1. Not creating a realistic budget or Not budgeting at all. When you use disposables, it´s fairly easy to select a brand, estimate the quantity you´ll need as baby grows, and budget for your diaper use each month. Cloth diapers, on the other hand, require an up-front investment. Stretching your budget to get the best cloth diaper stash for your budget is possible when you are patient, watch for sales, and plan ahead.
If you are currently pregnant and planning for a new baby, you have an advantage over moms like me who started cloth diapering an older baby. Plan a budget now, register for cloth diapers, and recommend stores that carry cloth and gift cards to gift-givers. Remember that it will feel like quite a bit of money for diapers now, but you will definitely save money in the coming months and years, especially if you use cloth diapers for multiple babies or resell your diapers.
If you are planning on switching to cloth diapers, don´t fret about not being able to afford your dream stash of diapers right now. Create a realistic budget for yourself and slowly build your stash. You might need to use your remaining disposables in the meantime and wash more frequently. You might need to go with affordable prefolds for awhile until you can purchase additional styles. If you set aside the money you would have spent on disposables, however, you´ll quickly find yourself cloth diapering full time!
2. Assuming the priciest diapers are the best. A number of factors go into the cost of a cloth diaper, including fabric, workmanship, production costs, and availability. You could cloth diaper your baby in a single brand of cloth diapers by purchasing a package ranging from $300 to $800. Just like disposables, what works for each family in cloth diapers depends on individual preferences and needs. While I love some of the pricier brands, the economy diapers are popular for a reason and are an important part of my stash. If you want to purchase some of the higher-end diapers, simply budget for them and supplement your stash with more affordable brands.
3. Trying and Purchasing only one style of diaper. The cloth diapering world is full of multiple styles of diapers, including fitteds, pockets, all-in-ones, all-in-twos, sized, one-sized, two-sized, prefolds, covers. You need to read a glossary of terms to understand the differences. Add to that fabric choices, the decision to go with snaps or aplix, and color choices and you are faced with a wide array of options. To truly find your cloth diapering niche, you need to touch, feel, and try different styles.
I highly recommend that anyone thinking of cloth diapering do one or all of the following before investing in cloth:
1. Find a local cloth diaper retailer and take some time to get to know your options. Ask questions and get a feel for what´s out there. Be sure to look at cloth diapers accessories as well.
2. Locate a cloth diaper trial. Several online retailers offer trials for as little as $10 and a deposit. A cloth diaper trial was a lifesaver for me because I was so overwhelmed by the wealth of information and options I discovered in cloth, I didn´t know how to begin selecting a style or brand of diaper. I created my own cloth diaper trial and felt much more confident in my options after trying the diapers and asking the retailer a multitude of questions.
3. Find a local friend who cloth diapers and ask to take a look at their stash. Watch them diaper their baby, launder their cloth diapers, and ask them about their experience using cloth diapers.
4. Not properly laundering cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are a big investment and you want to care for them properly. A well cared for cloth diaper can last through multiple babies and/or be resold in the future. There´s a small learning curve with laundering cloth diapers, but most diapers come with easy to follow directions. Be sure to use a cloth diaper safe detergent to avoid repelling and leaking issues.
Charts detailing the best and worst detergents for cloth diapers can be found at:
http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html and http://www.zany-zebra.com/diaper-detergent-chart.shtml
My personal cloth diapering laundering routine goes like this:
- Store in a hanging wet bag kept on laundry room door.
- Wash every other day.
- Cold wash (no detergent)
- Hot/Cold wash with Rockin´ Green Detergent
- Cold Rinse.
- Air Dry covers, including pockets.
- Inserts and fitteds in dryer. I hope to line dry in the future.
- Wash and lanolize wool covers every 2 to 4 weeks, unless soiled.
5. Forgetting to budget for cloth diapering accessories or assuming you need every accessory available. When considering the cost of cloth, it´s easy to forget that you will need cloth wipes, a place to store soiled diapers until laundry day, cloth diaper safe detergent, a traveling wet bag, and cloth diaper safe diaper rash cream. These can all be very affordable, especially if you make your own wipes, but you don´t want to spend your entire budget and then realize that you neglected to purchase these essential items.
It´s also easy to get caught up in the extras, including diaper sprayers, cloth warmers, and diaper bags made to accommodate the bulk of cloth. Don´t get me wrong, these are awesome additions to any cloth diapering mama´s world. But you don´t need them to begin cloth diapering and can always purchase them later.
6. Going at it alone. There is an amazing community of parents who cloth diaper, including local groups, bloggers, facebook sites, and twitter mamas. You can even join a weekly twitter chat where new and experienced moms get together to talk cloth by using the hashtag #clothdiapers. I highly recommend finding a few bloggers you trust - including a mix of retailers and independent bloggers - to answer your questions and keep you up to date about cloth diapering innovations and trends.
Cloth diapering can be frustrating at times for a number of reasons such as doubting or unsupportive friends and family and leaking or repelling issues, When you connect with other parents who are committed to cloth diapering - because they want to save money, protect the environment, or avoid the chemicals in disposables, or for all of these reasons - it´s easy to find the answers and support you need to stay committed to cloth diapering.
7. Believe that you won´t want more. It might sound silly, but cloth diapers are addicting. There are so many adorable patterns and styles to choose from. Plus, retailers are constantly coming out with new, innovative styles and improvements. As you become more experienced with cloth diapers, you´ll also find yourself interested in trying things that were beyond your comfort zone initially, such as wool or snaps. Be sure to set aside money for future cloth purchases because you will want more. There´s a reason cloth diaper giveaways are so popular - there´s something special about fluffy mail!
Top Seven Common Mistakes Cloth Diapering Beginners Make: by Mindy F.
