We’re often asked for our best cloth diaper tips and tricks as well as how to make cloth diapering easier. While there is no one perfect way to cloth diaper, there are a few things that can definitely make your cloth diapering journey simpler.

In this article, we will discuss the top ten cloth diapering tips and tricks as well as how these tips can help you cloth diaper successfully.

Here’s our top tips:

1. Use Your Prefolds for Everything
2. Don’t Use Fabric Softener, Ever
3. Toss the Dryer Sheets
4. You Really Do Need All Those Wet Bags
5. Use Cloth Safe Diaper Cream (Like Booty Love!)
6. Try a Few Different Styles
7. Adjust Your Rise First, THEN Your Waist
8. Keep Your Wash Routine Simple
9. Remember My Cloth Baby is Happy
10. Use Booty Luster Spray for Hands and Faces Too!

Use Your Prefolds for Everything

 

Prefolds are incredibly diverse cloth diapering items. Many parents choose prefolds because they are absorbent, easy to clean and so multi-functional. Here are just a couple of our favorite uses for prefolds beyond cloth diapering:

1. Burp Rags
2. Bibs
3. Swiffer Pads
4. Mattress Pads for Potty Training
5. Cleaning Rags
6. Spit Up Catchers for Tummy Time
7. Natural Breast Pads

#ThirstiesTip When nursing, lay a prefold down between you and your mattress to catch any nighttime leaking and save your sheets!

Don’t Use Fabric Softener, Ever

 

Fabric softener is a cloth diaper no no. It can coat the absorbent fibers of your cloth diaper and cause it to repel liquids rather than absorb them. The strong scent can also hold onto fibers, making any sort of detergent buildup or ammonia buildup even worse. For problem free cloth diapering, skip the fabric softener.

Toss the Dryer Sheets

 

Dryer sheets are another cloth diaper no no. Dryer sheets can also coat your absorbent fibers and cause them to repel liquids. If you want to keep your diapers absorbent and free from unnecessary buildup, toss the dryer sheets.

So, if you toss the dryer sheets, how do you replace them?

#ThirstiesTip Use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. They will cut down on dry time, avoid unnecessary buildup from dryer sheets and they can be reused through hundreds to thousands of dry cycles.

You Really Do Need All Those Wet Bags

Have you ever wondered what you can do with your wet bag? The Thirsties Wet Bag is so multi-functional and we love it for storing our dirty cloth diapers. But what happens when you are done cloth diapering? Can you still use your wet bag?

Of course! Maybe you are currently cloth diapering and have an extra wet bag (or five) laying around and you are just not sure what to do with it? Either way, wet bags are arguably the most versatile cloth diaper accessory. Here are our top ten uses for your wet bags:

1. Storing Clean Cloth Diapers
2. Storing Swimwear
3. Momma Cloth/Pumping
4. Snack/Lunch Bag
5. Packing a Suitcase
6. Garbage Bag
7. Momma Emergency Bag
8. First Aid Kit
9. Potty Learning
10. Outdoor Activities

Use Cloth Safe Diaper Cream (Like Booty Love!)

 

When it comes to cloth diapering, not all diaper rash creams are created equal. Some creams can stain your diapers, while others can cause your absorbent fibers to repel liquids. In general, remember that diaper creams that contain zinc will stain your cloth and diaper creams that contain petroleum will cause your diapers to repel moisture.

Diaper creams like Booty Love are natural and cloth diaper safe. You can safely use Booty Love without using a liner and it will wash clean in your regular diaper laundry.

#ThirstiesTip If you do decide to use a diaper cream containing zinc, consider a liner to eliminate stains and ensure your cloth comes clean in the laundry.

Try a Few Different Styles

 

Some people get turned off to cloth diapering, simply because they chose a style that doesn't work for their family or lifestyle. Having multiple caregivers or attending day care may mean that an All In One may fit your lifestyle better than a system with multiple pieces like covers and prefolds. Trying a few different styles of cloth diapers will help you to find something that works for your family and be successful in the long run.

Adjust Your Rise First, THEN Your Waist

 

Adjusting your rise snaps first will control how long the diaper becomes. Your waist snaps control how tight the legs and waist will be. To get a great fit, make sure to adjust your rise snaps first and your waist snaps second. This will help you to eliminate bulk, ensure that you are choosing the correct waist snaps and eventually prevent leaks.

Keep Your Wash Routine Simple

 

Keep it simple! An easy and effective wash routine looks something like this:

1. Pre-wash on WARM with a small amount of detergent.
2. Heavy duty wash on HOT with the recommended amount of detergent.
3. Rinse.

Although this laundry routine won't be perfect for everyone, it's a quick and simple start to an effective wash routine.

Remember, My Cloth Baby is Happy

 

When layering different fibers, remember My Cloth Baby is Happy. This will help you remember how fast fibers absorb, in order. From fastest to slowest, fibers absorption happens in this order: microfiber, cotton, bamboo and finally hemp.

So, what does this mean for cloth diapering? This means that you want to layer your microfiber or synthetic layer (like stay dry microfiber) on top, cotton underneath it, then bamboo and lastly hemp. So, if you are using a Stay Dry Duo insert, your stay dry microfiber layer would be closest to baby's skin and the organic/cotton hemp blend insert would be underneath. Using this method, you will be able to wick moisture away from baby as fast as possible to eliminate both diaper rash and leaks.

Use Booty Luster Spray for Hands and Faces Too!

 

Booty Luster is one of those multi-functional products that I love for everything. I have used my Booty Luster plus a cloth wipe for dirty hands and faces, scrapes on dirty knees, to wipe off my diaper bags, to wipe down my car and to clean up stroller messes too.

#Momrealness

 

I have used all of these tips and more on my cloth diapering journey, but I can say that this top ten will make your life so much easier. Keeping your routine simple, using cloth diaper safe creams, trying a few different styles and using your prefolds well will save you so many headaches and unnecessary work.

I personally spent and wasted a lot of time trying complicated laundry routines and forever looking for a wet bag I didn’t own before I gave in to several of these tips. The best advice? Take what works for you and leave the rest. Cloth diaper the way that makes sense for you, your baby and your family.

Are you currently cloth diapering? Which tip is your favorite? Are you a super fan of one specific style? Tell us in the comments! You can shop Thirsties cloth diapers at your local retailer or online with Thirsties. 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 Thirsties Instagram feed, @thirstiesinc.