Up till now, at seven months old, my daughter had used less than five packs of disposables diapers. We live in a farm that doesn’t have a regular garbage collecting service. Therefore we need to be mindful of how much waste we generate and to organise non-biodegradable waste to be driven to town for disposal. So it was clear that cloth-diapering our daughter was the way for us.
Practice, Perseverance and Experiment
When it comes to convenience, it is no doubt that disposable diapers win hands down. Being a fully cloth-diapering mum, I learned that making cloth diapers equally convenient takes a bit of practice, perseverance and experiment. Once you establish a laundering system that works for you, there’s really no difference between both options.
The Extra Bit of Work
Washing is the extra bit of work that goes into the decision of whether to use cloth diapers or not. Ever since my daughter turned five months old, we use on an average of three to four diapers a day, which isn’t really an effort to wash at all. Throw them into a diaper pail, toss into the washing machine and that’s just one extra load of washing every day or two. With soiled disposables, we throw them into the thrash. The one step extra for cloth diapers would be to do a quick spray on the soiled diapers so the solids are removed and stains are rinsed before putting them into the diaper pail.
Be flexible and Open
My advice for mothers who are planning to use cloth diapers is to be flexible and open. It becomes instinctual after some practice to know what your baby needs and which arrangements work best so keep experimenting. And to be flexible also means always having a pack of disposable diapers at home because it can be the best option on some days. When my daughter was born, I used disposable diapers at night and for going out.
Learning about cloth diapering was akin to landing on a different planet for me – so many variations, fabrics and combinations. Then there are the generous mothers who passionately share their stories, experiences and recommendations. The amount of information was overwhelming enough to put me off choosing the more straightforward disposable diapers. I would be reading for hours about each mom’s cloth diapering journey and yet didn’t know where to confidently start.
Start Slow; Don’t Spend Too Much
With the endless array of cloth diaper brands and styles, burning a hole in the pocket is not hard to do. The common mistake when purchasing cloth diapers is to decide on one system, investing in it and then realising it doesn’t really fit when the baby arrives. With every system, it takes time to familiarise and this point is where we often give up in confusion. Keeping a budget in mind as well, I always looked out for the most economical options available. As my daughter grew, her diaper requirements evolved with her size. Some diapers didn’t fit well anymore while others became suitable.
White Muslins
These inexpensive old-school style cloth diapers are fabulous for newborns and for the first three months. While the diaper cover can be reused a few times, the muslins are easy to wash, quick to dry and breathable on the baby’s skin. Frequent diaper changing also means bonding time together. I used them as we were mostly at home until my daughter was more mobile and moving frequently, after which I retired these diapers as it became challenging to wear them on a wriggly, rolling baby.
Prefolds
Used alongside with the white muslins, the prefolds lasted longer with less frequent changes though they take longer to dry. However like the muslins, putting a prefold on a moving baby, attempting to secure it with a snappy and then putting on a diaper cover became a monumental task.
All-In-Ones
I intended to use more prefolds initially as they were cheaper as I thought I could just change the prefolds and keep reusing the diaper cover for the day. The real story was that each time the prefolds were soiled, very often the covers soiled too. So I had to change them all anyway and that lead me to finally using All-In-Ones. Although they are usually the most expensive option, they are the most worry-free to use and care for. My stash of 18 diapers is sufficient for full time cloth diapering so far.
For newborns, sizing was tricky as they were mostly too large and bulky for tiny babies. However when properly fitted, they are super convenient and as quick to change as disposable diapers.
Since I started with these, I have not pulled out another disposable diaper yet – even for short trips away. But I always will have a pack of disposables on the shelf and not hesitate to use them if needed. Whether your baby is a newborn or older, it’s never too late to cloth diapers a try in slow and steady transition. Who knows, you might grow to love using them and seeing them colour the cute tiny tush of your precious one.
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Amy Tan is a movement therapist and educator who is the director of Zentrum, a movement-based healing center in Kuala Lumpur. She lives a free-range life on a farm and that’s where she’s raising her daughter.
