Addiction.

Everyone struggles with it in some form. Lucky for me...it was never drugs or alcohol. However,  I have always had and still have an addiction to spending money. More specifically--finding deals. Then--I enter the world of cloth diapering! Talk about feeding the addiction!!!! Man, we started this to save money but I could totally see how people spend twice, maybe three times as much as you do on disposables. That being said. Let me tell you a little about our cloth and how we are saving money (we really truly are) and the planet.

I tallied up our stash a month or so ago (before my last few purchases and sales of a few diapers) and It was around $300. it's probably more like $400 now but our stash includes the following:

17 Pocket diapers
9 hemp prefolds
6 regular prefolds
12 Ikea flats
3 Thirsties duo size 2 covers
2 Gen-Y covers Large
3 Thirsties duo size 1 covers,
12 infant prefolds green edged,
2 snappis (I HATE pinning)
2 pair of Wool shorties
1 wool soaker
1 fleece soaker
4 gdiapers (2 for each child for traveling).
WAYY too many cloth wipes (bumgenius and fuzzibunz)
2 Superundies trainers
1 HH trainer
1 Blueberry trainer


This was supposed to be used on 2 children. That changed when C was born. J decided he wanted to use the potty from then on and he never wears pants, let alone diapers! I probably need to sell some of my stash but I'm afraid to make any sudden decisions and have sellers remorse.

Where did we start? Well I first visited a local natural baby store and talked to her a little bit. She suggested that I buy 1 diaper and try it out. I bought a Bumgenius 3.0 one size pocket diaper. I think I fell in love right then and there in the store. I was officially hooked on the cuteness of cloth diapering long before I knew just how addicting it was about to become! The Bumgenius were basic and very easy to use. She explained, you put the diaper on just like a 'sposie (disposable) and when it's dirty you take the microfiber inserts (that you stuff into the pocket of the diaper) out and throw it in a pail for laundry. I fell in love. It was so easy. Anyone could do it. I will add here a little bit about my gag reflex and why when I say ANYONE can do it...I mean it. I have a severe gag reflex. I cannot handle vomit, poop, food in the sink drain...hair in the shower. Ick. I actually dry heave...it's not a joke...it's for real! So...I REALLY didn't think I'd be able to "swoosh" diapers around in icky toilet water! WAIT.....GUESS WHAT?!? I CAN (but I don't have to)! We don't even own a diaper sprayer (although once we move into a new house I'd like one). We used bummis flush-able liners for J when he was using diapers and with C he is EBF so the poops are water soluble and you just throw it right in the wash. It's as easy as that.

I do feel bad for not consistently shopping local and supporting my local store. However, we need to save AS much money as possible. That is why we started doing this in the first place. In order to do just that,  I search and search and search online [NAK helps with this :)] and take advantage of any sale or discount I can (Amazon coupon codes were like crack to the crackhead).

I suggest to anyone wanting to start cloth to start with a pocket diaper. Most people start with prefolds because they are cheapest but for me they were a little too intimidating. I needed to start with something that was almost identical to 'sposies and work my way down to the cheapie prefolds and flats (which I am now in love with and wanting to switch to completely)!

I know it's kinda overwhelming but it's really really really simple! I remember my hubby "M" was NOT on board with cd-ing at all!! He said he'd have his 'sposie stash and when he changed a diaper he'd use a sposie. Well that soon changed when the sposies ran out and I didn't buy anymore!! MWAHAHAAA!!

A lot of people will argue that you don't actually save any more money when you factor in laundry soap, water use etc. Well THEY'RE WRONG! Like anything...you can spend a lot or a little. It IS possible to use cloth and save money, water etc. For example....you do need a certain kind of cloth diaper approved laundry detergent. If you are conservative in the least bit you can find deals on that stuff too! A lot of people have had great success with Tide and Duh you can get that at good old walmart! I got my detergent (babyganics) from babies r us on clearance and I cleaned them out of the stuff! I will not have to by detergent for a longggg time!

So in a nutshell....The rules are pretty simple. Don't listen to what other people say (negatively) and do what you love (addicted or not) and do what inspires you!!! Rock on!