How to Get Started with Cloth Diapering

Many people go the cloth diaper route when it comes to their babies and toddlers. Disposables had their boom with the 80’s and 90’s and now more and more people are choosing the cloth diaper path as a way to be more earth friendly and cost effective. If you are considering cloth diapering, here are some tips to get you started and help you make the best decision for your baby.

Get enough of them. You will probably need at least 25-30 diapers to start with as young babies need changes up to a dozen times a day. You will also need a diaper pail to place them in between washings. Some parents get a spray nozzle hooked up to their toilet that allows them to spray off solid waste into the toilet and makes cleanup a breeze.

Before investing in a huge lot of diapers, buy just a couple of each brand you are considering. Since many diapers vary in size and style, you will want to get the ones that work best for you and the only way to do that is with trial and error. Buying a couple of each brand allows you to do this without investing a lot up front on something you can’t use.

Understand the different types of cloth diapers before you buy. There are many kinds of liners, covers and styles of diapers out there. Do your research on what will fit your baby’s needs and understand that as he gets older, you may need to switch to a different style or system.

Decide if you will be washing them at home or order a service that comes and takes your dirty diapers and cleans them for you. While a diaper service is super convenient, it can cost as much as or more than disposables, so if you are doing cloth diapering to save money, this will not be the most effective way. Washing is perfectly sanitary if done at home. You can even wash most diapers in your regular washing machine with hardly any extra trouble other than removing solid waste beforehand and allowing the diapers to soak.

Join an online community for cloth diapering moms. These can often be found on Facebook in the “groups”. Seasoned cloth diapering parents can give you tips, hints and even recommendations on where to get supplies, how to cloth diaper and even how to treat stains and other things that come up with cloth diapering. Cloth diapering is a little more work than disposables, that isn’t a surprise, but it can be done and is very good for you, your baby and the environment. Having a support system in place can help!

Get a cloth diaper detergent. Just like with baby clothes that need extra gentle detergent, cloth diapers need special care in order for them to not irritate baby’s skin and in order for them to last as long as possible.  You can either buy special detergent that is clear of dyes, perfumes or deodorants or you can simply try a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.