Being a ‘green’ mama means that I’m all for cloth diapering. When I first looked into it I was a bit concerned about the extra work it’d take, the ‘gross’ factor, and whether I’d be jabbing my baby with pins.
Cloth diapering is NOT what it used to be- there’s a huge range of diapers available, and very few of them involve pins!
I wanted to give you all a run down on the options available so you could be more informed [and therefore more willing/able to help out Mother Earth- did you know a disposable diaper takes 500-1000 years to decompose?! That’s not when it’s wrapped in a plastic bag, which takes an additional 1000 years!]
Diaper choices:
-->The absolute basic is a flat or a pre-folded diaper. A flat diaper is the traditional kind- a sheet of sorts that you fold into a diaper shape, pin onto baby, and wrap with a waterproof cover. A pre-folded [“pre-fold”] diaper is very similar, but it’s been sewn so it holds its partially folded shape [this is still flat and rectangular, but it requires a few less folds]. Again, this requires pinning and a waterproof cover. Both a flat and a pre-fold generally need to be lined with an bsorbent layer to soak up the messes.
One handy ‘pin’ available nowadays is called the ‘Snappi’ and it’s a plastic tipped rubber T that grips the diaper shut [each wing and the front bottom]; a great invention, but as I learned, it doesn’t grip all fabrics equally- it didn’t work well with flannel, but it was fantastic with a more open weave.
-->The next step up is the fitted diaper: these look a lot more like a disposable in the way that they’re elasticized around the thighs [and generally the waist], and close with Velcro tabs [or occasionally snaps or ties]. They are often made from flannel, but are becoming more commonly available in bamboo. They usually require an additional absorbent insert and must be covered with a waterproof cover to prevent leakage onto clothing.
Waterproof coverings are made from many different materials and are available in several styles. The most common style is very similar to a fitted diaper without the absorbent materials [it’s elasticized around the legs and waist and snaps or velcros closed], but they also come in pull on styles- some with legs, some without.
Commonly these are made of a vinyl or vinyl backed fabric, though they’re also available in wool, fleece and nylon.
A few diaper covers are able to be used as swim diapers- I’ve invested $15 in one cute fabric swim diaper that’s lasted me a lot longer than a whole package of commercial swim diapers would! [and the same diaper has fit Ladybug from 3-14 months!] These are great because they don’t soak up water [so they fit better] and there aren’t leaks. They’re also super cute!
-->One more step up is the pocket diaper: named for the space between the waterproof outer and the soft inside, a pocket diaper is ‘stuffed’ with an absorbent insert. These are then put on like a disposable [either Velcro or snaps] and you’re ready to go.
These are most commonly lined with a microfleece layer which allows the moisture to wick away from the baby’s bottom and stay dry.
The inserts are quite often made from microfibre, hemp, bamboo or flannel.
Many pocket diapers are available as ‘one-size’- this means that the diaper is easily adaptable to fit all sizes of babies [generally 8lbs through 35]. Adjustments are usually made via snaps. If the diaper is not "one-size" you'll have to buy another set of diapers once the baby outgrows the first set- there are generally 2-3 sets you'll need until potty training [so long as your child is not a preemie or is more than 35 lbs at potty training].
-->The easiest diaper of all is the all-in-one [AIO]: these are used exactly like a disposable. Again, these are quite frequently lined with microfleece, though a simple flannel or cotton also occurs. There is no stuffing or lining required [unless your child is an exceptionally heavy wetter], and you can choose between Velcro/snap closures. AIOs are also readily available in the ‘one-size’ style, making it a diaper to fit your child the entire way through to potty training.
You might be wondering why there's even a choice at hand- wouldn't all parents choose to go with the latter? Price is always a concern, and with each step up the ladder the price increases. As more options are becoming available however, the gap is getting smaller: a bamboo prefold can cost as much [or more] than a fitted diaper or more than a mom-made AIO!
The Velcro/snap closure debate is a very personal choice: when we first started with Ladybug we were using the Snappi [with our pre-folds] and then Velcro with our fitteds. When we moved onto pocket diapers we chose Velcro tabs as it was the ultimate attach and go- Ladybug started rolling very early on and was a terror to change so whatever was the quickest was our choice!
However… she’s learned now how to undo the Velcro [and takes great joy in doing so], so we’re re-thinking our choice. We now have a few snap diapers, and while it’s taking us a bit longer to secure them [also because we haven’t practiced nearly as long], they’re on for good and we don’t have to worry about her pooing on the floor again *sigh*.
We have friends that are dominantly one or the other and wouldn’t change if they were paid to! It’s truly a choice you need to think about and talk over with those who’ll be helping with the changes. For us a mix of both has been a happy medium!
-->One more diaper choice is for during potty training- there are several 'pull up' varieties available with less absorption to fit well under clothing. There are also varieties available for nights [more absorbent].
Liners: Some parents choose to use liners in their cloth diapers, and there are definitely valid reasons for doing so:
-some are worried about stains. Stains are quite common in flannel or cotton diapers but rarely occur in fleece lined/microfleece.
-it can make cleaning up poo a lot easier. If you’re one to rinse out the diapers beforehand it’s easier to rinse a single piece of fabric rather than a whole diaper!
-if diaper cream is being used it prevents transfer to the diaper which can ruin the absorbency and sometimes leave a gross remnant smell. [please see the ‘benefits of cloth diapers’ below for more on diaper rashes]
-a microfleece liner in a cotton/flannel diaper does what most pocket/AIOs do- it wicks the moisture away from the skin allowing it to absorb into the materials below.
You can frequently find packages of diaper liners for sale- there are several disposable varieties available [flush after use] and bundles you can purchase at baby stores. The disposable ones worked for us certainly, but it seemed silly to waste $8 every few weeks on something unnecessary. We looked at the bundles sold at our babystore [$6 for 6- washable and re-useable], and realized I could make a dozen for about $2! Go to your fabric store [or Wal-Mart] and buy some microfleece- cut this into strips that will fit widthwise in your diaper [cut about an inch smaller to reduce liner from hanging out] and as long/short as you’d find useful. You don’t have to worry about microfleece shrinking, so cut exactly to size.
Cloth wipes are a decision we also made to use, and we’ve used a variety over the past 14 months: we started off using baby washcloths. These worked great! They’re a perfect size, readily available, and they maintain their shape [ok, the ones with a fabric border did- the ones that are just serged around the edge rolled up and were a pain so were donated!]. They stack well and grip the poo superbly! Once I used these I’d shudder when I used disposable wipes- they don’t work properly.
Lately I’ve taken to using the ‘newborn’ inserts that came with my pocket diapers. These are smaller microfibre inserts that are meant for tiny babies and/or additional layers for heavy wetters. They’re extremely soft and the fabric cleans beautifully! These are also terrific for cleaning faces after lunch [the only cloth Ladybug doesn’t pull away from!] and for doing chores [obviously after being sanitized!].
Cloth wipes can be stored wet [and wrung out before use], sprayed with water/solution, or used dry. We commonly use them dampened in the sink on the way to grabbing a diaper. Many mothers use solution on their wipes [several recipes are available- google them], but on the few occasions we needed them we chose to add a drop of babywash to our damp cloth instead.
Some mothers make their own wipes or scope out a perfect sized washcloth to fit folded and stacked in a wipe warmer; I haven’t tried these myself, and as the wife of a firefighter I’m a bit weary of such a device, but I’ve been assured they’re safe if checked regularly for fluid and I’m sure babies appreciate a nice warm wipe in the middle of the night [and moms won’t have to wait for the tap water to warm up like I do!] (wow- run on sentence!)
Care:
Cleaning cloth diapers is very easy. To store between washes, keep them in a closed container: we bought a large fliptop garbage can [test to make sure it shuts smoothly and securely] that holds 18 pocket diapers and the required cloth wipes. For travel there are ‘wet bags’ available that are generally made out of the same material as the waterproof diaper outer/covers. These keep the moisture/smells where they belong. Wet bags are also available for lining diaper pails- something I keep meaning to buy [grab the bag, empty it then toss in with the diapers!] but haven’t ‘gotten around to’. I’ve been assured they’re great and well worth the purchase though do your research- some brands don’t hold up as well as others.
Before storing, if there’s poo on the diaper, do your best to remove it. If you’ve ever read the back of a disposable diaper package you’ll know you’re supposed to remove the feces from the diaper before tossing. How many parents actually do?! This poo will eventually seep into our underground water systems and pollute our environment so please, even if you stick with disposables, shake the poo into the toilet before tossing!
Back to cloth diapering- if the poo is quite smeared there are tools available to help- there’s a diaper sprayer that attaches to the toilet’s water line to assist. Honestly, with the newborn poo there isn’t much you can do, so toss it into the bucket.
When you’re ready to wash, check the instructions. There are a few different suggestions out there, but the most common are to: wash cold [1/2 regular amount of detergent], wash warm or hot [second half of detergent], extra rinse, tumble dry [with no fabric softeners!]. Heat breaks down fabrics, so it’s better to hang to dry your clothing than tumble [for the environment and your bills too!], but I recommend doing so especially for your covers if possible- the fabrics these are made of are most susceptible to damage and will last longer if hung to dry whenever possible. I’ve tumbled mine for the past year and they’re holding up tremendously well, so don’t think if you don’t hang them they’ll fall apart in a month!
If you’re using anything but the AIOs the diapers will require some sort of assembly after drying: some parents prefer to pre-assemble while others are happy to put together on the go!
It’s not recommended to use actual laundry ‘soap’, but rather detergent, and there are some preferred brands/types. Again, google the information if you’re curious: I use Purex [the white bottle] as it’s biodegradable, fabric softener and brightener free and reasonably priced.
It’s also not recommended to use bleach or vinegar as both break down the materials [especially in the waterproof layers], nor is fabric softener advised- if you’re an avid cloth diaperer it’s often recommended that you refrain from using it at all as remnants on the walls of your dryers will build up on the diapers and can cause repelling issues. For natural bleaching of stains lay the diapers out in the sun [it works incredibly well!] and for fabric softeners you might try ‘laundry balls’ or a splash of vinegar [in your regular laundry, not the diapers, and no, this won’t make your laundry smell like vinegar!].
There are several benefits to cloth diapering:
- You’ll save a ton of money! Even if you purchase the most expensive cloth diapers [say $25/diaper- in Canada it’ll be around $30 for top of the line] and buy 18 to make a good two days’ worth [1-1.5 days with a newborn] you’ll spend $450. You could go buy about 20 packages of disposables for that price but you’ll be throwing them all away and they won’t even last you a year. Cloth diapers will last you all the way to toddlerhood AND you can use them for your 2nd, 3rd [etc] children. Cloth diapers also have excellent resale value [which is a great thing to consider when starting out]. So, you’ll *only* be saving a few hundred dollars for one child, but you’ll be diapering the next one free [save for about 12c/load for soap and water]! Depending on the diapers you buy and where you live, you could make back up to 75% of your original costs when you resell!
If you use cloth wipes too you’re going to be laughing when you see the ‘deal’ of $10 for a box of slimy disposables… cloth wipes grip the poo so much better and you choose what cleaner [if any] is used. $10/month=$120 over a year that isn’t necessary! - Your baby won’t be sitting on/absorbing chemicals from disposables; you choose the detergent the diaper is washed in and whether to use bleach or not [not generally needed nor recommended]. They also keep the baby’s bum cooler which has been linked to lower health risks [I’m not going to go into detail on the hazards of disposables- if you want to know google it!]
- The incidence of diaper rash is significantly lower. This isn’t just my experience, it’s been proven!
- Babies are potty trained earlier than those that wear disposables because they can feel when they ‘go’. I’m personally wondering if this will change with the ‘stay dry’ liners of pocket/AIOs now, but it’s been proven true in the past, so I’ve chosen to share it now.
- Your baby will have a way cuter bum than the other baby down the street. AND you can match the diaper to the outfit! No more having to find that stupid diaper cover that came with the sundress! Seriously, the patterns available make some women gaga- it can become an obsession [don’t say I didn’t warn you!].
I’ve included everything I can think of: if you have any questions or additional comments, please leave me a note or send me an email! I’d be happy to help and/or include your additions :)
