Transitioning from Disposable to Prefold Cloth Diapers

The transition from disposable to prefold cloth diapers is by no means an easy one. It's not unusual for parents to give up, frustrated because they can't seem to manage the smell, laundry, folding, or other aspects of maintaining cloth diapers. This article is here to make that transition easier. Soon enough you will find cloth diapering to be quick and convenient.

First of all, don't try to quit disposable diapers cold turkey. Ease in to things by making every other diaper prefold cloth, and remember it's ok to give up if you're frustrated or rushed and slap a disposable on instead. This does not mean that cloth diapering is not for you - it just means you need practice and time.

To start out, you will need at least 24 cloth prefold diapers, six diaper covers, and four safety pins. There are a lot of different folds out there so don't feel discouraged if you find yourself overwhelmed on picking one to try. There are two folds that I prefer - one is called the newspaper fold and the other is called the twist. The newspaper fold is best for young babies, although it can be modified to fit older ones as well (which I will discuss later). The twist fold is extremely easy and usable on any size baby.

You will also need a trash bin with a cover. There are two methods you can use for disposing of prefold diapers - one is called the dry pail method and the other is called the wet pail method. If your baby especially stinks up his or her diapers, or has a lot of bowel movements, you'll more than likely want to use the wet pail method. Fill your trash can with about two to three gallons of water, then add about one-fourth a cup of baking soda to the water. Drop your prefold diapers and wipes in this can, then at the end of the day or first thing in the morning dump the pail in to your washer and wash the diapers. Remember to use only detergent and hot water - things such as bleach or fabric softener will damage the fabric over time. The dry pail method is preferable as it requires less work, but is not as good at containing odors as the wet pail method. With this method you simply drop your prefold diapers and wipes in to the pail and sprinkle with baking soda, then soak overnight and wash in the morning.

The twist just may be the best fold to start out with, as it is extremely simple to do and makes for great beginning practice with pinning diapers. With this fold you simply place the diaper under the baby, twist once in the middle, then bring it up between your baby's legs. Next you fold the top down and bring the corners of the diaper in the back forward. Fasten them to the front fold.

Once you've gained confidence with the twist, the newspaper fold is a great fold to move on to. The reason I prefer this fold is because of its versatility, leak-proof nature, and tidy looks. Place the prefold diaper under your baby, then fold the sides furthest from the baby over the middle of the diaper. Bring this up between your baby's legs and fold it over as necessary. Next bring the back corners of the diaper forward and secure them to the front with pins. If your baby is too big for this to work, unfold the front of the diaper after bringing it up between your baby's legs and secure it as you would in the twist fold.

Even if you're using disposable wipes, avoid tossing them in the trash and throw them in with your diapers. After being washed and dried they can be easily thrown away. This not only helps manage smell (especially with the wet pail method) but also prevents you from having to keep two trash bins in your changing room.

Don't try to grasp up too much material with your pins. Minimal is best. Once you try to grasp up too much material, it becomes very hard to push the pin through, which raises the risk of pricking yourself. Always put your fingers behind where you run the pin through to avoid accidental pricks to your baby.

Diaper folding is a beautiful art that is forgotten all too often now days. If you are a parent wanting to see what's it's like to use prefold cloth diapers, don't give up too quickly and use guides such as this one to help you along the way. You won't regret doing it.