a new idea....

So this weekend Josh & I did something I never thought we would do: we bought cloth diapers. These aren't just any cloth diapers, though. They are Bum Genius 3.0 cloth diapers-- the closest you can get to a disposable-type diaper that is actually washable.

A friend of mine, Rachel, sent me an email a few weeks ago with information about a giant sale on cloth diapers happening here in St. Louis. She cloth diapers her son using these diapers. At first I thought there is no way I would do that... but the more I thought about it, the more reasons to try it kept coming to mind.

First of all, they were on sale for $1 each. Yep, $1. These suckers sell for $18-$24 brand new... the sale was for "well-loved" (used) cloth diapers. Secondly, Hunter has had a rash for about a week and half now that doesn't seem to be going away. Lots of research suggests that using cloth diapers reduces diaper rash. I would like to see if that is true for Hunter. Thirdly, who wouldn't want a $0 diaper bill every month? Fourth, it is better for the environment.

So Josh & I talked over all those options and decided that for $1 we better go to the sale and check it out. We got there about 40 minutes before the store opened and the line was already around the building and through the parking lot. We got in line and it wasn't long until it wrapped around the other side of the parking lot. The entire time in line I was feeling very hesitant and nervous-- I was intimidated by all the super-moms who are hardcore about cloth diapering-- especially since I had never done it before. I learned a lot in line about the products and styles, methods for washing and drying, and how to pick out good ones in the sale.

About 3 hours later, we got to the $1 tables. There were piles and piles of "well-loved" $1 diapers. Each person was only allowed 25. So Josh & I both picked out big piles of ones we thought were good and then went and sat on the floor to examine them more closely. I felt overwhelmed again, because there were so many good ones! How were we ever going to decide which ones weren't good?

Hunter was at his limit by this point, since we were an hour past his nap. He did great in line, though, even through the heat. So we made our decisions and left with a new plan in mind.

Tonight, we finally had them all washed, cleaned, dried and ready to stuff.
And Hunter is sleeping in his very first cloth diaper as I type. I will have to report tomorrow as to whether or not it worked!