Trials and Tribulations of Cloth Diapering

It’s been a while since I’ve given an update on our cloth diapers.  Well I am happy to announce that we are FULL TIME cloth diaper users.  I think the hardest part is breaking the dependency on the sposies.

It’s a learning curve though.  How do you know you are washing them properly?  What do you do if they start to smell after you’ve washed them?  Is it ok if they are stained?  Am I putting the insert in right?  Is it on tight enough?  Too tight?  Did I remember to tell hubby that we are now putting the insert in the other way?  Does Gramma know about laundry tabs?  The little details can drive you crazy if you let them but don’t let them! 

There are so many resources out there.  I’ve recently become addicted to Twitter and meeting other #clothdiapering momma’s!  On Monday’s we even ‘meet up’ on Twitter and chat about #clothdiapers.  (The # is a twitter thing.)  I didn’t realize how many different brands there are out there.  Most of them look similar to our Bum Genius diapers that we use but they are all unique in their own way. 

Now, I know I should be full of encouragement and hide all the dirty little secrets but that’s not my style.  I’d love to tell you that it’s just as easy as sposies but it’s different.  Not easier, not harder, just different.  If you don’t put the insert in properly or adjust the tabs just right they will leak.  If your baby has a very large appetite and a very large bladder they may leak.  I dare you to find me a sposie that doesn’t leak.  And, it is all part of the learning curve.  As you become more familiar with the diapers and with your baby the trials will come less often. 

And there are times when (for our family at least) it’s not practical to use cloth diapers.  When we travel we rarely stay with friends and family.  We usually stay in hotels and are gone for more than just a few days.  There is no easy way to wash diapers in a hotel room.  There is no easy way to carry a weeks worth of wet, dirty diapers home in your luggage (especially since we fly a lot).  It’s not like you have easy access to a laundry room or the time to spend there to wash your diapers (twice).  I keep meaning to try gDiapers for when we travel but haven’t invested in the started set yet. 

It really is a lot of fun to shop for cloth diapers and they really are much cuter than sposies.  When was the last time someone stopped you to ask you what kind of sposie your baby is wearing?