Late in my pregnancy, Dan and I started discussing cloth diapering. We both liked the idea, but didn’t know where to start. I went to the blogosphere and spent hours reading “Cloth 101” posts. I practically got a degree in the subject from YouTube University. By the time I needed help crawling out of bed, I felt decently prepared to fold, wash, pin, and spray my way through fluff heaven. I had only one question: “What EXACTLY do I need to buy?!”
No matter how long and hard I searched, I couldn’t find a simple shopping list. There is, of course, an explanation for this. You see, each family is different and has its own specific needs. Your unique situation will pose unique challenges, to which there will be unique solutions. So how could there be a single, perfect shopping list that works for everyone? Answer: There can’t be, and isn’t.
What I am attempting to do is define some typical situations, then offer some suggestions for how to fit cloth diapering into them. As I completed the draft, I realized that it was way too long for a single post. I’ve decided to break it into a series. Each post will begin with this introduction and the basics for any fluff momma, then follow with a more specific type of family in mind. I’ll post a new entry each day until I’m out of ideas. Let me know if I miss something, I’d be happy to address it!
You can review yesterday's conversation about nighttime leaks here. We've also talked about reluctant caregivers. You can read about it here. The day before that we addressed newborns. Read it here.
The (Basic) Situation:
You’ve decided to cloth diaper. Congrats, Momma! You’re going to have so much fun!
The Challenges:
Cover the basics that any fluff momma will need.
The Solution:
You’ll need a container to store dirty diapers until wash day, some waterproof bags for on-the-go changes, and some good detergent. You may also want to have some dryer balls, some cloth diaper-safe rash cream, some cloth wipes, and a small spray bottle for wipes solution.
Try a laundry basket for your dirty diapers, as the airflow will prevent stink. If you’d rather go with a closed system, you’ll need a couple of large wet bags to line the pail. Two smaller wet bags will fit in the diaper bag for outings.
Don’t waste your money on “cloth safe” detergents. Whatever you use on your clothes is probably fine, unless it has fabric softener in it. Fabric softener and dryer sheets are big no-nos for fluff, because they make your diapers repellent. Most commercial diaper rash creams will do the same. Wool dryer balls can replace your fabric softener, and there are some lovely cloth-safe creams on the market.
As long as you’re doing diaper laundry, you may as well use cloth wipes as well. Purchase enough to get you from wash day to wash day, and get a small spray bottle to wet them with. No need to buy special solution, as there are many recipes on Pinterest, or you can just use plain water.
The Shopping List:
- A tall laundry basket or diaper pail
- 2 large wetbags (if you choose a pail)
- 2 small wetbags
- A detergent without fabric softener
- At least 2 wool dryer balls
- A cloth safe diaper cream
- 30 cloth wipes or cheap baby washcloths
- A small spray bottle
The Situation:
You’re a green momma! You want to do fluff with as little environmental impact as possible. All-natural? All the better!
The Challenges:
- You wish to use as little water and energy as possible.
- You don’t love PUL or fleece because they are petroleum by-products.
The Solution:
If you’re a green momma, you’re about to give your heart to flats and wool covers. I know, I know. I’ve been beating the flats drum for three posts. I’m gonna keep at it, too, until I bring you around!
Diapers can be murder to wash and dry. It takes a ton of water to rinse waste out of all those layers, another ton to wash with detergent, and then still more to rinse away the soap. If you use diapers with PUL backing the water can only get at the fabric from one side, making efficient cleaning well-nigh impossible. What’s worse, diaper fabric is designed to be absorbent, so you can skyrocket your energy bill trying to dry all that bulk.
Flats eliminate the bulk and the layers. Water can swish and flow right through them and back again, getting them squeaky clean without depleting the oceans. They even wash well an HE washer. It takes no time at all to run a dry cycle, but even better, you can hang them in the sun on a warm day and find them dry in an hour (the bonus to this is that the sun erases stains, too!). Buy 24-40 of them in organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, or a combination thereof, or upcycle some swaddle or receiving blankets. Double them up for extra absorbency when needed. Don’t forget your trusty Snappis for diaper bag and changing table!
Using a wool cover is the only all-natural way of waterproofing your diapers. It does have to be lanolized and hand-washed, but not very often. When well-lanolized, wool is antimicrobial, so you can leave it to air dry, then put it right back on the baby. It will only need to be washed every couple of weeks (unless it’s poopy) and lanolized every month or so (unless you’re having some leaking). All this means you’ll be saving wash water and diapering with all-natural materials, all at the same time. Good job, Green Momma! You’ll want to have 4-5 wool covers so that you can be drying 2 and rotating 2 at any given time.
The Shopping List:
- 24-40 organic flats
- 2 Snappis
- 4-5 wool covers (choose regular covers with aplix or snaps, shorties, or longies, depending on your preference and the season)
- 1 tube lanolin
- 1 container organic or all-natural baby or wool wash
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