Interested in getting started with cloth diapers? Here is what you need to know!
Hey there! Have you thought about using cloth diapers for your babe? When I got pregnant with Ryder I had asked a few momma friends about cloth diapering and if they liked it. They all said “YES!” that they loved it. I used disposable diapers with my first two kiddos so I really had no idea what to expect or even how to get started with cloth.
I decided to just buy a few diapers and jump right in after little man was born. I also was sent a gift package of diapers from BambinoMio to try as well. (More on them in a little bit.)
A few reasons that we decided to try out cloth diapers this time around are:
- The cost savings – over the course of a baby’s diapering years so much money is spent on disposable diapers. Every time you buy a package it’s at least $7 for a small pack. That may last a week? So 7 times 4 is $28 – for one week! The average cost of a cloth diaper is $15-20 and it can be used over and over again. You do have the added cost of using the washer to clean them but it’s hard to break down the cost since you can toss them in with other clothes.
- Better for baby – Most diapers are made of plastic and a gel like substance to absorb the water. I’ve had the gel come off onto my babies before and it always worries me. Using absorbent cloth material is softer and safer for baby. Plus, the cloth diaper gives them a big ole “fluffy butt” that is oh so cute!
- Better for the environment – I’m not sure exact numbers but it takes many many years for a disposable diaper to break down in a landfill. Its plastic after all! By switching to something re-useable we are saving landfill space and helping Mother Nature a bit.
- Re-useable – Yup, I’ve mentioned this one already but cloth diapers are also re-useable between babies. Once your little one grows out of them or doesn’t need them anymore, you can wash and save them for another babe. Or give them to friends and family who may be interested in cloth diapering. This just furthers the savings of your original cloth diaper purchase.
Like I mentioned – we didn’t use cloth at all for the first two. The thought didn’t even cross my mind! You just bought boxes (and boxes) of diapers and lived with it. When I found out I was pregnant with Ryder I knew I wanted to give cloth diapers a chance – and I’m so glad I did! Here is what you should know if you are looking to start cloth:
- Don’t worry about the poo! That was my first question – where does the poo go?! With disposables you ball it up all together and toss it and you can’t do that with cloth. But don’t worry! Its super easy to handle the poo. The first few months the baby’s poos are small and grainy, especially if you are breastfeeding. (This after the initial tar like poo from the first few days out of the womb.) You can take those and toss them right in the washer! I had to check with cloth diapering friends when they first told me that but they all said it’s ok. I still wipe out as much as I can before tossing them in the wash. When the poo starts to become more formed then you can just plop it in the toilet. It becomes easier when they are eating solids. Don’t let the fear of the poo hold you back from trying cloth! You can also buy a sprayer to help remove solids.
- You don’t have to start right away. I thought that the second Ryder was born he should be in cloth diapers. Well, that would be great but he had a tiny hiney and even though the Bambino Mio diapers we were using were adjustable, they were still too small! Have a stash of newborn disposable diapers on hand in case this is your situation too.
- You don’t have to go all out. I would love to cloth diaper all day everyday but the reality is we can’t. I don’t use cloth when I know we are running errands or when he has loose poo from eating certain foods. Even using ONE cloth diaper a day at home helps with cost and environmental savings.
- Washing is easy. WAY easy. I just toss the pee diapers right in with wash, most of the time with towels. Make sure to use a gentle laundry soap (I LOVE my homemade version for diaper days!) and use the hottest setting. You can tumble dry on low or hang them out to dry in your house or outside. If your diapers start to have an ammonia smell from the pee or build up from detergent you can either boil them on the stove in a large pot or soak them in vinegar before washing.
- Get a wet bag/pail. To make life SO MUCH easier while cloth diapering have either a special wet bag or pail to put soiled diapers. That way you can take them directly from there and put them in the wash without having to handle them again.
- Stuff your fluff. Another tip that will help make cloth life a little easier is to stuff your diapers before you plan to use them. I know I have just grabbed a disposable because none of my cloth diapers were ready to go. It takes a few minutes to add the inserts and have them ready to go for the next diaper change.
- Use the snaps. All those snaps on the front of the cloth diaper? They are for adjusting them to fit your babe JUST RIGHT. It took me awhile to figure that little tidbit out but when I did – oh man! I am a snap using fool. It makes the diapers snug against baby and help prevent any leakage. They are only on certain cloth diapers so check for them before you buy. They also allow the diaper to grow with the baby and can be used longer.
Lastly, you want to pick a QUALITY cloth diaper that will last! I had bough some other diapers before I was approached by Bambino Mio to do a review of their miosolo all-in-one-diapers. I was happy that I had the other cloth diapers because I knew I wanted to have a big stash of them when Ryder arrived. When I received the miosolos in the mail I was like a kid on Christmas. I ripped open the package and ohhh’ed and ahhh’ed at the cute patterns! (Seen above.)
Then I noticed the quality of the diaper. It has a thick inner liner that helps absorb pee away from little bums. The outer liner is made of super durable material that has withstood many washings already. (The color hasn’t faded at all either!) The snaps on the front are perfect for little bums as well. Ryder was able to start using the miosolo diapers when he turned 3 months! He still has a funny fit with the other diapers that we have in our stash.
I also love the miofresh diaper wash. It has taken the funk out of diapers that I have let sit for a few days. (Which is NOT recommended but it happens.) They also offer extra liners so that baby can wear the same diaper longer.
You could say that I am smitten with Bambino Mio and cloth diapering! Thank you to Bambino Mio for providing us with a few cloth diapers to review! This post also contains affiliate links to products I recommend for cloth diapering purposes!
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