| New to Cloth?
Welcome to the wonderful world of cloth! Seriously, cloth diapering is a lot of fun and has become a hobby for thousands of moms all over the world. It's a fantastic way to save money, reduce waste in our landfills, and make your baby's bum the cutest! See FAQs for more in-depth diapering help! Care Instructions: This was one of my biggest concerns when I got into cloth diapering. How much effort does it take to wash them? I'm pleased to report: not much! Here's a basic idea:
Here's a tip for pocket dipes: when you take the diaper off of your baby, pull out the insert. Lay it inside the diaper along with any cloth wipes you use. Then fold the diaper over and place into your wetbag or diaper pail. When it's wash time, it can just be dumped into the washer and you don't have to touch it all again! (Please refer to the FAQs for each manufacturer's washing recommendations.) How many diapers should I buy? It depends on your child's age and how often you want to wash. Most parents prefer to wash every other day, including me, so that's what the following guide is based on: These can include any combination of prefolds, fitteds, pockets, or All-In-Ones. What's the best diaper? Again this is personal preference. I personally use Fuzzi Bunz, Knickernappies, and bumGenius every single day. But I have prefolds, fitteds, and covers as back up. My suggestion is this: unless you know for sure you want to use prefolds or fitteds, start with something as near to disposables as possible. BumGenius one-size diapers are the absolute closest since they have stretchy tabs and velcro just like sposies. Fuzzi Bunz, Happy Heiny's, Knickernappies, and Bumkins are all great choices too. They are all grandparent-friendly and easy to care for. These seem so expensive...how can I afford to use cloth? First, it's important to realize that the most expensive cloth diapering option, spread over 3 years, is still cheaper than the cheapest disposable option. (see Diaper Pin for a cost calculator.) And you can reuse cloth for your next baby or resell it. Many times, you can sell used cloth diapers for nearly what you paid if they're in really good condition. Just try selling a used sposie! Second, I offer a selection of gently used diapers to help you get started. In addition, prefolds and covers are a great way to start for a lower price. There are so many options...it's all so confusing. I understand! When I started, I was completely overwhelmed at all the choices. Again, my advice is to start as simply as possible. Make it easy on yourself and buy a few pocket diapers (Happy Heiny's, Fuzzi Bunz, BumGenius, Knickernappies) to try out. Because they're similar to disposables, they're the easiest option. Later, once you've figured things out, then you can branch out and try different methods. And you'll pick everything up pretty quickly! What if I don't want to use a wet pail? Then don't! In fact, these days we recommend you not use a wet pail. It's just not necessary, it's messy, and there's a danger of drowning in the bucket of water. Just use a regular trash can or a hanging diaper pail. Toss the dipes in and on wash day, dump it into the wash! It's so easy...there's no need to make things harder for yourself! Do I have to swish diapers in the toilet? Nope! When your baby is exclusively breastfed or formula-fed, the diapers can go into the pail just as they are. The baby poo will wash out with no trouble at all. Once your baby is on solid foods, a diaper sprayer is a great thing to have. Use it to spray poo off into the toilet. They're super easy to install and they work very well. Also, formed poos don't stick to fleece very well, so they will usually just roll of into the toilet and don't need anything else. I know there are lots more questions. Email me and I'm happy to tell you more of my experiences with cloth.
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