As many of you already know we went out of town on Tuesday night, returning Wednesday. It was a stressful trip. A family member died. We had to rush down to Maryland (a six hour drive) for the funeral (which, of course, makes it even harder). We spent Tuesday night in a hotel and we came home very late on Wednesday. Everyone is drained and tired and emotional and hurting. It is hard. Many people asked me if I had gone to using disposables during this time. After all, I was traveling and it is a stressful time. So many people say that they don't use cloth during times like this.
I find it funny because it never even occurred to me to use disposables. Not this time anyway. I mean, we were only gone for a day (two if you count the fact that the kids and I had a trip to an apple farm on Tuesday then we met Hubby at home and left from there. No need to worry about how we would wash or where. Since Big Sister's staph infection is back I did need a few extra things. But, all in all, I just stuck the large wet bag in our suitcase and off we went. And, considering that it was such a busy day, I was so glad not to have to go to the store to buy disposables - that would have been one more thing to do.
Now, I admit when we were packing to go on our trip to Florida I considered using disposables. Not because of washing though - we were staying with family and I knew washing would be a breeze. I considered it because of space. I had very little space in my bag. We had to pay $25 per suitcase (each direction - meaning $50 to take our clothes and bring them home). So, adding another full bag of diapers was very costly. More costly then buying disposable diapers when I got there. So, I was highly considering it. I figured I could buy a pack when I got there and use it while we were there.
There were two complications with this as I saw it. One is that I would have about a days worth of cloth diapers with me from traveling - not a huge issue but, since we would be traveling all day the day we left, I would have to have diapers for then. I was not going to use disposables then because I figured, if I did not have the space for the cloth than I did not have the space for an entire week's disposables either. Two (and the more tricky of the problems) - Big Sister has very sensitive skin. So, she is highly prone to rashes and I do not dare put her back in disposables after what happened the last time we used them.
So, we learned the airlines carry on rules - one bag and one backpack (purse or diaper bag counts as a backpack) per person. And so we packed a carry on bag with diapers and a days worth in our diaper bag. We included some detergent (Charlie's Soap) and we were set to go. It was literally as simple as that (okay well, maybe not simple - we had the bag with diapers, the diaper bag, a car seat for each kid, a back pack for Big Brother and a bag with the computer - but still).
And after that - after we decided to go forward with cloth on that vacation - we pretty much decided that disposable diapers would never be in our home again. We are planning to use cloth on the big international trip (to Ethiopia) and that will probably be the most difficult of all. Since we will not have a washer and dryer or a laundromat. We will have to hand wash while we are there. That will complicate things. But we are committed! If I think about what it must have been like in my Grandmother's day. I realize that she would have had to use cloth. There were no disposables. And so, even though I see them at the grocery store and at Wal-Mart, as far as I am concerned there are no disposables now either. :)
I find it funny because it never even occurred to me to use disposables. Not this time anyway. I mean, we were only gone for a day (two if you count the fact that the kids and I had a trip to an apple farm on Tuesday then we met Hubby at home and left from there. No need to worry about how we would wash or where. Since Big Sister's staph infection is back I did need a few extra things. But, all in all, I just stuck the large wet bag in our suitcase and off we went. And, considering that it was such a busy day, I was so glad not to have to go to the store to buy disposables - that would have been one more thing to do.
Now, I admit when we were packing to go on our trip to Florida I considered using disposables. Not because of washing though - we were staying with family and I knew washing would be a breeze. I considered it because of space. I had very little space in my bag. We had to pay $25 per suitcase (each direction - meaning $50 to take our clothes and bring them home). So, adding another full bag of diapers was very costly. More costly then buying disposable diapers when I got there. So, I was highly considering it. I figured I could buy a pack when I got there and use it while we were there.
There were two complications with this as I saw it. One is that I would have about a days worth of cloth diapers with me from traveling - not a huge issue but, since we would be traveling all day the day we left, I would have to have diapers for then. I was not going to use disposables then because I figured, if I did not have the space for the cloth than I did not have the space for an entire week's disposables either. Two (and the more tricky of the problems) - Big Sister has very sensitive skin. So, she is highly prone to rashes and I do not dare put her back in disposables after what happened the last time we used them.
So, we learned the airlines carry on rules - one bag and one backpack (purse or diaper bag counts as a backpack) per person. And so we packed a carry on bag with diapers and a days worth in our diaper bag. We included some detergent (Charlie's Soap) and we were set to go. It was literally as simple as that (okay well, maybe not simple - we had the bag with diapers, the diaper bag, a car seat for each kid, a back pack for Big Brother and a bag with the computer - but still).
And after that - after we decided to go forward with cloth on that vacation - we pretty much decided that disposable diapers would never be in our home again. We are planning to use cloth on the big international trip (to Ethiopia) and that will probably be the most difficult of all. Since we will not have a washer and dryer or a laundromat. We will have to hand wash while we are there. That will complicate things. But we are committed! If I think about what it must have been like in my Grandmother's day. I realize that she would have had to use cloth. There were no disposables. And so, even though I see them at the grocery store and at Wal-Mart, as far as I am concerned there are no disposables now either. :)
Wow! That's impressive! When we stay overnight at my parent's house I usually do cloth, but longer weekends, especially for my hubby's bike races...I've often used disposables. My grandma said they used to use paper towels when they would go camping as a family...too funny! You've given me confidence that I can try using cloth next summer for bike races. ;)
ReplyDeleteSo I am wondering did the airlines charge your for the kids? I am preparing to fly with my baby and am wondering how the airline/ baby thing works.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I have to 'fess up. I use disposables at night, and am planning on having the IL's use them while I'm in the hospital having a C/S with DS. I didn't start DD on cloth at night when she was a baby, and now she'll have none of it at night. But I plan on starting cloth with DS as soon as possible when I get home, and at night too. (I have DH "trained" in the washing and care of cloth, but he has such big hands he can't stuff the pockets. Oh well.)
ReplyDeleteThe point of the story being that I wish had started doing cloth with DD at night early on. But I was too lazy. And now... now I must acknowledge the existence of disposables.
Great post! I use cloth always, except when we vacation and we stay in a hotel. If we rent a house with a washer/dryer, I use cloth. I began using cloth when my youngest was about a month old. I started out using g-diapers and made the switch since I was already washing diaper covers. It was the best decision!!!!But you are making me rethink my choice to fall back on disposables-although it isn't often at all.
ReplyDeleteI would take the to Ethiopia, what if customs tries to take them, or if her staph isn't clear.
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome that you flew with cloth! When my cousin, the only other person I know in real life that uses cloth, came to visit, I encouraged her to bring her CD. She would be staying at my house and told her she was more than welcome to the washer and dryer. She opted not to and I was pretty disappointed. She admited she was scared.
ReplyDeleteI haven't used disposables with my son since he was 2 weeks old because he had such horrible reactions to the chemicals. I think it is so awesome that when you will be taking your CDs international! :o)
im so impressed with you!!!! you did figure out a way to bring the diapers on the plane - that is one of the things that drives me crazy w/ flying!! you get charged for everything - and with kids - there is just SOOO much stuff to bring (the car seats drive me crazy - so big & bulky - ugh!). That's awesome though that you made it work. Maybe one of these days your story will inspire me to try it out while traveling :)
ReplyDeleteMy opinion but what if your daughter gets a GI bug in Ethiopia? You can still be committed and just use disposables for the trip...would have much more time to bond with your new child! Just my 2 cents. I'm sure either way you go you'll figure it out! :) Diana
ReplyDeleteOhhhh I didn't think about customs taking them you may want to check into that! I hope they dont but you never know........
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! You definitely inspired me to use cloth on our 10 day vacation last month! :o)
ReplyDeleteDon't you love walking into the "baby section" of a store and realize, you don't need anything from that isle at all?! It's so freeing for me!
congratulations! i loved reading your post and hearing about your commitment to cloth diapers! there are so many what ifs in life - we can only do so much planning. if you're committed, you'll find a way around snags that cross your path - i have confidence in you - go for it!
ReplyDeleteby the way, a couple of friends who have traveled with cloth while handwashing recommend using flats. they're easy to get clean by hand and they hang dry really quickly. they also pack down really small and are really economical if you have to buy them (check out www.little-lions.com for example).
really looking forward to hearing about your trip to ethiopia - for more reasons than one! good luck!
- heather
Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI have finally gone disposable-less for nights. It was really hard b/c I was so used to having that crutch for nights, but it's going pretty well so far.
Def. take some Gro-baby's or something so you only have to wash the inserts! Good luck!
I am amazed at those who only use cloth diapers! Perhaps if I am so lucky as to have a second child I'll give them a try!
ReplyDeleteWe are planning a 2 1/2 week trip to the mainland in Nov. This will be our first trip of trying completely cloth.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if it is okay to wash in the hotels washer?
Also, did you bring one of those large wetbags that hold like 20 diapers or what did you bring for the dirties?
thanks :-) Lindsay
I love cloth diapers but we do use disposables as a fallback for those times that we run out (ie someone forgets to run the laundry - ahem...). If we used disposables, we'd have the same issue of running out, but instead of being able to just put on a disposable we'd have to send Daddy to the store while hanging out near the bathroom. At least that was true at first; we're doing the natural infant hygiene thing parttime now so it's less of an issue.
ReplyDeleteThe first time we went on vacation we didn't even think about bringing disposables and then it turned out that the dryer at the location was completely useless and we were stranded in tiny place 30 mins from disposables with sopping wet diapers. Luckily it was sunny but we ended up using a damp one for a bit. So the next time we brought disposables with us. I wouldn't worry so much about having to handwash, but not having access to a dryer if necessary would definitely make me think about having a backup plan. Of course at the time we only had 24 diapers and Elizabeth was using somewhere between 22-30 diapers per day. Now it's more like 6-10 which is much more manageable.