Deciding whether to use cloth or disposable diapers is a decision every new parent will need to make and today we’re talking about cloth diapering for beginners.
While easy, disposable diapers are filled with potential toxins that could be harmful to your baby. And some babies have extremely sensitive skin that may require more expensive natural disposables. On the other hand, cloth diapering is not always the easiest to start. Making the decision that will decide whether cloth diapering is right for you only requires you to ask a few questions of yourself.
Something to note beforehand. One – I do not cloth diaper during the newborn period. Between the fact that newborns generally upend any type of routine, hormone imbalances, getting used to nursing, not sleeping well and the meconium poops, it’s a hard no from me. I love cloth diapers and I will always suggest using them, but the first few months I am all about doing whatever I can to make life as easy and simple as possible.
Cloth Diapering for Beginners
There are a few things I wish I knew before getting started with cloth diapers and we’re diving into all of them today!
Let’s dive into cloth diapering for beginners.
Can You Afford to Use Cloth Diapers?
Disposable diapers are expensive but the expense of disposable diapers is one that adds up rather slowly over the first few months and years of your new baby’s life; especially if you use savings methods such as coupons or rebates. Cloth diapers, however, are almost the opposite. They are more expensive upfront but the one-time purchases you make last far longer than the expense from disposables. In fact, I have diapers from 7 years ago that have diapered all 3 of my children and will continue with baby 4.
The last thing any new parent wants is to have a budget issue. So figuring out if you can afford to use cloth diapers should be the first thing you do.
A few tips for how to start a cloth diaper stash on a budget:
- Buy used. Look on Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, Mercari, and B/S/T groups.
- Register for cloth diapers on your baby registry.
- Buy a small number of cloth diapers at a time while pregnant. 2 diapers a month may not seem like much, but over 9 months of pregnancy, you could have almost had a full stash built up!
Do You Have Time to Use Cloth Diapers?
Disposable diapers are quick and easy. That is, after all, what made them so popular in the first place. Cloth diapers are easy in so many ways, but can and will require more time. While not much different, if you use snap cloth diapers then diaper changes will take a few more seconds. Hook and loop closure (aka velcro) however are basically identical to disposables.
When your baby pees or poops in a disposable, it goes into the trash. However, cloth diapers need to go in a well-ventilated diaper pail/lined can of some kind. And the most time-intensive part of cloth diapers that I feel like is always the most daunting is washing and drying the dirty diapers. But folding/stuffing and putting them away is something else to consider. The time needed to do this will definitely depend on which style of cloth diapers you use.
This will all need to be done while you have a baby. If you do not have help, you may find yourself overwhelmed. If you are already busy managing one or more children, the added time needed for cloth diapers may just be too much. This is why you need to account for the extra time before making your decision. However, there are local cloth diaper laundry services that will do it all for you! And I promise once you get the hang of it, cloth diaper laundry is really not as scary or overwhelming as it may seem.
Do You Have Room to Store Cloth Diapers?
Before deciding if cloth diapers are right for you, you will need to make certain you are able to store them. In addition to regular diapering accessories, you will need to store diaper shells and diaper inserts. And I swear by biodegradable diaper liners for poop, although they take up virtually no space. If you live in a small home or apartment with little storage space, it’s time to get creative! Also keep in mind that AI2 (All in twos) are a full system in one, meaning it’s a single diaper. Whereas pocket or prefold styles do have multiple components.
With that said, storage options such as hanging diaper organizers, storage baskets, and so on can all be a great help to keeping things organized and out of the way for those that do live in smaller environments.
I keep ours in our locker system in the playroom since that’s where diaper changes happen most frequently. But I’ve also kept them in a dresser drawer, in a rolling cart, and in a box on a shelf in the closet. Keeping both in mind, take a look at the storage you have available and factor it into your decision. Need a suggestion? Let’s connect and see what ideas we can come up with.
Make sure to also have a cloth diaper pail to easily store them until wash day. This one eliminates the oder!
Are You Squeamish?
As a new parent, you are going to have to deal with the bodily fluids of your newborn no matter what. Again, disposable diapers are quick and easy to deal with. Once they are changed, they get thrown away and the mess is gone from your home. Cloth diapers, however, require more in-depth care.
Something to note! If your baby exclusively drinks breast milk, it’s easier to deal with poop than if they receive formula. Since the formula poop doesn’t break down in the washing machine, you’ll need to make sure any and all fecal matter is removed before washing.
Disposing of solid waste – Weirded out about the idea of possibly touching poop? First – welcome to parenthood. Secondly, there are a plethora of products out there to keep the poop touching aspect to an absolute minimum:
I love cloth diaper liners. Simply place between diaper and baby and toss when soiled. A cloth diaper sprayer or bidet is another great option and can be attached to your toilet for easy and convenient access. Try a cloth diaper sprayer shield! Spray Pal is a long-time favorite of mine.
Do You Have the Means to Wash Cloth Diapers?
In the past, everyone had some method of washing their clothing at home. Whether it was a washing machine or a washboard, clothes were cleaned at home. These days, however, that is not always the case. Because cloth diapers are already expensive, laundering them could be as well if you do not have a washer and dryer at home. If you are using a laundromat to wash laundry, you will want to consider whether the added cost to your weekly laundry bill is feasible for you.
As previously mentioned, don’t forget about looking into local cloth diaper laundry services! In my experience, not only do they wash/dry/fold your diaper laundry, but they even supply all the necessary diapering shells and inserts as well! That means the only thing cloth diaper related that you have to think about is the actual diapering, poop removal, and storage!
Cloth diapering is a great decision for some families. For others, disposable diapers will be the best option. There is no shame in either decision. In the end, you must do what is right for you and your family.
I hope you learned enough in this post about cloth diapering for beginners to help you get started on your own cloth diapering journey!
For more sustainable living practices for beginners, check out the posts below:
6 Simple Steps to Reduce Plastic Use for Big Families
7 Simple Steps to Sustainable Living
Easy Ways to Begin Living a Low Waste Lifestyle
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