10 Things You Need to Get Started with Cloth Diapers

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Wondering how to get started with cloth diapering and what you need? You don’t need much, but you need a few things to get started. Here are the 10 things you need to get started with cloth diapers.

We all know that cloth diapering is good for the environment and it can help you save a lot of money in the long run. I say long run because cloth seems more expensive from the get go. You have to purchase quite a few things to get started with cloth diapers. However, it’s a solid investment. It can save you nearly $1,200 if you do it right.

10 Things You Need to Get Started with Cloth Diapers

1. Cloth Diapers

This is a no-brainer, right? My advice is to try a few different types of cloth diapers to find out what kind you like. There are 9 different types of cloth diapers to choose from.

It may sound gross, but the best way to try out different types on a budget is to buy used cloth diapers. Consider joining a cloth diaper Facebook group and see if you can buy some from seasoned moms. I’ve found the best luck getting good deals buying from friends and consignments stores and then buying new ones from Amazon.

2. Bag

You need a bag that is waterproof to store your dirty diapers, therefore it’s a good idea to buy one specially made for cloth diapering.

You can buy the kind that fits into a pail.

Or buy one that zips up and hangs over a door. You can see mine in the background in the picture below.

3. Pail

A diaper pail is a great way to keep soiled diapers contained between washings. You only need to wash every 2-3 days so having a good pail is important!

4. Travel Bags

If you plan to cloth diaper out of the house, it’s a good idea to get a couple travel bags for soiled diapers. You can easily use plastic grocery bags, but I’ve found it best to have travel bags because you can throw the whole thing in the wash!

5. Sprayer

This one is debatable. Some people are perfectly fine dunking their diapers into the toilet to rinse them. Others don’t bother to spray after they’ve tossed the poop in the toilet. And then other people swear that spraying before washing is the way to go.

Here’s my 2 cents: if you plan to go a few days between washing, you should absolutely spray first. Why not do a little pre-cleaning if the diapers plan to sit for a while? I’ve use this diaper sprayer from Bumkins.

6. Cloth Wipes

It’s easiest to use cloth wipes because you throw them in with your dirty diapers. Otherwise if you use disposable wipes you have a trash pile and a dirty diaper pile and things get messy!

7. Spray Water Bottle

Don’t worry about pre-soaking your cloth wipes. Just fill a spray bottle (I like this glass one) with fresh water every morning and spray it on your wipes before using. Feel free to add a little baby soap or essential oil to make a cloth wipe solution. Just make sure the essential oil is baby friendly because not all of them are.

8. Diaper Rash Ointment

Don’t use regular diaper cream with your cloth diapers. This can completely ruin your diapers by making them not as absorbent.

My favorite store bought cloth diaper ointment is Earth Mama, Angel Baby. I’ve used these products religiously.

If you don’t want to buy, you can always use coconut oil instead! I’ve used coconut oil for diaper rashes even when I’m using disposable diapers because it’s that good on little bums. Just make sure your little one doesn’t have a sensitivity to it.

9. Drying Rack

You can prolong the life of your cloth diapers by air drying them. Using a drying rack outside makes this process much faster. Put it in the sun and the sun will bleach the stains on your diapers!

I’m a fan of this steel drying rack as opposed to wooden ones. I’ve tried wooden ones in the past and they end up getting pretty gross from the moisture in the diapers. Metal seems to be the way to go!

10. Detergent

Some cloth diaper enthusiasts will have you believe that you have to buy a special kind of detergent for your PUL. While it may keep your diapers looking newer longer, it’s not necessary. Almost any type of free and clear detergent will work.

If you have your doubts, try Rockin’ Green Natural Detergent. It seems to be the favorite among most cloth diapering moms.

That’s it! That’s all you need. If you like this post, please pin it!