We're leaning towards disposables!!! - Page 3

[sarahbay]

Hi Mama to be!

Hey I read your post on the diapering board, and I totally know where you are coming from!

I felt the same way before my daughter was born, and it is incredibly confusing, and frustrating all the decisions that have to be made about parenting before you have a baby.

But, you might want to keep in mind that we all feel certain ways about things before the baby comes, and then after they actually get here, it's really nice to be able to have the choice to think about doing things other ways that work for you or your family.

Not just with diapering, but with everything!

Like for example I remember about 2 weeks before my daughter was born I read this short little article on co-sleeping by Dr. Sears in a magazine. And it seemed really interesting, but I didn't get too much into researching it further. But when my daughter came, I remembered back to that article that said it was natural and safe to bring baby to bed with me, that they did it like that all over the world. So, I tried it, and it worked sooo well for her and I! She was a very light sleeper, and didn't do well in her bassinet waking every 30 min or so, and I couldn't sleep well worrying about her over there. Also, she was one of those babies that liked to be on the breast to nurse for 45 min at a time. So when she was able to snuggle next to me all night nursing most of the time, and I was sleeping peacefully, it was just pure heaven! I got my much needed sleep, and she started gaining weight sooooo well!

It was like serendipity that I read that short little article when I did!

Also, I believe that knowledge is power, and the more we know, the better we can do.

Have you ever seen a cloth diaper in real life? It helps to go to a store that carries them, or just order one to see and play with. They really don't seem as scary that way.

Also, if you buy a one-size system you can essentially buy that one set of diapers and use them until baby potty trains, 2-3 years later, for between $300-$700 depending on the kind and brand you buy(make sure you get a highly reviewed brand though, not just the cheapest thing on ebay) lol

Let me know if you have any questions!
Sarah

[Anna's Lovey]

I'd recommend trying both. I think that buying cloth diapers can be overwhelming. Just buy a few and use them when you're at home and see how you like them.
A little tip: use disposables the first two weeks until the umbilical cord falls off because they keep the moisture away from that area while it heals.

[meco]

I don't think there is anything wrong with doing what works best for you. And I don't think there is anything wrong with using both for whatever reason. Many parents mix up the kind of diapers they use depending on their needs. I also agree that cloth diapers can seem overwhelming and confusing, but it really does make more sense when you are actually using them.

I think sarahbay's post had a lot of great ideas in it. Another thing to remember is that if you do try cloth diapers, and they don't work for your family, you can always resell them. You might find it's worth a shot to try them and see if you like them. If you don't, then you don't have to continue to use them.

[mizznicole]

I switched to sposies when I went to work part time. I had serious burn out - but also we had a never ending battle with diaper rash. I believe DS has a sensitivity to PUL. Solid poops were sending me over the edge with how disgusting they smelled...and then having to clean them off...ugh. I could not afford to spend hundreds of bucks on a wool system. I found cloth to be very expensive if you deviate from prefolds, which I did (a mix of AIOs, fitteds, and pre-folds). There are also start up expenses that most people don't add in, like the cost of the wipes, the diaper pail, bin liners, wet bags, etc. Then the never ending quest for a specialty laundry detergent that never works anyhow...well, in the end I still like the idea of cloth, but like the idea of EC even better. I will say that switching to sposies has set us back with potty learning. We're getting in the swing of using underwear at home.

[mythik]

As for caregivers DS is in DC full-time and uses CDs there . I provide fresh pockets or aio's along with a wetbag each day and take home the dirtied dipes for washing at home. We haven't had any issues so far

[katie9143]

more than the biodegradeable issue...you should be more worried about what is in the diapers....read this article - when i did it made me so glad that i could count on one hand how many packs of disposables i had ever bought.

http://maineclothdiaper.com/blog/?p=82

gl with your decision

[mambera]

Originally Posted by katie9143

http://maineclothdiaper.com/blog/?p=82

I am no fan of SAP but that blog post is ridiculous scaremongering.

"Research on animal models has shown that polyacrylate particles breathed in have resulted in the appearance of foreign bodies and inflammation in the lungs of hamsters."

As will pretty much ANY inert foreign particles. No matter what they are made of. Foreign stuff in your lung is foreign stuff in your lung.

"Sodium polyacrylate applied to open wounds in rats resulted in precipitous hypotension (low blood pressure), hemorrhage, and cardiac arrythmias."

Because superabsorbent stuff on an open wound will suck all the blood out. Blood loss (hemorrhage) gives you hypotension and arrhythmias, sure. Why would you put something like that on a wound? Duh.

"Kinda scary huh?"
No.

[starrmama]

Haven't read the whole thread thoroughly, so sorry if I'm being redundant or whatever, but have you checked around locally to see if there are any options for trying out some diapers with very little risk? I teach a diapering class at the store where I work that sells cloth diapers, and I've developed a really cool "trial" bag where parents who are new to CDing can "rent" a stash of all the different diapers that we carry for 2 weeks and try them out... there are some online stores that do similar things, I think? Where you can return what you didn't like... or if you could connect with some IRL mamas who cloth diaper, they might be able to give you what they're not using right now for you to try out? I know I've lent out and sold lots of diapers to mamas in my AP playgroup, etc... plus IRL classes, stores, and diapering mamas would allow you to see and feel and hopefully get a better sense of what you like... So yeah, if there is a store near that sells cloth diapers - tell them to start up a "trail"! Its working great for us...

Diaper Service is also a great way to go... and certainly if you think sposies will work better for you right now, you can always get into cloth later...

I also agree that if you went with GroBaby or Flip or G Diapers, you would already have the outer reusable pants and you could switch to their cloth inners later...

[Pinoikoi]

Are you planning on only having the one child ? I diapered my third and fourth child basically for free (we started cds with our second).

And the "effort" of washing imho is canceled out by the late night runs to the store to buy more sposies. Seriously, that is effort and happens to even the best planners. Not to mention the fact that sposies left horrible gashes on my sons' skin that blood seeped out of that required medical attention.. dr's waiting rooms anyone? Yeah, that's painful and effort, too.

http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/diapers.htm

Sodium polyacralate is linked to toxic shock, allergies, and deaths of pets. The dyes can cause damage to central nervous system, kidneys, liver, etc..Fragrances can cause headaches and rashes.. the Consumer Protection Agency lists chemical burns as a problem with disposables (this is what I was dealing with as it turns out).

Even if one goes with the all natural type diapers parents still have increased skin rashes to deal with..

According to the Journal of Pediatrics, 54 % of one-month old babies using disposable diapers had rashes, 16 % having severe rashes.

In my opinion, sodium polyacralate was invented for short term use (specifically for astronauts dealing with gravity issues).. not for all day long, every day use. It is just a different set of circumstances for human skin.