HOW DO I GET STARTED WITH CLOTH DIAPERS?

How many diapers will I need?
You obviously need more than a couple diapers. Ideally, you should have enough diapers to last about three days before you need to do laundry. It is estimated that you will need 36 diapers for a newborn and 24 for an older baby or toddler (newborns need to be changed more often).

What kind of diapers should I use?
The kind of diapers you should purchase is highly subjective. Some mothers swear by prefolds and vinyl pants. Other mothers will only use pocket diapers. You will find that most mothers prefer a little variety.

When choosing a diaper system, it is important to keep a few things in mind. Pocket or All-in-One diapers have a built-in cover, but other types of diapers will need separate covers. When using a system with separate covers, you won't need as many covers as diapers. Covers can usually be re-used several times before they are washed. I found that having just five PUL covers is plenty. If I do happen to run out of clean covers, they can be quickly rinsed off, dried, and used again.

Every system has its pros and cons. After you try out a certain type of diaper that you were sure would be the best, you might find that you didn't like it as well as you thought you would. That's why it is important to try out one or two diapers before you buy 36 of them. What if you did buy 36 diapers and then you find out you hate them? Don't despair, just sell them! You probably paid good money for those diapers, and you can get good money in return. Try selling them on diaper swappers, craigslist, or our own local diaper classifieds. Gently-used cloth diapers (especially name brands) are hot items and can usually be sold for close to what you originally paid.

What about all the different sizes that are available?
Don't forget to consider the sizing of the diapers that you choose. Some diapers are one-size-fits-all, and others come in five different sizes. The standard diaper sizes are newborn, small, medium, large, and extra-large. Most babies will grow out of the newborn size within one month. Larger babies may never fit a newborn diaper! Unless you have unlimited cloth diaper funds, I wouldn't buy 36 fancy fitted newborn diapers. I had a few fitteds that would fit a tiny baby, but I used mainly flat birdseye diapers on my newborn. He fit a small diaper by the time he was two weeks old. Small diapers should fit your baby for about three to five months. (Keep in mind that these numbers are general estimates as not all babies and diapers are the same.) Your child should spend most of their diapering days in medium and large sizes. You probably won't need extra-large diapers unless you have an exceptionally large child or a late potty-trainer. (Remember, babies in cloth diapers tend to potty train earlier.)

You should be aware that different brands will fit your baby differently. Every baby is different, so what fits your neighbor's baby best may not be the best fit for your baby. As your baby grows, you may find that the brand of diaper that fit him well in a small size may not fit so well in a medium. Continue to sample different types of diapers as your child grows.

How can I afford a stash of cloth diapers?
Switching to cloth diapers will save you money, but the cost of acquiring an initial stash is enough to keep some babies in disposables. If money is tight, just start small. Buy a dozen gerber flat or prefold diapers and a few pairs of vinyl pants. That should be enough to last you about a day and a half. Once you have that foundation, start to accumulate different cloth diapers a few at a time. Try buying some used diapers from one of the above websites. Don't be afraid to ask around for donations; you may have a friend or a family member that knows someone with a stash of unused cloth diapers. Most people are more than willing to donate their old diapers to someone who needs them.

If you are pregnant, start accumulating a few diapers every month. When a friend gives you a baby shower, tell them that you would like a cloth diaper shower! Let them know which kinds of diapers you would like to try, and have them put this information in the invitations.

For those who would like to try sewing, I highly recommend sewing your own diapers to save money. You don't have to spend a lot of money on fancy diaper fabrics (you can spend a lot, but you don't have to). It's easy to make diapers out of old t-shirts, towels, sheets, and other things lying around your house. Even if you don't know how to sew, you can borrow a machine from a friend and start learning. Diapers are not that hard to make, and you will probably learn quickly with a little trial and error. For more on this exciting subject, please browse our Sew Your Own Diapers section.

For those of you who have a lot of trouble making ends meet, stop throwing away your money on expensive disposable diapers! There are organizations that can help by lending out a stash of cloth diapers. Fill out an online application at Miracle Diapers. If you meet their requirements, they will send you the diapers you need. You will need to pay shipping costs and promise to send the diapers back when you no longer need them.