O/T advice wanted

[JamesMama]

DH and I recently moved. We're in an apartment now. We have to pay to wash and dry laundry.

We've had James in disposables since I got pg cuz washing was too much. I don't care for it at all, and now I'm having issues where when he pees it smells to high heaven and I can't stand it.

The problem, money isn't really TIGHT, but we don't have a whole lot to throw around iykwim.

I've figured, we'd have to wash dipes probably around 3 times a week, probably 2 washes and a dry...I could hang dry this summer maybe...if I can talk the LL into letting me put up an umbrella clothes line.

So, with the dry, it's over $11 a week, to wash and dry 3 times a week...it figures out to about $45 a month. Budget-wise we MIGHT be able to swing it, it's about $20 more than using disposables.

Of course my only reason for using cloth isn't just the cost savings, they are better for James, better for the environment...but the budget thing was a good selling point for DH, with that wiped out I might have a hard time convincing him to go for it.

Plus we have a new babe coming in November, if James hasn't potty learned by then then it should just balence out, cost wise...no savings really...hard to justify spending so much $$ on newborn/small diapers when we're not really saving any $$ (didn't start CD'ing with James till he was 7 months old, we only have medium FB's).

So I have to decide if the 'health benefits' outweigh the financial losses.

WWYD?

Oh, and the reason I'm thinking about this. James found a CD and said "Mama! Diaper change! Nice diaper." and walked around with it for a bit. Then a bit later I noticed he was dirty so I changed his diaper, put on a disposable. He tugged at it and threw a fit saying "Diaper change!! NICE DIAPER!!"

There is a slim possiblity I could go out to my mom's and wash for free, but that involves driving 4 miles to and from, just to wash dipes.

[boogiemonster]

What about looking into a diaper service in your area? Then that way at least someone else gets to do the washing and it saves you the headache. It might be worth pricing out. I'm in Canada, and when I compared prices I found a diaper service to be comparable to buying brand-name sposies. We own a home and have our own laundry so I just decided to buy the dipes to save extra money. You may just find that a service works for you.

The ones I looked at offered discounts for twins...maybe they would if you had two in diapers no matter what the size.

HTH

Good luck!

[FillingMyQuiver]

Up until DS was about 16mo we lived in an apt w/ coin-op laundry. We were able to get away w/ 1 hot wash and 2 dryer cycles (we hung dry in the summer) and washed every 2 days. We just dealt w/ the stains. If anything needed to be rinsed, we did it at home before taking it to the coin-op. By doing it this way, we could get away w/ only 1 hot wash. Y'know, our dipes were REALLY clean (could have just been we had GREAT water in our town).

Once he started on solids and his poops got more sticky and formed, we just dunked and rinsed at home and washed as usual.

Our laundry was $1.50/ load to wash and $1.50/ 45minute dry.

We live in an apt w/ a W/D now, but even if we didn't, we'd still CD. DH and I both agree it's best for the kiddos.

BTW~ If you're using ONLY FBs, I would think you could handwash the shells at home in the sink (especially if they've only been peed in) and hang dry them. Then, all you would need is extra inserts. Also, as long as you don't use dryer sheets and fabric softener, you could probably get away w/ washing the inserts w/ your regular clothes. I have a friend that washes her CDs w/ her regular clothes. She just rinses the poop dipes really well and they all get washed together.

[JamesMama]

DH heard James crying for his 'nice diapers' and he said "Screw it, we'll just use them" we'll toss the shells over the sofa like we usually do they usually dry overnight...the cost might suck a bit, but it's worth it to make James happy.

I'll see about just one hot wash...if they are really nasty I'll just take them out to my moms and wash them. He doesn't poop/pee that often (but is no where near ready to potty learn) and I have 30 I believe so I can probably get away with only washing 3 times a day.

[Isaac'sMa]

What about something like this? You'd probably have to wash every night b/c the loads are smaller but it might be worth it!

http://www.old-fashioned-values.com/...der-washer.htm

(I saw it cheaper at Amazon, but this site gives a better description)

ETA: you could try some EC and that would cut down on the dirty diapers.

[JamesMama]

Originally Posted by Isaac'sMa

What about something like this? You'd probably have to wash every night b/c the loads are smaller but it might be worth it!

http://www.old-fashioned-values.com/...der-washer.htm

(I saw it cheaper at Amazon, but this site gives a better description)

I've seen that! Does it work I wonder? Washing every day wouldn't be a big deal, I'd only have to pay to dry (if the weather isn't good for line drying)...hmmm, might have to talk to hubby about that one.

[FillingMyQuiver]

You could get a drying rack and dry indoors. It does take longer, but if you plan properly, it could be manageable.

[Isaac'sMa]

You might try posting (or searching) in the diapering forum b/c I know apt. living and CDing has been a topic of discussion over there. There might be a mama who could give you some first hand info on the wonder washer...Or a better suggestion!

[scheelimama]

We lived in an apartment for awhile and did cd's, both when dd1 was a baby (from 3-8 months) and then again with dd2 as a toddler for 6 months. We had a washer/dryer downstairs from us, but we found that even two washes in that washer didn't work too well. What we ended up doing was this:

We had enough diapers to go about a week (and we never got mold, it worked just fine). So, once or twice a week (probably averaged 6 times per month) we would drive to a laundramat about 3 blocks away and we used the industrial size washer. It cost $3 but it did a pre-rinse, wash, and 3 additional rinses. About once a month, we would put the diapers through two washes in that thing, but all other times, we would just do one. Then we would dry them for about 30 min. (about $0.50-0.75 worth). Then we would hang them to dry the rest of the way on a small rack in our apartment (we weren't allowed to hang them outside.) The short time in the dryer made them much softer than completely line drying. So, total cost was not more than $30 per month. That worked for us.

ETA: I didn't really answer your health benefits question. I guess for me it's just a matter of preference. I feel better about using cloth. It's better for the environment, no chemicals on my kids bottoms, they're much cuter. I don't believe we saved money, but it was still worth it to me.

[octobermom]

We had a wonder wash http://camping.about.com/gi/dynamic/...rnative.com%2F back when we first started CD with my first. I fit about 12 infant prefold or about 12 flats fine (maybe 15 tops) and worked well. I used sposies for nighttime and outtings or the occasional offf day but this really helped cut down on cost, I had a clothes line though that deffiently helped. I washed my covers bummi sww and dappi by hand.

[sorteep]

with my 1st we had a weird living situation and had no washer or dryer or money (we were in a house and had hot and cold running water tho!) I rinsed in toilet then soaked cloth dipes in borax and very mild bleach, then I actually boiled them in a big pot on teh stove then hand washed them and hung them inside to dry (he was a dec babe and we were in Mich..) I can't say it was fun but I managed, my mom showed me how to do it since that is what seh did for allthree of us (I'm old enough to be pre pampers era!) washing the sheets took a trip to teh laundromat (20 min drive!) but baby clothes I washed in teh bathtub every night by hand.. mannnnn when my mom bought us a washer I was in heaven!! (he was 6 mos).. after yrs of therapy and the trauma of it... I use disp dipes now..... sorry

[JamesMama]

Well, problem solved I suppose. I talked to my mom and she said I can bring them out to her place and wash for free. YEA!!! Also said if I write up directions she'll wash them for me. Thats just great. We're also gonna look into buying one of those 'wonder washers' and see how that works. Also gonna talk to the LL about putting up an umbrella clothes line. He seems pretty cool so that might fly...if not I'll string up some line in DS's room and hang there. LOL

[Momma Aimee]

i would go to moms to wash --

you say 4 miles -- is that a typo?

if you lived closer you could come here.......

I would not deal with paying for it -- however -- unless James really really gets upset......

also if you are NOT buying throw away diapers now for James, is that money you could "save" for cloth for the new born?

[Momma Aimee]

well looks like i posted too late -- glad the prob is solved

Aimee

[JamesMama]

LOL, yeah it's only 4 miles, 8 round trip. My mom lives about 3 miles out of town, and I figure I'm a mile or so from city limits (really really small town...lol).

We won't be buying disposable dipes so I can save that to buy newborn and small dipes. Plus my dad said he'd buy the infant seat for me as a baby gift so thats an extra $100 for dipes.

[Momma Aimee]

We won't be buying disposable dipes so I can save that to buy newborn and small dipes. Plus my dad said he'd buy the infant seat for me as a baby gift so thats an extra $100 for dipes.

Good plan

AImee