Questions, questions, and more questions. Everyone looking into cloth diapering has plenty of questions at the start.
I’ve tried to gather most of the questions that I get over and over again on this cloth diaper FAQ page. Many of the questions need a healthy dose of explanation, and in those cases, I’ll give you the short answer here and link you to other pages on this site where I’ve answered the question in full and with links to necessary resources (like diaper retailers, or scientific resources).
If you’re brand new to cloth diapers and this is the first cloth diaper resource you’ve seen, I really recommend stopping here and heading over to my Cloth Diapers 101 page for a primer on cloth diapers and their care. That page will help you get your wits about you so that you know what questions you may want to ask.
Deciding to Use Cloth Diapers or Not
- Cloth diapers vs. disposable diapers; which should you choose?
- Are cloth diapers sanitary?
- Is it too late to start cloth diapering my toddler?
Diving in: Deciding What to Buy
After you’ve made the choice, and you’ve decided you’re going to try cloth diapers, you’ll have a lot of questions about what to buy and what not to buy. First things first, you’ll want to figure out what types of cloth diapers you want to try (there are a bunch of different kinds) and you’ll want to know how many you’ll need (it depends on your baby or babies and laundry habits).
Here’s the cloth diaper FAQ you’ll have at this stage:
Where to Buy Cloth Diapers
- Are there any good cloth diapers on Amazon?
- Are there cloth diapers at Target?
- Where can I find local cloth diaper retailers close to me? (directory by state /province)
Choosing Wisely: What Cloth Diapers are Best
Preparing Your Diapers for Use
There’s a lot of talk in the cloth diaper community around “prepping” or getting your diapers (new or used) ready for your baby.
- How do you prep new cloth diapers? (get them ready for your baby)
- How do you prep used cloth diapers? (clean and sanitize them for your baby)
Using Cloth Diapers: When/How to Change Baby and What to Do With the Poop
- How can you tell if cloth diaper is wet?
- What do you do with the poop?
- How do I store dirty diapers (before wash day)?
- How do you stuff a pocket diaper?
- How do you cloth diaper overnight?
- How do you cloth diaper a heavy wetter?
- Can cloth diapers be used As swim diapers?
Saving Money on Cloth Diapers
- Where can I find cloth diapers on sezzle?
- Where can I find cloth diaper sales, coupons, and deals?
- Where can I find Black Friday cloth diaper deals
- Where can I find Earth Day cloth diaper deals?
Newborn Cloth Diapers
Diaper Styles, Types, and Fabrics
Types of Cloth Diaper Systems
- What are all-in-one (AIO) diapers?
- What are all-in-two (AI2) diapers?
- What are hybrid diapers?
- What are prefold cloth diapers?
- What are fitted cloth diapers
- What are wool covers?
Fabric and Closure Choices
- Bamboo vs. bamboo charcoal (hint: they aren’t the same!)
- What is microfiber (and do you want it in your cloth diapers)?
- Microfiber vs. microfleece vs. microsuede (what’s the difference?)
- Hook & loop (Velcro) vs snaps (what closure to choose)
- What is Zorb (And Do You Want it in Your Cloth Diapers)?
Cloth Diaper Accessories
- What are Snappis and how do you use them?
- What Are diaper pods and are they useful?
- What are cloth diaper liners?
Lotions, Potions, Powders and Balms
- What’s a cloth safe diaper cream?
- Will Vaseline ruin cloth diapers?
- Is cornstarch safe for diaper rash (and cloth diapers)?
- Is vinegar safe for coth diapers?
- Do I need to use Calgon water softener when I wash cloth diapers?
Washing and Care
Laundry Detergents
- How to choose a laundry detergent
- Can you use homemade/ DIY detergents?
- Can you use soap nuts?
- What are optical brighteners and do you want them in your detergent?
Wash Routines
- Howdo I clean cloth diapers with poop?
- Can Cloth Diapers Be Washed With Other Clothes?
- Do You Have to Wash Pocket Diapers After Every Use?
- Can Cloth Diapers Go in the Dryer?
Troubleshooting Wash Problems
- Help! Why do my cloth diapers stink?
- Help! Why are my cloth diapers leaking?
- My baby has a rash, is it because of the cloth diapers?
- What’s The Problem WIth Fluff Love University Recommendations?
- Do You Have Detergent Buildup in your Cloth Diapers?
