How Many Cloth Diapers Do I Need? – 4 Essential Tips for a Smooth Experience

Every baby is unique, making it challenging to determine the exact number of cloth diapers you’ll need. Additionally, babies have different patterns of bowel movements, and even when you think you have it figured out, they can surprise you with variations in their poop frequency.

However, it’s still essential to have a rough estimate of how many cloth diapers do I need? Several factors come into play, such as your preferred laundry frequency, your budget, and whether you opt for highly absorbent cloth diapers.

In this article, you will see how many of the ideal numbers you should purchase, but first, let’s look at when you can start to use cloth diapers, the types of cloth diapers, and how many will work for you.

How early can I start cloth diapering?

Cloth diapers can be used even from the first day of birth but the only challenge is that your baby might be too small to fit into the diaper and babies poop a lot within the first week of birth, so you will need to do lots of washing which can be overwhelming for a new mom.

The Good And Bad Of Cloth Diapers 

Everything that has an advantage also has a disadvantage, and cloth diapers are not an exception. These are the pros and cons of cloth diapers:

• They can be passed on to younger siblings.

• You can use it multiple times which helps in saving money.

• It is more suitable for the delicate skin of babies

• Cloth diapers are beautiful.

• The disadvantage of cloth diapers is that they need to be changed more often.

• You spend more at that initial point.

• More laundry.

Types Of Cloth Diapers

There are different types of cloth diapers that you can choose from to suit your needs. There is a cloth diaper for every baby so you might not get it right immediately. You can try a combination of the different types to see the one that fits. 

1. All-In-One Diaper

This one is probably the easiest of all the cloth diapers to use. Every part of it is in one piece, just like the disposable diaper is designed. It is the most convenient thing that a novice in child caregiving can easily adjust to. They come in different sizes like disposable diapers. There will be a need for a change when your baby gets bigger.

2. Pocket Diapers

With this type of diaper, the absorbent layer comes out differently. You have to do the extra work of putting in the absorbent layer inside the pocket opening of the diaper. The good thing about this is that you can choose not to use the absorbent layer it came with. This gives you room to add whatever you feel will absorb better. Or maybe you can even double the absorber. Another good thing about it is that it dries faster than an all-in-one diaper. You get to wash the absorber separately from the diaper.

3. Fitted Diapers

These diapers come without a cover. Similar to the all-in-one and pocket diapers in form, they require you to use a cover. Because they are better absorbers than all-in-ones and pocket diapers, they are beneficial for babies who urinate more often. They can aid in your ability to get a good night’s sleep because you won’t need to get up every hour to change diapers.

4. Pre-folds and flats

These are the cheapest types of cloth diapers. Some people may consider it old-fashioned, but it is so valuable that even when you stop using it as a diaper, you can still use it as a rag, or use it while changing pads. A pre-fold diaper is a rectangular piece of cloth that divides into 3 sections where the middle layer is the absorbent layer. A flat is a square single layer of cotton.

5. Cloth Diaper Covers

This one is an outer layer diaper covering an inner diaper. Diaper covers are used for fitted and prefold diapers. It has a waterproof texture that prevents leakage. You don’t have to wash them after every use; you can just air dry them.

How Many Cloth Diapers Do I Need?

Now you may be wondering how many cloth diapers you should consider purchasing. While it ultimately depends on your baby’s age, it’s useful to provide some estimates to help guide your buying decision, particularly if you’re a first-time cloth diaper user.

Keep in mind that these estimates are not set in stone, and you can always adjust them based on your baby’s individual needs and your laundry capabilities. They are meant to serve as a starting point for your initial purchase.

For infants between 4-6 months old, a reasonable range would be around 25 to 36 cloth diapers. As your baby grows and reaches 4-10 months of age, you can reduce the number to a maximum of 24 diapers.

By the time your baby reaches 10-11 months, they may already be in the process of potty training or have achieved it. At this stage, you can further reduce the number of diapers to approximately 16. During this period, you may also begin practicing diaper-free time at home, which can aid in speeding up the potty training process.

If you choose to use pre-folds or fitted diapers, it’s worth noting that you’ll need one diaper cover for every three diapers. As long as the diaper cover hasn’t been soiled with feces, you can simply air dry it and reuse it, allowing for more efficient usage.

Remember, these estimates are flexible, and you should adapt them based on your circumstances. Your baby’s specific needs and your preferences for laundry frequency will play a significant role in determining the ideal number of cloth diapers to purchase.

By considering factors such as your baby’s age, potty training progress, and your willingness to do laundry, you can make a well-informed decision when buying cloth diapers.

How Best To Wash Your Diapers

Washing your cloth diaper is the same as washing any other type of material. You only need to rinse a lot more carefully. Considering how delicate your baby’s skin is, after buying your diaper, wash it with hot water and allow it to dry properly to remove any form of chemical that could harm your baby’s skin. This will also make the diaper soft.

How To Wash When It’s Soiled

• Open up the soiled diaper so your water can penetrate every angle. If it’s a prefold, pull out the insertion and wash it separately.

• If you are doing the laundry yourself and fixing it into the washing machine, load your dirty diapers into your machine, but try not to overload it.

• Do a quick rinse of the diaper before doing a proper wash to pull out the stain or bulk of poop.

• Set your machine to short warm water.

• Rinse the cycle with some detergent. This will pull out any stains.

• When you have completed rinsing off poop and other stains, you can now set your washer to a hot wash for up to 140F/60C with a cold or warm rinse.

Also

• Ensure you use only the recommended detergent per the manufacturer’s instructions. Start your washing machine, and you are all set.

• When you are finished washing, make sure the diapers are clean and smell good.

• If you observe that it is not properly washed, then by all means, please rewash it. You cannot joke with your baby’s body, not to mention the private areas.

• When they are very clean, put them in the dryer and put the dryer in a warm setting.

• Now that you are done, you have yourself some nice-smelling and fresh cloth diapers.

• Stack them away properly. You don’t want to keep them where your baby will use them to clean the floor or use them as a toy. 

How To Know When To Change Your Baby’s Cloth Diaper

There are several ways you can check if your baby’s diaper is due for a change. New babies should be changed as often as possible. The maximum change interval should be three hours, and toddlers can be up to four hours unless they poop before this time.

1. Give It A Pinch

While using this method, you should not be looking for a squishy feeling but rather, pinch to see if it feels hard or warm and if it is heavier than it was. When your baby’s diaper is very wet, it will make the fabric a lot thicker, so squeezing it will indicate whether or not something is dampening the fibers. The absorbent layer in your cloth diapers will feel heavy, warm, and spongier when they are wet.

2. Peeking Into The Diaper

This simple technique is especially great for checking waterproof covers. It just involves taking a glance inside the diaper to see if the material is wet or not. If you are not sure, take a closer look at the legs of the diaper, and give that area a speedy feel for wetness.

3. The Non-Waterproof Test

If you are not using the waterproof cover, it is to your advantage because the non-waterproof covers are the easiest to check. A simple touch on the outside should give you the result you want, and you’ll also be able to see darker patches if wetness is seeping through. When you use non-waterproof diapers, it helps you to get used to times when your baby must have wet his diaper enough for a change.

4. The Poop Checks

Since cloth diapers do not have a strong smell, it makes it difficult to perceive the smell of your baby’s poop. This could be a good thing if he poops while you are on a bus, but it makes it difficult to detect while you are at home.

What You Shouldn’t Do With Your Cloth Diaper

Cloth diapers are always being washed and, because of the constant washing, they will fade at some point and might fade even faster if you have a limited quantity or if proper care is not taken. There are certain things you can do, however, to preserve the life of the diaper. Here’s a list of mistakes to avoid, so you can keep your diapers beautiful and usable for a long time.

• Avoid using vinegar or chlorine bleach. Vinegar and chlorine bleach are caustic and will affect the waterproofing and elastics used in the diapers. It can also cling to microfiber and make the diaper smell.

• Avoid using fabric softeners or dryer sheets as they leave a film on the diaper and can cause them to stop absorbing the urine. It can also damage the material used in producing the diaper either causing it to leak or make it stiffen.

• To have your cloth diaper last for years, buy it in a way that you will have up to 15 in rotation. In this way, you can use it over and over. Constant laundry shortens the lifespan of cloth diapers; the more you wash often, the more the fiber gets weakened. Have at least 18 on deck at any time, so you can get the most out of every diaper.

In Addition

• Avoid using detergents with the following ingredients: Pure Soaps, Softeners, Protease Enzymes, Artificial Brighteners, Fragrances, Dyes, Sodium Hydroxide, and Chlorine Bleach.

• Avoid soaking your diapers in detergent. Detergents aren’t designed to soak delicate fabrics and can eat away at the fibers, waterproofing your diapers.

• Avoid stacking unwashed diapers for days. This is an invitation for ammonia, bacteria, and stink. Mold can invade your diapers. Wash them almost immediately to avoid build-up!

Do not put your cloth diaper into the washing machine without first pre-washing. If you don’t rinse off your diapers, you can’t expect the washing machine to get them clean—especially if they’ve been waiting for a wash for a day or more.

Last Words

Cloth diapers offer several advantages over disposable diapers, making them a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective choice. Firstly, cloth diapers significantly reduce waste compared to their disposable counterparts, as they can be reused multiple times. By opting for cloth diapers, you contribute to reducing the amount of diaper waste that ends up in landfills, helping to protect the environment.

Moreover, cloth diapers can save you money in the long run. Although they require an initial investment, the fact that they are reusable means you won’t have to continuously purchase new diapers. If you take proper care of your cloth diapers, they can be used for multiple children, providing even more financial savings. This eliminates the need to constantly run to the store to buy diapers and removes the worry of running out of diapers unexpectedly.

By investing in cloth diapers, you gain peace of mind knowing that you have a reliable and sustainable solution for your baby’s diapering needs. You can build a stockpile of cloth diapers, ensuring that you always have a sufficient supply on hand. This eliminates the stress and inconvenience of last-minute diaper runs, allowing you to focus on enjoying time with your baby without worrying about running out of diapers.

In summary, cloth diapers are a better choice for the environment as they reduce waste and minimize the impact on landfills. Additionally, they offer long-term cost savings since they can be reused for subsequent children. By using cloth diapers, you can alleviate the stress of frequently buying diapers and eliminate the fear of unexpectedly running out. Making the switch to cloth diapers provides a sustainable and convenient solution for your baby’s diapering needs.