So you want to cloth diaper? Whether you're want to cloth diaper your newborn for the start or you're contemplating making the switch, you've come to the right place. I'll do my best not to scare you off by breaking this up into more manageable sections. This post is an introduction to cloth diapering pros and cons. Of course I hope you choose cloth, but as a person who used disposables for 2 years before switching over, you first have to make sure it is the right fit for your familia. We ended up switching to cloth because we were spending $60 a month on Luvs diapers Check out my Cloth Diaper Word Index in case you need help following along with the lingo.
PROS•Countless brands, styles, and options for different budgets and lifestyles. There is something for everyone.
•Cloth diapers can be very economical. Using disposable diapers can cost $2000-3000+ for one child. You can cloth diaper for as low as a couple hundred dollars depending on brand, style, material, and stash size. I've actually heard of parents diapering for under $100 by buying used. You can even reuse the same diapers for multiple children saving you exponentially more and then sell them when you're done. Yes, people do buy and sell used diapers. That is a thing (that I love doing)! I'm a bit of a collector, so I've spent more than I'd like to think about (it's best that I don't keep track). Photo Credit: SquawkFox
•RESALE VALUE. Not only can you sell your diapers when they're done, but a lot of brands, like AppleCheeks, Blueberry, and Smart Bottoms, hold their value really well. Being able to sell your diapers when you're done saves you even more money. So not only did you only spend a fraction of what you would have on disposables, you can recoup a good portion of the cost by selling them. For me, the best part about that is that I can try a new brand or style of diaper and if it isn't love, I can trade / sell it and get something different. You probably have a local cloth diaper BST, there are dozens of brand specific BST facebook pages,. and you can check out my favorite page for selling used diapers of all kinds Fluff Love Buy, Sell & Trade.
•You can use your regular mainstream detergent like Tide or Gain. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
•Less diaper rashes.
•No fear of running out and not being able to get to the store. I LOVE not worrying about how we'll afford to buy a box of diapers on tough weeks. •Smaller economic footprint. While there is still the creation of the fabrics to make the diapers and use of detergent to clean them, far less cloth diapers are going into landfills as disposables. •No poosplosions or blowouts. Even with breastfed babies. I don't think I have ever had a poop blowout with cloth. Ever.
•EBF poop doesn't need to be rinsed out before going in the wash because it is water soluble. This single fact kept me breastfeeding. I didn't want to rinse out poop. •Perfect for babies and toddlers with allergies to disposables. •Far less chemicals. Yes, I know, everything is made of chemicals chemical. The world is made up of chemicals, but I think the makeup of disposables might surprise you. I mean...how else would they get paper to hold that much liquid? •COMFORT. Would you want to wear paper underwear? Not me. •Pants are no longer necessary. I mean, why would you want to cover that cute fluffy booty? Cloth diapers are clothes. •It doesn't have to be all or nothing. You can use cloth part time to save money. You don't have to do all cloth or all disposables. It's not uncommon for parents to struggle with overnight solutions. We used disposables at night with our boys because I didn't want to tinker with different things so close to potty training. •You can wash the diapers with regular clothing as long as it isn't anything too bulky (like towels or jeans). Some people think that is unsanitary, but diapers should be coming out of the wash truly clean. If it doesn't smell clean -it isn't. A proper wash routine is important. Any laundry containing diapers goes through a pre-wash first to rinse out any urine/soil before main wash. •Oh, and all of the cute prints -obviously ;) These are some of my pocket diapers. I really need to take an updated stash photo though. |
CONS•Grandparents, babysitters, and daycares are often reluctant (or even completely refuse to use them) for a variety of reasons. Some of them can't get the idea of the diapers our parents and grandparents used out of their heads. Some are intimidated by snaps or an extra step and others just don't want to deal with them. Having diapers ready to go or using an easier style like velcro AIO can get most reluctant people on board.
•Upfront cost. Unlike disposables where you buy one box at a time, you have to buy at least a partial stash all at once and that can be very hard on the wallet. Expect to pay about $350 for a reasonable stash which would be 24 middle of the road diapers + inserts bought new. Add another $30-50 if you want a diaper sprayer. •Sometimes it can be tricky to find a diapers you like or that fit properly so that can take some experimenting.
•Heavy wetting kids might need more expensive materials like hemp or fitteds to keep them dry overnight and figuring out what works for you can be tricky. Though there are some pretty bullet proof methods. •Cloth diapers with standard absorbency need changed more frequently than disposables. About every 2-3 hours. •You have to use cloth diaper friendly diaper creams. Diaper cream repels moisture, diapers absorb moisture. See where that could be a problem? •Extra laundry. That's kind of a given. I only do one extra load a week...if that, but some people do laundry every day or every other day.
•POOP. Get a diaper sprayer and poop isn't a big deal anymore. I'm a reformed dunk + swisher and let me tell you...GET A DIAPER SPRAYER! This is the diaper sprayer I have. •Cloth can leak if not changed often or if you don't have a good fit. Elastic around the legs keeps moisture in, but if there are leg gaps from a poor fit...leaks.
•Cloth diapers can be bulky. They are made of absorbent fabrics instead of the sodium polyacrylate that is found in disposables. They need the extra bulk to absorb. Because of that bulk, you may need to size up pants depending on how trim your diapers are. On the bright side there is an entire market of adorable cloth diaper friendly pants called Maxaloones. Check out these Etsy shops -
Maxaloones by EDubDesignz.
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CONCLUSION
I love cloth diapering. I wasn't sure if I would though. Disposables were just burning through our funds and with another baby on the way, something had to give. There was no way we could afford 3 in diapers with sposies. I remember how overwhelmed I was when my first batch of fluff arrived in the mail. I was worried I would spend all of that money and screw up my diapers. That they'd melt or blow up or something. There was so much information out there and all of it was conflicting. I didn't know what to trust. I know there is a lot of information and a lot to learn. I hope by breaking this up you can make an educational decision without all of the info overload. Have questions? Just ask!