5 Reasons to Give Cloth Diapers a Try

Are cloth diapers right for your family?

By Alexandria Powell

In this article:
Because diapers have come a long way, baby
Because they are easy to care for
Because cloth diapers don't have to stay at home
Because they are an economical choice
Because one family CAN make a difference

If you think you know cloth diapers, you may want to think again. The last 15 years have produced an array of choices in cloth diapering that are easy and beneficial in so many ways. If you're curious about cloth, find out why many parents are taking on that extra load of laundry—and loving it.

Jennifer Liptrot found the idea of cloth diapers daunting. That was, until she investigated her options. "Learning that there were no pins involved was a big factor in the decision to try cloth," says Liptrot, one of the creators of DiaperPin.com, a website that provides information and support for parents who choose to use cloth diapers. "I also read about [cleaning methods for cloth diapers] and found them easier than I expected." The more Liptrot learned about cloth diapers, the more she felt convinced that this was the diapering method best for her family.

Liptrot is not alone. The Real Diaper Association, a collective non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the use of cloth diapers, estimates that five to 10 percent of US babies are wearing cloth diapers at least some of the time.

So what are some of the reasons families choose cloth diapers for their babies and toddlers?

Because diapers have come a long way, baby

"One of the biggest myths about cloth diapers is that they are too hard to deal with," says Linda Byerline, founder and CEO of Happy Heiny's, one of the world's largest manufacturers of modern cloth diapers and diaper covers. "What many moms don't realize is that the cloth diapers made today are not exactly like they were even 15 years ago."

The days of uncomfortable rubber pants and dangerous sharp pins are gone, says Byerline. "Most cloth diapers today are as easy to use as [any] disposable diaper."

(Click here to see an array of cute cloth diaper options.)

Today cloth diapers come in two basic systems, although you can find endless styles and materials used—fabrics include cotton, wool, and even hemp, and organic versions are available.

Diapers with separate waterproof covers are available in flats (the large rectangle you may remember from childhood), or fitted (which are shaped to fit around your child's body without folding).
All-in-one diapers are fitted diapers with the waterproof cover sewn on. Many, if not most, of these diapers use Velcro, a tie, or snaps around the waist, eliminating the need for pins.

And that simplicity is what's attracting many moms to cloth."I was at the Green Festival [a fair put on across the country to promote socially responsible businesses, and environmental, social justice, and community organizations] in Washington, DC, last fall, and they had a lot of people who were surprised when they picked up fitted diapers, because they thought that diapers were what their grandmother had used—big, 36 inch fabric squares," says Lori Taylor, founder of the Real Diaper Association. "When people saw these diapers, they saw 'cute' and 'easy', and a lot of them said, 'I can make this choice!'"