One reason cloth diapers have come such a long way since birdseye flats and plastic pants is: Stay Dry Lining.  When Fuzzibunz came along with their Microfleece lining, a magical fabric that allowed moisture to go through it and be absorbed into an insert, but that also wicked moisture away from the baby’s bum letting them stay dry, this was a huge break-through! Tereson Dupuy invented the modern cloth diaper with this innovative idea.  I wanted to test these diapers to see if they really felt dry.

As a parent I do get concerned about my children staying in wet diapers.  The downside of cloth diapers is that it is harder to know when they have wet.  There is no “pinch” test for cloth, although it is still effective to a small degree if you really know what you are looking for.  At least if you are using as “stay dry” cloth diaper you can feel good knowing your baby is comfortable, or can you?

Stay Dry lining materials include Microfleece and Suedecloth.  Fuzzibunz is the brand you think of as a cloth diaper that uses microfleece, and bumGenius! is the most popular example of a diaper using suedecloth.

There are many benefits to using a diaper with a stay dry lining, however there are also many pitfalls. It is important when choosing a cloth diaper to understand both and know what challenges you may be facing in the future.

First, what are Microfleece and Suedecloth?

Both materials are synthetic and 100% polyester.  There is a very handy website with descriptions of common diaper materials on Zany-Zebra that I consult often.

In everyday life you see microfleece all the time, just in bulkier forms like Old Navy fleece jackets and scarves.  Suedecloth is also a fabric with many everyday applications, but because it is usually in thicker forms you may not connect the dots.  Suedecloth has a smooth lining and doesn’t pill up.  Microfleece will pill over time.  (depending on the brand, some are better than others)  Piling means the fabric will develop tiny balls after multiple washes, like your favorite sweater.  Suedecloth will stay very smooth over dozens of washes, or more.

With my experiment I wanted to see if, after a baby urinates, the lining really does feel dry to the touch.  And, if one stay dry material did a better job than another.  I also wanted to see if the type of insert or type of diaper made a difference.

I tried testing a few varieties.

• Microfleece All-in-One with a Microfiber Soaker (AMP Stay Dry AIO)
• Microfleece Pocket with Microfiber insert (Happy Heiny’s OS)
• Microfleece topped lay in Microfiber soaker (Softbums Echo)
• Suedecloth All-in-One with Bamboo insert (Ragababe AIO)
• Suedecloth Pocket with Microfiber insert (bumGenius! 4.0)

I also, for kicks, tested a few other types of materials:

Cotton (Gro Via AIO), Bamboo Fleece (Babykicks 3g)  and Bamboo Terry (Yo-Yoo), to see how wet those felt to the touch.

Based on my tests, which are in no way truly scientific, but as good as I could do, I came up with a few conclusions:

• Suedecloth feels drier faster than Microfleece.
• Pockets, due to that space between the insert and the lining, feel drier than sewn in All-in-Ones.  Suedecloth pockets feel drier than Microfleece.
• Pockets also evenly distribute the moisture more to the soaker leaving less chance of feeling wetness in the spot where the urine is left.

That all sounds great, right?  Baby pees and still feels dry.  What’s not to love?

Synthetic liners do have some serious drawbacks.

The biggest: Repelling. Certain laundry detergents and other laundry additives “bond” with that material causing what is commonly referred to as “repelling.”  The soap scum, diaper creams, or fabric softener residue prevents urine from going through the layer of material.  In the worst cases no urine makes it through and it is like the baby is peeing on a plastic sheet.

Even with no repelling, there is still a delay between urinating on the layer of material, and it soaking through it.  I will be doing another video of this, but for now just know that when your baby pees it takes a few seconds for the urine to go through.  It helps when there is compression from their bodies, this will speed up the process.  But, imagine they are laying on their backs and sleeping.  The urine will possibly roll down the diaper before being absorbed.  If they pee very forcefully and a lot is expelled at one time, there might not be enough time for the pee to go through the layer of stay dry material before it finds an escape route.  THIS is why I do not like stay dry diapers for overnight.  There is a higher likelihood that it will leak.  But, then again, I want my baby to be comfortable while in a diaper for 10 hours, so I want the stay dry diapers to work!

A potential drawback of stay dry diapers is that they DO stay dry.  There are parents who would rather their baby’s feel the wetness in order to expedite potty learning.  The common saying is that babies in cloth diapers potty train faster.  I don’t really buy that, but, if a baby does feel the moisture and isn’t a fan, they may be more likely to want to learn to potty versus staying in a wet diaper.

And the last reason stay dry diapers may not be the option for you: they are synthetic.  Any cloth diaper with a PUL outer has synthetic materials, but these don’t always touch the baby.  There are parents who want only organic materials against the skin, and that rules out stay dry liners like Microfleece and Suedecloth.  There are diapers with Bamboo fleece, but testing showed me that they are soft but do not stay dry like the synthetic fleece.  In rare cases, babies actually are allergic or sensitive to the synthetic liners and develop rashes.

Lastly, there is the matter of the Poop.  I have gone into (probably too much) detail about the different forms of poop and how this relates to cloth diapering.  Suedecloth and Microfleece each have selling points.  Suedecloth is easier to spray off, but microfleece holds those runny breastfeeding poops in better.

I can’t tell you what to choose.  It truly is a matter of personal preference and what will work best for your baby’s needs.  But at least you now know that both materials are comfortable to the baby even after they have a wet diaper in case you can’t change them right away.

What is important to you in a diaper?  Stay dry, organic, easy to spray, etc?

After a particularly traumatic poopy diaper I started thinking about which diapers I prefer for my son to poop in.  Yes, I have preferences.  And I have tried over 70 different diapers so I have a lot to choose from.  If I know my son has an upset tummy there are diapers I reach for to put him in.  I spray poopy diapers that are not solid enough to shake out so there are some ground rules.  (I do also try to avoid it completely by putting my son on a toilet but that isn’t always possible.)

Here is what I look for in a good diaper for my son to poop in:

• Suedecloth or Microfleece layer (suedecloth is my favorite)
• All-in-One if possible.
• Next choice: sleeve diaper with no unstuffing required
• Back up choice: pocket diaper (meeting certain flap requirements)

What I refuse if I can help it:

• Prefolds
• Fitteds
• Snap-in-Ones (diapers with a snap in layer, these suck to spray)
• Pockets with flaps that seem to catch poop

Now for my favorite diapers to spray:

(all links are to my video and written reviews of these diapers)

Smartipants One Size Sleeve Diaper

This diaper doesn’t require me to unstuff it and it has suedecloth so the poop comes off easily.  Since it has snaps I don’t need to stick laundry tabs either.

AMP Stay Dry All-in-One

Microfleece lining, one piece, easy to fold up and keep from dripping after spraying.

Drybees Hybrid All-in-One

Another easy AIO, stay dry layer, no nooks or crannies to get the poop stuck in.

bumGenius! 4.0 or bumGenius! 3.0

bumGenius! 3.0′s and 4.0′s are the majority of my everyday use stash.  I love them, they fit great, they work great, and even though there is a flap in the back in general spraying is not that bad.  Water does tend to collect in the tabs in front but I squish it out.  My favorite pocket diaper when it comes to poop, though I still prefer an AIO or Sleeve.

My least favorite diapers to spray:

Tots Bots Easy Fit

I LOVE this diaper.  Truly.  It is one of my favorites.  However, when pooped in, it becomes my worst enemy.  The bamboo loop terry grabs the poop and the edges are all gathered.  Poop always gets in those crevices and I have to stretch it out and spray.  Basically I need a third hand to spray them.

Gro Via/Gro Baby Hybrid/ AI2

These are super awesome diapers for the diaper bag/ traveling and I do like them, especially the snap version.  Yet, when pooped in with the peanut butter poop you have a challenge.  If the poop has migrated off of the soaker pad you are in trouble.  Also, the flap on the top of the soaker can hide poop and you have to spray beneath it.

bumGenius! Elemental (FKA Organic AIO)

This is another diaper that I love very much.  I have 3 very well loved Elementals that are in heavy rotation.  However, the reason they dry quicker than most AIO‘s (the soaker is free to move in the middle, only sewn at the front and back) also makes it a hard diaper to spray.  Poop gets sprayed under the bottom flap somehow.  Then you have to spray sideways to get that out.  And it it gets in between the two layers of soaker you are in even bigger trouble.

Softbums Echo

Diapers with a snap in soaker that is longer than the diaper itself can be problematic.  Even though I love Softbums it can be hard to spray them.   You have to be strategic about it.  You MUST hold the diaper in a way that you are pinching the folded over snap in soaker.  If not, it will fall into the toilet creating a mega disaster of soaking wet, poop covered mess.  I DO NOT squeeze wet/nasty things bare handed.  I had an incident in a public restroom with a Softbums.  I attempted (for the first time ever) the dunk and flush method.  The long soaker was sopping wet and I had to figure out how to squeeze it without touching.  It was nightmare inducing.

Fitteds/Prefolds

In general I do not like spraying a diaper that has no cover built into it.  It means I would either be touching a wet diaper and transporting it from the bathroom to our pail in the next room, or finagling it inside of a cover while spraying.  I have done it, I survived, but if I can avoid it I do.  A pocket or AIO is much easier because even though the cotton or microfiber is wet, you can wrap up the wetness with waterproofness.

I have lived through 20 months of cloth diapering my son.  To say I have learned a thing or two is an understatement.  Not only have I tried and reviewed over 50 cloth diapers, I have tried all sorts of accesories.  Plus I have real world experience.  I know how to change a cloth diaper on a plane, bench, lap, and how to deal when my son is fighting me for a change.  I have sampled cloth safe diaper creams and detergents and picked my favorites.  And, I have learned how to keep my son relatively still during changes (crucial when in public and there is a nasty poop!)  I am listing what I feel a cloth diapering mom needs and stating my brand of choice where applicable.

A few easy peasy AIO diapers for the babysitter/ diaper bag. Because no matter how much you love prefolds, your babysitter might not.  My favorites are the Drybees Hybrid Pocket AIO and the AMP AIO.

Diaper Sprayer (around 6 months when your baby begins solids)

At least (2) Travel Size Wet Bags. The Wahmies Medium in the Guitar Print is my go to quick trip out, while my Planet Wise Wet/ Dry in Medium is best for a day trip.

(2) Elastic edged pail liners -or- at least 2 Hanging Wet Bags- Wahmies Pail liner is my choice, and Planet Wise Wet/Dry bag in Large for a hanging pail.

Diaper Pail- if you choose one, it should have a pedal for ease of use, especially when you have a dripping wet diaper.  I love my Diaper Dekor, which I modified to accommodate cloth diapers.

1 pack of Snappis

Cloth Friendly Diaper Detergent (I use Rockin’ Green Hard Rock)

Dryer Balls (if you want to soften your diapers or reduce static.)

Flushable Liners- I have found Bummis Bioliners are the softest.  Good to use when on the go to prevent coming home with poop in your diapers.

Drying Rack, clothesline, or gizmo for hanging diapers- I love my Ikea Octopus for hanging covers, but I just throw my inserts over the porch rail for sunning.

Awesome diaper bag big enough for your cloth diapers! I like my Petunia Picklebottom but I am still drooling over the Go Gaga Messenger bag!

Changing Pad- I have a great changing pad from Ikea!

Cloth Diaper safe Cream- My fav is Dimpleskins Bum Balm.  Silky and very effective!

Distracting/ engaging Toy for changes.  Especially good for when you are learning how to put on a prefold or a snapping diaper.

Mobile above changing table when the baby is younger and can’t reach it. It will keep their eyes engaged while you do your thing.

You can find many of these items at my affiliate, Kelly’s Closet, including the Bummis Bioliners, Planet Wise and Wahmies Wet bags, diaper sprayers, snappis, and Rockin’ Green.  Shopping my link supports DDL!  Need a coupon code?  Find them here! Happy Shopping!

What are your must have items to make cloth diapering easier?

Cloth diapering is a wonderful way to save your family money while keeping thousands of disposable diapers out of the landfill.  But, what do you do with the poop!?!?

Poop was my husband’s number 2 concern (tehehe) when it came to cloth diapering.  The number 1 concern was the overall smell.  “What do you do with it?” he would ask me.  While I was pregnant I could only cite information from the internet.  “Well, we can buy a sprayer and spray it in the toilet.”  I told him.  I showed him the sprayers online and he decided that was a good enough answer.  The catch:  he was having nothing to do with it.  Now that we are pros at cloth diapering I am going to outline some of the best ways to deal with the presents your precious baby leaves you.

Stage 1. This stage, when your baby is fresh out of the oven, is a tricky one.  Meconium, the sticky tar poop that will be your baby’s first bowel movements, and can stain your diapers.  Most parents are not using cloth for the first few days during this phase since they are at the hospital.  In fact, you may never even see it since the nurses do many of the changes.  If you are going to bring cloth diapers with you to the hospital or you are having a home birth and will use your own cloth diapers from the start, here is what you should do for meconium.  You can opt to use a diaper liner in preparation.  I personally would not do this since even the softest diaper liners are not soft enough for a newborn baby.  My suggestion is to use toilet paper, or a sprayer if you have one already, to remove as much as the meconium as possible.  You also want to do this as soon as you can to prevent staining.  Wash your diaper as normal.  If there is a stain, sun it out.  If the stain is persistent, try applying lemon juice to it and sun it again.  Don’t fret, meconium may only happen once or a few times.

Stage 2. Exclusively Breastfed Babies:  Babies who only have breastmilk will have sweet smelling and completely water soluble poop.  You heard me!  Now, when I say the poop smells sweet, it isn’t a pleasant odor, but it isn’t entirely unpleasant.  In fact, it can be hard to tell if your baby has pooped sometimes since cloth diapers and EBF poop don’t have much of an odor.  This stage is great because it gives you a break.  Diapers which have been soiled with EBF poop can be chucked into the diaper pail or wet bag with no rinsing or scraping.  This poop can look mustard yellow, orange, or even green and it will have a seedy texture.  The colors will vary and will change over time, even when still being EBF.  This stage has its challenges though.  EBF poop is notorious for having “blow-outs”.  The good news, cloth diapers can almost always contain them.  I remember reading that cloth diapers contained the mess.  Friends used to tell me horror stories abut their babies waking up with poop all the way up to their necks.  We had one blow out with cloth, which was minor.  EBF poop will also rarely stain.  Once again, use the sun or wait a few washes and the stains will most likely be gone.  My favorite part about EBF poop, some babies who are breastfed only poop every few days to once a week, or even fewer.  My son only pooped every 4-6 days.  The reason is that with breastmilk, it is so chocked full of useable goodness that they baby uses most of it, with very little left to spare.  For Formula Fed babies you can also just wash the diapers, but the color will most likely be different than EBF babies.  The poop will also have more of a nasty smell to it.  Most FF babies will also probably poop once a day or more.

Stage 3. This is where it gets sticky, and maybe even a little hairy!  Literally!  Your baby will be starting solids somewhere between 4-8 months.  Say goodbye to the simplicity of tossing your diapers in the pail!  You can also forget about going a week without poop.  Your baby is going to have sticky, peanut butter like poop.  You may even find large chuncks of food that weren’t digested well.  These all need to be sprayed off or scraped off before being put into the washer.  I think of it this way: by getting the bulk of the poop out before you wash your diapers you are giving them the cleanest start.  If they are coated in poop you are a few steps behind and your washer has to work harder, and you will need more steps to get them clean.  Now, I haven’t tried this myself, but I have heard that spatulas work great for this stage to scrape that peanut buttery poop off of the diaper.  You just want to use a lot of caution when washing your dishes not to mix up the poop spatula and the regular one.  Spraying is the way to go in this instance. Flushable liners are nice for going out and can save you having to take a mess filled diaper home or dunking your diaper in a public toilet.

Stage 4. Once your baby is eating more and more solids their poop may begin to thicken up.  It will be more than peanut buttery but less than solid.  This poop is prime for “shaking.”  You can shake it into the toilet and flush it.  You may also just want to spray it off, or spray after you shake it for an even cleaner diaper.  This is a flux stage so it is going to vary for every baby.

Stage 5. Disgusting, toddler, solidish poop.  Every toddler is different and they are going to be eating a variety of different foods.  You can expect pretty solid poop, but I have heard some moms say that their toddler never had completely solid stools.  If your child is eating meats, expect some very stinky poop!  This should also be shakeable poop.  Shake what you can off into the toilet, and then either put it directly in the pail or spray it off.  If there are stains, which is very likely, sun them!

Even at 18 months old my son doesn’t have solid poops all the time.  Depending on what he eats, we get wet to semi solid to completely solid.  The diaper sprayer truly is your best friend in most all of the stages!

Image: Nature's Child

Talking to other parents in real life or online, the response I often hear is “I want to cloth diaper but….”  fill in the blank.  There are obvious hurtles to beginning cloth diapering.  This is an attempt to dispel some of those potential road blocks.

… I don’t want to prick my baby with pins.”

Although some parents still use (and love) pins, modern cloth diapers fasten in a variety of ways.  Velcro, snaps, ties, plastic “s” hooks, and an alternative to the pin, a snappi.

… I don’t want my baby to get too hot in plastic pants.”

The waterproof material for cloth diapers is far from vinyl or plastic!  Polyurethane Laminate (PUL) is a breathable yet impermeable waterproof barrier used for diaper covers.  This material is also used to Pocket diapers, All in Ones, and various other modern cloth diapers.  In addition, Fleece is an alternative for babies with sensitive skin.  Fleece is waterproof and can be worn as a diaper cover, or used to make pocket diapers.  Wool is another option.  Although expensive and intimidating, it is am amazing solution to keep your baby dry overnight.  The lanolin in wool (along with an extra lanolizing process at home) makes it waterproof.

… I don’t want to deal with the mess.”

Fact: all babies and toddlers are messy.  Saying you don’t want to use cloth diapers because it is “messy” is laughable since every day you are faced with chunky spit up, poop explosions (which usually do not happen in cloth btw), drool, and messy food fights.  The only difference between cloth and disposables is that you dump the solid waste in the toilet.  This can be done a number of ways, including shaking, scraping with toilet paper, and using a handy diaper sprayer.  Your hands don’t need to touch poop!

… I don’t have the time to wash diapers!”

Frankly, neither do I!  Or my other clothes.  Washing diapers is something that gets added into your routine.  In total, washing my diapers takes me less than 10 minutes of actual effort.  The washer and dryer do all of the heavy lifting!  And to put away my diapers takes all of 5-10 minutes, including stuffing them.  I much prefer cloth diaper laundry to regular, it is easier, and if I let it sit in the washer or dryer a few hours, it doesn’t matter.  I even like to start washing them late at night and have diapers ready in the morning.  There are also cloth diaper services which will wash diapers for you.

… it sounds way harder than disposables.

What seems hard in the beginning just takes a little research or attendance at a local cloth diaper workshop.  Changing the diapers isn’t hard, it is picking one.  It is true that there are way more varieties of cloth diapers than disposables.  I won’t go into the ins and outs here, but to learn all about the different types I highly suggest Mothering Magazine and their recent article on Cloth Diapering.  Once you have an idea of what will work best for your family, you just need to find them.  Buying used can save you alot of money, especially if you are still wavering in your commitment.  Not to mention, when you are done with your own diapers you can resell them.  Cloth diapers hold their value very well, and you can sell yours and recoup 50-90% of your investment in most cases!  Try selling your disposables back to Target.  Yeah….  didn’t think so!

… I am afraid I will try and not like it.  So why waste my money?”

There are some fabulous trials out there for people who want to dip their toes in the water.  My favorite is Jillian’s Drawers “Try Cloth for Ten Dollars.”  You are sent a few of the most popular one size diapers to try.  You can buy them if you decide you love them, or send them back.   If you decide to send them back you are only out 10.00.

… I heard they smell.”

Ok, sometimes the stank might build up.  Imagine what is going into those diapers.  Yep.  Not pretty.  That is why finding a detergent that works for you is very important.  Washing cloth diapers might take some getting used to.  Then when you find your routine hopefully the smell will never build up or return.

… I am afraid they will leak more than a disposable.”

Disposables use super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel, which can hold a ridiculous amount of liquid.  It is too good to be true.  That gel is also toxic and if exposed to skin or ingested can have terrible results.  I have heard of two dogs that died from eating a disposable diaper.  Cloth diapers rely on a variety of materials to absorb wetness: cotton, bamboo, hemp, microfiber, microterry, and ZORB. These all vary in how much they can hold.  Hemp and ZORB are the most absorbent, but I have had success with them all.  The main point is, they hold urine.  Depending on how often your baby pees and how much, you might change more than a disposable.  If you are having leaks, it could be due to a washing problem.  I have an entire post dedicated to leak troubleshooting.

… “I can’t afford it.”

It is true that even the most expensive cloth diapers will save you money in the long run.  Long run being the key word.  Disposables are a constant expense that is spread out equally over the years your baby wears them.  Cloth diapers cost as little as 100 up to about 500-1,000 for a complete stash.  Buying used can save money as well.  Or, keep your eyes peeled for great sales.  Kelly’s Closet always has a great sale going on!  Or, enter cloth diaper giveaways on blogs like mine.

… No one I know uses them.  I am afraid of how people will react.”

No one I knew in real life used cloth diapers either, when I started.  But a few people ended up converting just after seeing my diapers and talking with me about how easy it can be.  You can be your baby’s advocate.  If people tell you cloth diapers are bad for your baby, explain that in fact, they are better because they have no chemicals in them.  If they laugh and say something about how long that will last, be the bigger person and do as you wish.  Use them for however long you like.  As long as your baby is happy and you are happy, who cares?  Be a trendsetter!  I guarantee you will have the numbers of moms using cloth rise.  We multiply!  Oh, and don’t be surprised if you are treated like a hero if you are caught changing your baby into a cloth diaper in public.  An ego booster for sure!  Plus, there is a huge online community of support in the form of message boards, blogs, websites, and Twitter.  These are great for getting your questions answered if you have a problem.

…I don’t want my baby to be wet or uncomfortable.”

Would you want to wear paper underwear?  Your baby probably doesn’t either.  Cloth diapers are available with liners that wick away moisture, like suedecloth and microfleece.  Unfortunately, a small percentage of babies have an allergy to one or both of those materials, but this is rare.  Other parents prefer organic fibers to touch their baby like cotton and super soft bamboo.  My son does not show a preference for any material, but I like stay dry diapers for nights at least.

… I have multiple children in diapers.”

That is all the more reason to use cloth diapers!  Imagine spending less than 1,000 to diaper 1, 2, 3 kids or more!  And never running out of diapers and having to run to the store last minute, lugging 2 babies inside.  Using one size diapers give you some flexibility to change the sizes to fit two different babies.  And you can still wash with the same frequency, just larger loads.  Easy as pie.

… my baby is in daycare, so I can’t.”

This is a tough one.  Unfortunately, many daycares do not allow cloth diapers.  Those that do often want you to have easy to use diapers with velcro that are all one piece.  These are the more expensive diapers as well.  Simply showing how to use a modern cloth diaper may change their mind, as well as providing your own wet bag for the dirty diapers.  You may also want to let the care provider leave any solid waste in the diaper for you to dump out later.  The Real Diaper Association has a tip sheet for daycares and cloth.  Even if your daycare won’t use them, there is no rule stating it is all or nothing.  Use cloth when you can.

…my husband/ SO doesn’t want to.”

Husbands can be the hardest ones to convince.  Mine was very skeptical at first.  I showed him how much money we would save, and explained the benefits to our baby and the planet.  You can also let them know that not having bags of stinking diapers to take out means less garbage duty for him.  Show him a modern diaper and how easy it is to change.  He may just need a visual.  Or, do it anyway.  He will come around!

…won’t it make my baby’s clothes not fit?”

There are some very trim cloth diapers out there.  And even some of the fluffier ones have little impact on my own son’s pant size.  If you are worried their butt will be so big you have to move up to the next size, which will be too long, I doubt it, but anything is possible.

… my baby is too old.”

Late bloomers need not worry.  It is never too late to start.  By starting late you avoid newborn cloth diapering, and can skip to a one size diaper or a size Medium or Large right away.  Most children are in Mediums the longest, and some never even wear a large.  And if you plan on having more children the diapers you buy will still get plenty of miles.

… how will I travel?”

Very sneakily!  I have snuck my cloth diapers onto flights by stuffing my carseat and carseat bag (which check for free!) with a bag of cloth diapers.  Don’t want to travel with cloth diapers?  No one is holding a gun to your head.  I typically do, but there have been times I couldn’t.  I wouldn’t hate disposables so much if they were used in situations like traveling only.  In fact, that is why they were invented!  To allow mothers to leave the house with ease.  Back then the diapers were larger and harder to travel with too.

… I don’t own a washer and dryer.”

Ouch.  That is important.  You could find a cloth diaper service in your area, which will deliver fresh diapers to your door and pick up the dirty ones.  This costs about the same or slightly less than buying disposables.  It is possible to hand wash or use a laundromat, but it is understandably more difficult.

… I have terrible memories of cloth diapers as a kid.”

Believe it or not I have seen this excuse quite a few times.  Since the old cloth diapers were heavy fabric rectangles, relied on pins, and used plastic covers, many people have bad memories.  Not to mention, they recall their mothers washing them or bleaching the crap out of them, which left a noxious odor and lingering sense memory.  Even when I say they have changed and people no longer use wet pails (for the most part) the bad taste in their mouth is hard to overcome.  If this is you, I assure you that washing and changing cloth diapers is nothing like the old days.  And no scrubbing or dunking and swishing diapers in the toilet.  There are more modern methods.

… I actually don’t want to!”

Well then, why are you here?  But seriously, no one is making you.  I do want to see more parents using cloth, but it just isn’t meant for everyone.  As long as your baby is happy and safe, that is all that matters.  But if you change your mind, you know where to find me!