How to Start with Cloth Diapers

I’m often reluctant to advise one cloth diaper brand or style to families starting out with cloth. There is no one right way to cloth diaper or one right fit for every family. There are many variables to consider when building your cloth diaper stash. What’s right for me might not be right for you.

But families who are new to cloth don’t want to hear this answer. They know that you could research cloth diapers for a week, consider every variable, and still wonder what to buy. Sometimes you just want someone to cut through the noise and choices. I’ve cloth diapered 3 children over the past 5 years and I definitely have my preferred styles and brands.

Today, I’ve decided to share my current recommendations for How to Start with Cloth Diapers. I based them on cost, convenience, accessibility, quality, and fit. These are  the diapers and accessories I find myself using first at home, packing in the diaper bag, or using at night. I also believe they make great choices for novice or experienced cloth diaper families.

DAY TIME AND DIAPER BAG CLOTH DIAPERS

Cloth diapering should be easy and I love the reusable shells and soakers from Grovia. Unlike other one-sized diapers, the inserts don’t need to be folded in the front to fit smaller babies. They are absorbent, easy to snap in, and the covers come in adorable prints! I like the No-Prep Soakers, but you can choose from 3 options. You can certainly get by with less shells and soakers, but this will ensure you have diapers on wash day, can keep a few in a diaper bag, and even use a shell as a swim diaper.

15 Grovia Hybrid Shells

35 to 45 Grovia Soakers

You don’t need All-In-Ones in addition to shells, but I like having a few AIOs on hand. These affordable diapers come in cute prints and are ideal for the diaper bag, babysitter, or lazy diapering days.

6 Diaper Rite AIOs

NIGHT TIME CLOTH DIAPERS

Fitteds are my trusted go-to cloth diapers for night time. If you have a heavy wetter and/or want a diaper that baby can wear comfortably throughout the night, make sure you have a few of these. Three is a great number, so you always have one on hand while diapers are washing or drying. You can use your Grovia Hybrid Shells as covers for the fitteds.

3 Tots Bots Bamboozle Fitteds

Stay Dry Liners

HOME WET BAGS

I think a very large hanging wet bag for home dirty cloth diaper laundry is ideal to keep in your bathroom or laundry room. Funky Fluff makes my favorite version of this. The Rumparooz larger bag is great to keep near other common diaper changing areas in your home.

2 Funky Fluff Hanging Wet Bags

1 Rumparooz Wet Bag

TRAVEL WET BAGS

I like keeping one wet bag in the car at all times and having 2 to rotate in my diaper bag. That way, I always have a wet bag available. These wet/dry bags allow you to keep clean diapers in one pocket and dirty diapers in another. You can also store your cloth diaper accessories, like wipes and spray, in one of the pockets. The PUL will keep everything clean and dry. It’s also great to have a few inexpensive, simple wet bags. like Diaper Rite, on hand.

1 Maxwell Designs Wet/Dry Bag

1 to 2 Diaper Rite Wet Bags

 

CLOTH DIAPER LAUNDRY 

Detergent might be the most contentious topic when it comes to cloth diapers. I can only recommend what works for me and my family. If you are unsure if you have hard or soft water, be sure to use a test stick. That will help you determine what laundry direction are best for your needs. I’m a Molly’s Suds Ambassador for a reason. Molly’s is an earth, cloth, and sensitive skin friendly detergent that keeps our cloth diapers clean – no stripping required! I sometimes add in some Molly’s Suds All Sport to combat any stains or lingering smells.

Molly’s Suds Cloth Diaper Detergent

Molly’s Suds All Sport

Water Quality Testing Strips

CLOTH DIAPER ACCESSORIES

If you use cloth diapers, you might as well make the leap to cloth wipes. I have commercial cloth wipes, but actually found that baby wash rags make excellent wipes and you generally only need 1 to do the job. I usually forgo spray and just use a mini water bottle to spray my wipes and sometimes baby’s bum on the mist setting. I often leave my diaper bag behind these days and attach my Maxwell Designs Stow-it-All to my carrier or stroller.

You don’t technically need a sprayer, but you’ll definitely want one when baby starts solids. If you have a sprayer, you’ll want a Spray Pal Shield. If you have a Spray Pal, you’ll need a way to keep it from dominating your bathroom decor. The Diaper Dawgs AIO Diaper Sprayer Bundle is only a few dollars more than a sprayer alone. Buy this and you can have both popular sprayer shields to keep the mess at a minimum.

30 to 40 Cloth Wipes or Baby Wash Rags (Edited to include more)

Mini Spray Bottle with Water

1 Maxwell Designs Stow-it-All

Coconut Oil

Diaper Dawgs All-in-One Diaper Sprayer Bundle

Spray Pal

Maxwell Designs Large Wet Bag – Spray Pal Size

Do you need everything I’ve recommended here? Absolutely not. Start small, if you need to. Get 1 large diaper bag and 1 small. Begin with a minimum of 18 to 24 diaper changes. Use Grovia at night until you save up for some fitteds. Budget for a diaper sprayer down the line. Use a Cloth Diaper Trial before making a big investment in any brand. Ask me questions any time!

Disclosure: Affiliate links included in this post. All opinions are my own.