If you’ve found this page, that means you’re interested in learning more about cloth diapers. I started using cloth diapers when my youngest was born and continued using them (almost) exclusively through potty training. Now I work for a cloth diaper store and educate parents on cloth diapers every day!
Why cloth diaper? Cloth diapers are eco-friendly, budget friendly, and more natural next to your baby’s delicate skin than disposable diapers. Disposable diapers are filled with chemicals and ingredients you can barely pronounce. While you may be overwhelmed when you begin researching cloth diapers, I promise it’s simple, easy, and a great option for most families.
Are you confused by all of the terms and abbreviations? I’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular terms and abbreviations you may run across. You should really bookmark this page – you’ll need to visit it over the next few weeks. Don’t worry, you’ll be speaking the language in no time! Click Here —-> Cloth diaper terms and abbreviations.
When should you start using cloth diapers? That’s really up to you! You can begin using them in the hospital, when you get home, or anytime before your child is potty trained. The longer you use cloth diapers, the more money you’ll save. Just remember that the first few weeks after delivery are exhausting and you’ll both need your rest. You may want to get help from your family and friends to help with the laundry so you can recover and take care of the baby. There’s no rules in parenting – do what works best for YOU!
How many cloth diapers do I need to get started? Again, this one depends on how many children you have in diapers, how often you’ll be doing laundry, and which type of diapers you decide on. The average newborn and infant may need to be changed every 1-3 hours. The older infant and toddler may only go through 6-8 diapers a day once they begin to hold their bladder for longer. It’s recommended to have about 12+ diapers for each day and a total of 24-36 diapers is perfect for washing every 2-3 days.
How much do cloth diapers cost? You can spend as little as $50-100 and cloth diaper your baby through potty training using flat diapers and diaper covers. A set of 24 name brand pocket diapers may cost you as little as $400 brand new, plus a few accessories. If you’re a bargain shopper you’ll learn about Diaper Dollar Rewards and all the different ways to earn free diapers from your favorite stores. You can also buy diapers that have been gently used or find them brand new at a local consignment shop. If you are really on a tight budget, you may qualify for free diapers through non-profit cloth diaper banks like Giving Diapers, Giving Hope. Please use caution when shopping on Ebay or other sites that seem “to good to be true!” Learn more about the ugly truth behind knock-off diapers and why they can be more of a hassle than they are worth!
How to wash cloth diapers? (click <— for more detailed washing instructions) My best advice for washing cloth diapers is Keep It Simple! Don’t try to complicate things, stick to a good wash routine and you should be fine.
- Wash every 1-3 days.
- Warm or cool rinse with no detergent.
- Hot water wash with detergent.
- Use a detergent that does not have fabric softeners, dyes, or fragrances.
- How hot? Most household water heaters are set to 120F. Anywhere between 100-140F is generally considered safe for washing cloth diapers. Anything hotter and you risk ruining the PUL/TPU laminate and elastic on your diapers. Anything colder and you may need to wash diapers for longer and use more detergent.
- Final rinse!
- Hang dry or dry on med-low heat in your dryer.
Yes, there are a few CRAZY washing rumors floating around the internet! You shouldn’t ALWAYS believe what you read online. Take a minute to review the 10 Things You Should Never do to a Cloth Diaper!
Do cloth diapers make my baby’s butt look big? Will regular pants fit over cloth diapers? Yes and no! To read more, Embrace the Fluffy Butt.
What do you do with the POOP? Guess what, all poop should be flushed down the toilet. Yes, even with disposable diapers. With cloth diapers there are different “states” of poop! You can have the wet poop, the sticky poop, or the plopable poop! To read more about how to deal with poop, Cloth Diapering: What to do with Poop!
What are cloth wipes and how do you use them? Cloth wipes are simply reusable wipes (think wash clothes) that you use to wipe your baby at each diaper change. You can wash them in with your cloth diapers. You can use plain water or a special wipes solution to moisten the wipes. There are several different ways to use cloth wipes, and there are no wrong ways. To learn more, Cloth Diapers: How to Use Cloth Wipes.
Below you’ll find an archive of some of my older blog posts that I’ve written about cloth diapers. You can always email me (theecochic@gmail.com) and ask me any question you may have about cloth diapers. I’m always happy to help a family learn more about cloth diapers.
Come back soon, I’ll be adding and updating this site regularly with more information! Thank you for visiting!!
Favorite Cloth Diaper Brands & Supporters of The Eco Chic
Cloth Diaper Archive:
Cloth Diaper Humor:
Popular Posts:
Previous Cloth Diapering Posts: https://www.backtocalley.com/category/environment/cloth-diapers-environment/
Tampa Bay Cloth Diapering Resources, Stores, and Cloth Diaper Friendly Day Care Listing
Featured Guest Posts on Other Blogs: Conscientious Confusion: 5 Things I Would Do Different the Second Time
http://www.conscientiousconfusion.com/2011/02/guest-blogger-eco-chic-5-things-i-would.html
Kelly Wels Blog: Mommy Blogger Profile – The Eco Chic
http://www.kellywels.com/mommy-blogger-profile-the-eco-chic
The Cloth Diaper Whisperer: Disposables vs Hybrids – Is there really a difference? http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/2011/01/disposables-versus-hybrids-is-there.html
Mommy Doodles Blog: Will you take the cloth diaper challenge? http://www.mommydoodles.com/2010/11/will-you-take-cloth-diapering-challenge.html
Rumparooz Blog: How do you store your dirty cloth diapers? http://rumparooz.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-do-you-store-your-dirty-cloth.html
The Cloth Diaper Whisperer Blog: Archives by Eco Chic Parties http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/search/label/Eco%20Chic%20Twitter%20Parties
Fluffy Mama of the Week on Dirty Diaper Laundry: https://www.backtocalley.com/2009/09/08/im-a-fluffy-mama/
SoftBums guest post: Perfect accessories: https://www.backtocalley.com/2010/02/22/the-perfect-diaper-accessories/
SoftBums guest post: How many is enough? https://www.backtocalley.com/2010/02/08/how-many-cloth-diapers-is-enough/
