My epic failure? Cloth Diapers.
In my pre-preggers days, I spent time teaching fourteen year olds how humans screw up the environment and different ways we can fix it. In one demo I show them the amount of space disposable diapers take up in a landfill. Look it up someday, its disturbing. So when I found out I was expecting, I decided my bundle of joy would not be adding to the massive pile of dipes in the landfills. No way, Jose.
I did the research, I went to classes (If you’re in the Pittsburgh Area, The Happy Baby Company gives an amazing cloth diaper class!), I read blogs, talked to Moms who used them and convinced the hubs we could do this. Not only would we save the environment but we’d also save some cash- winning!
I bought my starter stash, 24 Bummis prefolds, some thirsties duo covers, a few snappi’s and a wet bag. We also received 15 BumGenius Elemental AIO’s for when he got a bit bigger as gifts at the baby shower. We were set.
Then comes our sweet Grayson boy.
Isn’t he gorgeous? He’s lucky hes so darn cute…otherwise he’d be in trouble already.
We waited until his circ healed before putting him in his cloth diapers, and once we were cleared to stop slathering on the petroleum jelly we slapped him right into his first prefold. He looked super cute in them, and they were super easy to put on…we thought we were good to go. Ha.
We were good, until little man realized he was no longer in his disposable that made him feel nice and dry even after he peed. Then he started screaming…and I don’t mean the cute little whimper that meant change my dirty diaper. I mean all out wailing like there was a fire in his pants until he had a dry prefold on him again.
Ten hours after putting the first diaper on him, I had gone through 12 prefolds. As soon as he dribbled, he wanted that thing off that instant. I finally gave in for the night and put him back in disposables for bedtime, hell-bent determined to try it again tomorrow. I mean come on, they had to work out, I was determined! The next day? We went through 14 from morning to bath time. I was beginning to wear thin. Day three? I made it half of the day and called the hubs…I was either going to give up or develop a drinking problem. We tried it for a week, hoping he would “get used to them”; but no such luck. It was a very loud week at our house.
Was saving the environment worth the gray hair and gray goose that Mommy would need to get him used to feeling wet? At this point, I don’t think so. I wanted to do something eco-friendly, but my little man had other ideas. So for now, we’re in disposables. I still have my AIO’s that I want to try out around three months when I read that kids learn to not care that they are wet. Until then we’re just chalking it up to an epic mommy fail moment.
So that’s my story, lovelies. I hope to see you sometime over at In This Crazy Life where I share the successes and failures along with recipes (check out the Cinnamon Roll Waffles– drool!) and my attempt at DIY (need closet size dividers or newborn subway art, look here!). I love visitors, so stop on by and say hello!
Thank you, Emily, for having me today! It was fun!
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Good for you, Bethany! You should be proud for trying cloth diapering and for recognizing that it wasn’t going to work for your family. Best of luck to you when you decide to try it again!