The “Greener” Way to Diaper Your Baby
Cloth diapers are making a comeback! Cloth has evolved from your grandma’s pins and plastic pants to modern options. With nearly a dozen types available on the market today, using cloth has never been easier.
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Cloth Diapering Tips
A diaper sprayer is a must. You can attach it easily to the toilet, and it allows you to spray all the excess off your diapers before laundering.
Cloth Diaper Types
Choosing the right diapers for your family
With so many types of diapers on the market in a range of price points, knowing which diaper is best for your family is half the battle.
Fitted Diapers
For some, a fitted under a wool cover is the most reliable overnight option.
Covers with Inserts
Prefolds can be folded in many different ways to customize the fit and absorbency.
AOI & Pocket Diapers
All in ones (AIOs) are one of the most convenient diaper options.
Pros and cons of
Fitted Diapers
- Highly absorbent
- Excellent for overnight
- Requires a cover
- Can be extremely bulky
- Different sizes for different ages
Pros and cons of
Diaper Covers with Inserts
- Extremely customizable
- Uses flats/prefolds for absorbency
- Covers are often size adjustable
- Least expensive option
Pros and cons of
AOI & Pocket Diapers
- Most like disposables in fit
- Easy for caregivers
- One-size/size adjustable
- Easiest, but most expensive
Saving Money with Cloth
A typical cloth diaper "stash" of 24-36 diapers typically costs around $500. Assuming potty training happens around 2.5 years old, a family is looking to save an average of $1,500 to $2,500 per child by switching from disposables to cloth.
Environmental Impact
A disposable diaper may take up to 500 years to decompose.
Child Care
Cloth diapers are allowed by licensing in all child care program types. Help your provider understand how to use the diapers by showing them how to change your baby and providing all the necessary materials, including a wet bag and cloth-safe creams.
Diaper Creams and Cloth Wipes
Cloth wipes are a great eco-friendly companion to cloth diapers. Check and make sure your other accessories are safe, including diaper cream, detergents, and sprays.
Diaper Sprayer
While exclusively breastfed (EFB) poop is water soluble, diapers of formula fed infants and babies eating solids will need to be scraped or sprayed before washing. A diaper sprayer attachment for your toilet is an excellent tool for the job.
Using Cloth
Getting started with cloth diapers
Maybe you love all the cute prints or want to save a few bucks. Perhaps you are more interested in natural parenting and motivated by the environmental benefits of cloth. Any way you cut it, ditching disposable diapers is easier than you might think.
Benefits
- Cheaper
- Reduces waste
- Environmentally friendly
- Less diaper rashes
- Fewer “blow outs”
- Earlier toileting readiness
- Less chemicals
- Retains value
- CUTE!
How many diapers do I need?
Newborn: Min. 12-15 changes to do laundry every day; 24-36 for every other day. Some parents refer disposable diapers during the newborn period.
3+ months: Min. 10-12 changes to do laundry every day; 20-30 for every other day.
What are my diapering options?
From your more traditional inserts with covers or rubber pants to cloth diapers that act similar to disposables, there are several types of cloth diapers, including
- Prefolds and Fitteds
- Diaper Covers
- Wool
- Pocket Diapers
- All in Ones (AIO)
- Flats and Flour Sack Towels (FST)
- Hybrid and All in Twos (AI2s)
Prepping diapering for use
New Diapers
Wash new diaper covers, pocket shells, inserts, or AIOs made with synthetic fibers once before putting on baby. You can also use natural fiber diapers (cotton or hemp) after one wash, but they gain absorbency through multiple washes.
Used Diapers
Where you bought second-hand diapers or are prepping your used diapers for the next baby, it is important to “strip” diapers of any build up of mineral deposits and/or detergent before use. Wash your diapers on hot with several extra rinses. Bleach can be used for stripping or if your diapers were exposed to bacteria or yeast, like a bad diaper rash.
Helpful resources
- Detergent Index: Detergents without softeners and other chemicals
- Washing machine Index: Washing machine tips by machine type/brand/model
- Diaper Creams and Cloth Diapers Index: Creams that won’t cause repelling or cause staining
Scrape & spray
An exclusively breastfed (EBF) baby’s stool is water-soluble, meaning it breaks down in water and will rinse off in the washer. A formula fed baby’s stool should be rinsed to avoid problems. When any child starts solids, get the poop off the diaper by spraying, dunking, scraping, or using a liner. Diaper sprayers that attach to the toilet, like this one, is a great tool for spraying poo!
Store
Removing the insert(s) from pocket diapers now can save hassle later! Store diapers in a wet bag or diaper pail. Wet bags come in many different sizes and hanging options. Pail liners are used like a trash bag in a trashcan (or similar sized container.), or you can use it without a pail.
Wash
When you have enough dirty diapers for a load (typically once every 2-3 days), dump all diapers into the wash along with dirty wet bags/pail liners and cloth wipes, if used. Establishing a solid wash routine is key to cloth diapering success!
Simple wash routine
- Pre-rinse with cold water and no detergent on a rinse or speed wash cycle.
- Wash on warm or hot using the highest wash cycle using an adequate amount of cloth friendly detergent
- Select “extra rinse” or complete an additional speed wash cycle on cold (without detergent) to ensure your diapers are rinsed clean.
Troubleshooting
If you have problems with smells, rashes, or leaking, it is likely a problem in your wash routine. Double-check the steps above and try out different methods until you find the right fit. It may be time to strip or change up your routine. Check out these resources from FluffLoveUniversity.com for more troubleshooting help!
Topics include,
- Dealing with yeast, mold, and rashes
- How and when to “strip” diapers
- Leaky diapers
- Bleach, Oxyclean, and more!
- Overnight diapering
- Cloth diapering in child care
Featured Video
Cloth Diapering 101
Cloth diapers today aren’t like they used to be. Your grandmother’s pins and rubber pants have been replaced by easy-to-use all-in-ones with tons of prints and styles. But as great as it is to have so many eco-friendly options, navigating the choices can get a little confusing. View the recording to dive into the world of cloth diapering and get your questions answered!
Featured Resource
Cloth Diapering Tip Sheet
Dive into our cloth diapering tip sheet, a printable PDF loaded with information for both first-time and seasoned cloth users. Learn more about washing, prepping, and troubleshooting issues like stink, yeast, and mold.
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