Try Cloth Diapers Risk Free

Monday, April 20, 2009

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A little bit of organizing and a lot of believing

Two teething four month olds + 30 diaper changes a day with 2 parents, 1 who works three 24 hour shifts a week + a cat who thinks he is a baby that needs bottles and diaper changes + a million and one tank and pond fish = WHEW - complete and utter chaos.

So you can imagine that when I announced the switch to cloth diapers, I was met with, “Are you insane?” “Why would you make things harder for yourself?” “Cloth? We used those in the 70’s!” “You were given a million and one boxes of disposable diapers at your shower. Aren’t you going to use those?”

Honestly? I had thought about cloth diapers for a mille-second as I spent 24 weeks on bedrest. I had plenty of time to do research, but it was so easy to ask for people to bring disposable diapers to my shower. I had a great changing table that would hold disposable diapers well in the drawer. I had a sister who had boy/girl preemie twins like me who would tell me which brand worked best with who and when.

But then it all changed. My son got a diaper rash and it wasn’t your ordinary diaper rash. It turned to open wounds. It bled and my happy son turned into a miserable kid with parents who were reduced to tears every time they changed him. We tried every brand of diaper cream out there. We took him into the pediatrician twice and a medicated cream was suggested with a recommendation of airing his butt out and apply a nice dry heat. Great suggestion, but with a child who is fed breastmilk, poops every two hours and lives in the real world, how does one manage to find dry heat that won’t burn him, get him to keep his butt propped up in the air all day long and really, how does one stop him from pooping?

Going off breastmilk didn’t help, prescription creams didn’t help and finally, a burn cream was suggested. In the meantime, I had run to the store and bought some cloth diapers – ones you pin and wear plastic pants with. Guess what? The stores sell the cloth diapers BUT NO DIAPER PINS! Fed up and frustrated and heartbroken over my miserable son, I began looking at other cloth diaper options. I found a plethora of brands out there and within a few days, had three different brands to try. The bumGenius ones, in our minds, were sent from heaven. And with the help of silvadine cream and those plush diapers, a rash that consisted of open wounds for almost two months was gone in less than a week! And so we made the plunge – bumGenius was our choice and we entered the world of cloth diapers and felt DARN good about it.

Now, the big challenge arose. How would we keep organized with twins and a million and one diapers around that didn’t fit in my perfect little diaper change table? I had to think of something that would work for us and would be easy to establish as a habit. And so our system was born.

1. Every day, I do a load of diapers. It’s a small load and I could go two days, but I just make it part of my routine (yes, I do take a day off each week).
2. After washing and drying them according to bumGenius’ instructions, I bring them upstairs in the wet bag and dump them out on the couch.
3. While the kids are sleeping, I put all the inserts in the diapers right then and there. I usually get a chance to catch up on a television show, the news or a magazine that sits in a stack piled to the ceiling (well, not really, but almost).
4. Once all the diapers have been stuffed with the inserts and 2 of them have the overnight inserts in them, I put them in their designated spot – the dresser. I had to redo the drawers, but it’s worth it.
5. I keep them all in the top dresser drawer. Prepped and ready diapers to the right, extra overnight pads in the middle and extra inserts on the left. We make sure we NEVER run out of diapers that are prepped and ready, especially when two kids are dirty and hungry!
6. And yes, we do use the drawer of the changing table still – we keep the soft and plush cloths from Kelly’s Closet in there to use as our wipes.
7. Right to the side of the table hangs our diaper bag – ready to be filled and taken downstairs the next night.

This was the BEST change we have ever made and I’m PROUD to be using cloth diapers and to be doing my part for the environment. I’m sad I didn’t start with them right away, but I’m a changed Mom and I found the right path finally – the path of environmentally friendly (and NO MORE DIAPER RASHES!). And the non-believers who thought we were nuts? They “oohed” and “ahhed” over the diapers, the design of them, the colors, the awesome sprayer to clean them, the bag to store them in until wash time - everything. And the funniest thing? At Christmas when we were with family and most people RUN from stinky diapers, we always seemed to have an audience when it was diaper change time. Bottom line, a little bit of organizing and a lot of believing = one big happy family and even happier little bums!

- By Sarah L.

42 comments:

lsnellings said...

Horrible diaper rashes brought me to cloth diapers too! I love hear other's success stories!

Knit Wit said...

What a great story! Not about the bad diaper rash but how you found cd'ing and how the rash cleared up for your son in such a short time after the switch. It's a true testiment in how cloth diapers are not only better for our enviroment but they are better for our babies bums.

Angela said...

That is a great story. My sister is pregnant with twins and is planing on making the switch once her mountain of disposable diapers are gone. We are working on witch brand to get right now.

Ashley said...

great story! when we visited family for easter, all of my aunts had to see his dipes and watch him get changed too! it's funny how a little knowledge goes a long way. =)

Serena Michelle said...

LOL! I too wish people gave more real world suggestions... it's easy to say, "leave baby without a diaper and everything will be just fine."

All the more reason to educate more and more doctors and pediatricians about cloth diapers!

LOVED the pictures of your wee little ones! Thanks for sharing!

Abby said...

Good for you! I love reading about other mom's experiences. My husband's biggest fear in life if twins I think! We waited a lot longer than you did to start using cloth, but I am glad we are using them now.

Denise said...

Your babies are Adorable!!! I haven't tried Bumgenius yet, but they are definitely on my list for next time!

Aisha said...

Wow!!! I'm sooo glad the diaper rash cleared up! And I'm glad you stuck by it and making inroads with your family too!! Could be a few more CD'rs in the making.

Kristin said...

I LOVE hearing about other people's systems...it helps me plan as I get ready for my second child!

Katrina said...

Sounds like you've got a great routine going. I agree, once you have cloth in your daily routine, it's really not that hard. It is funny how people flock to watch diaper changes with cloth...my family reacted the same way - and they were supportive of my switch to cloth. Oh, and your little ones are adorable!

Upstatemamma said...

We keep diapers in the dresser too - the bottom drawer though.

Brinn said...

I had no idea that diaper rash could be that serious!!! I am obsessed with CDing our first child (coming this July!) because of money-saving and environmental benefits, but my DH is really excited about saving our little ones tushie! Oh, and Kudos on the organization - gives me some ideas!

Sara said...

I am sooo glad that you made the switch!! We made the switch also after a few months. TOTALLY worth it. Isn't a load of clean cloth diapers just the cutest thing! It always makes me feel soo good!

Rebecca said...

This is a great story! I am so glad that the naysayers are now impressed with these quality diapers and your choice to switch. I use the bum genius at night for a stay dry solution for my 2 year old daugther. I love them!

The adventure of a redneck mommy. said...

i can totaly relate, my 16month old son has GERD, and had a complication which caused him the same type of diaper rash you described, I switched him to cloth diapers, I only bought 2 packs of prefolds, but had a Bloomer pattern left over from my 3yrs baby dress and bought enough flannel to make him a total of 50 coth diaper and his diaper rash has completely disapered, we recent found out we are expecting #3 and will be cloth diapering exclusively as well..My family also thought i was "NUTS" and took bets on how long it would "last" so far im outlasting their some times rude and offensive comments. I am doing what I know is right for my baby not what they think is popular.

Maggie said...

What a wonderful story. I actually cried a little, but that may be from postpartem hormones. Thanks for sharing!

Candace said...

This is a great story! I had to tell my husband a couple weeks ago that our son's diaper rash was being caused by the disposies and he needed to be back in cloth to heal. I was totally right. :)

Kristen said...

Wow- I'm so glad cloth diapers cleared up his poor little bum! Great story!

Brittany said...

Wonderful story! Glad to hear that everything is working out for you!

Liz said...

Great to hear your success story with cloth diapers! Your little ones must be around the same age as my DD. Too cute!

I was at the dr's last week for an ear infection and the dr noticed some yeast on DD. She mentioned to try chlorine free dipes and I told her I usually use cloth. She seemed very interested and she encouraged me to continue with the cloth because she thinks sposies would only make the situation worse. I was also telling her about Northern Essence Butter Cream...too bad I had to pick up my other 2 DDs from school because I think I might have "converted" her!

Also, totally off topic but this weekend we went to Earth Day in downtown Savannah. While I was at the "green parenting" seminar my husband brought my DDs around and they were at a chemical booth that showed how disposables work (pouring liquid on that gel stuff). How does that belong in an Earth Day celebration stumps me...maybe next year I can look into having a cloth diaper booth!

AScott said...

My husband thinks I'm weird that I enjoy cleaning/stuffing/organizing my cloth diapers. I get all that time to marvel at them!! And setting them up nicely in their place!

Amy said...

I'm sooo glad you found a solution for the rash, it sounds horrible!

EdenSky said...

I'm so glad the rash cleared up! Everyone thinks cloth must be hard and time consuming until they try it, and then it turns out to be so easy and convenient that you wonder why everyone doesn't use them.

hosiewosie said...

such cute twins. so glad you made the switch to cloth.

the monkeys' mama said...

My mom cloth diapered me and my twin but thought it was a horrible idea when i wanted to do it--she had no idea how great the new cloth diapers were! Thanks for your story!

Tani said...

I know the commentaries too!!! its nice to love it so much that you can really honestly say that it does work and its not hard!

Shanaka @ Mama Bee Does said...

What a great post. We love our BGs too! Glad the little guys tush was able to heal. Cute pic of the children too :)

Anonymous said...

I had to LOL that your cat wants bottles and diaper changes, too!! I'm really glad that cloth diapering has worked out for you :-) I'm sure most people wouldn't start with twins.

Jackie said...

I started using cloth with my daughter around 6 months due to bad diaper rashes as well. We use prefolds w/ covers and it's amazing how cloth has been so much better on her skin. Now with my second daughter I started cloth right from the beginning. Like you, I only wished I started earlier. Great story!

angelina said...

thanks for this i love love it

Suzy said...

My daughter had a rash from the time I put the first sposies on till her first cloth. I was planning on cloth but were waiting for them to arrive. My ped suggested I cloth diaperwhich I was planning, she told me while waiting go to walmart and get some gerbers. From after the first Gerber prefold her rash started clearing and within the day it was gone.

PJ said...

GREAT story. BTDT with the rash. I wish I knew cloth would help

Sarah said...

Horrible diaper rash is what made me ake the plunge as well! I need to find a way to get organized!

Serena Michelle said...

Suzy: I'm delighted to hear more and more pediatricians are getting on the cloth diaper bandwagon!

I'm sorry to hear your little one has had to endure so long with diaper rashes! Thankfully the cloth diapers are working out.

What cloth diapers have you decided to go with?

Prefolds are a personal favorite of mine and can easily go on to serve a number of alternate purposes making them an economical choice. Gerger prefolds will get the job done, but there are prefolds available in a higher quality that are able to absorb more and better than the "good ol' Gerbers."

If you ever have any cloth diapering questions don't hesitate to ask!

-Serena

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your great story!

Sara in Seattle said...

I love seeing the different systems people use to make their diapering easier.

Kacey Batterton said...

I love this post. I have twins, too, but didn't get the good cd vibes until my son was born just last December. We love our pockets and I wish we had tried them with our twins! Oh how much money we could have saved!

kacey
kaceybat {at} gmail {dot} com

MrsStunner said...

Love the post! The babies are precious! Looks like you have the organization thing down pat. I'm jealous :)

Minnie said...

I'm always glad to know I was not the only Mama out there who joined the CD'ing community later in the game. My DD had horrible rashes 24/7 in sposies AND she got a UTI for the sposies too. Cloth Rocks!

Amanda G.

MoDLin said...

Diaper rash can be really heinous and sooooo hard to get rid of. Good for you for going at it "the old fashioned way." And look at all the new twists on that old theme. Those diapers look great!

saygeronimo said...

I'm so glad cloth diapers have worked for you! The reduction in rashes with cloth diapers is really astounding! I love it!

Marlene McGarrity said...

It helps a newbie like me to hear about how you did it and actually seeing how to organize the supplies.