Part 2 of a 3 part series. This interview was done with Evelyn Bellerive, our cloth diaper consultant for Sylvan Lake/Red Deer. Evelyn initially used disposable diapers, and then switched to cloth diapers. Please read with an open mind - and feel free to comment!
Introduction:
I am a stay at home mom of two amazing kids. My daughter is 4, and my son is 20 months. I am also a Cloth Diaper Consultant for Little Tree Hugger, and enjoy being able to share my love of cloth diapers and helping other moms get started!
1. Why were disposable diapers the right choice for your family? Why are cloth diapers now the right choice for your family?
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I did think of using cloth diapers because I liked the idea of saving money, and the fact that they are much better for the environment. I started doing a little research, and just felt overwhelmed by all the choices and cloth lingo (What is an AIO? BG? OS? Huh???). I didn’t have any friends who cloth diapered, and could only find limited resources online, so I eventually just gave up and decided we’d stick to disposables. I thought they were a fine choice, and was happy with our decision to go with disposables for quite some time.
When my daughter was 3-months-old she developed an extreme case of Eczema, that would not go away until she was a toddler. For a long time, our life revolved around trying to cure her skin. When I started doing research about how chemicals in laundry detergent and body products could affect her, it opened my eyes to a whole new world. I slowly started switching household products and foods to those that were more natural, and thankfully she did start to improve.
While I made a lot of changes in our household, it wasn’t until my daughter was potty training and I was pregnant with my son that I learned about what was really in those disposable diapers. While I was being careful with what I fed her and put on her skin, she was sitting in chemicals 24 hours a day. The thought of having Dioxin, Tributyl-tin, and Sodium polyacrylate absorbing into her body concerned me, so I once again started looking into cloth diapers.
I thought that trying cloth diapers on my daughter while she was potty training would be a good time to start, because she was only in diapers at night and for outings. This time, I found more help online with some step-by-step tutorials, and I felt like I could take the leap, so I ordered 6 BumGenius All-in-ones. I was surprised at how easy they were to use and care for, and wished I had started earlier. My daughter also loved them, and would comment on how comfortable they were and enjoyed picking out the colour of diaper she’d like each night.
When my son was born, I still hadn’t bought a full stash of cloth diapers so I started using disposables for the first month or two. After I bought a few more different types of diapers, I knew what I wanted, and got enough so I could start cloth diapering full time. I am so happy about our choice to use cloth diapers, mostly because I know it’s been healthier for my kids. I also love the fact that I’ve saved my family about $1000 even though I only started when my daughter was 2.
2. What do you see as the "cons" of your disposable diaper choice? What do you see as the "cons" of your cloth diaper choice?
Disposable cons:
I found that the disposables leaked a lot at night, to the point where I’d have to change the sheets, but I didn’t have any other issues with rashes or anything. The thing I disliked most about disposables while I was using them was how wasteful the system was. On top of going through a lot of diapers, we had a diaper genie type container and we were always amazed at how long that tube of diapers was when we changed it, and how a few feet of the plastic bag would be empty and just go to waste. So it was more than diapers we were spending money on and throwing in the garbage, it was also the wipes, and bag refills.
Cloth cons:
I’m a bit of a cloth diaper nerd, and really enjoy laundering my diapers. I think it’s kind of fun to use the diaper sprayer, and since it’s so easy to throw them in the wash and hang them up or throw them in the dryer, it’s not an inconvenience to me. I was a little worried when my diapers started to smell after a few months, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Luckily the problem was quickly fixed by a Funk Rock soak and switching to Rockin Green Hard RockDetergent. I know it can sometimes be frustrating to establish a good routine since there are so many variables that can contribute to diaper issues like the dreaded ammonia smell or leaks. The only other negative for me is that some diapers are a little bulky and pants won’t fit as well, so I just make sure to pick one of my trimmer diapers if the pants my son will wear are more fitted.
3. What is your favourite cloth diaper and why?
I always tell my customers to try out a few different kinds of diapers in the beginning so they know what works best for them. For me, I have favorite diapers for certain needs. For example, I love putting BumGenius AIO’s in the diaper bag because they are simple and trim. I also like AppleCheeks and AMP Pockets if I need a trim diaper to fit under more fitted pants. I love FuzziBunz for my everyday diaper. For naps, I prefer a BumGenius pocket because they’re very absorbent but can be bulky with more than one insert. For nighttime I like a fitted diaper with a WoolyBottoms soaker, because it’s a breathable system, and wool really is bullet proof when it comes to leaks. I’d have to say two of my very favorites are BumGenius one-size pocket diapers and FuzziBunz one-size pocket diapers because they comprise the majority of my stash, and for me they have been extremely consistent and reliable, and are a great value for your money.
4. How much do you estimate that you have spent on diapers (disposable and cloth)? Could you have done a similar style of diapers for less?
My daughter was in disposables for a little over 2 years, so I would guess that we spent about $2000 based on the Little Tree Hugger money savings calculations on the website. I have about 40 cloth diapers, which is way more than I need but what can I say... I like having different options and colours to choose from. I’ve probably spent about $1000 for all my diapers. I could have spent less if I had been savvier in finding sales. I know Little Tree Hugger often has amazing sales, so if I had been more connected with retailers, I would have known about the great deals sometimes available and would have waited to take advantage of them.
While I’m happy that I’ve saved money by switching over, I wish I had done it sooner, so that I could have saved even more. I’m also looking forward to getting about 50% of the value of my diapers back when I sell them after my son is potty trained!
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