The decision to cloth diaper is easy for some. But if you are like me, there are a million questions that need to be answered first. Cloth diapering today is so different from the way our grandmothers did it. I have talked to many women who remember cloth diapering to be a burdensome task that they were not sorry to see go with the dawn of “paper diapers.”
Thankfully, cloth diapers have changed! We have high-tech washing machines, advanced fabrics and designs, and a wealth of information via the Internet to aid us in the task. I also know that cloth diapering is not for everyone, so check out the bottom of the post for some non-cloth eco-friendly options.
Cloth Diapers: Things to Consider
There are a few things to consider before you begin your research that will aid your decision-making process. What is your primary reason for choosing cloth diapers? Reasons may include cost, health of baby’s skin, protecting the environment by cutting down on waste, or simply because they are just so soft and cute!
Next, it is wise to determine your budget. I recommend doing this ahead of time because once you start looking at all of the cute patterns available it is difficult to control the urge to buy them all!
Once you know your reason for cloth diapering and have a budget in mind, you can then begin your search for what diapering system will best meet your needs. Some people like a variety and some prefer all one type. I have gone back and forth between having a diverse collection and wanting everything exactly the same for ease of use, washing, and storage.diaper insert
How Cloth Diapers Have Changed
Diapering has evolved tremendously over the years. From ancient times when babies were wrapped in leaves and animal skins to the more “modern” flat which consisted of a large square piece of cotton flannel or muslin which was folded and fixed with pins. Women had almost no alternatives when it came to diapering their children and were at the mercy of what limited resources they had on hand. Today, mothers have countless options to choose from and cloth diapers have not only become very easy to use and care for, but they are cute too!
In the last 20 years the biggest changes have been the type of materials used and the style and shape of the diaper. Plastic pull-on covers have been replaced by PUL (polyurethane laminate) or wool. Square, flat muslin diapers have been replaced by fitted styles with snap or hook and loop closures.
PUL is a breathable, tight-knit polyester which is laminated to make it waterproof. Covers made from PUL are usually paired with a fitted cotton diaper and allow heat and water vapor to pass through but keep wetness locked inside. These covers can have specific sizes or can be made with different snap settings that allow the diaper cover to grow with your child.
Wool also makes an excellent cover because of its natural ability to absorb moisture while still allowing for good circulation of air, keeping your little one’s bottom cool. You might be thinking, “Wool!?” But I assure you, wool makes an excellent choice for a diaper cover (here’s why).
Probably the most important feature of a cloth diaper is the absorbency. I can only imagine what it must have been like to try to contain a baby’s “deposits” with leaves! When women began using fabric scraps they must have felt like queens! But even more absorbent and user friendly than fabric scraps are the soft, fitted cloth diapers we have today.
In addition to increased absorbency, modern diapers make use of elastic in the leg area to help contain messes. Gone are the days of leaky, messy babies. I have found that I have almost no blow-outs (you know what kind I am talking about) with cloth. In fact, on rare occasions when I have used a disposable, I still put a PUL cover on over the disposable because they are so much more effective at containing messes.
As long as there are babies, there will be a need for diapers and these new features make cloth diapering easy. However, this is not to say that many back-to-basic mothers have not made great use of the classic flat or pre-fold as part or all of their diapering stash. There are so many options that it is easy to find a system that works best for you and your baby cloth diaper.