Here’s a quick behind-the-scenes look at life at our house. Cloth diapers are often laid out to dry in a sunny windowsill, and our carefree little chihuahua might wander over for some birdwatching and a nap—right on top of the diapers. Odd, yes. Adorable, definitely.
Because we get lots of non-home-improvement questions about diapers, here’s a concise update: people often ask variations of “How are cloth diapers working out? Is it harder now that Clara’s eating solids? Have you bought more? Do the one-size snap all-in-ones still fit?” Below we answer those common questions and share what’s worked for us.
We still use cloth diapers almost exclusively at home, except when we travel and can’t access washing facilities. We stuck with the original 12 Bum Genius Elemental One-Size All-In-Ones we bought a year ago, and we haven’t felt the need to purchase any additional brands. They still look great—no lingering odors or staining—thanks in part to our diaper sprayer and by occasionally drying them in the sun, which helps fade stains naturally.
Sticking with cloth diapers has saved us a substantial amount compared to disposables, which is part of the appeal. Washing costs are low: our Energy Star front-load machines are estimated to cost about $15 a year assuming frequent use, and since we run fewer loads, our actual annual cost is likely around $12–$13—roughly a dollar a month for all our laundry, diapers included.
Cloth diapering is much easier than many people expect. Modern all-in-one cloth diapers are simple to use and almost second nature now; we even taught our parents how to put them on. Clara experiences fewer blowouts and diaper rashes with cloth than she did on disposables while traveling, which is a major benefit. The fabric construction is softer than plastic disposables and the colors are a bonus.
Once a baby starts solids, things change a bit—mainly for your nose. Solid stools are smellier than liquid newborn stools, but that’s true for all diapers. In some ways cloth actually gets easier: solid matter can often be shaken or rolled off into the toilet before washing, which can be less messy than spraying out runny stools. We still rinse or give each diaper a quick spritz afterward. Consistent use of the sprayer and occasional sun-drying are big reasons our diapers keep looking so good.
We’re happy with all-in-ones that use snaps rather than Velcro. Snaps hold up well in the wash; we haven’t lost a single snap yet. We haven’t noticed any loss of elasticity or absorbency. We chose all-in-ones so we wouldn’t have to deal with stuffing separate inserts—simplicity matters. As Clara has grown, we simply adjust the diaper snaps to make them larger. The one-size design continues to fit well without leaks.
For detergent, we rotate between Charlie’s Soap and Seventh Generation Free & Clear—both work well with our front-load washers and for caring for cloth diapers. Clara now sleeps 12–13 hours in a single diaper overnight without extra inserts, and we don’t wake her to change—no leaks or rashes. That obviously depends on each baby, but cloth diapering has worked very well for our family.
We’re not anti-disposable; we use disposables when traveling and respect parents who choose them because every household is different. This update is just our honest experience with cloth diapers: cost-effective, easy with the right routine, gentle on skin, and durable when cared for properly.
Psst — For more detailed info about how we chose, wash, and care for our cloth diapers, check the original cloth diapering post for lots of tips and FAQs.
Pssssst — We announced this week’s giveaway winner. Click the giveaway post to see if it’s you.