Sometimes really great things happen in the world of babies between your first and second kid. In our case, two wonderful things happened in the world of cloth diapers.
1) One-size pocket diapers were invented. We received several BumGenius 3.0 one-size pocket diapers as a gift, and we LOVE them (Thank you friends! You know who you are...). They fit both 3.y.o. H and infant R (amazing!), and are so much nicer than prefolds at those middle-of-the-night changes.
2) A real live brick and mortar cloth diaper store opened walking distance from us in Somerville, MA. Check out Diaper Lab at 201 A Highland Ave. We stopped by to pick up some Thirsties Covers in R's new size, and found a wonderfully stocked store, helpful and knowledgeable staff (store founder Salina is in the photo above), and, our favorite, a discount corner in the back with gently used items. Prices are on par with online stores, but you don't pay shipping and exchanges are easy. We only wish this store existed when we were stocking up on cloth diapers the first time! The store is a 15 minute walk from Davis on the red line, and accessible via the 88 or 90 buses. Diaper Lab gets extra points for posting the relevant bus schedules inside the store.
If you're considering taking the cloth diaper plunge, consider the Diaper Lab Experiment to Own Program. Try 8 kinds of cloth diapers for two weeks for only $25.
6 comments:
We absolutely ADORE the Bum Genius 3.0. We just had our first kid, so it could be that we don't know any better, but I think they kick any disposable's butt any day. Not to mention the cost savings.
They also make flannel wipes that we've used instead of the wipe-and-pitch verity. I'd really recommend those too.
Thanks for the comment Gretchen! Regarding wipes, way back before H was born (when we had time for such things) I re-purposed a pile of discarded towels from Angela's dad's tanning salons (yes, tanning salons) into some wipes that are still going strong. We know other folks who have turned a yard of flannel into plenty of wipes. You just cut into appropriately sized squares and zig-zag any raw edges.
It was awesome meeting you guys last week! I love the blog, and if you don't mind, I'll add it to our favorite links on the Diaper Lab website!
Salina -- We'd love to be added to your links page. We're needing to do a links overhaul so we'll be adding a link to diaper lab there as well!
Such a fuss about real diapers. OK, I'm 61, and I never thought much of those indisposable things. I used Sears Best Heavy Gauze (that's what they called 'em) 100% white cotton, 17 x 32 inch flat rectangles. You fold 'em to make a square, then set your square on its point and fold 2 opposite corners to the middle and fold down the top corner, leaving you with a triangle. Note that it's all on the bias. Lay the baby in the middle, bring the 2 short corners to his middle and bring the long point up to meet, folding in the extra length to make a custom fit. Use PINS (you put your fingers between the baby and the diaper, s/he won't get stuck) to fasten, and cover with plastic bloomers. Used diapers get dunked in the toilet and then put to soak in a covered pail about 1/2 full of water, with a handful of good ol' borax added. At laundry time tip the water into the toilet and carry the pail to the washer. Wash in HOT, germ-killing water with ordinary low-residue detergent, throw in a little bleach once in a while; double rinse. Line- or machine-dry. The bloomers can go in the washer with the diapers but do better not to go in the dryer. And there you have a stack of clean, soft, reusable diapers.
jkh --
Thanks for the comment and practicl advice. You and my mom both used the same method and it sounds like a good one (we also love borax!). Trouble is, you can't buy cloth diapers at sears anymore, and even though it's not *that* hard to use flat diapers and pins, it's hard enough that most folks wouldn't do it when disposables are fairly cheap (though cloth is still cheaper) and heaven knows you couldn't convince daycare to do it.
"Fancy" cloth diapers that are as easy to use as disposables help more people to cloth diaper, even if it might be a bit of overkill.
And even my mom likes velcro diaper covers that let you skip the pins...
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