Over the next few weeks, I am going to break down cloth diapering step by step. Not only is the thought of cloth diapering overwhelming, but all the options and possibilities also are endless and mind-boggling. Cloth diapering doesn’t have to be scary!
It had been a while since I cloth diapered, and so much has changed and progressed in the last six years! I wanted to wait a few weeks to try a few of the newer products before starting this series, and I am so glad I did. I found some amazing favorites that didn’t even exist with Marcus! It is honestly so fun and exciting to see how far the cloth world has progressed, making things even easier than the last time around. There are a million different ways to go, and I hope this helps you make your stash choices a little easier.
WHICH KIND OF DIAPER SHOULD I CHOOSE?
When it comes to diapers, you have options! From all in ones, covers, to different fabrics. The combinations you can choose from are endless, and you will want to pick what is best for you!
ALL IN ONE
All in ones are going to be the closest to traditional disposable diapers that you will find. They are an absorbent inner and waterproof liner in one. The inner liner is sewn to the waterproof outer, and is definitely the most user-friendly. If you aren’t sure you will have the support of a partner or child care, these are the *easiest* to use. However, if cost is a factor for you, AIO diapers tend to be the most costly. There are both sized, and one size all in ones!
MY FAVORITE ALL IN ONES
GROVIA ALL IN ONE – This is the diaper below. It has an inner liner that is attached but not fully sewn down, making cleaning it incredibly easy. They are sold either as a sized diaper(newborn below) or one size!
BUMGENIUS FREETIME – I loved these diapers with Marcus so much. They were also Mr. G’s favorite!
THIRSTIES SNAP NATURAL ALL IN ONE – Most all in ones are made with synthetic microfiber, which isn’t my personal favorite. But the Thirsties Natural is made from cotton, hemp, and bamboo. Super absorbant, but washes like a dream.
ALL IN TWO
Another user-friendly option is All in Two diapers. Pretty much exactly the same as the all-in-one, but the liner and inner are separate. They are slightly more affordable than AOI, as you can use multiple inners before needing to change the waterproof outer. Unless the liner gets dirty with poop, you can just change the inner liner. I usually use two to three outers in a day, with multiple changes. This is my favorite type of diaper!
MY FAVORITE ALL IN TWOS
ESSEMBLY BABY – If I could do my stash over completely, I would just start with these and not buy another diaper. They were new to me this time around, so I was hesitant to make my stash all one thing that I had never tried. But they are far and away my favorite diaper. They are the first ones I use when the laundry is clean, and as soon as Bash grows out of size one, I will be buying an entire stash of the size two. Their website also makes creating your stash super easy and stress-free. They have a super convenient quiz that will tell you exactly how many diapers you need!
GROVIA SHELLS/HYBRID – Can you tell I love Grovia? Not only do I love the functionality, but they are one of the trimmer diapers on the market, and aren’t too bulky, even on skinny baby legs. Grovia hybrids are SO easy to use. The liners snap on to stay in place and come in both microfiber and cotton.
PREFOLD AND FLATS
This was one of my favorite ways to diaper with Marcus. Prefolds are super affordable, almost always 100% cotton, and totally customizable. You can go for sized prefolds, or just start with a standard size and never need to change! You use these in combination with waterproof liners, like these. If you want to cloth diaper on a budget, this is the way to go.
I will say, these are the most intimidating of the cloth diaper options. They have a pretty steep learning curve, as you need to learn to fold them in a way that works for you. There are a million ways to fold them to maximize absorbency for your particular baby. You need accessories, like pins or Snappis to close them. Another downside is they can be a little bit bulky, especially on smaller babies.
I love to shop for my prefolds at Green Mountain Diapers. They have the best customer service and so much information on their website for anyone starting out.
HOW MANY DIAPERS DO YOU NEED?
First, let’s talk about how many diapers you are going to need. Typically speaking, the average baby uses 2,500 diapers until the time they potty train. And all of those diapers end up in a landfill. That is a heck of a lot of waste and the main reason I choose to cloth diaper personally. With cloth diapers, you can get away with about 24 diapers TOTAL if you want to do the bare minimum.
If you go for a one-size diaper, usually made for babies from eight to 35 pounds, you can get away with 24 diapers and never need another one. Twenty-four diapers allow you to wash every other day in the early days, and every third day as your baby gets bigger and sleeps through the night. If you want to add an extra day in between washing, grab an extra six to eight diapers.
For covers, you want to have about three per day of washing. Usually 6-8 covers for 24-30 diapers is a good place to start. Be warned, covers are a little addictive, especially because of how cute they are on little bums!
Next up in the series, we will talk all about accessories, products, and the extras you will want to have to make your cloth journey easy and care free. Head to my Instagram highlights to see even more details.
Ellen Rackley says
OMG Thank you sooo much for this series. I’m very interested in cloth diapering for my little one due in December but trying to figure out what works and where to go for good options feels overwhelming. This is a great starting point!!