The Cutest Bum on the Block...

Definitely belongs to my baby girl! In honor of Earth Day (April 22) I decided to do a post on cloth diapers. It is truly astonishing how many diapers a child goes through during the course of their early life. It is even more astonishing and disturbing how much trash those diapers produce. I started using cloth diapers when my first child was born. I was new to cloth diapering, but really wanted to try it. I did it off and on for about two years, alternating between disposables and cloth diapers. I did the same thing with my second child. It wasn't until my third that I found the perfect cloth diaper. And I can say that I now use them about 95% of the time.

If you have ever looked into cloth diapering it can be a little overwhelming. And if you don't choose the right diaper, then chances are your experience with cloth diapering isn't going to be a positive one. The two types of cloth diapers that I use are prefolds with a Bummis diaper cover and bumGenius All-In-Ones. Both are great cloth diapers, but there are pros and cons to each.

Prefolds
I bought these when I was new to cloth diapering. They are a little more work than the All-In-Ones (AIO), but are a very good quality cloth diaper. Here are a few pros and cons to using the prefolds:
Pros - more absorbent than the AIO and less expensive than the AIO
Cons - much bulkier than the AIO and you have to use a diaper cover (one more added step)
It is very important to buy a good diaper cover when using the prefolds. When I first started cloth diapering I bought cheap covers and it made cloth diapering very difficult! Since then I always buy Bummis diaper covers. Also, I am still using the original prefolds that I bought with my first child. I have never had to buy new ones!

All-In-Ones
I absolutely love the All-In-Ones! These are what I was talking about when I said I found the perfect cloth diaper. They are super easy to use, just like a disposable, only they're cloth. And they come in the most fabulous colors!! I have had so much fun diapering my little one's bum! Here are a few pros and cons to using the All-In-Ones:
Pros - less bulky than the prefold, EASY to use (only 1 step), and super cute
Cons - Not as absorbent as the prefolds (tend to leak a little more) and more expensive
Because I have the prefolds from my first two children, I still use them, along with the All-In-Ones, of course. I like having two different types to choose from and they both work great! I usually launder them every 2 to 3 days and I never find myself without any clean diapers. Being that I already do so much laundry, one more load every couple of days is not a big deal. Somedays I line dry them, but usually I just throw them in the dryer. And I have to say that it is really nice to be able to go to the store and pass right by the diaper section and not have to purchase any.

If you are at all interested in cloth diapering (or know someone who is) I highly recommend using http://www.comfybummy.com/ . I have always used them for all of my cloth diapering needs. They provide great customer service as well as great products. Right now they are running a special until May 31. You get one free bumGenius All-In-One Diaper (which are the ones I use on my baby - see pics below) with a $10 purchase of any bumGenius, Flip, or Econobum products. There is no coupon code. In the comments section at check-out, just write the size you need and your top two color choices for your free All-In-One. I definitely took advantage of this special offer! There is no advertisment regarding this special on their website (at least I couldn't find one). I received the special via e-mail. If you are considering cloth diapers for your little one, now might be a good time to try one of the bumGenius All-In-Ones and see how you like it. I don't think you'll be disappointed. :)

Okay, enough about the cloth diapers. Here are a few pics of the cutest bum on the block...