Photo from Parents

Earlier today, I shared the reasons that convinced me to switch to cloth diapering. While those reasons are compelling, some people might still be concerned that cloth diapering is a massive chore. They hear people say it’s really not that hard, but it’s difficult to believe when parenting little ones is challenging enough! Sometimes, it’s just easier to understand a process when you can see it. So today, I’ve got two videos my husband and I made this week, and hopefully they’ll further clear up and confusion about what it’s like to use cloth diapers.

The first video is how to put on a prefold diaper, a fitted diaper, and a pocket diaper. Keep in mind that this was just before my son’s naptime, and he endured three diaper changes in one changing table sitting. And excuse the suddenness of his rear-end appearance.  Thanks, little guy.

How to Put on Different Types of Cloth Diapers

I didn’t demonstrate an all-in-one diaper, but putting one on is exactly the same as a pocket — it’s simply sealed where the pocket remains open. There’s no difference in how to put one on.

Here are the types of diapers and covers I used in this video (in a few days, I’ll have a master list of all the links to brands I recommend, along with scores of other cloth diapering resources):

• Bummis Organic Cotton Prefold
• Bummis Super Brite Wrap
• Bummis Bamboozle Fitted Diaper
• Imse Vimse Organic Cotton Cover
• FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper
• Bummis BioSoft Liners — In the video, I inadvertently say that these liners are made out of rice paper. The rice paper liners are actually from ImveVimse, which we also use.

The second video is the process of dealing with a soiled diaper, washing a load of diapers, hanging them to dry, and then folding or stuffing the diapers so they’re ready to use.

How to Clean Cloth Diapers

Here are the products I used in the video:

• FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper
• Bummis BioSoft Liners
• FuzziBunz In and Out Mess-Free Diaper Bag
• FuzziBunz Organic Double Sided Wipes
• Soapnuts from Laundry Tree
• All-In-One Diaper from BottomBumpers
• One Size Bamboo Velour Diaper from Blueberry
• Super Brite wrap from Bummis — I inadvertently called it a Whisper Wrap, also from Bummis

This didn’t make the final cut, but I also keep a simple spray bottle of homemade diaper wipe solution next to the changing table. When I need it, I simply spray a bit on to the wipe, and it cleans up the mess just as well as a disposable wipe — for a fraction of the cost. Here’s the recipe:

Homemade Diaper Wipe Solution

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons baby shampoo or soap
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• a few drops of essential oil (optional)

Pour all the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake. That’s it!

Tomorrow, I’ll give a comprehensive review of different diaper brands, along with a fun giveaway from some of these companies. Several of you will win some new cloth diapers to try out for yourself! And then we’ll end the Cloth Diapering 101 series this weekend with a full list of helpful links.

What further questions do you have about cloth diapering?

I‘m a self-confessed newbie at cloth diapering. I was interested in it from day one of my oldest daughter’s life, but I didn’t know anyone else who did it, and I wasn’t sure where to even begin.

About a year later, a friend of mine told me that she was going to cloth diaper her second, and my now waned interest was rekindled. She told me about a few sites and the myriad of options, but it seemed so overwhelming. All I knew of CDs were that our grandmothers had to use them, many of our mothers had no other option, and when disposables were invented, they breathed a huge sigh of relief.

So I moved on, and finished up my daughter in disposables. With my son, however, I switched to cloth earlier this year. And I now have no idea why I waited so long.

Here are three reasons that compelled me to make the switch.

1. Cost.

This was my main reason. Disposable diapers are expensive. If a child is potty trained at 3, he will wear an estimated 8,000 disposable diapers — and buying Luvs, Pampers, or Huggies in their economy-sized packs at stores like Target, Babies R Us, Amazon.com, or Costco works out to an average of $.19 per diaper. That’s an estimated $1,520 per child, assuming I buy the diapers at this economic price every time. If I buy the diapers in a regular-sized pack at a grocery store, the average price is $.24 — that’s a whopping $1,920 per child.

The price range varies for cloth diapers, depending on what kind you choose. But to make things fair — even if you picked the most expensive kind, the all-in-ones, the average price for those are around $18 per diaper. Or if you buy the 12-pack one-size all-in-ones from BumGenius, you’ll pay $203.40 with free shipping. If you also bought a 12-pack of their flannel wipes at $12, and bought Imse Vimse disposable liners five times a year at $13, that totals a little more than $400. You can use these diapers and wipes for every child, too, so you’re looking at barely more than $400 for all your diapering years. If you had three kids in disposables, that’s $4,500.

Sure, you’ve got slightly more water usage (though not as much as you think), and the use of chemical-free laundry soap, but that’s still a small price to pay, especially considering that you can do cloth diapering for much cheaper than listed above. Go with prefolds and wraps, buy them used off Diaperswappers or Craigslist, or even make your own diapers and wipes, and you’re saving money left and right.

I consider one of my main jobs as a home manager to be a good steward of our family’s finances. So for me, going with cloth was a no-brainer.

2. Good Environmental Stewardship.

Photo from Sattler Clothing

I have no idea why, but it never crossed my mind until recently that when I used disposable diapers, I was throwing human feces into the garbage. Officially, the disposable diaper companies say you’re supposed to shake the poop off into the toilet. But how many of us ever do that? In some cities, it’s illegal to dispose of human waste in to our garbage systems.  And the World Health Organization says it’s against their guidelines to put it into landfills.

In the U.S. alone, 18 billion disposable diapers are thrown in landfills each year, taking around 500 years to decompose. Disposable diapers make up the third largest item in landfills, after newspapers and food and beverage containers–a big deal, since they are a single product, used by a limited portion of the population. Once I started thinking about that, it just didn’t sit well with me. I want to steward well the earth God has given us. And while we still use disposables for long trips, switching to cloth primarily has significantly cut down our contribution to the landfills.

But what about water use? Isn’t it good eco-practice to cut down our household water consumption? Sure thing. But washing cloth diapers at home uses 50 to 70 gallons of water every three days–about the same as a toilet-trained child or adult flushing the toilet five to six times a day. They’ll start doing that once they’re potty trained anyway. If you use a diaper service (a great option for those of you who say you don’t have laundry capabilities in your own home), they’ll use even less water per diaper.

Life is about give and take, and the environmental question with diapering is no exception. For me, though, I’d rather use slightly more water than empty human waste into the garbage.

3. Possible earlier potty training.

Photo from Working Mommy

Back when disposable diapers didn’t exist, the average child was potty trained by 18 months. Now, it’s not uncommon for children to be potty trained at 40 months (3 years, 4 months). Every child is different, of course, and you can train your child earlier in disposables. But because disposable diapers have absorption chemicals that keep a baby from feeling wet, she has less incentive to get out of diapers. A baby still feels wet in a cloth diaper, and she gets uncomfortable faster.

Who wouldn’t want to try out something that might make the potty training process go quicker? I’m curious to see if this will help my son when he’s ready.

There are other great reasons to cloth diaper–less toxic chemicals on your baby’s bum, the amount of petroleum used to simply make a disposable diaper, and less diaper rash are some other common reasons. But these first three were enough to give cloth diapering a go — and I’m so glad I did.  Katie has shared her reasons for cloth diapering on her blog, This Natural Life.

Later today, I’ll post two short videos demonstrating the how behind my cloth diapering system — how to put on various kinds of diapers, and how to properly store dirty diapers and then clean them.

What are your main reasons for going with cloth diapers? If you’re still unsure, what are your hesitations? Or if you feel like disposable is the best option for your family, share the reasons why. There will be no guilt-inducing conversations, however, so any comments that hint at a motive of judgment will be deleted.

We’re switching up my usual food talk today to chat about another subject I am passionate about: cloth diapers!

When Tsh asked me to expand my repertoire to write about cloth diapers (CDs), I eagerly jumped at the chance to share my personal experience with you. There are so many debates going on about CDs versus disposables, and so many opinions about which is better, so I don’t want to just spit out more random facts and biased feelings on the subject.

Instead, I want to share with you what I have personally discovered about cloth diapers over the past three years. If, by sharing my perspective of CDs, I can encourage you or answer a question you may have had, then I have succeeded. The best thing I can do is share my experiences, and you can take them or leave them.

That said, after daily interactions with two little bums, here are a few cloth diapering questions that I encounter often, and my responses to them.

1. I consider myself to be pretty green, but I’ve heard that neither cloth nor disposable diapers can claim environmental superiority. Why bother with cloth?

This is a hot debate right now and it is difficult to find unbiased data on it; however I feel my choice is the most environmentally friendly for my location. Here’s what I am doing: first off, all waste goes directly into the toilet to be flushed into the sewer (did you know it is illegal to dispose of human waste in your garbage?), then I wash my second-hand cotton flats in cold water with biodegradable soap; finally, three seasons out of four, I air dry them on the clothes line.

People can grumble about the precious water I use to wash the diapers, but I am fortunate that water is plentiful where I live.  Someone living in Arizona, however, may want to choose differently than I have.

With this process in place in my home, I’ve managed to eliminate the number one category of household waste, and that feels great.

Obviously potty training your children early is the greenest way to go–eliminate diapers altogether!

2. Isn’t it a lot of work?

Okay, if you’re concerned about a lot of work, maybe having kids isn’t the best idea for you! Heh!

Although it may seem like there are a lot of steps involved with CDs, they seem to simplify with practice, and practice is what you get! Remember when you gave your baby its first bath? It was a long, terrifying process! There were all these steps to remember, many items to assemble ahead of time, and the slippery baby seemed too awkward to hold.

Compare that experience to bath time now– it’s a cinch, right? In a similar way, cloth diapering soon becomes as easy as tying a shoe, and just one more load of laundry.

3. Don’t cloth diapers cost a lot of money up front?

There are already so many purchases to be made that come with the arrival of a newborn that the cost of outfitting your baby’s bum can seem like a big hurdle. When our firstborn arrived, my husband and I considered our options and decided to purchase a new cloth diapering kit, and go with second-hand for many of the other baby items that were needed. One of the advantages to cloth diapering was fully realized when our second son came along–no start-up fee! We were already in business.

Remember, prices may vary, but my initial start-up cost was not nearly as pricey as most people think. At Bummis, our local CD Mecca, we spent a total of $300 to outfit our little one in styling CDs from birth to potty. If all goes as planned and I use the same kit for a third child, we will have spent $100 per child on diapers. Yes, yes, one must factor in the detergent and other costs, but still, you have to admit it is a fraction of the cost of disposable diapers!

4. I’m afraid of the smell; how do you combat odours?

With the exception of that one staggeringly smelly moment when I transfer my diapers from their pail to the washing machine, they don’t pollute my bathroom at all. In fact, my kitchen compost is ten times worse! I’m fortunate to have a few windows in my laundry room that I can fling open during the washing process and that helps quickly to clear the air.

At this point, I’ve already eliminated the waste and partially rinsed the diaper in the toilet (if needed), so there is no decaying pooh sitting around. Between washings, my diapers sit in their airtight pail in a vinegar-water soak which starts the cleaning process immediately. Also, my diaper pail is washed and disinfected with each load; my garbage bin would probably smell a lot nicer if it got washed between each change and stayed as fresh as the diaper pail!

5. Aren’t you afraid of poking your baby with a pin?

I still get this question!  Folks, I don’t think you can even buy diaper pins anymore. Nope, no more storing them in a bar of soap to keep them sharp, no more cute pink and blue heads, no more diaper pins, period. There are several methods for diaper fastening nowadays, but my preferred method is the Snappi Cloth Diaper Fastener. It is an affordable $2.29!

To give you an example of their durability, I used the same one the whole time my firstborn was in CDs. I tossed it when my second baby came along and splurged on a new one, though. Here are some photos that demonstrate how the Snappi is used.

6. Isn’t it terribly messy?

If cleaning cloth diapers conjures up images of kneeling in front of a galvanized washtub, scrubbing poopy diapers on a washboard, then you are in for a pleasant surprise. I would like to introduce you to….the flushie. This disposable, biodegradable liner sits inside the diaper and makes it possible to pick up solid waste and deposit it directly into the toilet. Voila. I use the Bummis Bio-Soft Flushable Liners.

For sanitary reasons I have my change table in my bathroom and I find this set-up works really well. I love having the sink right there for washing baby, as I tend to use a warm wash cloth rather than a disposable wipe.

The bottom line? Baby’s diapers are messy no matter whether they are cloth or disposable–it’s the pooh that is messy!

7. Um, I hate to bring it up, but what about liquid poo?

Oh, yes, it happens. I’ve heard some mothers say that they change (and wash) their child’s clothes with every pooh because the disposable diaper doesn’t contain it. That’s a lot of extra laundry I’ve thankfully never had to do. My experience was that the diaper covers made such a reliable seal around baby’s legs and tummy that messy leaks were always prevented.

Since we’re on the subject, you should know that the aforementioned flushie is rather helpless to combat liquid pooh; however, I have a trick for a quick clean. I drop the entire diaper in the toilet water, then, holding one corner (usually the only clean one), I flush the toilet and essentially give the diaper it’s own ‘swirly’ to rinse it before depositing it into the diaper pail.

Don’t worry, this too shall pass; things tend to solidify down there with the introduction of solid food.

Okay, enough talk about pooh! Well, almost.

Here are a few small things I wish I have been told before I started cloth diapering:

• CDs can sometimes add extra bulk to the baby, so for example, if your child is 12 months old, keep those 18-month outfits around! You’re might need them.

• Extra bulk around the midsection sometimes means slightly restricted mobility. Your baby might sit, crawl and walk a few months behind “schedule.” I was always fine with that. Less running for me!

• A cute diaper cover works perfectly for a bathing suit. With its elastic seal around the waits and legs, it traps any ‘floaties’! No need to spend money on those expensive Little Swimmers.

• Putting a line-dried cloth diaper on baby is like trying to diaper them with a sheet of plywood. Those things dry stiff! It’s not a bother, though, in the end. Ha! Get it?

Do I think that CDs are for everyone? No. Has it suited my lifestyle and integrated well into my mothering? Absolutely. In the end, each mother (or father) has to do what best suits their lifestyle, and then be at peace with their decision.

Parenting is challenging enough with out stressing over the minor details. Hopefully this post and this Cloth Diapering 101 series will help you with your decision.

What are your thoughts on the environmental pros and cons of cloth diapering? Is it debatable?

Anyone looking into the world of cloth diapers for the first time can feel very overwhelmed. There are so many different websites with so many different types of diapers available that it’s easy to experience information overload. But cloth diapering is really very simple once you find the system that works for you.

There are certainly some variations, but overall, there are four basic types of cloth diapering systems. All systems include some sort of absorbent cloth next to the skin, as well as a waterproof outer layer.

1. Prefolds and Covers

This is the primary system I use. A prefold is a piece of cloth that has been folded up and sewn to stay that way–hence the name. A prefold diaper looks like this:

Photo from Diaperware

These are NOT the same as the cheapy brands you can buy at Target or Babies-R-Us; they are far more absorbent and much better quality. You can fasten them on your baby with diaper pins or a Snappi. A Snappi is a little stretchy plastic fastener that has grippers like an Ace bandage. It looks like this:

Photo from Satara, Inc.

So, that’s the absorbent part; you still need a waterproof cover (also called a wrap) over the cloth diaper. These are usually shaped just like a disposable diaper, but they are made of a waterproof fabric (usually polyurethane laminate, or PUL – which is more breathable than the old vinyl covers), and they fasten either with Aplix (heavy-duty Velcro) or snaps. There are many brands, but here is one example:

Photo from Imse Vimse

You can just air out the covers between changes, swapping them back and forth, and re-use them until wash day (unless they get poop on them – then, into the diaper pail they go).

Advantages of Prefolds

1. This is the cheapest way to do cloth diapers by far–that’s why it’s our primary system!

2. The prefolds are the easiest kind of cloth diaper to get really clean.

3. The waterproof cover is separate from the cloth, so you can take better care of it and it will last longer. The waterproof covers really shouldn’t go in the dryer or they won’t last as long.

Disadvantages of Prefolds

The only disadvantage I find to this system is that it is less convenient than some of the other systems because you have more pieces (the diaper, the cover, plus a Snappi or pins). Because of that, other people like babysitters, grandparents, and child-care workers get nervous about it.

2. Fitteds and Covers

A fitted diaper is like a prefold, except that it requires no folding and no pins–it is already in the shape of a diaper (like a disposable), and fastens either with Aplix or snaps. Here is an example of a fitted diaper:

Photo from Wildflower Diapers

I have also used this system, and I really like it. Grandparents and babysitters tend to be a lot more comfortable with fitteds than prefolds. You still need to use a waterproof cover on these fitted diapers, just like with the prefolds (see the cover above). Besides the PUL covers, another popular choice for is a wool cover. Wool is very breathable, so it’s great for night-time (or anytime, really) and doesn’t need to be washed very often; just aired out, unless poop gets on them. Wool covers are expensive, though, so we only have two, and only use them at night. Here’s an example of a wool cover:

Photo from Babyworks

Advantages of Fitteds & Covers

1. This is still a pretty cheap way to do cloth diapers.

2. Fitteds are easier than prefolds because they’re already diaper-shaped, and you don’t have to deal with pins or Snappis.

3. The waterproof outer layer is still separate from the cloth, which means it will dry faster and last longer.

Disadvantages of Fitteds & Covers

1. Fitteds are still not as convenient and easy as some of the other systems I will cover next.

2. Fitteds are not as cheap as prefolds.

3. Pocket Diapers

Pocket diapers can be a little hard to explain. With a pocket diaper, there is an outer waterproof layer made of PUL that is sewn to a cloth layer which goes against the skin, and there is an opening left in the back between the two. Here’s an example of a pocket diaper:

Photo from The International Breastfeeding Symbol

You put an absorbent insert into that opening, and then you remove the insert for washing and put the insert and diaper both into the wash together. Most brands come with their own inserts, or you can use prefolds or purchase additional inserts. The whole diaper fastens with either Aplix or snaps. We use these at night, too, and they are very absorbent.

Advantages of Pocket Diapers

1. This system is easy and convenient–you can have a bunch of diapers with inserts already inside of them at the changing table and in the diaper bag, so you just pull one out and put it on your baby. Babysitters will love it.

2. You can separate the inserts out from the rest of the diaper for washing and drying, so you get the inserts really clean. Then you can dry the inserts in the dryer, and you can line-dry the rest of the diaper, which means it will last longer.

Disadvantages of Pocket Diapers

1. They’re a bit more expensive than the first two options.

2. It’s a little bit harder to get the diaper itself really clean. I have found that anytime the cloth against the skin is sewn to the waterproof outer layer, it’s just a little harder to really clean them well. But tons of people love and use this system without any problems, myself included.

3. Pocket diapers rarely use natural fibers in the layer that’s against the skin–it’s usually some sort of polyester microfiber which is designed to wick moisture away from the skin. For many people, that is fine, but some people prefer to stick to natural fibers. There are natural fiber pocket diapers available, but they are hard to find.

4. All-in-Ones

An all-in-one is just what it sounds like – the waterproof layer, the absorbent layer, and the layer against the skin are all sewn together in one diaper. It’s diaper shaped, and it fastens with Aplix or snaps–super easy, it’s essentially a reusable disposable! Here’s an example of an all-in-one diaper:

Photo from Southern Homegrown

Advantages of All-in-Ones

1. This is by far the easiest and most convenient system of them all! The grandparents will barely know the difference.

Disadvantages of All-in-Ones

1. All-in-ones are the most expensive of the diapering systems. We’re talking between $16-20 per diaper, maybe more. There may be a lot of up-front sticker shock, but you will still save money in the long run over disposables, even if you ONLY use all-in-ones and nothing else. You can re-use them for the next baby and save even more!

2. These are the hardest kind of cloth diaper to get completely clean.

3. They may not last as long as other systems if you put them in the dryer. The PUL will wear out much faster.

That covers all the major cloth diapering systems. As I mentioned, there are a few variations, but for the most part this is what you need to know in order to decide which system will work best for you.

There are a few other things to consider.

Cloth Wipes

Some people like to use cloth wipes, too–it just makes sense to stick the wipe into the diaper after you change the baby (just like you do with disposables) and throw it all into the diaper pail and then into the wash. We use cloth wipes–sometimes. You will need about two to three dozen. I keep a spray bottle with water at the changing table, and either just use spray that onto the bare bottom, or sometimes I use this spray, too, if I need a little extra clean-up help. For really messy diapers, I still use disposable wipes – I just find it easier.

Washing The Diapers

If it’s a pee diaper, you can just throw it into the diaper pail. With the poopy ones, you need to wash the poop down the toilet unless they’re not eating solids yet–then it can still go straight into the wash. You can dunk them up and down into the toilet, or you can use a sprayer attached to the toilet to spray it off.  Simple Organic contributor Nicole from Gidget Goes Home has an excellent tutorial for making your own toilet sprayer inexpensively.  Here’s an example of a toilet sprayer:

Photo from Instructables

I love spraying them with BioKleen Bac-Out–the enzymes start the cleaning process right away and leave no stains behind! Then we have a separate smaller diaper pail in the bathroom where we put those diapers until wash time.

You need to wash about every three days, or you risk the growth of bacteria. You also shouldn’t use detergents that leave residue behind–no softeners or scents–it should be totally clean-rinsing. Charlie’s Soap is my favorite, but there are a lot of good options. Tsh recently shared how she uses Soapnuts from Laundry Tree.

Here’s how I wash: a cold cycle with a full scoop of detergent, a hot cycle with a half scoop of detergent (and maybe some Oxi-Clean Baby if it’s really soiled), and then a warm rinse with no detergent, for extra rinsing. Then, covers get hung up to line-dry, and diapers and inserts go into the dryer.

I hope this information is helpful if you’re making a decision about cloth diapers. No matter which system you choose, you are making a great choice for the environment and for your budget. And oh yes, I forgot to mention one other factor–they’re just so darn cute! Nothing cuter than a baby crawling around with a little cloth diaper on.

If you cloth diaper, which system is your preference? If you don’t, or if you’re still deciding, what further questions do you have about your choices?

Photo from Susannah Paul

I get quite a few emails from readers asking for my opinion on cloth diapering. From handling the up-front cost to the cleaning to the poop, making the switch cloth diapers can feel overwhelming before you take the plunge. Since this blog focuses on making things simpler at home, it’s an honest question–do cloth diapers really make life easier?

There’s so much information to cover, I thought it best to make an entire week of Cloth Diapering 101, where we’ll discuss the multiple cloth diapering choices, dispel the common myths behind them, share a step-by-step process for dealing daily with cloth diapers, and give honest reviews of different brands. We’ll end with a comprehensive list of useful links to make switching to cloth diapering easier, along with a little giveaway for some of the best brands in cloth diapers!

What Cloth Diapering 101 is Not About

The last thing I want to do is discourage a parent and make them feel not up to par. If you’ve made a conscious choice to go with disposable diapers, that’s okay by me. We still combo diaper–based on where we live, it’s much easier to get out for the day in disposables. So this week is not meant to make those of you who choose to use disposable diapers feel badly.

But I do encourage you to make a deliberate choice, and don’t assume disposables are the best choice without investigating your options. I’m new to cloth diapering, mostly because I just didn’t take the time to look into cloth diapering. I wish I looked into it sooner! Thinking about the money we could have saved makes me cringe.

No matter your decision, make it a well-informed one, and don’t write off cloth diapers without first learning more about them.

A Newbie’s Guide to Cloth Diapering

As I mentioned, I’m rather new to cloth diapering. I hesitated for the longest time, mostly because it seemed like so much work. There’s scores of information on the internet, and much of it is contradictory–pocket diapers are better than prefolds! But prefolds are the true economical choice! Cloth diapers are worse for the environment because of the water use! No wait–it’s worse to throw away human waste into our landfills!

It’s hard to sort through it all.

From my experience, I learned that in taking the plunge and just trying some sort of cloth diapering choice, you’ll learn quite a bit rather quickly. You’ll find what works for you, because it turns out there’s lots of ways to cloth diaper, and no one way is the right way. You’ll get a feel for what works best for your babies bodies and your budget, and you can slowly add to your cloth diapering system, as your pocketbook and needs allow.

Don’t let all those strange words and acronyms confuse you (PUL, AIO, and DSQ, anyone?). Find the answers to your questions, and ask the mamas who seem to be cloth diapering experts for sage advice. Be careful for those CD evangelists, though–they’re out there!

I know you all have your cloth diapering opinions, and that’s good. But I encourage you to spend this week either re-affirming your choice to cloth diaper, learning more about the CD process and making a decision to go cloth, or rest assuredly that disposable diapers are the best for you.

What are your biggest cloth diapering questions or issues?