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.

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?

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