Cloth Diapers and Daycare

It can be done! I have spent the past four weeks sending cloth diapers with my son, to daycare. If you are using cloth diapers at home, you can find daycare facilities that will allow them. I was quite surprised, when we first started scouting daycares, that every one of them agreed to take cloth diapers. Based on the type of facility you choose, the rules may be different. Check your state's childcare regulations to find the rules regarding cloth diapers in your area.
If your daycare center will not accept cloth diapers, you can still continue to use them in the evening or on the weekends. Here are a few simple tips, to help make cloth diapering a workable system for you.

#1 - purchase plenty - make sure you purchase enough cloth diapers, so that you only have to do laundry once a week. If you have to wash diapers every other day, it will become a nuisance. We working moms have very little time to spend doing extra laundry.

#2 - simplify - choose a cloth diaper that is easy to put on, take off, and wash. If the diaper requires multiple pieces to put on the baby, you won't stick with it. Not to mention, your partner may balk at the idea of having to put multiple layers of diaper onto a baby. I highly recommend an All-in-one or pocket style diaper. They resemble the shape and fit of disposables, but can be washed and reused.

#3 - diaper liners - these are an invaluable tool! Diaper liners are thin paper inserts to be placed inside your cloth diaper, against baby's skin. When baby poops, the liner catches it all. So, you simply fold up the liner, and FLUSH, yes, flush, the poop! These little suckers are invaluable at saving time with laundry and saving you from icky clean ups. Swirling diapers in the toilet is pretty gross....

#4 - leave the guilt behind - it is okay if you need to use disposables for night-time, daycare, traveling, etc. Everytime you use a cloth diaper you save money and resources. If you only use them a few times a day, or just at home, you are still helping the planet!

Cloth diapers can be easy and fun! We have purchased all types of bright colored diapers and frequently let my son sport just his dipe in public. They're sooo cute, and look like little pants. You can't say that about disposables....