cloth diaper q&a

I get a lot of questions when people find out that we're cloth diapering.  Here are a few of the most asked.

Q. WHY?!
A. Why not?  Cloth diapering will save us a ton of money, it's better for the environment, they're super cute and it's different... I like to be different.

Q. How did you save money?  Those things are expensive!
A.  Well, yeah.  I can see how they wouldn't be cost effective depending on the kind of diaper you use.  We use a hybrid system and it has saved us a lot of money.

Q. But you're doing so much more laundry, isn't that costing you a lot?
A. No.  We're not doing that much more laundry.  About 2 extra loads a week, so it's really not that much.  I'll get more into my laundry routine later.  If you pay for garbage service, you could be saving money this way, too.  Locally, you pay for garbage service, then you pay for each bag of garbage.  Washing diapers can save you in this aspect, too.

Q. Isn't it dirty?
A. Yup.  But isn't changing any diaper?

Q. How do you wash your diapers?
A. This starts with my changing routine.  We use hybrids during the day, so when I change a diaper, I roll up the wipe and put it in the insert.  If the shell is soiled, I unsnap it, but leave it in the cover, then fold the cover and put it in the pail.  We use pockets at night, so I pull the inserts out of these and unsnap them, if needed.  I try to set these back in the diaper, so less mess spreads within the pail.  The Thirsties don't require removal of the inserts, they agitate out in the wash.
On laundry day, I fill the machine up with warm water (make sure you're using enough water for your load) and a little bit of purex free & clear, I dump the entire pail (and pail liner) into the wash and do a cycle on regular or gentile, or somewhere in between.  You do not need to use detergent and some people use cold water for this.  The way I see it, the first "rinse" is to get the solids off the diapers so the next cycle can clean them.  Bodily stuff disolves better in warm (body temperature) water and a little bit of extra cleaning power can't be too bad, so that's why I do it the way I do.  Then, I do an extra heavy wash with hot water (cold rinse) and I use Charlie's Soap for this cycle.  Lastly, I do a last gentile wash with cold water.  This step rinses out the soap.  I put all my inserts in the dryer, unless they're really stained, then I sun them, and I hang all the covers to try.  I never put covers in the dryer, but I don't like the feel of the inserts unless they've been in the dryer.  Just my preference.

Q. How many diapers do you need?
A. This depends on you and your situation.  If you use AIO, pocket diapers or covers with prefolds, then you'll need more diapers than if you use a hybrid system.  To determine how many diapers you need, I use this simple formula.  How many diaper changes do you plan on for one day?  I think you should plan on changing a diaper every 2 hours during daytime hours.  Brooke's "daytime" hours are usually from 6am to 8pm.  14 hours/2=7 diaper changes.  Use the same formula for nighttime. Brooke wakes up twice after we put her down, so we needed 3 nighttime diapers per night.  I wanted to do laundry every 3 days and I wanted enough diapers to cover laundry day and then one extra day.  If you don't mind doing laundry more often, you can get away with less diapers.  If you're using a hybrid system, the suggested ratio is 3 soakers for every 1 shell.  You can figure out what you need using that formula and then adjust from there, if need be.

Q. Why do you have so many different brands?!
A. Do you only buy one brand of clothes?  Groceries?  Shoes?  If you're using all pockets, AIOs or covers and prefolds then you can mix and match all you want since they're all really the same.  You can use rumparooz inserts in a thristies diaper, or whatever.  It doesn't matter which diaper your baby currently has on and which diaper you're going to put on next since they are one use only diapers.  If you're using a hybrid system, you'll want to pick one and stick with it since it can be cumbersome to try to separate the two brands and deal with running out of one kind of soaker or shells but having to go out.  You get it.

Q. Aren't they bulky?  Both on your baby and in the diaper bag?
A. Yeah, they are.  But it's worth it and it really doesn't cause any trouble.

Q. If I'm going to cloth diaper, should I also use cloth wipes?
A. Yes!  I didn't think about this until I had my first poopy cloth diaper then I was all like, "hey, what should I do with all these gross wipes?"  If you are going to cloth diaper, you will want to use cloth wipes.  It's just easier in every way.

Q. How do you prep and store your cloth wipes?
A. This is really personal.  You can pre-moisten your wipes with plain water or with a solution and store them in a regular container or a wipe warmer or you can store them dry and use a spray at the table.  I dampen them, fold them and use an old disposable wipe container and it works really well for us.

If you have any questions, let me know and I'll make sure I answer them in an upcoming post!

Review: GroVia Hybrid (AI2) System

GroVia Hybrid (AI2) and Soakers

I did a lot of research before I decided on a daytime diaper system and I decided on the GroVia Hybrid, or All-in-Two system.  A hybrid (AI2) consists of a shell which you stuff with your preferred absorbent material, this can be a soaker, a prefold or a bio-soaker.  When it is soiled, you change the soaker and reuse the shell, if it's not also soiled.  This is also a one-size diaper.  It will fit from birth to potty or 8-30 pounds.

I decided that the hybrid system was the best option for us because of the cost savings.  Rather than having to buy one diaper for every change, I could buy less shells and enough soakers for every change.  The general rule is 3 soakers for every shell.  Here is my math:

Laundry: Every 3rd day - this means I wanted enough diapers for 4 days - 3 days, including laundry day and then one extra.

Brooke's daytime hours are approximately 6am to 8pm.  Changing a diaper every 2 hours = 7 diapers

7 diapers per day x 4 days = 28 soakers
2 shells/day (2 x 4) = 8

All-in-Ones (AIO) and pocket diapers average about $22 each.  With GroVia, the shells are $17 each and the stay dry soakers are $18 each.

AIO/Pocket Average Cost/Stash
28 diapers @ $22 each = 616

GroVia Hybrid Stash
8 shells @ 17 each = $136
28 soakers @ $18 each = 252
Total: $388

So, as you can see, the hybrid system seems to be the best option for us in terms of cost.  I use pocket diapers at night, so if you have a heavy wetter or just hate the idea of changing the soaker at each change, rather than grabbing a pre-stuffed diaper, then maybe pockets or an AIO system is right for you.  GroVia does offer an AIO, which is really awesome, but that's for another time.  The one-size option is also a plus, once you buy your stash, you don't have to purchase anything else.  Ever.  You'll want to, but you don't have to.

Back to the diapers.

The shells: GroVia shells are made of TPU and lined with mesh.  They are very soft and feel like a really quality product.  The elastic is very nice and the snaps are tight, but not too tight.  I like the rise adjustment snaps, the sizing seems to be spot on.  The "wing" tabs are nice and big and I like that these have 2 snaps, in line with each other, rather than the 3 in the triangle pattern other diapers have.  I think that the in-line 2 make for a better fit on these diapers.  GroVia's patterns are super cute and their solids are nice and bold.  The only color I was a little disappointed in was the vanilla - I thought it was going to be more white than it is.  It's really more like an ecru or light tan.  Nothing wrong with it, it's just not my favorite.  I wish GroVia offered a white diaper.  I just love a white diaper.  I also wish they would bring back the Woodlands print.  It's just the cutest thing ever.  GroVia's current line up offers solid colors such as Persimmon, Surf, Cloud, Vanilla, Blackberry and Citrus and prints such as Drift, Pudge, Poppy and Sweetgrass.  Currently, some of these are unavailable on GroVia's website, which leads me to believe that they'll soon be introducing new colors and patterns!

I prefer the snaps.  I did feel a GroVia diaper with the aplix (velcro) and I didn't like it, personally - I didn't think it was that soft.  I don't like the idea of velcro, in general.  I don't want the hassle of washing it and having it snag anything else and I know it doesn't last as long.  Again, nothing wrong with it.  I can see the benefits and why some people would like the hook and loop, but it's just not for me.

GroVia Hybrid (AI2) shell in Poppy

GroVia Shell font and back

GroVia Shell - view of the front and rise snaps

rise snaps

shell without soaker

The Soakers.  GroVia offers a few different options here.  The Stay-Dry Soaker.  This snaps into the shell.  It is 2 different pieces, sewn together.  It has a waterproof backing and is topped with super soft fleece.  The Organic Soaker functions the exact same, but it is organic cotton.  I prefer the Stay-Dry.  I like the feel of it better, it's much more resistant to staining and it takes much less time to dry.  There is nothing wrong with the organic soakers, they're just not my favorites.  You can use a Bio-Soaker, which is just like a disposable maxi-pad.  It has 2 sticky tabs that stick to the inside of the diaper and this can be disposed of when soiled.  You can also use a prefold in the diaper.  Most people recommend the size 2 prefold, in a tri-fold.  You just set it inside the diaper.

soaker options (from right to left) organic, stay-dry and bio-soaker

soaker options (from right to left) organic, stay-dry and bio-soaker

The diaper is trim.  It doesn't bunch up, the snap system is really effective at keeping the soaker in place and the gusset system really keeps leaks in!

So what are the pros of the GroVia Hybrid system according to me?
Cost Effective
High Quality
Customizable to your lifestyle & budget
Amazing Staff & Customer Service
Cute Prints & Colors

To be honest, I couldn't be more happy with the GroVia AI2 system.  GroVia is a really awesome company that I feel I can really stand behind.  I will recommend them to anyone and everyone.  I can't think of a single negative thing to say about the diapers or the brand, because I'm totally in love with anything that has that GroVia label on it.

my take on cloth diapers

Disclaimer: This is not a preachy post nor is it judgmental.  I'm not trying to shame or convert anyone over to cloth diapering.  Cloth diapering has been a really positive experience for our family but it isn't for everyone.  I hope that after reading about my journey with cloth, you'll at least think twice about trying it because it's been so great for us.  I think if more people are exposed to and educated about cloth diapering, they'll be inclined to at least give it a try before they dismiss it.  So I'm not out to make you feel bad about using disposables, I'm out to show you how awesome cloth has been for us and hope that it gets you excited about it, too.  

Anyway...

When people find out we cloth diaper they usually make a horrified face and ask, "why?!"  Well, it was a better choice for us.  It saves us a TON of money and it's a better for the environment, they're super adorable and I just like being different.  

Cloth diapers have come a really long way, so they're a lot easier to use than they used to be.  I don't really find them any more work than disposables.  With the system we opted to purchase, it saved us a lot of money, but I can see how cloth diapering could actually be more expensive for some people.  (I'll do a breakdown at some point of my thoughts on cost.)

I'd like to share my cloth diapering journey with you.

When I was pregnant with Kendall, I wanted to try cloth diapers.  I originally wanted to try gDiapers, but later decided against it because I didn't want velcro .  We never ended up using cloth for Kendall.  It wouldn't have worked with daycare and the company I worked for did a job weighing diapers so we didn't have to buy diapers... ever.  In fact, we still have cases of them.  

Fast forward to my second pregnancy - I really wanted to try cloth this time.  We kind of assumed that I wasn't going back to work so I thought that it would be a good time.  We didn't right away, but when Brooke was about 4 months old, I purchased 3 Charlie Bananas from a lady, locally.  She was really nice and gave me a lot of good information on cloth diapers.  I washed the diapers and put them on Brooke and I was sold!  

The Charlie Banana diapers were a really good place to start.  They were the brand I wanted to try when I was looking into it and they taught me EVERYTHING about cloth diapers.  Charlie Banana is a pocket diaper.  If you are unfamiliar with cloth diapers, there are like a million kinds and a lot of language to learn (pockets, inserts, AIO, AI2, hybrid, prefolds, soakers, boosters, doublers, covers, fitted and it goes on and on) while I'm still no expert, I knew nothing when I got those Charlie Bananas.  Pocket diapers are pretty much what they sound like.  They have pockets that you stuff an insert (or a prefold or both) in and when it's dirty, you change it.  

So how did one diaper teach me everything about cloth diapering?  Well, I learned what I wanted and did not want in a diaper.  I learned that I did not want to use pocket diapers as my daytime diaper.  It seemed like I was going to have to have A TON of diapers or do laundry like every day and it seemed like an expensive option.  Enter the hybrid or AI2 diaper.  This diaper consists of a waterproof shell and a soaker (or prefold) that you put into the diaper.  As long as the cover isn't soiled, you can reuse it and just replace the soaker.  This seemed like a much more cost-effective way to cloth diaper and it's what we decided to go with.  

I did decide that I wanted to use pockets at night or for a long nap.  The absorbency of pockets can be customized and I felt they were better for going longer in between diaper changes.  

We purchased 2 brands of hybrids: GroVia and Buttons and we have a few different brands of pockets: Charlie Banana, Rumparooz, Thirsties and KaWaii Baby.  We also have the GroVia AIO.  

When I first started looking into cloth diapering, everyone had like a million different brands and I kept thinking, "why can't you people just stick with one?!"  And the answer for me is because I like that different brands offer different things and fit our needs differently (hybrids during the day and pockets at night) and after I decided on what I was looking for, I wanted to try different brands within that genre.  Different diapers fit differently and have different options that we wanted to try without getting "stuck" with one brand.  This is why we diversified our stash.  Kelly's Closet also often has coupon codes for a free diaper when you order, so that's how we ended up with the KaWaii diaper.  

I'll do individual reviews on each brand that we have and then I'll do a comparison so you can see what I use when and why.  

Welcome!

I started this blog to share my adventures as a secret hippie mom.  What is a secret hippie mom?  Well, when I was pregnant with my first daughter, Kendall, I was blown away by all the things you can't eat, use, or look at and it got me thinking, "if these things aren't safe for a pregnant woman, are they really safe in general?"  Maybe they are, maybe they aren't.  I'm not an expert in anything other than what I feel is right for my family.  I'll be the first to admit it, I don't do extensive amounts of research, either.  If it's questionable, I just decide to cut it out.  I strive to balance healthy, green living and a sustainable lifestyle with a sustainable budget.  You've probably noticed that anything labeled green, natural, recycled, sustainable, organic, etc. are usually more expensive and it can be very financially difficult to always make buying and using those products and services a priority.

So why "secret?"  I'm going to stereotype here - I don't think I come across, at first, as a typical hippie.  I shave my legs and arms, I don't drive a hybrid, I don't smell most of the time.  Sometimes people are turned off and become dismissive or sometimes argumentative about certain topics so I like to closet my hippie for times I feel strongly enough to let people in on my secret.

When my second daughter, Brooke, was born, we decided it was best that I stay home.  The cost of daycare was almost as much as I was making and with gas to and from and lunches, it was the same, if not going to cost us money if I returned to work.  We've always lived within our means - we are careful with our money in most ways so that we have it when we want or need it.  However, I knew living on one income was going to be tough so I started to look for ways to cut down our cost.  Cloth diapering was something I was interested in with Kendall, but never did, so I looked into it again.  It seemed like a really good way to save money and cut down our environmental footprint.  That choice really made me realize that my life had gone in a more natural direction and made me want to share our experiences with the world.

Our mission: Trying to live green without having so spend a ton of it.  Being personally and environmentally conscious while still living practically and financially smart.  I'm going to share it all with you!

This blog will feed into my new website: www.secrethippiemom.com so check me out there, too!