All About Cloth

This is it! You are taking the first step towards achieving a greener (and cheaper!!) bottom for your baby. The fact that you are even looking into it is a great thing. We hope to give you the information you need to make an informed decision not only for your baby, but for you and your family!

The last thing we want to do is make this process difficult and complicated for you.  If you don’t get the answer you are looking for on this page, please email us at info(at)tinytreehuggerdiapers.com (or through the CONTACT page) and we will do our best. Cloth diapering is very fun and thousands of moms around the world have made the switch from disposables. Many do so to save money, reduce waste in landfills or just to make your baby’s bum cute! Whatever the reason, it is a great hobby that has many benefits.

When I first started researching cloth diapers when I was pregnant with my second child I came into it with all the preconceived notions of pins and pails full of water to soak the diapers. Well set those aside and learn with us!

So many options, how will I know which type is best?

Caring and washing your diapers

What about poop?

Stripping your diapers

How many will I need?

Terms & Types of Diapers


So many options, how will I know which type is best?

There are TONNES of different types of cloth diapers out there. Here are the basics.

* Pocket Diaper: Has a waterproof outer layer of fabric, and a pocket to stuff as much or as little absorbency into as needed, usually an insert or doubler.
* All in One (AIO) Diaper: Has a waterproof outer layer of fabric with sewn-in absorbent lining, sometimes has a pocket to add an insert or doubler if needed.
* Prefold: A rectangular flat diaper with prefolded layers sewn into the middle of the diaper, and requires a separate, waterproof cover. We recommend using a Snappi to secure. This is the most economical way to cloth.
* Fitted Diaper: Contoured to your baby’s shape, this diaper has no waterproof outer shell, but has the layers of absorbency sewn into it, and requires a cover. Some types close by snaps or Velcro, while others require a Snappi to close.
* One-size Diaper: Like a pocket diaper, but has snaps on the front to adjust the rise of the diaper as your baby grows, so you don’t need to worry about your baby outgrowing their diaper.

To know which type is best for you and your baby, we suggest buying one or two of a certain kind at a time, instead of 12 of one kind!


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Caring and washing your diapers

Here are the basics:

Step 1 ~ Cold rinse, no detergent.

Step 2 ~ Hot Wash, ½ detergent.

Step 3 ~ Cold rinse, if needed, no detergent.

Step 4 ~ Hang to dry or machine dry.

Easy! Of course, some people have their own way of washing. To cut back on smell you can put ¼ cup of baking soda in the first rinse cycle, then ½ cup of vinegar in the final rinse. Make sure to use a detergent that is free of whiteners, enzymes, dyes and perfumes. Also, do not use fabric softeners or dryer sheets, as they will reduce the absorbency of the diapers. Diaper rash creams and lotions can also coat your diapers and make them less absorbent, so make sure to use a diaper liner if you need to use these products.

Until wash day, you simply place the soiled diaper into a wet bag or diaper pail, making sure to remove the insert if using a pocket or other stuffable diaper. No need for a wet pail filled with water!


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What about poop?

Poop from breastfed babies is water soluble and will wash clean, no need to dunk or rinse the diaper beforehand. More solid poop should be shaken or wiped into the toilet before placing the diaper in the diaper pail. You can use flushable or cloth liners in the diapers to help make clean-ups easier, and keep the diapers cleaner. We now offer a diaper sprayer that simply attaches to the toilet to spray any solids into the toilet to flush away.

Stripping your diapers

Detergent build-up on your diapers can cause them to leak and smell. To get rid of build-up you will need to “strip” your diapers. How often you do this depends on your diapers – you may want to do it every week, or only once or twice a month. You may never need to!

To strip the diapers, wash them in hot water with a tablespoon of the Dawn Original (in Blue) dish soap. Then rinse several times with hot or warm water, until all the bubbles are gone. If possible, hang to dry outside, as sunlight is a natural whitener. We have heard that in the dead of winter you can put them in the dash of your car as well if hanging outside in the sun is not an option!


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How many will I need?

How often you wash diapers, and how often you change a diaper both factor into how many diapers you may need. Newborns, of course, go through more diapers. Also, keep in mind that cloth diapers need to be changed more frequently than disposables.

Use the following as a general guide to start:

Newborns ~ 12 – 18 diapers a day
2 – 6 months ~ 10 – 12 diapers a day
6 + months ~ 6 – 10 diapers a day

Other items:

Cloth wipes - if you are cloth diapering, why not use cloth wipes? They are handy for messy cleanups for the bum and face too!
Diaper pail (you can use a large kitchen garbage can with a lid) and liner, or a hanging diaper pail (hangs from a hook or door knob and eliminates the need for a pail) for storing dirty diapers at home.
Travel Wet bag (or two!) for storing dirty diapers when you're on the go.
Laundry detergent safe for use with cloth diapers. We recommend soap nuts! An all natural alternative that leaves very little residue compared to other name brand detergents.


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Terms & Types of Diapers

All In One ~ a contoured diaper with an waterproof outer layer. The absorbent layers are sewn or snapped into the diaper. Being a one piece system this is the closest to a disposable one can get. Short form - AIO.

Cover ~ waterproof fabric that covers a prefold or fitted diaper. Different types include wool, fleece, and PUL.

Diaper Pail ~ a pail used to hold the soiled diapers, usually a washable pail liner is placed in it for ease of dumping into the washer.

Doubler - added to a cloth diaper for extra absorbancy.

Fitted Diaper ~ a contoured diaper with gussets around the legs to contain messes, and requires a waterproof cover.

Fluff ~ slang for cloth diaper.

Insert ~ absorbent fabric used inside pocket diapers to catch all the pee.

Lanolize ~ gives wool covers, shorts and pants the ability to be water resistant.

One Size Diaper ~ a stuffable pocket diaper with a waterproof outter fabric, fitting from birth to potty training stage. Depending on the one size diaper and insert stuffed into it for absorbancy, it could be bulky for newborns.

Prefolds ~ rectangular piece of fabric with more layers in the middle where it is needed. It is the least expensive option, and requires a waterproof cover. Short form - PFs.

PUL ~ Polyurethane Layer, makes the diaper or cover waterproof to prevent leaks.

Pocket Diaper ~ cloth diaper with waterproof outer fabric, and pocket for stuffing absorbent liners into.

Snappi ~ plastic tool used to fasten diapers, replacing the need for pins. Used with prefolds and some fitted diapers.

Sposies ~ slang for disposables.

Stripping ~ process that removes detergent build up on diapers. (See above for method.)

Wet Bag ~ waterproof bag used to hold diapers, soiled or not. Great for use in diaper bags. It can be washed in the diaper laundry. To replace the diaper pail Pam J uses a hanging wet bag that hangs on the door knob.

Wick ~ moisture escaping to the outside of a diaper.

Wool cover/shorties/longies ~ when lanolized, wool is great for use as covers over prefolds or fitted diapers.


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