Cloth Diapers: Yes You Can!

When I was pregnant I spent lots of brain cells debating whether to do cloth or disposable diapers. In theory, cloth sounded great, but in reality I was already using paper plates to cut down on dishes—and the baby wasn't even on the outside yet.


I wanted to do cloth diapers, but I was scared of them because:

1. Poop stinks. The more quickly it can be disposed of, the better.
2. Laundry sucks, almost as much as dishes.
3. Cloth diapers are expensive. I wasn't about to spend more than $100 just to try them out.

I thought the decision was clear. Disposables were the right choice. Even so, one of my friends was gracious enough to pass down her BumGenius newborn cloth diapers. I loved the colors, and the velcro latches made them look just as easy to use as disposable diapers. So I tucked them away and figured I'd give them a shot during maternity leave.


Then came Cameron. Birth and the first few weeks after was a whirlwind, and the cloth diapers stayed tucked away. They made a brief appearance in week 3 but didn't last due to annoying leaks. During week 5, my cloth-diaper-loving cousin came to visit and gave me a tutorial. I hadn't been latching the diapers tight enough around Cam's hips and legs.

The next week I visited my mom in Florida and brought the cloth diapers along. Day 1 went fine. I threw the dirty diapers—poop and all—into the wash at the end of the day, and they were ready to go for day 2. Day 2, 3, and 4 passed, and by day 5 I was hooked.

I fell in love with cloth diapers because:

1. They're pretty.
2. Poop doesn't shoot up the baby's back like it does with disposables. (And if your baby is breastfed, you can put the poop diapers directly in the wash. No rinsing required.)
3. They save money. I bought 12 BumGenius One Size diapers, and they paid for themselves in 3 months with the money I saved not buying so many disposables.
4. They aren't an either-or decision. On days when I didn't feel like doing my cloth diaper laundry routine, disposables had my back.

Large and travel size wet bags and BumGenius newborn
diapers sun-drying in my mom's yard.

Now for the kicker—I did cloth diapers while bringing my baby to my full-time job for 6 months. I didn't have to hang him over the toilet in a community bathroom stall every time he needed a diaper change. Instead, I plopped him on the floor, unsnapped the diaper, squirted him with a spray bottle of water, and wiped him with a flanel cloth (using disposable wipes presents the problem of having some stuff to throw away and some stuff to keep, which can be confusing in the midst of a diaper change with a wiggly baby). Then I'd put all the dirty stuff in my handy dandy wet bag (a leak-proof bag that is actually dry—no soaking necessary these days). In the evening, I'd turn the wet bag inside out over top of my washing machine, do a quick prewash cycle, then throw a 1/4th dose of Tide in, and let her rip. Before I went to bed, I'd switch the diapers to the dryer, and when I woke up in the morning they were ready for another day.



Once Cam started solid foods, his poop changed and required rinsing. I didn't feel comfortable asking the nanny to do that, so at 7 months we switched to all disposables. But I thoroughly enjoyed my cloth diaper adventures and have tucked them away for if and when we decide to have another baby.

If you're a first-time mom and want to give cloth diapers a shot, here's what I recommend you purchase:

• 18 Bum Genius One Size snap diapers (These grow with your baby. I used them from 6 weeks through 7 months. 12 is just fine, but if I had it to do over again I'd get 18 so I could skip a day of laundry without having to use disposables.)
• 24 flanel wipes
• 1 spray bottle of BumGenius bottom wiper. (It's a nice way to get started. Once it's gone, just fill it back up with water or research how to make your own wipe solution.)
• 1 large wet bag for the nursery.
• 1 travel size wet bag for the diaper bag.

There's a ton more to learn about cloth diapers if you get bit by the bug. There are special laundry routines, tons more brands to choose from, and ways to keep going past 7 months. This is what worked for me. Have fun figuring out what works for you!