Introduction to Cloth Diapers

The Diaper

This introduction was actually written by my wife Kimmi for a friend of hers who is considering cloth diapers. I thought it was good information, so I've posted it. All photos of actual poop have been removed.



We have been using the Fuzzi Bunz brand diapers and we are very happy with them. The outside of the diaper is made of some polyurethane type cloth that is water proof while the part that touches your baby is fleece. The diaper is sewn together on all sides except one to make a “pocket”. The liner is placed inside the diaper and is the absorbent part of the diaper. You will find the fleece takes the moisture away from the baby and you can often pull the liner out and find the fleece portion completely dry. Some like to continue using the diaper by just sticking in another liner (the hairy arm is Abre not me )



Here is the backside view of a stuffed diaper.



Here is the front view of a stuffed diaper illustrating the use of snaps. These are great for growing with your baby. The bottom row of snaps controls the tightness around the legs the top the tightness around the tummy.

The Setup

Here is Oskar’s changing station.



The top drawer is full of washcloths (colorless and ugly not to be mixed up with the bath time washcloths). These are what we use in place of wipes. The container above is full of water immediately accessible for wiping.



The second drawer is full of diapers that have already been stuffed. We generally stuff them as soon as we take them out of the dryer.



The bottom drawer has extra liners (the stuffing, also called doublers). Depending on how much your baby tinkles will determine how many liners you’ll need at night. We are good with 1 during the day and 2 at night.

The DOOP-DOOP routine

Oskar’s bathroom has a high pressure hand-bidet attached. It comes with a hook to place conveniently on the tank.



Connected to the plumbing of the toilet by Abre, he claims its easy to figure out.



After changing a stinky diaper, bring the diaper and the wipe(s) in to the bathroom. The high pressure hand bidet will blast off the solids (like pressure washing your driveway).



Your typical diaper pail… we purchased ours from Target.



Instead of using the plastic diaper bags or trash bags, we have Canvas diaper bags (all available from any of the online cloth diaper stores).



Separate the liner from the diaper and throw both parts in the pail along with the wipes (washcloths).

The WEE-WEE routine

I know this shot is fairly meaningless. In the container is a mixture of BAC-OUT and water. We take the wee-wee diaper straight to the pail area (which is our laundry room because it is close to Oskar’s room and of course the washing machine). Separate the liner from the diaper, squirt the liner once on each side and the diaper once on the fleece side.



Dump it in the pail.

Laundry Time

1. Take the canvas bag out of the pail.


2. Empty contents into washer (diapers and liners were already separated before you threw them in the pail).


3. Turn canvas bag inside out and throw it in with the diapers.


4. With high efficiency washer, use hot water and power wash setting or regular washer use pre-soak and hot wash cycle.


5. We use Seventh Generation HE detergent with no fabric softener or other additives (definitely no bleach) to the wash.


6. Toss in the dryer with no fabric softener (this breaks down the moisture wicking of the fleece and can irritate baby’s skin).


7. Stuff liners in diapers and put back in drawer

List of Stuff To Start

• 20 small Fuzzi Bunz (lasted Oskar 9.5 months – he is a small kid though)


• 30 liners


• 4 canvas bags


• 2 small canvas bags
  • (These are diaper bag size to carry the dirty diapers home when you are out for the day); we’ve also decided to use the disposable wipes while out and about for the diaper bag.


• 50 or so ugly washcloths (sold in sets on the cloth diaper sites)


• 1 diaper pail (we also bought one for daycare where they do the cloth diapers for us)


• Bac-out stain and odor eliminating enzymes


• Laundry detergent (Seventh generation has worked really well with odors and stains)


• Toilet attachment hand bidet