Ditch the Cloth Diapers For Traveling?

*photo credit, Diaper Junction: www.diaperjunction.com

Going to be traveling for the holidays? Don’t ditch the cloth just for a road trip! Well, not entirely anyways. You don’t need to buy a pack of disposables if you’re going to be traveling out of town for the Holidays. Here’s some tips to help you avoid paper diapers.

Ask about using the washing machine first.

Don’t just assume that your family members, or friends won’t like you to wash your cloth diapers in their washing machines. I have been more surprised by how many people were not grossed out by it, over people that were. If they give you the green light then, there you go! If you’re staying in a hotel, call in advance to see if they have washers and dryers on site. More hotels have washing facitlties available to their guests than you may know.

If you end up being able to wash diapers without an issue, all you really have left to remember is to bring enough diapers and laundry detergent. Remember, if you’re flying, you need to make sure your liquid detergent is in 3 oz. bottles. Check with the airlines for any other rules they have about detergents, so you don’t have to throw it all out at the gate.

Can’t wash? Go hybrid.

If you haven’t tried hybrid diapers before, you might find this is the perfect time to. What is a hybrid diaper? It’s got a fabric shell or cover, and a disposable absorbent pad. The reason why this method is a better choice over disposable is because the disposable pad uses less material than a regular disposable diaper. So you still won’t be throwing away much trash. They also hold a lot, making them perfect for long car rides or flights! You can hand wash the covers and let them air dry, or bring enough to get you through your trip. This is a less bulky choice too!

If you only use pocket diapers, you can still use hybrid inserts. Just lay the disposable insert on top of the inside liner. Hand wash as needed, making sure to clean the fleece or suede cloth liner well.

Here are some of my favorite options:

Flip Disposable Diaper Inserts. $4.95 18 ct.

These are made for the Flip diaper cover, but fit in many other brands as well!

GroVia BioSoakers. $7.99 50 ct.

These also fit a variety of covers.

And you can find other hybrid options at my favorite retailer, Diaper Junction!

And of course, you’ll want to bring your favorite hanging diaper pail, and what ever other accessories you normally use at home. A good piece of advice is to sprinkle some baking soda in your hanging pail before you leave, then wrap the pail in another bag or towel to keep the powder from falling out. This will help keep the smell of the diapers down during travel.

When all else fails (or you just want a break!!) go for the disposable.

If you don’t want to hassle with cloth in any way shape or form, but you’re still worried about being green, then I recommend Tushies. This is a made in the U.S.A. diapering solution that’s GEL free, latex free, perfume free, sustainable, renewable and chlorine free. Among many other things. Are they more expensive than other diapers? Yes. They run about .43 a piece. But if you want to stay green, or if you have a highly sensitive child, this might be the best solution for you!

When you travel do you stick with cloth or switch to disposable?

I’ve gone both routes and been happy either way!