Stocking up on a budget my ideas......

             

    

I wish I would have cloth diapered sooner. I know one thing that might be holding others back is the start up cost. If you go the cheap way and spread it over time it wont seem like such a hard hit. 

Okay lets say your pregnant. Now you need to keep your caffeine intake as low as you can bear. So instead of spending 3 on a cup of coffee but a 3 pre-fold or flat. Just by one or two a month. So six bucks a month, to give you 18 by your due month. Then every 2-3 months buy a cover cheap brands run about 5 bucks. Thats 5 covers. Your costs will be about 5-15$ a month  seems a little more friendly doesn't it. Also ask for cloth diapers you never know what you might get at your shower.

Total cost after 9 months is .... 45- 135 dollars

With pocket it would be ....60-150 dollars for cheaper brands 

If you got to have more expensive diapers hold to the same idea 1-2 diapers a month. 180- 360 dollars

The other item you will have to purchase are....

A container to put dirty diapers there are a ton of options. 5-50 dollars

Safe laundry detergent varies. I spent 13 dollars on mine and it sould last a few months. 10-30 dollars

Easy one time buys just pick up or stock up whenyou find a good deal. 

That covers the basic needs there are a million add ons but this will get you started. This last month i have purchased 16 diapers, two wet bags, and bio-liners all for about 200 dollars. 

Great places to buy diapers....

Alvababy.com

Theluvyoubaby.com

Kellyscloset.com

Diaperjunction.com

Superstash.net is a personal favorite 

         

   

 

Dirty laundry, the skinny on ...our... My laundry routine.

Probably the biggest concert that comes with cloth diapering is the laundry factor. I do not enjoy doing laundry, we always have a constant pile of cloth to fold on our couch. But my diapers are not included in this. So here is how my laundry cycle works.

First I change N from his nighttime diaper. Because of my small stash I have so far been washing every day. I have enough for almost two days now. So after changing I take the night time diaper and throw it in the washer. I add the previous days diapers and the wet bag to the wash. 

                                              

                                                    This is a load of about 12-16 diapers

I run a cold water rinse.

After the rinse is complete I add about 3/4 tablespoon honest laundry detergent.

                                                 

 I run a heavy load wash, with an extra rinse. 

        

I do a hot wash with  two cold rinses. We have a front load HE  washer. If younhave a standard washer you will want to use more detergent. A good start is half of the recommended amount.

I dry on tumble dry low. So far no issues

I pull the covers out after one drying cycle. I also remove any inserts that are dry, and continue to dry the rest on medium heat.

When all the diapers are done I sit next to N on the floor, sometimes he sits on my lap some times he lays on the floor cuddling and hugging the diapers he can reach. It takes me about five minuets to stuff my diapers.

The laundry does not take that long at all. Most of the time you are just waiting, so other things can be done in the mean time. If I can do cloth diaper anyone can. I work full time on nights, and watch my kids when my husband works during the day. I am also waking up every few hours to nurse N. 

Cloth diapers are so much better for the environment. If you do a little research you will find that it takes 400 or more years for a disposable to decompose! Even the bit of extra water used to wash is no where near the impact as a couple years worth of diapers rotting away. Modern diapers have made it so easy so why not add one extra load of laundry... Maybe two if you have a bigger stash....it's laundry you do laundry anyways .......

Rebranded Alva baby diapers review and review of that brand- you will want to read this

 I decided to cloth diaper on a whim. I did a bit of research but not a ton. I then found the website clothdiapers.us.com. I made the assumption that they sold Alva babys in the US.... After making a slightly hasty although well planned out order. I did some more browsing on their web page and I did not like what I found.  The diapers where indeed sent from China. Oh well no biggy right. But after nearly a week had gone by and money had been withdrawn from my account, I started to wonder if I had been scammed. so I found them on face book. 

I had already written an email, but received no answer until I wrote on their Facebook page. I was told that the delay was due to one of the diapers I ordered being out of stock. There had been nothing to tell me of this, or I would not have ordered that diaper. I asked if that item could be subbed for an identical item of just a different pattern. The reply was that they could sub a diaper of lesser cost and add a insert. They also added an insert because of the trouble. Ok again not a big deal. 

Until the package came. I had ordered 5 diapers. I received 3. I snapped a picture of what I had received and spent the next several days trying to get the last 2 diapers sent to me.  I placed my original order 6-13, and I am still waiting on the last two diapers to arrive. 

          

  

Cloth diapers.us.com is brand new, they have no idea what they are doing. They are kind and generous, but it is not worth the mistakes. My one order had 2 issues that I spent about a week each emailing to get resolved. I do not recommend ordering from them at all. They did correct their wrong doing but they are just not worth it. The diapers do not come with inserts, there is no packing log in your package and they are just had to deal with. Order Alvas direct or from a company like superstash.net or a buy sell trade group on Facebook. 

Now on to my review of the Alva diaper. So far I really like them. They have a wonderful feel. Slightly like a satin not rough or sticky like I was expecting. The snaps have plenty of options to fit a wide range of sizes. I get a great fit every time. The minky is soft and cuddly. The one thing I am not sure of yet is that the elastic seems thin to me. My little guy has less red marks with the cloth diapers then he gets with disposables, so it has not been an issue. The inner fleece is soft but after just about 2 weeks it is pilling, normal though. 

 

So heres a quick break down of so far the pros and cons.......

PROS

- soft fabric, is very touch able

- easy to use snaps that seem sturdy 

-so many patterns :) 

- great fit for my baby at this time

- inexpensive

- no leaks yet

CONS

- thin elastic doesn't seem like it will last ( i will keep you posted)

- ships fromChina/ made in China

- not the best fleece

Stay tuned and I will keep you updated as time goes by as to how these hold up for us.