Cloth Diaper ABCs: Tips for starting your cloth diaper stash.

Are you a first-time family interested in cloth-diapering? A second/third/fourth time family interested in starting cloth diapering to enjoy the cost savings? Or are you just plain tired of diaper rash caused by disposables? We're here to help!

In this post, we break down the building blocks for an efficient cloth diaper stash.

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PREFOLDS
Required Supplies:
24-36 prefolds
4-6 diaper covers
Optional Supplies:
2 Snappis (or a package of diaper pins)
Note: You may not need Snappis or diaper pins if you’re using diaper wraps (either hook and loop or snaps). The wrap/cover will keep the prefold secure and will also help keep baby poo where it belongs!

FITTED DIAPERS
Required Supplies:
24+ fitted diapers
3-4 diaper covers
Note: When using fitted diapers, you don’t need as many diaper covers since fitteds hold in messes better than prefolds. Consider it double the blow-out protection!

NEW! CONTOUR DIAPERS
Required Supplies:
24+ contour diapers
3-5 diaper covers
Optional Supplies:
2 Snappis (or a package of diaper pins)
Note: While these may not be “new” in the true sense of the word, they are becoming increasingly popular and more widely available. Contour diapers eliminate the need to learn how to fold prefolds, but are trimmer than fitteds because they don’t have any fasteners. Just like with prefolds, you may not need to use Snappis or diaper pins because the diaper cover keeps everything nice and snug.

POCKETS and ALL-IN-ONES (AIOs)
Required Supplies:
20+ AIOs or pockets with inserts
Note: Most pocket diapers include inserts. Alternatively, you can use prefolds, but they are bulkier than inserts.

NEW! ALL-IN-TWOS (AI2s) and OTHER HYBRIDS
Required Supplies:
4-6 shells
24+ inserts
Note: Again, these may not be “new” in the true sense of the word, but there are more AI2/Hybrid options out there than even a few months ago! The term “Hybrid” simply means the diaper is a hybrid of pocket/AIO convenience and prefold/fitted/contour flexibility.

OTHER REQUIRED SUPPLIES
Doublers. These are usually thinner than an insert and allow you to customize the absorbency of your diapers. These are very handy for overnight and naptime. Material options are microfiber, cotton, cotton/poly blend, cotton/hemp blend, cotton/microfiber blend…the list goes on and on! You will need these for nighttime/naptime or if you have a heavy daytime wetter.

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OPTIONAL SUPPLIES
When we say optional, we really mean it. You can successfully use ANY cloth diaper system without buying any of the items mentioned below.

Biodegradable liners. There are a few options for biodegradable liners. Place one of these on top of your prefold/pocket/AIO and it will “catch” the poo, making clean-up a bit easier. We suggest using these for babies on solids rather than breastfed or formula-fed babies due to the consistency of the latter. In addition, breastfed baby poo is water-soluble and does not require a rinse or shake-off before placing in your diaper pail or wet bag.
Fleece liners. These will work in a similar fashion as biodegradable liners except they are reusable and washable. You can purchase these or you can cut up an unwanted fleece blanket or purchase some fleece from a fabric store. This will make poo clean-up easier for babies on solid foods and will act as a stay-dry liner for babies sensitive to wetness. It can also save your pockets/AIOs if your baby has a diaper rash by keeping the rash cream away from the suede cloth.
Disposable (and biodegradable!) inserts. These are GREAT for travel – simply pull apart and flush or just throw away. Lay one of these inserts in any diaper cover as you would a prefold and you’re ready to go. No need to buy a special system to use these. Most are compatible with ANY diaper cover.

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We know starting a cloth diaper stash is daunting, overwhelming, and quite possibly, confusing. If you are unsure of what to buy or nervous about spending money on a system that won't work, consider buying one of the many diaper packages available from cloth diaper retailers. Some retailers even let you pick which diapers you want in the package. Alternatively, you can purchase gently used diapers or exercise Nicki's Diapers' 15 day wash and return policy. Purchasing gently used will cut down costs, while the 15 day wash and return policy will help you feel secure with your purchase. If you don't like it, simply send it back!

As always, if you have any questions, please contact us at naturalbabybulletin (at) gmail (dot) com.

Next Up: Nighttime Cloth Diapering

Cloth Diaper ABCs

Not too long ago, we were on a quest to find a cloth diaper system that would work for our budding family. After hours and hours of research, our heads still felt cloudy with the overwhelming amount of information, variety of cloth diapers, and all the lingo. Had we not been determined to try cloth diapering, we may have gone the way of ...eek!... disposables.

In an effort to eliminate that cloudy feeling for families new to cloth diapering, we’re going to break it all the way down to the basics for you. We’ll get into the nitty gritty details later.

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THE ABCs of CLOTH DIAPERING:

Regardless of which system you choose, the ABCs will always apply.

A is for … Approved detergent. This is VERY, VERY, VERY important. If you use a detergent with optical brighteners, surfactants, or fragrances, you run the risk of “clogging” your diapers, irritating your baby’s delicate skin, and voiding any manufacturer warranties on your diapers. We prefer Charlie’s Soap, but there are several other cloth diaper-friendly detergents, such as Rockin’ Green and Country Save. It can be difficult to find an appropriate detergent at your local Big Box Store; however, there are some online retailers that will ship detergent for free.*

B is for … Bags. As in wet bags! You will need a pail liner or a hanging wet bag for storing all the dirty diapers until laundry day and a medium-sized wet bag for your diaper bag.

C is for … Confidence. While you can’t purchase Confidence online or in a store, you need to have confidence that cloth diapering will work for you. No, cloth diapering isn’t as easy as disposables. If it was, Pampers, Luvs, and Huggies would never have made it big. However, once you have learned HOW to cloth diaper, you will wonder why it isn’t more popular. As first-time parents, we can honestly say that cloth diapering becomes very easy in a short period of time. On top of that, you will LOVE feeling that nice, fat wallet in your purse/diaper bag/back pocket when walking past the isle of ‘sposies at the Big Box Store.

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Optional Supplies...

• 24+ cloth wipes. If you so desire, these are super easy to make! Cut out 8”x8” squares of an old flannel sheet, t-shirt, etc. and sew two squares together. You don’t even need to worry about turning and topstitching. Simple!
• Cloth wipe solution. A variety of all-natural wipes solution recipes can be found here. Instead of a solution, we just use a small spray bottle filled with water.
• Wool dryer balls. These will speed up drying time, making cloth diapering more energy efficient and environmentally-friendly! Etsy has a great selection.

That's all for now. If you have any questions, please shoot us an email: naturalbabybulletin (at) gmail (dot) com. Or, better yet, follow us on Twitter!

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