Cloth Diapering

In the last 11 months I have thought a lot about cloth diapering, because I know a lot of people who use them for their kids. At first I thought it was a crazy thing that poor people do, then I thought it was a weird thing that hippies did, then I started thinking it was fun and got interested in it. A few weeks ago I started thinking more about it, and doing some research online. After wading through TONS of information, I came to a realization that cloth diapering is awesome. So I talked Ben into giving it a try!

Our initial reason for switching was cost. Disposable diapers cost about $800 per year. Although the start up cost for cloth diapering can be significant, we were able to get some awesome deals! So far I have gotten four packages of disposable inserts for free, and 3 free all-in-one diapers. I also got a few things on sale or in package deals. I did splurge on two diapers that were so cute I just couldn't help myself, and we did buy A LOT of diapers so I won't have to wash all the time. Our cost so far has been around $400. That may seem like a lot to some, but when you compare it to the cost of disposables over time, it is quite a savings! Also, most of the diapers we got are one size, so they fit Z now and would also fit child X (his future sibling).

The next reason that moved me towards cloth was the environmental factor. Every year approximately 18 BILLION disposable diapers are put into landfills. Those diapers take an estimated 500 YEARS to break down. I really don't understand how people can look at those numbers and not think that this is a huge problem!

And finally, what put us over the edge was looking at what is actually in a disposable diaper. They have various chemicals, all of which are not good for cute little babies! To read more about the reasons to choose cloth click here.

My dipes came last Thursday and Friday and I was so excited! After carefully washing and preparing everything, we finally got to give them a try. (We did have a little bit of trouble getting the diaper sprayer hooked up properly, but after a quick trip to Target for the right tools it works beautifully!) So far, I am absolutely loving it! It is really easy, and they are SO CUTE!!! Before we started cloth we had switched to Luvs in an effort to save money. He got such a terrible rash from them, and I am happy to say the rash has cleared up completely since switching and we haven't had to use any cream!

Cloth diapering is awesome, so don't be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone and give something new a try. You will be glad you did!!!

The beginning of the stash!

Keeping House

I swear, keeping a clean home is a a full time job! I have been trying to do a little 'spring cleaning' the last few days and it is a LOT of work! It seems every time I get one mess taken care of, there are two more to tackle.

Today I have been trying to finish my ever-growing pile of laundry, and clean the kitchen and dining room. I decided the high chair was long overdue for a cleaning, and man was I right! That thing was CAKED with crumbs and spills! Luckily I could just toss the seat cover and straps in the wash so that was easy. It should be in fine shape when I put them back on!

I'm hoping to give the floors in the laundry room, kitchen, and dining room a thorough scrubbing, and finish off the laundry and dishes. We'll see what Zander will give me time for! It sure feels good to get so much done!

Also I have been trying to catch up on 'paperwork' lately. This morning I had to call a magazine company who keeps billing me for a magazine I don't get, the insurance company about a dental claim (which turned into me calling a dentist I went to LAST year because they billed my insurance for something they didn't do), I also had to pay the bill for Z's 9 month check up and pay for the doctors portion of my colonoscopy! I also called in a refill for Z's reflux medicine and this afternoon I need to call the lady at the bank to go over some of the terms of our mortgage. Can I just say that buying a house is an exhausting process, and we haven't even found a home yet!!!!

Now I just need to figure out if I want to keep getting the newspaper or not, since my subscription is about up. I like getting the coupons, but I usually throw the rest away so it is kind of wasteful. I probably will go another six months, then we can re-assess when we get into a house.