Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find a list of FAQs about reusable diapers. We try to keep the answers short but informative, so people can go through this list quickly, but find the information they need. We will expand each of these topics more comprehensively our Blog page. You will find the link for a longer discussion on these issues in the appropriate topic when we have posted them to our Blog. Also, feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you feel there is an important question we've missed.
Why should I use cloth diapers?
It's better for your baby, the environment and wallet.
Contrary to what you might've heard or perceived about cloth diapers, the reusable diapers of today are state-of-the-art, easy-to-use, stylish, but remains environmentally thoughtful.
It's also not an all-or-nothing choice! Cloth diapering part time is still better than none at all...hey, sometimes, life happens and there are various circumstances that come your way that will affect your lifestyle. That's ok. We think that each time you use a reusable diaper, you're still reducing your consumption of petroleum-based goods and it'll be one less diaper that ends up having to be incinerated (or in a landfill if you don't live in Switzerland).
Contrary to what you might've heard or perceived about cloth diapers, the reusable diapers of today are state-of-the-art, easy-to-use, stylish, but remains environmentally thoughtful.
It's also not an all-or-nothing choice! Cloth diapering part time is still better than none at all...hey, sometimes, life happens and there are various circumstances that come your way that will affect your lifestyle. That's ok. We think that each time you use a reusable diaper, you're still reducing your consumption of petroleum-based goods and it'll be one less diaper that ends up having to be incinerated (or in a landfill if you don't live in Switzerland).
Isn't using cloth diapers inconvenient?
You might've heard this one from someone, or someone's friend, or someone's mother. It doesn't matter, who said it. The truth is, using cloth diapers is only as inconvenient as you make it out to be. Let us explain: first, there are many options now in the modern reusable diaper world that allows you to have all the convenience of disposable diapers. For example, All-in-One (AIO) styles are very low-maintenance. When the diaper is dirty, you can throw it a wet bag or diaper pail until wash day. Second, many modern reusable diapers also have an easy-to-use hook-and-loop closure, which is very similar to the fastening tabs of a disposable diaper. Third, washing the diapers is not as big of a deal as you think it is (more on this later). If you already wash several times a week, then you don't really need to go out of your way to have a special washing routine for cloth diapers. Fourth, you can also use reusable diapers for nap or nighttime use by simply adjusting the absorbency of your reusable diapers to fit according to your child's needs.
In our opinion, the most convenient aspect of disposable diapers is that you can get away with changing your child's diapers less. But, just because you can "get away" with it, doesn't necessarily make it the best choice for your baby. Even the leading maker of disposable diapers recommends you change your child's diapers frequently to prevent diaper rash. With cloth diapers, you don't even have to think twice about "wasting" a diaper when you change your child if he/she only peed a little on the diaper.
In our opinion, the most convenient aspect of disposable diapers is that you can get away with changing your child's diapers less. But, just because you can "get away" with it, doesn't necessarily make it the best choice for your baby. Even the leading maker of disposable diapers recommends you change your child's diapers frequently to prevent diaper rash. With cloth diapers, you don't even have to think twice about "wasting" a diaper when you change your child if he/she only peed a little on the diaper.
what about the poop?
The thought of having to touch poop is probably what dissuade parents the most from even trying cloth diapers. We'll be honest: there's no way around that baby poop whether you use disposables or reusable diapers. After all the explosive, "what in good heavens is this?!?" poop you'll probably experience at least once as parents (lucky you who get to only experience it once!), you will get over the poop. Besides, disposing poop properly from cloth diapers is actually pretty easy and you don't actually have to touch it to throw it away. Just put a compostable or reusable liner on top of the diaper. When your child does #2, either shake off the poop from the liner into the toilet and throw the liner in the trash or compost bin.
When your child is exclusively breastfed, the stool is completely water soluble and you can choose to wash the poopy diaper in the washing machine. Otherwise, we really do recommend you dispose of the stool in the toilet whenever you can.
When your child is exclusively breastfed, the stool is completely water soluble and you can choose to wash the poopy diaper in the washing machine. Otherwise, we really do recommend you dispose of the stool in the toilet whenever you can.
How do I wash the diapers? And How often?
We believe that all you need to wash cloth diapers effectively is a good and simple washing routine. You don't need a special washing cycle or even detergent to wash cloth diapers. We advise that you read and follow the manufacturer's washing directions, especially if you want to keep the warranty.
In general, most manufacturers advise people to at prewash their diapers at least once before use. When the diapers are dirty, you can wash the diapers in 40° or 60° C water using the regular cycle and whatever washing detergent you normally use.
How often should I wash cloth diapers?
We recommend you wash every 2-3 days as that would give you enough cloth diapers to wash in one load. Going beyond 3 days is a bit iffy due to smell and bacteria growth because of the moist environment of your diaper pail or hanging wet bag. If you are only part-time cloth-diapering and don't have enough dirty diapers to do one full load, consider doing a short rinse of the dirty diapers and washing the rest with your baby's dirty laundry or other dirty laundry pile you need to wash in 40° to 60° C water.
Do I need a special cloth diaper detergent to wash my diapers?
No. You may come across many blogs and websites that advise people to use "cloth-diaper safe" detergents that are usually free of perfumes, dyes, enzymes, optical brighteners and other chemicals that someone at some point determined were not "safe" for cloth diapers and for babies. Not true. First, cloth diapers are not made out of silk or some other delicate fabric. The majority of cloth diapers materials (PUL) have been used for years by hospitals, and are made to be as durable as they are waterproof. Second, unless your child has extremely sensitive skin, most will have no reaction to the washing detergent you're already using. If you're concerned about your baby's delicate skin, you can choose washing powders that are free of dyes and perfumes.
We do not recommend many "natural", "bio" and "free & clear" detergents, including wash nuts, as many do not clean fecal matter thoroughly. Moreover, they can also leave residues on your cloth diapers' fabrics that can build up and cause repelling issues later.
Under no circumstances do we recommend fabric softeners and detergents that already contain fabric softeners. The ingredients in fabric softeners will cause the absorbent fabric of your cloth diapers to repel liquid, rendering it practically useless.
For more about the science behind cloth diaper washing, you can check out this great organization: Fluff Love University.
In general, most manufacturers advise people to at prewash their diapers at least once before use. When the diapers are dirty, you can wash the diapers in 40° or 60° C water using the regular cycle and whatever washing detergent you normally use.
How often should I wash cloth diapers?
We recommend you wash every 2-3 days as that would give you enough cloth diapers to wash in one load. Going beyond 3 days is a bit iffy due to smell and bacteria growth because of the moist environment of your diaper pail or hanging wet bag. If you are only part-time cloth-diapering and don't have enough dirty diapers to do one full load, consider doing a short rinse of the dirty diapers and washing the rest with your baby's dirty laundry or other dirty laundry pile you need to wash in 40° to 60° C water.
Do I need a special cloth diaper detergent to wash my diapers?
No. You may come across many blogs and websites that advise people to use "cloth-diaper safe" detergents that are usually free of perfumes, dyes, enzymes, optical brighteners and other chemicals that someone at some point determined were not "safe" for cloth diapers and for babies. Not true. First, cloth diapers are not made out of silk or some other delicate fabric. The majority of cloth diapers materials (PUL) have been used for years by hospitals, and are made to be as durable as they are waterproof. Second, unless your child has extremely sensitive skin, most will have no reaction to the washing detergent you're already using. If you're concerned about your baby's delicate skin, you can choose washing powders that are free of dyes and perfumes.
We do not recommend many "natural", "bio" and "free & clear" detergents, including wash nuts, as many do not clean fecal matter thoroughly. Moreover, they can also leave residues on your cloth diapers' fabrics that can build up and cause repelling issues later.
Under no circumstances do we recommend fabric softeners and detergents that already contain fabric softeners. The ingredients in fabric softeners will cause the absorbent fabric of your cloth diapers to repel liquid, rendering it practically useless.
For more about the science behind cloth diaper washing, you can check out this great organization: Fluff Love University.
Can I use cloth diapers if I don't have my own washing machine?
Absolutely! Unless your housing contract specifically prohibits you from washing cloth diapers, there's no compelling reason why you cannot wash cloth diapers in the shared washing machine. Gross you say? Remember that your neighbors are also washing everything from dirty rags and mop heads to shoes that have stepped on who knows what. Besides, when your baby leaks pee or have an explosive poop, are you expected to wash the dirty clothes by hand? Each time?
We believe that you can be courteous and considerate of your neighbors and still wash the dirty diapers in the shared washing machine. Dispose of all solid matters (i.e.: poop) as much as possible before putting the diapers in the machine. Rinse any poop residue, if any, from the cloth diaper before you put it in the washing machine. If the washing machine also has a clean cycle, you can choose this option when you are done with washing your laundry for the day.
The only circumstance where we don't recommend using reusable diapers is if you have very strict neighbors, who stick to a very strict washing schedule that only allows you to wash once a week or even less frequently. Please see the previous section about how often should I wash my diapers?
We believe that you can be courteous and considerate of your neighbors and still wash the dirty diapers in the shared washing machine. Dispose of all solid matters (i.e.: poop) as much as possible before putting the diapers in the machine. Rinse any poop residue, if any, from the cloth diaper before you put it in the washing machine. If the washing machine also has a clean cycle, you can choose this option when you are done with washing your laundry for the day.
The only circumstance where we don't recommend using reusable diapers is if you have very strict neighbors, who stick to a very strict washing schedule that only allows you to wash once a week or even less frequently. Please see the previous section about how often should I wash my diapers?
How often should I change the diapers?
As often as you would disposable diapers, which is technically more frequent than people think, and after after every meal, nap and bowel movement. Similar to disposable diapers, you don't necessarily have to wake your child from sleep to change a wet diaper (soiled diapers are a different story). For naptime and overnight diapers, we recommend you use either a fitted diaper with a diaper cover or add an insert for more absorbency.
How many cloth diapers will I need?
The answer depends on what kind of diapers you will use and how often you will be using reusable diapers (i.e.: 100% of the time or only 50% of the time?). A lot also depends on your child's bowel movements. Babies who haven't started solid food can poop in as little as once every 10 days, or as frequently as 10 times per day. In general, the more bowel movements your child has, the more frequently you will have to change the diapers, and the more you will need. Once your baby is older and eats lots of solid food, she will most likely have more predictable bowel movement(s) every day.
For example, for a child who typically poops 1-2 times a day, you can use: 5-6 diaper covers, 4-5 fitted diapers, and 15-20 prefolds or inserts, considering that you wash and tumble dry every 2-3 days. If you don't have access to a tumble dryer or prefer to hang your laundry dry, you'll need at least an extra day's worth of diapering or more depending on how long it takes for laundry to dry in your area.
Or, as another example, if you prefer to use All in Ones, you will need about 5-7 diapers per day (again considering that your child has 1-2 bowel movements per day), and some additional inserts or boosters for naps, nighttime use or other instances when you need the diaper to last a little bit longer. You will also need to consider your washing routine and if you will use a tumble dryer or not. For instance, if you wish to hang dry your diapers, you might need as much as a stash of 25-30 AIO diapers if you wash every 2-3 days.
For example, for a child who typically poops 1-2 times a day, you can use: 5-6 diaper covers, 4-5 fitted diapers, and 15-20 prefolds or inserts, considering that you wash and tumble dry every 2-3 days. If you don't have access to a tumble dryer or prefer to hang your laundry dry, you'll need at least an extra day's worth of diapering or more depending on how long it takes for laundry to dry in your area.
Or, as another example, if you prefer to use All in Ones, you will need about 5-7 diapers per day (again considering that your child has 1-2 bowel movements per day), and some additional inserts or boosters for naps, nighttime use or other instances when you need the diaper to last a little bit longer. You will also need to consider your washing routine and if you will use a tumble dryer or not. For instance, if you wish to hang dry your diapers, you might need as much as a stash of 25-30 AIO diapers if you wash every 2-3 days.
Do I need newborn sized diapers for my newborn?
Not necessarily. A lot depends on how much your baby weighs when you begin to use reusable diapers. If you have a premature or low birth-weight baby, he will definitely not fit in the "one size" diapers. In our experience, "one size" diapers start fitting babies around the 4.5 to 5 kg weight mark the best.
To get the most use out of your reusable diapers, you can use a combination of diaper covers in the smaller size and medium sized prefolds that you fold and pin together like the traditional cloth diapers of yesteryears, then use later as a prefold in a larger diaper cover. We also have various AIOs especially made for newborns for those moments when you need a quick diaper change.
To get the most use out of your reusable diapers, you can use a combination of diaper covers in the smaller size and medium sized prefolds that you fold and pin together like the traditional cloth diapers of yesteryears, then use later as a prefold in a larger diaper cover. We also have various AIOs especially made for newborns for those moments when you need a quick diaper change.
can I use a Barrier cream?
Yes! We understand there are moments when your child needs to use diaper cream. Sometimes, it just can't be avoided. As long as you use enough of a proper detergent and wash on 60° C, the diaper cream should wash out from the diapers without any issue. Coconut oil, lanolin and other natural-based diaper creams that'll dissolve with detergent are fine to use when you have a good washing routine. Zinc oxide might cause some staining but it should wash out after subsequent washes.
The one ingredient you should take extra precaution is petroleum (petrolatum). The petroleum can cause repelling, especially on synthetic fabrics such as microfibers. When using a petroleum-based diaper cream (e.g.: Bepanthen, Penaten, etc.), we recommend you use one without petroleum, or at least use a diaper liner.
By the way, we think it's a good idea to have some liners (reusable and compostable) as an added protection for your diapers.
The one ingredient you should take extra precaution is petroleum (petrolatum). The petroleum can cause repelling, especially on synthetic fabrics such as microfibers. When using a petroleum-based diaper cream (e.g.: Bepanthen, Penaten, etc.), we recommend you use one without petroleum, or at least use a diaper liner.
By the way, we think it's a good idea to have some liners (reusable and compostable) as an added protection for your diapers.
What cloth diaper accessories do I need?
We think that having additional inserts and boosters will go a long way as your baby grows and bathroom habits change. It'll also give your child additional absorbency for sleeptime.
Furthermore, we find these diaper accessories to be very helpful, but optional, in cloth diapering your little one:
- Reusable fleece liners will protect your diapers' absorbent padding from any diaper cream you might have to use. It'll also give your child that comfortable stay-dry feeling, which is great when they're sleeping long hours. Stools will usually rinse out of fleece liners more easily than from natural fabrics.
- Disposable/compostable liners will help you dispose of stool easily. Shake off the stool into the toilet, flush and dispose of the liner in your personal compost bin or household trash.
- Bodysuit extenders will give your child's most used clothing item extra length and extra life.
Furthermore, we find these diaper accessories to be very helpful, but optional, in cloth diapering your little one:
- Reusable fleece liners will protect your diapers' absorbent padding from any diaper cream you might have to use. It'll also give your child that comfortable stay-dry feeling, which is great when they're sleeping long hours. Stools will usually rinse out of fleece liners more easily than from natural fabrics.
- Disposable/compostable liners will help you dispose of stool easily. Shake off the stool into the toilet, flush and dispose of the liner in your personal compost bin or household trash.
- Bodysuit extenders will give your child's most used clothing item extra length and extra life.