I often see comments in cloth diaper groups, like Is this too girly for my son? or When will you come out with another boy print? or Finally! A girl print or My husband would never let me put that on our son! This got me thinking. What makes a pattern or color exclusively for boys or girls and what makes them gender neutral?

After much research, I compiled a random collection of cloth diaper colors and patterns from different brands and designated them “boy,” “girl,” or “boy and girl.” I also made a Boy or Girl Cloth Diaper Quiz to test your knowledge. Let’s play!

I’ve only cloth diapered 3 boys (my oldest was in disposables) and you can tell that my commitment to “boy” patterns and colors has diminished over the years. Maybe it’s because I never had a little girl to diaper (go ruffle bums!), but I started saying To heck with it! and buying whatever patterns and colors I like.

My Take on Prints and Patterns

I would proudly defy gender barriers by putting a baby girl in trains, planes, superheroes, or automobiles. If people mistake her for a boy, so what? I don’t think it’s anything less to be “like a girl,” so what if my guy’s unicorn diaper confuses someone?

There’s really no “right” or “wrong” answers here. I just wanted to make this cloth diaper quiz to encourage us all to take another look at how we label patterns and colors and ask ourselves why it matters? Also, why the double standard of “boy” patterns being basically for everyone and “girl” patterns being soley for girls?

What’s your favorite current cloth diaper pattern or color? If you had both boys and girls, did you divide your stash by gender? Is there a pattern you are dying to buy, but it is too “girly” or “boyish” for your tastes?

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