My journey towards cloth diapers has been a long one. I remember my mom talking about using them for me. I thought it sounded crazy and I was so thankful for disposable.
When my second child was born I had a good friend who used cloth diapers with her baby, and I asked her a lot of questions about how they worked. It interested me, but not enough to actually convert. The initial expense seemed crazy to me and who wants to do all that extra laundry…and poopy laundry at that?
In California, my good friend Christina adopted a beautiful little girl and I watched her experience using cloth diapers. It seemed like a lot of work, but the idea was growing on me. I changed her baby’s diaper one time, and I realized how soft the cloth was. Who wouldn’t want to be swaddled in that sort of goodness?
When we moved to Oklahoma I started reading some books about simplifying your life. I also started to settle into the transition of being a completely stay at home mom. Domesticity was growing on me quickly and things that once seemed too time-consuming and unnecessary started to shift and seem beautiful and right. (Baking, sewing, cooking, book reading, decorating my home, being creative with my kids and, well, even diapering.)
Right before Luther was born I was inspired by my friend Courtney who twittered about how she was enjoying using cloth diapers. And it clicked. I want to try this out. For me, I think it was the enjoyment that slowing down brings. When I’m not rushing through life I can appreciate soft cloth, pretty colored diapers and less trash. I can appreciate money savings that will come in the future when I have time to work the numbers and attempt to live on a budget. And I can appreciate loving on my baby, in whatever ways I so choose.
So I’ve started using cloth. I only bought 4 diapers to start out with, but after using them for a few days, I’m ready to commit and buy more.
For once, life seems like it isn’t just flying past me as I am frantically trying to hold on. Cloth diapers are, ironically, a breath of fresh air. For me, they symbolize a life less hurried, a life that is free to be at and enjoy home more, a life that soaks in (no pun intended) and appreciates simple joys.
Here are some links about cloth diapering that might interest you. Thanks to Angie and Karen for letting me know about them:
Cotton Babies – Learned on this site that with my 3 previous kids I’ve added 3 Tons of trash to landfills. Ugh.
Diaper Pin – This site has a cool calculator to figure out if you’re really saving money with cloth diapers. It takes into consideration your water bill and your electric/gas bill.
Also, Karen wrote a great summary post here about cloth diapering that you may want to check out.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
You’re links gave me 404 errors. FYI!
Totally meant YOUR not YOU’RE.
Thanks Amber. I fixed the links.
They are so cute.
They ARE cute! I love the symbolism you find in them.
Good for you on the cloth diapers! I have done them with both my girls! I have been lax lately with Sage, but may switch her back to encourage potty training! They aren’t as cute as yours, but I have had really good luck with Prowrap covers (from Dy-dee) and Chinese Pre-fold diapers. They are very reasonably priced. Great for home and then save the AIO for outings where other people may have to change him!!
It does feel great when you are saving all that garbage from going into the landfill! And, it isn’t nearly as hard as everyone thinks!
you’re so funny mandy…breath of fresh air…soak in…and thanks for the resources too!
I read on one cloth diaper site that the time spent diaper changing your baby can be the most precious time of bonding, so sweet.