Diapers: Considering cloth?
Disposable diapers remain the most popular choice among parents, daycare centers and hospitals. But with the “green” movement well underway, cloth diapers are gaining ground--and, if you’re like many parents, you may be at least considering them. There are five types of cloth diapers: unfolded or flat, prefolded, fitted or shaped, all-in-one, and diapering systems (sometimes called “pocket” diapers). Here’s the poop on each one:
With each of the following diaper types, you’ll also need to use waterproof pants:
Unfolded diapers are rectangles of flat fabric that you fold to fit your baby’s shape, holding them in place with diaper pins.
Prefolded diapers are also rectangular, but because of the way they’re folded, they have extra layers in the center. Like unfolded diapers, they also require pinning.
Fitted or shaped diapers are contoured more like disposables, with a narrow crotch and wide wings that wrap around baby’s waist. Some require diaper pins, but others have Velcro fasteners or snaps. They may also have elastic at the waist and legs, and a more absorbent layer in the center. With shaped diapers, you have to buy different sizes as your baby grows.
These cloth diaper types don’t require waterproof pants:
All-in-ones combine the diaper and the outer waterproof cover into one piece so cloth diapering is a one-step procedure. They’re convenient for quick changes on the go and, with an extra diaper inside, can work well overnight. However, they’re bulky and thick, so they may not dry quickly after laundering. And you may have to buy larger sizes as your baby grows.
Diapering systems, sometimes called “pocket” diapers, are the most expensive cloth option. They include a moisture-resistant covering of nylon or polyester into which you insert a folded diaper or washable liner. The outer covering comes in a range of sizes to accommodate a baby’s growth. Velcro fasteners or several rows of snaps (for different fits) keep the covering closed.
The type of cloth diaper you choose (as well as whether you go with cloth at all) is a matter of personal preference. If you choose cloth diapers, you’ll need two to three dozen to begin with, plus six to ten waterproof outer pants. If you go the all-in-one diapering-system route, having eight to ten on hand should be adequate. Buy two or three dozen diaper inserts for the system. Browse online to find the most competitive prices.
Do you use cloth diapers? Have you switched from disposables to cloth? We’d love to hear about your experience with cloth diapers, whether you’re devoted--or just tried them for a while.
For more information, see our report on cloth diapers and diaper-washing basics.
Posted by: Danielle | Apr 17, 2009 3:43:34 PM
I, too, have to wonder how much research went into this. Pins are no longer needed for prefolds and flats. And pockets are NOT the most expensive cloth diapering option. Cost varies a lot by brand, and you can easily spend as much on fitteds as you do on pockets or AIOs if you wanted to. (Even the most costly set of cloth diapers, though, is still just a fraction of the total cost of using disposables from birth through potty training.)
A lot of this info was outdated even when the article was written, and there have been big changes in the CD world in the last year (particularly with the advent of so many "one size" diapers).
If you have a store near you that sells CDs, ask them. Certainly, they'll promote their own products the most, but they'll also be able to give you more reliable information about the different kinds. Most online stores have a "cloth 101" section, too. You'll get better info there.
Posted by: Nicole | Mar 28, 2009 12:04:53 PM
I'm 7 months pregnant with my second child. We have already decided on and bought enough cloth diapers for her whole 2 -3 years of diapering needs. We decided to go with 6 ex-small fitted with 3 covers and 12 prefolds, and then the rest are one-sized pockets with 2 dozen inserts. My first child, who is 9 now, was miserable in disposables. We were only 20 yrs old when we had him and I didn't know cloth even existed anymore. He had a raw bleeding rash every two - three days or so and that lasted two full years. We decided to switch to underwear and potty train him at 2 because of the rashes. Now I am 30 and I knew I had options for this baby. I'm not taking any chances on the rashes this time. Those disposables are horrible with the chemicals that go into producing them.
I decided on cloth this time when the 14 month old boy I babysit during the day broke out in a bad rash and just broke my heart when he screamed in pain at every change. So with his parents permission, I immediately went to Nurtured Family and bought 12 prefolds, a snappy, 1 cover and lanolin for the rash. I and his parents were amazed when by the next evening the rash was completely gone. They said it usually takes a few days when he gets a rash, but this time it was 1 day. They gave away their stock of disposables and went to the same store and bought a bunch of cloth. That was 8 months ago and this little boy has not had another rash since. His parents say his nursery no longer smells like a toilet, they have eliminated a whole trash bag going to the landfill every week now, and they never have to run out to the store at midnight to buy diapers or wipes again! They switched to cloth wipes too and I will use those when my baby is born as well.
Disposables should never have been invented. We wouldn't have nearly as many landfill issues, petroleum issues, and our babies would be alot happier.
Posted by: Nahuatl Vargas | Nov 10, 2008 12:37:34 AM
I switched to cloth diapers when my kid was almost two years old and loved them, I feel great because they do contaminate a lot less than disposable and they are comfortable and easy to use.
Posted by: Susan | Jul 12, 2008 10:41:51 PM
I switched to cloth diapers after my second child was born. At that time, I had two children under the age of two and I was spending over $250.00 per month on disposible diapers and dispositble wipes. My husband and I are somewhat environmentally conscious ... we recycle aluminum cans and newspapers and don't use a lot of paper plates and napkins. With more kids brought an enormous increase in trash. The environmental impact and cost considerations were the main reasons for my switch to cloth. I don't regret my choice. I have a high effeciency washer and dryer and I only wash diapers 3 times a week. I kept track of my energy use and it did not increase significantly. I agree with other reviewers that following the cleaning instructions recommended by the supplier is very important. I use the AIO pocket diapers (Fuzzi Bunz). They work great and look cute. I recently discovered hemp and bamboo diaper inserts which also work great and are not as thick as the all cotton or fleece inserts.
The diapers have never leaked, my kids have never had diaper rash, my house does not stink like a diaper pail, and washing the diapers is not a big deal. I recommend switching to cloth to other moms every day. I'm also a working mom and my cloth diapers work great at daycare too!
Posted by: Brad | May 4, 2008 3:24:20 PM
I'm not a father yet, but this is a comment concerning any energy or water usage questions. It seems to me that if one is using renewable energy and using collected rain or gray water (which should both be pursued regardless of whether one has a baby or not) it shouldn't matter if you're running the washing machine more often.
Posted by: eco-mama | Apr 21, 2008 5:36:43 PM
Regardless of cost and environmental impact, I feel better knowing I'm not swaddling my children's private parts with chemical-laden disposable diapers. My cloth diapers are made from organic and sustainable chemical-free hemp and cotton.
I track my water and energy consumption by month, and since my two kids were born, my water and electricity usage has NOT increased noticeably. I only do 3 loads of diapers per week, and all of my laundry gets hung out on a clothesline to dry.
Posted by: J. K. | Mar 29, 2008 1:39:29 PM
Has anyone seen this article comparing cloth and disposable diapers?
http://www.ilea.org/lcas/franklin1992.html
I am not familiar with whether there could be a hidden agenda, and the report is several years old, but the discussion is interesting. They discuss the energy issue and the solid waste issue, and ultimately conclude that you should consider your community, suggesting that in areas prone to drought disposables may be more environmentally friendly and that in communities in landfill crises, cloth may be the better choice. Air pollution and water pollution are also considered briefly.
Posted by: Carrie | Feb 2, 2008 10:58:08 AM
I use cloth. I'd like to make a few corrections. Most All-in-one and pocket systems require the entire diaper to be washed after each use. There are a few brands that only require a snap in liner to be replaced, kind of like a G-diaper, but they are in the minority. There are one-sized diapers available in almost every diapering style as well, pocket, AIO, fitted, and covers. And there are some very adorable cloth diapers out there, they are not your mother's plastic pants anymore!
I was a bit intimidated when I made this choice for my environment, but they are very easy and not gross, really! I think people have forgotten there was a time before disposables. The biggest hurdle for me was just the peer pressure telling me it was yucky, and I was crazy for cloth diapering. There are several online forums where people chat about cloth diapering, and for me, that has really helped get me over my intimidation, and made Cloth Diapering work for our family. I hope more people explore this option, for whatever reason: cost, environment, or cuteness!
Posted by: Dan Klobe | Jan 31, 2008 2:17:34 AM
We have a one year old whom we bought the prefolded diapers (rectangular diapers with extra padding in the center) and the "Thirsties" waterproff pants. We purchased three dozen diapers, six pairs of thirsties, four diaper fastners (you do not have to use diaper pins), a sprayer to hook up to your toilet (Makes it easy to wash out the stinky diapers) all for around $250.00. We are very satisfied with our purchase from Wildflower Diapers in Scottsdale, AZ. www.wildflowerdiapers.com
There is a difference in the quality of diapers. We bought a good quality rectangular cotton diaper. The diaper can be folded to fit properly. Surprisingly we have had no leaks at all with the Thirsties. Our son's diaper is really soaked when he wakes up in the morning but all of his clothing and crib is always dry.
If you need any advice on the cloth diapers, call the people from the website above. They are very helpful and informative. We live in the Phoenix area and were able to stop by their store and talk to them.
We also launder our own diapers every two to three days. The advice from this website is good. Also, contact whomever you buy the diapers from for advice.
Posted by: Laura | Jan 30, 2008 12:00:26 PM
I have used cloth diapers since my son was born 20 months ago. We have used all-in-ones (BumGenius) and pocket diapers (Fuzzi Bunz and BumGenius). I could not be happier. Yes, there's a lot of laundry-doing, but my kid has not had any diaper rash at all, and in general the performance of the cloth feels much better to me than the disposable. Basically he has dry, moisture-wicking fabric next to his skin and then under that layer is the absorbent stuff. It also doesn't have that creepy gel leaving crystals around all of his sensitive parts. And I have heard terrible statistics about what portion of landfills are taken up with disposable diapers and how un-biodegradable they are. I think there should be a tax on disposables to cover the resources they devour. I know that cloth uses significant water and energy, but it just doesn't seem comparable to the mountain of disposables caused by just one kid.
We have friends whose son used Fuzzi Bunz, and we mostly inherited his -- so they were free! -- and then supplemented a little. Something to keep in mind is that these things are tough! You can use used ones (and yes, they clean up completely; no worries about that). And that includes using the same diapers for multiple children in your own family. So when you're considering the cost, don't just compare cloth versus the number of disposables one child will go through.
Four pieces of advice:
1. CR says "If you go the all-in-one-or diapering-system route, having eight to 10 on hand should be adequate. Buy two or three dozen diaper inserts for the system." THAT IS WRONG. MOST PEOPLE WILL WANT AN EQUAL NUMBER of diapers and inserts (or a couple of extra inserts so that you can double them for nighttime use). You use a diaper and an insert each time you change the baby; you don't re-use the diaper part (it's not like a diaper cover where the diaper itself is dirty but the cover is usually clean). When you decide how many to get, think about how often you want to do laundry and how many diapers you'll need to get through that period. Personally, I recommend 3 days: it's rare enough that you don't feel like you're constantly doing laundry, but often enough that the diapers don't completely fester at the bottom of the diaper pail. Plus, for us that's about how long it takes to fill a diaper pail. For me, that amounts to about 20 diapers: 6/day, plus 2 extras.
(Along the same lines, another recommendation: use disposables when the infant is very very young and you're changing diapers 10x a day. We switched to cloth at about 8 weeks and that worked well for us -- and meant we avoided the cost of 30 extra-small diapers and went straight to a size small.)
2. If you have a good old top-loading washing machine, hang onto it. They actually wash cloth diapers more efficiently than the water-saving front-loaders. If the diapers can get some good swishing action in a tub of water, they clean up very quickly and easily. With front-loaders, you have to make up for the lack of immersion by running them through more cycles -- so in the end, you're probably using the same amount of water, and the front-loaders take much longer.
3. Be VERY careful about diaper rash ointment. There are many that can stain the inside of diapers and/or ruin the wicking or absorbency qualities of the cloth, which can be undone, but it's hard. The best things to use are something designed specifically for cloth (like Diaper Lotion Potion) or plain old lanolin, which is something many new moms have around anyway for treating sore nipples.
4. Do your research on cleaning. CR's is good, but it's worth digging a little deeper. Most websites that sell cloth diapers have good instructions. I had a friend who thought that her diapers weren't working, but you need to clean them right. The two key things are (1) use less, not more, detergent -- 1/2 to 1/4 of what you'd use ordinarily. The detergent needs to rinse out completely, so rinse well, too. And (2) use detergents, not soaps. The means, among other things, don't use the "green" options. There are good options out there, like Charlie's Soap and Allen's Naturally, or things like Sun (?) which I understand you can buy at various big stores.
Posted by: Jeanne | Jan 23, 2008 12:00:02 PM
Considering the chlorine, water and energy used to clean cloth diapers, are they really better for the environment than disposables? Does anyone know?
I'm looking for known facts, not opinions. Thank you.
Posted by: Lydia Wong | Jan 23, 2008 4:54:40 AM
Initially, we tried cloth and disposable diapers, and certainly, disposable were easier. However, our son turned out to be allergic to disposable diapers, so we went to cloth. It's more work in some ways, but it's nice to not have to run out for disposables (just keep washing!).
All-in-ones seem expensive at first, but if you compare them to disposables, they are pretty reasonable and just about as easy to use. I would highly recommend trying them if you are uncertain about cloth diapers. The separate diapers and covers work well and are easier to wash; however, they can really bunch up in the cover and offer less coverage in some ways. Now, with our second baby on the way, we're going to use cloth again. Your initial investment really starts to pay off when you start reusing the diapers over and over and over!
There are lots of web sites to get you started and with great advice, and more and more stores carry these. They're becoming very mainstream.
Don't be afraid to try them. You might find you really like them! Plus, your child's skin might thank you.
Posted by: Zoe | Jan 22, 2008 8:18:52 PM
I am wondering how much research went into this article. I have used cloth diapers for 3 children and with modern diaper covers there is no need for pins. The prefold diapers get folded in thirds, laid in the cover, and then the sides velcro around the baby's tummy. It is actually no more difficult than disposable diapers.
Posted by: carl | Jan 21, 2008 11:47:20 AM
I understand that it's intuitive that cloth diapers are better for the environment than disposable diapers, but have you guys ever looked into the environmental impact of using cloth diapers versus the impact of using disposable diapers? Cloth diapers require water and power (gas/electricity) for washing and drying as well as detergent (which has the associated "cost" of the plastics etc. used for the packaging of laundry detergent.) I'm just not sure the benefit of cloth diapers on the environment is so great that it warrants the greater inconvenience that the diapers present. Maybe our environmental awareness should be focussed on issues where our actions can have a greater impact?