This post is geared towards those families who wish to take a simplistic and minimalist approach to cloth diapering, as I did. Retailers are going to hate me for this, but here goes….
After cloth diapering for two and a half years, I’ve seen my share of cloth diaper trends and accessories, and have amassed a great deal of simplistic cloth diapering experience. If you view cloth diapers as pee and poop catchers (that will save you money in the long run), and wish to take a minimalist approach to cloth diapering, this piece is for you.
I entered into cloth diapering with the primary goal of saving money. Having moved for my husband’s job, I found myself unemployed and pregnant; finances were incredibly tight on our single income, and I was determined to make it work. Having been cloth diapered myself, I chose prefolds and covers (one of the most inexpensive and easiest ways to cloth diaper) to begin our cloth diapering journey.
I avoided gimmicky cloth diapering non-essentials, and was able to create a cloth diaper setup for around two hundred dollars. Over time, after being an active member in the cloth diapering community, I added items here and there. Two and a half years of cloth diapering later, I still don’t have a lot of unnecessary items in our nursery and haven’t missed not having many of the accessories available on the market.
If you’ve found yourself asking, Do I really need this?, the short answer is [likely] no. Let’s take a look at a few cloth diapering accessories people commonly ask if they really need.
I have cloth diapered for two and a half years without a diaper sprayer, and I’ve never missed not having one. Diaper sprayers add an additional [unnecessary] step to what can [and should] be a simple routine. I have diapers that have been in rotation for over two years and they still look and smell as fresh as the day I purchased them. I’ve never sprayed, bleached, or soaked these diapers and they are stain and smell free. Apart from using a wet pail for my newborn prefolds, spraying and soaking diapers have not been a part of my cloth diapering routine; simplicity, remember?
If you are concerned with removing solids from your diapers, or avoiding stains (I HATE stained diapers myself), I suggest using fleece liners. Not only does this alleviate the need to keep purchasing disposable liners, but you can make them yourself very inexpensively. Solids typically don’t stick to fleece, allowing you to ‘plop’ them into the toilet after diaper changes, and those pesky, sticky messes are easily taken care of by removing the fleece liner and swishing in the toilet.
It stands to reason that if you don’t own a diaper sprayer, then you’ve no need for a spray shield or collar. If you do choose to get a diaper sprayer, you can clean your diapers just fine without adding another item to further complicate and clutter your cloth diapering routine.
A second item in this category are Diaper Dawgs; mitts for handling your cloth diapers.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: cloth diaper laundry isn’t terribly complicated, nor do you need ‘special’ detergents. This is a much debated topic, but I can tell you that I used homemade detergent without any issues, switching to mainstream detergent once my son’s pH changed [at around one year old]. Many manufacturers require you to use cloth specific detergent, so as not to void your diaper’s warranty; I’m not here to tell you that you should void your diaper warranties, but I will say that I’ve only ever had one ‘defective’ diaper, out of the 100+ I’ve owned in over two years, and the issue was due to a defective batch of PUL, not my washing routine. Again, if finances are an issue, or you are not interested in investing a lot of your hard earned money into cloth diapering, skip the expensive cloth diaper detergents.
My own experience with cloth diaper detergents has not been a positive. I have the hardest water I’ve ever come across (we’ve had lime and calcium streaks on our stainless steel fridge from our water and ice dispenser) and I found that I had stinky and funky smelling diapers after 3-5 weeks of cloth diaper detergent use. Many people have had positive experiences with cloth specific detergents, so weigh your options, test your water, and choose what works best for you.
If finances are tight, you do not have to purchase a wet bag to successfully cloth diaper. I’ve used grocery bags many times in a pinch and they worked just fine. If you do want to add wet bags to your cloth diapering routine, I would suggest purchasing two medium-sized bags, so that you have one readily available while the other is in the wash. If you have more than one child in diapers, have a baby in daycare, or are using a hanging wet bag in lieu of a diaper pail, I would recommend having more than two wet bags at your disposal. Check out these fun Smart Bottoms wet bag prints!
Wool is amazing to cloth diaper with, but so many people avoid wool because they think it’s complicated and involves a great deal of maintenance. Guess what? It doesn’t. Paired with an incredibly absorbent fitted diaper, wool covers can be an effective, natural nighttime cloth diapering solution. If you’re dedicated to using wool, I would suggest having two covers so that you can alternate when washing. When used in rotation, you need only hand wash your wool covers every 2-3 weeks.
Many cloth diaper retailers sell all manners of wool wash and lanolin products, but the truth is that you need only use a mild soap to hand wash your wool covers (whatever baby wash you use should work). Do you need to purchase expensive lanolin? Absolutely not! I had half a tube of lanolin left over from my early breastfeeding days (Lansinoh), and that tube got me through our wool diapering just fine! I’m all about resourcefulness and reducing waste.
I’ve used cloth wipes from the very start, as they seemed more economical and just, well, made sense to use with cloth diapers. I used a wipe solution in the beginning (one my midwife recommended), but ditched the solution for plain old water once my wipes began scorching in the wipes warmer. Unless you feel absolutely compelled to wash your little one with soap after each diaper change, ditch the expensive diaper sprays and stick to water (or a homemade solution). I’m including my midwife’s wipe solution below (this is GREAT for clearing up diaper rashes):
While most one-size diapers don’t fit babies until they hit the 8-10 pound mark, this doesn’t mean you need to invest in expensive newborn diapers (that you’ll be using for a grand total of 1-2months). Flats, prefolds, and fitteds are inexpensive options to get you through the first couple of months without breaking the bank. Sized covers are a fraction of the cost and can be reused for multiple diaper changes (excepting blowouts, of course). Save yourself the trouble [and the money] and skip newborn diapers.
For all of you seasoned cloth diapering folks, what accessories (if any) did you find you did not need once you began cloth diapering?
Wondering what cloth diaper accessories I find an absolute must? Check out this post HERE.
DISCLAIMER: The suggestions and advice I share in this piece are from my own diapering experience and are my opinion alone. What works for one person may not work for another, and ‘one size fits all’ is not always the best approach, especially when it comes to wash routines. This article is meant to help families, new to cloth diapering, develop a simplistic cloth diaper routine, and help them disseminate the plethora of accessories offered on the cloth diapering market.
*This post contains affiliate links.
For us, a diaper sprayer was very helpful. After we got one, rinsing off my daughter’s peanut butter like poop was MUCH easier. I think if your baby’s poop is “ploppable” you can definitely skip it. Fleece liners weren’t an option for us because she was allergic to synthetic fabric lining her diapers, and I really dislike disposable liners.
I was lucky that my son didn’t/doesn’t have a reaction to fleece/synthetics, even with his sensitive skin. I, too, am not a fan of disposable liners (I don’t understand how they can even be comfortable!), and would likely use a sprayer if I was in your position 🙂
We tried a very simplistic approach with our son and yes it did work. With our daughter since we already had a stash built we splurged and bought a sprayer and spray pal and it simplified the process even more and was and is proving to be worth every penny!! Now that baby 3 is on the way I’m sure it will help even more.
I was the same way in the beginning – simple, simple! Once we were about a year into cloth diapering, I began branching out. For example, I now have a small stash of newborn AIOs, in case we are blessed with another baby, but prefolds will still be a staple for the newborn diapering stage. Congrats on number three!
I agree with a lot of these. However, I’m keeping my sprayer. 😉
If I had a sprayer, I might be convinced (all of the pro-sprayer comments are convincing)!
I have been cloth diapering for 12 years full time and part time for 4 years before that
I have never had or needed a sprayer, or shield for a sprayer.
my best pail has been a 5gallon paint bucket or 2 when I had more then one in cloth.
I do like 2-3 newborn size contors and 2 newborn covers.for doctor trips or what not. Otherwise prefolds, infant which works as doublers later and flats and fleece pants/sacs are awesome and easy to make to fit more then one size and for cheap.
only accessory I find is needed is cloth wipes,and no funky wipe solution, water works awesome or water with a half drop of baby bath(not soap).
Haha! We used a pickle bucket as a wet pail for our prefolds in the beginning, so this brings back a lot of memories! I am a HUGE cloth wipe fan, I’m almost embarrassed to admit how many we own 😉 Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I agree with all your points BUT a sprayed is extra awesome for older babies that eat regular food. I made a DIY sprayer for $25. totally worth it.
I seem to be missing out by not having a diaper sprayer!
Hi Lauren,
I couldn’t disagree with you more on many things you have your list.
1) Sprayer, okay, so do you “need” a sprayer? no. I have gone four years without one until recently and now I’m seriously kicking myself for not getting one sooner. It is AHHH-mazing how easy the toddler poo comes off (even on those diapers I have almost wanted to toss rather than wash! lol)
2) Wet bags – yes and no. They are essential while traveling and if you are someone who doesn’t always change diapers in the same room of the house (this gal – raises hand – that’s me) they do great at keeping the stinkies in the bag and the outside of the bag dry.
3) Wipes spray – Never bought spray, but I like homemade spray for on the go cloth wipes. I make my own solution and use an “old” EMAB baby oil bottle.
4) Newborn Diapers – My biggest disagreement here….. I am a HUGE Blueberry NB diaper fan because of the snap down middle. I have had really bad experiences in the past with CD a Newborn and it interfering with the umbilical cord. My pediatrician had a field day with me after my 2 yr old daughter was born and her cord fell off super early because it wasn’t staying dry enough thanks to her diapers not fitting properly around it. My youngest (now 2 months old) is entering the final stages of fitting into his Blueberry NB AIOs but I don’t regret buying them one bit. His umbilical cord BROKE during delivery so there was no way I was going to risk another premature cord fall off with him. To me, NB diapers are essential for your NB’s health. It is, essentially, a wound that needs to be clean and dry in order to heal properly. You wouldn’t risk exposing any other wound to it, right?
Have a wonderful New Year. I’ll be checking back in with you to find more great fluffy posts to share on our social media.
Best,
Victoria
Blog & Social Media Manager
DivaDiapers.com 🙂
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It’s interesting to see how many people approach cloth diapering – all opinions are welcome!
There seems to be a consensus about diaper sprayers, and there have definitely been times that I felt that it would be easier with one. On the whole, however, I haven’t had much use for one, and liners seems to do the job (swishing has worked well for those tough bowel movements).
I used wet bags a lot in the beginning, and they are definitely handy, especially for those that use them for dirty diaper storage (instead of a diaper/wet pail). I really should ask my mom what she used when she cloth diapered my sister and myself in the 70s (but I’m also assuming that she wasn’t as ‘mobile’ back then as people are now).
I used preemie prefolds with my son, with Thirsties Duo Wrap covers, in the beginning, and didn’t have an issue of them irritating the cord area. While I do have a small stash of newborn AIOs for another baby (if we’re so blessed), flats and prefolds will still make up the bulk of my newborn diapering; it’s a lot cheaper to stock up on flats and prefolds when you’re changing 12-18 diapers a day, than it is to purchase NB AIOs. I definitely don’t want to have to do diaper laundry daily when I’m dealing with a newborn!
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment, Victoria! I’m drafting another post, with MUST HAVE diaper accessories for next month 🙂
Yay! I’ll keep checking back in with you. Love sharing your posts ~ V 🙂
Victoria recently posted…Thankful Thursday Relaunch Party!
Thanks so much, Victoria, I appreciate it! 🙂
I agree with the sprayer–definitely not necessary. A rubber spatula works very well to get that sticky poop off the diaper. Spraying diapers off in the shower into a 5 gallon bucket is a great substitute for those who feel like they must spray diapers and have a removable shower head.
I’d add another luxury to your list: a washing machine. Far too many times, I’ve heard people say they can’t do cloth diapers because they don’t have a washer. True, you can’t do AiOs very effectively without a washer, but the most cost effective and least leaky systems (flats/prefolds with covers) are very easy to hand wash with a 5 gallon bucket and a toilet plunger. I have a washing machine and still prefer to hand wash because it just gets the diapers cleaner.
Personally, I’d be lost without wet bags. Since I use reusable cloth grocery bags, I don’t have plastic grocery bags hanging around to use for outings. For those of us with an all-cloth, little-waste lifestyle, wet bags really are a must.
I think there’s some confusion about what makes a diaper a newborn diaper. A flat or small prefold with a small cover is still a newborn diaper. I agree, newborn AiOs or pockets are not a wise investment due to not fitting for long and not being absorbent enough. It just sounds like you’re contradicting yourself to say you don’t need newborn diapers then say to get flats/prefolds and small covers for newborns.
Been cloth diapering for 6 years and other than the wetbag, I don’t have any of the other products mentioned. Although, if we move into a house with a decent size bathroom, I would probably get a sprayer.
I need wet bags, I am as addicted to them as I am to the diapers.
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I agree whole heartedly. Do the things listed make cding so much easier or convenient? Undoubtedly! When my daughter was born both my husband and I were unfortunately unemployed so we didn’t even have $100 for diapers. I went to the second hand store and bought flannel sheets for under $10 and made my own diapers using the elastic from the sheets and the free online rita’s rump pocket diaper pattern and then plain flats. We were blessed with the gift of three flip covers (on sale at the time) and thats all we had. Grocery sacks aren’t super earth friendly but even if you ask a friend for a few of hers its something. I love cding and I love how it saved us money. I have a wet bag now and I’m super thankful! But I went two years (and two kids)with out any of these things because I didn’t NEED them. When your trying to recover from 2.5 months of job hunting, and living on one income, you look at even the $25 for a diy sprayer differently. If you have the money Go for it! But if you don’t, don’t despair:)
This was our story exactly. We started cloth diapering to save money. I had 2 in diapers and was spending a fortune each month to cloth diaper. I spent a little money getting 2 covers for each of them, and some prefolds. I cut up some fabric for wipes. I even found some fleece to cut up for liners. Because we saved so much money switching to cloth we were able to add things here and there. We bought a few more covers and some flats, which I ended up liking the best. I bought some fabric and made a wetbag. Plus my DH ended up making a diaper sprayer. For us, the diaper sprayer became necessary. Without giving TMI, no amount of swishing or rubber spatula or anything thing else was getting the poo of the diapers. We are now expecting another in a couple of months and I bought newborn covers, which I think are necessary as we have small babies and the one-size covers won’t do. Also, we will definitely be getting a spraypal before this baby starts solid food.
Agree with all these, but I have to say I looooooooooooove my diaper sprayer. I have managed without it on holiday, but every time I get back home to my sprayer, I’m super grateful to have it again!
Apparently I’m missing out on the awesome diaper sprayer action, as overwhelmingly, people have responded that they need theirs! I guess it’s a matter of “you don’t miss what you don’t have!” Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment, Marisa!
I can agree with most of these. I have not been using cloth as long as some of you, so my view may differ a little, but one of the main reasons why we decided to use cloth was to save money. We had just moved across state and were living with family when we found out we were pregnant.
We do not have a sprayer, and while I’m sure if we ever got one I would love it, it is not a need. Plus, once my boy finally discovered it, it would just turn into an “endless water gun” anyway, so why tempt him? LOL
The only ones I really disagree on are the wet bags and newborn diapers. I love my wet bags and the fact that I know I’ll still get quite a bit of use with them even when I’m no longer diapering. I have 3 of them, one for my lady cloth and 2 for the diaper bag, as well as 2 pail liners that I rotate through on wash days. With the NB diapers, having a few AIOs for doctor visits and church nursery (or the like) would be quite handy. We used flats and NB covers that had an elastic dip in the front for the cord stump and rise snaps that helped lengthen their wearability (finally switched him to OS at 5 month, but he could probably have fit them for another month).