No, this isn’t a goodbye to diapers. Babystar is still a looooong way from being potty-trained. And I DESPISE potty-training so I’m not the most encouraging mother in that regard.
I have officially given up on cloth diapering.
But. Please know that we used and loved cloth diapers since the ToddlerMonster was one month old. I took a few breaks during travel or sickness but we always came back because cloth diapering is really easy. If this forty-year-old mama gets another surprise, we will cloth diaper again. I am a huge fan.
But. We go on so many adventures every day. Big adventures for hours in D.C. or small adventures to a playground ten minutes away. Or Target. Always Target. And carrying cloth diapers everywhere got really hard because of all of the OTHER things that a toddler needs (mostly water and snacks and rocks and snacks and extra clothes and snacks). For awhile we were cloth diapering only at home but that often led to only one or two diapers used per day and the laundry was just annoying at that point.
And finally: butt. Yes, more fun poop talk. I don’t want to tote around the USED cloth diapers anymore. The things that come out of a baby’s bottom are not pleasant, but they are certainly less UNpleasant than the things that come out of a toddler’s bottom. I’m going to leave it at that. If you are reading this blog, you probably have a kid. If not, I’ll let you be surprised. (All children are different and blah blah blah.)
So. I surrender. I have so many cloth diapers but I’ve given away or leant out at least half of them by now.
MAYDAY MAYDAY: Cloth diaper mamas, how long do they keep? Should I save this expensive stash for my eventual grandchildren? I have college students too, so I could have a grandchild in as early as ten years. (They have moved the earliest age you can legally become a parent to thirty now, right?)
I am officially buying disposable diapers ALL THE TIME now. I usually buy Target brand. They are cheap, and I change her diapers quite frequently because I am paranoid about rashes (and I am still on the cloth rhythm, I guess). This month we spent $4.99, $4.99, $14.99, $4.99, $14.99, $21.99 (total of $66.94). I did just buy that giant box yesterday so hopefully it lasts for a while. Diapers are stupid expensive.
We are still feeding her, too.
- frozen waffles $2.99, $2.99, $2.99
- cheerios $3.34
- apples $0.52, $2.46, $3.99, $7.29
- bananas $1.14, $0.95
- blueberries $3.12, $3.99
- raspberries $4
- pears $4.99
- cantaloupe $3.99
- watermelon $4.99, $4.99
- salad bar fruit $2.10
- apple bars $1.99
- mango bars $1.99
- strawberry bars $1.99
- jalepeno macaroni and cheese $2.99, $2.99, $2.99
- carrots $1.49
- broccoli (no she doesn’t eat it but I’m trying) $1.69, $1.69
- (She does eat raw onion like a weirdo when helping me cook but I don’t buy them FOR her.)
- frozen pizza $2.69, $2.69, $2.69, $2.69
- Ice cream cups $6
- Honest juice boxes for popsicles $3.69, $3.69, $3.69, $3
- pepperoni $2.69
- Tots $3.34
- cheese $3, $3, $399
- bread (yes we basically buy that FOR her) $2.79, $3.29
- salmon $8
- cod $6
- chicken $12
- Chick-fil-A kid’s meals $3.29, $3.29, $3.29, $3.29, $3.29
- Chick-fil-A french fries $1.99
- Five Guys hot dog $4.79, $4.79
- Pizza slice $3
- McDonald’s kid’s meal $2.99, $2.99
- Costco hot dog $1.75, $1.75, $1.75
- Winterbrook Farms hot dog $2
- bakery sugar cookie $1.29
- Dairy Queen kid’s meal $2.49
- Rainbow Valley Restarant kid’s meal with tip $6
More boring stuff.
- Laundry detergent $8.47 (no more diapers but lots of clothes)
- Storage unit $127
- Wipes $4.99, $2.99, $4.99
- California Baby bubble bath $14.09
- Travel baby wash because I forgot to pack some $2.98
- Children’s ibuprofen $3.99
- Tissues $1.99, $1.99, $1.99
- Little Noses saline drops $4.99
RAISING BABYSTAR: $21,874.93
BabyCostsMoney 
I attempt it for a few weeks at a time, then I give up for the same reasons. Lol. And now that little guy eats regular food and has real poop… Oh it’s just more than I’m willing to deal with right now! I’ll do anything for love, but I won’t do that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to go back and forth with cloth and disposables too. I didn’t like adding to the landfill but when I lived in a studio apartment and babywore my kid all over Chicago while managing chronic pain and very frequent night wakings, I had to put diapers aside. In regards to potty training, I started way early because of Wallace’s constipation from hypotonia. I sat him on a little potty at 10 months, he couldn’t crawl or walk (hypotonia…) so we just sat and read books every morning until he pooped. So, I didn’t have to deal with many toddler poopy diapers and it made the for real potty training a breeze.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, and I believe there are best practices for storing cloth diapers to make them last between kids. Google or a CD group on facebook.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had to give up cloth diapering earlier this year as well. We were ready to move to a Pull-Up for potty training which I couldn’t find a reusable worth purchasing. I started with the Target brand but then decided to only do Nighttime Pull-ups so I didn’t have to buy two types. LADC does not prefer using her potty yet so we just keep adding to the landfills.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I THINK that when Babystar is ready, we will skip pull-ups and go straight to underwear. Except at night because she sleeps with me and my comfort is more important than her proper development. Ha! #goodmother
LikeLiked by 1 person