Some of you know that we use cloth diapers. Some of you don't. Many people think I am crazy to use cloth in the first place and then marvel or actually laugh at the fact that I do it and travel. Then they learn we don't have a real washing machine or a dryer and they kinda don't believe me. (Some of the details in this are for those of you that travel full-time visiting from families on the road blogs/sites and are wondering about space.)
I have many reasons for using them some of them being: the planet, the space to store several economy boxes of disposables, a kid with extremely sensitive skin (like as in he still breaks out with cloth), and we are saving a ton of money. So many websites have statistics and most say that you spend around $1700 to diaper a baby for around 30 months. We have spent about $200 on cloth total on the extremely high side. I have managed to purchase every diaper online and to only buy the diapers and inserts on sale or found them for buy one get one free so our cost is less than most. If you can deal with the minimum amount in the beginning this is how I suggest to build up your diapers. I read a lot about cloth and several people suggested to do this and it really helped ease me into cloth to make sure I could do it, liked the diapers, and saved us money. We also do not have the space to store a lot of cloth (much less disposables) so this keeps my "stash" low!
Cloth has come a long way from what your mama used. There are websites, blogs, and stores devoted to them. They have so many kinds on the market: All In Ones, Pockets, Hybrids, Flats, etc. It is overwhelming. I decided way before we had kids that I wanted to use cloth, so when the reality hit diapers were coming people thought I was crazy. This included Daniel. He wasn't really on board until he saw first hand the cost of diapers and how easy the cloth was to use. He was convinced he wasn't going to be able to "assemble" them.
Anyway here goes. This is how I am able to cloth diaper on the road. I have a bin in which I keep all the inserts, covers, wipes, and wet bags. I really do not have room for much more. Although Santa did bringing two new diapers for Christmas...so be jealous! :) We mainly use the Flips brand of diapers although we do have a few others in the mix. The Flip Diaper System is a flexible, hybrid cloth diapering system that
provides options for every occasion.You can choose from a few varying kinds of inserts.
The cover is one size meaning that is snaps open (bigger) as he grows and will adjust with him. Through trial and error I use a microfiber insert that lays easily inside the cover as well as, an organic flat or liner over it due to the extremely sensitive skin. I do have to change diapers more often with cloth as opposed to disposables because of the rash battle.
When I change a diaper I immediately rinse the it in the shower if it is just wet or dispose of said products and rinse outside. I never have to touch said products as they go into the toilet. The wet diapers go into the diaper pail. More often than not I wash diapers every day so they go directly into the Wonder Washer. If putting diapers directly into washer I fill it with hot water and add soap at that time so they can soak for a few hours before washing.
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| Basic of basic pail kept in bathroom |
The Wonder Washer is a "portable" washing machine that I crank to wash the clothes. It is like a HE washer in that it doesn't have an agitator. It is easy to use. I fill it with HOT HOT water, drop in a small squirt of detergent, apply the lid, crank it for a minute and a half, drain, and repeat with water to rinse. I do two to three rinses based on if suds are present or not. I have learned to get all the soap out to help with rashes and have read that helps with decreasing a "build up" that causes problems with absorbing. Rinsing is key!
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| Filling up the Wonder Washer. It is stored and used in the bottom of the shower. |
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| Full of diaper inserts/covers and ready to go. |
Then I drain the WWasher and wring out the diapers. I want to get a "dryer/spinner" however, I haven't figured out the storage of one so I have been wringing them out for a year and half! F.u.n. HA! Then I hang them on a foldable hanging dryer from Ikea. Obviously if it is sunny and the least bit warm they go outside to be sunned and dry much faster. Then sun also provides an opportunity for them to disinfect. Currently it is raining so they are in the shower until they stop dripping then move out into the living room for faster drying under a fan. I do use disposables more often when it rains as it takes longer (days) for the diapers to dry and I can't be super mom! LOL!
I also wash them at the laundry mat once a week for a good deep wash to keep the "stink" away. I have been very lucky with our system and we have not a problem with stinky diapers like so many that use cloth. I think the main reason is because I wash them almost daily so they don't have an opportunity to sit.
Anyway, there you have it. Yes it is a little more work for me but not much. Really, I am proof you can travel and cloth diaper. I completely understand that it is not for everyone however, many people have asked so I decided to do a post on it. We have been using disposals at night and have recently started playing around with using a disposable with a thin cloth diaper over it. I am so over wet sheets and jammies!! That said it is hard for me to even find room to store one box of disposables! LOL! I hope this helps those of you wondering about traveling with cloth. Let me know if you have more questions!
