Cloth Diapering 101

It was less than one generation ago that our culture made the switch from using cloth diapers to seemingly everyone using disposable diapers. Disposables were marketed as a better, cleaner, quicker option. But what wasn't said is the fact that disposable diapers are made using harsh chemicals, significant amounts of natural resources, such as, wood pulp, water, and energy, and that there is no known timeline for how long it takes for a single disposable diaper to decompose in a landfill (current estimates predict it will take 500+ years!). Modern cloth diapers offer an easy alternative to disposables that can provide effective absorbency without chemicals and will save parents hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

This page is dedicated to providing you the latest available information about cloth diapers. If you still have questions, our Facebook Group, The Smarty Pants, is a great place to ask other parents for their advice, personal preferences, and experience.

Types of Cloth Diapers

1.) All-in-One Diaper (AIO) 

Features

• All absorbency attached to the waterproof layer
• May come in natural or synthetic fibers but are most commonly natural fiber
• Must be washed after every diaper change 
• More difficult to add additional absorbency to
• Make take longer to dry depending on the design

2.) Pocket Diaper

Features

• Contains at least one opening between the inner and outer layers of the diaper, in which absorbency may be added
• Includes a waterproof layer
• Usually includes a stay dry lining
• Must be washed after every diaper change and insert will need to be removed before washing
• Easier to add additional absorbency but insert choice is important to success
• Many are sold with microfiber inserts. If you want natural fiber inserts you may have to purchase them separately.

3.) Covers and Prefolds/Inserts

Features

• Cover is waterproof
• Very cost effective option
• Cover can be reused multiple times before washing as long as there was no feces on the diaper. Even if the cover looks clean, if there is feces in the diaper it needs to be washed before reusing, bacteria can transfer through urine and cause skin sensitivity or infections if not washed.
• You can use a cover with any time of insert except microfiber. Microfiber should only be used inside of a pocket diaper and should not be used directly against a child's skin. Due to the nature of the fabric it will attract the moisture from the child's skin and can cause irritation/rash.

4.) Fitted

Features

• Very absorbent, great for overnight
• A separate waterproof cover must be used
• Must be washed after every diaper change

5.) Hybrid

Features

• Disposable insert
• A separate waterproof cover must be used
• Great option for travel or daycare

6.) Preflat

Features

• Can be very absorbent.
• A waterproof cover must be used with it.
• Easy to use
• If you are using a cover, the stretch of the preflat is not a factor in effectiveness. The more stretchy the preflat the more synthetic fibers it contains, decreasing overall absorbency.
• Most people use a fastener such as a Snappi to secure the preflat before putting on a waterproof cover.

Natural vs. Synthetic Fibers

1.) Synthetic

• Absorbs quickly
• Usually lined with stay-dry fabric
• Stain resistant
• Inexpensive
• Dries quickly
• Does not show wear quickly
• Has tendency to smell over time
• Prone to compression leaks
• Bulky
• Requires barrier material between insert and baby
• Prone to build-up of minerals and detergents
• 25-50% of children are sensitive or allergic to polyester

2.) Natural 

• Absorbs a lot
• Trim
• Easy to wash
• Most children are not allergic or sensitive to natural fibers
• Baby will feel damp once diaper has been used; may cause sensitivity
• Shows wear faster
• Prone to staining

How Much Does Diapering A Baby Cost?

This graph is a quick illustration as to how much cloth diapering can save. These numbers are based on a child being in diapers for an average of three years. They also account for the cost of water and energy used for washing and drying, as well as purchasing a full "stash" (about 27 cloth diapers) of our most expensive cloth diaper ($31.00 for our Dream Diaper 2.0) vs. the average cost of a disposable diaper (about .25 cents). In the graph, Year 4, Year 5, and Year 6 can be interpreted for a second baby who can use the same cloth diapers that your first baby used. These years also assume you will add more diapers to your collection because you will fall in love with our cute prints and want to buy more! On average, a baby will use about 3,000 disposable diapers in the first year, then fewer in subsequent years. It's easy to see that a family can save thousands of dollars while their child is in diapers simply by switching to cloth diapers.

How many cloth diapers do I really need?

As mentioned above, we recommend about 27 diapers for a full stash. But here's a quick breakdown of an average amount of diapers a baby will go through: 

Environmental Impacts 

• Disposable diapers are the 3rd largest single consumer use product in landfills.
• One baby will contribute approximately 1 ton of disposable diaper waste to landfills.
• It is estimated that it will take up to 500 years for disposable diapers to biodegrade.
• Disposable diapers for one baby use 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum and 20 pounds of chlorine PER YEAR.
• The manufacturing process for disposable diapers uses 2.3 times more water than washing cloth diapers.
• Cloth diapers can be passed down to future babies or resold.

Healthy For Baby

• Many disposable diapers contain fragrances and dyes that can irritate baby’s delicate skin and cause breathing problems for still developing lungs.
• According to the American Pregnancy Association, a baby should be changed every 2-3 hours regardless of the type of diaper they are wearing.
• Most disposable diapers are lined with paper that has been bleached. Dioxin, the by-product of the bleaching process, is the most dangerous known carcinogen.
• A baby will absorb nearly 100% of what comes into contact with their diaper area, which is why it is important to limit exposure to chemicals.

 How To Wash and Care for Cloth Diapers

• Remove solids from diaper before putting in diaper pail.
• Wash every 2-3 days.
• Dump dirty diapers into washer.
• Rinse with hot water.
• Wash with recommended amount of detergent for washer.
• Extra rinse may be necessary.
• Throw in dryer.
• Start over again!

Ready to begin your journey as a cloth diaper parent? Learn even more and browse our selection of cloth diapers at smartbottoms.com! Still have a cloth diaper question? We've got you covered;

• Request to join our private Facebook group, The Smarty Pants and ask other cloth diaper parents what they think. 
• Read blog posts from other cloth diaper parents about why they use cloth.
• Email us at customercare@smartbottoms.com and we'd be happy to help!
• Contact the old fashion way and give us a call at 616-723-0093 and speak with us one-on-one! 

Watch this quick video for tips on how to get the perfect fit: 

 Watch this quick video for how to expertly wash your cloth diapers: