I get so many questions about cloth diapering as a busy mom. Is it worth it? Is it hard? What about the poop? I’m here to answer some of your burning cloth diapering questions!
I have two small kids meaning I’ve been clothing diapering for over two years consecutively. I started cloth diapering kids at about 7 weeks old. My favorite types of cloth diapers are pocket cloth diapers although there are several different types. Finding the right cloth diaper for your family is important to keep cloth diapering practical for you.
Although I have several posts about cloth diapers, this post will answer some common questions you may have if you’re beginning your cloth diaper journey.
This post is answering questions about cloth diapering!
1. How do you find the time for cloth diapering?
I’m always answering questions about cloth diapering from busy moms. They usually want to know how to manage being a working mom and cloth diapering. In truth, you make time for the things that matter to you. Cloth diapering matters to me. Not only for the obvious cost benefits but also because of how good it is for the environment.
Also remember, you have the option to use both cloth diapers and disposable diapers. It took us about six weeks before we started cloth diapering. I had a neatly organized stash of cloth diapers washed and ready, but hadn’t actually taken the plunge.
For one, I was exausted! In addition, my husband wasn’t totally on board yet.
It wasn’t until he saw a very close friend of ours successfully cloth diapering that he realized cloth diapering was manageable and realistic! Seeing them and realizing how easy it can be, gave him the nudge he needed.
If you’re currently in this position and need a little nudge…I’m here to say it’s absolutely worth it. We use cloth diapers throughout the day and disposable diapers at night. We always have a few disposable diapers with us in the diaper bag along with the cloth diapers, just in case.
2. When cloth diapering, what do you do about the poop?
Another one of my most popular questions about cloth diapering: POOP! Poop is natural and inevitable. We all gotta go!
When asking questions about cloth diapering, poop is a frequent topic of discussion. If you’re scared about the poop getting on your hands, keep in mind poop explosions are inevitable.
First six months – breastfeeding and/or formula feeding:
You can throw the poopy diaper right in the washing machine! Yup, no mess, and no fuss. When the diaper is dirty, we remove the liner from the back and place the diapers into our wet bag.
Once, every other day, toss the diapers into the washer. Wash once on hot and once on cold before tossing them into the dryer. Another option is to air dry! You can buy an air-dry rack like this one to leave in your home or line dry them outside.
After six months – starting solids:
Once your baby begins solids the poop will be much thicker and more sticky. Instead of tossing them into the washer, you will either have to scrape the poop or spray it.
You can use disposable liners, the dunk & swish method, or a diaper sprayer! Learn more about cloth diaper poop here!
3. Can you use disposable wipes with cloth diapers?
Yes! You can use either disposable wipes or reusable wipes! It is up to you.
Disposable wipes
Disposable wipes are convenient and one less thing to worry about. When I was working full time and just getting the hang of cloth diapers, I opted for disposable wipes.
Reusable wipes
Reusable wipes are super compatible with cloth diapers because you’re already washing the diapers, so it’s not too much of an extra step to throw in the wipes too.
You can buy reusable wipe cloths, sew your own wipes, or use old clothes and blankets as wipes.
Here are some ideas for a DIY wipe solution or you can just use water, a little soap, and oil in a perineal bottle.
Remember, it’s not all or nothing. Do what works best for you!
4. There are so many kinds of cloth diapers. How do I choose?
Check out my free cloth diaper guide for more information on the types of cloth diapers.
There are SO MANY kinds of cloth diapers. I’ll be honest, It can be completely overwhelming trying to figure out where to start. I have a cloth diaper guide here to help and one of my favorite ways to figure out what works best is trial and error!
I had a friend who was selling her old cloth diapers for super cheap and I started there.
I also went to the local secondhand store and tried a few from there. Once I decided which ones I liked, I made my own purchase on Amazon.
5. Do you really save money using cloth diapers?
This is one of my favorite questions about cloth diapering! Have you found yourself crunching the numbers and asking yourself this question about cloth diapering? In short, the answer is yes, you really save money using cloth diapers. Here is the financial breakdown.
Your baby will be in diapers for 2-3 years. Disposable diapers cost about $70 a month.
Disposable Diapers: $70/month X 24 months = $1,680
Cloth diapers cost about $40 for a set of six.
Cloth Diapers: $40 (for six) X 5 = 30 reusable diapers for $200
Disposable Diapers $70/month x 24 months = $1,680
Cloth Diapers $40 (per diaper set of six) x five (sets of diapers) = $200
For about $200 I’ve been cloth diapering my baby since he was about six or seven weeks old.
6. How many cloth diapers do you need?
In total, we have 25 diapers. This gives us nine diapers a day and a few extra for backup.
I used trial and error to figure out what worked for our family. As I mentioned earlier, we wash our diapers once every other day. I had to have enough diapers for two days.
I like to have at least nine clean diapers a day. That’s 18 diapers for two days. If you have too many cloth diapers, you will most likely not wash as often. I would advise against this because the diapers can get funky if they’re sitting for long periods of time.
7. How can I keep my cloth diapers from smelling?
Wash your cloth diaper every two to three days.
Once soiled, cloth diapers can be smelly! This is why it is important to put your cloth diaper in the correct place once you change the diaper and wash your cloth diapers every few days.
When the diaper is soiled, or two to three hours have passed, whichever comes first, place the diaper in the wet bag and the smell will go away with it. Toss the entire wet bag in the washer along with the diapers on wash day.
If you wash the diaper and it still smells, try using a little bit of baking soda and vinegar to strip the cloth diaper and that should take care of the smell.
I hope this post answered your questions about cloth diapering!
Do you have any other questions about cloth diapering? Let me know in the comments. All in all, cloth diapers are a best-kept secret!
I completely understand why it is intimidating to some people, but cloth diapers have come a long way from white sheets and safety pins. Although those are still an option, there are also other types of cloth diapers to choose from. They’re fun, decorative, and surprisingly convenient. If you (or your partner) are skeptical about cloth diapering, visit a secondhand baby store and purchase a few. Try them out before you dive in. It’s well worth it!
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