Pros and Cons of Cloth Diapering

Plus, Steps to Cloth Diapering

So, you’re having a baby, congratulations!  Among the seemingly endless questions and options you will encounter as a new parent is whether or not to use cloth diapers.  In my own experience with cloth diapering, I’ve discovered that there are many pros and cons to the option.  I’ll outline some of the pros and cons of cloth diapering here to hopefully help you make a more informed decision.

But remember, no matter what you decide, you aren’t stuck with that choice until baby is potty trained.  Besides, a change can be good. 😉

Here’s a super quick reference list of my pros and cons of cloth diapering:

Pros and cons of cloth diapering

PROS:

Save money “Does Cloth diapering save money?”

Less waste – diapers, plastic packaging, cardboard packaging vs. increased water use and laundry detergent

Less diaper rash

Reduced chemical exposure

Fun colors and patterns to choose from

Options on type/style: pocket with insert, pre-fold, all-in-one, snap, Velcro, etc

Use the same diapers pretty much from birth through potty training

CONS:

Takes more time (rinsing, washing, drying, stuffing, occasional stripping vs. tossing)

Need specific care to stay effective and sanitary

More prone to leak than disposable

More frequent trips to the changing table (but this means less time in a wet diaper…so this could also be a pro)

Upfront cost can be high

Travel ‘can’ be more tricky

Does Cloth diapering save money?

The short answer is, it depends.  But in almost all cases, the answer will be a resounding yes! Cloth diapering can save you SO much money.  In my case, my initial investment totaled around $185 (breakdown provided below).

how many cloth diapers will I need?

When I started cloth diapering my daughter at the age of 2 months, I purchased 30 brand new Kawaii Baby cloth diapers.  My logic was that she would likely use 10 diapers a day at first (closer to 6 or less as she got a bit older).  That meant when I was washing 2 days’ worth of dirty diapers, I should have enough to get me through that third day until my laundered diapers were clean and dry.  Yes, this approach meant I would be laundering diapers every other day.  There is so much extra laundry when a new baby hits the scene anyway, I really didn’t see this as a burden. 

Each diaper I purchased came with 2 microfiber inserts and I also purchased bamboo inserts (they are super absorbent and less bulky than the microfiber).  I ordered during a sale so my total investment on cloth diapers was approximately $135.

essentials for cloth diapering

OK, that covered the diapers, but I would need a few other things to make using the cloth diapers more feasible…like a wet bag.  A wet bag is where the diapers are stored until they are laundered.  I snagged a 2 pack on Amazon for about $20.  I recommend having 2 so you always have one in circulation while laundering the other (I laundered mine right with the diapers it held each time).

I also soon decided that a toilet sprayer was a must for when Spud (what we called my daughter before birth) started eating solids.  Again, I found one on Amazon with an extra long hose for about $30.  This was super easy to install, I did it myself to the amazement of my husband!

If you plan to use cloth diapers while away from home, you may also need a smaller wet bag for travel.  I used a hand-me-down from my sister but they can’t be more than just a few dollars.

how much do you save cloth diapering?

It will depend on a few factors specific to your experience.  Things like how many diapers you purchase, which brand of diapers you choose, how many times you change baby’s diaper each day, how often you do laundry, etc.  But for me, at a price of about $40 for a case of 164 diapers, my investment of $185 paid for itself in about 4-5 months.

Yes, I would spend more on laundry detergent and electricity to run my washing machine and well pump more often (drying is negligible because I almost exclusively line dried).  If you pay for water, that cost would go up some. 

but…

I saved in my trash bill.  We bought far fewer liners for our disposable diaper pale.  No packaging to dispose of each month (boxes and plastic wraps). 

So, I would say, after the initial investment, the cost of upkeep is canceled out by the savings from not having disposables to dispose of.  With that in mind, I’d venture to say you could save about $40 a month.  That can really add up!

how long do cloth diapers last?

That is another question highly dependent upon how you care for your diapers.  I am still using some of the diapers I purchased 3 years ago.  They haven’t had a rest.  Although, admittedly most of those could use new elastic (meaning they are more prone to leak if I’m not on top of changing baby frequently enough).  Honestly though, I didn’t notice any weakening in the elastic until I let down my guard a bit and started using the dryer a bit more often as opposed to line drying.  However, I think my sister almost exclusively tumble dried hers and they lasted through potty training and a bit into baby number 2.

It seems safe to say that if you care for your cloth diapers appropriately with the correct type of detergent and line dry as much as is possible, you initial stash should last you as long as your baby needs them.

cloth diapers are cuter

There is no doubt that a baby bum in a cloth diaper is just the cutest. My stash of cloth diapers were almost all simple, solid colors but they are oh so cute when baby is crawling or toddling around in them.  Try saying the same about a disposable diaper…especially after it’s been wet or dirtied.

cloth diapers provide options

While I only used pocket diapers with removeable absorbent inserts, that is certainly not the only option out there.  Think about your needs and decide from there if you want to kick it old school with pre-folds.  Maybe an all-in-one is more your speed.  All-in-one diapers have the inserts sewn in to the diaper covers. Inserts are generally available in microfiber, bamboo, and even hemp.  While I preferred the snap closures, some other mommas like the Velcro fasteners better.

Shop around and if you can’t decide, many companies will send samples at a reduced price so you can try them out.  You could also try buying pre-owned cloth diapers in a few varieties to more inexpensively get an idea of how they all work and which style is right for you.

is cloth diapering better for baby?

Assuming the cloth diapers are well maintained and baby is changed as frequently as needed, then generally yes, cloth diapering is likely better for baby. 

My babies that were cloth diapered experienced far fewer diaper rashes than my oldest who was exclusively disposable diapered.

If you’re concerned about the chemical load your baby is exposed to, this could be another point on the side of cloth diapering.  Especially if you use a clean detergent, the chemical exposure will be far less from a cloth diaper than a disposable diaper.

can cloth diapers hurt my baby?

It is really important to launder cloth diapers often (usually within 2-3 days of being soiled).  Equally as important is the detergent used for laundering.  Many commercial detergents will leave residue and essentially clog up the diapers’ absorbent layer leaving them less effective.

Another concerning factor is that some detergents may not actually get all of the mess out of the diaper.  In my early days, I was using a homemade laundry powder for my diapers.  They always looked great but over time they really started to smell like ammonia.  What’s worse, it got so bad that the diapers actually started to damage my daughter’s skin in what was essentially a chemical burn from the ammonia remaining in the diapers!

I soon switched to a cleaner detergent that was much better at actually removing all of the impurities in the diapers.  H20 at Home offers a Purifying Laundry Powder that I will stand by.  After stripping the diapers in their Oxypur, the purifying powder has kept my diapers looking, feeling, and smelling great for almost 2 years and counting.

Want to read more about H2O at Home? Check out my recent post about some of their most popular products.

steps to cloth diapering

The best part about cloth diapering when baby is exclusively breast fed, is that you don’t even need to spray out the poo (though it certainly doesn’t hurt to do so).

So how does cloth diapering work?  Here are the Basics of Cloth Diapering.

prepping and fitting cloth diapers

1. Select the style of cloth diaper you will use.  I have chosen to exclusively use the snap type of cloth diaper so that will be the perspective of where some of this may differ from other styles.
2. Adjust the length of the diaper cover to fit your baby snuggly.  The snaps that shorten the diaper will modify how snug it fits around baby’s thighs.  You don’t want it to be so tight that it is cutting off circulation but if it’s too loose, you could have problems with leaking.  I have generally been able to get away with making them less snug than “recommended” but still snug enough that my husband grumbles that they are too tight.
3. Slide the insert into the pocket and ensure it is laying flat inside for more even absorption. When baby is small, the insert may need to be folded on one end to fit.  It is recommended that the fold be in the front for boys and in the back for girls.  In my case, I thought my daughter looked super uncomfortable laying on her back with the fold in the back; so I put the fold in the front for her too.
4. Snap diaper closures to fit your baby’s belly snuggly.  Here again, it needs to be snug but not tight.

changing a wet cloth diaper

1. Unsnap the closure snaps, pull off of baby.
2. Remove the wet insert.
3. Place cover and insert in a wet bag until laundry day. (soiled diapers should be laundered every 2-3 days)
4. Ensure baby is dry before putting new dry diaper on.

changing a dirty cloth diaper

1. Make sure your wet wipe container is open and ready to grab.
2. Unsnap the closure snaps.
3. Using the front of the diaper, wipe as much of the solids toward the back of the diaper as possible before removing diaper.
4. Wipe the remainder of solids with wet wipes until baby is clean.
5. Ensure baby is dry before putting new dry diaper on.
6. Take soiled diaper and wet bag to bathroom.
7. Spray solids into toilet.
8. Remove insert.
9. Place cover and insert in a wet bag until laundry day.  (soiled diapers should be laundered every 2-3 days)

laundering cloth diapers

Every 2-3 days, you’ll need to launder your soiled cloth diapers.  Here’s how I do it.

1. Take soiled diapers in wet bag and dirty cloth wipes to the washing machine.
2. Put all in and run a rinse cycle.
3. Once rinse cycle is complete, turn machine on for regular fabrics and hot wash with cold rinse.
4. Add 30g – 60g of H2O at Home Purifying Laundry Powder (depending on size of load)
5. Add H2O at Home Laundry Ball
6. After washing machine is finished, line dry diapers as often as possible.  However, a few times a year, it can be beneficial to tumble at high heat for about 15 minutes to strengthen the integrity of the leak-proof barrier.

how to use cloth wipes

I was so hesitant to start using cloth wipes.  I just didn’t understand the mechanics of the actual process.  Then, one day in a group of moms, someone suggested using gallon jars.  That was the perfect solution for me!

1. Get two 1-gallon glass jars with lids. 
2. Label them as Clean and Dirty
3. Put clean damp clothes ready to use into the “Clean” jar.
4. Fill the “Dirty” jar about half full of clean water
5. Particularly with a dirty diaper, use the front of the diaper to wipe as much of the solids into the back of the diaper as possible.
6. Remove the diaper and wipe baby clean with a cloth wipe.  Since most of the solids are still in the diaper, the wipe can just be dropped into the “Dirty” jar when it’s soiled.
7. Wash every 2-3 days with soiled diapers.

It is really so easy; I wish I would have started sooner.  I have noticed my baby’s seem to have less diaper rash and less slimy heiney in the tub when using cloth wipes vs disposable wipes.

pros and cons of cloth diapering – quick conclusion

Cloth diapering is safe, effective, and has the potential to save you a LOT of money.  It can take a bit more time but depending on your lifestyle and priorities, it’s really very manageable.

My hope is that this guide provided you with the information you need to go forth confidently to begin using cloth diapers and cloth wipes.  No matter your own personal reason to try them, they can really be simple and beneficial.

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links in this post

Links in this post:

H2O at Home Purifying Laundry Powder: https://shop.h2oathome.com/purifying-laundry-powder

H2O at Home Oxypur: https://shop.h2oathome.com/oxypur