I was inspired to write about this subject after getting so many inquiries from families who struggle to find concrete information. So, in this post, I will go into detail about our experience with cloth diapers, explain to you the different options, how we wash them, and our general viewpoint from the beginning to now, 14 months later.

I remember my partner and I started looking into the subject during my pregnancy. It looked like the best option for us, as we live very eco-consciously. The idea of having to through away countless diapers every day just didn’t feel right to us. Did you know that in the first few weeks, a baby can use up to 12 diapers a day?! Don’t worry, that number will go down eventually, but still, we use around 6-8 diapers daily.

The brand we most liked, after reading countless reviews, was Bambino Mio. They are a bit more expensive, however, the quality is great! We read that the recommended amount is 20+ diapers. So, it is an initial big investment, but in the long run, it is much cheaper. We spent around €500 on diapers and inlays. We have 22 and wash every 2-3 days. One year of washing and drying has not made any significant difference. They are all still completely intact and the beautiful colors are still vivid.

I will now go into detail about our washing methods, as I think this is what worried us most.

So, we read a lot of blogs on the matter and obviously took into account the advice from the brand. Every brand has different recommendations, but in general, they all allow for machine wash & dry. This is super convenient, as it would take ages to air dry all the diapers. We wash them on a long cycle, at 60 degrees Celsius, and with our regular hypoallergenic detergent. Also, we add a scoop of a special, eco-friendly detergent with activated oxygen. This product kills bacteria and has a brightening effect, but without being hazardous or toxic. After we dry them on a long yet delicate cycle, and voilà! Now all that’s left is folding, which takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

Before babies start solids, their poop is pretty liquid (if you know, you know). So before putting them in the hamper or washing machine, first rinse this off. As babies start BLW, their poops will become more solid, so these can literally just be thrown in the toilet or trash, and they hardly leave any Important skid marks.

Buy a special hamper for the diapers. We have a small trash bin with a good lid, so the smell doesn’t come out. Not the regular diaper bin though, as they usually don’t fit or get stuck.

Cloth diapers are usually one size, which means they have buttons to change the fit as your baby grows. We got the classic model, which is made all in one piece with an attached absorbent layer which you take out before washing. Since Mia is about 6 months, we added another absorbent inlay for the nights.

Now at 14 months, some nights we have experienced leaks, so we’re still thinking about how to solve it. Although I have spoken to other mothers using disposable diapers, having the same exact problem. I guess the older our little ones become, the bigger and fuller their bladders will be. For now, we’ve started using disposable ones at night and when we go out, otherwise we end up changing outfits too many times.

There are various options when it comes to cloth diapers, but we found the idea of all-in-one the most convenient for us. The price per diaper ranges from €15 to €25, but most brands also have bundle packs which lower the price somewhat.

I also want to mention, that we hardly ever use diapers or rash cream, as Mia has simply never needed it. Only sometimes after a big poop or when we’ve used commercial disposable diapers. So, this is also cost-reducing. Our diaper cream has literally passed its expiration date. Cloth diapers are super soft, and I guess much more comfortable for the baby, even in the summer. Our daughter definitely prefers them.

I hope this has cleared up some of your doubts about the matter. If you have any more questions, I will be glad to answer them. Warm regards, Lisa.