Cloth diapering a newborn is not easy. Like everything, there is a bit of a learning curve, and even second-time moms struggle with cloth diapering. I’m going to break the illusion I get it perfect every time and talk about some of the awkward times I’ve had cloth diapering a newborn over the past couple of weeks.
There will be awkward fitting diapers
Scrawny legs, umbilical stumps, and tiny little waists make fitting newborn diapers a challenge. Cloth diaper manufacturers try to create the perfect fit, but the awkward flimsy nature of a newborn makes fitting diapers a challenge.
If you skip straight to one-size cloth diapers, there is a guarantee your cloth diaper will not only awkwardly fit you’re little, but also just be bulky.
It’s just the way it is.
But, we’re doing it for kids, for the planet, for our local economies, for whatever reason. So, yes, newborn clothing and size 0-3 month clothing might not fit as nice as the other kids on the block.
Some of these just weren’t the right fit. They were awkward at the time, and perhaps look less awkward in photos, but felt awkward doing up.
There will be leaks
Cloth diapering is amazing, but it’s not a magical unicorn.
Leaks happen, but it’s not the end of the world.
Just like a poorly fitted disposable, cloth diapering lends itself to imperfections. But, its never a reason to give up. Keep practising, keep figuring it out.
Newborns pee all the time. It’s something about being on a liquid diet that makes them pee, oh so very much. So, while you might have been prepared with a Sweet Pea Newborn stuffed with a newborn prefold, the liquid diet defeats all absorbency when stuffed in a carseat and taken to the park for a couple of hours. Oops.
Diaper shirts are evil
Diaper shirts are a necessary evil in the infant/newborn/cloth diapering world.
The diaper shirt is ideal for keeping little backs warm on cold days, but the snaps add unnecessary pressure onto the diaper. This gives way to compression leaks and wicking along ruffled legs (I look at you AppleCheeks, Easy Peasies and GroVia old style AIO).
Do up just the middle snap and wicking leaks around the legs is reduced, but not always the magical answer. This past week even pressure from the middle snap has led to some wet diaper shirts with my Little Miss.
Sometimes Disposable Diapers are the Answer.
Cloth diapering isn’t all or nothing. Sometimes you need to find a blend that works for you.
Sometimes that means disposable diapers or even disposable inserts. Maybe its disposables until you lose an umbilical stump, or disposables when your out and about, or disposables to tackle sleep.
I have a secret – we use disposables on Little Miss for night time. I like my sleep, and she sleeps *most* of the night. She sleeps even better if she’s not soaking wet, and that liquid breastfed diet gives way to LOTS OF PEE. Because she doesn’t poop in the night, the only way I could get her from 7pm to 6am without a change is in a disposable. With her tiny frame most fitted diapers were too bulky and cumbersome, and this mama of 2 wasn’t getting up to change a diaper if she didn’t have to. #momtruth
There will be NEVER ending Laundry.
Never ending laundry.
It’s not just the cloth diaper laundry.
But the baby laundry. The toddler laundry (that’s life with two) and then towels, adults, kitchen and more. Where does it come from?
The reality of Cloth Diapering a Newborn – it Just is, what is.
I hope my reality moments don’t dissuade you from considering cloth. It’s really amazing, but it’s not always perfect. Diapers don’t always fit nice, the laundry never ends, and sometimes diaper shirts end up soaking wet. Sometimes there are just certain realities of cloth diapering a newborn that you have to face and be honest about.
And for many of you reading this, I think these newborn cloth diapering realities are true for you bigger diapered babies – for even my toddler still needs a disposable once in a while, and the laundry never does slow down.
Did you have a cloth diapering blunder recently?
If you don’t cloth diaper – what intimidates you most about cloth diapering?
I have to admit, I am nervous about using cloth on a newborn, for the reasons you point out – scrawny legs, tiny waist, etc. we plan to get some newborn cloth diapers, but won’t sweat if we decide to use disposable for a short time.
I really wanted to use disposable diapers with my last one, but then I remembered how much I despise laundry and new that it would only make a lot more! LOL I know it’s a lot cheaper, but I ended up using disposables again for the connivence.
I really wanted to do cloth diapers with my last baby but then I remembered how much I despise laundry. I ended up using disposable even I know cloth is cheaper in the long run.
I didn’t cloth diaper until my baby was a few months old but that was just because we were gifted a three month supply of diapers and we couldn’t say no ! I never really thought about the pressure on onesies making clothe diapers leak ! Makes sense !
I hadn’t thought about onesies causing leaks with cloth diapers! Interesting!
These are all so true! This also makes me really miss CD and all the fluffy bums!!
Thank you for your honesty! Ha people always act like they are game-changer and going to rock your world. They definitely have their place and are way cheaper (in the long run), but they certainly are more work! My daughter had a diaper dye allergy so we had to use them for a season, but it was a lot of work!
I didn’t know anything about cloth diapers. I also never used them..my kids were allergic to so many different disposable diapers but eventually found one that was good. I still can’t wrap my head around cloth diapers for my kids, even though I was in them as a baby born in the Philippines. But I appreciate reading about it because it’s a better way to go to help with keeping the world clean. Thank you for sharing!
–https://imommy.co
OK so I really like the idea of cloth diapering but never tried it with either of my boys. Just something about it that makes me even more sick when I change diapers LOL I just want to get rid of that thing! However I use a menstrual cup and reusable panty liners so I really dont know what my problem is LOL
I love how real this post is! I hear all about cloth diapers and how great they are and better for baby, etc– but I like seeing what all goes into it. Thanks for sharing.
I have never used cloth diapers on my kids but I’d be open to it if I had another baby. I didn’t know much about them at the time my kids were newborns.
We sure had plenty of leaks and explosions in our disposable diapers! Nothing is perfect I suppose.
THanks for sharing your truths about cloth diapering. I’ve never tried it myself but the thought of the increase in laundry would be worrisome for me as I already have a ton of laundry to do.
Such a great article! Thank you for this!