Cloth diaper pros- help me out :)

[justajane]

I get that there are several ways to mitigate costs, but my point is that the final cost per diaper is still not insignificant compared to the total cost of paper diapers.

This is true, especially if you factor the time. I'm on my third use of my cloth diapers, so that is certainly coloring my view of it. At this point, it's all gravy. Also, I might add that I wash my diapers with my regular laundry at this point. My hybrid system of cloth and disposable means that I oftentimes only have 2-3 diapers for a load. I rinse them separately in a small rinse cycle and then just wash them with my regular clothes (using original Tide). So, in my situation, I'm not really adding more than one rinse cycle to my regular laundry.   I've never had a problem, but I might change my routine somewhat when my infant starts eating solids.   

BTW, I have been getting disposable diapers at Target for 10 cents each. You could likely bring your 16 cents down even more if you combined Target Red card with sales and their subscribe and save feature. That, of course, assumes you like Target brand diapers.

I think a lot of parents (esp. moms) enjoy cloth diapers and think they are fun. Go to any website devoted to them and you will see this. Some people love the big bums they give kids, the fun patterns, etc. It's really a subculture, kind of like baby wearing, and an identity for people.

I am also of the opinion that anyone who lives in a drought ridden area or in a desert climate should probably be using disposables. This is the more green option.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I get that there are several ways to mitigate costs, but my point is that the final cost per diaper is still not insignificant compared to the total cost of paper diapers.

This is true, especially if you factor the time. I'm on my third use of my cloth diapers, so that is certainly coloring my view of it. At this point, it's all gravy. Also, I might add that I wash my diapers with my regular laundry at this point. My hybrid system of cloth and disposable means that I oftentimes only have 2-3 diapers for a load. I rinse them separately in a small rinse cycle and then just wash them with my regular clothes (using original Tide). So, in my situation, I'm not really adding more than one rinse cycle to my regular laundry.   I've never had a problem, but I might change my routine somewhat when my infant starts eating solids.   

BTW, I have been getting disposable diapers at Target for 10 cents each. You could likely bring your 16 cents down even more if you combined Target Red card with sales and their subscribe and save feature. That, of course, assumes you like Target brand diapers.

I think a lot of parents (esp. moms) enjoy cloth diapers and think they are fun. Go to any website devoted to them and you will see this. Some people love the big bums they give kids, the fun patterns, etc. It's really a subculture, kind of like baby wearing, and an identity for people.

I am also of the opinion that anyone who lives in a drought ridden area or in a desert climate should probably be using disposables. This is the more green option.

I am potty training and using cloth training pants. I don't wash them separately, even if they have been subjected to solid waste--I just rinse them in the toilet and run a mini-size rinse cycle, then wash with the rest. So I don't see why that wouldn't work for diapers, too!

[Guses]

I feel compelled to ask what baby wearing is.... lol

You can probably buy cheaper paper diapers in the States. Being in Canada, Costco is the less expensive I could find.

Now that we have Targets here as well, I may have to check them out.

[farmstache]

I am also of the opinion that anyone who lives in a drought ridden area or in a desert climate should probably be using disposables. This is the more green option.

I'm thinking about this. We are currently going through a drought that will probably last until 2016 unless these summer's rains are really strong (unlikely, from current predictions). But I've also been reading about consumer-based water consumption and it seems that producing plastic, paper, gas, plus transporting the diapers into my city still wastes more water per diaper than me washing cloth diapers several times. That said, since I'm SAH currently, I might give Elimination Communication a try along with CD.

Oh yes, and the diapers are produced within the drought area (unless produced in China, I might have to redo the calculations if I find a brand produced in China). Plus they go to the landfills that are already almost full and stay there for hundreds of years.

These are my reasons, at least. Financial is a good part, but environment is still most of it.

[TeresaB]

I feel compelled to ask what baby wearing is.... lol

It just means carrying your baby around in a wrap, carrier, sling, instead of a stroller, plastic car seat carrier (what are those things called? I generally call them baby buckets but I'm pretty sure that's not a standard term), or your arms.