How Many Cloth Diapers Do You Really Need?
by Ivana Stamenkovic
When buying cloth diapers the most common question is "how many cloth diapers do I actually need". But it's hard to say the exact number since we all have different lifestyles and needs. So here are some questions that can help you decide which is the optimal number for you and your baby before you start shopping and buy too many diapers (if that's even possible). Keep in mind that whether you use them full-time or part-time - every cloth diaper change is one disposable diaper less in the landfill.
Do you plan to use cloth diapers full-time or part-time?
Many parents combine cloth and disposable diapers - cloth diapers at home and disposable diapers when they are on the go or during nights. Also, not every daycare or babysitter is cloth-diaper-friendly, so you should consider that too.
Do you have a newborn, a baby or a toddler?
A newborn will need more diapers than a toddler. And not all one-size diapers can fit the newborns well, so you might need different diapers in the beginning. Newborns need diaper changes more often - every two or three hours. And as your baby grows the number of necessary diaper changes decreases - not only they pee and poop less, they also they tend to sleep through the night and you start with potty training.
What type of cloth diapers do you plan to use?
Some types of cloth diapers need to be changed more frequently than the other ones. With fitted or all-in-two there's no need to change the whole diaper if only the insert is dirty.
How often do you plan to do your laundry?
You definitely don't want to leave them soaking for too long in the diaper pail (no longer than three days, you don't want them to become stinky and stained, or even worse - moldy), but frequent washing might reduce their lifespan - they'll wear out and tear faster. And you'll waste more time, electricity and water. So if you have a bigger stash - be sure to rotate them, you don't want to wash the same ones over and over again. To find out how many do you need, just count the number of diaper changes per day and multiply that number by the number of days you plan to go between the washes. Don't forget to add a few extras, just in case.
Do you have a dryer?
During the summer they will dry fast enough by themselves, but during the winter or wet times, they'll need much more time so you'll need a few more extra diapers if you don't have a dryer. You could also consider using flats or prefolds during the winter since they need less time to dry and aren't expensive.
Do you want to use all of your diapers or you're planning to have some in a stash?
You'll need more diapers if you want to store a couple of them in the diaper bag, in the car, at grandparents... it's always a good idea to have a few extras.
* Are you reasonable when it comes to shopping?
"How many cloth diapers do you need" isn't the question anymore. Now it's all up to "how many cloth diapers do you actually want". Cloth diapers and their covers come in so many wonderful prints so you might get overwhelmed and want to buy them all.
And don't forget the covers. If they don't get dirty they can be re-used several times before you put them to wash. And for some diaper types (all-in-two or all-in-one), you don't need them at all, since they already have a sewed in cover.
