Our cloth diaper journey is coming to an end. My second child is starting to use the potty and soon I’ll be able to wash and fold our stash for the last time. It’s been a crazy adventure and one that I don’t regret! But since I’m always honest here on RSM, I thought I’d look back and tell you about the trouble with cloth diapers. Because sometimes they suck. These are the negative things about having fluff, what’s driven me crazy and what hasn’t worked for us. But don’t worry – as usual, I have tons of photos and suggestions for every complaint!
Wanna know what I’m talking about? Read my intro article about kinds of cloth diapers, and learn all about the various styles and terminology!
Hey, are cloth diapers even worth it? I have an entire ebook just about “Cloth or Disposable Diapers?” which you can check out on my Amazon page.
I do have affiliate links in this article. There’s no extra fee for you at all, but I might get a cut if you purchase. So thanks for your consideration! My family really appreciates it.
They Wear Down
If you buy used cloth diapers or get some donated like we did, and you end up using them for a year or so, think about how many times that diaper has been worn… and washed. Like any fabric, cloth diapers will wear down over time. While some pieces, like a prefold, will become super soft as they age, other components will fray or crack.
The solution? Check your cloth diapers regularly, wash as recommended (you can see my sample wash routine here), and air dry whenever possible.
… And They Can Leak
Agh, the bain of my husband’s existence is to pick up his sweet daughter and get a handful of squish. Oops. Sorry babe.
The trouble with cloth diapers is really that your child is growing – which is easy to fix because cloth is adjustable! – or that the waterproof lining on a cover has “cracked” due to age. You just sometimes don’t notice until it’s too late. So be mindful of all the snaps and gussets and openings, and get different adjustments or sizes when you need to. At least your old cloth diapers retain value, so you can get some money back when you need to upgrade!
I’ll be honest: we’ve had such great luck with cloth diapers not leaking! I actually only get leak issues when my toddler is in a disposable. But like I mentioned above, visually inspect your waterproof pieces (like covers) on a regular basis and replace as needed. Using the dryer will exacerbate the problem with all of that waterproof material, so air dry whenever you can!
Spraying Toddler Poop
Did you know that a newborn’s poop, whether breastfed or formula fed, can go right into your washer? Gross, I know, but it’s true! Cloth diapering a baby is easy peasy.
But when your child starts solids, cloth diapers become a bigger pain. Sure you can get a diaper sprayer (ours is amazing) and that helps a lot – we use ours for spraying out her little practice potty now that she’s toilet training, too – but toddler poop is still disgusting.
I actually was almost at the breaking point of stopping cloth diapers, at least around the time of day that my toddler poops, when she magically started pooping in the potty. Crisis averted!
Solution? Use a diaper sprayer and a spray guard to “plop” solid waste into the toilet, and use an extra wet bag next to the toilet to put the diaper in until wash day. Our wet bag is just Command-stripped (is that a verb?!) to the cabinet by our toilet. You can see my video demo below (no actual poop was used in the making of this film.)
Who Wants More Laundry?
We are an active family – I work out almost every day, and it’s the time of the year where even the kids go through multiple outfits due to changing weather. The trouble with cloth diapers is that they are a pain because it’s just that much more laundry for me to do.
Luckily, there are lots of ways to amend this. Maybe use disposables one day a week. Maybe get some more used cloth diapers so you can go longer between washes. Or, on the flip side, some people just choose to wash their cloth diapers every night before bed.
Stuffing and Folding Sucks
In addition to more laundry, there’s also the putting away and prep for your fluff. The trouble with cloth diapers in this case – especially if you use the cheap prefold/cover option, or the pocket/insert option – is that you have to do a bit of work to get them ready to wear. I know that it doesn’t take long and I know that it’s not difficult to do, I just don’t wanna do it damnit!
The solution? Do them a little at a time (as you need them) or have someone else do them. I’m looking at you, Filth Aversion Spouse of Mine. Or maybe convince someone to get you AIOs, or all-in-ones, because they’re more expensive but don’t require any preparation. The AIO is a diaper with the insert sewn-in, so it remains attached even through the washer. …Or just be like me: complain, suck it up, get over it.
All in all, I have truly loved having cloth diapers. I’m so glad that I chose to do this with my second child! I just think it’s fair that I give you a balanced look at life with fluff. The trouble with cloth diapers does not compare to the savings, the environment, the adorable fluff butt, the softness, the good list goes on and on.
And if you’d like to share this or pin it, I’d appreciate it!
Finally, you can see my category of all things cloth diaper, including tons of reviews and how-to’s, here.
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