Something New, Something Blue

We're wrapping up the first day of a new experiment in the D4 household: cloth diapers. If you're curious about what diapers I'm using, they are the Bum Genius 3.0 all-in-one diaper. I wanted to include a picture for my mothers, who are probably picturing something quite different when I say "cloth diaper".

I had one family that I babysat for who used cloth diapers back in the 1980s and yes, they were the old-fashioned square pads with pins and plastic pants over top. They weren't very efficient or ergonomic and were a pain in the butt (haha) to change for someone used to Pampers.

Well, cloth diapers have come a long way even in the last few years. I never would have considered doing it for Josiah. I didn't even really know that it was an option. Cloth diapering hadn't even hit my radar yet for Annika. It's only been in the last couple of years that I started hearing about it more and more. I had a neighbor here who used a diaper similar to the Bum Genius and hey--it looked a heck of a lot easier to use than the circa 1980s cloth diaper!

So when Will was due to arrive, I did a little research and decided that we would buy just three of the Bum Genius diapers and see how they work. There are tons of different cloth diapers out there right now--these are called "all-in-one" because they don't need a diaper and a cover. It's all one piece. The only hitch is that I have to use an insert with it, kind of like a disposable pad that lays inside the diaper. I also have been putting a sheet of flushable paper on top of the absorbant pad--this is to catch poo--and then you just take the piece of paper and flush the whole mess. The paper sounds rough, but it's kind of the consistency and texture of a dry baby wipe--actually, I've heard some mothers say that that's what they use, dry baby wipes.

So far, it's been going well. We have been using the cloth diapers all day. I just take the wet insert out when I change him and replace it with a new insert and a fresh paper liner. So far, the cover (the green portion in the picture) has stayed dry, so I've been using the same cover all day. I think some people wash the whole works every time, but I figure, as long as it's dry and clean, I'll keep using it. These diapers cost $17.95 each, so if I can get by without buying a cover for each diaper change, that's even more saved money. Will seems to think they're OK. They aren't as good as wicking away the moisture as disposables, but it doesn't seem to bother him. I've been changing him a little more often than usual until we get the hang of it.

Anyway, one day down. I'm going to use disposables at night for their wicking power and because who wants to mess with it in the middle of the night? Not I. I'll be thrilled if I can eliminate disposables during the day!