What do I REALLY need to start you Cloth Diaper Journey?
I asked myself this a million times and looked at a bunch of different resources and asked a lot of moms the same question because if I was going to start attempting this new cloth diaper journey I wanted to make sure that I did it right. That is why I want to share with you what I have found to be the bare essentials as well as the extras that are optional for you to get your cloth diapering journey started.
Cloth Diaper Necessities
Diapers: Deciding how many cloth diapers you will need for your stash can be a daunting task. Thankfully Smart Bottoms has a cute graphic that they have shared that gives you an idea of how many cloth diapers are needed for various stages of cloth diapering.
Wipes: You have the option of using disposable wipes, cloth wipes, or both. All of these options are good options, but you need to choose the option that works best for you. I find that disposable wipes are much easier and faster to use when in public facilities while cloth wipes can be very helpful at home because it reduces waste and I will be doing laundry anyway. If you do choose to use cloth wipes you will need a cloth wipes solution. You can purchase one or make your own at home.
Diaper Pail/Bucket: I feel that this is a necessity just because it is easier to toss a dirty diaper into a diaper pail or bucket instead of using a wet bag. This gives you the ability to close the stink inside the pail and keep your home feeling and smelling fresh while you have the ease of tossing a diaper in the “trash” just like people do with disposable diapers. I view the cloth diaper pail to be like a Diaper Genie that many people with disposables use.
Pail Liner/Large Wet Bag: Depending on what route you decide to go you will either need a pail liner (or two) or a large wet bag to store your dirty diapers in until wash day. A good pail liner will be a lot like a garbage bag except that these you don’t throw away. They are lined with PUL just like you cloth diapers so that they hold in the wet stuff and keep the smell contained for the most part as well. The difference with using a large wet bag is that you have to unzip and re-zip the bag shut every time you use it. This can feel like extra work, especially when you are changing a tiny baby’s diaper a million times a day.
Small/Travel size wet bag: If you are going out for a day you will want a small or travel sized wet bag in your possession so that you can store your dirty diapers while being on the go. No one wants to lug around a big bag full of dirty diapers. If you only own one of these you then you will need to empty the dirty diapers into the big bag when you get home, but if you have multiple small bags you can leave the dirty diapers in this bag until wash day. The decision is ultimately up to you.
Optional Extras
Extra Inserts: If you are considering doubling up your inserts for overnight diapers then you will want to purchase additional inserts to help you with overnight diapers. I will admit that not all children need to have their diapers stuffed with extra inserts for overnight, but if you think you will need them I would recommend buying them ahead of time.
Diaper Sprayer: The diaper sprayer is not a necessity, but I will admit that this is something that I find to be a very important accessory for any cloth diapering parent. The diaper sprayer helps to spray off the messy poops that won’t just plop into the toilet. We all know that these poops exist even if we are in denial about them. If you decide or buy a diaper sprayer then I also recommend buying the Spray Pal to go with it. The Spray Pal allows you to clip the diaper to it and spray off the diaper without risking getting poop all over your hands.
Diaper Liners: Diaper Liners are also something that isn’t a must-have item because you can do without them, but they are a great addition to a stash if you will be putting your child in daycare or if you are going to have a lot of different people changing diapers. The diaper liners lay as a top layer against baby’s skin and allows for you to easily get poop into the toilet without needing as sprayer (most of the time, some loose poops will escape beyond this layer.)