Life
It may sound weird, but I totally love cloth diapering. I love buying new diapers in adorable and geeky prints, trying new styles and fabrics, and taking pictures of my baby wearing them. I even like washing them. I love the science behind troubleshooting a new routine and how cathartic it is to hang them on the line. However, as much as I love it, cloth diapering is not all fun and fluffy bums. Like parenting itself it can be gross, frustrating, and not for the faint of heart. There are struggles moms who cloth diaper know all too well that can make you want to throw in the proverbial diaper. Oh, wait. I mean towel.
I am now cloth diapering my third baby. It can be so addictive. I have tried a variety of styles and fabrics over the years, and companies are constantly coming out with new options and prints. You can seriously find a diaper or cover in just about every color or print imaginable. Despite the fact that I get most of mine on sale or second-hand, I could probably save money by using disposables instead. The struggle is real, you guys.
There are some less fun parts, too, like stinky diapers that need to be stripped, poop, and toddlers who learn how to undo diapers. So freaking gross. On one hand, it's convenient to never have to worry about running to the store in the middle of the night because you ran out of diapers. On the other hand, though, you have to find time to wash the darn things, and they can pile up (literally); especially if you have a newborn. So if you already cloth diaper, please join me in commiserating.
When You Have To Wash The Diapers
Washing diapers isn't that hard, especially once you find a detergent and schedule that works, use additives for hard water, and regularly bleach or strip to keep your diapers smelling fresh and working well.
On second thought, maybe it is hard. You have to decide if it is worth your time and energy.
When Diapers Go On Sale
I should probably just stay off the internet during sales. We totally have way more diapers than we need. I can't help it, you guys. They are so freaking cute.
So, yeah, I am just going to be over here, buying some more diapers we definitely don't need but will probably use when that laundry pile expands. They are for the baby, you guys. Definitely the baby.
When They Outgrow One You Love
I get a bit weepy when my baby outgrows a favorite diaper. He'll never be that small again, guys. I guess I will just have to get the space cats print in the next size up. Darn, more shopping.
When You Don't Have Time To Wash Diapers
I can't tell you how many nights I have been up late washing diapers because I couldn't find time during the day. Also, there have been days when I've had to get creative, using dishtowels for inserts or letting baby go naked, while I wait for a load to dry.
When You Struggle To Find A Nighttime Solution
For cloth diapering moms, your baby sleeping through the night can mean they pee through their pajamas, which means cranky babies and even more laundry for you. So you learn about your options, spend time on cloth diapering forums, and troubleshoot solutions.
When You Forget To Bring Diapers When You Go Out
This is seriously the worst. Your choices are: make a diaper out of baby clothes, buy disposables, let your baby go without, or go back home. None of which seem like good options to me.
When You're Scraping, Swishing, Or Spraying Poop
When you cloth diaper you have a few choices for dealing with poop. Depending on consistency, you can scrape or plop it into the toilet before washing, use a diaper sprayer, or simply toss them into the washer and pray. Cloth diapering moms get pretty desensitized to poop.
When You're Dealing With That Morning Ammonia
Morning diapers smell so bad. It will burn the hairs right off your nose.
When You Accidentally Leave A Diaper In The Diaper Bag
When you discover that you accidentally left a dirty diaper in the diaper bag for days, you have two choices once you get over the horribleness inside — washing and bleaching and praying, or just throwing it away and, if you are like me, trying not to cry.
When Your Favorite Diaper Gets Ruined
One of the biggest fights I ever had with my ex-husband started when he ruined a load of cloth diapers. I was angry and more than a little heartbroken. Actually it's too upsetting. I don't want to talk about it.
When Your Toddler Learns How To Take Off Their Diaper
When my daughter turned 2, we sold all of her velcro diapers and replaced them with ones that had snaps. Velcro is easy on parents and caregivers, but also easy for a curious or nudist toddler like mine to take off. Snaps stay put.
When You Have To Hear Rude Comments From Naysayers
I seriously have no idea why there are so many cloth diaper haters. I mean, why do they care what kind of diapers I use? Still, every single time I tell people that we use cloth diapers, I hear a snarky comment. Every time. I have gotten over it for the most part, but it gets old really fast (not as fast as a dirty diaper left in a hot car, but pretty close).
