7 Essential Cloth Diaper Supplies
The last couple of decades have seen an amazing increase in the available choices in cloth diapering supplies. Industrious people the world over are creating, manufacturing, and marketing unique diaper designs, covers, and a number of other specialty products to help make life with baby just a little easier.
How do you know what’s right for you? That’s not a question with an easy answer, but perhaps this will help you to get started: a list of basic cloth diapering supplies.
I’ll be honest; cloth diapering isn’t the glamour road, but it’s also not the bankruptcy road! Cloth diapering was always meant to be good for the baby, good for the earth, and good for the pocketbook.
Basic Supplies for Cloth Diapering
- Diapers
- Covers
- Diaper Pail
- Pail Liners
- Cleaning Agent
- Vinegar
- Baking Soda
Diapers and covers are self-explanatory, although you might be interested to know that in some countries they use a cloth diaper with no cover. I learned this from our Russian nursery providers at a church we attended in Wichita, Kansas.
Then, in other less wealthy countries, they don’t use diapers at all. We tend to think of this as a horrible set of circumstances, and it is when they don’t have proper ways to manage their waste. Done properly, however, this can be a viable option, as babies and mommies become trained to recognize the signs of “needing to go” and can do it over the toilet. While not a mainstream idea, it is something to think about.
A diaper pail is simply a means of storing used diapers until washing time. A tall pail (sometimes called a diaper hamper), 54 quart size, is nice for holding a full load of diapers, but takes longer to fill, of course. A small pail allows you to empty out more often, but then you either wash smaller loads or have to store them somewhere else until you’ve built up enough for a full, large load.
Next, I recommend pail liners, either washable or disposable, to help keep the pail clean. Trust me, you do not want to be washing out your pail every time you do laundry. I have nightmares from washing out two dozen of those things at a time during the days of my diaper service. Ugh.
From there, you need a cleaning agent of some kind. Most people use detergent, although there are ways to use pure soap in the laundry. Beyond that there are non-detergent cleaning options that you may wish to explore.
And finally, I personally recommend the use of vinegar and baking soda at various points in the washing process because of the benefits they offer. If you’d like to know more about my thoughts on that, consider purchasing my e-book, Home-Washing Your Baby’s Diapers. Vinegar and baking soda are available in bulk and at a good price at Sam’s Club.
Search for these items by typing in the search box at left.
Almost Essential Add-On Supplies for Cloth Diapering
- Pins, Clips, or Snappis
- Flushable Liners — click the link to learn more
- Deodorizing Disks
- Diaper Duck
All diapers must be secured onto baby in one manner or another. The simplest method, in my opinion, is the velcro diaper cover. But if you prefer the less expensive pull-on cover or a snap cover, you’ll either need to pin, clip, or use the Snappi.
Flushable liners make your job of cleaning diapers easier. Read more about them here.
Deodorizing disks are a nice way to freshen the diaper pail between washing times. Combine their use with PureAyre Odor Eliminator, and your nursery should smell fresh and clean–even with diapers!
The Diaper Duck is a handy invention that also, like the flushable liner, makes your cleaning job easier.
Search for these items by typing in the search box at left.
Need More Information?
If you’d like to know more about the supplies used in washing diapers at home, you can find it in my e-book entitled Home-Washing Your Baby’s Diapers. Included is information about basic supplies and the almost essential add-ons discussed above. This 14-page guide discusses the five steps involved in home-washing diapers: Storing, Pre-Rinsing/Pre-Soaking, Washing, Rinsing, and Drying. Every step is covered in detail, with explanations, definitions, and measurements for your convenience. Packed full of information, this guide will help you experience success as a home-washer.