Cloth Diapering -- the Adventure Begins

Before I ever gave birth, I assumed I would cloth diaper.  I went to Huxley College for goodness sakes, the oldest environmental college in the nation.  I knew all about those evil disposables, with their toxic chemicals, filling our landfills.  And then I got pregnant.  It sucked.  After ten months of torture, the idea of cloth diapering was a little overwhelming.  Then I met Linus, the poopiest baby who has ever graced the planet.  That child pooped up to 12 times a day.  He pooped every time mid-feeding.  Cloth diapering was officially off the table.  As a mom, especially a first time mom, I think you find there are only so many things you can take on in your life and then forgive yourself for the rest. Through my severely sleep deprived existence, I chose to make my own baby food.

Pregnancy and birth the second time around was much better.  Is it weird I even sort of enjoyed giving birth? Even better, I had a beautiful baby girl that slept and only pooped once a day (or less).  Cloth diapering began entering my mind.  I had received enough lectures on why I should cloth diaper that I was almost opposed on principle.  But each time I looked at that baby, I couldn't help but think how much fun it would be to accessorize her butt under a dress. Still, I reminded myself that I am horrible at doing laundry.  I seem incapable of making clothes white, getting out stains, not having strange mishaps.  I am a bad laundress. 

Eileen is 5 months old now.  Eileen has thunder thighs.  She stores all her weight there. I began to feel that the disposables were irritating her skin as they tried to hold around her beefiness.  Then the constant diaper leaking began a couple weeks ago.  Disposables just weren't cutting it.  I mentioned my fleeting thoughts about possibly cloth diapering to my sister-in-law, Jenna.  She emailed me an article on cloth diapering.  There was something about that article that made the whole idea seem less scary.  That was it, I was finally ready to try cloth diapers.

I ordered 10 bum genius 4.0 and 2 kawaii pocket diapers with snaps (I don't trust velcro), as well as a sprayer for the toilet, lots of diaper safe detergent, and some wet bags. While I waited for everything to arrive, I tried to read up on how exactly to wash and care for cloth diapers.  It may have verged on obsession.

Thursday I visited Jenna.  She let me practice cloth diapering, showed me how to stuff a pocket diaper, and gave me some helpful hints on cleaning.  I felt ready.  When we got home, everything I ordered was waiting on the porch.  I immediately opened everything and then spent about 30 minutes with my washing machine, trying to figure out how to get it all set.

Eileen is happily modeling one of the Kawaii diapers, note the chubbiness and massive thighs.

Right now my first load of soiled diapers is running.  We'll see if it all gets clean. I plan to buy a couple more Kawaii diapers because they are so ridiculously cute.  They have a soccer ball one.  I am wondering if the allure of wearing soccer balls will cause Linus to switch from a pull up at night.  I am excited to be trying cloth diapering.  Now I can even show my face at a Huxley reunion.