Modern Cloth Diapers – They May Surprise You

 

Cloth diapers have come a long way since your grandmother and mother's time.

Today's cloth diapers make diapering your baby as easy as with disposable diapers, yet a better choice for the environment and a healthier choice for your baby.  Plus, they save you over $1000/child.

Gone are the safety pins, the folding, and the separate plastic pants.  Most modern cloth diapers feature either velcro or snap closures which allow for easy diaper changes. 

There are many fabric options including natural fibres such as bamboo, hemp, and cotton, or man-made fibres such as micro-fibre. Most have a waterproof exterior that prevents moisture from leaking out, yet still allows air to reach baby's bottom. 

Types of Cloth Diapers

There are many types and brands of cloth diapers on the market today.  Two very popular types are:

• all-in-one diapers which have the waterproof exterior and an absorbent interior all sewn together in one piece; and
• pocket diapers which have an opening at the back to allow an absorbent insert to be removed.

One of the biggest sellers is the one-size diaper. This diaper is adjustable and fits babies typically from 8-35lbs. 

The huge advantage of a one-size diaper is that you only need to buy one diaper to see your baby through to potty-training. You simply adjust the diaper as the baby grows. So there is no need to buy small, medium and large diapers. 

Washing Cloth Diapers

The main difference between using cloth diapers instead of disposables diapers is that you will need to wash the diapers.  But with modern cloth diapers, the laundry routine is as simple as dumping solid waste into the toilet, putting the dirty diaper into a waterproof bag, and then every second day tossing the bag of diapers into the washing machine.  Once the diapers are dried you are good to go. 

Just How Much Will You Save?

The cost benefits of cloth diapers compared to disposable diapers are obvious. But just how much will you save? Check out this Diaper Savings Calculator.

With the ease of modern cloth diapers and the numerous benefits, cloth diapering is making a big comeback.

Do you use cloth diapers? Why did you choose cloth over disposable and which brand(s) did you use? We’d love to know your experience and tips. Please share in the comments below.

Thanks to Janis Sherman and Andrea Harmatiuk of Little Tree Hugger for contributing this post. They have a ton more information on thier site. If you're considering using cloth I'd recommend checking it out. ~Jen

Comments

[Jan]

We have used medium Fuzzy Bunz for two kids. Our daughter used them from 3 months - 32 months. Now our son is using them. A couple things:
- speak to the experts if you have any doubts / questions. They helped me through my husband using dryer sheets for a few washes (NB: makes diapers way less absorbable) - diapersupply.ca
- if one brand doesn't work for you, try another. We find Fuzzy Bunz keep our son way dryer then our daughter.
- buy neutral colors/designs if you are planning on using for more than one

Enjoy!

[Mommy of One]

Best advice, start as soon as you take baby home. My six week old son couldn't get used to the feeling of being wet in cloth for very long...by the time I put on the diaper, buttoned the cover, and put on his pants (2 sizes bigger than what he was wearing with disposables) he would have peed and started crying, so the process needed to repeat itself. If you're going to commit, start from day one and commit 100%.

[Jo]

Every family and child is different. We started cloth diapering when my son was 4 months old. He and I quickly adjusted and it has been wonderful! We are trying out a bunch of types and brands and it's fun :) We have our favorites, and ones we reach for first, but nothing we have regretted purchasing. Fleece wicks moister away from baby's bottom and allows them to feel dry when wet. Finding a wash routine that works for your family is important as well, poop doesn't scare me :) I feel great knowing we are making a difference in the world. We like fitteds, pockets and aio...
It's never too late to start, the gratification is great, my baby's butt is in safe fluffy goodness.
Good luck to all who venture out into the cloth diapering world, ask questions, read up on it, and have FUN!!

[CityandBaby]

Thanks for sharing Jo!