Cloth Diapering 101

Cloth diapers?  You must be out of your mind!

Since the invention of single-use disposable paper diapers, cloth diapers have slowly been put on the back burner.  Disposable diapers are so convenient after all, right?  You buy them, use them, throw them out and you’re done!  However, cloth diapers are making a comeback because they lack the chemicals in disposable diapers that pose a health hazard to your child, they help save our earth by not filling up the landfills, they don’t use our resources to make them only to then be thrown away, never to be used again.  Cloth diapers are also easy on the wallet over time – you can save thousands when you use cloth diapers and cloth wipes (yes, you heard that right!).  Have I piqued your interest yet?  I could go on, but if you’ve read this far you must want to learn more and I want to explain how easy cloth diapers are to use nowadays.

Cloth Diapers Today

Imagine: no more folding, no more pins, and no more leaky pull up covers!  That’s right – the diapers of yesteryear are no longer the only option available.  These days you have a variety of choices in diaper and cover styles, fabrics, prints, patterns and colors. 

If you like the convenience of disposable diapers, you’ll be glad to know there is a cloth alternative called the all in one.  This diaper features a cover attached to it.  These diapers close with Velcro or snaps – how easy is that? Other options include a pocket style diaper where you insert the absorbent core, fitted diapers which still require a cover but no folding (they are shaped like a disposable and often close with Velcro or snaps), contour diapers which are shaped like an hourglass and simply lay in the diaper wrap (a diaper cover that fastens with snaps or Velcro – not a pull up cover), and a variety of other unique styles.

Yes, the pins, folding diapers, and leaky pull up diaper covers are still around but you don’t have to use them.

Flatfolds are slowly becoming extinct as parents move towards prefold diapers (they have a thicker center and require less folding than flat folds) and the other varieties mentioned above.  You can still use pins, or you might opt for a safer alternative called the Snappi.  This gadget has three legs with little plastic teeth at each end that grab into the fabric of your diaper and help keep it closed without needing pins. 

Diaper covers have evolved into a easy to use product with many options.  You have a variety of fabrics that are used, along with a variety of styles, colors, prints and patterns.  You can use the traditional pull up vinyl covers found at most stores that carry baby items, or you can use a cover that fastens with Velcro or snaps – this can make a poopy diaper easier to clean in the event that poop gets on the cover.  Another bonus: if you use a cover (also called a wrap) that closes with Velcro or snaps, you don’t need to use a fastener on your diapers underneath.  The adjustability of these covers ensures the diaper stays snug in place underneath.  Of course, that only works if the cover fits your child right.

With the many styles of diapers and covers available today, there seems to be a sizing issue.  One size is not the same for all businesses.  For that reason it is important to buy one diaper of a certain brand you think you want to use, try it on your child and make sure it fits before stocking up.  Or, measure your child and ask the business you plan to buy from what the measurements are on their diapers.  You usually can’t go wrong with prefolds.  They are the cheapest option for families on a budget, and there are four main sizes: preemie, infant, premium/regular, and toddler.  Most newborns will start off using the infant size prefolds, and once they are outgrown they make great doublers (folded to add extra absorbency to another diaper) for later use in the next sizes up.  Then, you’ll usually get the most use out of the premium/regular size prefolds.  Some babies don’t ever grow into toddler prefolds before they are potty trained.  One bonus to cloth diapering is that your child will usually potty train faster!

Storage is easy.  Keep your diapers in a trash can or diaper pail with a removable, washable liner.  Dry storage is easiest (and the safest).  When it’s time to wash, run a hot wash with a small amount of detergent, if you’d like run a second rinse cycle.  Avoid detergents with fabric softener or fragrances, and don’t use baby detergents like Dreft.  That’s it.  Most of the time you won’t need multiple washes and 5 different additives to your wash – but there are plenty of things you can do if you run into problems such as stinky diapers after the wash, diaper rash, bad smell when they have been dirtied, stains, etc.