The last day of the Flats & Handwashing diaper challenge was a busy one- working on our house and then a birthday party. The next day was another busy one, working on the house and grilling hamburgers for Memorial Day (the first Memorial Day in several years that my sailor wasn't working)! So I'm just getting around to writing about my experience finale.
Was using flat diapers and covers exclusively difficult?
Not at all. We love flats!
Was hand washing diapers difficult?
No. It just took a little extra time and elbow effort.
Was line drying diapers difficult?
No. I don't have to blow the wind, so it was pretty easy and only required a few extra minutes to hang up and take down the diapers from the clothes line, drying rack, back of the dining room chair, or wherever I put them to dry.
Was diapering with flats & covers, hand washing, and line drying expensive?
Absolutely NOT! So unbelievably cheap! This method and flat diapers will provide healthy & cheap diapers from birth till potty training, and still work for future babies!
So, why don't more economically challenged families use this method of diapering?!
Our society's values have changed over time, changed to incorporate constant ease and convenience, as well as a high desire to achieve "success". The mothers of today's society have been exposed to the fact that disposable diapers are the norm and they are rarely even exposed to the option of cloth diapers. Lessons in running an healthy, frugal & efficient household have been neglected by most of our mothers and grandmothers, by no fault of their own. Even if they did try to give us such lessons, society has constantly pushed the opposite on us with fast foods, lavish homes, expensive clothes, pedicures, and gym memberships... as well as the need to acquire the time-consuming, prestigious jobs it requires to pay for all of it! Making more money to pay for all of our stuff has become the most important thing for most people. The goal of raising happy & healthy kids in a happy & healthy family environment has been lost in the struggle. Using cloth diapers is just one of many ways for families to live within their means.
Will I stop using flats and hand washing now that the challenge is over?
No way! I have loved using flat diapers for a long time now and I will continue to use them. I have always line dried diapers fairly often and I'm currently line drying all of our laundry full time, until we move into our new house. For hand washing, I will not continue to do this everyday. I will, however, use this method when the need arises- camping, frequent hurricane-season power outages, or when my washer breaks (it's been making awful sounds lately, so I'm expecting it to break down any day).
I'm glad I was able to pay tribute to all those hard working mothers that hand wash diapers daily as part of their normal routine, and increase my appreciation of the modern luxury of the washing machine!!
Read more about this awesome diaper challenge here:
Dirty Diaper Laundry 3rd Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge
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