5 Common Cloth Diapering Mistakes
Cloth diapers can save you a lot of money in the long run, but they are a pretty significant up-front investment to make. If you don’t feel totally confident that you know how to shop for, use, and wash/dry the diapers, it’s easy to just give up the idea! Or you might be cloth diapering already and you realize your diapers came out of the washer stinky…uh oh. Make the best out of your cloth diapering adventure and keep your diapers (and baby’s bottom) in PERFECT condition by avoiding these 5 common cloth diapering pitfalls!
Buying your whole cloth diapering stash before baby is here
Diapers are kind of like those “one size fits all” clothes…in that they don’t actually fit all. Each body is different and this goes for babies too! Some cloth diaper types work better on babies with chunky leg rolls. Some types are well suited to heavy wetters. We recommend buying a few different brands and types of cloth diapers so you can see what kind fits both your baby’s shape/size and your needs for ease of use as well. You might find that AI1 (all in one) diapers are a much better fit than those cute pocket diapers you initially had your eye on. When you find the kind that works perfectly for your baby, you can go crazy buying them if you want to. ;)
2. Using the wrong laundry products in your wash routine
Many commercial laundry detergents contain additives such as softeners, fragrances, bleaches, and other chemicals which can actually ruin your diapers. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are a common culprit, as they leave a water-resistant film on fabrics - and that’s the opposite of what we want to do to our absorbent cloth diapers! You need to make sure your laundry detergent is approved for safe laundering of cloth diapers while also being strong enough for your home’s water hardness level. We have a thorough list of approved detergents in our Cloth Diaper 101 online class!
3. Storing dirty diapers in a wet pail
If it’s been a minute since you used cloth diapers, you might remember that people used to recommend storing wet and dirty diapers in a wet pail. The idea was that soaking the diapers until wash day would help prevent stains and odors. Now we know that letting our diapers sit in stagnant soiled water isn’t a good solution. This can foster some serious bacterial and fungal growth, and actually further soak the smells into the diapers and make them harder to get clean. They may have to be stripped and sanitized more often than they would otherwise. We also have to mention the very serious risk to small children of having a bucket of water sitting in your house. We recommend that you hang on to your dirty diapers in a dry pail, or a laundry basket lined with a wet bag to allow for plenty of air flow.
4. Washing in cold water
We recommend that you never wash your cloth diapers in cold water. Your water should be between 104 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit for all washes in your routine. You can check your water heater and make sure the temperature is appropriate. This will ensure that the diapers are properly cleaned between uses.
5. Not washing diapers often enough
You want to wash your cloth diapers every 1-2 days. If you don’t use enough cloth diapers to wash this often, consider putting your day’s worth of diapers through a pre-wash every night and store in a dry pail until you’re ready to do the main wash on Day 2-4. Not washing the diapers often enough can lead to ammonia buildup, which causes odors and diaper rashes. Taking that extra step of daily pre-washing helps keep those diapers, and your baby’s bottom, in great condition.
Need more information on cloth diapering? Like how to get a cloth diaper washing routine that works with YOUR washer? And what laundry detergents are safe to use with cloth diapers? You need our Cloth Diaper 101 online course!