Cloth Diapering Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide to How We Do It

When we added cloth diapers on our registry, I got texts from friends saying “good luck” and “are you sure you want to do that?” We had done extensive research and felt the pros outweighed the cons so we fully committed. I’m so glad we did because cloth diapering has felt like a breeze with our son, Jaxon, thus far, and I want to encourage you that you can do it too! 

Cloth Diapers vs. Disposable Diapers

The benefits of cloth diapers.

• Better for the environment: disposable diaper waste contributes significantly to landfill issues. When you consider the millions of babies in the world and multiply how many diapers they use during the couple of years before potting training, that’s a lot of diapers and a lot of waste - we’re talking 300k+ disposable diapers discarded per minute worldwide! The cloth diapers we use are made from durable certified organic cotton and the outers are made from recycled plastic, helping reduce the impact on the environment. 

• Saves money: on average, families spend $70-$100 per month on disposable diapers. Cloth is a budget-friendly option, that while requiring an investment of $500-$700 upfront, can save you thousands long term. You basically break even after seven months. Word has it that cloth diapers have a good resell value as well!

• Non-toxic: most disposable diapers are filled with plastics, VOCs, phthalates, chlorine bleach and fragrances that are harmful for babies over time. Cloth diapers are made from organic cotton, protecting babies from toxins, and helping to protect against diaper rash. 

• Can be used for future kids: naturally, reusable diapers are a sustainable investment since you can use them for multiple kids.

How We Do It

Here’s our easy cloth diaper routine.

• Cloth at home, disposable on-the-go: some families prefer hybrid diapering, and while you can certainly use cloth 100% of the time, we find it easiest to only use cloth at home where it’s easy to change his diapers more frequently. My husband and I both work remotely, so we’re home most of the day during the week, which helps to change his diaper every 1-1.5 hours. When on the go, we use Coterie. If you want to exclusively cloth diaper, you can always keep wet diapers you change when out in a water resistant bag until you get home.

• Store dirty diapers in a cloth bag: we use a diaper wet bag for storage that fits neatly into our diaper pale. 

• What about the poopy ones?: here’s how we clean poopy cloth diapers without a sprayer. We have a small plastic bin that we brought home from the hospital that we use to rinse the poopy diapers before putting them in the pale. You can use any type of bucket, you just need something to effectively catch what is rinsed. Using gloves, we rinse the poopy diaper in the bin, in the sink, and dump the water into the toilet. The rinsed diaper then goes into the diaper pale like a normal wet diaper.

• Wash every other day: our cloth diaper laundry routine keeps it simple. At 5 months, Jaxon is currently going through approximately six diapers a day. We find that after two days, the bag is full and ready to be washed. Any longer, ammonia starts to build up along with possible mold and mildew growth. 

• Cloth diaper washing routine: we throw all diapers (inners & outers) along with the wet bag into the wash using a non-toxic diaper-safe detergent and first run a quick wash cycle followed by a normal cycle on hot with extra rinse. Yes, it’s two cycles, but in total, washing takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. We throw the diapers in the wash in the evening before we wind down for bed so they go in the dryer while we sleep and are ready to be folded in the morning. 

• Fold & store: when clean, we fold them and store them in a hanging organizer near our changing table. You can also store cloth diapers in a drawer or closet, but we found this works best to easily grab the diapers while we’re changing him. 

Esembly Cloth Diapers Review + How to Get Started

• Esembly: there are multiple cloth diaper brands on the market, but we liked Esembly as they’re easy to use, grow with your baby with their adjustable snaps, and are made of certified organic cotton.

• Each diaper comes in two parts: an inner cotton diaper that absorbs and a waterproof outer that protects. As a bonus, you can also use the outer diapers as a swim diaper.

• Building your Esembly diaper system: Esembly has a convenient quiz on their site that helps you understand how many diapers & sizes you need to get started. We started with 48 inner diapers (24 in each size) and that has been perfect. We went with (3) outers in each size as well.

• Initial investment: here’s a cost breakdown for cloth diapering - approximately $650 for the packs listed above, but Esembly and other retailers like Amazon, etc. run specials, so look out for deals to save on your starter kit. We were fortunate that our friends and family gifted us all the sets we needed from our registry, so if you’re planning on having a registry, it’s a great item to add.

• We have loved Esembly - we haven’t had any blowouts with cloth, have avoided diaper rashes and they are so soft.

Cloth Diapering Cons

• Cloth diapers need to be changed more frequently than disposable, but this also minimizes the risk of diaper rash, so it turns out to be more of a pro for us.

• They are bulkier than disposable diapers, which makes clothes fit a bit more snug

• You do have to do more laundry

TL;DR 

Cloth Diapering FAQ

• How many cloth diapers do I need? Most families find that 24–30 cloth diapers is a good starting stash if you plan to do laundry every other day. If you’re washing daily, you can start with fewer, but a larger stash gives you flexibility and reduces wear.

• How often should I wash cloth diapers? To avoid ammonia buildup, odors, and mildew, wash cloth diapers every 2–3 days. A simple two-cycle wash routine with a cloth diaper-safe detergent works best.

• Are cloth diapers better for the environment? Yes. Cloth diapers drastically reduce the number of disposable diapers sent to landfills (millions per day worldwide). Washing cloth does use water and energy, but overall it’s a more sustainable diapering choice.

• How much money can I save by cloth diapering? Families typically spend $70–$100 per month on disposables. Cloth diapering requires an upfront investment of around $500–$700 but can save thousands over several years—especially if used for multiple children.

• Can you travel or go out with cloth diapers? Absolutely! Many families use a hybrid approach—cloth diapers at home and eco-friendly disposables on the go. A wet bag makes it easy to store soiled cloth diapers until you get home.

• How can I clean poopy cloth diapers without a sprayer? You can use a rinse bucket or sink setup to swish and rinse solids before washing. Disposable liners are another option to make cleanup even easier.

• What’s the best cloth diaper brand for beginners? Brands like Esembly, GroVia, and Thirsties are popular because they’re easy to use, adjustable, and durable. We personally use Esembly for its simple two-piece system and organic materials.