Lately, we’ve seen an uptick in curiosity for cloth diapering amongst new parents, experienced parents and other caregivers, which is AMAZING!! If that sounds like you, you might be thinking, “yes, where do I start, what’s best and what on earth are all these terms/acronyms?!?” Fear not, we are here to break it all down for you! SO — Welcome to cloth diapering and The Basic Stitch, let’s get started!!
What is a cloth diaper?
While there are many ways to answer this, we are starting out absolutely as basic as it gets. A cloth diaper is a reusable diaper that you wash after each use instead of throwing away. It normally consists of an absorbent material (to absorb liquids) and a waterproofing/water resistant layer.
All the possible styles of cloth diapers are covered here — . But, in a general sense, your absorbent material will either be fixed in the diaper, a pad of fabric (we call them inserts) that you add into diapers or a large piece of fabric/layered fabric that folds down to fit baby. A cover can consist of a waterproof layer of fabric like PUL (polyurethane laminate) which is polyester fabric with a laminated backing, a water resistant fabric like fleece or a wool material that can be lanolized to make it waterproof. This layer is always on the most outside of the total cloth diaper to avoid leaks!
What is some basic knowledge I should know?
The biggest thing most people wish they knew was to skip the absorbent materials made of microfiber. They cannot be put on baby’s skin since they are overly drying and these don’t hold enough liquids for most babies to make it all the way through diapers without needing to replace them with better options. Buying quality absorbency up front can truly make or break your cloth diapering experience. Stick with natural fibers like cotton, bamboo and hemp or blends of any of these. These are the most common these days and will likely get you to potty learning.
Another thing is that you likely will need a setup for daytime and a different setup for nighttime. Your daytime can usually be less heavy duty (like pockets with an insert!), while your nighttime will be best if you start with something built for heavy wetting (like fitteds and some preflats!) Again, go back over the cloth diaper styles blog to choose what might work best for your baby and family.
Lastly, the washing is JUST laundry! Don’t overthink it. You need detergent, possibly water softener if you have hard water and a sanitizer to have on hand. Troubles might pop up but that’s why we’ve made Wash & Care/Troubleshooting guide to help you! If you can wash normal laundry, you can do this! It’s just… really dirty laundry!!
How do I know when to change baby?
A good rule of thumb is to change every 2-3 hours. If baby leaks, start changing sooner and try to find the sweet spot of changing them before they leak. You can feel externally if they feel damp or if the absorbency has began to get stiff, these are both signs they are saturated and ready to be changed. Some people might also touch the inside absorbency at the back of the diaper to see if it’s saturated. Please wash your hands after if you choose that method :P
Common Questions & Answers
What about poop? Dump (dump/shake solid waste), swish (swish diaper in water to get stuck on waste off), rinse (rinse with bidet/diaper sprayer) or scrape (with designated spatula or scrubber gloves) into toilet! Put in dirty basket for wash day. There is also an option to use disposable liners.
What do you do with soiled diapers during the day? Our best recommendations is an open laundry basket with many holes to allow the diapers to dry until wash day. Not every situation allows for this so you might find a Dekor diaper pail with a reusable liner or just a large hanging wet bag to be a better option. Separate each piece of the diaper and put them each in the dirty basket, pail or bag so they can dry and be easy to put in the wash on wash day!
Do you cloth diaper boys and girls differently? Not really. You might find slight differences in your cloth diaper style or absorbency preference between boys and girls. Every baby will have different liquid outputs and cause a change in your preferences anyways! Some baby girls will need more absorbency in the middle or back, while boys usually need lots of absorbency up front.
Will cloth diapers hurt my baby’s private parts? No! In our experience, baby’s tend to seem more comfortable and favor cloth diapers over disposable diapers. There is plenty of room in a properly fitted diaper to not squish any private parts to the point of discomfort.
Will cloth diapers delay my baby’s development or range of motion? No. There has been no scientific evidence to prove any issues with mobility or development in babies who are cloth diapered vs those in disposable diapers. Cloth diapers actually tend to be a recommendation by orthopedist for babies with hip dysplasia since they encourage baby’s legs to naturally stay in the proper place needed for development.
Can baby still wear clothes over cloth diapers? Yes! Most cloth diapering parents use U-shaped pants, zipper jammies and any other type of clothing that offers loose fitting over the diaper. However, cloth diapers can be so cute, many parents don’t put pants on baby and opt for just t-shirts to show off the cute cloth diapers!
Can baby lay down without the cloth diaper interfering? This comes down to the diaper style you choose and how big your baby is. At every stage, there is a style that will give a seamless fit and not make baby uncomfortable while laying. As long as you have a proper fitted cloth diaper and baby is comfortable, they will find a comfortable way to lay down. When baby is on their back in the early stages, you’ll just want to opt for more trim fitting diapers that are overall less bulky. We discuss that in the cloth diaper styles blog!
How many cloth diapers do I need to cloth diaper full time? Here is a helpful chart to guesstimate your needed amount!
While it varies baby to baby, a very safe amount for full time cloth diapering is about 25 diapers. You can also just start with 1 or 5 or however many you are comfortable with. 25 is a great number for if you don’t want to use disposables and will wash every 3ish days.
Can I cloth diaper part time? Absolutely! You can always start with a minimal amount to test the waters. Maybe try them out at home first during the day. Then add in nap time. Then venture to the store in cloth diapers, then a full day event at the zoo, then maybe nighttime… Next thing you know, you’re cloth diapering full time! OR don’t cloth diaper full time! Grab 5-10 cloth diapers that you just want to use at home to save on buying disposables. Do a rinse cycle with just your diapers, then bulk the second load with wash rags, small clothing items and wash as recommended in our Wash & Care blog!
Can I use cloth diapers in communal washers? In most cases, yes. Just be mindful that your family is not the only one using them so maybe also run a clean/sanitize cycle after your cloth diaper laundry.
Can I use cloth diapers without a washer or dryer? Yes! There are many ways to wash cloth diapers and cloth diapers have been around since before washers and dryers existed! Often times, if parents don’t have access to a washer, they will opt for portable washer (electric or manual), hand washing (bathtub, utility sinks, or plunger/bucket) or they might find a family/friend or laundromat to wash them at. Dryers aren’t always needed anyways since we can always air dry cloth diapers!
How do I know if I have good inserts? Follow our Absorbency blog post to identify fabrics on unlabeled inserts, learn how to layer inserts/materials, and understand textiles used in cloth diapering a bit more!
How do I know if my baby has a sensitivity to a diaper material vs wetness vs wash routine issues vs yeast? Diaper material sensitivity is usually going to look a bit pink/red and similar to chaffing. Wetness sensitivity will appear where their diapers are usually most saturated. Like on baby boys front or baby girls middle for example. It can differ baby to baby but wherever your baby specifically has most saturation. It occurs mostly when baby has sat too long in a wet diaper. (We are all human, it happens!) It normally appears as red irritation and usually baby will be damp from the diaper when you take it off. Wash routine issues can look similar to both of those, however, your diapers will likely stink. They might smell like ammonia/pee, poopy/barnyard, or maybe even something more random like fish! If you have those smells paired with a rash on baby, visit our Wash & Care Troubleshooting section. Email us if you have any issues you can’t solve! Please don’t hesitate, we can’t help if we don’t know you need help!! Yeast can present as red splotchy, similar to these others. The biggest difference is that it is STUBBORN and usually has bumps/blisters with it depending on severity. Yeast will not go away without an antifungal and sometimes something like hydrocortisone to heal. You will need to sanitize your cloth diapers as well. We always recommend speaking to a medical professional if a rash will not go away after 3-4 days or if there are any bumps, sores, blisters or open wounds.
What kind of diaper cream should I use? You can use any kind with a reusable or disposable liner. If you don’t use a liner, we recommend avoiding petroleum based diaper creams since they can gunk up your diapers. If you want to avoid staining, then we’d also recommend staying away from diaper creams containing zinc oxide. We happen to have an awesome barrier balm called Beefed Up Barrier Balm you might want to check out :)
Can we cloth diaper at daycare facilities? Not everyone can get their daycare facilities on board with cloth diapering so definitely make sure they will approve! If they do not, you might be able to receive a doctor’s note if cloth diapers are medically necessary. You can always still part time cloth diaper at home to save a bit of money on disposables!
How do you leave the house using cloth diapers? The same way you would disposables, except no need to find a trash can, you’ll bring it home with you! There are dirty closure snaps that allow you to roll up the diaper and keep its contents concealed until you get home and can clean them or separate in your dirty baskets/pail/wetbag.
Can you use disposable wipes with cloth diapers? Of course! Just make sure to throw them away before they end up in your dirty piles.
What detergent should I use? Our favorites are Tide Free & Gentle (liquid), Tide Original (powder or liquid), and Unicorn Beyond Clean (liquid concentrate). As long as the ingredients have surfactants and enzymes, it should get the job done.
Does cloth diapering really save money? It definitely can! There are some very affordable options that many families take advantage of. Covers and flats tend to be the most effective but budget friendly option.
COMMON CLOTH DIAPER LINGO & ACRONYMS
AIO - All-in-one; style of diaper where absorbency is sewn into the diaper on top of waterproof layer
AI2 - All-in-2; style of diaper where absorbency is either sewn or attachable by snaps but can be separated from waterproof layer at least partially
Aplix - type of diaper fastener attached to diaper on “hook-and-loop” diapers (Velcro but not Velcro brand)
Auction - used in “BST” groups when seller is using auction style method to sell diaper (price increase per bid, bidding ends at certain time), sometimes also called “DOND”
AWJ - Athletic wicking jersey; wicking material used in diaper linings and occasionally on inserts
Baconing - when an insert or other absorbent product shrivels after being exposed to heat in washer or dryer and becomes wavy at the edges; due to shrinkage in natural fibers when fabric is not pre washed prior to sewing
Bifold - an insert that folds in half before going in a pocket or cover
Booster - a smaller insert for flat style diapers (preflats, flats, contours, fitted, etc), gives overall diaper a little boost of absorbency
BST - Buy, sell, trade; groups that sell and trade cloth diapers, mostly preloved/used
Build up - this is when your wash routine is having issues that need evaluated, “build up” is vague and needs clarification because there are different types of build up and different ways to fix them
CISO - Casually in search of; used in “BST” groups when a buyer is searching for an item but might choose to pass even if you have it
Contour - style of diaper that is contoured in shape but has no elastic and usually requires no folding prior to wrapping around baby and fastening with safety pins or Snappi
Cover - style of diaper where it is only the waterproofing/water resistant layer
CoziCover - The Basic Stitch original and exclusive one size fleece/wool cover
DISO - Desperately in search of; used in “BST” groups when you are desperately search for a type of diaper or print
DOND - Deal or no deal; used in “BST” groups, commonly functions as “auctions” now
Drop - product launch
EBB - Exclusively breastfed baby
EBF - Exclusively breastfed
EO - Essential oil; volatile organic compounds, used in aromatherapy and often in products for scent; TBS DOES NOT USE EO
EUC - Excellent used condition; used in “BST” groups when an item is in excellent used condition
EEUC - Extra excellent used condition; used in “BST” groups when an item is in very excellent used condition
EOS - Extended one size; still fits most one size range but can also accommodate a bit larger into the children range
ES - Extended size; usually toddler or larger sized diapers only, doesn’t usually accommodate normal one size range
Fit check - when you want to make sure your diapers have been put on correctly,you might request a fit check and post a couple photos of what the diaper looks like on baby for others to give tips and advice on
Fitted/fitted diaper - style of cloth diaper that is the absorbency only in a contoured shape with elastic for legs and back, might include “boosters” but requires no folding in most cases. Can be found with or without snaps
Flat/flat diaper - style of diaper that is a large usually single layer fabric that is folded down prior to being wrapped around baby and has not precut “wings” for the waist
FO - Fragrance oil; sometimes referred to as parfumerie/perfume, used in many products like detergent and skin care; TBS DOES NOT USE FO
FSO - For sale only; used in “BST” groups when the seller won’t be accepting trade offers
FST - Flower sack towels; an affordable option for cloth diaper absorbency, rectangle that needs to be folded to fit diaper, similar to prefold
FSOT - For sale or trade; used in “BST” groups when seller is open to a purchase or trade deal
FTM - First time mom
FTO - For trade only; used in “BST” groups when seller is only open to trades, no outright purchase of their item
GSM - Grams per square meter; fabrics weight in the textiles, usually directly correlates to how much an insert or other absorbent fabric will hold, if the fabric is not absorbent then it can help you understand the thickness of it. Fiber content must be exactly the same to make proper comparisons
GUC - Good used condition; used in “BST” groups when item is in good condition
HTF - Hard to find; used in “BST” groups to label when an item or print is hard to find
Hook-and-loop - diaper fastening feature, more common name would be Velcro, can be found on “AIO” or “pockets” most commonly
Hybrid Cover - Cover that can be converted from a plain PUL cover to an “AI2” by snapping in “inserts”
Insert - multiple layer fabric pad that goes into cloth diapers like pockets or laid inside covers
ISO - In search of; used in “BST” groups when a buyer is looking for a specific item or print
Lanolize - the act of putting lanolin on your wool cloth diaper to make it waterproof
MF - Microfiber
Nappy/nappies - European term for diapers
NB - Newborn size
NCDR - Not cloth diaper related; used in many cloth diaper groups when author of post will be discussing something not cloth diaper related
NIP - New in package; used in “BST” groups when a seller is selling an item in brand new condition still in its packaging
NOOP - New out of package; used in “BST” groups when a seller is selling an item that is brand new but they’ve taken it out of the package
NWT - New with tags; used in “BST” groups when a seller is selling an item that is brand new with its tags still on
NWOT - New without tags; used in “BST” groups when a seller is selling an item in brand new condition but they’ve taken the tags off or it did not come with tags
OS - One size
OTB - On the bum; refers to photos of cloth diapers on baby
Pocket/pocket diaper - style of diaper where absorbency/inserts are placed inside the pocket opening of the diaper
PP - PayPal
PPD - Postage paid domestic; used in “BST” groups when the price includes shipping domestically
Preflat - style of diaper that usually has multiple layers of fabric that are folded prior to being wrapped around baby and fastened with safety pins or Snappi. Similar to a flat diaper but has precut “wings” for baby’s waist
Prefold - style of diaper that is a rectangle and is folded prior to wrapping around baby and fastening with safety pins or Snappi. Similar to flat diapers but usually smaller overall and sometimes multiple layers are in the center section. Usually found in only cotton, hemp or hemp/cotton
Preloved - used cloth diapers
Preorder/presale - Product that is on preorder/presale through manufacturer but has not made it to the brand, allows you to claim one ahead of time before real launch date
PUL - Polyurethane laminate; waterproof layer on pockets, covers, AIO, AI2, etc. common name for TPU still though real PUL was made through chemical solvent lamination and most diaper companies do not use this method anymore
RLR - Laundry treatment made by brand Cadie; used to “strip” cloth diapers or other laundry of minerals or build up filth/grime
Snappi - diaper fastener brand for fastener with three way gripping capabilities
Sposies - Disposable diapers
Strip/stripping - term for removing mineral build up or filth from your cloth diapers by soaking in a homemade solution or using “RLR” laundry treatment
TBS - The Basic Stitch; we commonly referred to our company as TBS since it is shorter and easy to type!
TCO - The Cloth Option; non profit organization who provides cloth diapers to families in need (apply or find out more here! https://www.theclothoption.org/apply/online-application ); TBS DONATES MONTHLY TO TCO
TD - Toddler
TPU - Thermoplastic polyurethane; waterproof layer on pockets, covers, AIO, AI2, etc. the real name for most modern cloth diapers waterproofing. Previously, PUL/TPU was adhered by chemical solvents and called PUL, now most cloth diaper manufacturers use thermal bonding (TPU) while still calling the fabric PUL
VGUC - Very good used condition; used in “BST” groups when an item is in very good used condition
WAHM/WFHM - Work at/from home mom
Wipe bits - Small pieces of product that melt in hot water to create a cloth wipe solution; our wipe bits contain tallow, Castile soap and calendula (olive) oil
XL - Extra large