From: kim@m44.unm.edu
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Paper vs Cloth?
Date: 12 Aug 92 18:49:21 GMT
Reply-To: kim@m44.unm.edu
Organization: UNM Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM

In article <BsuD1E.B2o@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, weller@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu (Bonnie Weller) writes:
>I realize this is probably a reoccuring thread to this news group,
>but being new to this group I have not seen the subject arise yet.

(Omitted question about cloth/paper)

The diaper service industry does publish figures on the cost of diapering, and
they put wash-your-own cloth diapers as the cheapest, with paper and service
cloth diapers about neck and neck, with the service being a bit cheaper.  We
went with a service when our daughter was <=6 months, because we were tired,
had no washer, and had other things to worry about.  They were very nice,
although Rachel had a way of sizing up our diaper supply and determining to
exceed that every week.

We now have a washer and dryer and a line.  We use Nikky's diaper covers and
find them to be the easiest to work with.  The Wabbies line of covers have a
lousy velcro fastener that cloggs easily after a few weeks of use and tends to
curl up after repeated drying, making them unreliable.  We use shaped "Rainbow"
brand diapers and "diaper doublers" (from some mail-order place) with a rayon
diaper liner in the morning (her most likely time to poop).  Flat diapers are a
pain to work with.  The Rainbow diapers have a very absorbent insert, which
takes a lot of drying time to get really dried out.  We mostly put them on the
line for about half a day or overnight, then finish them off in the dryer. 
Same goes for the doublers.

Since I can be very uncoordinated at night, we use an integrated diaper with
cover called Bumpkins.  Sears carries a similar line called Kooshies, I think (
or is that the funny rubber fuzzy ball?).  These take a really long time to
dry, but I need the extra convenience at night.

Our practice is to wash diapers that have only urine twice with cold water,
detergent, and Borax, with a bit of bleach added when we feel they need extra
disinfection.  Soiled diapers are soaked in a 5 gallon pickle bucket with
borax-water until I can rinse them in the toilet (my penance for not going
through the pain of childbirth, I guess :)).  [What is that, a double-chin
smiley?]  and then they are washed three times in cold water, then dried in the
sun.  After an afternoon in the sun, they don't seem to smell.  Pre-soaking is
an important step, and the soak water goes into the toilet.  It's a smelly,
unpleasant job.  Sometimes I contemplate just putting a layer of sawdust and
straw on the floor and just having her go without a diaper. (that's a joke)

We haven't noticed any problems that can be traced to the use of cold water
washes.  I did notice that there is more effective de-odorizing if soiled
diapers are initially washed in warm, but I just don't do it out of habit.  I
figure the physical action of washing in soap is enough to dislodge about all
of the bacteria on a diaper, regardless of water temperature.

A couple of baby catalogs carry a biodegradable disposable diaper intended for
use in a cloth cover.  They cost a lot, but if environmental concerns are
important to you, you may find the premium worthwhile.

Daniel Kim
KIM@FLOVAX.LANL.GOV
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