My wonderful family will be joining me at BlogHer 10 in August. I have an awesome husband who doesn’t mind traveling the world with me while I work – but this is different. Usually when we travel it’s for my day job and I HAVE to work. This trip – while I consider it work – is really more of a hobby. I’m looking to network and learn how to make my blog work for me – and maybe one day be my day job. Of course I say that with hesitation – because I have a really good job and it would take a LOT for my blog to replace that income.
So – back to cloth diapers and my husband. He’s really patient with me and my desire to travel with our fluff but we’ve always driven when we’ve been gone for more than 2-3 days. We’ve never packed our fluff for a plane ride. I mean how does that work? I’m staying at a hotel and don’t really want to do laundry (more likely HE would have to do it – and that’s NOT happening while on vaca) OR carry dirty diapers back on the plane. I would NOT do that to the airport employees – can you imagine a screener at the airport having to inspect THAT bag? NO – that’s not an option.
Here are my options as I see them today (I may change my mind after I hear your input):
1) Pack all our fluff in our suitcases (which I hear will be full of swag on the way home) and have to ask the Hilton to use their laundry facility to wash fluff at night after everyone is asleep. **Really this doesn’t sound appealing to me.
2) Find a diaper service in NYC and use pre-folds and covers – which we’ve never really used. I’ve played around with them but not hubby.
Did you know you can search for diaper services? The Real Diaper Industry Association (RDIA) has a list on their website.
Here are my fears with using a diaper service:
– Pre-folds scare me – I’m a spoiled pocket girl.
– I only own 2 diaper covers – but I guess I could use my pockets as covers, right? Services don’t include covers.
– Will daddy be open to trying something new while we are away – and he’ll be the primary diaper changer? I have horrible memories of a blow out that occurred in New Orleans while he was out on the town with the kids – let’s just say it wasn’t pretty!
Here is what excited me about using a diaper service:
– I can pack less and still use cloth diapers.
– I don’t have to do laundry for 4 days!
– I don’t have to use disposables (saving money, packing space, and the environment)
– As an advocate for cloth diapers I really SHOULD try this and make it work.
I decided to call/email www.DiaperKind.com and inquire about their services for travelers. <Thanks Heather for the link> Shortly after my email I received a great response from Sarah. Diaper Kind will deliver a stash of pre-folds, some loaner covers, and a loner diaper pail at my hotel for me – for all 4 days that I’m going to be in New York – and for less than $40 total. I’m super excited that they have some loner covers because I only have 2 covers in my stash – I didn’t really want to invest in covers that I don’t really need. Now – to get daddy on board with my plan! I do have an EconoBum on hand for him to practice with before we leave.
What are your experiences with traveling with your cloth? I’ve mastered it for short trips and when staying with friends/family – but not hotels and airplanes.
Want to read more about traveling with cloth diapers? How about an article by the Real Diapering Association about traveling with cloth…in a rain forest! Really – it’s quite inspiring!
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I am going through the same decision making right now, as we FINALLY heard back about hubby's position (he got it!), but we are throwing together a very last minute and long overdue family vacation in a couple weeks. The limited luggage room and being in a couple different locations I have never been to will make it complicated. I am definitely taking some hybrid inserts and am seeing if DH will be on board if I bring a stack of cloth inserts…I know we may have access to a W/D a few of the days at a relatives home, but not sure the details yet (or if they'd be on board with it– or if it would be rude just not to tell them, haha)! That's really cool they have a service like you mentioned available though and at a reasonable cost, although a little more than 'sposies 🙂
Have you thought about biosoakers? I'm still trying to figure out what to do about a proposed trip to Ohio, just me and the lil squirt. I'll have access to a washing machine, but I'm worried about the amount of luggage I'll be able to handle on my own with the baby.
We've traveled (plane) with cloth – both times though we had access to laundry facilities. The first time, we stayed at a resort that hand laundry rooms available – I just made sure to bring my Rockin' Green!! The second time, we stayed with a friend (who also cloth diapers!).
Sounds like you have a plan worked/mapped out – definitely get your husband to try the Econobum before you go. That is AWESOME that there's a service there so you don't have to use paper! If you're planning on using the service though, I would look into using a disposable/flushable insert like what is used for the FLIP or Gro-Baby for the plane ride there and pack some pockets for the ride home!
Wow, only $40! That's awesome. But, I can't be much help… we haven't traveled far with CD. 6 hours was the farthest we've gone, which isn't long for us, cause we live in south texas, so we have to travel at least 2hrs for everything. And when we did travel the 6 hours we were only there for one day. And we usually stay with family and they are okay with me washing our CD in their washer. I do wash the washer before and after. But you and hubby should be fine. Don't forget something to keep the smell down in the hotel. Beleive it or not, I usually take only covers n prefolds. Why? Because I can use only 2 covers a day. Usually only take 2-4 covers. And I bring a dozen of prefolds (some inserts) and a few liners for her “messy time.” With AIO's n pockets, we can only use them once, so we'd have to take more with us.
So it looks like you're set for the trip…. BEST OF LUCK!
Can't wait to hear how it goes,
CJR
I have not traveled far with cloth so I am not much help either. But if you bring your pockets to use as covers, can't you just fold the prefolds (maybe a simple tri-fold) and stuff it in the pocket?
We did not fly, but I just returned from a week's vacation with cloth. I packed a suitcase full of cloth and washed twice during the week. I did bring home 1 1/2 days worth of dirty cloth in a wetbag inside a suitcase. It was no big deal, really!
Have you heard of the hybrid diapers, like GroVia (GroBaby). They are great and they are my go-to diapers for travel. They have compostable biosoakers (in place of a prefold) that you can toss out (no hauling dirties everywhere), and a diaper cover that you can use over and over again (granted you don't get poop on them). But bring a couple covers and a box of biosoakers and you are set to go!
Another brand I heard works well is the Flip diaper system.
We did not fly, but I just returned from a week’s vacation with cloth. I packed a suitcase full of cloth and washed twice during the week. I did bring home 1 1/2 days worth of dirty cloth in a wetbag inside a suitcase. It was no big deal, really!
We did not fly, but I just returned from a week’s vacation with cloth. I packed a suitcase full of cloth and washed twice during the week. I did bring home 1 1/2 days worth of dirty cloth in a wetbag inside a suitcase. It was no big deal, really!
Have you heard of the hybrid diapers, like GroVia (GroBaby). They are great and they are my go-to diapers for travel. They have compostable biosoakers (in place of a prefold) that you can toss out (no hauling dirties everywhere), and a diaper cover that you can use over and over again (granted you don’t get poop on them). But bring a couple covers and a box of biosoakers and you are set to go!nnAnother brand I heard works well is the Flip diaper system.
Have you heard of the hybrid diapers, like GroVia (GroBaby). They are great and they are my go-to diapers for travel. They have compostable biosoakers (in place of a prefold) that you can toss out (no hauling dirties everywhere), and a diaper cover that you can use over and over again (granted you don’t get poop on them). But bring a couple covers and a box of biosoakers and you are set to go!nnAnother brand I heard works well is the Flip diaper system.
I'd also encourage the hybrid system as another option. We just did a 10 day vacation and while I had easy access to laundry for part of it, three days were camping and I used all covers and flip disposable inserts. You can use your pockets as covers too, I have a friend that does that all the time. The advantage of the flip disposable inserts (or the GroVia) is that they are easier than prefolds to work with. Then you don't have nearly as much laundry to bring home and the mess is in the garbage. Yes, you are still doing disposable but those inserts are much better than disposable diapers. I would say that we found the flip inserts weren't as absorbent as the cloth versions so if the GroVia are better, I'd spend the extra on those. Love that you're trying to figure out how to make it work! Good luck!
I’d also encourage the hybrid system as another option. We just did a 10 day vacation and while I had easy access to laundry for part of it, three days were camping and I used all covers and flip disposable inserts. You can use your pockets as covers too, I have a friend that does that all the time. The advantage of the flip disposable inserts (or the GroVia) is that they are easier than prefolds to work with. Then you don’t have nearly as much laundry to bring home and the mess is in the garbage. Yes, you are still doing disposable but those inserts are much better than disposable diapers. I would say that we found the flip inserts weren’t as absorbent as the cloth versions so if the GroVia are better, I’d spend the extra on those. Love that you’re trying to figure out how to make it work! Good luck!
I’d also encourage the hybrid system as another option. We just did a 10 day vacation and while I had easy access to laundry for part of it, three days were camping and I used all covers and flip disposable inserts. You can use your pockets as covers too, I have a friend that does that all the time. The advantage of the flip disposable inserts (or the GroVia) is that they are easier than prefolds to work with. Then you don’t have nearly as much laundry to bring home and the mess is in the garbage. Yes, you are still doing disposable but those inserts are much better than disposable diapers. I would say that we found the flip inserts weren’t as absorbent as the cloth versions so if the GroVia are better, I’d spend the extra on those. Love that you’re trying to figure out how to make it work! Good luck!