Flats Challenge Prompt Day Six

Open Topic Day!

For today's topic, I went and scoured some other blogs that are participating in this challenge and use some of the discussions they came up with! Hopefully, they don't mind. 

 

Flats vs. Prefolds

Change-Diapers.com discussed why flats are better than prefolds and I agree with the points made. However, if handwashing was taken out of the equation, I would choose my prefolds over the flats any day of the week. I love my Imagine prefolds! They are most absorbent in my opinion and so much softer! They are bulkier though but I don't mind that so much. I feel like it's more peace of mind. Prefolds are harder to wash though and I would not want to hand wash or air dry them. I do air dry my prefolds that I use on nice days but I always throw them in the dryer for a little while afterwords. I like the flats okay for the challenge, I like how easy they are to wash but I would not reach for them on a normal day to day basis.

Am I saving resources?

What's The Worse That Could Happen? discussed whether she was really saving resources during this challenge.  She concluded that yes, indeed we are saving a LOT of water and I agree with her. I believe that I am saving a ton of electricity and water during this challenge which was another reason I didn't mind doing it for the week. However, I will be very happy to return to my water guzzling, energy sapping washing machine and dryer after all is said and done.

Going out of the house with flats.

Pandora's Bread Box talked about traveling with flats and while I didn't do any traveling during this challenge, today we did go out to a science museum for a few hours.  RockaBums also discussed a day trip with flats, so my opinion is similar to that blog. When we went out this morning, we made sure his diaper was dry before we left. I packed four flats and two extra covers. I always way over pack for the day because I'd rather have to many, than to little. While we were at the museum Elliott only needed one change and the husband volunteered to do it. It isn't often that there are changing tables in the mens room so that was pretty 'exciting'. I would have done it but I had to take Miranda to the bathroom at the same time. It was a successful change and Adam had no issues with the flats. 

Flats at night.

The last topic I wanted to share was Lynifer's flats at night idea. When I first read about the challenge, I was definitely worried about what I was going to do at night. Normally I use a charcoal bamboo insert and a Thirsties hemp insert inside a Kawaii Goodnight Heavy Wetter shell. (or two charcoal bamboo inserts) And I did not want to have to hand wash those! My other option was to use one of my bamboo prefolds because those are my other go-to nighttime option. I thought it wouldn't be so bad to hand wash those and I have 12 of them so even if they never dried, I'd be okay. However, that first night I decided to try doubling up some flats. What would be the harm in trying? He'd leak, we'd change sheets and then use something else the next time. I was pleasantly surprised that they didn't leak though and we've been using two flats every night since! Pretty amazing, I'm really glad my son isn't a heavy wetter!