All three of my children have been in cloth diapers and believe me when I say it took all three to finally figure it out. Don’t get me wrong, I love love love using cloth for so many reasons. But there are a few things I wish I had known from the start. So if you’re just starting out with cloth consider this your guide from the other side.
CLOTH DIAPER SUPPLIES
Cloth diapers
1// A good diaper is everything! What’s a good diaper? Honestly it’s one that fits the needs of your family. With my first two I swore by All-In-One diapers- diapers with the liners attached. They’re about as close to disposable diapers as you can get. When I was pregnant with my third I did a complete diaper overhaul and switched to pocket diapers- diapers that are two pieces- a cover with a separate liner that goes inside. I was worried they would be a pain to stuff but honestly it’s super easy. I stuff them as needed when I’m doing diaper changes. My favorite cloth diapers are from Nora’s Nursery. Besides being eco friendly and affordable they have so many cute prints to choose from.
Cloth wipes
2// If you’re going to use cloth diapers you might as well use cloth wipes! They’re so gentle on baby skin and they will save you a ton of money. We do keeps a stash of Young Living Seedlings wipes around for travel but otherwise we use cloth at home. The best cloth wipes I’ve found are the Grovia Cloth Wipes. They are so soft and the perfect thickness for wiping. Check out my DIY Wipes Solution here.
Wipe warmer
3// While we’re on the subject of wipes let’s talk about a wipes warmer. If this is your first baby you might be thinking this seems a little much. But trust me, warm wipes are so much better. I mean would you want a freezing cold wipe on your tush? 😉 We’ve used one with all three of our kids and I swear by it.
cloth diaper detergent
4// You will need a really good detergent to wash your diapers. Having a good wash routine will save you and your diapers. We’ve been using our new Nora’s Nursery diapers for a year and haven’t had a single issue. They don’t stink, there’s no buildup and they don’t leak! I attribute that to a good wash routine. There are some camps out there that take cloth diaper washing VERY seriously. Don’t worry that’s not me. I’m all about using the most eco friendly detergent possible. But one thing you want to avoid using is soap. I was sad when I couldn’t use my Thieves Laundry Soap on my diapers but we still use it for everything else. Fluff University has a great list of cloth safe detergents. My favorite so far has been Boulder Clean Laundry Detergent from Costco.
Cloth Diaper Wet Bag and Pail
5// Wet bags are water proof bags that you put your diapers in until it’s wash day. I have used a few brands like Thirsties and Nora’s Nursery. You will want to get a handful of these and make sure to get a few travel size for on-the-go. I recommend 3-4 large size for at home and 1-2 travel. A diaper pail for the wet bag is also great and will keep any diaper smells away (especially if you drop a cotton ball with lavender essential oil in the bottom!). I’ve linked a lot of this below.
tips for cloth diapering
One thing I have to say if you are a first time parent venturing into the world of cloth diapers, you can do it! It’s one of the best things we did for our family because it saved us a ton of money, helped the environment and honestly they’re not that hard to do (plus a cloth bum is the cutest). That being said give yourself grace in the beginning. With my first I took cloth diapers to the birth center thinking he would come home in them. But they were too big and leaked everywhere. My third was so tiny (4lb 7oz) that she didn’t grow into her cloth until at least three or four months. We had to use disposable for a bit but when she could fit we put her in them and she’s been using them ever since. There is no right or wrong way to cloth. Want to use disposables at night? Go for it! Want to use cloth ONLY, awesome! Do what works for you and you will love them. Have fun!
XOXO- Amanda
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