Frequently Asked Questions About Cloth Diapering
Q. “Aren’t cloth diapers gross? What do I do with poop?”
A. First off, whether you’re using disposables or cloth diapers, you’ll have to deal with poop. There’s no getting around that. The difference that might set off your gag- reflex involves in how you get rid of solid waste. However, that’s as easy as just dumping it into the toilet. This can be done by simply shaking the diaper, scraping it off with a piece of toilet paper, or using a diaper sprayer. Easy!
And you’ll never have to haul a bag stuffed with full dirty diapers to the garbage – talk about gross!
Q. “I’d love to try cloth diapers… but I won’t I risk pricking my baby with pins?”
A. There’s no need to use pins if you don’t want to – you’ve got so many alternatives at your disposal!
While yes, some parents who still use this old school method, cloth diapers nowadays have a ton of different fastening options: snaps, ties, hook & loop, Snappis and Boingos (both pin alternatives).
Q. “Will the waterproof layers make my baby too hot?”
A. Although most ways to use our diapers include waterproof layers, they aren’t made of sweaty plastic of vinyl. Instead, we use a material called Polyester Laminate that lets air in, while keeping water out! This
material is used in our Pocket Diapers, All in Ones, and Diaper Covers.
Q. “But I barely have a second to spare as it is! How can I find time to wash cloth diapers?”
A. The whole process of washing diapers can take less than 10 minutes. Your washer/dryer will be doing most of the work! You can toss them into the dryer right before bed, and wake up to a pile of fresh diapers in the morning. As for the folding and stuffing process, that won’t take longer than five or 10 minutes.
Still not sure? Check to see if there’s a cloth diaper laundry service in your area!
Q. “Aren’t cloth diapers a lot harder to use than disposables?”
A. As with any new skill, cloth diapers do come with a bit of a learning curve. But it’s certainly not rocket science! Cloth diapers come in a variety of designs, many of which are almost as easy to use as disposables (all in one, and pocket diapers, for example. Read more about that HERE.
Q. “Don’t cloth diapers smell?”
A. Stink will only build up in cloth diapers if they’re not laundered properly, or if you’re not using the right type of detergent (this can cause ammonia buildup).
There are a few steps you can take to dodge stinky diapers. Read more about that HERE.
A general rule of thumb is to flush solid waste down the toilet, keep your dirty diapers in a pail or wet bag, and wash your them every 2-3 days.
Q. “Will they leak more than disposables?”
A. While the super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel disposables use definitely lives up to its name, it’s also toxic, and can be poisonous when exposed to skin or digested.
Alternately, cloth diapers use absorbent natural materials to soak up the wetness. While you might have to change them more often than disposables because of this, it depends on how often your baby pees. For more about leak troubleshooting, click HERE.
Q. “I have multiple kids in diapers. Is this for me?”
A. Absolutely – as a matter of fact, cloth diapers are ideal for moms with bigger families.
You will save so much money, and you’ll never have to do a last-minute run to the store lugging kids and/or toddlers with you! The best part is, you can wash them all together – so it barely increases your laundry load.
Q. “Will my baby’s daycare be able to use them?”
A. This answer is a little complicated, and depends on the daycare service you’re using. Most daycares don’t allow cloth diapers, or prefer to use only one-piece cloth alternatives (AIO's).
However, if you get the opportunity to show them how easy they are to use (and provide your own wet bag for dirties), they might change their minds.
Still not sure? You can check out this tip sheet from The Real Diaper Association all about daycares using cloth. There's also a list of daycares that readily accept cloth diapers.
Q. “Yeah, there’s no way I’d convince my husband/partner!”
A. When I first put the idea of cloth diapers to my husband, he had his doubts (“What? Are you saying I’ll have to touch poop?!”). But once I explained the health, financial, and environmental perks, he slowly started to see what I was saying.
If he’s still not convinced, have him take a look around our website. He’ll get a better idea of modern cloth diapers are all about.
Q. “Is my baby too old for me to start this now?”
A. Don’t worry, if you’re deciding to go the cloth diaper route a little later in the game, this can actually work in your favor. You can pass over newborn diaper sizes, and buy larger sizes right off the bat! The best part, you can keep using the diapers for any future new additions to the family.
Q. “I've heard you can save a lot of money cloth diapering your babies. Is this true? And if so – is it worth it?”
A: Using cloth diapers can save you from 44-68% over the cost of disposable diapers - even considering home laundering costs. You can also pass diapers along to any new additions to the family, which saves even more cash in the long run. Check out the Cost Comparison Between Disposable and Cloth Diapers.
Q. “What’s the average cost of buying cloth diapers?”
A. This can really vary. You can outfit your baby in the latest and greatest premium diapers, spend well over $1000.00, and still save money over disposables – especially if you plan to use the diapers as hand-me-downs to any potential new arrivals.
On the other end of the spectrum, the tried n’ true basics like Flats and Prefolds will cost much less. You might even opt to buy gently used prefolds and covers to set yourself up for way under $100.00.
GO BACK TO THE CLOTH DIAPER BASIC HOME PAGE »
A. First off, whether you’re using disposables or cloth diapers, you’ll have to deal with poop. There’s no getting around that. The difference that might set off your gag- reflex involves in how you get rid of solid waste. However, that’s as easy as just dumping it into the toilet. This can be done by simply shaking the diaper, scraping it off with a piece of toilet paper, or using a diaper sprayer. Easy!
And you’ll never have to haul a bag stuffed with full dirty diapers to the garbage – talk about gross!
Q. “I’d love to try cloth diapers… but I won’t I risk pricking my baby with pins?”
A. There’s no need to use pins if you don’t want to – you’ve got so many alternatives at your disposal!
While yes, some parents who still use this old school method, cloth diapers nowadays have a ton of different fastening options: snaps, ties, hook & loop, Snappis and Boingos (both pin alternatives).
Q. “Will the waterproof layers make my baby too hot?”
A. Although most ways to use our diapers include waterproof layers, they aren’t made of sweaty plastic of vinyl. Instead, we use a material called Polyester Laminate that lets air in, while keeping water out! This
material is used in our Pocket Diapers, All in Ones, and Diaper Covers.
Q. “But I barely have a second to spare as it is! How can I find time to wash cloth diapers?”
A. The whole process of washing diapers can take less than 10 minutes. Your washer/dryer will be doing most of the work! You can toss them into the dryer right before bed, and wake up to a pile of fresh diapers in the morning. As for the folding and stuffing process, that won’t take longer than five or 10 minutes.
Still not sure? Check to see if there’s a cloth diaper laundry service in your area!
Q. “Aren’t cloth diapers a lot harder to use than disposables?”
A. As with any new skill, cloth diapers do come with a bit of a learning curve. But it’s certainly not rocket science! Cloth diapers come in a variety of designs, many of which are almost as easy to use as disposables (all in one, and pocket diapers, for example. Read more about that HERE.
Q. “Don’t cloth diapers smell?”
A. Stink will only build up in cloth diapers if they’re not laundered properly, or if you’re not using the right type of detergent (this can cause ammonia buildup).
There are a few steps you can take to dodge stinky diapers. Read more about that HERE.
A general rule of thumb is to flush solid waste down the toilet, keep your dirty diapers in a pail or wet bag, and wash your them every 2-3 days.
Q. “Will they leak more than disposables?”
A. While the super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel disposables use definitely lives up to its name, it’s also toxic, and can be poisonous when exposed to skin or digested.
Alternately, cloth diapers use absorbent natural materials to soak up the wetness. While you might have to change them more often than disposables because of this, it depends on how often your baby pees. For more about leak troubleshooting, click HERE.
Q. “I have multiple kids in diapers. Is this for me?”
A. Absolutely – as a matter of fact, cloth diapers are ideal for moms with bigger families.
You will save so much money, and you’ll never have to do a last-minute run to the store lugging kids and/or toddlers with you! The best part is, you can wash them all together – so it barely increases your laundry load.
Q. “Will my baby’s daycare be able to use them?”
A. This answer is a little complicated, and depends on the daycare service you’re using. Most daycares don’t allow cloth diapers, or prefer to use only one-piece cloth alternatives (AIO's).
However, if you get the opportunity to show them how easy they are to use (and provide your own wet bag for dirties), they might change their minds.
Still not sure? You can check out this tip sheet from The Real Diaper Association all about daycares using cloth. There's also a list of daycares that readily accept cloth diapers.
Q. “Yeah, there’s no way I’d convince my husband/partner!”
A. When I first put the idea of cloth diapers to my husband, he had his doubts (“What? Are you saying I’ll have to touch poop?!”). But once I explained the health, financial, and environmental perks, he slowly started to see what I was saying.
If he’s still not convinced, have him take a look around our website. He’ll get a better idea of modern cloth diapers are all about.
Q. “Is my baby too old for me to start this now?”
A. Don’t worry, if you’re deciding to go the cloth diaper route a little later in the game, this can actually work in your favor. You can pass over newborn diaper sizes, and buy larger sizes right off the bat! The best part, you can keep using the diapers for any future new additions to the family.
Q. “I've heard you can save a lot of money cloth diapering your babies. Is this true? And if so – is it worth it?”
A: Using cloth diapers can save you from 44-68% over the cost of disposable diapers - even considering home laundering costs. You can also pass diapers along to any new additions to the family, which saves even more cash in the long run. Check out the Cost Comparison Between Disposable and Cloth Diapers.
Q. “What’s the average cost of buying cloth diapers?”
A. This can really vary. You can outfit your baby in the latest and greatest premium diapers, spend well over $1000.00, and still save money over disposables – especially if you plan to use the diapers as hand-me-downs to any potential new arrivals.
On the other end of the spectrum, the tried n’ true basics like Flats and Prefolds will cost much less. You might even opt to buy gently used prefolds and covers to set yourself up for way under $100.00.
GO BACK TO THE CLOTH DIAPER BASIC HOME PAGE »
