Hey folks! It's been a long time since
I've done an informative post on cloth diapers...Or any post on cloth
diapers, really. With my third little one arriving soon, I've been
stocking up on some extra diapers since I will have two in them for
awhile! I also had a fellow pregnant mama on Facebook ask me some
questions about cloth diapers. I remember how overwhelming it was
when first researching cloth diapers (and have heard plenty of other
parents say the same as well!), so I thought I would put a post
together that (hopefully) answers a lot of your initial questions
about cloth diapers!
*What do you do with the poo?
Might as well start off with the big
one. There are several different ways to deal with the poo. When
babies are still little/have runnier poo, a lot of people just stick
their diapers straight in the wash since there are no solids. One
method is the “dunk and swish” which is pretty much exactly like
what it sounds like. You dunk and swish your diaper around in the
toilet to try to get off as much poo as possible. My personal
favorite is the diaper sprayer. It's a special sprayer that attaches
to your toilet and you just rinse the poop off! (Seriously. Totally
worth it and this is coming from a minimalist cloth diaperer. Lol)
Also, if you go the sprayer route, companies even make special
shields you can attach your diaper in and spray it off without
worrying about water and other yuckies splashing everywhere. Welcome
to modern cloth diapering. :)
*How do you wash them?
This question is a bit trickier to
answer. Everyone has their own washing routine that depends on
personal preferences, water type (hard water can pose special issues
for getting cloth diapers clean), style of cloth diapers, etc. In a
nutshell, from what I have read in cloth diaper groups, other blog
posts, brand websites, etc., most people like to at least do a cold
pre-wash with no detergent, warm/hot regular wash cycle with mild
detergent, and another cold rinse. Most people wash their cloth
diapers every 2-3 days to avoid stink and other issues.
Occasionally, you will have to strip
your diapers if they start leaking, get smelly, etc., in which case
you will need to use special detergents to get rid of build up.
Grovia Mighty Bubbles is a popular one, some people swear by using
the plain old blue Dawn dish soap, adding some white vinegar to your
wash can help, and, as a last resort, you may try using a tiny bit of
bleach in your wash. In general, bleach is really hard on your
diapers and most people will only recommend it if absolutely
necessary.
So, what about regular washing
detergent? There are plenty of cloth diaper specific detergents for
sale as well. Rockin' Green, Mollie's Suds, and Charlie's Soap, just
to name a few. But, you can use regular laundry detergent as well,
though as a general rule of thumb, the powdered versions are
recommended. Tide powder seems to be a popular choice.
If you
want a more in-depth idea of what a cloth diaper washing routine is
like, check out this
post from Simpli Sanders blog.
*What are all of these different
styles/types?
I'm sure by now in your research that
you have noticed that modern cloth diapering is WAY different from
what it used to be! Instead of being stuck with flour sack towels and
plastic pants, we have options! Options are great, but they are also
overwhelming when first diving into the cloth diaper world and trying
to decide which type would best suit your needs/personal preferences.
I have a more in-depth, albeit somewhat old, cloth diapering page you
can check out
here to read more on each of the cloth diaper
styles listed below. But, if you're looking for a quick CliffsNotes
type list, here you go:
-Covers and Prefolds/Flat Diapers:
Covers are just that: They are generally made with a waterproof
material, such as TPU or PUL, have no absorbent material, and can be
wiped out and re-used between washes if it is not soiled. Covers can
be used with flats, prefolds, and fitted diapers (more on the latter
in a minute). Flats and prefolds are similar to what our grandparents
or great-grandparents probably used, BUT, there are a lot more
options for materials to choose from. In general, they are going to
be made from natural fibers, such as cotton or hemp. There are
different ways you can fold them to use inside of your cover. This is
the only part of the diaper that will need to be placed in the hamper
after every use. Again, covers can be reused if not soiled. Some
people find this diapering method to be too much of a hassle because
of the folding and having to replace separate parts during changes
instead of just tossing the whole diaper in the hamper. However, they
are the most economic choice of cloth diaper.
-All-in-Ones: If you are looking
for something that is similar to disposable diapers as far as being
user-friendly, all-in-ones (AiOs) might be the best option for you.
As the name implies, everything is included in these diapers: A
waterproof outer cover with an absorbent inner. Regardless of pee or
poop, you just toss these in the hamper after each use. The bright
side of these is that they are great for babysittersr/daycares
because they are easy to use. On the down side, you will need more of
them (compared to covers and prefolds, etc.) and they tend to cost
more.
-Pockets: Pocket diapers are
very similar to AiOs in that they come with a waterproof outer cover
and absorbent inner. The main difference is that there is a pocket
where you can stuff even more absorbent inserts in if needed. Some
brands come with one opening, usually in the back, where you can
stuff inserts, while others come with both one in the front and back
(which is nice so it's easier to make sure your insert doesn't bunch
up). Being so similar, pocket diapers have the same perks and
drawbacks as all-in-ones. They tend to cost more and you need more.
But, you can pre-stuff them for easy use with caregivers.
-Fitteds: Fitted diapers are
quite a bit different from all the others. They have no waterproof
shell (outer layer) and are made completely of absorbent material,
which can vary widely. Like prefolds and flat diapers, many fitteds
are made from natural fibers, such as cotton, bamboo, etc. Since they
have no waterproof covering, you will have to use these with a
generously sized cover, as mentioned earlier, or some form of wool
cover, shorties, etc. Many people like using fitteds for overnight
use because they are so absorbent. (Plus a lot of times you can add
more inserts as needed too.) These, of course, will need to be washed
after every use. The natural, breathable material helps with
preventing diaper rashes. The downside is that they can be pricey and
not too many brands make one-size fitted diapers, meaning you will
have to buy bigger sizes as baby gets bigger.
-All-in-Twos (Ai2s): Also known
as hybrid diapers, these are similar to using covers and
prefolds/flats. The main difference is that each brand of cover will
come with their own set of special inserts that go with that brand of
diaper. Generally, these inserts snap in, which is handy so you don't
have to worry about shifting. You can reuse the covers between
washings and simply replace the insert. These inserts also tend to
come in more synthetic options, such as microfiber. While super
absorbent, it's actually recommended to NOT have microfiber right
next to baby's skin because it can cause rashes. (Which I can totally
attest to with both of my kids. Just a word of warning.) Ai2s are
fairly cost effective since you can reuse the covers between
washings, therefore not needing as many as pockets or AiOs.
*How many do I need?
That really just depends on which style
of cloth diaper you decide to go with...And a little on how much baby
poops too. ;) We have used covers with prefolds religiously since our
first daughter. We started out with 6 covers when she was born in
October. We ordered two more at Christmas a couple months later and I
found that to be a good amount as far as not feeling like I was
washing diapers all the time. I would say 10-12 prefolds would be a
good start. The amount is going to be similar for Ai2s.
For pocket diapers and all-in-ones, I
have seen people recommend anywhere between 12 and 24.
Most people (that I know of, at least)
use fitted diapers at night, so I would recommend at least 3. If
you're wanting to use them in place of AiOs or pockets, you will need
a similar number (12-24) and 6-8 covers.
*How/Why are they beneficial?
Another common question, especially
from those who have their reservations about cloth diapers. There are
lots of benefits of cloth diapers. First, many are made of natural
fibers that can be grown again, unlike the materials used in
disposables. Speaking of which, you are keeping thousands of
disposables out of landfills, and that's pretty awesome! The natural
fibers are also great at helping prevent diaper rashes because the
material is breathable. Cloth diapers are also beneficial to your
wallet. (You can read a full run down on cost of cloth diapers vs.
disposables in this
post.) Although, admittedly, the upfront
cost of cloth diapers can be daunting, you save so much money in the
long run. Last, cloth diapers have a fairly high resale price. Yes,
you heard right. You can sell your cloth diapers when you're done
with them! There are tons of buy/sell/trade cloth diaper groups out
there.
*What do you do when you're out and
about?
Short answer: Wet/dry bags. They are
your best friend while cloth diapering on the go. A wet/dry bag has
one pocket for storing clean diapers and another pocket lined with
waterproof material, again, TPU or PUL, for soiled diapers. Simply
change your baby like you normally would and store the soiled
diaper(s) in the waterproof pocket until you get home! These come in
all different sizes too, so you are sure to find one that works for
your needs.
*What do you do with the soiled
diapers at home?
This is up to you, really. We keep a
small laundry basket in the bathroom with the sprayer for dirty
diapers. Other people use hampers with a special bag or place them in
a large, hanging wet bag.
What other questions do
you have about cloth diapers? Do you use cloth diapers? What was your
biggest question when you first started out?
