Cloth diapers are actually more breathable than disposable diapers. Especially when using diapers made from natural materials like cotton and hemp, covered with wool. Going coverfree when at home or outside playing in the yard is also a great way to air out during warm summer months. Some fabrics are warmer than others, like pocket diapers with microfleece or suede cloth seem to keep babies warmer than when using athletic wicking jersey or cotton closest to baby’s skin.

Yes! Cloth diapering overnight is definitely possible. You might need to up the absorbency a little or change them in the middle of the night when they are still pooping overnight. But that goes for disposable diapers as well. Choosing a diaper that gives a 360 coverage, for children that have started moving in their sleep, belly or side sleepers, might be your best bet. Many parents cloth diaper their children successfully overnight from birth to potty learning.

Yes! Wool is breathable and temperature regulating and can be used all year long. Natural fibers are amazing during summer. Wool with cotton absorbency is actually often recommended for diapering over PUL or fleece fabrics, when living in hot and humid areas.

It is an old wife’s tale that cloth diapers hinder gross motor skills. Truth is that all children reach their milestones on their own timeline. Cloth diapers do not hinder movement or delay the child reaching their milestones, like rolling, crawling and walking.

It is an old wife’s tale that cloth diapers hinder gross motor skills. Truth is that all children reach their milestones on their own timeline. Cloth diapers do not hinder movement or delay the child reaching their milestones, like crawling and walking etc. Cloth diapers are actually believed to be better for hip placement and development as they are wider and hold legs in their optimal position for socket and ligament development. Babies with hip dysplasia are often recommended bulky diapers, to double up the disposables or to use cloth diapers.

With the right absorbency and a good fit, no cloth diapers are not more prone to leaking than disposables. Cloth diapers have even proven to contain newborn blowouts better than disposable diapers. You might need to adjust the absorbency for nap and nighttime - and some children wet more than others. But that can be adjusted for the individual child.

Yes, even with a little increased water and electricity bill, they will save you money. They do have a significant start up cost, but will save you money in the long run. Even more if you buy preloved, sell them at the end of your child's diapering days or use them again with their younger siblings.

Cloth diapers should not stink. Clean cloth diapers should not smell of anything, they should smell clean. If your cloth diapers smell out of the washer or as soon as the baby has wet them, you might need to tweak your wash routine.

No, stained diapers do not mean your diapers are dirty. If the stain is crusty and you can scrape at it, then it is not just staining, and needs a better wash. Most likely, better agitation or more or better detergent.

It is recommended to wash the diapers every 2-3 days. While some might have no problems washing once a week, most parents start having issues when washing is not done frequently enough. If you want the diapers to last, washing frequently is key. Ammonia develops so fast, and it starts ‘eating’ the diapers. Ammonia is especially hard on natural fibers. The diapers start developing holes and inserts start balding - and lose their absorbency.
If washing every 2-3 days does not work for your family, we would recommend doing the pre-rinse frequently, hang them to dry and then do a full main wash as it fits your family’s schedule.

Some prefer using store bought wet wipes to use with cloth diapers, but according to our readers the majority chooses to use reusable cloth wipes instead. Some parents choose to use wet wipes when out of the house for convenience. There is no one way to cloth diaper, you need to find a way that fits your family’s goal, budget and lifestyle.

It depends on what system you choose to use, how old your child is and how often you want to do laundry. But our general guideline is 36 diapers for newborns, 24 for infants and 20 for toddlers if doing laundry every 2-3 days.

If well cared for they usually last a few years, and can often last through multiple siblings. But it does depend on how you care for them, how often you wash them, the detergent used and how big your stash is.

Diapers should be changed or checked at least every 2 hours, no matter if you use cloth diapers or single use diapers. You wouldn’t want your child to sit in their own urine.

You generally don’t need to strip diapers, unless you are dealing with some wash issues or when you buy preloved diapers. Stripping diapers is very harsh on the diapers, so it shouldn’t be done unless necessary.

If the wool cover smells when it is dry, it is time to wash.

Any age! Every cloth diaper that you use saves a disposable diaper from landfill. Many start using cloth diapers right from birth, others as soon as they come home from the hospital, while some choose to start as soon as the baby fits OS diapers. It is never too late to switch to cloth diapers.

Up front cost, laundry and learning curve for the babysitters.

Inserts are the absorbent part of cloth diapering, often stuffed into pocket diapers. Liners on the other hand are not absorbent, but a thin layer laid on top of the diaper closest to baby’s skin to protect your diapers from rash creams, help baby feel dry or to help with poop cleanup.

Cloth diapers are an economical and more environmentally friendly option than their disposable alternative. Up until 1950 cloth diapers were the only way, but single use diapers became the norm the following years, not knowing that disposable diapers will take around 500 years to decompose in the landfill. As we became more environmentally conscious, many caregivers decided to do what they could to reduce baby’s contribution to landfill the first few years. So they turned back to cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are also just so darn cute!

Improper storage or improper washing is the biggest factor contributing to your diapers growing mold.

There are many reasons why some parents choose to use single use diapers for their child. They might not realize there are so many great options to choose from, or they might believe some misconceptions about them that they have read. The biggest reason is probably convenience. The convenience of not washing diapers.

There are many reasons why parents choose cloth diapers. The most common reasons are economical, environmental, the cuteness factor or to keep harsh chemicals found in disposable diapers and wipes away from their child.

The initial wash cycle is a prewash to get rid of most of the pee and poop, and the second wash, that we call main wash, is to deep clean them. As many new washers have become High efficient (HE) they are programmed to save water and by choosing one cycle with a pre-rinse option, the machine might not fully drain the water between prewash and the main wash cycle, resulting in washing with a soiled water. That’s why it is recommended to do two separate wash cycles.