I did cloth for all my 3 kids. They need changing more often than disposables so unlimited diapers are a good idea.

What kind of diapers are supplied? Mine had velcro on them which was convenient. i know snaps are on some.

We are doing cloth, but not with a service.  We picked them up used by watching Kijiji and garage sales, and got them for not much money at all.  They do make for a lot more laundering, of course.  

We have also taken a compromise approach with both kids, in that we use disposables at night, and if we are travelling outside the house.  I still feel guilty about it, although I wouldn't if we lived in a city that composted them, like TO.  This city is still pretty backwards about a couple of things.

I used cloth primarily - and that was a looonnnnggg time ago!   Big diaper  pins and everything!  No - we never stabbed the kids, but did in our own fingers once in a while     Like RevMatt, we defaulted to disposables when travelling or out for a long while. 

The laundering wasn't really an issue - you get it figured out after a while.  And all those beautiful white diapers flapping on the clothesline in the sunshine ... beautiful picture!   They smell so good when you dry them like that!   (Not to mention the energy savings ...)

Hey momsfruitcake ... I don't think I'd heard that you're expecting!  Forgot to mention that above.  Congrats on that ... when is your baby due?  

And I'm just curious about cost of cloth vs disposable - is $23/week for cloth on par with disposables?  I have no idea myself, having kids in their 20's now!

$23/wk is roughly on par, Carolla.

We used clothe on all of our kids.  So you do another load of laundry each day.  It's worth it for the environment; at least 'merde' is biodegradable .  We only used disposables when travelling, which was infrequent.

Maybe they could breed a 'poop-less' baby?  Nah, it wouldn't work.

Back in the olden days we used cloth for both our babies.  Yes, I had two in diapers for awhile but we also toilet trained early.  There was a lot of laundry.  Not just diapers but pads, sheets, blankets, undershirts, clothing all tended to get wet (and occasionally soiled) quite frequently despite plastic pants.  Oh, those plastic pants - they were terrible things.  So there was a lot of laundry.  Lots of hot water and detergent going down the drains and into the waterways.  Lots of times when the diapers couldn't be hung outside due to weather - lines strung in basement (these diapers tend to get stiff and they don't smell like fresh breeze).  Lots of time and effort going into keeping babies clean and dressed.   Fortunately I had a wringer washer and a clothes line - I would hate to think of the expense of putting quarters into a washer or dryer and I dont' know if diaper service had been invented back then.

My daughter used disposables for her babies.  Much, much easier.  Besides the laundry question there was no folding, no pins.  They were compact, absorbant.  Far less leakage than cloth and plastic pants so less changing of clothing and bedding.  Baby's bottom seemed to be healthier too - less diaper rash.  Happier baby / happier mom. 

Cost?   She looked for sales, bought in bulk.  I don't know that it was much more expensive than hot water, detergent, bleach.   Environment?  again all that hot water, detergent and bleach can't be good.  But we do need diapers made of recycled products and biodegradable ones.

Please,  if I ever have to care for another baby - disposables all the way. 

[quote=seeler]

My daughter used disposables for her babies.  Much, much easier.  Besides the laundry question there was no folding, no pins.  They were compact, absorbant.  Far less leakage than cloth and plastic pants so less changing of clothing and bedding.  Baby's bottom seemed to be healthier too - less diaper rash.  Happier baby / happier mom. 

[quote]

I think there is far less diaper rash with disposable. I'm with you, seeler.

My kids were sensitive to disposables so we only used them when going on longer trips or day trips.  Otherwise, the cloth gave fewer diaper rashes or redness etc.  If your cloth diapers are giving a redness it is likely due to the detergent you are using.  We soaked ours in a vinnegar and water solution and washed them in zero.  My step-dad who grew up around tons of families with tons of kids ( Mennonite) always complimented me that our house never smelled of diapers, so the soaking solution worked well and didn't hurt the babies' skin either. 

You must change cloth a lot, though BUT,  the frequent changing helps the child be in touch with their need to be changed - which is good for you because, unless there is some other problem, cloth diapered kids tend to be potty trained earlier.   ( A fact, diaper companies don't necessarily want broadcast.)

Also, the frequent changing means you will more often let your kids go bare bottom which is also good for the kid's ability to potty train.  Both of my kids were "2" trained by 2  years and I didn't really work at  it at all!!!!

I'd say that cloth only began to become a problem around a 12 months - 2 years. you gotta revisit the problem then.  A kid should be able to get into pull-ups by 18 months or so and I started using absorbant panties at about  2 - 2.5 years during the day.  I believe that kids will choose to potty train early if given the oppotunity. 

We used cloth -- various styles.

No problems with diaper rash or any other issues, seeler.

Environmentally, there are studies which show they are equal, based on using a washer/dryer, and only for the child....

but....we used the clothes line....and, we reused them for a 2nd child, and eventually they became rags.

my guess is that given that, the cloth would win out

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/49/1/Reusable-cloth-vs-disposable-diapers.html

I remember going camping once with disposables.  We are always really low impact campers, though we do "car camp", ie provincial parks.

My husband & I were both appalled at the amount of garbage we generated.

All the other trips after that one we used cloth.  We would boil water, then rinse them in boiling water in a bucket at the site, and hang them to dry in the sun, (we would get strange looks by fellow campers with rows of diapers on the lines between the trees.    Once they had been done, depending on the situation, we would sometimes take them down to the camp laundry and put them through a wash, then bring them back to hang on the line.

Jlin says that toilet training is easier with cloth diapers.  I know that when my kids (and most kids I knew) were in cloth diapers we started training as soon as the child could walk and talk a bit - usually about a year old.  My son was trained by 18 months, and my daughter was a bit slower - not reliable until almost two.  I think I put diapers on them at night after they were in undeerwear during the day - but if I got to them as soon as they woke in the morning the diaper would be dry.  No pull-ups in those days - just underpants and I pointed out that they were more comfortable and that we don't pee in pants. 

My daughter, using disposables didn't start training until her kids were around two and it took her longer.  I am always surprised to find big children (3 years old or more), running around, talking in sentences, and still in diapers.   Of course the companies advertising diapers are happy. 

I think that cloth was so much bother that parents were glad to be rid of them.  They make great cleaning cloths.

Seeler, I was advised this by someone, not sure if it is true..but it seems logical to me.

The new diapers are so efficient and comfortable kids aren't uncomfortable when wet. They don't get that feeling of yuck...like you do when in a cold/wet diaper.  Think of the improvements in sanity napkins in that regards.

I was advised by a friend at a daycare, that they have instructed parents to quit buying the high price diapers, and/or switch to the cloth underwear when time to train if a child is haivng problems. 

Why? they haven't learned the mechanics and how it all fits together.  If you can pee little bits all the time wihtout discomfort, then, you will do so. 

I used both cloth and disposable for my first - cloth at home and disposable when going out.  For my second I used cloth somewhat, and mostly disposable.

I did not think people used cloth diapers anymore.  I had not thought of using anything but Huggies.

Pinga - I think you are probably right.  So if I were involved in raising another child I would probably follow this pattern:  

disposables for the first year because it is easier for the caregiver and more comfortable for the baby

cloth for a few weeks or months until baby and I are ready to devote some time to training

underwear from then on (expecting some accidents at first)

If baby seemed ready and I ahd time at home (and it was summer rather than winter) I would probably skip the second step and go from disposables to underwear.

Question:   Do daycares allow cloth diapers?

I used both and did try a diaper service for a while too.  As others have said, the laundry isn't such a big deal once you realise that you do tons of extra laundry for a baby period.  they wear so many clothes, burp on you so you wear extra clothes, .........

Cloth isn't way more environmentally better though.  Whiel there are no trees cut down, if you check out those web sites that follow from the start to finish ( cotton plants and fertilizer and cutting trees to make farm land, to milling, making, shipping.....  right up to the hot water you have to use.....  WE are lucky in Toronto that now we recycle disposables into our green boxes with left over food.  I would push your cities to do the same.

i used cloth for all three, and i think that is what helped them toilet train when they did!!

lemme tell ya, once they got to a certain age, they couldn't get that smelly wet cold diaper off fast enough!!  the disposable ones don't have that, and i think that could be why you have kids at 4 who are still not potty trained.

Lastpointe, part of the problem with the analysis is, as i indicated, the presumptions on use for 1 child only, usage of the dryer, lack of usage at the end (ie, use for cloths/rags).

Absolutely, daycares will deal with cloth.  Well, my kids were in care and had no problems using them whatsoever.

if i were to have  baby again, it would be cloth diapers.

wow, thanks everyone.  great advice.  my son wore disposables and was trained by 18 months.  my daughter has worn disposables and is just finished training and she's almost 3. i was looking into a service called happy nappy, but i haven't been able to find any good reviews, just a lot of negative feedback (overbilling/missed pickups/strong chlorine smell even though they claim no chlorine).

a friend of mine through facebook suggested a new product called the g diaper.  i've looked it up online and it looks like a really good product.  the exterior is plastic and then for the liner inside you have an option of cloth or disposable.  the disposable option can be flushed down the toilet and they claim that it actually helps the sewage plants.  the disposable liner can also be put in the garbage or composted.  i think i am going to give this option a try.

mississauga doesn't allow diapers in the compost, due to the plastic i guess.  i will call the city in regards to this just to confirm.

Pinga, if I were to have a baby again, it would be a miracle.

We didn't use plastic pants over the cloth diapers but rather a velro fasted cover-the name escapes me now. They worked we had several.

No problems with diaper rash with cloth either.

In my opinion clothis a little more work but gentler on the enviroment.

Our diapers went through 3 kids and were then passed on to a friend.

All the best with your 3rd momsfruitcake!

thanks tabitha.  yeah, this g diaper has that velcro cover thingy you are talking about.  no pins - thank goodness. 

Either way it all sounds pretty darn yukky !!!

Poopless baby ....... the world can surely dream

you're right jess, either way, it is.  a poopless baby would be ideal.  or a husband who just looooooves changing diapers!  the world surely can dream *lol*

I have heard that in third world countries neither diapers nor toilet training is a problem.  Kids go bare bottom, and outside much of the time.  I remember once visiting in the country.  Several little kids were playing in the yard next door.  One child (about two years old), paused in his play, pulled down his elastic waisted shorts a bit, peed, pulled them back up and continued his playing with no interference from mommy who was no where in sight.  I presume that the older kids would have gone off to the back yard or nearby field for a little privacy.

Unfortunately, in Canada, we have winters which require more time indoors, and more clothes.  I think that most people would like to know that their child is pretty reliable before putting them diaperless into a snowsuit.

Ah Seeler

You haven't heard of the elimination communication movement.

Parents learn to read their babies communication that elimination is about to happen and hold them over the toilet. Diapers are not needed and interfere with the process.

I Kid you not

it's kind of attachmnet parenting taken WAY TOO far!

I've heard of it.  I find it hard to believe, and I think it would take a great deal of effort on the part of the parent (mother).  More work than changing and washing diapers.

MUCH more work and a way too baby centred lifestyle!

There are also several brands of cloth diapers that have a plastic outside to them built right on.  No need for a second layer.

I love those ones :)

And I have no idea if the diapers were a relevant factor, but my daughter was toilet drained during daylight hours before she was 1, and completely out of diapers by 15 months, or maybe sooner, I can't remember.

And matt I didn't like the cloth diapers with waterproof outer layer as they took much longer to dry.

Isn't it nice to have many choices as we have many different opinions?

indeed, Tabitha :)

i used the old fashioned flannel sheets, folding them up and pinning them, and then a plastic shell from 'kooshies' that just attached over top of them with velcro.

both were ridiculously easy to clean and dry... i still recall, with pride, how all those flannel sheets looked pinned to my clothesline and drying in the sun.  the sun bleached them too, so they were always nice and white and fresh.

i would fold them differently when they were infants, as they needed a small diaper.  when they got older, then i would fold them differently for my son than for my daughters, too... so that the bulk of the flannel was always where it needed to be to absorb urine. 

i kept a diaper pail in the basement, by the washing machine.  it was filled half way with water and a detergent called 'amaze', and i would just put the soiled diapers in there - the amaze kept the odours under control nicely.   i always cleaned the poopy stuff out into the toilet first, too.  i also had a supply of face cloths that i kept in a small bucket on the change table, too, so i didn't even have to buy those wipes.  my god i was crazy.

anyways, i only had to wash a load of diapers every 2-3 days, tops.  in the summer, i dried them out on the line, and the sun kept them pretty clean and fresh.  in the winter, i found that i had to wash them all with bleach about once a month to keep them from getting nasty.

i still have the majority of the diapers and facecloths that i used with all my kids... i use them as cleaning rags around the house. 

i dunno, i never needed a diaper service, it was just really easy to do all that.

am i missing something??

Oh, I forgot to mention one of the great revolutions in cloth diapers.  They make a paper liner that you can put in them now, but it's not just more garbage.  It is very cleverly made.  If it is a poopy diaper, it is flushable.  So you just grab up the paper and throw the whole thing in the toilet.  But here's the really clever bit - it is also washable!  So if it's just a wet diaper, you wash and reuse the liner along with the diaper.  They're good for about 3 washes.  Sold at Sears, among other place.  Not super cheap, but oh so worth it.

Men do not change diapers.  I payed lots of child support the first year....

Without reading what everyone else said, I used cloth for my son.

We liked the Birdeye flat diapers best. They are sewn thicker in the middle, about 20" by 12". Pretty cheep. Easy to wash, quick to dry.

 This is them folded in half.

We used them with diaper pins. You have to go to a specialty shop to get good diaper pins, the ones with the sliding head.

We also used strong paper towels as a liner inside to catch the poop for flushing. I highly recommend that!

On top we used vinyl diaper covers. They're pretty indispensible.

It was really simple..sighsnootle