the return to cloth diapers

As many of you know I faithfully used cloth diapers with Bentley until he was about 17 months and then again with Clayton until he was about 7 months. There are a lot of benefits to cloth diapers. 1. They are cost effective 2. They are much better for the environment 3. They are the "thing to do" now 4. They can be really cute! There are a lot of reasons why people don't use them 1. They create a lot of laundry 2. You end up dealing with a lot more p**p than if using disposables 3. They are inconvenient- bigger diaper bag, more diaper changes, more time consuming

So I took a break for about 18 months and I have been buying disposables. When Clayton was born I was dunking one of Bentley's soiled diaper in the toilet- Clayton was screaming and Bentley was getting into the toilet paper and I just needed to stop. Well, recently I was writing to a friend the benefits of cloth and the most cost effective route to take when I saw that they have this thing that I call a booty sprayer. It allows you to spray down the diaper instead of the traditional dunking! So this got me thinking it might be a good idea to pick up my cloth diapers again. I also have been thinking about potty training and I hear cloth diapering can encourage potty training because the kids don't like to feel the wetness and begin to understand why we use the toilet. Finally, a side comment about how our trash isn't so bad- and that more than half of it was diapers.... I couldn't believe I was causing so much trash! When using disposables I don't change them super often because they do hold a lot of pee without causing a rash.... feel bad for my kids!
So while we were in Portland, I bought the booty sprayer and snappi clips to come home and get started. And yesterday was a success! We made it through the day! I feel very excited.
Also, after dinner Bentley was in his chair and stood up and started grabbing at his pants and whining so I picked him up quickly, told him to "hold it", threw his clothes off throughout the living room and plopped him on the potty- it was a little late for the pee, but the kid p**ped in the toilet!! I couldn't believe it! I am so excited. I hope that he is starting to get this potty training thing. :) I am on a slow progressive route with him rather than the more aggressive potty train in a day idea. I do ask for you to pray for me in the arena of patience as I learn how to communicate potty training. I really don't want to get angry when he doesn't tell me he has to go.

So encourage us in this new endeavor!!


A note to anyone who is interested in cloth diapering:


There are a lot of different options out there in terms of cloth diapers. Many places that sell the different diapers will give you a diaper seminar to learn all the different options.

We choose the cheapest route. We do the classic prefolds with covers.
Initially we only had the proraps. They are the cheapest and most plain. The only bummer is that you have to buy the different sizes, so it actually might not be the cheapest.
I recommend the thirsties duo wrap. You only have to get 2 sizes and they come in cute patterns and covers.


If I had more money and I could do whatever I wanted I would do the bumgenius all in one diaper.


Hope that helps!