If you’ve decided to cloth diaper I’m happy you’re here for some tips for cloth diapering!
Cloth diapering is fun and totally feasible when you get the hang of it. Of course, you have to remember, cloth diapering is an alternative to conventional, disposable diapers.
It is not always the fastest and easiest method of diapering, but it is worth it if you give it a chance. If you’re here, hopefully, that means you’ve decided to give cloth diapering a chance and you’re wondering what your next steps should be. You’re in the right place.
I’m a full-time working momma. I work 40 (sometimes more) hours a week as an environmental educator for a local environmental agency. Me choosing cloth diapers may seem like an obvious choice because of my profession, but to be honest, I had no idea what I was doing! I work hard to make conscious environmental decisions and for me, cloth diapering was just that.
Being a full-time working momma, however, I didn’t know if I had the time. On top of that, no one else around me cloth diapered! I looked for YouTube videos, blogs, and images and really didn’t feel like I found much helping me understand cloth diapers and what the heck I was doing.
Most of what I learned was from trial and error. If you’re a hands-on learner, do not be afraid to purchase a few cloth diapers and give them a try. See if they’re something you’re willing to take the time to learn how to incorporate in your life. If you’re interested in reading about how to begin cloth diapering here are some next steps to start your journey!
Here are some tips for cloth diapering beginners!
1. Get on the same page with your spouse.
I talked about this in my quick guide to cloth diapering blog. This is one of my number one tips for cloth diapering. It is imperative that you and your spouse are on the same page when it comes to cloth diapering. If both of you are not on the same page, it will be difficult to stay consistent and make sure diapers stay washed, stuffed, and changed appropriately.
As I explained in a previous post, I always knew I wanted to cloth diaper, but it took my husband a little longer to get on board. His biggest fear was fear of the unknown. I think this is pretty common. Cloth diapering is not difficult, but what makes it challenging is the social stigma and lack of understanding.
Once my husband and I got on the same page about cloth diapering we were able to work through the rest of the steps below together and get into a routine. Remember, you didn’t make the decision to cloth diaper because of convenience. If that is your goal, cloth diapering is not for you. Having your partner be open to learning how to cloth diaper and assisting with the process is a key to success.
2. Does your child’s daycare or child care provider allow cloth diapers?
I had a coworker who mentioned she had planned on cloth diapering until she realized her child’s day care would not cloth diaper while she was in their care. She decided not to start with cloth diapering and used disposable diapers instead.
Before you commit to buying cloth diapers – check with your child care provider. If the provider will not cloth diaper while your baby is in their care, you will have to make a decision on how you will proceed. You can either find another provider, decide not to cloth diaper at all, or only cloth diaper when your child is in your care.
I am fortunate to have my mom watch Baby Boy while I am at work, but I still had to make sure she was on board with cloth diapering! At first, my mom was extremely skeptical about cloth diapering. However, she knew how committed I was and was also open to trying it. It was really important to me that she be willing to continue cloth diapering while he was in her care. Learning to cloth diaper takes practice, but eventually, you get the hang of it!
3. Do Your Research
Research. Research. Research. I honestly wish there was more out there about cloth diapering to help clear misconceptions and remove the fear of the unknown. I know I say this often, but cloth diapering is a best-kept secret! It’s so efficient and so much cheaper than disposable diapers.
Check out the other blogs in my cloth diapering series:
- The 8 Benefits of Cloth Diapers Every Mom Should Know
- The Ultimate Guide To Cloth Diapering
- The Best Ways to Deal With Poop in Cloth Diapers
4. Experiment
Most of us learn best by doing! There’s nothing wrong with experimenting before you completely commit to cloth diapering. Remember, this isn’t an all-or-nothing situation. It took us several weeks before we fully committed to cloth diapering and we still use disposable diapers at night. Do whatever makes you comfortable. Start slowly trying different types of diapers until you build up your confidence. Even today, I still carry one or two disposable diapers with me, just in case.
5. Stock Up
I was fortunate to have a colleague gift me her old stash of cloth diapers. This was perfect to get my stash started. I also visited the local baby thrift store and found gently used cloth diapers. Of course, I washed them first. This was the perfect start to my cloth diapering stash.
When you’re thinking about how many diapers to consider, ask yourself how often do I want to wash? I would suggest not waiting for more than three days per wash in order to avoid a diaper smell. You also want to ask yourself, do I want to put the diapers in the dryer or air dry/line dry.
Putting the diapers in the dryer is obviously faster and more convenient. However, air drying or line drying is more environmentally friendly but takes much longer.
Over time I was able to build up enough diapers to wash diapers every two to three days. We currently have 24 diapers. I pack six to eight diapers for him to take to his childcare. The more diapers you have, the less often you’re likely to wash them and you’ll probably not want to go longer than three days in between washes.
You can always start with a small stash and slowly build it up. This will also give you an opportunity to see which type of diapers you like best.
I hope you enjoy these tips for cloth diapering!
Are you ready to start cloth diapering?
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