use flushable liners. I just use TP or a cloth wipe to nudge the poo off and the prewash cold rinse takes care of the rest. Like OP mentioned, other people caring about using their washer and driers for CD's. You may want to ask in advance, just in case someone has issues with it. If someone does have a problem with it, if you have enough cloth you can just wait until the next stop or make a trip to a laundromat. For me CDing and traveling has never been hard or a big deal. We just do what we have to do as if there wasn't any other options. Good luck and have a nice trip!

[Ifluffedthree]

nine weeks is a fairly long time without your normal routine. Since you will be packing the diapers and you are staying between homes that will have facilities, I would take my sprayer since you like it so much. Personally I did not use one, but everyone has their own routines and keeping the routine is the key.
possibly rice liners would offer an alternative solution to the soiling disposal.

Have a nice trip!

[kirstenb]

I've always brought the cloth diapers when I went home. I'm staying with my parents so it's no problem to use their washing machine. I don't have a sprayer so I didn't miss anything there. Like the PPs said, there's a small suitcase that's dedicated just to diapers.

[abemom2]

I've never travelled for 9 weeks with CD, or travelled period for that long! The most I had since I started CD was 1 1/2 weeks, and it was easier to not CD, because the detergent in the machines build up, and I use natural detergent only, and washing diapers takes a lot of electricity - multiple loads per wash, so for me it's easier to go with sposies for travelling. I also use the diaper sprayer.

Also, if you'll be staying only at 2 locations it makes it easier, than staying at several homes.

Good Luck with your trip.

[HeatherB]

I have always used CDs when traveling with CD'd babies. I take two wetbags to layer together to help keep in smells and dampness, and wash as often as possible along the way. If we're in a hotel for a few days, I'll use a machine there, or wash at friends' or families' homes. So far, no one's been grossed out by it.

I think it's easiest if you'll be in the same place for a good while, since washing may take a bit in an unfamiliar machine (I'd generally do extra rinses because of the possible detergent build up). I've never taken my sprayer along, though as long as you know it may not hook up to every toilet you've got available, I don't think it could hurt to have it along.

We are taking a 2 week road trip this summer with my 21mo and I'm considering some options for our trip, including buying prefolds or flats instead of our usual hodgepodge of diapers. In theory, the PFs or flats will wash more easily and have less likelihood of being "damaged" by the random machines we find along the way. And I am *definitely* buying flushable liners!! There are a couple of different kinds I've seen on sites like Green Mountain Diaper and DiaperWare, one being softer and on a roll and another being precut. I think it will make a HUGE difference in the ease of traveling with cloth and a toddler.

Hope your trip goes wonderfully!

[Altair]

I have been traveling to my parents house since my baby was born weekly b/c my father was terminally ill. I brought the CDs at first, but then it was just SO annoying packing and re-packing them and having the stink follow me everywhere, so I decided to use natural disposibles for traveling. If I were going away for 9 weeks though, I would probably CD.

[Gabes Mommy]

I've used Bummis flushable liners, and they are just thin paper. No chemicals or anything. They are wonderful. I've also heard that Imse Vimse liners are washable/reusable if you can line dry them. That may help. Good luck!

Originally Posted by ~Mom2thhts~

oooh I didnt think about flushable liners!! Are flushable liners all the same? Like do they contain chemicals or do they need to be organic?

[ssj77]

I travelled quite a bit with my daughter after she was born and then with both kids after my son was born. I always brought their cd's with us and it was never that big of a deal. When they were both in diapers, I needed a small suitcase just for the diapers, but everything went very well. I use Country Save detergent and just packed a small container of it and then stocked up on more when I got to my destination.

Since you are going for 9 weeks and travelling to different places, I do think the flushable liners would be a good idea. The imse vimse ones are very nice and I think they can make the travelling aspect a whole lot easier. I wouldn't recommend bringing the sprayer though. I think that might be too much of a hassle since you will be moving around a lot during those 9 weeks. Cloth during travelling is certainly doable, even when going to a different country. I would likely make sure the folks you are staying with would be ok with you using their washer/dryer systems.

Hope you have a GREAT trip!!
Sultana

[poppan]

You're only going to two houses -- I say bring your spray hose with you.

Having said that -- if both houses have top loading washers I don't think you need a spray hose. I spray and wet pail at home but when traveling to a place with a TL washer I just dump the solids and dry pail. When I wash I put the poopy and overnight pee ones in first and run a short cycle without detergent to get the poop and pee out, then add the rest of the dipes and wash with detergent.

I would bring your dipes, worst case you'll buy some sposies but best case you can CD full-time or at least most of the time.

[Lola'smommy]

Originally Posted by poppan

I would bring your dipes, worst case you'll buy some sposies but best case you can CD full-time or at least most of the time.

You have gotten a lot of advice, but I think this is the best. Take the pressure off yourself!! I just got back from a 2 week vacation where I started at one home, went to another, then to another, back to the first and then back the the 3rd. Because of the couple of 24 hour stops, I decided to buy some disposable just in case I didn't get time to wash when I needed to. I only had to use a couple of them, and it was so unstressful knowing that if I didn't have time to fool with wash, it was OK.
Bring some of your own detergent, don't take your sprayer. I love mine too, but it's not that big of a deal to not have it. I have never used liners, but they sound like a fabulous idea.
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