Our Adventure as a Large Family using Cloth Diapers

Please note, affiliate links are used on this blog. If you click on a link in a post, it may be an affiliate link. If it is, I will earn a small commission, if you purchase some through the link. Thank you for helping to support our homeschool. See my full disclosure policy for more information.

I have been cloth diapering since our 4 year old was 9 months and I was pregnant with our 4th child. I love it. Honestly, I am addicted to fluff.

When I started in my quest to cloth diaper, I didn’t really know much about it. I had a friend introduce me to Motherease OS, but they were VERY bulky on our little girl-who is a toothpick. So, I looked around a lot and found Kissaluv diapers. I loved these and bought a whole stash of them. However, as I got to using them more and more, I found that it took a long time to get them to dry. I then stumbled upon two Muttiquin cloth diapers. They were only two layers, with a trifold soaker. They were so darn cute too as they had a patterned exterior. I soon figured that it really couldn’t be to difficult to make your own diapers. So, then began my quest to give it a try. I found a pattern online and gave it a whirl on just flannel. I didn’t like the fit nor did I like flannel as my soaker fabric. So, I continued my quest. Soon, I came across a diaper that was really worn out. I grabbed it and only paid $1.90 to have it shipped to me. I took it apart and then I drew my own pattern. I widened the waist and narrowed between the legs and lengthened the rise. Soon, I had my perfect diaper for my first cloth diapered baby.

It soon became time to think about making diapers for our soon to be born baby, however, I had NEVER seen a newborn cloth diaper in real life. So, I bought a bunch of Kissaluv newborn diapers. They fit our little guy for a week. GRR. He was 10 lbs 7 oz. So, I madly started making diapers. And perfected a pattern for him. Soon, he had a stash. My friend was making diapers and I was making diapers and we decided to try our hand at making them for others and selling our diapers. We did this for about a year, but found that our children were the ones without diapers. There was not time for either of us to keep up. We both had babies close together, homeschooled, and so forth. We gave the business side of our venture up, but we both still enjoy making diapers for our children. We both have had several more babies since, all of whom have had their own mama made cloth diaper stash.

I rarely buy a cloth diaper anymore though, I just make them. Each of my babies has gotten their own stash that their mama has made them. I have even started making training pants for our three and a half year old who has struggled with potty training. It has made a BIG difference. He loves the fluff his mama is making for him, and really tries hard to get to the potty in time. That was my reasoning, so yep, it is worth my time.

As the years have gone by, I have liked the different styles of diapers on the market. I like pocket diapers for outings, but not the price. I found a pattern that I have NOT changed a bit and make my own now. I DO NOT like all in one diapers-you just can’t get them clean. I like prefolds for the small economic punch, but really I just love a fancy fluff fitted and a fun bright cover. I like to have natural non dyed fabric against my babies bottoms, but then that is hard to do as I like fleece or suede cloth against them to keep them “dryer”. So, I like to make the majority of our soakers from natural or organic fabric and sew my diapers with a fancy exterior and inner fabric that matches the exterior. My diapers themselves are only two layers of fabric. I then make soakers from at least 80/20 sherpa or velour. My best soakers are ones I made from 100% organic cotton sherpa, but it was 18$ a yard. I bought up a bunch at one time, and use a layer or two in most of my soakers and then use some 80/20 sherpa as the other layer, it is just $9 a yard. I have begun a new venture that has been fun. I take our old shirts and stuff and make them into the exterior layer of my diapers. My favorite t-shirt that got bleach stains is now two diapers. I am no longer so sad.

For my covers, I again designed my own pattern. I love sandwich pul. I find that it is much easier to sew on, and it holds up MUCH better in the wash. I am still using my first sandwich pul covers with no issues. They are 3 yrs old and have been used almost continuously. If I am having rash issues, I use a 300wt fleece for my covers. However, the baby seems to leak through them more then not. I tend to only use fleece on brand new babies, or during rash times. Which are now minimal.

Diaper washing here, takes place at least twice a week. For the better part of the last two years I have had three children in cloth. So, my diaper washing days are big wash days-2 loads of diapers those days. The best diaper washing soap I have found is the stuff I make. It cost me $3 to make 10 gallons of soap that last me 6 mos. I use it on ALL of our clothes. I have found that for our clothes I do need to add a bit of oxyclean, but it is still saving us a ton of money. I add a bit of sol-u-mel to our diapers to help disinfect them. My washing routine goes like this:

Put diapers in a dry pail

On wash day, put diapers in washer

Set washer to whitest whites-put temp on cold/cold, and run-NO SOAP

Reset washer to whitest whites- put temp on hot/cold-add 1 tablespoon of homemade soap, and ½ teaspoon of sol-u-mel

Reset washer to whitest whites-put temp on cold/cold- add one package of RLR

Throw diapers in dryer on high heat.

I line dry most of my covers and pocket diapers most of the time-1 time a month or so I dry them to help “seal “ them, keeping their waterproof layer up to par.

Cloth diapering has become a hobby for me. Very rarely have I met anyone who started using cloth diapers, who does not like using them. They are so easy and so cute now. They just are not your grandma’s diapers anymore.