Add on to cloth diaper thread (experience w/using a service?)

[Blanca78]

While we're on this topic, anyone have experience using a diaper service? Our laundry is three floors down in the basement of our apartment building and I just don't know about walking down carrying a heavy diaper pail/bag every couple days. Plus we use our neighbor's washer and dryer and not sure she'd be cool with the increased usage.

The service I'm looking at is $76 or $88 per month for newborns (80 diapers per week; they'll adjust down if you don't end up using that much). The higher price is for two deliveries per week. Does that sound reasonable? Price goes down as baby needs fewer diapers. In your experience, how does this compare to the cost of disposables (if we use disposables, I am getting the natural, unbleached, etc. kind as much as our budget will allow.)

I've wanted to use cloth diapers for environmental benefit but have heard it's a wash (heh) b/w cloth and disposable when you factor in water usage, etc. required by cloth.

What has been your experience using a service? Was it worthwhile?

[Sfcmama]

Hope this makes sense... Been up all night with teething nurseling.
We loooooove our diaper service and our prices are in line with what you posted. I find the cost to be the same as disposables since i had been buying the more expensive natural ones before. One of the major advantages I hadn't expected was having them delivered to your door, which is significant when you live in an apartment building with no elevator. I love not having to carry them and especially not having to remember to buy more disposables before running out in the middle of the night. Our service also let's us buy things from their boutique with free delivery, like wipes, sunscreen, carseats! We have a combo service that includes composting the disposable diapers and wipes (specific brands only) which is great b/c we can still use disposables at night and be landfill free! DD has neve had a diaper rash except for the one time we used disposables on an overnight trip so I would never consider going back. We are moving to a place with laundry and I will still definitely keep our service - especially now that we are starting solids b/c I use the CDs for bibs, clean up etc which means less laundry for me!!!
Hth! I don't know anyone who has regretted makingthe switch!

[finnegansmom]

What kinds of diapers do a diaper service provide? Just prefolds and covers?

I haven't used a service, but I do cloth diaper and have for a few years. I know that when we did use disposables for a few months with #1, we did go through about 80 a week. I changed them a lot, I know some people don't which is kind of yucky but at first it was literally every over hour. 80 was 2 newborn packs, and they are $10-12 each, plus we pay per garbage bag pick up so we averaged about $100 a month for disposables.

I definately think cloth is more eco than disposables. Water is a renewable resource- we have a well as well as private septic, and with a high effieciency washer, our electric bills for washing diapers hasn't gone up at all. Especially if you hang dry, or half hang dry then low heat tumble to soften up. It doesn't use THAT much hot water, and use special detergents anyways for the septic.

Have you looked into hybrid systems? Like G diapers? Cloth covers, compostable or flushable inners. I know some cloth users use those when travelling or without access to laundry. Just a thought.

[Blanca78]

Thanks, both of you! Sfcmama--sounds like our potential service is pretty similar to yours. FinnegansMom--I think they are just prefolds and covers. You pay extra (like $5 a month) to rent the covers, I think.

However, I was looking into the hybrid system. Costco sells a GroVia starter pack for $125 that includes 150 disposable inserts, 160 wipes, and six covers, and then additional disposable soakers are around $20 for 50. So maybe I could do a combination of disposable and reusable soakers, so the laundry burden isn't so high on me but the cost is still reasonable and the landfill burden is much less.

Question, though: if you use the inserts, how often do the covers usually need to be washed? Would six be enough?

[finnegansmom]

I would buy your own covers to be honest. Flip covers by cotton babies are one size. You can wash them in the sink and they dry in no time, no need for dryer. If they are just a little damp on the inside you can wipe out with a wipe and hang dry and use again. I do know first hand that the breat fed baby poo is pretty liquidy so you'll use at least a few a day.
I have flips with the organic inserts, and have a few new ones for the baby on the way.
I also have a few dozen prefolds to use. You can definately get by with 6 as long as you can wash in your sink when you need to. Also, if you live near an IKEA, definately pick up one of these. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80189663
So awesome for hanging covers to dry in the shower. We have 2, and I'll use them to hang diapers or inserts to dry (even in the window for sun in the winter).

[LightForest]

I live in an apartment also, and don't have my own washer dryer, so I was in a similar boat as you. I ended up deciding to buy my own diapers and wash them in the coin-op machines in my building, because the cost of the service just didn't make sense for me. (I do usually line dry to save money.) For some crazy reason, the ONLY service available in my area costs $35/week plus a $50 "start up fee." That's just a ridiculous amount of money IMO.

It's also important to consider that you'll still need to buy and wash your own covers in addition to the cost of most diaper services. Keeping this in mind, I just bought enough diapers/covers (mostly easy-to-wash prefolds and flats) to wash every 3 days.

I also like buying/washing my own dipes because I like being able to choose the type of diapers I use. With a service, you're stuck with whatever they use, which is usually the traditionally-sized prefolds that you'll often have to fold down to fit your babe.

[Blanca78]

Thanks, mamas! LightForest--wow, that seems REALLY expensive! I don't blame you for staying away.

Thanks for the suggestions, both of you. FinnegansMom--the drying rack is a great idea! We also do have a clothesline in our basement so that would help save some energy. I'm still interested in the diaper service--the prefolds don't worry me too much because I used to help out w/diapering my sister and kids I babysat and felt like I got the hang of it--but at the same time, the idea of some hybrid system with a combination of disposable and reusable inserts appeals to me. Seems like it would be a lot of environmental benefit without so much laundry. Especially if parents and in-laws might pitch in on the startup costs.

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Diapering