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Cloth Diaper Basics: Common Cloth Diaper Questions
August 17, 2015 5:04 pm | by


Using cloth diapers is easy. Seriously. But like most people who try something new, you’re initially going to have A LOT of questions. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the most common things we’re asked about cloth diapers — and we’ve included the answers 🙂

1. People still use cloth diapers?

  • YES. YES. ANNNNNNNNNND YES. As a matter of fact, cloth diapering has become increasingly popular because of the environmental and economical benefits. Over time, cloth diapers have evolved way beyond pins and prefolds, and newer systems are just as simple to use as disposable diapers.

2. What are the major benefits to using cloth diapers?

  • Cloth diapers are good for your baby , budget and planet. So if you you were ever thinking about using disposables instead of cloth, here are some facts to consider:
    • Disposable diapers are the third most common consumer product in landfills today, and may take up to 500 years to decompose.
    • One baby in disposable diapers will contribute 1 ton of waste to your local landfill.
    • On average, disposable diapers can cost an average family more than $2,000 over the course of 2 years.
    • Most disposables contain very harsh ingredients like Dioxins, bleach and plastic, which could cause skin sensitivities or rashes. This is very concerning for parents.

3. Does it take a lot of extra work to use cloth diapers?

If spending 30 minutes stuffing diapers and adding 1-2 extra loads of laundry each week seems like too much work when it comes to saving thousands of dollars, then yes. But think of it this way: you’re regularly washing your clothes and you can use all-in-one systems like the bumGenius Freetime to skip out on stuffing. If you do use a pocket system like bumGenius 4.0 and need to stuff some diapers, take care of it when you have extra downtime. Hey, you may even have an older child who likes to help with laundry anyway.  Rinsing poopy diapers with a sprayer can add.. oh, a mere 30 seconds to your routine. Long story short, it really doesn’t take a whole lot of extra work to use cloth diapers.

4. Do cloth diapers cost a lot of money?

  • Depending on your wants and needs, you can use systems like Econonum that allow you to cloth diaper your baby for $100 from birth to potty training. With disposables, you have to pay for a new diaper with each change, which gets expensive! A 92-pack of disposables is $33 on Amazon! Do the math.

5. What do I do with the poop?

  • You can get the scoop on poop here.

6. Will my house smell like a diaper pail if I use cloth diapers?

This is a myth. You should not experience any more odor with cloth than you would with disposables. Plus, you can use a diaper pail (as you would with disposables) to help contain any odors.  Vented pails are a great option to check out, as the air flow will help prevent issues with your diapers such as mold. Top with a carbon filter, and the stink will absorb, naturally.

7. How many diapers do I need?

  • For one child, we recommend having at least 24 diapers/covers on hand. Wash at least every other day and rotate your stash evenly.

8. How do I know which cloth diapers are right for me?

  • THIS blog post will help.

9.  Aren’t cloth diapers hard to wash?

NO! Washing and detergent information can be downloaded here.

10. Can I save money with cloth diapers?

When you buy disposable diapers, you are throwing away money with each diaper change. Literally. Exactly how much you’ll save will vary depending on what brand of disposable diapers you (don’t) purchase and what brand of cloth diapers you choose. However, you will save AT LEAST $1000/baby by using cloth diapers. That’s enough money to put into savings, pay a bill, or even take a family vacation. A little goes a long way, especially if you’re on a budget.

For additional questions about cloth diapers, give us a call at 1-314-892-1855. We’d love to help!


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  • jenifer jolly said...
    August 22, 2015 at 4:20 am

    There are many reason for using cloth diapers. such as : it is echo friendly, it is washable, it is more econimical. That is why you can use it.i have already use it.

  • Tabitha said...
    August 20, 2015 at 11:58 am

    What’s the best way to hand wash my Bumgenius diapers? Is it safe to soak and for how long? And how long should I agitate the water?