Cloth Diaper Registry
Thinking about cloth diapering? Here’s what to add to your baby registry.
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Cloth diapering may have been on your mind prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Or, in light of recent inventory and supply issues around everything from groceries to baby goods, maybe you’ve recently begun to research cloth diapers as a good alternative to disposables.
Either way–cloth diapering can be a great choice for families looking to save money and reduce their environmental impact. You’ll need to do a bit of research before you dive in, though. You’ll also need some cloth diaper-specific items on your baby registry that families who are planning to use disposable diapers won’t.
Cloth Diapering 101
There’s no shortage of information out there on cloth diapering–but it’s tough to sort through it all, especially if you’re just beginning your research.
Here are some of our favorite resources we recommend to kick things off as you’re trying to figure out what’s right for you:
- Cloth Diapering 101
- Pros and Cons of Disposable vs. Cloth Diapers
- Best Cloth Diapers
- How to Wash Cloth Diapers video and guide
Another resource we love is Fluff University. Their site covers everything from how to cloth diaper a newborn to dirty diaper storage and so, so much more. They’ve even created a down and dirty (see what we did there?) cloth diapering cheat sheet with the essential information you need all in one place.
Cloth Diaper Registry
If you like what you’ve learned about cloth diapering and decide to move ahead, there are some specific items you’ll want to have ready to go when baby arrives. You can add all of these items to your registry now and purchase anything you didn’t receive right before your little one’s due date so you’re prepared.
These are the products that seasoned parents consistently recommend as must-haves and will make your life as a cloth diapering family a lot easier.
Cloth Diapers
Your first–and most important–decision is going to be which type of cloth diaper you want to use. There are four basic kinds to choose from: prefolds/flats, fitted, pockets and all-in-ones.
Many Babylist families choose pockets and all-in-ones as their cloth diaper of choice, but figuring out what works for you is really a matter of preference. Your budget and your comfort level with cloth diapering will all factor into your decision.
Don’t rush into anything right away. Take your time, do your research and don’t be afraid to buy a small quantity of a few different types of cloth diapers to try before you commit to a full set. Here are some of the most popular choices you may want to browse:
- bumGenius Freetime All-In-One One-Size Cloth Diaper
- GroVia Reusable Hybrid Baby Cloth Diaper Shell (For these you’ll also need GroVia Organic Cotton Soaker Pads, too. And they also come in a snap option.)
- Charlie Banana Cloth Diaper
- Bambino Mio Miosolo All-In-One Reusable Cloth Diaper
- Rumparooz Cloth Pocket Diaper
Diaper Pail & Liner
Even though you’ll be tossing your diapers in the washing machine every few days, you’ll need a place to store them in between laundry loads. You’ll want to look for a diaper pail with a large lid or a wide opening (cloth diapers tend to be bulkier than disposables) and a reusable pail liner that can be thrown in the wash right along with your soiled diapers.
This is the hands-down favorite diaper pail for many cloth diapering families. That’s because it has a large, wide opening and a foot pedal to operate the lid so you’ll never have to fumble with getting it opened or closed.
dekor Plus Diaper Pail - Gray
This reusable liner takes the place of the disposable plastic liners that you often see paired with many diaper pails. It has a drawstring closure that pulls completely closed and makes it easy to tote your dirty diapers right over to your laundry area–where the whole thing can be thrown right into the wash.
Dekor Cloth Diaper Liner
If you’re looking for a simpler option that resembles a garbage can rather than a traditional diaper pail, this is our favorite pick. It’s not hands-free, but the wide lid is easy to get on and off and there’s a carbon filter built in to help minimize odor. It’s also made from recycled plastic.
Busch Systems Odorless Cloth Diaper Pail
Wipes
Just because you’re using cloth diapers doesn’t mean you also need to use cloth wipes, and vice versa; you should do whatever works best for your family. It’s also okay to use a mix of both–lots of families choose to use cloth wipes at home and disposables on the go.
If you do decide on cloth wipes, we like the setup of having a basket of wipes with a spray bottle of water next to it. You can also use a soothing bottom wash in lieu of water, or this diapering lotion that some parents rave about.
These disposable wipes are made with 99% water, so they’re extra soft on your little one’s delicate skin.
Pampers Aquapure Baby Wipes - 336
For a cloth option, we love these wipes made from cotton fibers.
Bambino Mio Cloth Baby Wipes - Rainbow
If you prefer a hemp and bamboo option (it’s a bit thinner and more pliable than cotton, which some parents like) these are our pick.
Kashmir Baby Organic Cloth Wipes
Wet Bag
You’ll want a wet bag (or a few) on hand when you’re cloth diapering away from home. Wet bags keep dirty diapers (and other things like swimsuits or dirty clothes) away from the rest of your stuff, then can be tossed in the wash to use again and again.
This Skip Hop bag is a good choice thanks to its multiple pockets and easy-access zippered top.
Skip Hop Grab & Go Wet/Dry Bag - Chevron
You can’t beat the fun, unique patterns on these wet bags. We also like the hanging loop that attaches right to your diaper bag or stroller.
Bambino Mio Wet Bag - Honeybee Hive
Diaper Sprayer
There is one downside of cloth diapering: cleanup. While diapers soiled with breastmilk can go directly into the wash, solid waste from formula or solids does need to be removed from the diaper before it hits your washing machine. And that’s where a diaper sprayer comes in handy.
A diaper sprayer features a hose on one end that attaches to a pipe behind your toilet and a sprayer nozzle on the other. When it’s time to rinse out the diaper, simply hold it over your toilet and use the water pressure from the nozzle end to spray the waste off directly into the toilet.
While it is possible to get by with just a diaper sprayer (like this one), we recommend a sprayer and a shield option. The shield helps to contain the mess and prevents water (and poop) from getting everywhere.
Spray Pal Cloth Diaper Sprayer and Splatter Shield Bundle
Laundry Detergent
Many cloth diaper brands have their own recommendations on what detergent is best to use with their particular diapers. (Many also have tutorials on how best to wash cloth diapers, so you’ll want to check those out too.) You may also need to do some trial and error on your own to figure out which detergent you like best.
Recommended by one of our cloth diapering pros, Biokleen’s free and clear formula does a great job of tackling stains, is easy to use and is very cost-effective.
Biokleen Free and Clear Laundry Detergent
Another popular choice, Puracy is one of our favorite natural detergents that’s safe, effective and isn’t made with any harsh chemicals.
Puracy Baby Laundry Detergent
Extras
Lots of parents choose to add flushable, biodegradable liners to their little one’s cloth diapers, especially after baby’s poop becomes more solid around six months of age or so. The liners sit between the absorbent portion of the cloth diaper and baby’s skin and help to contain the waste. This can help cut down on laundry and extend the life of your cloth diaper.
Weegreeco Bamboo Diaper Liners
You may also want to look into a diaper cleaning service in your area. These services pick up your dirty diapers and drop off clean ones on a weekly basis. Most require that you supply all of the “accessories”—diaper covers, fasteners, the diaper pail, etc., while the service takes care of the actual diapers (many use prefolds). Cleaning services add to your budget, of course, but are great options for families who may not have easy access to laundry (think urban families) or for those who simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of washing diapers.
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