Behind us are the days of pins and rubber pants.
Between the snaps and snazzy prints, it’s hard to recognize Modern Cloth Diapers as the newest generation of those pants from the past.
Nowadays, Cloth Diapers are an easy, appealing & affordable alternative to disposable diapering!
(And they’re as simple & straightforward to slip on as a disposable.)
I know I’m not alone in finding them to be absolutely adorable!
(This post contains affiliate links.)
From solids to superheros, you can adorn your little one with almost any design your heart desires.
I first encountered Cloth Diapers when I was setting-up my Amazon Baby Registry.
***Side Note: I loved that through Amazon, you could add anything you would like from ANY WEBSITE, onto one easy to manage, Baby Registry and that the items could be shipped directly to the mom-to-be. That was especially convenient for me, because I live in Florida and my shower was held in Pennsylvania.***
As a first time mom, I had minimal experience with any sort of baby necessities, so I started by Googling the “most recommended natural baby products.”
On list after list, I came across Cloth Diapers.
So what was my next logical step? To read the reviews!
Mothers raved about the awesome & abundant advantages of Cloth Diapering.
I was slightly skeptical at first, but it was from what I read over and over again that I was sold!
I added a few different brands and multiple different sets of cloth diapers to my Amazon Registry to try.
(This is something I suggest! Cloth Diapers vary in cut / fit by brand. Depending on the size and shape of your baby, you will likely favor the fit of some brands over others.)
I selected a few styles and I crossed my fingers that we would receive some, if not all of them, at my Baby Shower.
(Spoiler: I received almost all of them! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!)
-We started Cloth Diapering our son when he was 12 weeks old.
I waited a little bit because I wanted to give myself an adequate amount of time to adjust to new motherhood and to make sure I knew exactly what to do and how to wash them before trying to transition.
(Pictured below, my Pitbull rescue Penny & my son in a Mama Koala Cloth Diaper.)
(Thank you Fluff Love and CD Science Facebook group for your free, one-on-one help via a peer advisor, and for creating a completely personalized diaper washing regimen for me! I am so grateful for your guidance!)
It worked out that at our shower we received the exact amount of disposables we needed for our “pre cloth” period, plus a pack extra. (Because I was so sold on cloth, I asked all my family and friends to stick to only sending the amount of disposable diapers I registered for, and to choose to send Cloth or other items instead of sending duplicate disposables.)
My son is now 19 months old and we’ve been going strong with Cloth Diapering since the day we transitioned!
I absolutely love using Cloth Diapers and we will definitely be doing so again if and when we wind-up having another baby.
So if you’re considering Cloth, or are on the fence on the matter, here are the Top 10 Reasons why Real, Modern Moms are choosing to Cloth Diaper our children:
1. Cost (Multiple price points & are overall less expensive than disposable diapers)
2. Clearer Skin (Fewer chemicals & fewer diaper rashes)
3. Curtailed Environmental Impact (Less in a landfill)
4. Cuteness (Can get personalized, pop culture or almost any design you prefer)
5. Customizable, Comfortable fit (Adjustable fit & the same diapers can be adjusted from newborn to potty training)
6. Containment of Poop (Tighter / personalized fitting elastic means fewer blowouts!)
7. Considered Multipurpose (Double as Swim Diapers)
8. Can be used for Multiple Children (Only need to buy them once)
9. Can forget about the pins (Velcro, Snaps, Hook and Loop or a Plastic Clip are how Modern Cloth Diapers Stay Secured)
10. Can be Resold (There is a viable, pre-loved Cloth Diaper market!)
Let’s dive-in to the details…
Cost
-One of the most alluring reasons that Cloth Diapering was of initial interest to me was cost.
When using generic disposable diapers, it costs an average of $1,400 to diaper a child for 2.5 years (with the cost rising to $2,500 for cleaner, more environmentally friendly versions) versus the average price of $300- $500 when choosing to Cloth Diaper. (Personally, the cost of my entire 35 Diaper Stash, plus essential accessories, was around $400.)
-There are nine different types of Cloth Diapers, and each of them have multiple price points. (Woohooo! Choice!)
Diapers range in average cost from around $5 to $50 each, with the highest ordinarily being for custom made diapers, limited edition prints, or the “premium” all-in-one diapers.
I know multiple moms who swear-by diapers that are around $16 dollars each, yet almost my entire stash consists of diapers that were $6 or less, and I haven’t had a single snag yet.
**At the end of the day, they’re booty covers that catch poop. And I wasn’t willing to pay more then that.
-Not only did I find it appealing to pay less overall for my diapers, I liked the idea of knowing that I had already spent what I needed to spend, and that I wouldn’t have to budget for a weekly or monthly expense of constantly buying more diapers.
–Once you buy your diapers, you will never run out!
(Which means you’ll never have to head out in the middle of the night on a hunt for more diapers!)
–You could be incredibly lucky (like me) and receive all or most of the diapers you registered for at your baby shower!
I paid next to nothing for my stash, as I’ve only added a few diapers since my shower. Total, I’ve spent less than $50 on everything I needed to Cloth Diaper my son thanks to my baby shower! Woohoo!!! How’s that for a savings?
**So make sure to add everything you need to your Amazon Baby Registry!**
Clearer Skin
-We have been Cloth Diapering our son for 16 months and he hasn’t had a single spout of diaper rash.
In fact, I don’t know a single other mother who Cloth Diapers her children who has had a problem with diaper rash.
*Confession! When I came home from the hospital after having my son, I wore disposable adult diapers, thinking they would help make my post birth aftercare easier. Instead, I wound up with a severe diaper rash, and it wasn’t easier at all! Diaper rash is painful and unbelievably uncomfortable! I was in tears! This experience reiterated in my mind why I wanted to spare my son similar discomfit!*
-Cloth Diapers need to be changed every 2-3 hours, (which is also doctor recommended for disposable diapers).
Changing your Cloth that often keeps your baby’s skin clean & dry, and significantly lessens irritation and / or chaffing.
Disposable diapers are often left on longer, which can result in rashes, irritation & infection.
–Cloth Diapers contain less chemicals than disposable diapers. It is well known that most major mainstream brands use chemicals (such as Dyes & Dioxin) in the manufacturing of their diapers and that the inner layer of a disposable diaper is treated with chemicals.
Chemical sensitivity may also contribute to cases of allergic reaction & irritation.
*Please note that I am not guaranteeing that the use of Cloth Diapers will completely prevent cases of diaper rash. Multiple factors, including length of time spent in dirty diapers, diet, allergies, sensitivities, movement, environment, etc. also contribute to cases of diaper rash and may effect children who wear Cloth Diapers*
Curtailed Environmental Impact
–Each year, enough disposable diapers are thrown away to account for more than 3.5 million tons of waste.
That’s enough to circle the earth 90 times!
On top of that, disposable diapers take about 500 years to decompose and the untreated waste added to landfills can contaminate groundwater.
Cuteness
-Let’s face it, Cloth Diapers are adorable.
From their fluffiness to their pleasing prints, Cloth Diapers are cheerfully charming. 🙂
-I’ve seen them in almost every solid shade under the sun (perfect for you marching mamas), supporting many “fandoms” & famous faces (Can you say characters?) & some that are straight-up festive & fun (Like the “Happy birthday” or the “Holiday” prints)!
You’ll never again want to put your baby in pants.
(I know I rarely do! 😉 )
Customizable, Comfortable fit
-Cloth Diapers vary in cut, are adjustable around the waist & can be made smaller / larger in size length-wise.
This allows for a more customized fit, which is better for comfort (less chafing) & the containment of poop. It also allows for the same diapers to be worn from a few weeks old, to potty training toddler!
-With disposable diapers, you have a limited ability to adjust the fit, aside from the tabs at the top that secure the diaper around your baby’s waist.
This could leave gaps around the bottom, create over tightness in areas, and / or another fit flaw.
(And as someone who wore adult disposable diapers for a short time after returning home from the hospital, I can honestly say that the feeling of cloth on my body is far more comfortable than plastic & paper! I wasn’t mentally prepared for the amount of chafing I experienced!)
They’re easily tailored to your baby.
Containment of Poop
–It’s been a little over 16 months, and I have yet to have experienced a single diaper “blow out.” (When the poop is unable to be completely contained by the diaper.)
That’s not to say there haven’t been some definite doozies! 😉 There have been multiple moments when I was absolutely shocked by the sheer volume that was contained by my Diapers!
-This is likely due to the elastic on cloth diapers fitting more snug & secure, and because of their customized, adjustable fit.
Can be used for swimming!
– Pocket Cloth Diapers, and some Diaper shells, can also be used as swim diapers!
You won’t have to worry about searching for any specific “swim” style diapers, simply skip adding an insert and you’re all set-up to swim!
Sun Hat not included. 😉
(But be warned: If you’re going to swim in chlorine, chlorine may deteriorate your print & / or elastic faster than everyday use.)
Can be used for Multiple Children
-If you take proper care of your Cloth, they can last for multiple children.
Not only is that economical, but it is also eco-friendly & not to mention, quite convenient.
Baby’s first hand-me-down. 😉
Can forget about the pins
-There are 9 different types of Cloth Diapers, and none of them require pointy, pokey, metal pins!
Modern Day Cloth Diapers are secured with Velcro, Snaps, or a Hook and Loop and are put on almost exactly like a disposable.
However, Flats (& sometimes Prefolds) (two types of Cloth Diapers) are secured with either a plastic Clip called a Snappi or two plastic clips, called Boingos. They require a waterproof cover & are the most reminiscent of “old fashioned” Cloth Diapers.
But they’re all a snap to secure! 😉
Can be re-sold
-There is a viable market for pre-loved cloth diapers.
With proper love and care, Cloth diapers are long lasting & hold their value.
-There are quite a few Facebook groups, websites, and apps where you can go to sell your stash once once the sun has set on your child’s diaper phase.
(Or, you can use some of the pieces and parts (like inserts & prefolds) around your house as cleaning cloths, burp pads and such.)
Either way, your stash won’t be sitting around “gathering dust” for too long… or perhaps that’s exactly what they’ll be doing. 😉
Needless to say, Modern Cloth Diapers are “not your mama’s or your grandmama’s Cloth,” but are now a simple, straightforward, stylish system of diapering your baby.
Cloth diapering has worked out wonderfully for my family, and may work for yours too.
