In nine days or less we will be welcoming a new addition to our family. Since this will be our second child, I feel a good bit more confident than I did the first time around. But there’s one area where I am a little concerned — diapering.

With our first child, we used disposables. I wasn’t paying as much attention to the environment then and it didn’t occur to us. But after starting to write for BeGreenMinded, and becoming more aware, I realized that we really should give cloth diapering a go this time around.

We aren’t complete newbies. I got a few cloth diapers before we really kicked up the potty-training with our 2-year-old. He didn’t mind them, and they weren’t too difficult to get or keep clean. BUT, I only had a couple. And I had plenty of disposables on hand.

So, I fully realize that once our second child arrives, I will be in for a huge shock on the diapering front.

At first, when I informed my family about our decision, I met some resistence. My mom cloth diapered me, because disposables were too expensive. It apparently wasn’t a fun experience. My grandmothers were both shocked. I mean why would someone choose to make life more difficult, when it’s already going to be a lot busier with two?

But they are all coming around. It helps that cloth diapers have changed a whole lot since I was a baby. They look to be a lot easier. And you don’t have to use pins, thanks to velcro, snaps and Snappis.

Still, they all raised concerns. At the moment, I have had an answer for them all. Once I’m actually in the midst of everything, that will probably change.

Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to do several posts covering the basics of cloth diapering for beginners. I am in no way an expert, and still have lots to learn.

The topics will include a basic abbreviation guide, — you will be amazed at all of the confusing abbreviations there are for cloth diapers –  some ideas on washing and drying cloth diapers, a cost comparison, and some of my opinions on cloth diapering once our second bundle of joy arrives.

If you have any thoughts or questions about cloth diapering, please send me an email or comment to this post. I most likely will not have the answer, but will gladly work to find out an answer.