Are you overwhelmed by all the information out there on cloth diapers yet? I know how you feel. I was in your shoes about a year or so ago and I almost gave up on the idea of using cloth because of it. That’s why I wanted to write this post. Using cloth diapers does not have to be hard, but it is when you don’t know what to do.  I am going to show you exactly how you can use cloth diapers in 3 easy steps.

Using Cloth Diapers In 3 Easy Steps. I needed this! I have been so scared of using cloth diapers because I had no idea what I was doing. It seemed so complicated. After reading this I feel much more confident that cloth is the better choice for my family!

You may also be worried about spending the upfront money on cloth diapers and just end up regretting it. I know that was what I was thinking. This post will help you get past that. Cloth diapers these days are not what they once were. Seriously, now that I am a pro (which didn’t take long) it is as simple as wash, prep diapers while watching TV, put away, put on baby, put in the pail, repeat. Besides the fun ones, but how often to babies poop anyways? Yea the first few weeks it’s a lot. But after that, it’s like once every three days or so. Okay, so here is everything I know.

Benefits:

Saves money

My cloth diaper stash consists of 28 diapers, 3 overnight diapers, 3 wet/dry bags (for outings), and 3 pail liners. All that cost me roughly $253. I bought One-Size diapers because you can adjust the size by rearranging the snaps. They fit a newborn baby that’s about seven pounds to a 33-pound toddler. The generic disposables cost roughly $800 per year and most kids are not potty trained until 2 or 3 years old (not that they can’t be by any means).

Safer on baby’s bum

Ever look into what is actually in disposables? Lots of toxic chemicals, unless you pay a fortune for the “green” disposable diapers. I am not here to bash disposables. I have used them myself in the past, but seriously you should look into it. Chemical burn is real! Cloth diapers are 100% safe when used and washed correctly. My little girl has never had any more than mild diaper rash a couple of times. A little coconut oil clears that right up, though.  Here’s a picture of a disposable diaper that broke and the gel came out. That gel is full of harsh chemicals and can really hurt your baby.

diaper exploded

Environmentally friendly

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that roughly 20 billion disposable diapers go into landfills every year. And they take about 500 years to decompose! After you no longer need to diaper your child, you can sell cloth diapers to another family.

Step 1:

What to buy? 

There are many types of cloth diapers out there to choose from. It is enough to give you a headache and quit before even starting! So I am not going to confuse you by talking about all of them. I’ll just tell you what I use.

One Size pocket diapers

I think a good minimum amount of diapers to have is about 24. I have 28 because the more the better. And they are just so cute and buying more is so addicting!  Pocket diapers are waterproof shells that have a pocket in the back where you slide in the absorbent insert.

Using Cloth Diapers In 3 Easy Steps. I needed this! I have been so scared of using cloth diapers because I had no idea what I was doing. It seemed so complicated. After reading this I feel much more confident that cloth is the better choice for my family!

There are so many brands out there so make sure to check out reviews, but my brand of choice is Alva Baby diapers. I bought some others like Bumgenius 4.0 and Tiny Tush and they are okay. But I sold them all after I tried the Alva diapers and then stocked up on them. They are about $6 per diaper on their website Alvababy.com and they each come with one microfiber insert. You can upgrade to better inserts. The microfiber one is good for around the house, but when we go out I like to use the 4 or 5-layer bamboo insert because it is more absorbent. You can also find them on Amazon for about $7 each and they come with two inserts, but you cannot upgrade them.

One size hybrid fitted diapers

I have 3 hybrid fitted diapers for nighttime. These diapers are made of only cloth so they are very absorbent, but they need a shell. I use a hybrid diaper with a double insert that snaps in and put a pocket diaper with an insert in it over the hybrid so it doesn’t leak. I never have any problems. There are also diaper covers you could buy, but they are just shells. I like the extra absorbency of the pocket diaper.

There are some good ones on Etsy. They are more pricey at about $20-$40 each. I got two of mine used for $6 each on a local Facebook yard sale site and one from Etsy for about $25. This is what a hybrid fitted looks like.

Hybridfitteddiaper

Wet/dry bags

I have 3 wet/dry bags for outings and always keep an extra wet bag (you could use a Wal-Mart bag) in the car for poopy diapers. You can put it in the trunk to keep it from stinking out your car. I have one Alva and two Planetwise bags that work really well.

Pail liners 

I have 3 pail liners, but 2 would be okay. I just put the pail liner in a 7.5-gallon trashcan with a pop-up lid. It works great for holding the dirty diapers until I wash them. It keeps the smell in, so don’t think you need to go spend a bunch of money on one of those fancy diaper pails.

Step 2:

How do I wash and prep them?

So make sure the insert is out because they won’t get all the way clean and dry inside the pocket. I use a lid full of eco-friendly detergent, a little under a quarter lid full of Tide bleach alternative, sprinkle some baking soda and borax (maybe 1-2 T. spoons each) into the washer and wash them in hot water. You can either hang dry them out in the sun (which helps to get any stains out) or just throw them into the drier. Then put the inserts flat inside the diapers. I store mine in a basket on the shelf of the changing table so they are ready for use.

Step 3:

Poopy diapers

This is the downside to cloth, but really it takes less than a minute to get the poo off.   So this is what I do. Take the insert out of the diapers and put it into the pail. Put the diaper poop side down in the toilet. Let it soak if needed (like if you were out and about). I keep an old flat spatula under the bathroom sink in a Wal-Mart bag. Swish the diaper around until the solids are off. Get the pail and put it over the toilet. Pick the diaper up with the spatula and put it in the pail. Done! If it’s completely solid for older babies, sometimes it will just fall off into the toilet. 

Tips:

Outings

I usually bring 3 or 4 pocket diapers for shorter trips. I also have a bag with 3 extras I always keep in the car just in case.

Reselling them

You can resell them for close to what you pay for them when you’re done. I will sell my Alva’s for $4 a piece, hybrids a little under what I paid for them, wet bags $8 each, and liners $8 each. Sometimes people pay more than retail for discontinued prints. Crazy but people do it all the time.

Babysitters

So you may check with them first because I have heard of some sitters that are strictly against it, but I wouldn’t see why. All they have to do is place them into a wet bag. Planetwise also sells some with zippers that I have heard works very well for daycares. They don’t have to take out the insert so it is just like a disposable diaper with either snaps or Velcro.

So that’s all I can think of. This method works great for me and my family. If you’re still worried maybe buy a couple and try it out before making a commitment. And there is always part-time cloth diapering. It took me a couple of months to give up disposables completely. Good luck!

Related: 13 Tips To Help You Spend Under $4000 On Babys First Year

Do you think these steps helped you decide if you will cloth diaper or not? And if you have used cloth diapers feel free to share some of your awesome tips in the comments below!

Using Cloth Diapers In 3 Easy Steps. I needed this! I have been so scared of using cloth diapers because I had no idea what I was doing. It seemed so complicated. After reading this I feel much more confident that cloth is the better choice for my family!

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