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So here’s the thing about cloth diapering. There’s a lot of information everywhere, and it’s hard to know who to trust. I remember that feeling almost eight years ago while pregnant with my first child. I knew I wanted to cloth diaper for several reasons: health, the environment and to support small and sustainable companies. What I didn’t know I learned by trial and error. Here are my ten tried and true tips on how to cloth diaper your baby. Cloth Diaper Supplies to Have on Hand before Birth: • Two dozen cloth diapers of your choice (prefolds are really my all-time favorite and easiest on time) • One dozen cloth diaper covers of your choice ( I prefer soft merino wool covers with Velcro tabs and a few fleece elastic leg/waist covers for around the house, along with a few Whisper Wraps for being outside the home) • Two sets of Snappi’s: these are snazzy little gadgets that replace the crazy idea of using pins to hold those prefolds in place. They will become one of your new favorite things. • Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm • Cornstarch (to help in keeping dry your baby’s bum) • Four dozen soft organic cotton or flannel wipes, average 6”x6” with serged edges: these work great for wiping noses, creases, bums, catching breast milk, getting under baby’s chin and any other quick and gentle clean up you can think of. • A small bottle of olive oil (a few ounces will do) to apply to baby’s bottom after birth: this will aide in wiping off of the first tarry meconium poop your baby has…believe me on this one. • A simple and small garbage pail with a lid for tossing in the dirty diapers for laundering. • A biodegradable and scent free laundry detergent recommended for laundering diapers such as Bio-Kleen products with grapefruit extract: BUT, keep in mind, laundry is laundry and use whatever biodegradable and non- toxic detergent you prefer. • Do have on hand one package of disposable diapers of your choice and here’s why: someone will give them to you as a shower gift or new baby gift and they may not be the brand of your choice. There are chlorine and chemical free disposable diapers out there: Seventh Generation, GDiapers (these are flushable), and Nature Baby Care are the three I have used and trust. You will want them on hand for last minute outings, to stash a few in the car, etc. Then, you can return the ones purchased for you and use the store credit for other necessities of your choosing. The benefit of a cloth diaper delivery service: The idea of a cloth diaper delivery service seemed so great to me and it turned out to be the best baby shower gift I ever received. My mother in law blessed me with six weeks of this service and it was a life saver. The service rinses, launders, folds, picks up and delivers your diapers every single week. You literally take the diaper off your baby and place it in the diaper pail they give you and set it out on the front step on delivery day. How easy is that? For my first we utilized this service for 3 months and for my second child I hung onto it for a full 6 months! To find out if there is a cloth diaper delivery service in your area check out this great resource: www.realdiaperassociation.org NaturallyRaisingFamilies
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