Should You Use Cloth Diapers?

When my daughter was 16 months old, she developed an itchy, seemingly incurable patch of contact dermatitis on her behind. I wondered if I should consider cloth diapers, but I nervously imagined the ones my mother used—safety pins and all. It seemed like a big pain in the you-know-what, but since my daughter was experiencing pain on her you-know-what, I thought I'd do some research.

As it turns out, today's cloth diapers are nothing like the ones used in years past. Many look like disposables, and use snaps, Velcro, and plush fabrics to cover baby's bottom.

I decided to give them a try. And in the process, I spoke with other parents about their cloth diapering adventures—successful and not.