Updated: Sep. 28, 2020
Originally Published: Oct. 8, 2015
Last night, I found myself in the bathroom for a solid 20 minutes, submerging cloth diapers into the toilet to rid them of the remnants left behind by the gourmet baby food my little one vehemently rejected just two days prior. Charming, right?
As we prepared for our second child, my partner and I took a serious plunge into the world of cloth diapers, committing ourselves wholeheartedly. We acquired a staggering 17,000 diaper inserts and 13,000 designer cloth covers. We even installed a bidet attachment for our toilet. Naturally, we went for the premium cloth diaper detergent to accompany the ridiculously priced diaper pail in a shade called Dusty Sahara Rose—not that we actually named it that, but we did pick a lovely Robin’s Egg Blue. After discovering that regular diaper cream was a no-go with cloth, we opted for organic balms and coconut oil.
Completely clueless about the ins and outs of cloth diapering, we spent hours poring over reviews and tutorials, including some delightfully confusing videos on YouTube. Every time we met up with fellow parents, we grilled them for tips. We became invested in our child’s rear end.
During my nesting phase, I washed those diapers repeatedly, line-drying them in the hot summer sun. I read somewhere that more washes would increase absorbency, so I took it to heart. After all, I wanted those diapers to perform well. I meticulously folded each one and stacked them in the ever-expanding changing area, which was quickly turning into a mini nursery.
The Transition to Solid Foods
When newborns arrive, they are essentially adorable blobs of love. Their poops are kind of endearing, and parents can’t resist sharing poop stories. If you ask me about my oldest son’s first month, be prepared for at least four entertaining tales. However, as babies reach around six or seven months old and start sampling solid foods, those once-adorable diapers morph into grotesque poop traps for their growing appetites.
Fast forward to last night: my son had ramped up his solid food intake, which was exciting but complicated since he was still breastfeeding. He was hesitant to give up the breast, and I was equally reluctant to deal with his diapers. Yet, we bravely ventured into this new culinary territory.
He filled two diapers in quick succession. One of the quirks of breastfed babies is that they can go several days without a bowel movement. For me, it had been three glorious days of diaper freedom.
The Diaper Dilemma
So there I stood, facing two soiled cloth diapers. Step one involved unlatching them and taking out the inserts—definitely not pleasant. Step two was scraping the solid waste off the cloth lining—much grosser. Step three should have been soaking them before washing, but this was no ordinary mess; it demanded scrubbing. The bidet we ordered lacked the necessary power for this job, so I donned some pink rubber gloves and plunged my hands and the diapers into the toilet, sacrificing a bit of dignity in the process.
Once I completed my tactical bathroom mission, I tossed the offending diapers into the wash, setting it to a heavy-duty soak. Honestly, there should be a cycle called “Just This Side of Obliterate.” Afterward, I finally relaxed and inhaled some fresh air.
On a lighter note, my wonderful aunt was online during this ordeal, sharing amusing stories from my own babyhood. Her humor reminded me why we opted for cloth diapers in the first place: despite the mess, they are better for a baby’s skin and the environment. Plus, they make for some pretty funny anecdotes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while cloth diapering can be a messy endeavor, it brings both environmental benefits and memorable stories that make it all worthwhile.