to cloth diaper or not to cloth diaper???

This is our last baby. We've been die hard Paper's users since our first.

I like the environmental aspects, the start up costs probably wouldn't be a problem, but my MIL keeps telling me horror stores of washing them out in toilet and it being so completely time consuming. I know things have changed, and I've watched several video's on you tube.

Here are my concerns.

Laundry is that one chore everyone in my house seems to put off as long as possible. I will be living about 2 hours away from work (unless we move in the next 7 months) and 2 hours of washing before bed just doesn't sound fun to me.
Is it really as much of a pain in the ass as the video's make it seem?

is it hard to travel with cloth diapers? We do a lot weekend trips and I don't want to carry around a bunch of soiled diapers. I was thinking of investing in G-diapers for outings.

IDK I know it's better for the environment and eventually cheaper, It just seems like such a major under taking that would probably involve unwilling family members.
Any advise would be welcome.

I use cloth and I love it. I wash every other day, but I'm home to be able to. I just was his clothes with his diapers, and as soon as I run out of tide I'll be using the same detergent for all of us, so in reality everything could be washed together. I just went on a week trip, and didn't use disposable. just packed up everything. your best bet for weekend trips would bet get a good sized wet bag, which keeps the smell in, so they don't stink. I also use flushable liners that catch the poop. so none of my dirty diapers sit actually dirty, just wet. for laundry, maybe throw them in the wash in the morning, and transfer them into the dryer when you get home? so they aren't taking 2 hours after you get home. And noone on either side of the family was too fond of us choosing cloth. My MIL asked if when he stays with her (rarely happens) if she is allowed to buy him a package of huggies. I told her no. If someone wants to watch him, they have to follow my rules, which means use cloth. It was pretty funny seeing my dad try and change one of his diapers when we were visiting though

Quoting Rhiannon Deason:" I use cloth and I love it. I wash every other day, but I'm home to be able to. I just was his clothes ... [snip!] ... rules, which means use cloth. It was pretty funny seeing my dad try and change one of his diapers when we were visiting though"

I don't think i'd be that strict. I wouldn't want to impose on them. If a pack of huggies is easier for them and they are buying, I don't see a problem.

My daughter was extremely sensitive. as soon as she'd poop, her butt would blister and bleed. We had to use a special diaper cream for her. I'm sure the chemicals in the diapers didn't help. It was hard to watch her be in so much pain almost all the time. I wasn't in a position to shell out that kind of money for cloth. If I start planning now, we'll have the money.

I've been using cloth diapers for 2 years and find them super easy. I recommend pocket diapers. If you have a decent size stash (minimum of 25-30 diapers), then you can easily wash every 2-3 days. We don't even have a dryer and it's not a huge inconvenience for me.

you can get AlvaBaby diapers brand new for about $5 shipped or even less if you join a co-op or you can buy used diapers as well. and when you are all done, you can resell them and STILL get a lot of your money back.

As far as using cloth when out and about. They have things called "wetbags" for that and they work really well. Or you can also use disposables when you're out if it's more convenient for you. Still saves a lot of money just using cloth at home. =D

Quoting Devil Duckie:" I don't think i'd be that strict. I wouldn't want to impose on them. If a pack of huggies is easier for ... [snip!] ... all the time. I wasn't in a position to shell out that kind of money for cloth. If I start planning now, we'll have the money. "

I'm only strict, because he's gotten so used to cloth. The few times he's been in sposies, he's broken out so bad. Plus since every baby is different, I don't even know which sposies would work on him. DD peed right through huggies and luvs, she would only do good in pampers, but DS could be completely different. DS was in sposies only in the hospital and maybe 2 days at home until I got the hang of using the cloth. His poor tush was bright red and so sore. 2 days in cloth and he hasn't had a rash since (minus slight chafing around his legs when I forget to put a little cream on them before bed, since he sleeps 12 hours)

Quoting Rhiannon Deason:" I'm only strict, because he's gotten so used to cloth. The few times he's been in sposies, he's broken ... [snip!] ... since (minus slight chafing around his legs when I forget to put a little cream on them before bed, since he sleeps 12 hours)"

makes sense. Both of my kids worked well in Pamper's. My son ha d a poop blast out all over me, the wall and my just delivered bed (seriously like 3 hours after it had been delivered)

Quoting Devil Duckie:" makes sense. Both of my kids worked well in Pamper's. My son ha d a poop blast out all over me, the wall and my just delivered bed (seriously like 3 hours after it had been delivered) "

yikes! That's another thing I love about cloth. Absolutely NO blowouts. if his diaper gets too full, he'll pee around his legs a tiny bit, but never had a poop blowout

Quoting Rhiannon Deason:" yikes! That's another thing I love about cloth. Absolutely NO blowouts. if his diaper gets too full, he'll pee around his legs a tiny bit, but never had a poop blowout"

that's good to know.

do you really have to rinse the diapers twice before drying them?

Quoting Devil Duckie:" that's good to know. do you really have to rinse the diapers twice before drying them? "

I just do the max rinse on the washer and always wash them on hot. I splurged and bought a fancy new one when we moved. I think they all have like an extra rinse setting though. That's what I do. And I put vinegar in every wash. It keeps build-up down, and vinegar is a natural fabric softener (the dipes don't smell like it afterwards, promise)

Quoting Rhiannon Deason:" I just do the max rinse on the washer and always wash them on hot. I splurged and bought a fancy new ... [snip!] ... wash. It keeps build-up down, and vinegar is a natural fabric softener (the dipes don't smell like it afterwards, promise)"

so if I were to do this. which I think I just might.

Rinse extra long w/ vinegar, wash on hot and then dry as normal? that's it?

Quoting Devil Duckie:" so if I were to do this. which I think I just might. Rinse extra long w/ vinegar, wash on hot and then dry as normal? that's it? "

I do a regular wash, on hot, with extra, or max, rinse. Detergent and vinegar go in. dryer on low heat, for about an hour (I have hemp inserts for nighttime, they take a bit longer to dry)

Quoting Rhiannon Deason:" I do a regular wash, on hot, with extra, or max, rinse. Detergent and vinegar go in. dryer on low heat, for about an hour (I have hemp inserts for nighttime, they take a bit longer to dry)"

do you cloth wipes too?

Quoting Devil Duckie:" do you cloth wipes too? "

yup. I make my own solution. it's water, witch hazel, coconut oil, almond oil, and a few drops of tea tree oil. put it in a travel spray bottle and tada. I have a bunch, and always have 1 in my diaper bag so I don't forget it