This week is the Flats and Handwashing Challenge from Dirty Diaper Laundry. Bloggers and others from all over are using flat diapers and handwashing them in an effort to demonstrate exactly how economical it can be to use cloth diapers. Cloth diaper use has skyrocketed in recent years, but the focus has been primarily on "modern" cloth diapers. All-in-one diapers with the waterproof cover built in are very easy to use, there's no doubt about that. With the elastic legs and velcro closures, they are basically a Pampers that you throw in the washing machine instead of the garbage.
But all this diaper technology comes at a cost. A decent all-in-one diaper will set you back anywhere from $15 to $25 for just one. While this is still a savings over disposable diapers in the long run, it can make it difficult for families on the bottom end of the economic spectrum to get started with cloth diapers. All-in-one diapers (and their cousins, the pocket diaper and the all-in-two diaper) can also be tricky to wash. Fancy fabrics require special detergents and special care to prevent build-up, leaks, and other problems. It doesn't take long to learn how to take care of cloth diapers, but any additional effort makes them one step further from being accessible to needy families. Let's face it, when you are struggling just to put a room over your head, you don't have a lot of time or patience to fuss around with diapers.
