Question #1: Will using cloth diapers really save me money?
Now, with all of the choices out there for cloth diapering parents, costs can vary from being very cheap to very expensive. I can say with certainty though, that if you don't go overboard with your cloth purchases, it is ALWAYS less expensive to use cloth than disposables. Moms (even Dads) beware though - there are so many super adorable cloth diapers out there that it can become an addiction!
When you find the kind of cloth diaper you like, use this handy dandy cost calculator to see how cost effective it really will be. Never forget that you can get a return on your money with cloth, too. Facebook, babycenter.com, and Craigslist are just a few places where you can go to buy and sell used diapers. You can also use your stash for multiple kiddos. If you're open to purchasing used diapers, you can save even more money.
Question #2: What about all that poop? Are cloth diapers really sanitary?
Ah yes, the poop. When I first mentioned our choice to use cloth to my Mom, she had her fair share of warnings to offer: "you're going to have to be dunking and swishing that poop in the toilet by hand you know!?" That didn't terrify me too much. Nearly every poopy diaper my son had managed to turn into an explosion of poop up the back of his onesie, so I was used to dunking and swishing things in the toilet. Also, I had learned that there is this nifty little invention out there called a diaper sprayer which connects easily to your toilet and can be used in the same way as the sprayer in your kitchen sink. Solids go down the toilet where they belong and your fingers are none the dirtier. By the way, you're supposed to do this with disposables too - says so right there on the box, see?
Now, nobody that I know who uses disposables actually does this, but just think about it for a second. Human feces in the landfill. Gross, right?
As for being sanitary, you should turn your hot water heater up to at least 140 degrees farenheit. This temperature effectively sanitizes against any icky bacteria left in your little ones diaper. Keep reading for washing information.
Newborn messes are easy! Breastfed babies' poop is completely water soluble - just toss it in the wash as is and let your machine do the work.
Question #3: What kind of diaper should I use?
There are so many options! When we first looked into switching, we were overwhelmed by all of the choices. Let me try to break it down for you as simply as I can. Here's a visual to show some of the different types of diapers out there (from www.diaperjungle.com):
| Prefolds | AIOs/AI2s | Pocket Diapers | Fitted Diapers |
 |  |  |  |
| Requires a wrap or a cover | Does not requires a wrap or a cover - this feature is built in. | Does not requires a wrap or a cover - this feature is built in. | Requires a wrap or a cover |
| May require a fastener such as pins or a snappi | Usually fastens with snaps or hook and loop (velcro) | Usually fastens with snaps or hook and loop (velcro) | Usually fastens with snaps or hook and loop (velcro), sometimes a snappi or pins may be used. |
| Usually made of cotton, gauze, Birdseye flannel, hemp, or velour. | Outer layer is waterproof...usually made with PUL, Procare, fleece, or wool. | Outer layer is waterproof...usually made with PUL, Procare, fleece, or wool. | Outer and inner layers are not waterproof and may consist of many different fabrics types. |
| A doubler will increase absorbency. A separate stuffer or doubler lays inside an AI2. | Requires and absorbent stuffer material to be placed in the pocket before use. | A doubler will increase absorbency. | |
| Usually has elastic and legs and back area. | Usually has elastic and legs and back area. | Usually has elastic and legs and back area. | |
| More Prefold Diaper Information | More AIO (All-in-One) Information | More Pocket Diaper Information | More Fitted Diaper Information |
If you're strictly looking for the most economical choice, prefolds are a good bet. Although, with the rising cost of cotton, definitely compare prices before you buy. If you're looking for something that's as easy to use as a disposable, you might want to check out AIOs and AI2s. You will find that every cloth diapering family has their own preference of type and brand. We prefer pocket diapers because we can customize absorbency (unlike AIOs) but they are still really easy to wash and only have one extra step (stuffing). I've fallen in love with the Thirsties brand - they are made right here in the USA (local to us actually, based in Loveland, CO) and their customer service is amazing. I've had a couple of snaps break on my diapers and they have sent me replacements at no cost and within 2-3 days! They have great gussets around the legs and fit snugly against the back - we've never had anything from the inside get out. They have 2 sizes and I think rather than do pockets with a newborn next time, we will do prefolds and covers until the next baby fits into the pockets we already have. So nice to know we will have diapers for our next baby pretty much taken care of already!
Question #4: What do I need to get started?
The answer to this question greatly depends on your plans and goals for cloth diapering. How many children will you be diapering at one time? Will you be diapering a newborn? Do you want to use cloth full-time, or do you plan to use some disposables at certain times? Will you be using cloth at a daycare? What kind of budget do you have for cloth diapering? What's your biggest priority for cloth diapering, i.e., using cloth without spending much, convenience, or style/cuteness? How often do you want to have to wash- every day, 2, or 3 days? Your answers to these questions will greatly determine how much and of what type of diapers you need. Give some thought to your goals before shopping.
For a newborn - 6 month old, expect about 12 diaper changes per day. You'll probably need 18-24 prefolds and 6-8 covers unless you're using AIOs or Pockets, then you'll need about 24-36 diapers.
Starting at 9 months with our kiddo, we bought 24 pocket diapers and did about 8-12 changes per day. Now it's closer to 5-8 diapers per day. If using prefolds and covers, I'd assume you'd need about 4-6 covers for 6 months plus.
Other things you'll need: a diaper pail (nothing fancy, just something with an open top, we use an old trash bin), 2 diaper pail liners and 1 on the go wet bag (Planet Wise - my favorites!), some cloth safe detergent (we use rock n' green but there are lots of brands out there), and a diaper sprayer - some might argue that a diaper sprayer isn't a necessity, I say it is!
Question #5: What about the laundry? How will I ever keep up with it!?
Diaper laundry is actually pretty easy. It's my favorite kind to do in fact!
You'll find lots of different instructions on how to wash them out there. In general, we wash ours every 2-3 days and wash no more than 12-18 at a time. Water is always at the highest level. First we do a cold rinse to get the pee and poop out. Then a full hot wash with detergent followed by an extra rinse at the end (cold or warm). For more on detergents, check out this handy Detergent Chart. Anything with PUL fabric, you'll want to hang to dry. I throw all my inserts in the drier though (caution, hemp and cotton will shrink some).
You'll want to prep your diapers before you use them. For microfiber and other synthetic materials, one full wash before you put them on your baby is sufficient. For natural fibers (cotton, hemp, bamboo), you'll want to do 3-6 washes before putting them on your baby - no detergent needed. Just make sure not to prep your microfiber and natural fibers together. Natural fibers have oils in them and you don't want those getting on your microfiber. Once prepped, they can all be washed together though. We skipped multiple washes for our hemp inserts by just boiling them for 10 minutes instead. Each brand will have different recommendations.
Question #6: Do you have any pointers or advice?
If you have one in your area, check out a cloth diapering store. I found it helpful to see and feel the different types of diapers out there.
If you have a reluctant spouse, check out this helpful site: http://jilliansdrawers.com/newtocloth
Don't feel guilty if you use a disposable every now and then. We use them when traveling and we use them overnight. I'll admit, the overnight thing is just because our son is a heavy nighttime wetter and after all the sleep issues he has had, we didn't feel like messing around to find an overnight cloth solution. There are lots of ways to make overnight cloth diapering work, we're just lazy.
There are lots of online vendors to purchase your diapers from. Try to find a local business to support if you can. My local store actually offers pretty great shipping ($5 flat rate, free for orders over $75) so feel free to order from there (www.babycottonbottoms.com) if you feel so inclined. Dani, the owner, is super helpful and knowledgeable if you feel like you need to speak with an expert!
Don't be overwhelmed. There are lots of choices out there, tons of information, and it is easy to get overwhelmed. Once you get into it, it's easy!
