Cloth Diapering Venture

So some of you know that Josh and I decided while we were pregnant that to be cost effective and Eco-friendly we would do cloth diapers. When I thought of cloth diapers, I thought back to the old-school prefolds with the plastic pull-over cover and then having to do the dunk in the toilet, ewww, I just couldn't bring myself to do that. But after much research, we found that cloth diapers have come such a long way and many look just like a disposable diaper.

Josh and I calculated the cost of disposables and for 1year of pampers and it was going to be around $500-650. Where with cloth diapers we spent around $400-450 for 18 diapers that we can use up until Caleb is 35lbs and then use for future kids too. Yes there is a large up-front cost, but it sure bets running out of diapers at 3am! Right now we do diaper laundry every 3rd day, and man is it easy.

Here are somethings that we have found helpful to have and what our diaper stash looks like:

• we have 12 BumGenius 3.0 pocket diapers, each comes with 2 different size inserts and run about $18 apiece and are for infants 7-35lbs.
• we also have 3 Flip Day Packs; each pack includes 2 covers and 6 inserts. again these are for infants 7-35lbs. These run around $45 per day pack (the basis of these are that you just change the insert and continue to use the cover til soiled)
• Stainless Steal Kitchen trashcan with lid ($45 from walmart).
• 2 waterproof diaper pail liners ($13 each).
• Cloth wipes (we bought 24 baby washcloths from marshals $8)
• 1 medium wetbag (for when we are out, for wet/dirty diapers $15)
• Thirsties Booty Luster Spray (Just found this yesterday and love it, $11)
• Bummis Flushable Diaper Liners (put this in the diaper to catch all solids and then flush, 100 per roll for about $6, we go through 1 roll in 1 to 1 and 1/2 months)
• BumGenuis Odor Remover Spray ($6 per bottle, we put 1 spray on each diaper before it goes in the pail, this bottle will last us a little over 2 months).
• Charlies Soap (made in NC, this is a fantastic laundry soap that is safe for diapers. We ended up ordering a 40gallon bucket that will last us 2 years and now use it for all of our laundry!)

There are 3 different places we love to get our diapers and supplies from, 2 online and 1 store in Charlotte. The Milky Way is located in Dilworth, and they carry a wide range of diapers and accessories and hold a free cloth diapering class that go over all of the different types of diapers and options you have. JilliansDrawers.com is our next favorite, they have great prices and also do a trial run of diapers for 21days for $10. Cottenbabies.com is our other favorite online store. Also on both sites they sell gently used diapers for a reduce rate.

When it comes to washing, we do diapers every 3rd day. We take the diaper pail liner and empty the contents and liner in the washer, and do a cold water rinse. then a hot water wash with Charlies soap, and then a cold water rinse. All covers are hung to dry and inserts dried on hot.

That's what were are doing now, and will post new things as we continue our venture.