DO
- DO: have FUN with Cloth Diapering
- DO: use cloth wipes
- DO: use a DRY wet bag
- DO: Change your baby often
- Do: Read all you can about Cloth Diapering
- Do: Ask Questions
- DO: Hang your diapers to dry in the sunshine. Whenever possible, dry your diapers after washing on a clothesline in the sunshine. Sunlight works to naturally kill bacteria and remove stains. Also easier on the diapers so they last longer.
- DO: Research the cloth diapers available today and decide what diaper styles to try. You may want several different diapers to use in certain circumstances - diapers to use for daytime, for naps, for overnight, and with a child care provider. One of the best ways to research cloth diapers is to visit active online cloth diapering forums. There you can ask parents questions about cloth diapers and read what others have to say. Try visiting the forums at DiaperSwappers.com
- DO: Find the diapers that fit your child best. Modern cloth diapers fit remarkably well on most babies and are better at containing leaks than disposables. However, if your child is especially chunky or thin you may need to look around to find diapers that fit properly.
- DO: Wash your diapers in a clean-rinsing detergent about every 3 days. For a list of detergents recommended by parents for use on cloth diapers, click here. Be willing to experiment with different detergents if you notice any skin irritation on your baby. Every child's skin is different. What works for washing diapers in one family may cause problems for your child.
- DO: Wash diapers in cold water for a first rinse. Set the washer to run a full cycle with cold water to rinse the diapers. Follow with another full cycle in warm water, or the temperature recommended by your diapers' washing instructions.
- DO: Encourage family members or child care providers to use cloth diapers when watching your baby. You may need to give them a lesson on how to use the diapers. Bring along a wetbag (sold here) for dirty diapers. I phased out disposables over a period of weeks to let my husband get used to the idea, since he WAS against it, it was just a big change for him!
- DO consider buying used and re-selling your diapers when you are done with them.
- DO: Spread the word about how you enjoy using cloth diapers for your child and tell them about this sight! Let other parents know that using cloth is an easy way to reduce your family's environmental impact. Remind others that using cloth diapers greatly reduces household garbage, saves your pocketbook, keeps your baby healthier and keeps human waste out of landfills and in turn out of the water supply! Besides, Cloth Baby Bums are way to ADORABLE!
DON'T
- DON'T: Use fabric softener. Fabric softener coats the diapers with a non-absorbent film that will repel moisture. We don't want diapers that repel now do we?!
- DON'T: use bleach, it is harsh on the diapers and your babies bum
- DON'T: Think you can't afford to invest in cloth diapers. Although purchasing an adequate supply of cloth diapers is expensive up front remember you will be saving a significant amount of money in the long run. The Real Diaper Association, which is committed to spreading the word about cloth diapering, estimates that a family spends about $1,600 on disposable diapers for a child's first two years of life and even MORE if they aren't trained at 2 years of age or special needs! A supply of cloth diapers, which can be used on more than one child & can cost as little as $300. If you can't afford to buy all the diapers at once buy them gradually as your budget allows.
- DON'T: Add too much detergent to your wash. Cloth diapers wash clean with a surprisingly small amount of detergent. Use no more than half the recommended amount of detergent per load. If too much detergent is used residual detergent left on the diapers after washing can cause a build-up that leads to skin rashes, odors and leaky diapers.
