Yes we'll be using cloth diapers, and no we're not crazy

When most people think of cloth diapers, they usually think about pins, plastic covers, and large rectangles to fold. Things have changed in the last couple years, and being in Ann Arbor, we have been exposed to numerous options that we probably would not have been introduced to otherwise. We have now had many friends already try cloth diapers with their kids, and after hearing about their experiences, Ryan and I have decided to use cloth diapers for a number of reasons. First, we've been trying to live "greener" in our day-to-day lives, and we feel like using cloth rather than disposable diapers is another way for us to do that. Secondly, when you buy cloth diapers, the estimated savings over disposable diapers for one year is usually over $1,000. So when you have multiple kids and numerous years using cloth, the savings can be fantastic. The new cloth diapers usually adjust sizes as your child grows so that the same ones can be used for years. This really makes the initial investment worth it. Also, cloth diapers often encourage kids to potty train earlier, or so we have been told, and the colors and patterns are often very cute and just plain fun!

The cloth diapers that we are going to be using are the BumGenius 4.0 diapers. They come with both Velcro and snap closures (snap for when Peanut gets older and tries to remove said diaper). We also enjoy being able to support a local business here in Ann Arbor (The Little Seedling; you can see our registry here), though they can also be found at a store owned by my Aunt Sharon's boss in Holland, MI (Tip Toes).

Following the advice of friends, however, we will be using disposable diapers for the first month or so for several reasons. Peanut will still be too small for the "Bums" initially (unless he/she is as big as Ryan was when he was born--I hope not). We will also be going through so many diapers at first. Plus, we want to be able to easily fold the top of the diaper over for the umbilical cord to heal. Lastly, the first poops (comprised of meconium) are often really sticky and wouldn't be too kind to the cloth. But even during this time, we are still going to try and use more of the "green" diaper products, like those made by 7th Generation.