For families curious about cloth diapering, there’s no end to the supply of information. If you want to know about styles, brands, prices, how tos, and whys, you only need to type “cloth diapers” into Google. The enthusiasm (and sometimes even fanatiscism) is sincere and cloth diapering advocates are eager to introduce you to all that’s wonderful about cloth diapering.
I count myself part of the cloth diapering community and I will happily talk about the benefits of cloth diapering – and talk and talk. Cloth diapering is an investment and a lifestyle change, however, and I think there’s a tendency sometimes to focus on the fluffy bits and skim over the rest. I think one of the worst things that can happen is for someone to be talked into cloth and then become overwhelmed or frustrated by the reality. Cloth diapers mean adorable fluffy bums, money savings or boutique diapers, and caring for the environment, but they also mean laundry, preparation, and putting an initial chunk of money into something your kid poops in.
As I consider my experiences with cloth diapering – researching, testing, and trial by error – and the conversations I’ve had with friends about diapers, I think there are 3 primary questions families considering cloth diapering want answered:
1. Is cloth diapering right for me and my family (or Do I have to be a natural parent/environmentalist/enthusiast to cloth diaper)?
3. What is cloth diapering really like?
4. Where do I start?
I hope to answer these questions in a 3 part series, sharing my honest opinions and real experiences. My biased opinion is that cloth diapers are a great choice for many families, but it should be an informed choice. I hope this can act as a helpful resource for those overwhelmed by information, uncertain where to start, or unsure if cloth diapers are a realistic choice for their lifestyle.
Real Talk About Cloth Diapers Part I: Is Cloth Diapering Right for Me and My Family?
Who Uses Cloth Diapers?
The diversity among cloth diapering families might surprise you. There’s clearly a stereotype for cloth diapering families, but I think many families defy it. Families in countries across the world, with varying income levels, and multiple motivations cloth diaper. You don’t have to be an uber-environmentalist, a penny pincher, rich, crafty, or even enthusiastic about diapers to use cloth diapers. You do need to decide what your overriding motivators are and if cloth diapering feels like a positive lifestyle change for your family.
This list could go on and on pros of cloth diapering outweighed the cons for us. I’ll be honest – some days I just want to grab some disposables and not deal with cloth diapers. I am overwhelmingly satisfied with my choice to cd, though.
If you’ve completed your list and you want to know more about cloth diapering, I’ll take on question #2 next: What’s Cloth Diapering really like?
shared on facebook. love this.
Good info! We use cloth diapers at home during the day and disposable at night and when we go out. It works well for us. For me, I probably wouldn’t continue to cloth diaper if I did the “all or nothin'” route.
Wow…this is such a comprehensive guide in deciding whether to cloth diaper or not. Love this! I remember when I was about to start cloth diapering, I spent a lot of time googling here and there. Having a one-stop guide like this will certainly help new moms to decide.