I Hate Disposable Diapers

We have been traveling for only 4 days, using disposable diapers instead of my beloved Bum Genius cloth diapers because, theoretically, disposable is “easier”. And by “easier”, I mean that other people are less scared of it.

I should never have done this. We were staying with my parents and I could have brought my cloth diapers because we could have washed them, but I believed the lie that disposable would be “easier”.

Tushies Diapers, Small (6-14lbs)At first we were using our favorite brand, the gel-free Tushies. These started leaking almost immediately, which had never happened before. We assumed they had become too small because we’ve been using this size since Little Sir was a newborn and never had issues before. So we went to the dreaded Walmart to buy Huggies Pure and Natural in a slightly larger size (Tushies are impossible to find offline, even in Dallas we have to drive 45 minutes to buy them). I wasn’t excited about Huggies because they do utilize gel and still aren’t biodegradeable.

So we stood in Walmart gazing at all the sizes. See, this is why I think cloth is so much easier-when I want a larger size of my cloth diapers, I just unsnap the next snap and they are instantly bigger. With disposables, I have  to go to the store and try to figure out what size to get, only to waste money on the wrong one because the weight ranges on the packages seem to be complete lies.

We bought what the package’s weight range indicated should have been too large (14-18 lbs., Little Sir is probably 11 lbs.) but looked from the outside of the package to be only slightly larger than the Tushies. When we got home and opened them, they were in fact the same size, if not smaller than the Tushies. WHAT?!

We used them anyway, and they proceeded to leak the same, if not more, than the Tushies. We went through 2-3 outfits every day for the whole trip. We collected the dirty ones in a standard yard size trash bag, and after 4 days the bag was half full of non-biodegradeable diapers. Can you imagine how much waste would be created if we used those things all the time?! I was surprised.

The first thing people say to me when I tell them we cloth diaper is something like, “Wow, I don’t know how you can do that!”.

After 4 days of disposable diapering, I return that sentiment right back at ya.
Disposable diapers: wow, I don’t know how you can do that!
I sure can’t.

6 thoughts on “I Hate Disposable Diapers

  1. Anonymous says:

    I have had a very similar experience while traveling. I was prepared to bring all my cloth, but since we are flying I didn’t think I should pack so much….now I regret what I have since then packed into a landfill. I know this may sound extreme and I don’t mean to offend anyone, but how can anyone consciously throw so much away everyday?!? And how can it be legal to manufacture them with chemicals that are not good for our babies bottoms? Isn’t that what they’re specifically made for? Our babies’ bottoms? Oh how I miss my beloved Bum Genius!

  2. mica says:

    horrible jenny! i know you aren’t in the loop of “disposable moms” but all my mom friends and i use PAMPERS for boys, which is the way to go. i have used them now for a year, and i have never had ANY leak (either pee or poo) unless he’s on the border of needing the next size and it’s been 10 hours of him sleeping and a little leaks out of the top because it’s too full. just thought i’d share a little love for the pampers peeps . . . they are not ALL that bad 🙂

  3. chirky says:

    We did the same thing while traveling, but in our case we were up in the Smoky Mountains without access to a W/D for five days, so it was a good decision.

    Once we arrived, we were given Huggies to use, but they leaked. It’s the second time I’ve used Huggies, and the second time I’ve hated them. I stick to Pampers Swaddlers – they’re true to size, and I’ve never had a leaking problem. LOVE PAMPERS when I have to use disposables!

  4. TRS says:

    I don’t have a baby… but I commend you on your decision to use cloth diapers!!
    Yay!

    I was 13 when my nephew was born… and disposable diapers were still a bit of a novelty. We used cloth (mostly) and it was the first way i ever new how to diaper… pins and all! Not that bad.
    I can’t imagine using all the disposable diapers it would consume in 1-2 years.
    I just saw a report that the recommended potty training age was 2-3 years. Acck!!
    The study was done by Bristol-Myers… I haven’t researched them…but I’m guessing they have a vested interest in disposable diapers!!!

    I think if toddlers know what wet feels like, they get out of didies faster.

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