You are a brand new parent and baby has arrived! You've decided that you want to cloth diaper, but maybe you aren't totally ready to commit and/or don't want to add yet another element of parenting to deal with right away. Enter: a cloth diaper service.

In this article, we will be discussing what makes up a cloth diaper service, reasons to choose a cloth diaper service, how exactly to use a diaper service and the benefits of using a cloth diaper service.

What is a cloth diaper service?

A cloth diaper service is a professional cleaning service that takes your dirty diapers every week and gives you a fresh, clean set in exchange.

Usually, cloth diaper services are set up on a monthly payment basis and can be great options for new parents who are navigating the ins and outs of parenting for the very first time.

Why choose a cloth diaper service?

Those with shared laundry or 'coin op' laundry facilities, may truly appreciate the convenience of a cloth diaper service. Coin op laundry facilities can be very expensive and using a diaper service may actually save you money in the long run if you are using shared laundry.

In terms of budget, choosing a diaper service will give you a definite monthly price for cloth diapering. You can budget in the exact amount of the service and you won't have to figure out how much coin op laundry will cost that much or whether or not you can afford it.

There are also specific health codes that all cloth diaper services must follow, so one of the big benefits of using a service is that you know your diapers are going to be very clean. No worrying about did you use the right wash routine or are your diapers clean enough!

And honestly, if you just have a hard time coming to terms with washing soiled diapers, a cloth diaper service may be for you. It will take one more thing off your plate each month and you won't have to deal with dirty diapers. (And for the record, washing dirty cloth diapers is definitely doable and we would love to show you how, if that's your desire that is.)

How do you use a cloth diaper service?

First, you'll need to ensure that you have a cloth diaper service available to you. Checkout Google to make sure that there is a service in your area and read some reviews to make sure you are choosing a high quality organization.

Each diaper service will have its own procedures, so make sure you are familiar with their washing procedure, the detergents they choose to use, the pricing and any other requirements they may have of their clientele.

Some services rent everything you need to cloth diaper; covers, prefolds, inserts and even the diaper pail itself. Others will provide the prefolds, but not the accessories like pail liners and covers. All of the parts and pieces of each cloth diaper service will be a little different, so it's important to get that information ahead of time to decide which particular service will work for you.

Benefits of a diaper service

You can actually use a diaper service from birth to potty training. Services will have prefolds and possibly covers, if that's a part of their offering, to fit a full range of sizes. Just let them know when your little one has grown out of their current size and they will replace your stash with the appropriate size.

Saving disposable diapers from landfills is always a huge benefit! Going green from birth will make the sustainable switch so much easier at each age and stage. Most cloth diaper services are largely environmentally friendly and use green practices as well.

Many diaper services have been around for decades and there are so many reasons to think about using them. There are lots of different ways that you can use diaper services and still use your Thirsties, so don't automatically think you have to give up your cute Duo Wraps if you join a service. And remember, it's important to be open to this option. Just because it may not work or be needed in your home today, doesn't mean that will be the case in the future!

Want more info about joining a cloth diaper service? Checkout Laura's Thirsties Live all about cloth diapering services here:

For more cloth diaper tips and tricks, you can visit Thirsties on Facebook or join the online community, Thirsties Groupies. And don’t forget to checkout the Thirsties Instagram feed, @thirstiesinc