Cloth Diapering Basics: 5 Best Practices to Follow While Changing Your Baby’s Cloth Diaper

Cloth diapering has become increasingly popular among parents as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to disposable diapers. However, for new parents, cloth diapering can be intimidating and overwhelming. In this article, we will provide some cloth diapering basics and the best practices to follow while changing your baby's cloth diaper. These tips will help make cloth diapering a breeze and ensure your baby stays comfortable and dry.

What You Need to Know Before You Begin Cloth Diapering?

Before you begin cloth diapering for your baby, here are 5 things you must know:

• Cloth diapers are made of natural fabrics and feature a waterproof cover or outer layer and an absorbent insert or inner layer. They can be washed and reused multiple times.

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• Types of cloth diapers include flats, prefolds, fitted, contours, pockets, all-in-ones, all-in-twos, and hybrids.

• The number of diapers needed depends on your baby's age and frequency of laundry, with washing every 3-4 days being recommended.

• Using cloth diapers is not much different than using a disposable diaper. They just require pre-assembly of the inserts or outer cover. For some options, you can just snap the buttons or Velcro to adjust the size according to your little one.

• Cloth diapers may leak occasionally, especially if they are not changed frequently enough. So, make sure to follow the best practices for changing cloth diapers.

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Cloth Diapering Basics: Best Practices for Changing Cloth Diapers

Let us now understand some easy steps on how to change a cloth diaper.

1. Gather your supplies

You will need a clean cloth diaper, baby wipes, cloth diaper inserts, diaper cream, and a changing mat or waterproof sheet to change your baby's diaper.

2. Remove the dirty diaper

Unfasten the diaper and lift your baby's legs up by their ankles. Use the front of the diaper to wipe away any solids and dispose of it appropriately.

3. Clean your baby

Use baby wipes to clean your baby's bottom thoroughly. Be sure to get into all the creases and folds.

4. Apply diaper cream

If necessary, apply diaper rash cream to your baby's bottom to prevent diaper rash or soothe any irritation and redness.

5. Put on a clean diaper

Take out the dirty insert and place a fresh insert in your baby’s cloth diaper from the rear end. Adjust the size of the diaper according to your baby so that it fits comfortably. Snap the diaper using easy buttons around your baby's waist.

Alternatively, you can invest in Mylo’s Happy Bums Combo, which will provide you with all the essentials you’ll need while changing your baby’s cloth diaper. The Happy Bums Combo comes with a reusable cloth diaper, cloth diaper inserts and gentle baby wipes. It’s all you and your little one need for a smooth diapering experience.

Troubleshooting Common Cloth Diapering Issues

Now that you’re familiar with the cloth diapering basics, let us understand some common issues that may arise with cloth diapers including leaks, fit, washing, expense, complexity, and travel and how to troubleshoot them:

1. Leakage

The most common cause of leaks is improper fit, so it's essential to check the fit first and ensure there are no leg gaps, waist gaps, or belly gaps. To prevent fitting issues, choosing quality diapers that fit and accompanying them with tutorials is recommended.

2. Washing

Washing cloth diapers can be challenging. To avoid washing problems with cloth diapers, use baby laundry detergent, rinse them in cold water, wash them in hot water and rinse at last in cold water.

3. Stain removal

To remove any stains from your baby’s cloth diapers, it’s important to wash and dry them properly. For drying cloth diapers, just put them on a clothesline that receives ample sunlight. It will accelerate the drying process and the Sun will act as a natural stain remover.

4. Limited supply

Parents may struggle with a limited supply of cloth diapers, especially with a younger baby. To ensure you never run out of cloth diapers, put all the dirty diapers in the washer every night or other and dry them in the morning.

5. Time-consuming

To save time on cloth diapering, you can prepare your baby’s cloth diapers in advance by lining them with fresh cloth diaper inserts so they’re ready to be worn by your baby. And make sure to soak the dirty diapers at night and wash them in the morning.

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The Bottomline

In conclusion, cloth diapering can be a great choice for parents who want to save money, reduce waste, and provide a comfortable and safe experience for their baby. By following the cloth diapering basics outlined above, you can ensure a successful cloth diapering experience.