Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Great Cloth Diapering Adventure: Cloth Diaper Review

It has been almost a week since we started our adventure, and it has been just that.  Let me start off by explaining I am not a cloth diaper expert. I haven't read everything that there is to know and I don't follow all the "rules." I am learning as I go and figuring out what works for us. I don't believe cloth diapering is for everyone. I'm not even convinced yet it's for us. My intention is to tell our experience in the hope that it will give others help and insight in making their own completely personal decision.

My husband was not very enthusiastic about the idea of using cloth. The thing that won him over was the cost. We are on a very limited budget. So, the fact that for about $300 we could outfit Amelia's diapering needs until age 3 was a big advantage to our budget. The biggest disadvantage would have to be dealing with the poo.

I don't have a weak stomach, dealing with poo doesn't phase me. My husband on the other hand has a strong gag reflex when it comes to those kind of messes. He can't deal with cleaning up a puppy mess so, the idea of just taking a diaper off and throwing it away is very appealing to him. I totally understand this and if you are like my husband I would not encourage you to try cloth diapering. 

First off, what are we using? This is where I did do some research. I have a cousin who swears by cloth diapering and I got a lot of advice and tips from her. Through looking at different websites and talking with my cousin I decided that I was only interested in one size all in one diapers. I think you can never really know what will work for you until you try it but I narrowed it down to three brands; Fuzzibunz, bumGenius, and Charlie Banana. All are very similar in design, but there are a few differences that may matter to some.

Charlie Banana and Fuzzibunz
bumGenius (button and velcro)
Charlie Banana and Fuzzibunz both have three snaps on the outside. The only difference, which I think is an advantage, is that Charlie Banana diapers have a "female" end of a snap between the top two males allowing for a tighter fit. This is nice if you have a tiny/skinny baby like Amelia. The bumGenius button version only has 2 buttons. My husband likes this better because it is a little less complicated when diapering a squirmy baby. The velcro bumGenius also work well for skinny babies. The ones I have were hand me downs from my cousin. The velcro is a little worn out but you can buy replacement tabs from bumGenius that are pretty easy to sew on yourself.

All four types of diapers use a numbered elastic system for the leg holes. As baby grows you just unbutton the elastic and re-button it on the next size hole. It can be a pain if you lose hold of the elastic and it gets pulled back up inside, but it only took us a couple of minutes to get it back out again. 

While the Charlie Banana and Fuzzibunz are basically the same there is one difference that matters to me. It has to do with how the insert is put into the diaper. In the fuzzibunz the insert is put in at the back. The diaper is basically just open in the back. This makes taking the insert out after the diaper has been used easier but it also makes the back less secure to the baby while being worn. We haven't had a blow out yet but I feel like it would be more likely with the Fuzzibunz. The Charlie Banana (and bumGenius) inserts are put in at the front and the opening is covered by a flap. It's harder to get in and out but the fit of the diaper is a lot more snug, making blow outs less likely. We haven't experienced a blow out yet but she has leaked through a diaper at night. This was easily fixed by doubling the insert. We haven't had a problem since.

I will continue to update periodically about our adventure. So, far I feel like it's working for us. I do about a load of diapers a day, normally at night before bed. It hasn't added much to my chore list. I also think we will be able to keep it up once school starts. If you have questions about anything, feel free to leave a comment. I'm not an expert but I'd be glad to share what I do know.

2 comments:

  1. I think bumGenius good for babies because it is a little less complicated when diapering a squirmy baby.It has only 2 button its easy to use...... Thanks for sharing it help me to choose diaper for my little baby........
    Kokoda Track

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  2. My husband really liked bumGenius for the same reason. I am so glad I could help. Thanks for reading!

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