....the research.
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| {Cloth by Beginner Beans} |
I've shared a bit of our experience into cloth diapering--specifically the prefolds and covers world of cloth. A cloth diaper change pictured step-by-step, a reality check on the dirty of cloth, why prefolds are so great, and the Squishy Tush Profiles--interviews and photos from other moms that chose cloth for their babies. I'm doing my best to add to the online cloth diapering conversation with pictures and testimonials that I feel I haven't found elsewhere.
Before I was able to share all of this, I was a clueless beginner. In case that is where you find yourself today, here are some of my go-to beginner guides and cloth diapering information sources that answered all of my beginning questions.
Saying that the research is the most daunting part of cloth diapering probably seems like an anti-climatic exaggeration.
For me, it's simply the truth. True, I'm a bit of an over-thinker, and a tad indecisive. Nonetheless, learning about cloth diapering and the terms, and sorting through the options and brands and reviews and realizing a decision has to be made and the wrong one could potentially lead to leaks or, worse, wasted money... phew!... It's overwhelming to say the least.
Half my battle was figuring out where to get information. Here are my favorite how-to guides and experiences, so hopefully your beginning research will go a little smoother.
THE BEGINNER GUIDES TO CLOTH DIAPERING
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| {Basics of Cloth Diapering by PinStrips and PolkaDots} |
{PinStripes and PolkaDots}
PinStripes and PolkaDots' Basics of Cloth Diapering was my number one go-to source for learning about cloth diapering. They cover everything you'd need to know from cost, time and timing, and diapering myths, to the essentials you'll need, choosing a detergent, step-by-step photo instructions using specific types and brands of diapers, and specific cases like nighttime and traveling. Are you convinced to check it out? Their diaper rash cream information and chart is how we chose California Baby diaper rash cream, their newborn gallery is a great comparison of diaper sizing for little babies, and their "using prefolds with covers" section has helpful photos that taught me how to put on a prefold diaper.
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| {Cloth Diaper 101 by Little for Now} |
{Little for Now}
Little for Now's Cloth Diaper 101 is another thorough guide on cloth diapering--choosing diapers, washing them, detergents and glossaries. They have updated their articles since I first read and they now have the Cloth Diaper Learning Center.
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| {"I've never looked back" by The Eco-Friendly Family} |
{The Eco-Friendly Family}
Amanda covers her cloth diapering experience on her blog The Eco-Friendly Family. Scroll past (or read through) her "I've never looked back" introduction to get to the list of cloth diapering articles--an overview of options, prepping and washing, prefold tutorial with pictures, and much more. She's added more since I first initially read. Like her t-shirt diaper post--I'm intrigued.
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| {Diapering Naturally by Mothering} |
{Mothering.com}
When I was pregnant, I was gifted an issue of Mothering, the magazine "inspiring natural families since 1976." It included an article on cloth diapering that began my journey into researching cloth and eventually buying and using cloth on our little ones. I had already done my research the hard way (blindly weeding through Google searches) when I came across the diapering section on Mothering.com--great information and how-to videos for "diapering naturally" (their terminology for cloth diapering).
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| {Cloth Diapering in the BabyCenter Community} |
The Cloth Diapering group on BabyCenter has been indispensable in our cloth diapering journey. This group is a community of truly experienced and incredibly helpful ladies. They helped me trouble shoot with stink issues, recommended how many diapers to start in my stash, and gave encouragement when I had doubt on cloth before baby came. The number of people I personally know "in real life" that are using cloth is growing, but when I first began, I knew no one actively using them and only my sister-in-law who was researching for future use as well. Knowing a few experienced cloth users or having access to a conversation-style cloth diapering group is a great resource to have when you want to be successful at using cloth even through the sometimes difficult aspects.
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| {Cloth Diapers on YouTube} |
{YouTube}
Try searching "cloth diapers" or any number of the auto fill in options that show up on YouTube and you'll find lots of informative and insightful videos--how to choose a diaper, how to fold a prefold, how to wash cloth diapers, how to sew a cloth diaper. If you're not excited about reading all the information, or need to see for yourself the difference between an all-in-one and a cover-and-prefold, YouTube is a great reference.
Hopefully these sources and beginner guides to cloth diapering will help make your research a little less stressful. If you're feeling overwhelmed by all of the information and the looming question Is cloth diapering right for me and my family?, just know that it gets easier. Being informed is half the battle in becoming a successful cloth diaper user. You can do this!
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