The thought of cloth diapers can feel big at first. Where do you start, how many do you need, and how does it actually work in everyday life with broken sleep and mountains of washing? Here's the reassuring news: getting started with cloth diapers doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing project. You can start small, feel your way, and let it grow at your own pace.
This guide goes through what you need to get started with cloth diapers – what to have at home, how to deal with the poo and the washing, and how to find a routine that suits your particular family. No finger-wagging, just the practical side.
It doesn't have to be all or nothing
There's no right amount to start with. For some it feels good to go in wholeheartedly and use cloth diapers full-time straight away. Others start with just a few, try at a calm pace and top up as they go. Both paths are perfectly right – it's about what feels manageable for you right now.
A common and comfortable approach is to combine. Perhaps cloth diapers at home during the day and something else at night or while traveling to begin with. Over time you'll notice for yourself where the line is, and then you can move it.
What's good to have at home?
When you're getting started with cloth diapers, a few basics are all you need. This is a suggestion – different families have different needs, but a little guidance can be welcome:
- Cloth diapers: around 3 to try, or around 24 for full-time. Our diapers are one size and adjusted in size with snaps at the front, so the same diaper follows you through the whole diapering period. Slim suits the smaller ones and Comfort the slightly bigger ones – but no one grows out of their diaper along the way, you just re-snap it.
- Inserts: the absorbent part that does the job. Around 5 to start, or 20–30 for full-time.
- Wet bag: a waterproof storage bag for used diapers. One to start, a couple for full-time.
If you'd like everything together from the start, a Starter Kit is a simple way to avoid piecing the parts together yourself – then diapers, inserts and accessories come in a well-judged set.
How does a cloth diaper work?
A cloth diaper is simpler than it sounds. In short, it consists of a waterproof and breathable cover on the outside and an absorbent insert on the inside. Closest to the child's skin there's often a stay-dry layer that draws the moisture away, so it feels dry against the bottom even while the insert is working.
Today's cloth diapers are well thought through, functional and – dare we say – really lovely. They have little in common with the cloth diapers of the past. You use them much like a disposable, the difference being that you wash them instead of throwing them away. The same diapers follow you through the whole diapering period and can often pass on to a sibling or be resold afterwards.
What do you do with the poo?
This question almost always comes up – and the answer is undramatic. Solid stools you simply tip into the toilet. If it's loose, it's usually fine to wipe it off with a little toilet paper.
If the child is breastfed, or has formula, the poo is water-soluble. Then you don't need to do anything before washing – it dissolves in the pre-wash. A tip for anyone who wants to simplify things further: place a disposable insert on top in the diaper. Then the stool lands on it, and you can tip it off or throw it away straight away.
In short, it's not nearly as unpleasant as you might think before you've tried it.
Storing and washing – it really is this simple
Between washes you store the used diapers in a wet bag. That gives you waterproof storage that keeps the smell at bay, and the diapers can sit there for up to around four days. If they need to wait longer, you dry or rinse them in between.
The wash itself is done at 60°C, ideally with plenty of water since the inserts are made to hold a lot of moisture. Use the gentle detergent you already use for the child's other washing. If you'd like to go deeper into the routines, we have a separate guide on washing and storing cloth diapers.
Start where it feels good
The lovely thing about getting started with cloth diapers is that you don't need to have everything sorted from day one. Get a few diapers, try your way forward, and let the routine settle. After a couple of weeks the handling becomes second nature, and then it simply becomes part of everyday life.
If you'd like a gentle start, our Starter Kits with cloth diapers and accessories are a simple way to get everything at once. And if you're wondering about anything along the way – get in touch in the chat, we're happy to help.
By Emelie, founder of Time Ahead Sweden — mother of three and curious about how, as a parent, you can make considered choices in everyday life.