Cloth Diaper Products
Using cloth diapers and reusable wipes may sound intimidating, but it is actually a lot easier than it seems and provides a lot of benefits. In addition to being better for the environment, I mainly choose to use cloth diapers and reusable wipes because they are a lot better for the baby’s body. You want the materials touching your baby’s skin to be natural, toxin-free, and soft as possible. Disposable diapers and wipes contain chemicals that may be harmful to your baby, including latex, chlorine, and other contaminants that may cause skin reactions like a rash, eczema, and or asthma. Cloth diapers are made of fabrics that don’t contain unnecessary chemicals, and because they are made of cloth, they are much more breathable than disposables. Bamboo, wool, hemp, and organic cotton are among the most common materials used in cloth diapers and wipes. But not all are created equal, and as we know, nothing is perfect. I decided to take a deep dive and find the best ones.
My favorite cloth diapers are made of organic cotton from Green Mountain Diapers. For nighttime use, I will layer in a hemp booster as hemp is a slow and stable absorber, considered to be twice as absorbent as cotton, which allows your little one to stay comfortable for extended periods through the night. You cannot use diaper cream with the hemp liners as it will soak into the liner and strip it of the lanolin. For daytime use, I either use a washable or disposable liner. The washable liners I most often use are made from raw silk, which is antibacterial and moisture-wicking, which helps to prevent or alleviate yeast or diaper rash. The disposable liners are made from bamboo, which is super soft, gentle on baby’s skin, and flushable, which can be convenient, especially for poop.
Over the cloth diapers, I will secure everything with a silicone/plastic clip (though it's not necessary) and then a diaper cover from Lunapaca. These covers are made from 100% baby alpaca, which is hypoallergenic, wonderful for sensitive skin, and antibacterial and water-repellent. This diaper cover contains zero plastic, including the snaps, and grows with your baby because the snaps allow for different sizing. I recommend having three of these covers to keep in rotation. These diaper covers are also easy to spot clean and hang dry, and from experience, I can assure you they don’t smell!
As for using reusable wipes, just use water; that’s really all you need. When using the Noleo lotion diaper care cream (which I use when she has a poop because it’s like magic to remove those stubborn pieces), make sure to avoid using a reusable cloth because the beeswax will get stuck on the cloth (trust me) and ruin it. When using Noleo lotion, use their disposable organic cotton pads.
As for cleaning cloth diapers and wipes, it is truly not as hard or involved as it may seem. At home, I will use a stainless steel bowl to collect the soiled diaper materials. When I am on the go, I use this wet/dry bag which has compartments that allow me to carry wet and dry items in the same bag. A wet section is sewn and sealed to prevent leaking, and a separate zippered pocket is sewn in for clean or dry items. Simply remove the poop from the diaper and flush it into the toilet. If stained, soak the flat world diaper in water for a couple of hours. After this, wash the fabric with hot water. Use a gentle detergent free of fragrances, whitening agents, fabric softeners, or enzymes (I like Molly’s Suds) to wash them, then follow with a rinse. I will do this every three days or so. Read here for more information on proper washing and care instructions.
This also doesn’t mean I never use disposables; I keep a supply in case of an emergency or for travel. I use Kudos diapers (use code DRORGANICMOMMY) for these instances, ensuring only cotton (no plastic) touches the baby's bum. I also use these diapers during the early newborn stage when the baby is a bit small for using cloth diapers as easily.
My favorite cloth diaper products are the following:
Diaper Materials:
Diaper liners (washable)
Diapers liners (disposable)
Wipe Materials:
Green Mountain diapers cloth wipes