Flats Challenge: Final Thoughts and 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!  

Playing in his Flip cover with a flat folded inside.

Today the flats challenge is officially over! I survived seven days of using only flat diapers and hand washing. I can honestly say, I am glad to be done! Some mamas were talking about doing in for 30 days. While I think I could handle the flats portion of the challenge for 30 days, I would prefer to use my washing machine if at all possible!

Through this challenge, I learned that I love flat diapers! Don't get me wrong, I reached for a Fuzzibunz this morning when he woke up, partially because I've missed using them. I do think after this week, I will use my flat diapers more than I used to.

The hand washing? Nope. If we were ever in a situation where I had to hand wash diapers, I could do it and would! But I do have a washing machine and I plan to use it!

This week, I managed to travel and use my flat diapers, continue hand washing, and keep my sanity! Thank goodness my parents, while they think I may be a little crazy, they are supportive of my cloth obsession. They laughed at me, but then provided me with a bath tub and a clothesline for the long weekend.

I will admit that I did not hand wash my diapers on day seven. I had about nine clean diapers to use for the day and preferred to spend my time with family. So, since I had enough diapers I decided not to wash at all. I was down to one cover and my sweet boy splashed like crazy in a the water table. So we stripped him down to a flat without a cover and let the cover hang out to dry in the sun. It still wasn't dry when we needed it to be so I used a hair dryer on it to get it drier faster.

I'm worried Chas will never let me purchase another modern cloth diaper after this week. He is convinced flats are the way to go! I do plan on using flats next time we have a baby in the beginning weeks, but it would be nice to get some more pockets and all in ones if we still have Noah in cloth.

I think if I only had a stash of flat diapers, I never would have converted my friends to use cloth diapers. I think that when people can afford disposable diapers and aren't hung up on the environmental impact, a lot of them would never choose cloth if they had to go with flat diapers. I'm pretty confident neither one of my sisters would have switched if flats were the only other option over disposables.

Interested in trying flats?  Kelly's Closet has added some new flat package options! These are great and I plan to take full advantage of them next time I'm pregnant!

Palm Tree Flats Package $54.82

Blueberry Coveralls Flats Package $70.97

Flip Flats Package $62.85