Not sure about cloth diapers? 4 reasons to consider a switch

When your baby begins to outgrow those adorably teeny newborn diapers, you might be thinking about making the switch to cloth diapers. Many modern cloth diapers begin to fit baby’s little tushy at around 5 to 6 weeks, and will fit until that glorious day your little one is officially potty trained.

If you are contemplating making the switch to cloth diapers, but aren’t sure whether they’re the right fit for your family, here are 4 reasons so many moms have ditched disposables that might help in your decision.

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1. Cloth diapers could save you cash.

Yes, the upfront cost is high—around $20 for each high-quality diaper. But over the course of three years, cloth diapers could save you more than $2,000 compared to name-brand disposables, and even more if you opt for reusable wipes. We love the soft feel and absorbency of GroVia Cloth Wipes—even if you are using disposables! If you use your cloth diapers with a second child, the savings will be even more.

2. Cloth diapers may be better for the environment.

Over 4 million tons of disposable diapers are thrown into U.S. landfills every year, according to a 2017 EPA study. It’s true, cloth diapers do use more water, electricity, and cleaning detergent than disposables, but with the use of an energy-efficient washer and diaper-safe detergents (free of enzymes, brighteners, dyes, fragrances, softeners, and bleach), there’s more opportunity to be environmentally-friendly with cloth diapers. If you are looking for an effective (and inexpensive) diaper-safe detergent, we like Country Save.

3. Cloth diapers are a lot easier to use than you may think.

Gone are the days of sharp diaper pins and soaking dirty diapers. These days, cloth diapers are (almost) as easy as pie. Modern diapers use snaps or Velcro to fasten, making them fast and safe. We highly recommend diapers with snaps, as Velcro can lose its stickiness over time. When you are ready to change baby’s diaper, shake excess solids from a dirty diaper into the toilet and toss the used cloth diaper into a diaper pail (or a travel bag if you’re on the go), ready to be thrown in the wash whenever you have a spare minute. The great thing about modern cloth diapers is that there is an easy option for every family. Two popular options:

All-in-one diapers. Consisting entirely of one piece, these diapers go on and off with the same effort required of disposables. It doesn’t get much easier than these babies. Looking for suggestions? We love the protection Esembly outer diaper covers provide.

All-in-two diapers. These diapers consist of, you guessed it: two pieces. Usually, one-piece snaps into place on the inside. When the diaper is dirty, the inner soaker can be removed and the outer liner can be used again if it is still clean. Plus, some all-in-two diapers can be used as “hybrid” diapers, allowing a disposable insert to be used when needed. For a great hybrid all-in-two, we love GroVia diapers!

4. Cloth diapers aren’t all-or-nothing.

At the end of the day, the diapering system that works best for your life as a new mama is the only way to go—even if that means a combination of cloth and disposables, which many moms also swear by. You can use cloth diapers at home while keeping a small stash of disposables on hand for when you’re out and about, for example, or if your child’s daycare prefers to use disposables.

Diapering with a newborn can be a lot of work—who knew something so small could make so many diapers? If you are still wavering, we recommend buying a few diapers to test on your tiny tot. There are so many different colors and designs of cloth diapers, you might be amazed—and they’re easier, more sustainable and more affordable than you might think.