Do you need cloth diaper advice? On Mondays, I answer reader submitted questions, and ask my other readers to give their opinion.
Questions don’t have to be cloth diaper related, just email maria at change-diapers.com with “Mailbox Mondays” in the subject, or fill out my contact form for readers, which you will always be able to find on my Contact Page.
Anna says:
My son will be going back to day care this fall after taking a few months off during the summer. The lady that will be watching him agreed to do a trial of cloth diapers, but warned me that they might not work.
I’m trying to think of ways that will make it the easiest for her. I’m buying AIO’s and pockets that I can stuff before hand with aplix already. I’m stuck on the storage of the used diapers though. I looked at the state regulations and I can only find “wet and soiled diapers must be placed in an air tight container.”
Any ideas would be great.
Thanks
For someone just changing and storing cloth diapers (not washing them), they are really not much different than disposables. I really wonder what she thinks/knows about cloth diapers that makes her think they may not work! Rules about cloth vary based on state/area, but the closed container rule seems to be pretty common. Here is a helpful link to state childcare licensing regulations.
We’ve all heard that you are “supposed to” dump solids from disposables in the toilet before discarding the diaper, but I’m pretty sure no one actually does that! I’d suggest providing a zip closure wet bag or a cloth pail liner. Many pail liners have elastic or drawstring closures, allowing them to be used in just about any diaper pail or lidded trash can. Your daycare provider can simply place soiled diapers in the pail or wet bag, like any other dirty diaper. Of course, this would mean a little extra work for you, since you would have to dump solids and rinse diapers when you get home.
I’d suggest pre-stuffed pocket diapers or all-in-ones with a sewn in soaker and velcro/aplix closures. They are most similar to a disposable, and we all know that snap closures and soakers that need to be folded can be intimidating to those not familiar with cloth.
You might also consider sized diapers for daycare, or one-size diapers that adjust via hidden leg elastic. Though they wouldn’t need to be re-sized, seeing all the snaps on the front can seem complicated, and I know that I still occasionally pop a snap open when pulling the rise of the diaper snug!
Make sure you send along cloth diaper safe rash cream, and explain that only a thin layer is needed if rash cream is to be used. Also know that they may accidentally throw away a cloth diaper! Totally heartbreaking, but certainly not intentional.
I really think cloth diapers can be just as easy to change as disposables, and your provider may be surprised to see what you mean when you say “cloth diaper.”
I know some of my readers have successfully sent cloth diapers to daycare. Can you weigh in with some tips for Anna?
Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 18, 14 and 11-year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. 
I’ve done cloth at several different places some more relaxed than others. I ave placed a wet bag on side both a trash can and a rubbermaid box and at one place sent just the zzip bag. I send cloth wipes that they just get we or spray with a spray bottle I supply and cream and liners for use when cream is needed. At one locations I sent two small wet bags each day for poopy diapers and at another they dumped when they could but I left one just in case it wasn’t dump ready. It is important to note that I recently found out they were dumping in the trash not the potty which I find gross so I tell them it is fine to just put it int the small bag so I can personally keep it out of the landfills.
While I don’t like Velcro at home I have found it easier for school. If you do snaps I have heard of color marking the snaps with corresponding colors to help with fit (ie snap blue on top row and red on bottom, etc). I give a few lessons and also remind them never to use cream without a liner (but we hardly ever need it). I send extra pants and expect leaks at first or with new or assisting teachers but once they get the hang of it they all tell me it is rally no problem and they all have worked with me. This last place we are at now is something like 50% cloth kids.
Ewww! In the trash? Yuck! Great tips, thanks!!
Any of the ones I know of won’t let you use them.
My daycare person lets us use cloth diapers (I think she was a little hesitant at first) – but i try and make everything easy. I originally did aplex closing, however she prefers snaps now b/c the velcro comes apart to easy. I pre-stuff everything, and include a flushable liner in each diaper as well. She just puts the used ones in an old shopping bag for me to take home. Its worked out really well.
My daughter is going to daycare in October, and the place I’m going to is more than willing to do the cloth diapers for me. I am going to send pre-stuffed pocket diapers daily, and have 2 zip-up wetbags that I can trade out each day so it’s ready for the next day. As far as the solids go, I may try a liner so she can just pick that up and toss into the garbage pail that she tosses the disposables in. I’m going to go for a biodegradable liner to feel a little better about the waste. Hope this helps!
Aah great idea on the liners Kristina, why am I always forgetting about them? LOL!