Working out exactly how much you may or may not save using cloth diapers is complicated. Not only do both cloth and disposable diapers vary significantly in price, but so do the detergents, electricity, and water we use to launder our cloth. Then, suppose you want to get really specific. In that case, you should also factor in the cost of diaper creams, liners, toilet sprayers, diaper pails, and other optional accessories for disposables and cloth. However, if you want a rough calculation, you can try our fun cloth diaper savings calculator, and if you want to know how we make the calculations ..read more

Once you make the decision to use cloth diapers, the next step is to ensure you have everything you need to get started. Fortunately, for our baby stretched budgets, there isn’t a long list of items you need to buy.  This list is for full-time diapering, but if you plan to use cloth part-time, you’ll still need the same items but you can reduce the number of diapers. Here’s our list of what you need to get started with cloth diapers. You can find a printable checklist at the end of the article. Cloth Diapers - What Do You NEED? The must-haves for using cloth diapers are: Diapers  The ..read more

Diaper rash is something most of us will run into at some point in time. No matter how carefully you wash your child’s diaper area, how thoroughly you wash your diapers, and how frequently you change your little one, diaper rash can still happen. What Causes Diaper Rash? There are numerous causes of diaper rash. Consequently, the first thing to do is find out what’s at the root of the issue so you know what to fix. This advice applies to every outbreak because what causes a rash one month may not be the same as what causes a rash next month.  #1. Urine & Feces on the Skin The number o ..read more

Do you ever wonder why some people seem to have a much easier time of it when it comes to their reusable diaper laundry? This isn’t because of any secret, inside information, an expensive washing machine, or some secret technique. The truth is that some people have an easier time of it because they have fine-tuned every aspect of their laundry routine.  If you are doing laundry every day when you could get away with it every second or third day, struggling with rewashing loads of supposedly clean diapers, or doing lots of work by stripping your diapers, we’re here to help. Make your life ..read more

If you are thinking about using cloth diapers but are scared by the problems, issues, and hurdles other people seem to have, you’re not alone.  Unfortunately, there are no one-size-fits-all rules for cloth diapers. Instead, it’s more of a “this has worked for other people, so give it a go, and see if it works for you, but it might not, and you might have to try something else before you find a solution” situation. However. You’ll see and hear loads of information about diapering with cloth that’s just plain wrong. These common myths about cloth diapers crop up again and again, so we’re he ..read more

A recent study into child development shows that babies as young as six months old are drawn towards those who “protect those weaker than themselves.” Although babies are too young to understand concepts like justice, they consistently chose toys they saw perform a “heroic act” over toys that stood by and allowed bad things to happen.  This innate sense of justice may be one thing that makes superheroes and their stories so compelling. However, just because superheroes live in a fictional universe doesn’t mean they can’t teach you a thing or two about using cloth diapers! There is no “Rig ..read more

If the idea of standing over the toilet, trying to get poop off a diaper, turns your stomach, you’re not alone. One of the most frequently asked questions about using cloth diapers is: “But what do you do about the poop?”  The thing is, it doesn’t matter whether your diaper is disposable or reusable; if you care for a baby, you’re going to deal with what comes out the bottom end. It’s all just a case of preparation and knowledge. Once you have those, you’re good to go. So, we’ve searched the net, spoken with caregivers, and even hit up the occasional scientist to confirm what we’ve heard ..read more

Bailey Bouwman balks at the prospect of “cloth diaper expert” appearing in her introduction. “I’m not an expert,” she says. “I’m just a mom who shares her experience with others. And I’m still learning.” We don’t want to upset anyone, so we’ll avoid the dreaded “expert” label. Still, Bailey didn’t say anything about an aversion to the words guru, authority, or superstar, all of which are equally suitable. In The Beginning “I always knew I would cloth diaper,” Bailey says. “I have been a long-term advocate for sustainability,” and it is that mindset that led her to pursue her B.A. in Environme ..read more

Cloth diapers can feel intimidating at first, especially when setting up a cloth diaper wash routine. What detergents do you use for cloth diapers? How hot does your water have to be? Can you really wash poopy diapers in the same machine as your clothes? There’s so much conflicting advice out there. So we’ve put together this, a beginner’s guide to setting up a wash routine for cloth diapers. We talk about: The basic steps of a wash routine How water hardness affects your wash How to choose the suitable detergent for your machine and water Identifying the appropriate diaper wash settings on y ..read more

Buying pre-loved cloth diapers is an excellent way to start cloth diapers on a budget, try out new styles of diapers, bulk out your stash, or pick up that one diaper print you’ve Stanned forever.  However, before you dip your toe into the wonderful world of second-hand cloth diapers, find out what to look for, which questions to ask, and how to avoid losing money. Why Buy Second-Hand Cloth Diapers? There are many reasons why it can be a good idea to buy used cloth diapers, including: Second-hand diapers will, in most cases, save you money. This is especially important if your primary mo ..read more