www.incontinentsupport.org

You also have to factor in the cost of electricity, natural gas, detergent (laundry detergent, vinegar, dawn for striping), water, sewer, and wear and tear on your equipment for 3 years of laundering in your calculation.

People always seems to neglect that when they do the calculations of cost estimation.

Johnstone,

I do not use 4 pins to get the diaper tighter, 2 pins do that just fine. I use 4 pins in order to ensure better good cloth coverage at the legs. I am a side sleeper and tend to flood. Most of the time it will not be necessary, but occasionally...

--John

I have noticed this too!! I don't know, the cost calculations might still might come out in favor of cloth but at least strive for accuracy!

_________________
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

Marcus Aurelius

One last question for you all..

Do you use regular baby size diaper pins? Or do you opt for the adult size 3 inch pins? I thought i was using something large enough, but when i measured the pins, they were not as long as the adult size. Do you think I would have better results with adult size diaper pins?

_________________
"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love" Mother Teresa

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" - Captain Picard from Chain of Command, Part II

Bearing in mind that I'm a bedwetter, and not in diapers during the day at all ...

When I did the calculations for cloth vs. Disposable for my utility prices, etc., it turned out that cloth was cheaper, but only slightly (15% approximately). I used the cloth for about a year, but then decided they weren't worth the hassle.

My son used cloth diapers for almost his whole infant period, and I calculated, with 25 pocket diapers in circulation, that it took us 6 months to break even, and then we saved about $200 a year thereafter (if we never had to replace the diapers). That means that in total we saved about $300 by using cloth diapers on him, but that's prorated over 2 years ... so about $12.50 a month. Not sure it was worth it.

In my case, my family uses a well, so water is free.. we just need to pay for the electricity that the well pump uses.

If cloth can save me ANY amount of money, it is worth it to me, because I don't have a lot of icnome to begin with. I am literally throwing my money away with disposables, and sometimes i ntend to udneruse a diaper. For example, I might put on an Abena X plus anticipating a flood during the day.. or for extended wear.. and sometimes I don't need that level of absorbency... and thus the diaper is wasted. But with a pocket diaper, it wouldnt matter because I can reuse that diaper again

_________________
"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love" Mother Teresa

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" - Captain Picard from Chain of Command, Part II

Rob,

I use 3" pins with gauze diapers. I have used regular diaper pins as well, but found that they bent out of shape too quickly. Of course, the 3" pins can be more difficult to push through the fabric, even when lubricated with soap, etc.

--John

I am considering ordereing the extra heavy duty flannel diaper from Angel Fluff for overnights, because while I don't wet in my sleep, when I wake up in the morning i often have a morning deluge, and it would be nice to have a diaper to contain that that is reusable. Since it has velcor built in, it should be easy to put on. Those of you who use this diaper, would you recommend it for heavy wettings upon awakneing? To give you an idea of the amount we are talking, I was wearing a Northshore Air supreme, and it was completly satuatted from the front all the way to a few incehs to the back. Do you have any problems with washing with the velcro? How do you overcome those?
Peace out!

Rob

_________________
"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love" Mother Teresa

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" - Captain Picard from Chain of Command, Part II

Pin-on diapers can be pinned and re-pinned, as often as necessary to get a good fit. Velcro closures must work the first time, because there is no accommodation for adjustment. Washed unattached, the Velcro will soon accumulate lint in the washer; if left attached, getting them clean in the laundry will be difficult, and drying times will be extended. Rope_Wrench suggested buying Velcro tape and cutting it to size to facilitate washing and drying. Also, if your well produces hard water, the calcium will eventually precipitate onto your diapers during laundry, making them gray and dingy, no matter how clean they really are.

Fortunately, we have a water softner.. weve had it for a few years. Thanks for your input.. I guess i have more thinking to do before i make a decision..for now, for sure ill use the pocket diaper... perhaps that is all I will need for all situations.. but on the other hand, every pocket diaper i wear overnight and consequently wet upon the morning deluge I can't use for that day if i need an extended wear work diaper... But maybe that will be all right,. If i buy enough it shoudlnt be a problem.

Peace out!

ROb

_________________
"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love" Mother Teresa

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" - Captain Picard from Chain of Command, Part II