Cloth Diapering 101: The Beginner’s Guide to Cloth Diapering

Choosing cloth diapers over disposable ones will save plenty of money. Babies go through numerous diapers every single day! That adds up fast for the monthly household budget. Cloth diapers are also better for their skin and for the environment. Disposal diapers take up space in the landfills. They also allow the waste from them to get into the ground and into waterways.
Many parents are interested in using cloth diapers, but they aren’t sure where to start! This beginner’s guide to cloth diapers can get you pointed in the right direction. While you have an initial investment for the cloth diapers, after that you just wash them and reuse them.

Make sure you buy plenty of clothes so you don’t wash them before you have a full load. Doing so is a waste of water and electricity. Your goal with this route is to save money and resources. At the same time, it feels good knowing your actions help make it a better environment for your little one to group up in!

Explore the Options

The days of thin cloth covered with rubber are over! Today, cloth diapers are easy to use and they stay in place. They are gentle against the skin and they have fasteners. You don’t have to worry about dangerous pins. Little ones move fast when you try to diaper them, and it may worry you about sticking them on accident.

Today, cloth diapers are either plain or with cute designs. You can pick what you like the most. For some parents, it doesn’t matter but others like their little ones to look cute in those diapers. Any time you select cloth diapers, you also reduce the risk of skin sensitivity and allergies for your baby. As a parent, doing all you can to keep them healthy and content is a priority.

Types of Cloth Diapers

For your convenience, there are four types of cloth diapers. Each of them has its own perks. There is no right or wrong choice. You have to decide what you prefer to work with. You may discover changing the type as your baby gets older is important too. Especially when they are mobile and crawling around. Your options include:

• All in One – This is the most convenient type of cloth diaper to work with. It is all there for you, just take off the old one and put on this new one. Your baby will be dry and ready to go quickly. You don’t have to worry about coverings, inserts, or folding the cloth. They are great for busy parents as well as those that want as much convenience as possible. They secure in place with Velcro or snaps. They are the most expensive cloth diapers, but still less costly than disposables.
• Fitted – They are already shaped for you and you can quickly change the diaper without any hassles. They feature either snaps or Velcro to secure them in place. They fit the baby snuggly, and this helps prevent blowouts that are a huge mess to clean up. There is no need for a plastic covering over them as they are very absorbent.
• Pockets – This is a two piece, and the pocket is the outer piece. You place the absorbent cloth into the pocket before you place it on the baby. You can choose the thickness of the item you place in the pocket. Many parents go with a regular one during the day but heavy absorbent overnight.
• Pre-folds – There is an absorbent layer and then the protective outer layer. There is a large, flat piece of cloth that has pre-folds so you know exactly where to fold it before you put it on your baby. Some have snaps and others have Velcro to hold them in place. They are the most complicated type to work with though. It does take some time to master how to use them.