Starting the Cloth Diaper Journey

When asked why we're doing cloth diapers, I didn't have an answer at the tip of my tongue. I think I just never thought of not doing cloth diapers. Heck, I still have a few of my own cloth diapers in the back of the closet that we use for cleaning rags 27 years later. So, after thinking about the 'why' of using cloth diapers I think we decided to do them for the following 2 reasons.

1. They won't sit in a landfill for 250-500 years, like the millions of other regular disposable diapers. 
2. They cost a fraction of what disposable diapers cost. I picked a pricier cloth diaper that is used from newborn to potty training. This way, you don't have to buy different sizes. At about $25/diaper with the recommended about of 24 diapers, your looking at a $600 price tag. To use disposable diapers form birth to potty training, it is about $2400. So, you're looking at a 1/4 of the cost of disposable diapers, and cloth ones can be used for future children as well. 
3. I suppose as a truthful 3rd reason, I think cloth diapers are really cool. 

After making the decision to go cloth, I went to work looking into which ones I wanted. I am not a fabulous house cleaner. And frankly, I hate laundry. SO, I needed an easy to use cloth diapers that I didn't have to get fancy with in the laundry room. The consensus was Rumparooz. This is a pocket diaper that comes with two inserts. You wash/dry the entire thing, and they are supposed to be some of the easiest/best cloth diapers out there. 

After registering for the cloth diapers on Amazon (in LOTS of fun colors and prints), I was ecstatic to start to receive them. I did get a lot of, "You really want cloth diapers as a gift?". Yes! I did. I definitely did! I also got a lot of, "Psh, that won't last." Or, "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into." Eh. Probably not. But I'm about to find out!  So, surrounded by an amazing number of wonderful people, we were blessed to be able to collect all our Rumparooz diapers. 

Now begins the laundry. Did you know that 'they', and by they I mean the world wide web, says you need to wash all of your new babies clothes/diapers/blankets/etc before they use them? I have never washed new things before using them. SO MUCH LAUNDRY! We're only half way through. I've given in a bit and am now just washing NB sizes and 0-3 month sizes. 3 month and up will have to wait until Ben is born and the first 8 weeks have gone by. However, even with only washing the little clothes, we have done 6 full loads of laundry and we're not done yet. 

The Rumparooz washed really well. We didn't have to do anything fancy. Wash, then dry. I stuffed them all with the newborn liners, buttoned them to the NB size, and they're all ready to go. My reward at the end of this laundry (and putting all the new baby stuff away) is to pack my hospital/diaper bag. Eee!

There was something really surreal and heartfelt about doing a load of cloth diapers. It kind of made me stop (especially since bending to load/unload/fold brings on Braxton Hicks) and realize that this is happening. Benjamin is going to be here soon. My baby boy, who I have loved for months, will finally be here, wearing these adorable little cloth contraptions. He'll be sleeping in that bassinet (hopefully). We'll be using that car-seat/stroller. I'll get to use my diaper bag. I'll be Mom. Reed will be Dad. 

We are over the moon. And ready. We are so, so ready for him to be born. 

So, in about 3 weeks, I'll get to write an update about how the cloth diapers really work, or if all those who said I was nuts were right. I can't wait!

Here are some links for Rumparooz Diapers (which you can also order off of Amazon):

http://www.kangacare.com/Rumparooz-One-Size-Cloth-Diaper.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lByIJcyLBnI