Natural Birth and Baby Care.com

Late Start at Cloth Diapering

Hi Kristen,

I have recently become interested in cloth diapering. My second baby is almost 6 months old and I have never used cloth diapers. I actually just did a search online for diaper services in my area and was surprised to see so many.

Where do I begin? This is totally foreign to me as I don't personally know anyone who has done this (unless you count my MIL who cloth diapered my husband!)

It's not too late to start, is it? I think I was inspired somewhat while potty training my son, and I am using cloth training pants with him (instead of disposable ones- I absolutely refuse to waste my money on them!) Can you please help?

Answer:

Yes, you can start using cloth diapers! I actually know quite a few people who have made the switch to cloth with toddlers and older infants, so it's not unusual at all.

I personally prefer cloth diapers (well, I like EC'ing the best... but as far as diapers go, I like cloth!)

There really are a lot of choices and it can be overwhelming. It doesn't matter who you ask, everybody has a different opinion on which diapers and what system they like best.

My personal preference is for prefold diapers with a cover. Prefolds are "old fashioned" diapers - they're just a rectangle that you lay out and fold to fit your baby. I think they're easy to use and they work well. They're very absorbent. You do need to use a cover with them. You can get a lightweight cover such as a Bummies cover or Thirsties covers. These have a waterproof lining. Wool covers are also available if you want all natural fibers on your babe.

Do be sure if you try prefolds that you get "diaper service quality" (sometimes called Chinese prefolds). These are different than the "cloth diapers" you find in most stores by Gerber... those aren't good quality.

If you want to look into prefolds, check out the Cloth Diaper Handbook. I have a hard copy of it, but I think she only sells it as an ebook now. Regardless, it's a great book. She covers ALL diapering options and has a great full-color photo index of different folds. It really helped me :)

You may also be able to find picture tutorials for folding online (and check videos on Youtube) - I just haven't looked!


I recommend Snappies if you use prefolds - they work great and no pins!

If you don't want to worry about folding, you have a couple of other options. You can get fitted diapers, which are shaped to fit your baby. They still usually need a cover. They often snap on.

Then you can get all-in-ones or pocket diapers. I like these diapers for two reasons - overnight and going out and about (especially for longer times). They work pretty much like a disposable (the pockets have an absorbent insert that you can stuff in before you go out.)

They're easy to put on and to take off and put into a wet-bag. That makes them really nice for when you're on the go. They often come in really cute prints, too!

My favorite all-in-one / pocket is the BumGenius. I like them because of the stretchy sides that contour to the baby - and they're pretty absorbent.

I think when it comes to diapers, you should do what works best for you. There are a lot of options, but most companies will let you get a sample diaper to try out before you invest. You can get a dozen prefolds for around $30 and a cover for around $10 to try that out.

I feel like I can't be too helpful because I can just share general information and my experience, lol! But there are so many opinions.

On top of all the different companies that make diapers, you can find a lot done by Work-at-Home-Moms, and it's always nice to support other moms.

And diaper services are another option. Often they'll use prefolds. They make things nice because they do your washing for you ;)

Often it comes down to reading some reviews or browsing some ads and seeing what looks appealing to you, then giving a type of diaper a try. Having some prefolds on hand is almost always handy, so you can start with that and try some All-in-Ones or pocket diapers if you'd like to.

Good luck with the adventures of cloth diapering! Let me know if I can help with anything else, or if you have questions about a specific type of diaper.