The following are some frequent questions I get asked about cloth diapers.

Is it worth getting cheap organic diapers?

You certainly want to be careful before you just buy anything cheap.  Do your research.  However, I can honestly say that there are some really high quality cheap organic cloth diapers out there, such as:

• At Cotton Babies, you can get unbleached, organic premium prefolds for $24 a dozen.  That’s a fair deal for organic.
• Mother Ease has some great organic diapers, and if you get the “one size,” it’s really cost effective.

How many cloth diapers should I buy to start?

This is up to your comfort level, but I suggest buying 2 dozen prefolds, and 6-10 covers.  If you are buying all in ones or pocket diapers, I suggest about 2 dozen inserts and 6-10 “covers.”  This should get you through about 2-3 days, which is the max you should be waiting to do laundry with cloth diapers.

What detergent should I use?

That’s a loaded question.  There are a bunch of good options, and a ton of bad ones.  The main thing is that you want to avoid harsh chemicals, fabric softeners, whiteners and brighteners.  I would stick to natural ingredients for your baby’s health, but make sure you get a detergent that won’t leave a film or residue.  That could affect absorbency, leading to leaks.

Should I get a “one size” diaper?

A one size diaper is, theoretically, a cost efficient diaper.  They say you can use a one size diaper, like Fuzzibunz One Size, from newborn to potty trained.  It does, however, depend on the baby’s size and shape.  Most one size diapers will look a bit bulky early on, because the baby is so small.  Fuzzibunz seems to have a good fit, as does BumGenius.  But, again, it depends on your baby.  I would say, try it out and see what works.

What’s the best kind of cloth diapers to get started with?

Prefolds are really the classic diaper to start with.  However, more often nowadays, parents are trying out pocket diapers to start, because they come in that one size that grows with your baby.

But if you want to try out cloth diapers, and you are not sure how committed you are, try prefolds because they are the least expensive system.

What is the cheapest cloth diaper system?

As stated above, prefolds are the least expensive system.  Of course, it depends on whether you buy organic or conventional.  Nonetheless, prefolds tend to be the least expensive initial expense, at $2-$5 a prefold.