Cloth diapers are making a bit of a comeback. More and more parents are choosing cloth diapers for a variety of reasons. Some consider the impact disposable diapers have on the environment and others do not want their baby exposed to all the chemicals that are used in disposable diapers. I love them for both of those reasons. The cloth diapers of today are nothing like what our mothers used. They are easy to use, easy to wash, and are virtually leak free! Here are some things you need to know if your considering cloth diapering.
It will require a bit of an investment in the beginning but you will be saving money in the long run since you won't have the weekly expense of buying disposables. You will need at least 2 dozen diapers, 3 or 4 covers, and a diaper pail to put diapers in until you wash them. To help with the initial cost you can look for used diapers on the Internet or craigslist or you could ask for cloth diapers as shower gifts. Another idea is to buy a little at a time over the course of your pregnancy. If you can't afford diapers go on line and look up Miracle Diapers. They are a non-profit organization that help provide diapers to those who can't afford the initial investment.
Some of the terminology associated with cloth diapers are:
AIO All in One Diapers - These diapers are a cloth diaper that does not need any type of cover. You would use this diaper just like a disposable except of course you would wash and re use it. These are very easy to use but tend to cost a bit more and some people do not like the fact that these diapers usually take longer to dry.
Pocket Diapers - Pocket diapers are diapers that have a pocket on the inside that you place an insert in. The great thing about these diapers is that you can make them more or less absorbent depending on your babies age and gender and time of day. So if you have an older baby boy who wets a lot at night time then you can add extra inserts at night to make them more absorbent so that you won't have any leaks. They also dry faster since you can take the inserts out when you launder them.
Prefold Diapers - Prefold diapers are what people usually think of when they think of cloth diapers. The prefolds that most parents use today though are not the ones you can get at Walmart or Target. If you buy the cloth diapers from there the only thing they will be good for are burp cloths or cleaning cloths. There are Chinese or Indian prefolds and bleached or unbleached. You can buy these on the Internet or at some specialty baby stores. These diapers have to be washed a number of times before they are ready for use. The more you wash them the more absorbent they become. You also need to have a cover over these and also diaper pins or what most moms use nowadays which is a snappi. These diapers are cheaper to buy but you will have to buy them in different sizes. So you will need newborn ones, regular ones, and toddler ones. They are easy to wash and they dry fast.
Covers- Covers are what goes over the diaper to prevent leaks. They are not like the old plastic pants that our moms used. These come in a variety of colors and sizes and usually have snaps or Velcro.
Snappi- is a Y shaped fastener that replace diaper pins to secure the prefold diapers in place.
Here are some of my favorite diapers.
For Newborns:
Swaddlebees covers with unbleached cotton prefolds and a snappi to hold it together. The Swaddlebees covers are very good at containing leaks. I haven't had any blow outs with these covers and just an occasional small leak which is much better than any disposable I have ever used! I love all the different colors that Swaddlebees comes in. We have taken some really cute baby pictures of our baby with her Swaddlbees on. Check them out at http://swaddlebees.com
For 3 months to 2 years:
Mother-ease diapers and covers. I LOVE Mother-ease diapers! They are easy to use, a breeze to wash, dry super fast , and they are so well made you can use them for multiple children. Mother-ease claims you can use their diapers from birth to potty training but I disagree a bit. If you try and use them for a newborn they are way to bulky and once your child reaches 2 they will be too small. So I recommend them from the time your baby is about 3 or 4 months old until age two. You will save money since you won't have to buy different sizes of diapers. You will need to buy covers in sizes small, medium, and large but you only need about 3 or 4 covers in each size. The covers are not bulky at all and yet really hold in wetness. You will be amazed at how well these cloth diapers are at holding everything in. They are much better than any disposable. The covers are not the cutest things on the market but I still would choose their covers over anything else. Check them out at www.motherease.com
2 years to 3 years:
For naps and night time I used Mother-ease XL covers with Indian cotton prefolds.
I hope some of this information on cloth diapering has been helpful to you. I have just scratched the surface but the Internet has a wealth of information on cloth diapering including a bunch of YouTube videos showing you how to put the diapers on your child. So take your time, read reviews, do some research, and then just try it. You may find you love cloth diapering as much as I do!
Sarah has been a mother for the last 20 years and is an advocate of motherhood, breast feeding, home-schooling, and family. It is her hope that she can be an encouragement to other mothers as they strive to raise their children. Sarah has 3 teenagers, 2 elementary aged girls, a toddler, and a newborn baby.
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