You're doing WHAT?

So, I know a lot of people might think we're a little bit crazy for even trying it, but Scott and I have decided to try cloth diapering on the twins and NO, this is NOT an April's fool joke.

I'd like to say it's because we've re-evaluated our carbon footprint and are finally doing our part to "go green" and while this is an added benefit, it would be mostly a lie.

Yes, I do cringe when we take out our two huge pails of diapers two or three times a week thinking of the amount of garbage we contribute on a weekly basis.

Yes, I do know that each of those diapers will take something like 500 years to decompose.

Yes, I do know that disposables have lots of chemicals in them, including chlorine, that could possibly poison my babies (although, I've never actually heard of that happening).

The main reason is cold. hard. cash.

Diapers are expensive.

We were so lucky to have two amazing diaper parties before the twins were born (thanks Georgia, Lori, and Karen, and Josh and Ruth for hosting).  Between those two parties and generous gifts from coworkers, church friends and visiting family members, we figure we must have received around 3,200 diapers.

Wanna know how long 3,200 diapers lasts a pair of twins (minus one box that are still too big)?

7 months, 1 week and 4 days
or
228 days.

That works out to approximately 14 diapers per day.

Now, granted, the babies used more diapers when they were newborns and less nowadays, but
we are still using about 10 - 12 diapers a day (depending on unexpected treats).

We sat down to do the math on how much this will cost us until the boys are potty trained and here is what we came up with:

If we potty train the boys at 32 months (2 yrs. 8 mos.) which is when Seth was potty trained, we are looking at two more years (or exactly 24 months) of diapering.

If we use 10 - 12 diapers a day, 31 days a month, for 24 months, that works out to be about 8,000 diapers.

Diapers, at Costco, cost (on sale) $0.17 apiece.

8,000 diapers at $0.17 is $1,360.

We can probably get a decent sized stash of good cloth diapers for somewhere between $300 - $500. (Right now we are trying the gDiapers with cloth inserts (bought a few) and BumGenius (borrowed from a friend)).

That's $1,000 difference!!

Hey, if it's good for the environment too, added bonus!

8,000 less diapers in the landfill has to count for something right?

Let the great adventure BEGIN!  {I'll let you know what happens!}