5 Things To Consider Before Committing To Cloth Diapers.

Cloth diapers ya’ll! I still love them (maybe even more) than when I started and that is the truth.

When I started Cloth Diapering, I didn’t know much but I learned along the way. Here are 5 things to consider if you are thinking about doing cloth diapers.

• Will you buy brand new or pre-loved? There are pros and cons to either. If you buy brand new, the cost is more up front. That is ok if you are committed to the process. I’ve seen many bundles on FB Marketplace where a mama found out cloth diapers were not for her. You won’t get back what you spent up front, if you decide cloth is not for you. Pre-loved diapers are a great way to try things out without spending a ton of money. You can try various styles and brands to figure out what you like. Elastics and velcro tend to need replacing on pre-loved diapers and you typically won’t know the condition they are in until you see them in person.
• Will you cloth diaper from the day you bring baby home? Remember that newborns typically go through 8-12 diapers a day. This slows down as baby gets older. You will typically wash every 2-3 days. Some choose to wash diapers every day. I personally do not have the time or energy to wash diapers that often. We also share our laundry room with the tenants below us so I try to be as efficient as possible. I’m not perfect but I don’t want to be taking up the machines every day. I now own a large enough stash to put both boys in cloth, that I wash twice a week. Make sure you do your math and have enough diapers, depending how often you wash.
• Will you use cloth 100% of the time? Doing a combination of cloth and disposable can work really well. I always knew I would be doing disposable at night but early into cloth diapering with my first son, my husband suggested disposables on the weekends as well. It’s a nice break and gives me a chance to wash, dry, sort and fold everything in time for the start of a new week.

• Do you have the right setup? If you don’t have access to a washer and dryer where you live, that can be complicated. I’m sure you can make it work if you are seriously committed but something to think about. You want to be able to choose how you wash/dry your diapers because it’s important for removing the nasties and making them last longer. You can check out how I store and access my diapers, here.
• Are You Flexible? What I mean by this, is are you willing to keep going even if it doesn’t feel like it’s something you want to do? Can you give it a good go? There are things about cloth diapers that make them an entirely different animal from disposable. They aren’t convenient in certain ways but if you have an understanding of this before going in, that can help you stick with it. Things like dampness, dealing with the yuckies and such. Just keep these things in mind as you venture forth.

So those are just some thoughts of my own that I’ve compiled in the last 14 months of using cloth diapers. I still love them and I’m going strong.

Do you cloth diaper? What have you found to work for you or not work for you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!