When I was pregnant with my first daughter, cloth diapering couldn’t have been further from my mind. I didn’t even consider it as a possibility. When my well meaning cousin offered me her stash of cloth diapers, I scoffed! I didn’t know the first thing about how to use cloth diapers. I sure didn’t know the gold mine that I was turning down!
Six years later, when I was pregnant with my twins, things were different. For one, cloth diapering has gained popularity in the past several years, so I had heard a lot more about it. For another, I was having twins! I was very aware of how much money it was going to cost to buy diapers for two newborns. With twins on the way, I was looking for all the ways to save money, and learning how to use cloth diapers seemed like a good idea. And since I also care about the environment, the idea of using cloth diapers for my twins made me feel good too.
So, I endeavored to take on this task, and quickly taught myself as much as I could about how to use cloth diapers. By the time my twins came, I was all set and ready to go. Read on for everything you need to know if you are considering cloth diapering for your baby!
Disclaimer – some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click one of these and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. I only recommend products I have actually used and would recommend to my friends and family!
Types of Cloth Diapers
When I first started researching cloth diapering, I was amazed at all the different options out there. Some of it is definitely a matter of preference, and I suggest getting a few of each kind if you are brand new to this. You can always buy more once you determine the type of cloth diapers that suit you best. It’s fun to mix and match and have several options to choose from!
Flat Cloth Diapers
These are the original cloth diapers. Just a big piece of fabric that you can fold into an absorbent diaper. These are the most economical option, since you can use them from birth until your baby is out of diapers. They require a waterproof diaper cover over them. The cover can be reused a few times before you need to wash it.
I will admit I never tried this option. Since prefold cloth diapers are popular and economical (and easier to fold) I just didn’t see the need to use these. They do make the best burp cloths though (for a fraction of the price) so I bought several for that purpose!
Prefold Cloth Diapers
These are squares of material, usually very absorbent cotton or bamboo. They are thicker in the middle, and are designed to be easy to fold. They are not waterproof, so you will need to combine them with a waterproof diaper cover.
These are definitely the most economical option other than flat cloth diapers. You don’t need to buy as many diaper covers as you do prefolds, since you can reuse the diaper cover a few times before it needs to be washed.
Simply fold the diaper in thirds and lay it inside the diaper cover (more on this later) then secure on your baby. Once your baby soils the diaper, remove the prefold and place another inside the same cover.
My favorites were by Imagine Baby Products
Fitted Cloth Diapers
These types of cloth diapers are basically a very absorbent diaper that fits just like a diaper cover, but you then have to place a diaper cover over them. They are great because the entire diaper is absorbent, so they really are great for preventing leaks, such as overnight. However, they are probably also the bulkiest option, since a diaper cover must still be placed over the fitted diaper.
No folding is involved with these cloth diapers, so they are simple to use. And since, just like with prefolds, you can reuse the cover several times, they are still an economical choice.
Pockets
Admittedly, this is the one popular type of cloth diapering option that I did not try. Basically, this is similar to an all in one, except there is a pocket that you slide an insert into. Since the entire diaper needs to be changed each time, I didn’t see the point in purchasing these, and instead opted for more all in ones. However, for those that are interested, this is one of the options.
All in Twos
This option is very similar to having a fitted diaper with a diaper cover. No folding required, and the covers can be reused a few times before needing to be washed. Generally, you must buy these together, as they may not be interchangeable between brands.
All In Ones
The easiest but also most expensive option. When learning how to use cloth diapers, these are a no brainer. This is the only type I could convince my in-laws or my husband to use. Some come with an additional insert that can be snapped in for extra absorbency.
Even though they are more expensive, I suggest getting at least a few of these types of cloth diapers. They are no more difficult to use than a disposable diaper, and there are going to be times that you just don’t feel like fiddling with the other types of diapers. If money wasn’t a factor, I would have just gotten a bunch of these!
How to Use Cloth Diapers – How Many Cloth Diapers Do You Need?
Most cloth diapers (except for the prefolds) come in one size. There are usually many options for sizing with different snaps or velco, so they can grow with your baby. There are newborn cloth diapers that you can consider as well. I would only suggest these if you have reason to believe your newborn will be on the small side.
If you want to get the most use and savings out of your cloth diapers, it doesn’t make sense to have too many newborn sized diapers, even though newborns go through more diapers than older babies. Many parents opt for disposable diapers for the newborn stage and switch to cloth as their babies get bigger. Of course the choice is yours, and if you decide to get a full set of newborn cloth diapers, there are many options available. This is part of the fun of learning how to use cloth diapers!
Prefolds do come in extra small, so you could get a set of these and a couple of newborn sized diaper covers. If your babies are really tiny, they make some all in ones that aren’t too bulky. I had a few of these “little Joeys” for my twins:
How many diapers you choose to get will depend on several factors. Newborns use an average of 10 diapers a day, and older babies use around 8. Toddlers use less, but most people will start cloth diapering before the toddler stage.
You will want to wash your cloth diapers every 2 to 3 days. So anywhere between 16 and 30 diapers would be appropriate, depending on the age of your baby and how often you plan to wash your diapers.
Remember, you don’t necessarily need to go out and buy 30 all in one cloth diapers. If your goal is to save money, you can get 20 prefolds and 5 diaper covers. Keep in mind that prefolds come in more than just one size, so you will need to size up as your baby grows. The cover, however, should come in one adjustable size. Even newborn diaper covers tend to be quite large. They should last you several months even if you have to size up on the prefolds.
How to Care for Cloth Diapers
When learning how to use cloth diapers, one thing you will find is there is quite a bit of special care involved. Make sure you read and hold on to the care instructions that come with your cloth diapers. These really are important!
With many cloth diapers, you will need to prep them before use. This process helps to make them absorbent. If you skip this step, your cloth diapers will not work properly. In most cases this will involve washing and drying them several times before you use them. Cotton and bamboo diapers will need this pre washing and should come with instructions on how to do this. Micro fiber diapers won’t require this step.
Once you start using your cloth diapers, you will want to make sure to wash them every two to three days. If you leave them any longer than that, they will be harder to get clean and also might develop mold. Make sure to store them in a wet bag or some other container that has air flow. Some people keep this bag on their back porch or somewhere out of the way to help with the smell. I kept mine under a cabinet in the laundry room, in a container that was open on the sides and it worked well.
If your baby is exclusively breastfed, you won’t need to worry about rinsing the baby poop off first (unless you want to). Breastfed babies’ poop is water soluble and will rinse away in the wash. If your baby has formula or has started on solids, you will need to rinse the poop off the diapers first.
This is what I used to rinse the diapers. It attaches to the back of your toilet and has a lot of pressure to really clean the diapers. I suggest getting the shield as well so that you don’t have baby poop splattered all over your bathroom!
How to Use Cloth Diapers – Washing
Washing cloth diapers can be a challenge to get just right. They need a lot of water to get them clean. If you have a front loading washer, you will need to make sure it is set to the highest water setting it has. You might also want to throw a soaking wet towel in the wash to trick the machine into thinking it’s a heavier load.
If your washer is top loading, just make sure to have it on the largest load setting so that the most water is used.
I suggest doing a rinse first (without the spin) to get them really wet and rinsed before washing. Then do a wash cycle with hot water (but not sanitary hot). Check with the diaper manufacturer on this to be sure. Using water that is too hot can ruin your diapers.
If you have hard water or well water, you may need to use an additive, such as Calgon, to get your diapers clean. They need to get really sudsy, which is often difficult to achieve with hard water.
Don’t use fabric softener, as this will create a film on your diapers and make them less absorbent.
Drying cloth diapers can take some time, especially with bamboo. Adding a dry towel can help them to dry faster. Some cloth diapers, such as the covers, should be line dried. Again, make sure to read the care instructions that come with your diapers.
Stripping Your Cloth Diapers
One thing I wasn’t expecting when I was first learning how to use cloth diapers, was the smell that can build up over time. After a few weeks of regular use, I started to notice a strong ammonia smell, especially when the diapers were soiled. If this happens to you, this is a sign that your diapers need to be stripped.
Even if your diapers don’t smell, you may notice over time that they aren’t as absorbent as they once were. This is also a sign that you need to strip your diapers. Detergents and oils build up over time and need to be stripped.
There are many methods and advice out there. Vinegar is an option, but not the best if you have hard water like me. You can also use a water softener such as Calgon, or a specially designed diaper stripping product. Bleach may be used as a last resort, but isn’t so good for the longevity of your diapers.
First though, just try stripping your diapers with hot water. This is the one time you might want to crank up the heat on your water heater, or use your machine’s sanitize cycle. You will want to do several washes with just hot water and no detergent. Keep rinsing your diapers with as much water as possible until you don’t see any soap suds and they don’t smell.
If you have stains on your white prefolds or flats that you want to bleach out, letting them sit outside in the sun is a great option.
How to Fold a Pre-fold Cloth Diaper
Using most of the other types of cloth diapers are pretty simple to get the hang of. The prefolds are simple as well, but require a bit of practice. You can also buy the flat cloth diapers and fold those if you really want to. I didn’t try that at all so I have no idea how easy or hard it is. I really liked the prefolds.
Pre-fold cotton diapers come in a square of fabric that is thicker down the middle. It should be divided into three equal parts. The simplest way to fold these diapers is to hold it so the three sections are vertical and then fold the outer two rectangles into the middle, so you just have one thick rectangle of fabric.
For a girl, you might want to fold it the other way, holding it so the lines run horizontally. This makes it thicker in the middle where a girl wets her diaper more. For a boy, you can fold the front of the pre-fold down after you fold it in thirds, so there is a little extra fabric there.
For newborns, this is really all you need to do. Just put this in a diaper cover and on your baby. Since newborns don’t move around much, there is no need to fasten the prefold.
Once your baby gets bigger, you might want to fasten the diaper with either a snappy diaper fastener or traditional diaper pins. To do this, simply widen the back a bit so that you can fold the flaps of fabric over the front and fasten the diaper. You can make it more of a triangle if that makes it easier to fold. There are many different types of folds if you are interested, but it’s really not that complicated.
Final Thoughts on Cloth Diapering
So after learning all about how to use cloth diapers so I could use them with my twins, how was my experience?
I will be honest, everything is harder with twins! I had my whole stash bought prepped and ready to use before they came home from the hospital. Life with newborn twins was crazy though, and it wasn’t always easy to keep up with cloth diapering. We didn’t use them at night, and it was hard to get my husband completely on board with it.
Still, the cost savings made it worth the extra work. Other than the disposable diapers we received as gifts, we didn’t need to purchase disposable diapers for several months. Getting them on and off was simple, and washing them wasn’t that much of a chore, although I do tend to enjoy doing laundry.
For me, the hardest part was getting them clean and getting rid of the smell. If you have hard water, you may have a more difficult time with this. Also, I think a top loading washer would have done a better job. In all honesty, I think a top loading washer is a better choice for washing ANYTHING!
Hopefully this helped you to learn the basics of how to use cloth diapers!
