Ok, so here's a confession: I've never brought my cloth diapers on a trip. By a trip, I mean a trip involving a plane. Do I have a good
excuse? I like to think that the fees for bags that airlines now charge is a good one, or the fact that I usually have to pack for three children in addition to myself. But the truth is, I always feel pretty guilty about not bringing them and I cringe with every disposable I toss in trash cans on our trips. Now in my own defense, I do use cloth whenever we leave the house on local trips and when we go to outdoor music festivals. I bring them to the gym daycare--basically anywhere it won't be a problem to have a wet bag with a couple dirty diapers waiting in it. But I know that there probably many of you who are better persons than me--so dedicated to cloth diapering and being green that you've packed an extra suitcase for them or managed to stuff enough of them into any remaining crevices in an already full suitcase. In fact, I don't doubt there are a few of you who have even brought your cloth diapers on multiple-leg flights, on boats, or on trains! So go ahead and shame me and tell me how you do it. Here is what I want to know:
- How many cloth diapers would you pack for a long weekend trip--like from Friday to Monday?
- How many cloth diapers would you pack for a full week trip?
- Do you pack cloth wipes?
- Do you pack your own detergent? How do you pack detergent?? Or do you buy whatever detergent is available where you are going?
- Do you bring your diapers on the plane?
- If you do bring your diapers on the plane, how on the world do you fit them into the small and precious space in your diaper bag that also needs to be reserved for snacks, books and toys--especially if you have older siblings to entertain.
Oh, and if I only have to wash once or twice while I’m gone, I don’t worry much about detergents and wash routines. I just get them clean enough, and plan on a more serious washing once we get home.
I haven’t flown since my first was a baby, and we used disposables for those trips. I do bring cloth by car. If I were flying with cloth, I’d bring three day’s worth of my most compact diapers, and plan to wash every other day. For me, it would be prefolds and flips, but I’m sure the duo covers would work just as well. For the plane, I’d bring enough diapers for a change every two hours, and if I didn’t have room for another few extras, I’d throw in a few sposies in case of delays, blowouts, etc. I’d use sposies at night, so I wouldn’t have to bring another type of diaper and wool. This is pretty much what we do by car. 5 people in a PT cruiser makes space a premium there, too. :-)
Im pregnant with my third child and I am eager to cloth diaper. I have been researching and have gone through the laundry list of CD concerns. If traveling I would probably bring the amount normally used by my baby and a few extra just to be on the safe side. Sure it might mean an extra small bag just for diapers, but with three children I am not exactly expecting to pack lightly. The worst thing that could happen is that I would have to wash the diapers each night by hand and hang them to dry. I breastfed my other two children- no formula, no pumping, no bottles- until they were 20 and 22 months. My friends and family thought I would cave and supplememnt, pump, or wean at one year; but, I didnt. I am sure CDing and travelling can be conquered also.
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