Cloth diapering isn't rocket science, but there is a lot to learn for parents who haven't tried it before. Since cloth diapers haven't been popular in over a generation some knowledge has been lost in the meantime. Things have changed, too - with a whole new line up of high-tech cloth diapers on the market, renewed interest in green living, and health concerns regarding disposables driving more parents to choose cloth. The following DOs and DON'Ts are designed to give parents a crash course in modern cloth diapering.
DO: Research the cloth diapers available today and decide what diaper styles to try. You may want several different diapers to use in certain circumstances - diapers to use for daytime, for naps, for overnight, and with a child care provider. One of the best ways to research cloth diapers is to visit active online cloth diapering forums. There you can ask parents questions about cloth diapers and read what others have to say. Try visiting the forums at Mothering.com and DiaperSwappers.com.
DON'T: Think you can't afford to invest in cloth diapers. Although purchasing an adequate supply of cloth diapers is expensive up front remember you will be saving a significant amount of money in the long run. The Real Diaper Association, which is committed to spreading the word about cloth diapering, estimates that a family spends about $1,600 on disposable diapers for a child's first two years of life. A supply of cloth diapers, which can be used on more than one child, can cost as little as $300. If you can't afford to buy all the diapers at once buy them gradually as your budget allows.
DO: Find the diapers that fit your child best. Modern cloth diapers fit remarkably well on most babies and are better at containing leaks than disposables. However, if your child is especially chunky or thin you may need to look around to find diapers that fit properly.
DO: Change your baby often. Babies who wear cloth diapers need to be changed more often than those wearing super-absorbent disposables. Check for wetness every hour and change as often as needed.