Convince me to use cloth when going out of the house

[UmmAbduRahman]

I cloth diapered my second baby since she was 2 months old, and at first I was using cloth when out of the house, too but later switched to using cloth at home (where we are most the time) and disposables when out.

Here's why:
1) disposables are smaller and less bulky to pack than my prefolds

2) didn't like carrying the dirty diaper bag, especially if I was visiting someone's house-should I just sit the bag next to me or what? (Set it outside the front door? What is the proper ettiquete for the dirty diaper bag?)

After reading the recent AWESOME section in the new Mothering issue about cloth, I was reminded of how much I love cloth and how little I want to add non-biodegradable nasty diapers to our landfills.

Please persuade me to use cloth outside the house! (and while traveling, if you want!)

[chely7425]

We use cloth all the time except when we are traveling on big trips, like driving for a couple days and staying somewhere for a week or flying. We like pockets or AIOs for when we are out. It is easier to change them and they are fun and.. yeah! I don't find having the pockets/AIOs with us that much more annoying that sposies. I keep a wet bag in the diaper bag and it zips and you can't smell anything and I just stick it back in the diaper bag if we are out somewhere.

[aprons_and_acorns]

Originally Posted by UmmAbduRahman

Please persuade me to use cloth outside the house! (and while traveling, if you want!)

It's a great way to advocate for cloth! Imagine a new mom or not-yet-mom who sees you using your cute or just plain functional and earth-friendly cloth diapers. Maybe she will think about using them too. I know when DS was in cloth (FuzziBunz) it seemed like quite a few people asked me about them, and I got a chance to hopefully spread the word that cloth diapers are a great choice.

[Katie T]

I agree with the pp. As far as when we are at someone elses house I just put the wet bag into my diaper bag, If it were a really smelly one I may put it outside, but we don't go out much at a time she is going to poo since she is so old and doesn't do it everyday.

[UmmAbduRahman]

follow-up question

Thanks everyone who responded so far (and keep it coming!)

Also, any recommendations for a diaper bag (reasonably priced!) that is big enough for taking prefolds along with the spare clothes, etc?

I like the Fleurville bags but they cost much more than I'm looking to spend.

[cristeen]

I just drop the wet bag back into the diaper bag, poopy or not.

And I haven't shelled out the money for a diaper bag. I picked up a shoulder bag at Target for $10, and it's worked really well for me.

[starling&diesel]

We use cloth at home and away ... and we love it!
We have a big wet bag for trips away, and a small one for around town.
I don't carry a diaper bag at all. I can stuff a medium fuzzibunz and a wipe and small wet bag into the ergo carrier pocket, and a snack and wallet and phone go into a little bum bag that attaches to the carrier waistband. Compact and simple. If we're going to be out longer than a couple of hours, I take a small purse with another diaper in it, and more snacks, and a spare pair of pants, just in case.
For traveling, I keep the wet dipes in the wet bag, inside a large plastic bag until I can wash. Poop goes in the loo before the dipe goes into the bag.
I love the public service announcement that is my daughter's adorable cloth diapered butt!
I love not adding to the garbage!
I love the every so cute diapers!
I love that she's never had a diaper rash!
I love knowing that she can feel her bodily functions and not be oblivious to them!
We're just packing now for a two-week trip to Costa Rica. We'll be staying with family, and so will just wash our diapers there.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

You know, I was afraid to use cloth outside the house at first, too, but I did end up making the plunge, and it isn't that big of a deal at all, I promise!

I might be one of the odd people out here, but I don't own a wetbag. : We always have leftover grocery bags (though we have cloth one we take to the grocery store ) and I put one of those down in my diaper bad to hold dirty diapers.

I try to pack something trim and cute for the diaper bag, for just in case I have an audience when changing my lo's diaper. There have been a few instances when people have said, "What kind of diaper is that?! it is so cute!" And I proudly tell them it is a reusable one.

Dirty diapers are folded up and put in the grocery bag, and the grocery bag is twisted up and shoved to the bottom of the diaper bag out of sight and smell.

I don't feel like cloth diapers take up too much room in my diaper bag, personally. Like I said, I tend to pick out the trimmer diapers, mostly AIO's for ease, and I don't really carry much else around with me (though I'm a self-proclaimed minimalist, so that might influence what goes in my bag). One outfit, three diapers (depending on the length of outing), a bag of wipes, a changing pad and a disposable grocery bag, and I'm good to go with plenty of room in the bag for my older son to shove a toy and a snack in.

So my advice is just take the plunge! If you're anything like me, you'll find there isn't really that much of a difference between being at home in cloth and going out in public in cloth vs. disposables.

[astar326]

we use an old backpack as our diaper bag. it has a ton of room & i pack 2-4 prefolds when leaving the house (although as we increase our EC success i am needing these less and less). we us a plastic bag that some onesies came in as our wet bag. it zips closed and we keep it in the diaper bag. we have never had a smell issue. we do keep a small disposable wipes in the bag (i believe it was a sample pack that i got free) in-case off poo, but as we practice EC, we don't use them very often. i love using cloth all the time!

[Lineymom]

Originally Posted by aprons_and_acorns

It's a great way to advocate for cloth! Imagine a new mom or not-yet-mom who sees you using your cute or just plain functional and earth-friendly cloth diapers. Maybe she will think about using them too. I know when DS was in cloth (FuzziBunz) it seemed like quite a few people asked me about them, and I got a chance to hopefully spread the word that cloth diapers are a great choice.

That's how I think!

[JulAmber]

I love using cloth when I go out! I am kind of proud of it actually, haha. I always hope people ask me about it and I can show off how cool and simple they are! I have 2 wet bags so I can always have one clean for the diaper bag. It contains smells pretty well for the most part and the only issue I really have with it is the size. For that reason, I usually only take 1 or 2 with me (depending on how long I'll be out) and have 2 or 3 disposables as back up although I very rarely use them. It's really more peace of mind. I like to be super prepared. I have a small wipes case and I just either always have 5 dry cloth wipes in it and a bottle of water or I'll take 5 wet wipes from my home cloth wipes stash to put in there if I think I'll remember to take them out (otherwise they can get mildewy.) It is really SO easy and I hate disposables. They smell funny and leak a lot more frequently and are a pain to dispose of when I'm out. I feel weird about throwing them away at someone's house so I have these little bags to put them in but I still hate them.