2012 Great Cloth Diaper Change {Coeur d’Alene, ID}

COEUR d’ALENE – Cloth diapers, says Malia Rogers, are the only way to go.

They’re less expensive than disposables, better for the environment, and perhaps most important, they can handle those really, really poopy messes.

“You don’t have to worry about blowouts,” Rogers said.

The Coeur d’Alene woman and her 1-year-old daughter Reaghan showed their support for cloth diapers – and encouraged other parents to use them – by taking part in the Great Cloth Diaper Change on Saturday at the Kroc Center.

The bottoms of 26 babies were on the receiving end of fresh diapers at exactly 9:30 a.m. to try and break the Guinness world record for the most cloth diapers changed at one time.

Proud parents of infants to toddlers less than 39 inches tall in 13 countries and 300 locations were ready to wipe away last year’s mark of 5,026 babies.

The four major cloth diaper types – fitted, pockets, prefold and AIOs – were represented.

Those days of poking a squirming baby with a pin are long gone, said Margaret Hildahl, owner of Mother’s Haven in Coeur d’Alene. Velcro, snaps and hooks are the preferred choice of moms and dads everywhere.

Ten years ago, she sold few cloth diapers at her store. Today, they’re a best-seller.

“There are so many kinds, they need a two-hour class to help them figure out what they need,” she said, laughing.

Becki Witherow of Coeur d’Alene quickly changed the diaper on 11-month-old Rio at 9:30, then played with her son afterward.

“I really love cloth diapering. It’s very easy, economical and good for the environment,” she said.

Witherow first used disposables on Rio, then switched to cloth. She washes his diapers, too.

“He never gets diaper rash,” she said, smiling.

Jessica Allen, event organizer, has two children and is pregnant with a third.

Allen said they also started out using disposables diapers, but turned to cloth to save money and the environment.

It’s estimated disposable diapers, because they are lined with plastic, can take up to 500 years to decompose.

“I am very passionate about cloth diapers,” she said.

She washes them at home, too, and said it’s easier – and cleaner – than it sounds.

“I do not touch pooh,” Allen said, chuckling.

Rogers did admit they use disposables on trips.

“We pray there’s no blowouts,” she said.