That's right!
It's spring break.
I want to travel with my family, get some sun and have a good time.
So we're off to Florida.
I'm bringing the essentials: light outfits, bathing suits...and cloth diapers.
'What?! Are you crazy?'; 'Oh, but how are you going to do it?'; 'Oh yeah? but it's impossible'.
Sometimes, people would give me big eyes, without comment.
I felt like I was announcing that I was going to do the 12 labors of Hercules in a week.
Uh...no, I'm going on a trip to the sun and I'm bringing my son's diapers.
That's it.
Nothing could be more natural.
I use cloth diapers to protect my son's health and the environment.
I use cloth diapers to protect my son's health and the environment.
This way of thinking doesn't disappear because of the vacations.
I think there's a bit of hypocrisy and magical thinking in thinking that 'travel doesn't count'.
Using disposable diapers when traveling means polluting other people's homes.
Think about it.
Many cloth diaper fans give up on the idea too easily as soon as they travel.
But why should they?
You have to at least try, don't you?
Too complicated, you say?
Well, it's not.
Bringing cloth diapers on a trip is a lot easier than you think, believe me.
I've done it and survived.
Lol!
In fact, it was one of the most relaxing trips I've had in a long time.
I'm happy to share my experience with you.
About fifteen diapers, with the cloth washcloths.
No mixing with the rest of my stuff, thanks to this transparent bag.
I didn't have much to bring, since I was going somewhere warm.
A few light clothes were enough.
I brought my favorite diapers in a transparent bag that I inserted in my suitcase.
Florida, here we come!
The flight was about 4-5 hours long.
There was a changing table in the airplane lavatory.
I was so surprised that I forgot to take a picture.
Grr!
So I changed the diaper a few minutes before landing.
By the way, the other planes we flew on didn't have changing tables.
I was still able to change the diaper without any problems.
A little anecdote.
When the flight attendant saw me heading for the toilets, she stopped me and said: 'Don't throw the diaper and wipes in the toilet bowl or garbage can. Here, put your garbage in this plastic bag, and I'll take care of throwing it away on arrival.' I simply reply that I use cloth diapers and wipes and that I don't flush
the poop, like everyone else does.
I already have my cloth bag in which I keep my dirty diaper.
It zippers up.
Zero waste, zero smell.
And for her, zero plastic bag containing a stinky disposable diaper filled with poop.
I could see the relief in the broad smile she gave me back.
I've just made someone happy.
My vacation's off to a great start!
So I changed the diaper, just like anywhere else: 1,2,3, hop!
That was it.
Arriving at the hotel, I take a few minutes to put my things away in the room. As at home, I kept the soiled diapers in a large diaper bag or laundry basket, waiting for the wash.
Suitcases unpacked, let's go for a diaper walk!
Whether at the pool or the beach, we're all about cloth diapers.
Of course, I'd brought a swimsuit for my son.
But who says babies can't show off at the beach?
His swimsuit diaper from Lange Bleu fits him like a glove One of my favorites!
Contemplating the immense ocean in Charlie Banana Another anecdote: On the beach, I saw another woman changing her child's (disposable) diaper.
With no garbage cans nearby, she kept the soiled diaper in her bag.
Hmm, interesting!
I decided to wash all the diapers at the same time in the bath after a few days.
I scrubbed the dirtiest diapers roughly with soap.
I rinsed them all at once and threw them in a bag.
Off to the sun.
A good tip: leave to dry in the bedroom with the air-conditioning on overnight.
Air-conditioning dries the air wonderfully.
My diapers were clean and dry the next day.
I must confess that that very evening, I realized that there was a superb laundry just a stone's throw from the hotel, on my way to the beach.
The outside is furnished with tables and chairs in the sun to relax and drink while we wait for our laundry.
To have known!
All the diapers, clean or dirty, were stored in the transparent bag I'd used at the start.
So they don't get mixed up with the rest of the contents of my suitcase.
Of course, I kept a few diapers in the diaper bag for the trip home.
As soon as I got home, I put them all in the washer and voilà!
The Katchoo washing routine continues.
Long live the vacations!
I've written down several tips and tricks for travel washables.
Stay tuned for a future blog... Thanks to www.langebleu.org and www.charliebanana.com!
