How to get beyond the naysayers?

[fishmom]

I have about 5 weeks before this ds is born and I really think I want to CD (waivering between 60-75-95% sure). I have 3 older dc (6, 8, and 9) and I was interested in CDing, but never took the plunge. Now I'm older and wiser!

I know a few people who do/did cloth diaper, but my closest friends are really negative about it. "Why would you do that to yourself?" etc.

DH doesn't care one way or the other as long as I keep up on the laundry.

What's really hard is choosing! I homeschool and I thought curriculum shopping was hard, holy cow, I dream about CDs with all the research I'm doing. And the friends I know who CD all disagree with each other and confuse me even more!

Please help encourage me. I'm about to take the plunge on buying used either on diaperswappers or craigslist; or should it be new from?? I'm really afraid of buyers remorse.

Thanks for reading! Trish

[Bokonon]

I would definitely recommend starting small, with some used items to see what you like. I know too many moms who thought a certain brand/type would be perfect, and bought 18-24 new BumGenius or whatever, and then when the baby came they realized they didn't like them after all. I thought pockets were the best for me, but now I'm a fitteds kind of mom!

And don't worry about what other people say. If they aren't caring for your baby and/or doing their laundry, it's none of their business! Besides, you may find that you love cloth diapering - I know I do and it certainly came as a surprise!

[alegna]

Do it! We use all cloth. Dd was never in sposies at all (tried when she was older for travel and she wouldn't tolerate them...) With DS we've used them on a couple of trips and HATE THEM. As a product disposable diapers SUCK. You'll love cloth

We use all AIOs - lucy's hope chest- and then pockets at night.

-Angela

[fishmom]

Thank you for the encouragement Allison and Angela!

I really haven't met anyone who tried CDing and hated it. I know some who do part time, but none that regret giving it a go.

Those I know who are against it never even had it cross their minds to try it!

[mambera]

Originally Posted by Bokonon

I would definitely recommend starting small, with some used items to see what you like. I know too many moms who thought a certain brand/type would be perfect, and bought 18-24 new BumGenius or whatever, and then when the baby came they realized they didn't like them after all.

I think the only way to figure out what you like is buy-and-try. We started out with sposies for the first few weeks; after I had passed the totally-overwhelmed stage I started buying CDs to try, one at a time. I'd buy one, see what I liked and what I didn't, and then use that info to pick a better one to try. I think I tried 4 diapers (an AIO, a Gdiaper, and two pockets) before I figured out what I really needed. Bought a whole stash of the one I liked best (Softbums AI2) and have been CDing full time ever since, very happily I might add.

I did buy new btw. I didn't know about diaperswappers at the time, but honestly I don't want to deal with someone else's issues with stink or repelling or anything else. For a few extra bucks I'll skip the headache.

[fishmom]

Thanks for the input, mambera!

So I took the plunge and bought everything but 3 of the TFF' from this post:
http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/....php?t=1001611

What else do I need? Will this get me throught the first few weeks if I have some sposies on hand just in case?

[lovermont]

It looks like the original poster took down what she had listed.
We bought wipes in a container when ds was born and when the wipes were gone we were able to use the container for cloth wipes that we kept sitting in water/soap/oil mixture. 4 years later and that's still our system. I know a lot of people have the mixture in a spray bottle and spray their wipes as needed. If we were starting again I'd probably do that.
You might want to consider getting a wet bag. Always wanted one, never got around to getting one. We either put the dipes in plastic bag when out or just kind of folded them in on themselves with the cover around the wet.

Another word of caution: if these diapers from diaperswappers don't work out don't be too discouraged. As pp said used sometimes have baggage (need stripping, for example, so don't work as well as they might). We had an experience like this and we're unable to remedy the problem. We ended up using would-be aio's as fitteds which worked well and meant the diapers were usable somewhat.
Cd is definitely fun! Good luck!

[jeminijad]

You are almost certain to like cloth. IME moms who try different kinds and dislike them all aren't common. If you are in the minority that hates it, no big deal. Resell and move on.

Its not like you can resell Pampers if you use them and hate them!

As for naysayers, who cares what they think? Seriously. Who cares?

[fishmom]

oops, yes she did take the pics down.

it was 12 GMD NB PFs, 3 Thirsties Fab Fitteds NB, 2 other NB fitteds, a royal bums soaker, and wool shorties.

[fishmom]

Thanks Mamas! Ok, so cloth wipes, wet bag, caution on the used stuff and...ignore the naysayers!! :-)

Anything else I'm missing? A pail for the wetbag, right?

[jeminijad]

Yes, a pail for the wetbag, or just get a hanging wetbag. Google the Planetwise one and see if you like the looks of it. I just ordered one for my DD's TINY room and can't wait.

[organicmom3]

Doesn't look like I need to add anything....but I still offer encouragement! I use bg pocket myself and LOVE LOVE LOVE them...its almost like disposables with laundry added in...they are so easy to use...even my dh uses them with happiness (as long as I'm the one that rinses the really ucky ones!) My 15 yr old and 11 yr old find them easy as well!

Best wishes....just smile at the naysayers....they don't know what they are talking about!

[chel]

do you have pins or a snappi?

[mojobin]

I think more often than not the naysayers are uninformed about cloth diapering and/or feel guilty that they have not had the good sense to try it out for themselves, their kids, their earth.

[Chamomile Girl]

Just wanted to add that you are going to need more than 12 diapers for a NB! We started with 3doz of the same type and it worked out to doing wash every-other day.

[fishmom]

thanks ladies! I will check into wetbags and add pins and or snappis to the list (how many?)...and more prefolds- should I buy a bunch more NB or are size small ok? And I think I still need waterproof covers, right? I am only getting 5 fitteds and the 2 wool soaker/shorties.

I was able to talk with a HBing, CDing mama at church tonight and she offered to have me come over to learn more about CDing! I think she's excited to know someone else on the same "wavelength!"

[cristeen]

I wouldn't buy much more NB stuff - go with smalls, particularly if you're talking PFs.

We had less than a dozen NB dipes, and we were washing daily. It's doable, but if you can afford to get the extra dozen, I recommend it.

Oh, and as for the naysayers - it depends on how good of friends they are. I'd either sarcastically say "thank you for your support" or "pass the bean dip". All depends on if they're close friends who you can be honest with or if they're more acquaintances who you don't care to get in an argument with.

[poppan]

I let myself be talked out of CDing by the naysayers... and didn't start until my kids were 10 months old. I started with just nights and went "full time" when they were 14 months old. I'm really glad the idea of CDing kept nagging at me in the back of my mind and I went back to it, because I ended up loving it.

Anyway, I guess I just want to say give it a try, if you like it, great, if it's too much work, you can sell your stash and recover a lot of the funds (you would have spent the difference on disposables anyway). Who cares what other people say -- it's really about your own experience and preferences.

[Adaline'sMama]

Tell your naysayer friends that it takes 1/3 cup of oil to make a disposable diaper. At that rate you'd burn about the same amount of oil on you baby's bottom as most people do in their car each week.

[fishmom]

Originally Posted by poppan

I'm really glad the idea of CDing kept nagging at me in the back of my mind and I went back to it, because I ended up loving it.

Yes, it reeaally nagged at me with the first 3 kiddos. I did all the other stuff naturally, homebirth, extended bfing, but the cd thing seemed too intimidating at the time.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and tips. I am afraid of buying too much of the wrong thing b/c I'm terrible at reselling. I'll buy stuff off craigslist all day long, but I always end up freecycling/donating instead of selling/ebaying.