Getting Started With Cloth Diapers
So, you’ve decided you want to use cloth diapers. You may have even decided what type(s) you want to use. But where do you go from there? Here are some of my thoughts to get you started.
Building your stash
It’s recommended to have about 24 changes worth of diapers. If you’re using all-in-one’s or pockets, that means 24 diapers. If you’re using hybrids, that means maybe 6 or so covers, plus 24 absorbencies. This is the bare minimum, and it definitely doesn’t hurt to have more. The more often you use your diapers, the sooner they will wear out.
But that’s a lot of cash to drop all at once, you say. Yes it is. And that’s why I don’t recommend buying them all at once. I would recommend trying out a few different kinds/brands at first, and once you’ve decided which ones you like best, and which ones work best for your baby, watch for sales with that brand. Most cloth diaper companies have significant sales around Black Friday and Earth Day. It’s also really helpful to follow your favorite cloth diaper brands and shops on social media. I currently follow several, and they frequently share sales, clearance items, and coupon codes. Many of them also have giveaways and contests that you can enter. I once won a $50 gift card for our favorite cloth diaper brand just by entering a giveaway on Instagram!
Another way to save money on cloth diapers is to create a registry. Stores like Target and Babies R Us have a few cloth diapering options that you can add to your baby registry. Many cloth diaper retailers, such as Kelly’s Closet, also have to option to create a registry, and these have a much wider variety of diapers.
Several retailers also have a cloth diaper “trial” program, in which you can buy a few diapers, try them once, and return them within 30 days for a full refund. Click here, here, and here for a few examples. We have not tried this option, so be sure to research it well and read their refund policies.
But that’s a lot of cash to drop all at once, you say. Yes it is. And that’s why I don’t recommend buying them all at once. I would recommend trying out a few different kinds/brands at first, and once you’ve decided which ones you like best, and which ones work best for your baby, watch for sales with that brand. Most cloth diaper companies have significant sales around Black Friday and Earth Day. It’s also really helpful to follow your favorite cloth diaper brands and shops on social media. I currently follow several, and they frequently share sales, clearance items, and coupon codes. Many of them also have giveaways and contests that you can enter. I once won a $50 gift card for our favorite cloth diaper brand just by entering a giveaway on Instagram!
Another way to save money on cloth diapers is to create a registry. Stores like Target and Babies R Us have a few cloth diapering options that you can add to your baby registry. Many cloth diaper retailers, such as Kelly’s Closet, also have to option to create a registry, and these have a much wider variety of diapers.
Several retailers also have a cloth diaper “trial” program, in which you can buy a few diapers, try them once, and return them within 30 days for a full refund. Click here, here, and here for a few examples. We have not tried this option, so be sure to research it well and read their refund policies.
You might be wondering what brands you should try out. We really love Grovia and KangaCare. They are made with high quality materials and fit our baby very well. However, every baby is different and you may find that they don’t fit your little one as well. That’s why it’s a good idea to try out a few different brands. Reading online reviews can also be helpful. Here are two more things to keep in mind when choosing a brand: materials and sizing options. Decide whether you want synthetic materials (such as microfleece) or natural materials (such as cotton or hemp). Also consider whether you want one-size diapers or sized diapers. One-size diapers have snaps to adjust the size for your baby’s growth (see below). They will be a bit bulky on your little baby, but you won’t have to buy new diapers as your baby grows.
Caring for your diapers
So this is probably the biggest question that people have about cloth diapers: how do you clean them? The best advice I can give you is to keep to your manufacturer’s suggested laundry routine, and adjust as needed. Most companies are very open to questions and are happy to troubleshoot any laundry problems you might be having. GroVia has a pretty basic laundry routine that you can read about here. I’ll also share our laundry routine with you. First, as soon as the diaper comes off baby’s bottom, it goes straight into a hanging wet bag or diaper pail. We really like this wet bag and this diaper pail with washable liners.
Laundry day happens every two to three days (three times a week). You don’t want to leave your diapers much longer than that, or they will start to smell like ammonia. On laundry day, we simply empty out the wet bag or pail liner into the washer with everything else (yes, even our clothes!), throw the wet bag in too, and wash everything with normal washer and dryer settings. We use a free and clear detergent, and we do not use any fabric softener or dryer sheets. We hang our diaper covers to dry, but dry our flats with the rest of our laundry. And that’s it.
But what about poop? Ah yes, the all important poop question. Honestly, this is the only thing that I don’t like about cloth diapering. When you’re first starting out, it’s not so bad, because exclusively breastfed poop is completely water soluble and will come out in the wash! Just throw it in your diaper pail and don’t worry about it! I have no experience with formula fed poop, but you can read about it here. Once your baby starts solids, things can get a little trickier. You can’t wash the poop out, so it needs to go in the toilet. Now, before you “poo-poo” cloth diapers for this inconvenience, check your disposable diaper packing. Most say, “please dispose of waste in the toilet.” Landfills just aren’t meant to hold human waste, although most people do it anyway. So, here are some options to get the poop from the diaper into the toilet.
Laundry day happens every two to three days (three times a week). You don’t want to leave your diapers much longer than that, or they will start to smell like ammonia. On laundry day, we simply empty out the wet bag or pail liner into the washer with everything else (yes, even our clothes!), throw the wet bag in too, and wash everything with normal washer and dryer settings. We use a free and clear detergent, and we do not use any fabric softener or dryer sheets. We hang our diaper covers to dry, but dry our flats with the rest of our laundry. And that’s it.
But what about poop? Ah yes, the all important poop question. Honestly, this is the only thing that I don’t like about cloth diapering. When you’re first starting out, it’s not so bad, because exclusively breastfed poop is completely water soluble and will come out in the wash! Just throw it in your diaper pail and don’t worry about it! I have no experience with formula fed poop, but you can read about it here. Once your baby starts solids, things can get a little trickier. You can’t wash the poop out, so it needs to go in the toilet. Now, before you “poo-poo” cloth diapers for this inconvenience, check your disposable diaper packing. Most say, “please dispose of waste in the toilet.” Landfills just aren’t meant to hold human waste, although most people do it anyway. So, here are some options to get the poop from the diaper into the toilet.
- Flushable liners: These are thin liners (think dryer sheet) that you lay inside your diaper. It catches the poop, and then can be removed from the diaper. Although these are labeled as flushable, you are responsible for the capacity of your plumbing and septic system. Some people choose not to flush them. Here is an example.
- Dunk and swish: This is exactly what it sounds like. Hold the diaper into the toilet bowl so that it’s in the water and flush. The water should wash the poop away.
- Shake it off: This only works if the poop is solid enough not to stick to the diaper, and it just falls off into the toilet. If I had to pick a favorite kind of poop, this would be it.
- Scrape it off: Use a specially designated spatula or spoon to scrape off the poop into the toilet. We bought some cheap, plastic spoons similar to these from the grocery store and keep them in a jar in the bathroom. We use a spoon to scrape the poop off the diaper, then just throw it into the diaper pail with the diaper. It goes through the wash with everything else, and we take it out when everything else goes into the dryer.
Other Gear
There are a few more things that you might need or want to make your cloth diapering journey easier. The first is a travel wet bag. Some people just use disposables when they’re out of the house, but if you choose to use cloth while you’re out of the house, you’ll need a wet bag, like this one or this one, to put dirty diapers in. Wet/dry bags, like this one are also nice because the outside pocket can hold a few covers and inserts, prefolds, or flats.
Something else to consider, if you’re already using cloth diapers, is to also use cloth wipes. You can buy cloth wipes (check here for some examples) or you can make some. We just took some flannel receiving blankets and old t-shirts and cut them up into squares. There are a million tutorials on how to fold your wipes so they pop up like disposable wipes (see here), or you can just be lazy and put them in a little bucket like we do. You can also buy or make a “wipes solution.” We keep a little spray bottle with plain old water on the changing table and either spray the wipe or spray baby’s bottom. We’ve been doing that since she was a newborn and she really doesn’t care.
So there you have it! You survived the crazy cloth diaper explanation! Hopefully this is enough to get you started. This might all seem a little overwhelming, but once you get into the cloth diaper world, it all tends to make a lot more sense and you’ll be able to figure out a system that works perfectly for your family! Thanks for reading!
Something else to consider, if you’re already using cloth diapers, is to also use cloth wipes. You can buy cloth wipes (check here for some examples) or you can make some. We just took some flannel receiving blankets and old t-shirts and cut them up into squares. There are a million tutorials on how to fold your wipes so they pop up like disposable wipes (see here), or you can just be lazy and put them in a little bucket like we do. You can also buy or make a “wipes solution.” We keep a little spray bottle with plain old water on the changing table and either spray the wipe or spray baby’s bottom. We’ve been doing that since she was a newborn and she really doesn’t care.
So there you have it! You survived the crazy cloth diaper explanation! Hopefully this is enough to get you started. This might all seem a little overwhelming, but once you get into the cloth diaper world, it all tends to make a lot more sense and you’ll be able to figure out a system that works perfectly for your family! Thanks for reading!
Click here for the rest of our cloth diapering blog series!
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