The Lifespan of a Cloth Diaper - How Long Will My Cloth Diapers Last?

Happy Thursday! I hope your week has been filled with lots of fluff and no stink! :)

Today, let's talk about a topic that a lot of people often have questions about when they start cloth diapering OR when they notice their diapers not looking so great.

How long will my cloth diapers last? 

I think there are a lot of misconceptions out there because of the statement, "One-Size diapers will last from birth to potty training." Yes, the diaper will fit from birth to potty training, but that doesn't mean it'll be functional that long. The lifespan of a cloth diaper really depends on how well you take care of it. Other than manufacturing defects covered by warranty, cloth diaper companies (like Softbums) aren't responsible for replacing cloth diapers because of wear and tear. Would you contact your t-shirt company because it got a hole in after you washed it 100 times? No. Me either. There's definitely an interesting phenomenon in the cloth diaper industry where customers almost expect that companies replace diapers long past their prime.

Now that we have all that out of the way, below you'll find the most common wear and tear components on a cloth diaper and how to keep them in tip top shape the longest.

1. Hook and Loop, Aplix, Velcro (however you refer to it) - If you choose to do velcro on your diapers instead of snaps, this will be the first place you'll see wear and tear. Velcro becomes fuzzy and can curl over time causing it to be less sticky. You'll also notice that lots of strings and fuzz tend to collect there.

Thankfully, both situations are easily remedied. Keeping your velcro tabs clean by picking out the fuzz with your fingers or the end of a snappi can keep them looking nicer longer, as will making sure you use the laundry tabs when washing. Air drying your diapers can help keep your velcro sticky, too. And if all else fails and your velcro is completely shot - you can replace it using some simple sewing. Softbums sells replacement hook and loop here.

2. Pilling - This can happen on both the inside and outside of the diaper. You'll notice pretty quickly that the inside micro-fleece lining on your Softbums or other cloth diapers getting pilly. This is completely normal and harmless. I've never done anything to try to remedy this, but you can use a sweater shaver to remove it if it bothers you.

If you're using hook and loop diapers, you'll also notice that the PUL surrounding your velcro can also get pilly. This is just from the velcro catching on it. Again, totally harmless. You can either be really careful when changing your baby and using the laundry tabs or you can try the sweater shaver trick above being careful not to create any holes.

3. Elastic - Next to go is usually the elastic. You'll see the terms "relaxed elastic" often if you frequent cloth diaper buy/sell/trade groups. This just means that the elastic has stretched out either from natural wear and tear or excessive heat use (either too hot water in the wash or drying on high in the dryer too often. The use of additives can also break down the elastic quicker then it would naturally. Bleach and vinegar are often culprits.

Again, you can prolong the life of your elastic. Don't wash your diapers hotter than about 120 degrees and air dry instead of throwing in the dryer. If you must put them in the dryer - dry on low/medium heat and remove promptly. Never (or seldom) use additives. If you have to for whatever reason, just be aware that it will void your Softbums warranty. If your elastic is relaxed, but your diaper is otherwise looking great you can replace the elastic. Softbums elastic is easily replaceable and can be purchased here.

4. Staining - It's just a natural part of using cloth diapers! Remember - they're being pee'd and pooped in. Even if your diapers don't look stained at first glance, they tend to look dingy over time. Just hold up an old diaper next to a new one and you'll know what I mean!

You can help keep stains at bay by washing every 2-3 days, washing in hot water (but not too hot!), and hanging to dry in the sun (natural whitener) just to name a few things. There's lots of stain tricks and products out there! Just make sure if you're drying outside that you face the inside of the diaper towards the sun. Repeated sun exposure to the outside of the diaper can fade the color/print over time.

5. PUL  - You'll know a diaper has completely gone through it's lifespan when you've got holes. Holes in the PUL most often occur on the tabs (the sides you use to close the diaper) since that's where you touch it most often and along the back elastic since it rubs up against your baby's clothes. You can continue to use a cloth diaper that has little holes in these areas as they don't necessarily come in to contact with your baby's urine, but holes in the middle of the diaper means it's usually time to retire it. And a cloth diaper that's delaminated is finished. You'll know that this has happened if you see the shiny inside material of the PUL separate.

Another place you'll often find holes from wear and tear is on the rise snaps of One Size diapers. Fortunately, Softbums doesn't have rise snaps so you'll never have this problem! Phew.....

6. Inserts/Pods - Usually what happens here is that they just thin out over time. You may notice a little less absorbency. Sometimes you may see holes from the wear and tear of washing and drying. And of course, they may become dingy and stained as they get used.

Other Contributing Factors:

• Stash/Rotation Size - More diapers means less washing. Less washing = less wear and tear. A bonus to using Softbums is that you don't need to wash the shell/cover every time it's used. Simply replace the insert/pod. You'll end up washing them less than you would a typical cloth diaper.

• Additives - Additives like bleach and vinegar can weaken elastic and damage PUL over time. Never soak your diapers in these things.

• Water and Drying Temperature - Too hot water or a too hot dryer setting can also weaken elastic, PUL, and hook and loop closures over time. Never use the sanitize cycle on your washer. The water gets too hot on that setting. Line dry your shells. If using the dryer, never dry on heat higher than the medium setting unless doing the 15 minute sealing when you first get your Softbums shells. You can also remove your shells half way through and let them air dry the rest of the way. There's no absorbent material there so it won't take long!

**Remember, one-size cloth diapers don't last forever and they're still cheaper than buying disposables. You'll likely be able to get through one kid from birth to potty if you take good care of them. It's a bonus if you get to use them on another. Replacing hook and loop and elastic will get you even more time. The takeaway: A cloth diaper will last on average 1.5 - 2 years. Double this to 3-4 years by keeping a larger stash, taking gentle care of them and repairing when necessary.**

Let's Connect!: In the comments let me know the longest you've ever used a cloth diaper? Have they lasted more than 1 kid? What ways do you take care of them that have made the most difference? Feel free to ask any questions, as well. I'll stop back and answer. XOXO! :)

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Curious about who's writing for Softbums now? Well, that's me! My name is Jenny and I'll be contributing to the Softbums blog weekly. Check back every Wednesday for a new post about Softbums, cloth diapers, and other parenting topics. Like my writing and want to read more? You can find me over at my blog - According to Jenny. I'm not currently active there, but you'll find lots of good stuff in the archives. I've also written for several cloth diaper retailer blogs including Kelly's Closet, Squishy Tushy, Earthy Crunchy Mama, Cloth Diaper Outlet, and the Little Monkey Store. 

Stripping Cloth Diapers - An EASY Way!

Hello Softbums friends! Are you having problems with your diapers smelling? Leaking? Or are you just curious what everyone is talking about when they say they're "stripping?" Well, you've come to the right place! Whether you use Softbums exclusively or have a variety of different brands - stripping is all the same. Below you'll find an easy step by step guide to getting your diapers back in tip top shape.

There are a lot of different methods out there for stripping cloth diapers, but I find that the simplest is the most effective. If you decide to go a different route, my only advice is to NEVER EVER put your diapers in the dishwasher. That's the only stripping method that I'm completely against because 1.) fire hazard and 2.) Eww.....

Just follow this simple plan instead:

1. CLEAN DIAPERS - If you want to strip your cloth diapers and they're all dirty, just run through the first part of your wash routine. Do your cold (or warm) rinse and your hot wash. Otherwise move on to step 2 if you've already got clean diapers.

2. HOT WASHES - Stripping is just a way of removing build up (from either detergent or rash cream) from the materials of your diapers and pods/inserts. To do this all you need to do is wash your diapers on HOT with NO DETERGENT. Repeatedly - until you see no more detergent bubbles. Remember: bubbles from your detergent and bubbles from your agitator are different. Don't confuse the two or you may do more washes than you need. The third wash is a good time to start checking for bubbles and go from there depending on what you see.

3.  DRY - Do whatever you normally do to dry your diapers. I prefer to hang outside in the summer for the added benefit of the sun (did you know it's like a natural whitener and disinfectant?!) or dry my inserts/pods/etc in the dryer and hang shells and covers on a drying rack. Do what works for you.

4. ANALYZE - There's really no step 4 (gotcha!), but it's a really good time to think about your wash routine and what could be causing your problems. If you have to strip your diapers - something's not right, ya'll. Especially if you're stripping every month. Whether that means switching detergent (Softbums recommends Purex Free and Clear), using less or more (using less would help with build up and using more usually solves the stinky issue), or changing around the amount you wash at one time with the correct water level. Didn't you know using cloth diapers involved science? ;)

SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT ADDITIVES:

I'm definitely one to avoid additives when washing/stripping, but there are a few things you can try if the above steps just aren't working. Please keep in mind that using the below additives will void your warranty and/or contribute to early wear. You want these babies to last don't you?

Blue Dawn - If someone got a non-cloth diaper safe rash cream on your beloved Softbums and you've got a spot of repelling that didn't go away with the above stripping method, you can scrub the spot with a toothbrush and a LITTLE Blue Dawn Dish Soap. Dawn is a degreaser so it should remove any stubborn rash cream but IT WILL void your Softbums warranty and possibly your washer warranty, as well.

Bleach - You're going to find people who use bleach on their cloth diapers and those who don't. I'm normally in the "Don't Camp", but would consider using it if I needed to disinfect because of an infection like yeast or because I was completely at my wits end washing diapers and I was going to quit and use disposables. I'm no quitter. Again, just remember that the use of bleach will void your Softbums warranty, so use at your own risk.

Let's Connect!: In the comments let me know if you've ever stripped your cloth diapers and what method you've used. If you've never had to - what's your wash routine?! Feel free to ask any questions, too. I'll be sure to stop back and answer! Cheers!

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Curious about who's writing for Softbums now? Well, that's me! My name is Jenny and I'll be contributing to the Softbums blog weekly. Check back every Wednesday for a new post about Softbums, cloth diapers, and other parenting topics. Like my writing and want to read more? You can find me over at my blog - According to Jenny. I'm not currently active there, but you'll find lots of good stuff in the archives. I've also written for several cloth diaper retailer blogs including Kelly's Closet, Squishy Tushy, Earthy Crunchy Mama, Cloth Diaper Outlet, and the Little Monkey Store. 

The Great Diapering Debate

Cloth or Disposable

By Guest Blogger Ruby from the Sweet House Life Blog

 

The Scoop on Poop

Disposable Blowout

When I first think of cloth diapers versus disposable diapers one word comes to mind.  Poop.  Let’s be honest here, every baby does it, not every diaper contains it.  Speaking from my own experience with cloth and disposables, I have only had one true poopexplosion using my cloth diapers, and that, unfortunately, was because of user error.  The poop exploded up her side and all over her pretty pink onesie.  It was gross.  So gross, I never wanted it to happen again.  Then, enters our weekend of disposables….. we decided to take a suitcase full of disposables on a weekend to the grandparents’ house (I was truly scared to travel with cloth at this point).  All was going well, smiling baby, giggling grandparents, tons of pictures, and then you hear “OH NO, grab a towel.”  In baby-land, that can mean two things, either you got blasted with spit up, or pooped on.  Unfortunately for grandma, it was the latter of the two.  There was poop everywhere, all over my daughter, grandma, her blanket and even her socks.  It was sick. What might you ask then is the difference between the disposable poop and the cloth poop?  Well, it happened four other times JUST that weekend…. that, my friends, is the difference.  One poop explosion, when we’ve been using cloth for over nine months, versus four poop explosions after using our disposables for a mere 3 days.   Needless to say, we now travel with cloth EVERY single time.  Also, after hubby received the other three blowouts, he was a cloth believer ;). 

                Why do cloth diapers tend to hold the poo in better? I believe it has to do with the back elastic on the cloth diaper.  It has the ability to be snuggly up against the baby’s back and conform to their actual curves, thus holding in the diapers contents.  With the adjustable leg openings, Velcro closure, adjustable absorbency, and back elastic, you have a diaper that fits perfect every single time.

All About the Benjamins

                Let’stalk about my husband’s favorite part of cloth diapering, saving all those benjamins!!!  I’m not going to lie, as the budgeter of the family, I love it too. Want to make yourself feel good? Write down all of the things you do to save money in one column with the associated costs, and then in the other column write down what it would cost you if you decided not to save that money. Ahhhh, instant gratification.  Cloth diapering will just add to that amazingly satisfied feeling.

 Let’s say you spend about $450 on your initial diapering costs.  This would include a package of enough Softbums diapers to get your child from birth to potty training, a diaper sprayer, some detergent, and your wipes and wipe solution.  This might seem like a large amount, and it is, up front, but me oh my it will save you in the longrun. 

Let’s assume that the average family using disposables will consume about 63 diapers a week (9 changes in a day).  Each disposable diaper costs about 27 cents (I used a package of Huggies on Amazon.com).  Therefore, disposables are costing roughly $68 a month, $816 a year, or $2,040 in 2 ½ years, and remember, this is conservatively speaking. 

Now, there are some slight continuing costs associated with cloth diapering.  Our water bill has gone up between $4-$6(using an HE washing machine), we hang dry, so we haven’t seen an increase in our electricity, and about once every four months I have to buy detergent which is $13.  Overall, a continuing cost of about $100.00 a year.  So from birth to 2½ years, it would cost roughly $700.  At this point, many of your items can be used for more children as well, thus giving you an even greater savings.  I don’t know about you, but in my mind $700 > $2,040 (however you want to do your math ).

 “So, It’s Just Like a Disposable”

                Now, one thing that people who aren’t into cloth diapers always say is, “disposables are just so much easier.”  My response? Well, let me show you how easy cloth is. I take it off of my child’s bum, use a cloth wipe, wrap the snapped in insert and wipe up together and throw it in a wetbag.  When the wetbag is full, I dump everything into the washer, and wash it.  When it’s done, I hang it up.  If it’s poopy, I spray it, so add 10 seconds onto my diaper change time.  I suppose I don’t understand the difficulty of it.  The interesting thing that a lot of people don’t know is that if you read up on disposable diapers, it actually states that you are supposed to flush the poo down the toilet.  It isn’t supposed to go into a landfill (I wonder how many people actually do that). So, if you truly used a disposable diaper in the way that it was intended, it wouldn’t necessarily save you any time during the diaper change process. 

                One thing I love is when I have a disposable diaper using friend babysit my child (this EXACT situation has happened three different times).  I go to show them how to use my Velcro cloth Softbums, and I do it by demonstrating on my baby.  Once I show them (in all of 5 seconds) the next thing out of their mouth is “so, it’s just like a disposable.”  Why yes, it is just as easy to put on as disposables, and I always want to throw in there “but yet my child won’t poop all over you,” but I generally refrain. 

                Remember that story from the first paragraph? Our weekend with disposables? Well, we had to stay in disposables for a while after that because my sweet little one had contracted a yeast infection from them (doc said it was likely the Ph level difference in the diapers), and we couldn’t use the cream with our cloth diapers.  Therefore, we were stuck using disposables for an extra week.  That being said, when we were nearing the end of the everlasting yeast infection, my husband was changing a diaper as I was sitting in the nursery, and he asked me “when can we go back to cloth?”  My response was,“soon, why?” and his most AMAZING response ever was, “because it’s easier.”  Enough said.

                So,when you have a friend or loved one say, “why choose cloth?” you have your gunsblazing and your facts ready!  It’s just obvious, cloth wins everytime!

 

And really, who can resist the cute factor?

April 2012 Calendar Bums Giveaway!

Enter here for the April Calendar Bum Giveaway!

As sweet as the spring flowers, 

April's Calendar Bum is beautiful Lilac!

Can you believe it is April already!?  

Welcome spring with this sweet pastel Lilac on your baby's bum!  

SoftBums will be giving away a 6 pack of our amazing diapers for the winner of the giveaway, and a shell for a friend you refer to and that likes our Facebook page!  

The six pack includes:

2 Echo Shells 

6 Dry Touch Pods

2 Dry Touch Mini Pods

May is going to come up fast, what would you like to see for May's Calendar Bum!?

We are sewing up a storm in our SoftBums Secret Design Studio, and want to know what you want to see on your baby next month!  Be part of the fun, and add a comment on your thoughts on favorite styles, colors, or prints that you want to see!

Calendar Bums, April 2012

April is here already, and SoftBums is back with your April Calendar Bum!

Welcome Spring in with beautiful Lilac!

Are you new to SoftBums and the Calendar Bum's campaign?  Do you remember that oldies song "Calendar Girl"? We will be introducing a new limited edition color or print each and every month.  So far this year we have had Firecracker Red for February, Blueberry in March, and now 

April's color is this spring-y Lilac! This beautiful color, another blast from the past, is back for a very limited time and we're sure you'll enjoy it.

They will be available for purchase at your favorite retailer and at www.SoftBums.com today. If your favorite retailer doesn't carry SoftBums products yet be sure to let them know they should!

Stay tuned for the giveaway, coming later today!

Stay tuned for every month's new Calendar Bums release!

More exciting stuff on our SoftBums blog: I Love Cloth Diapers

March 2012 Calendar Bum Giveaway

Enter Here for the:

March 2012 Calendar Bum Giveaway

Here we go again!  Enter to win below for your March Calendar Bum Giveaway!

March we are giving away an Echo 6 pack this includes:

2 Echo Shells (your color choice)

6 Dry Touch Pods

2 Mini Dry Touch Pods

We will also giveaway one Blueberry Shell to a friend you refer, and 'likes' our Facebook Page!

What do YOU want to see for next month's Calendar Bums?

We are sewing up a storm in our SoftBums Secret Design Studio, and want to know what you want to see on your baby next month!  Be part of the fun, and add a comment on your thoughts on favorite styles, colors, or prints that you want to see!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Calendar Bums! February 2012

Miss Stella is in LOVE with her SoftBums!

We have some fun news for you from SoftBums this year!

Calendar Bums!

Do you remember that oldies song "Calendar Girl"? We will be introducing a new limited edition color or print each and every month as part of our "Calendar Bums" campaign.

To kick it off, February's color is of course red for LOVE! This beautiful Firecracker red color, another blast from the past, is back for a very limited time and we're sure you'll enjoy it.

They will be available for purchase at your favorite retailer and at www.SoftBums.com beginning Valentines Day February 14th. If your favorite retailer doesn't carry SoftBums products yet be sure to let them know they should!

Stay tuned for every month's new Calendar Bums release!

More exciting stuff on our SoftBums blog: I Love Cloth Diapers

5 Tips for Gaining Support with Cloth Diapering

As a parent you have probably spent your entire nine months of pregnancy preparing for the arrival of your baby making sure that everything is perfect when they arrive. You’ve researched cloth diapers and decided that you are ready to make the commitment.

Now, how do you convince your partner, spouse, significant other, childcare facility, and others to make this commitment with you? After all, you don’t plan on changing ALL those diapers by yourself do you?

5 Tips for Gaining Support with Cloth Diapering

1. Determine what motivates others. While your spouse might be motivated by the cost savings your childcare provider might be motivated by ease of use. Let that motivator be your focus when explaining to them why you are choosing cloth diapers on your baby.

2. Consider a name change. Call them reusable diapers, modern cloth diapers, or call them by brand name (i.e. Soft Bums) when introducing them to others.

3. Show them off. Having a sample diaper on hand to explain how they work can help ease most people’s fears about cloth diapers. Remember that most people still haven’t seen all the new varieties of cloth diapers that are available.

4. Remember to talk about how easy they are to use. They are just as easy as disposable diapers.  Debunk the common myths like having to swish them in the toilet.

5. Ask them to consider a trial period. If you are approaching a childcare facility or caregiver about cloth diapering and you receive any hesitations have them consider a trial period. Chances are that after they see how easy they are to use they won’t object.

Whatever you do, remember to make things easy for everyone involved. If you are going to be putting your baby in day care you probably don’t want to use pre-fold’s with snappis and covers when you can use Soft Bums all-in-two system instead. If your husband is going to be responsible for changing a majority of the diapers (in our dreams right!) you probably don’t want to give him a diaper with 30 snaps on it when you could give him one with Velcro.

My personal story:

When I told my husband I wanted to use cloth diapers he looked at me like I had 6 eyes. He felt a little better once I bought one diaper and showed him how they worked.  After a year of cloth diapering he has accepted them as well as can be expected.  I have to keep reminding him how much money we've saved this year and that usually brings a smile back to his face. 

When we were interviewing caregivers we had a few diapers available with us and explained how they worked. Here is a sample of the conversation with them: “We use modern cloth diapers like this on our baby, are your familiar with them? Let me show you how similar they are to disposable diapers.”

Don’t get frustrated, stay positive and try not to get defensive.  People just want their concerns to be heard before they make the commitment with you.

Want additional support? The Real Diaper Association has several pamphlets developed that you can use when introducing cloth diapers to your friends, family and caregivers.

Consider Cloth Pamphlet

Day Care Tip Sheet

This is a guest post by Calley Pate, author and owner of The Eco Chic blog. Calley is an environmental consultant by profession and eco-mommy blogger. She has been cloth diapering her daughter for just over a year.

The Perfect Diapering Accessories

You have your stash of cloth diapers, now what? What are the perfect diapering accessories that no diaper bag should be without? Here is a peak inside my diaper bag.

1. The Wet bag: Every diaper bag should have at least one wet bag. A medium sized wet bag is perfect for storing wet and soiled diapers while away from home. They typically have either a drawstring or zippered top and can store about 6-12 diapers. Larger bags can be used at home or when traveling and can hold about 12-20 diapers. WahmieBags are available in a wide variety of fabrics on the outside and a coordinating PVC-free waterproof inner layer.

We actually have three small/medium wet bags that we send with our little one each day to her sitters. When the diapers come home the full wet bag goes to the laundry room to wait for laundry day. We also have a large wet bag for the bathroom to store dirties in while at home. An extra bonus, the closed top keeps the smells away between wash days.

2. The Wipes: If you've made the switch to cloth diapers it seems only natural to use cloth wipes. Using a cloth wipe is better for the environment and can reduce rashes up to 70% compared to disposable wipes. Soft Bums premium wipes are made with one layer of super soft cotton flannel and one side of extremely soft cotton sherpa terry.

Not only are these wipes perfect for your babies delicate bum; they can be used as wash clothes, burp rags, and hankies too. Soft Bums wipes are available in space prints for boys and tea time prints for girls. What do I put on my wipes? Water, how much more natural can you get?

3. The Creams: Even the most cared for bum can get diaper rash. Rashes can be caused by diet, teething, detergent residue, and illness. Soft Bums carries only Northern Essence diaper butters and salves and are safe for use on cloth diapers. Most diaper creams available at retail stores can stain your cloth diapers. Northern Essence creams are made from all natural materials and are unscented for a baby’s delicate derriere.

What’s in your diaper bag? What is your favorite accessory?

This is a guest post by Calley Pate, author and owner of The Eco Chic blog. Calley is an environmental consultant by profession and eco-mommy blogger. She has been cloth diapering her daughter for one year.

Cloth Diapers, Water Conservation, and You

There are so many arguments for whether cloth diapers are really better for the environment than disposables. One of the topics of argument is water usage. It’s no secret that cloth diapers require water usage to launder them. The amount of water used depends on you.

Chances are that if you are considering using cloth diapers (or already use cloth diapers) you are also concerned about the environment. You are probably the type of person who has installed a low-flow showerhead and replaced your toilet with a more water efficient model. You probably don’t soak in a nice hot bath every night or run your sprinklers during the local water ban. So when people argue with you over the amount of water you use to wash your diapers keep that in mind.

Have there been studies that show the actual water usage of both cloth diapers and disposables? Yes and no. The research is very limited and some would say that it is flawed (funded by the disposable diaper companies). Regardless of what the research shows with respect to water usage, water is not the only resource in question.

Disposable diapers use wood and oil in manufacturing and distribution alone. Did you know that to manufacture enough diapers for one baby for a year that over 300 lbs. of wood, 50 lbs. of petroleum, and 20 lbs. of chlorine are used? Forests of trees are being destroyed and our nation’s oil resources are being depleted at a greater rate because of disposable diapers. Keep in mind that oil is not a renewable resource and that while it is a natural resource we are consuming it at a faster rate than nature can reproduce it. Water on the other hand is a renewable resource and makes up 70% of the Earths surface. That’s a lot of water. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t conserve water.

 5 simple ways to conserve water while using cloth diapers:

1. If you are exclusively breastfeeding there is no need to rinse the poop before you wash.
2. Using a flushable liner will make it easier to remove most solids without rinsing.
3. Use the correct type and amount of detergent to avoid soap buildup on your diapers.
4. Wash only a full load of diapers (and a full load is only about 20 diapers). Don’t overstuff the washer or the diapers won’t get as clean.
5. Use Soft Bums brand cloth diapers with the snap in inserts. Since you can reuse the outer cover 2-3 times you will have fewer diapers to wash on laundry day.

So how do you conserve water at home? What do you say when a naysayer tells you that cloth diapers waste water?

This is a guest post by Calley Pate, author and owner of The Eco Chic blog. Calley is an environmental consultant by profession and eco-blogger by hobby. She has been cloth diapering her daughter for one year.

Soft Bums Valentines Contest

If real babies wear cloth diapers then real babies can wear pink!  Yes, even the boys! 

Show off your baby in a pink (or red) cloth diaper and enter for a chance to win a pink (or yellow if your boy doesn't wear pink) Soft Bums cloth diaper in honor of Valentines Day!

Mandatory entry:  Visit our Facebook fan page and upload a picture of your baby sporting a pink (or red) cloth diaper.  Leave a comment below with your Facebook name and a valid email address. 

Extra entries:
1.  Subscribe to have I Love Cloth Diapers, the Soft Bums blog delivered to your email inbox.
2.  Follow @softbumsmama on Twitter and tweet about this contest.  Must include @softbumsmama and a link to this post in your tweet.
3.  Make a purchase in the Soft Bums store.

Leave a seperate comment for each entry; with a maximum of 4 entries per family per contest.  Please leave a valid email address so that you may be contact if you are the winner.

Contest is open to residents of US and Canada over the age of 18 yrs old.  Contest begins on Monday, February 8th and continues until Monday, February 15th (midnight EST).  Winner will be selected at random.

Good luck and Happy Valentines Day!       

CONTEST ENDED! Congratulations Kayla!!

How Many Cloth Diapers Do I Need?

My father use to call me Imelda Marcos…you know the former First Lady of the Philippines’ who had over 3,000 pairs of shoes in her collection…because I was always buying shoes as a teenager. It’s rather amusing that I now get just as excited over cloth diapers as I do over new shoes. I find myself convincing my husband that I need “just one more to match her new outfit!”


It’s not surprising that one of the most common questions for parents is HOW MANY CLOTH DIAPERS DO I NEED?

Facts:

1. The average infant will need to be changed every two hours for the first few months; at least until they begin sleeping through the night. That’s about 12 diaper changes each day.

2. Older babies need to be changed about 8-10 times per day.

3. Toddlers only need to be changed about 4-8 times per day.

Remembering that every baby has different needs at different ages you will want to start with enough diapers for about 24 diaper changes. This will allow you to wash every 2-3 days.

With AI2s like Soft Bums you don’t need 24 different diapers in your stash because you can reuse the cover 1-3 times by simply replacing the snap-in insert. A stash of 24 one-sized pocket diapers would run $406.80 (based on a popular one sized cloth diaper) whereas the Soft Bums Good Set (includes 8 covers, 24 inserts, and 8 doublers) would only run $282.95. In fact, you could get the Soft Bums Complete Pack (includes 10 covers, 36 inserts, and 10 doublers…enough for 36 diaper changes) for less than 24 of the one-sized pocket diapers…and still have money leftover!

I asked my friends on Twitter last week how many diapers are currently in their stash. Here are some of the responses.

@Kaylynbuckner I have a small stash for now but when I get the ones in the mail I will have 25
@mbvisor right now I have 29
@growingyourbaby I always keep 10 on hand
@amongthemess We’ve got apx 25 diapers in our stash. Been doing it almost 2 years now!! Realized I didn’t need that many, but I’m addicted!!
@graciekate 23! Newbie
@MotherhoodnMe about 25 and I’m an intermediate
@FamilyCrunch 2 months in and we have 30 dipes in rotation atm.
@rbrinner 26. DD is 20 months and I’ve been CD since ~2mo
@Waddlebug Currently, 16. Been diapering for 5 months and I STILL am learning!!
@oobinsnaffa I have about 50-60 CDs of various sizes and types…maybe more. CD for 2.5 years.
@Morgoonaroonie I have 28 in circulation right now…37 total. I have been doing this for about 8 months

As for me, I currently have a stash of about 30 cloth diapers. My daughter just turned one and the majority of our stash is made up of pocket diapers (bummer I didn’t learn about Soft Bums before she was born). Can I have too many cloth diapers?

Just like shoes, you can’t ever have too many cloth diapers. Just ask Imelda Marcos.

This is a guest post by Calley Pate, author and owner of The Eco Chic blog. Calley is an environmental consultant by profession and eco-blogger by hobby. She has been cloth diapering her daughter for one year.

Feel the Cloth Diaper Love!

Have you thought about using cloth diapers for cost, environment or health reasons on your baby, but never got around to it? Or perhaps a friend of loved one, maybe even your own husband, doesn't seem to be as interested in cloth diapers as you are? Do they seem like too much work? Too much laundry? Too confusing with all the different brands, or styles? Maybe you have visions of diapers soaking in the toilet, or pails of bleach water, saggy ill fitting plain white vinyl diaper covers, or stinky messy poopy diapers having to be washed out by hand. Honestly modern cloth diapering has changed so much from our mother's day, they are so much different.

First off, diapers today are CUTE!!!! They can be so much fun, even for families on a super tight budget(are there any families that aren't on a tight budget anymore?).

Don't even look at the price tag of cloth diapers. We'll get to that later.

Just look at the pictures to begin with. Pictures say a lot, especially on the bums of happy little babies!

You can see lots of pictures of babies in cloth diapers if you just google images cloth diapers.

Start with just looking at colors, and patterns that you like best. There are so many fun things out there for babies, and cloth diapers can be one of them. Just like a new outfit, or a pair of tiny little baby shoes. These are a justifiable buy for your infant because you have to put something on their butt!!! Why not make some of the diapers cute!!

Okay, see lots of pictures, now what's next?

Buy a diaper or 2. If you don't have a store near you that stocks more than Flats, Prefolds or pull-on cover, and you probably won't because there aren't that many, just do what we all do, and order one from the internet!! There are literally thousands of brands of diapers out there. It's a good idea to buy most of your diapers from a reliable, well known or well reviewed diaper company. Unless you are just buying 1 or 2 to play with that is. If you just see a hand-dyed bamboo velour fitted diaper that you know nothing about the company or diapers, but you are in love with the look of the diaper, go ahead and get it! You never know it might be a tiny WAHM (Work at Home Mother) diaper that is not well known yet, but makes fabulous diapers! Start with just 1 or 2 to play with, even if you don't have your baby yet.

Don't go overboard with this experimenting, you're not really ready to be a great judge of a good quality diaper yet, and you don't want to spend tons of money finding this out the hard way.

Now that you have your little fluffy treasure in-hand, it's time to do some research.

First you need to be informed of the benefits of cloth diapering. Mostly so you can defend yourself against every do-gooder who decides to inform you on the how hard, messy, leaky, waste of time they will be. Once you have a few lines like: "Well, it's not like I'll be at the side of the river beating them clean against a rock, we DO have a washer", you'll be set!

Cloth diapers are clean, safe, and healthy for you, your baby, your washing machine, family, and especially the EARTH. There are plenty of facts and figures out there to prove this, but not that many really good studies. That's because there is a lot more money behind disposable diapers than cloth. There have been some studies though by independent sources. http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/ is a great place to start for facts and figures on this.

Cloth diapers are super super easy. No lie! We are so busy at our household, I wouldn't be able to handle them if they weren't! Waterproof washable diapers have totally changed the way we can cloth diaper our babies. And it keeps getting cooler all the time with new innovations, and new high tech fabrics!

Cloth Diapers are WAY cheaper than disposable diapers. The numbers for disposable diapers really really range depending on how many you use each day, what brand you use, and when you'll potty train your baby. Disposable diapers are supposed to be changed every 2-3 hours(unless sleeping), but many parents leave baby in a dirty diaper for 4 hours or more regularly. That's not very sanitary, or safe. Babies can get such bad rashes from this practice that can get raw and even bleed. Plus we don't yet know of the long term effects leaving chemical laden disposable diapers on a developing infant for 24 hours a day, for 3-5 years of it's life.

The average number of diapers a baby goes through in their lifetime is 10,000. Multiply that by however much you spend per diaper(luvs are .25 ea, huggies supreme are .37 ea, Seventh Generation are .47 ea). Make sure you add the cost for an extra trashcan, tax and driving to and from the store to buy all these diapers.

That's about $4000.00 average cost. No cloth diapering system, no matter how complex will ever come close to that figure. And many cloth diapers can be re-used on a second baby, saving even more money.

For Cloth diaper costs from birth to potty training it's pretty easy to figure out the cost. You just have to know how many diapers you'll need, sizes needed, how often you want to do laundry. Prefolds, one-size-fits-all All-in-2's are about $500, one-size fitteds or pocket diapers are about $700, Sized(when you have to buy 3 sizes, sm, med and lg, it's called sized) all-in-ones, pockets or fitteds are about $1400-$2200, and more custom made, fancy diapers are about $1200 per size. This is all variable of course, and you can add laudry costs in too for about .37 cents per load. Most people wash about every 2-3 days depending on how many diapers they own. And detergent lasts forever with cloth diapers because you only use about 1/4 the recommended amount per load. So one bottle will last about 6 mo or more.

For all the "What do you do with the poop?" questions, check out the FREE Diapering Book online at www.softbums.com

It's also got lists of pros and cons of different styles of diapers available now, and how to use them all, with bright colored pictures!