Most of us tend to relate babies with lot of work apart from the cuddles and fun. Its no surprise then that thinking of a sustainable option for diapering them even makes it to the "list of things for babies". A tired, overwhelmed, sleep deprived mother would surely take it easy and use disposables than add more mess to her routine by using cloth nappies for her squish. Also nuclear families and less spaces to dry make it close to impossible to use nappies for babies. But, but, but all these were true until modern cloth diapers came into picture! Nowadays it is possible to use cloth on a baby s bum and still go about life normally without being overwhelmed by the decision!
Thanks to a variety of options available in the market today, a new mother can go for what suits her and her family the best without contributing to the garbage mess.
If you are a new mommy or a to-be mommy or a new parent, one of the not so memorable parts of raising a baby is diaper changes. I am sure most agree to this. And thanks to our commercially available disposable diapers, most parents, including fathers willingly change diapers because its something that they can wash their hands off, quite literally! Convenience is a major factor favouring disposable diapers. However, have you thought a little ahead about what happens to these once they are off those cute bums ? They land up in your area's sanitary waste bin and mostly will end up in a landfill staying put for hundreds of years. It will stay there even after your baby has babies of its own. Literally for generations to come polluting the land in which it is present, leeching out toxins thereby enabling the toxins to get back into the food chain.
A new born needs on a average 6-8 diapers a day, sometimes more too. In a week, that amounts to 56 diapers, and in a year a whopping 2500( approximately) diapers! Assuming the baby is potty trained only by 2 years, you would have thrown out 5000 diapers which will stay for eternity! While this statistics is alarming, one needs to understand the kind of chemicals that go into masking natural smells. Do we really need to expose our precious little squishes to things like that?
Picture courtesy: Internet
While sposies have made life easy for new parents, one must accept the price we pay for it - Ruthless pollution, right from energy used for making these thin paper like plastics to leeching toxins which finally end up in foodchains. Surely not the right kind of legacy to leave behind.
Picture courtesy: Internet
When my first one was born, 7 years back, we knew langots, but they were messy and needed frequent change. Also it was a big task to get laundry done and one had to literally avoid outings for fear of changing nappies. As i gave in and started using sposies for its convenience especially for nights, life was simple but as i read up the pollution they created i resented using them but had no alternative. Finally a like minded friend educated me about cloth diapers.. I was quite bowled over by the convenience it offered. The best part was it was reusable! I was so happy but those were available only in the USA! And they costed a bomb. Though my family revolted, i made sure my husband bought 4 cloth diapers from a famous American brand on his official trip. He too was amused by the fact that we had to pay so much for covering up baby's bums, but silently supported my craze for reusable stuff.
When she was 1.5 years old, there was an Indian company making cloth diapers in chennai.. At once i ordered online from them and used them. Still sposies had to be used for some occasions as i was the only one who was comfortable cleaning cloth diapers and family felt it was messy. With time and reiteration my family slowly understood what i was talking about.
When my second one was born, i had already made up my mind about using cloth diapers. The facebook group Cloth Diapering India helped me understand so much about the latest cloth diapers in the market and the convenience each of them offered. I am thankful that i was aware of the choices i could make and am happy to share that my second one is clothdiapered all the time, be it parties, vacations, outings, movies. One might think cloth diapering means more water usage/ more electricity usage. But it really is not. Please refer the image below on how much water is used as a comparison between sposies and cloth diapers.
Picture courtesy: Internet
Whenever i meet any new parent, my mind almost instantaneously races to talk to them about cloth diapers and their goodness. Like the saying goes, sharing is caring indeed and i am now going to share information on modern cloth diapers as i care for our environment!
Please take time to read so you can make an informed and conscious choice about what suits your child best.
Types of Cloth diapers:
Picture courtesy: Internet
Category A: No waterproof shell- Best for summer/ play time/ short outings
1. Flats ( cotton squares) with snappy
2. Prefolds with snappy
3. Fitteds - with snappable stay dry/ non stay dry inserts.
Category B: With waterproof shell- Best for night time/ parties/ long outings
1. Single or double gusset PUL diaper covers ( used with any cloth inserts)
2. Pocket diapers ( stay dry options- suede lined or fleece lined)
3. All in one diapers - inserts are sewn in
4. All in two diapers - these come with detachable inserts which can be staydry/ non staydry.
All cloth diapers are available in 3 basic sizes.
- Newborn Size: 0-10 months/ 2.5kgs- 7kgs
- Petit Size : 6-12 months/ 5-10kgs
- One Size: Toddlers
One has to exercise their choice in choosing from these sizes according to the build of the baby. My second one at 14 months still fits into petit fitteds.
Category A, Type 1: Flats
Flats are the most versatile options for cloth diapering mommies. I personally love it because it dries very quickly and is a blessing during vacations. One can dry these overnight inside the hotel room under a fan! Cotton cloth being a natural fiber absorbs very well and squares of different sizes can be folded in a multitude of ways to suit babies from new born size to toddler size. These can be secured on those cute bums using a snappy like in the picture below.
The concept of using a snappy though new, is very convenient. This is probably the most economical of modern cloth diapering options. Also DIY freaks can upcycle old dupattas, dhoties and similar stuff into squares of different sizes. The most common fold with a cotton square is shown below.
There are various other folds one can try which is summarized in the website below.
Category A, Type 2: Prefolds
Prefolds are most suited for summers and newborns when the caregivers don't have the time to fold flats. These come with thick layers of cotton at the centre to help absorb quickly. They are breathable and can be secured with snappy like in the image below.
The thick layer at the centre can take a little more time to dry but it works great. For a quick outing like a hospital visit you can use a diaper cover on this and carry more prefolds for changing if need be.
Category A, Type 3:Fitteds
Fitted diapers look like disposable diapers except they are loaded with goodness and more! They come with a non waterproof outer shell and inserts that can be snapped inside. The inner side of fitteds can be either stay dry or non stay dry.
Stay dry effect keeps the moisture away from baby's bum thereby baby not feeling wet. It can achieved with a fleece or a microsuede lining on the insides. Below image shows a fitted diaper with fleece lined stay dry inner and inserts.
Fitteds work great for day time naps and are available in such cute prints which can instantly add more cuteness to those squishy bums! Whats more, these are available as handmades too and very much from local people! Image below shows some of the cute prints.
They work great for day naps and can also best used for nighttime with diaper covers.
Category B, Type 1: Covers
PUL diaper covers: PUL stands for Polyurethane laminate. It is a compound fabric made by laminating a cloth fabric to one or both sides of a thin film of polyurethane. The best part of these PUL covers is their versatility. You can use any inserts inside them and you can be fully assured that there wont be any accidents.
The picture above has a padfolded cotton cloth as insert with the diaper cover. The best part avout PUL is that it is breathable and slightly stretchy. Cotton squares from upcycled clothing can be used as inserts too and that would be highly easy on pockets too. Flats can be used with these. However if one wishes to provide the baby with a stay dry feel, they can use fleece staydry liners available separately.
Best part about these covers is that during every diaper change, the cover can be air dried and used along with next diaper change as long as it feels fresh.
PUL covers with padfolded flats make a great combination for vacations. Flats dry super quick, air dry covers as long as only pee to handle and reuse them!
Category B, Type 2: Pocket Diapers
Pocket diapers: These are the most common modern cloth diapers. They come with pockets which house the inserts. Inserts can range from upcycled padfolded cotton cloth to hemp inserts. Most pockets come with a stay dry layer on the inside ensuring baby feels dry. Generally suede or fleece provides stay dry feel. Image below shows a pocket diaper.
These are widely available and the china makes are quite cheap. Beware of bad products. However the good ones are very reliable and absolutely no chance of accidents with these. I prefer micro fleece lined stay dry pockets for outings, parties and vacations.
Category B, Type 3:
AIO's - All in One diapers
These have inserts sewn into them and have super absorbancy. Mostly with stay dry inner they are great replacements for the sposies. They look exactly like disposables and function similarly. Extremely easy to put on too. They work great as night time diapers too. However the only factor that one needs to consider before buying these is the climate of the region they live in. These are best suited for sunny areas or those that use a dryer for clothes because inserts being sewn in makes them relatively slow at drying after wash. Attached below is a picture of an AIO.
Picture courtesy: Internet
Category B, Type 4:
AI2's - All in Two's Diaper
These are similar to AIO's except that the inserts are not sewn inside permanently. These have snappable inserts which are detachable. One can procure inserts separately and change inserts if the outer shell is not wet. They are either suede lined or fleece lined to keep the baby feeling dry. For heavy wetters, we can use an extra bamboo cotton or hemp insert to provide more absorbancy. The outer shell is PUL laminated and hence waterproof. They work great for travel and according to me are the best option for night time diapers. My son is a heavy wetter and can go without needing a change for 8 hours at night in an AI2 with a hemp insert. Some Ai2's also come with a pocket where you can stuff more inserts. Detachable inserts make drying a breeze. Versatility with altering the absorbing power instead of buying a new diaper is a very good feature. So overall this is a real good option for cloth diapering. Seen below is a picture of an AI2 with 3 snappable cotton inserts with stay dry layer.
However don't think they will be too bulky on the baby because they are super trim :) Check the image below if you don't believe me! These are two ai2's from two different Indian brands. They come in beautiful eye catchy prints too!
I have covered all the different options one has for modern cloth diapers. Apart from these, one can purchase fleece liners, extra inserts, reusable cotton wipes, wet bags (A smell-leak proof to carry back used dipes during outings), training pants for potty training and similar accessories to make cloth diapering very much doable. Will share more on the accessories in another post as this post is already long. Below you can see pictures of fleece liners, hemp insert and wetbags.
My stash is a mix of various brands not just from india but US too. Infact some of the dipes i bought from US 7 years ago are still in perfect usable condition. I generally do not recommend any particular brand because i like the versatility a multiple brand stash offers me. Please get in touch incase you wish to know about any particular brand. Picture below shows some of the diapers. I used for my elder one which are 6.5 years old and still using for my younger one, in great condition.
For reusable wipes, we can repurpose old t-shirts into small squares which can be reused. Many vendors also stock small squares made from flannel/ velour material to be used for dipes. At each dipe change, it is advisable to use coconut oil on the baby's bottom and then put the cloth diaper on. Petroleum jelly is not recommended as it can affect the breathable feature of cloth diapers.
Another important aspect of cloth diapering is washing it. I can assure you its not an overwhelming thing to accomplish. Once the diaper is off the baby's bum store it in an open area like balcony or rinse it with water and store in a bucket inside the bath. After poop sessions, it is good to rinse and store. During travel, i prefer using reusable fleece liners which make life easier during rinsing. Also if you dread rinsing poopy diapers, accept that it is a natural process and hardly 2 minutes of such rinsing sessions is fine compared to pooped disposables rotting in a landfill. For me, sustainable living is a dream come true indeed and these are small steps towards that dream.
Above is a picture of our flats and dipes drying during a vacation. Vacation time cloth diapering makes sense because you dont want to dump a disposable diaper in an exotic destination and end up polluting the place. More on vacation cloth diapering separately.
Above is a picture of our flats and dipes drying during a vacation. Vacation time cloth diapering makes sense because you dont want to dump a disposable diaper in an exotic destination and end up polluting the place. More on vacation cloth diapering separately.
Furthermore, all dipes used in a day can be washed together in the washing machine. If you want to wash it along with other family's clothes, it is good to soak the dipes in a bucket of warm water ( not very hot - because it can damage PUL lining) for 30 min, later add to the washing machine along with other clothes. You could also use the prewash feature if you have one in your washing machine. Use a non fragrant mild detergent. In case of hand wash you can do so, after soaking them.
Sun drying dipes is always the best thing one can do. Sun is the best natural disinfectant and can remove stains from diapers. However, after 2-3 hours of direct sun it is advised to move the dipes to shade as full sun drying makes diapers very hard. If one lives like me in an apartment, you can very well line dry the dipes in your balcony. Most dipes dry in 12 hours timeframe even without sun in bangalore.
Regardless of whether you live in a hot place or an extremely cold place, it is indeed possible to use cloth diapers for your baby. You need to make up your mind and stick to your ideology. Be the change you want to see in the world. May our kids have the blessings of clean environment, soil, air and water. It is possible only when we make sustainable choices and not opting for convenient alternatives which are harmful.
Just for information, though number of cloth dipes needed for newborns can not be exactly predicted initially, having 6 dipes + 3- prefolds+ 6- flats + 2 covers should be a good start, once your baby is more than 6 months old, you may need 10 diapers+ flats/prefolds in a day. Once they reach toddler stage, this reduces to 6-8 dipes a day. Very much doable indeed! Below is a picture of my new born stash just 5 days before my EDD for my second one.
Thanks for reading. Please share this with parents-to-be, new parents and grandparents who may benefit from these.
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