Final post for The Flats Challenge 2012 – Reflections

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For 7 days I will be using only flat cloth diapers and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants from all over the world!

Looking back at this last week, I’ve gained some great experience and toner arms! This challenge has brought to light the “greenest” form of cloth diapering. You can upcycle a baby gate to make an awesome drying rack and spend less than $5 on the hardware to make it happen. You can make a nighttime diaper near bullet proof with two receiving blankets, 1/2 a wash cloth and an upcycled wool sweater turned wool diaper cover! Check out this link for a pattern to make your own wool or fleece covers HERE! As I have stated before, you can cloth diaper with any absorbant material. Before this challenge I really didn’t think it was possible to cloth diaper a child from birth to potty training for under $100 dollars. Now I know it is! If you have receiving blankets, a bucket, pins, snappie or boingos, and a wool sweater to sew into a cover, you can diaper your child for the cost of detergent, lanolin, and water. Handwashing is very doable. It’s hard work, but so is stressing about how to feed your child when you spent $40 on diapers. If you know someone that has a child/children in diapers and is struggling financially, PLEASE let them know that cloth is an option for them. Share with them that Giving Diapers, Giving Hope may be able to help them get diapers. Share with them the RDA’s website HERE that can put them in touch with their local cloth diaper circle leader and resources for help near them! I’d love to be a help as well!

Thanks for joining me on this week long handwashing journey. Below are pictures of my last load of handwashed diapers. This load was 13 flats, 4 covers, fleece liners, terry doublers and wipes. This week, DD asked to wear her big girl underwear for nap time and she has been dry when I wake her up for 3 days now! I think DS is getting closer to potty training, but with all the issues surrounding the urinary tract infection he got, I do not want to push the issue and make matters worse. I hope you enjoyed hearing about my journey as much as I enjoyed sharing it! My parting words of advice for handwashing are this: gloves and an apron are your best friend!