With an increased awareness about the dangers of disposable diapers to the environment and to the baby, parents are increasingly opting for eco-friendly cloth diapers. If you have decided that cloth diapers are best for your child, then here are some cloth diaper accessories that you may need.
An alternative to the dangerous safety pins for the traditional cloth diapers, was invented by Edward Moonan in the late 1950s. ‘The Safe Diaper Clip’, unfortunately, was not very successful because of the invention and popularity of disposable diapers during that time.
Cloth diapers are a more eco-friendly alternative to disposable diapers. These diapers made of organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, or synthetic microfiber are not only good for the environment, but for your child as well. The natural fabric prevents diaper rashes, and is safe for the baby’s skin. Although, initially, they may seem pricey, but over time, cloth diapers are extremely economical. No wonder, parents are now eager to try out cloth diapers for their baby.
Along with the diaper, you also need to stock up on some essentials and accessories. Of course, the type of diapering extras you choose depends to a great extent on the type of cloth diaper. For example, a simple cloth diaper would need a diaper cover, made of wool, fleece, or PUL to hold in the mess. As opposed to this, all-in-one diapers with waterproof outer layer and absorbent inner layer can be fastened with tabs or snaps without the need of an extra cover. Here is a list of some cloth diaper accessories that you may need.
9 Cloth Diaper Accessories that You Need
Cloth Diaper Liners
One of the main problems that parents face is the need to wash cloth diapers over and over again. A newborn soils the diaper around 10 to 14 times a day. It can be very tedious to wash that many cloth diapers. Diaper liners eliminate the need to wash the diapers. These liners wick the moisture away from baby’s skin, and provide a barrier between the mess and the diaper. During a diaper change, all you need to do is remove the liner and dispose it off.
Reusable diaper liners made of fleece are extremely popular as they can be easily washed in diaper laundry, and then reused. Flushable liners are convenient, especially when you are traveling. You just need to remove the disposable diaper liner and flush it in the toilet.
Diaper Inserts
Inserts are placed in the pockets of the cloth diapers for easy and fast absorption. Some of the natural diaper inserts include organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo inserts. Microfiber inserts are also quite popular as they absorb the liquid fast, and keep the baby’s bottom dry. It is, however, not advisable to place microfiber inserts directly against the baby’s skin. Boosters or doublers are special thick inserts made of cotton or hemp that are used with normal inserts to provide more absorbency, especially during the night.
Diaper Covers
If you are using normal cloth diapers for your baby, then diaper covers provide a waterproof layer that keeps the baby’s clothes dry. Unlike all-in-one cloth diapers or pocket diapers, you do not need to change a diaper cover each time. These covers are available in a range of sizes, shapes, and colors. Most of them have hook and loop style fasteners or Velcro closures, while others are pant style pull-ups.
Most diaper covers available in the market are made of fleece, wool, or polyurethane laminate (PUL). You can use prefold and flat cloth diapers with diaper covers. There is no need for separate covers for pocket diapers or all-in-one diapers. This handy cloth diaper accessory protects home and baby furniture, clothing, and car seats from getting soiled.
Wet Bags
Wet bags are used for keeping soiled, wet diapers, wipes, and covers before you can wash them. You can hang these bags on door knobs or on a hook. There are many wet bags available in the market in different sizes, designs, and shapes. They have a waterproof inner layer which is usually PVC-free and anti-microbial. The zippered closure of these bags keeps the odor out. Most wet bags can easily hold four to six soiled diapers at a time.
Diaper Fasteners and Pins
Diaper fasteners and pins keep the diapers in place. While most cloth diapers in the market have built-in tabs or snaps to secure the diaper, there are some cloth diapers like flats and prefolds that may require diaper pins or special fasteners. Diaper pins have always been popular. However, when using safety pins for fastening the baby’s diapers, opt for ones that are plastic topped and have a double duty locking head.
With pins, there is always the danger of them pricking the skin of a highly active newborn. As opposed to this, fasteners with grips on their end and stretchable arms, hook onto the sides of the baby diaper, ensuring a snug and reliable fit. Some popular ones in the market include the Snappi Diaper Fastener and the Boingo Cloth Diaper Fasteners.
Cloth Wipes
A reusable, soft, and eco-friendly alternative to disposable wipes, cloth wipes are made of organic cotton fleece, and hemp. Once you are done with using them, just toss them into a cloth diaper pail, and wash them with the cloth diapers. Some people also use bottom cleaner sprays along with these wipes to clean the baby’s bottom properly, and prevent diaper rash.
Diaper Detergents
Although you may not really require special detergents to clean cloth diapers, some people prefer using them to increase the life of the diapers. The special cloth diaper detergents are devoid of fabric softeners and harsh chemicals that can cause skin irritation in babies. These detergents are biodegradable, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, enzyme-free, and non-toxic. Some detergents like the Thirsties Pre-wash kill the bacteria and loosen the stool from the diapers with ease. Some other popular cloth diaper detergents include: bumGenius Cloth Diaper Detergent, Country Save Natural Laundry Detergent, and Rockin’ Green Cloth Diaper and Laundry Detergent.
Cloth Diaper Pail
To store the soiled diapers, you can either use dry or wet cloth diaper pails. The wet cloth diaper pails are filled halfway with water along with some sort of diaper treatment such as cleaning solution or baking soda. The diaper is soaked in the pail before it is washed. In this method, you need to clean the diapers everyday as the water tends to get stinky and slimy if the diapers are soaked too long in it.
Dry diaper pails possess special pail liners that contain the odor. While some people prefer rinsing off the mess before throwing the diaper in the pail, there are others who just toss the diaper right into the pail as it is. Whether you use wet diaper pails or dry ones, you need pail deodorizers to keep contain the odor from the diapers. They should also have a tight-fitting lid.
Diaper Sprayer
You can use a diaper sprayer to rinse off the baby’s diaper before chucking it into the washing machine. The pressure control valves allows you to adjust the pressure as you clean the diaper. This may not be an essential accessory, but it does make diaper cleaning a tad easier.
If you have decided to use cloth diapers for your baby, then you should definitely stock up on these diaper accessories. Most of these accessories are available at stores and online.
