Why I'm doing the flats challenge...

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!   

Whenever I tell someone, usually family, that I'm participating in the flats challenge the first question I get asked is why. Why would you give up your modern cloth diapers and commit to hand washing your flat diapers for a week? Heck, many of them even wonder why I bother with cloth diapers in the first place when I could just put a disposable on my son and throw it away when I'm done. There are a few reasons why I'm doing it.

Because I'm addicted to all things cloth diapers. In February, months before this challenge, I purchased my first Snappi and set of flat diapers. I wanted to try them. I wanted to see what it was like to do it the "old school" way. Yes, I love my pockets and all in ones, but I wanted to learn the folds and see if it was really that bad or inconvenient. 

Because I want to learn. Since I began cloth diapering last summer, I've learned a lot along the way and I really want to be as knowledgeable about all kinds of cloth diapers as possible. 

Because I want to help others. I've converted a few friends to cloth this year and I really hope to help others find other ways to diaper their babies. I realize the sticker shock many parents have when begin cloth diapering. I don't want that to scare anyone away. Flat diapers are such a cost effective way to diaper your baby. 

Because I like the way things used to be. Call me crazy, but I like the way people lived many years ago. The 1950s sounds heavenly! I love the image of the 1950s housewife. Don't get me wrong, there are so many wonderful things that have changed in the last 60 years, but if I could time travel I would visit the 50s! Hand washing flat diapers just puts a smile on my face imagining a housewife or my grandmother doing it so long ago. 

And lastly, because I think it's a useful skill. I think we should always be prepared. What if the washer breaks and we can't afford to get it fixed right away? What if a natural disaster knocks out power for a few days? What if we want to take a family camping trip for a week? Learning to use flat diapers and hand wash them would help me get through all of the above situations.

Come back tonight to see how day 1 turned out!