Diapers, Diapers Everywhere!!!

I've been changing diapers for twelve years.

I know you all understand how insane that is. I've also had two in diapers numerous times. There was a span of about six months between Big Bro J and Old Soul N that there were no diapers. I believe that was the only break that the Hubby and I had from either diapers or Pull-ups at night our entire marriage.

Right now, both Miss M and Little Miss S are in diapers during nap and bedtime. So, I have only four diapers a day to change. Not too bad. I decided at the beginning of the year I was going to be more conscience about the environment, and no better way to make a difference than changing to cloth diapers.

There is so much information about how disposable diapers are just horrible to our environment. I had read that it can take 10-20 years for one to decompose. Which is just insane. Then today I read it could be up to 500 years for one diaper to breakdown!!!

So I just went cold turkey and started with the old style cloth diapers,  with pins and vinyl pant covers. It was an interesting change to say the least. Miss M is a huge three year old, and it was a huge pain in the butt to try to pin the diapers shut. We still did it. The hubby HATED it. I mean HATED IT! So I "MacGyvered" it a bit. After many attempts with duct tape (yes I duct tape diapers shut) and pins I realized it was still going to be some work. After months of messing around with all of this, we have evolved to using training pants (the thick underwear type) and placing an old style cloth diaper in it by folding it into thirds. (Just imagine it as a pad we would use) Then I have them wear the vinyl training pants over that. It's my version of a Pull-Up.

It's not that bad. I can still count on two hands how many poop ones I have had to clean in five months. Luckily they USUALLY do that business before they go to sleep. It's not as easy as disposable, (that's why they were invented) but it really is worth it. On those days that I tell myself, "If I gotta rinse one more diaper I'm gonna loose it" I stop and think, that's two more diapers not in a landfill Rocky!!

And for the first time I have calculated just how many diapers I have NOT wasted. Ready? Approximately 608. I could have put over 600 diapers in my landfill this year. THAT IS INSANE! The statistic is that Americans put 50 million diapers A DAY in our landfills. Holy Crap (no pun intended)

And another cool thing is I have spent less than $50 so far on the diapers! CHA-CHING! That's really amazing. I would have spent 5-6 times that amount, easy! I need to go grab some new vinyl covers in the next few weeks. I have accidentally put them in the dryer (yes they melt, just to itself) and I have destroyed two pair.

I am also going to look into biodegradable diapers for our cross country trip this summer. I can't imagine using cloth diapers on the road, but I still want to be a conscience person! I'll let you know how that goes!

So, if your kid is potty trained during the day, this might be a nice little change, for the environment and for your wallet! Give it a week. Heck even if you hate it, that'll be 14  diapers you weren't responsible for!

Hey, if every American did it for just one week, that would be 350 MILLION diapers out of our landfills. That's a HUGE number! Now, that would be a great movement!

Comments

[Jay McGillicuddy]

Too bad they couldn't make regular diapers with velcro to keep them together.

[m]

You should check out Fuzzi Bunz, Happy Heinys, Bumkins, Kushies, and Gdiapers - all WAY more easy then vinyl (yuck!) pants and duct tape!! =-)

[HeadMutha]

Thanks M!